I slammed my locker shut, then immediately realized that I forgot my cell phone. Twisting the dial again, I wasn't worried when the bell rang. I could talk my way out of detention. Swinging the door open I smashed Josh in the face, since he had just appeared at my side.
"Oops." I grabbed my cell and shut the door. "Why are you late for class? Are you finally crossing over to the dark side?"
"No!" Josh protested. "I have a hall pass!" He shoved the green slip in my face.
"Oh. I knew it couldn't be true." I strolled down the hall to my last class. Josh chased after me.
"Drake, I was supposed to come get you!" Josh called out.
"What? I have a hottie to flirt with until dismissal. Don't worry, Hailey, Drake is on his way!" I continued down the hall.
"Drake! The principal wants to you see you!" Josh yelled at me.
"Why didn't I get called on the loudspeaker?" I argued.
"Because there's a substitute secretary, and she can't work the loudspeaker.
In the office, Crazy Steve in a purple wig was smashing the phone off a computer.
"That's the substitute secretary?!" I said disbelievingly.
"Yeah, they couldn't find a replacement in time. Anyway the principal is in there." Josh pointed into the room off the office. I sighed and went in. The principal looked at me.
"Drake, I'm afraid we have to have a little talk." He motioned for me to sit down.
"Drake, you have been absent 15 days this semester, late 25 times and I have reports you've missed 41 classes. I have no choice but to give you detention every day for a month. If you don't show up, I will call your parents."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Whatever."
"You start tomorrow. Get to class."
I started down the hall towards my class. Just then the last bell rang. I laughed and headed home.
The next day I stood in front of the detention room ready for battle with my magazines and a fresh pad of doodle paper. Pushing the door open, I took the last seat that wasn't beside a nerd. Seriously, how does a nerd get detention? Wearing a cool sweater vest? Can 'cool' and 'sweater vest' be in the same sentence? I shook the thoughts out of my head. It was then I caught a glimpse of the girl sitting beside me. She was indescribable, not hot, what was that word we learned in English? Exquisite? I don't know, but she was far beyond just 'hot'. Her brown hair looked like chocolate, flowing down her back like a waterfall. She turned and I saw her face. Her lips were perfect; they were the colour of cherries. I wanted to taste them so badly; I thought I would die if I couldn't. Her skin was a smooth creamy colour; I wanted to stroke her peachy cheeks. Then there was her eyes; they were like the ocean, swirling, crashing waves that pulled my under and I did not want to resurface. If my English teacher read this she would faint, but even Shakespeare could not have the words to describe her. Staring at her, I realized I was in love…and hungry from all the food analogies. I tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm Drake." I introduced myself.
"Joyce. What are you in for?"
"Skipping class. And you?" I was surprised I could speak in front of her.
"Putting hot sauce in my teacher's coffee. It does say, 'caution, HOT' on the cup."
My eyebrows flew up. "Nice." She was beautiful and had an evil mind. Could I ask for anything else?