There she was, just sitting at her desk as usual, making sketches instead of doing her schoolwork. Andrea Decker sat in front of Keith Partridge for English and beside him for math and science. She was...different from most of the girls in school; not normal by a long shot.

It was known that Andrea was a troublemaker, who took pride in getting detentions and making a mess of the school. She wore boys' clothes and kept her hair long and messy, smoked and listened to rock n roll. No one really understood her. In fact, no one really bothered to try. Most people ignored her and she ignored them. As her lab partner for chemistry, Keith did not have that luxury.

Which was why he was stuck in detention on Friday afternoon with the black-haired tomboy. He had been standing next to her when she pulled the fire alarm and had gotten caught with her. It was no use explaining to the teachers that he had no part in it; he simply went down with her.

Beside him she sat, running her dangerously sharp pencil over a blank sheet of paper in cool, practiced lines, her face blank. She just looked at her, unsure of what to do. He had no homework and nothing with him to pass the time.

That was when their math teacher, Mr. Lawrence, walked in. Keith knew he was in charge of detention, but hoped it would be someone else who had taken over. It was known that Lawrence was strict and took pride in making students hate him.

"So," Mr. Lawrence said, a bit too cheerful for the occasion, "What brings you two here this fine Friday?"

Keith opened his mouth to explain, but Andrea beat him to it. "Pulled teh fire alarm again." she said, "Partridge was with me. He helped." Keith's mouth dropped open. What the hell!

"I see." Mr. Lawrence said. "I"m surprised at you, Keith. You're a good student." He started to explain that he had nothing to do with Andy's escapade, but Lawrence would not have it. "Just sit there quietly, Keith. As for Ms. Decker..."

"What're ya gonna do?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word, "Expel me? You've done everything else."

"You'd like that wouldn't you, Ms. Decker?" Lawrence questioned.

"Not half as much as I'd love a smoke right about now." she replied. Keith watched as she leaned back in her seat and crossed her feet atop the desk. There were snags in her worn jeans and her shoes looked at least three years old and were covered in dirt. "Problem is you took 'em all."

"And do you know why I took your cigarettes?" Lawrence questioned.

"Cause I'm not supposed to smoke in school." Andrea replied, "What you've forgotten is that I don't give a shit."

Keith's eyes went wide and Lawrence's face turned red. What was with this girl?

Lawrence sighed in anger and defeat. "Very well, Ms. Decker. You will be here for yet another week. I hope you're happy."

"Thrilled as a pig in a garbage bin, sir." she said dully with a roll of her blue eyes, which landed on Keith for a split second before returning to Lawrence with a smirk. The teacher walked away and closed teh door behind them, leaving them both alone in the empty classroom. Keith took teh opportunity to whisper/shout at her.

"What is wrong with you? Don't you have anything better to do than drag me into this with you?"

"I'm sorry, but no, I don't." she said. That was when he caught it; her voice had changed. She seemed non-threatening now. Almost normal. Like she was really sorry. "No one ever gets detention but me. I just didn't want to be alone this time. Are you cool with that?"

"I can't say I am." he replied angrily, "I have a life, unlike you." He regreted what he said as soon as it left his mouth.

Then, in a flash, her gaze turned to him and he saw something that knocked the wind from him. He saw flashes of anger, hurt, sadness, and fear, all at once in her eyes, but it all disappeared as quickly as it came. She clenched her fist. "You have no idea what my life is like." she growled, "You're Mr. Popularity. Everyone loves you. You have no idea what it means to be someone like me. You have no clue what it's like to be abandoned; to be completely and utterly alone."

This struck a cord with Keith. He did not know what to say. Then it hit him; maybe she wanted to get away from her life, which was why she kept getting in trouble on purpose; to get away from home for a while. But what happened at home that was so bad?

The rest of the day passed in silence. When it was done, Keith made his way home, but his thoughts were still on Andrea, and what he thought was influencing her behavior. It didn't take his mother long to notice that something was on his mind. As soon as he walk through the door, Shirley was questioning him. "What's wrong, Keith?" she asked.

He looked up at her and decided to voice his concerns concering Andrea Decker.

I've been burning in water and drowning in flame

To prove you wrong and scare you away

I admit my defeat and want back home

In your heart

And under the rose

"Under the Rose" - HIM