He went over to the cabinets while he asked his classmates to get in pairs. He looked over the lab and got the things he needed for the lab for everyone and himself. Everyone was already in pairs and had their stuff under their desks sitting next to their partner. Baljeet didn't have one, of course. So class went on smoothly, only a few explosions happened but nobody got hurt. Everyone cleaned up their station right before the bell rang and left happy. Buford started to clean up the lab he did on Baljeet's desk. Baljeet got up from the seat he was sitting in and went up to his desk just watching Buford clean up the lab.
Buford didn't mind Baljeet he crouched down and put the equipment away. Baljeet was drawing little circles at the edge of his desk. Buford walked back over to him wondering what would be wrong. He put a hand on Baljeet's shoulder, Baljeet jumped surprised and let out a small squeak. Buford stared at him before chuckling.
"Mr. Buford! Don't do that!" Baljeet yelled. Buford was still laughing.
"You should've seen your face!" Buford laughed, but he finally stopped after Baljeet weakly punched him in the shoulder. "You punch like a girl."
"You laugh like a sissy," Baljeet hissed back. Baljeet drew some more small circles on his desk.
"What is it Baljeet?"
"I heard you got a detention…"
"What about it?"
"Well, your detention could be here, you know instead of going after this to a detention…." Baljeet looked up to Buford, he was much taller than him, and with more meat on him. Buford smiled.
"Sure." Baljeet smiled and they went on with their secret class at the end of the day, 7th period. A teacher came in and started talking to Baljeet. He told him that he had to cover that teacher's schedule and help him get out of trouble he got into with the principle. That teacher got Baljeet mixed into what he did and he was deciding to take a break. Before Baljeet could say no the teacher walked out. At that moment, Baljeet's happy moment ended.
"Dammit! I really hate that teacher! He always gets me involved, I'm not your fucking assistant boy! Urg!" Baljeet said angrily slamming his left hand down on his desk. The instant his hand made contact with the desk Baljeet felt instant pain, he cried out in pain clutching his hand. Buford hurried over still stunned at how angry his teacher was.
"What happened?" Buford asked trying to find out what was wrong. Baljeet looked up his eyes glossy.
"I burnt my hand early today…" Baljeet said softly his hand still stinging a bit.
"Clumsy much?" Buford asked sitting Baljeet down and taking off the bandages to look at his teacher's burn. Baljeet whimpered as Buford took of the bandages. Buford sighed as he looked at the burn, he treated it and put some more bandages on. "There you go," Buford sighed letting go of Baljeet's hand.
"Thank you Mr. Buford…" Baljeet said quietly. Buford sighed and nodded a 'you're welcome'.
"Try not to burn it again and be careful."
"Okay…" After that it was pretty silent except for some girly giggling that came from Baljeet's mouth. Buford was doing a lab and it sorta exploded in his face, so now he had this green putty substance all over his face.
"You giggle like a girl," Buford said cruelly glaring at his giggling teacher.
"And you got green crap all over your face!" Baljeet giggled handing him a paper towel. Buford sighed and started cleaning his face while his teacher cleaned up the table around the explosion.
"Bye Mr. Buford!" Baljeet waved from the door at Buford who was walking down the hall. He waved back and jogged to football practice. He got yelled at again for being late, but the detention slip helped him with his trail and he was let off easy. Easy would mean 10 laps, and 30 pushups. It was easy cause for some reason Buford was pumped and got done with his ten laps in about 10 minutes. He was happy he got to play with his mates before the end of practice. He called his parents, when they got a break, and told them he would be late again. He went back out and continued with practice.
Baljeet sat down in his spiny chair and looked out the window. He was looking down on the football field, how ironic. Baljeet, instead of grading, watched Buford play a scrimmage. Buford got two touchdowns for his team. He was really good at football. Baljeet watched him and before he noticed, practice was over and it was 8 o'clock. Baljeet rushed and got his stuff all together and ran out the door. Buford walked slowly out of the changing room and into the parking lot, of course he couldn't drive yet, his parents wouldn't let him, so he slowly walked. He saw Baljeet run out of the building running to a little blue car, dropping his papers. Buford smiled and walked over slowly, to Baljeet's car. Baljeet was franticly trying to pick up the papers that he dropped. Buford got closer and kneeled down picking up most of the papers his teacher dropped. His teacher didn't notice but he did when he turned to pick up the rest of his papers. Buford sighed handing him his papers and helping him up off the ground. Baljeet smiled and tried his best to get the dirt off his jeans.
"Thanks Buford!" he said happily. He'd always been scared of jocks and he's not much older than Buford and all his other students so he was a bit scared. But having Buford help him made it a bit better.
"No problem Baljeet." Buford smiled and waved a bit turning around slowly. Baljeet stopped him.
"Lemme' give you a ride." Baljeet unlocked his car and opened the door. Buford protested.
"No I'm fine really…" Buford protested backing away slowly. Baljeet grabbed his hand and smiled goofily.
"But you're already here and its late just get in the car." Buford blushed but it looked like Baljeet didn't notice, so he got in the car. Baljeet climbed in and started the car while closing his door. He let the car warm up before Baljeet actually started to drive. It was a quiet drive, Buford was trying to calm his face down and Baljeet was trying to pay attention to the road. The silence was lifted when they stopped at a stop light minutes later.
"Where's your house?" Baljeet asked tapping the steering wheel lightly.
"Huh?" Buford asked coming back to reality and looking dumbfounded.
"Where do you live?" Baljeet asked again trying to get to Buford.
"Oh, oh sorry," Buford laughed a bit embarrassed, "Go straight the take a right, it's the third house, the blue and white one."
"That's your house!" Baljeet asked surprised putting his foot on the gas pedal and driving.
"Why what's so special about it?"
"Well you always hear someone yelling in that house," Baljeet states quietly turning to the right.
"Yeah sorry that's my dad, he can get a bit outa hand sometimes…." Buford sunk down in his seat as they neared his house, he didn't wanna go home, at all. Baljeet pulled into the bumpy driveway and stopped the car, not turning his head to look at Buford. Baljeet leaned down over the steering wheel and looked up to get a better view of the house. I mean he's seen it before just not up close. Up close the house looked like a baby blue with a dirty white porch and windows. The porch was wood and some of the paint was chipped and the wood looked like it was being chewed by an animal at the corners. The door was a light brown with a gold doorknob. A man, that desperately needed to shave, was glaring out of a window down at the two boys. Baljeet shivered the pair of eyes were just watching him, staring him down with an ice cold death stare. Buford sighed and got his bag from the floorboard and started to open the car door.
"Thanks for the ride, and don't let my dad frighten you, he always does that," Buford said getting out of the car smiling softly. Baljeet just nodded and sat back in his seat, still feeling two eyes watching him. Buford sighed and closed the car door with a small thud. He slowly was up the old dirty white stairs and went inside his house, letting his dad take his eyes from his teacher and start glaring him down. Baljeet on the other hand breathed out grateful he wasn't being watched anymore, but he feared for Buford. He slowly started up his car and drove out of the driveway heading home. Buford got yelled at and sent up to his room, he went up crying, his dad hit his weak point. His weak point was that recently his mom was put in the hospital because of high blood pressure and it wouldn't go down. He hated troubling his mom, she saved him from his dad's ranting, she always understood, unlike his dad. He slammed his face into his pillow, it was his fault, it was always his fault. Everything he did could never make his dad proud, he always let dad take his anger out on mom. He didn't like always being at fault, he hated it.
Baljeet got home and pulled his car into the garage and took the keys out but sat in his seat. He thought about what would've upset Buford's dad that much. Wait a minute…when did he start calling Buford, Buford? He shoved away his little mind bunnies and got out of the car and into his house to start grading homework. He didn't really want to so he took a shower, a nice warm shower. Buford passed out from crying, he hadn't cried in a while so he cried a lot. Baljeet just got done with his shower and got out of the shower, wrapped a towel round his waist and dried his hair with another. He looked in the mirror for a few seconds, not really looking at the mirror but thinking if just passing out tonight and do the work later, or do it now. He really started slacking, when he was younger he would rather die than slack off but after he became a teacher it changed him. He wasn't the scrawny little kid that always got beaten by bullies anymore, he was a teacher. He walked out of the bathroom, still in his towel, and sat on the couch turning on the tv. He decided he would watch tv for a bit, then start grading.
Buford woke up, tired and red faced from crying. He got up and walked down the stairs to see his dad drinking. Now Buford's dad never drank more than one glass of wine a month, and he was drunk! Buford knew something happened to his mom, he just knew it. His dad looked at him and growled, throwing the bottle on the wall near Buford. The bottle shattered and went all over the place. Then he started yelling at Buford, screaming that it was his fault all his fault. Buford feared the worst, his mother died.
"I wish you weren't my son!" Buford heard this a couple times before so it didn't bother him as much, "Your mother wouldn't be in the hospital, she wouldn't have cancer, we would be better off if you were never born!" he roared. Buford was stunned, his mother had cancer? His dad huffed and sat down on the couch, he would yell all he wanted but he would never hurt Buford, physically. Buford felt the tears come back into his eyes, he ran back upstairs and cried more. As long as his mother didn't say any of those things he wouldn't try to kill himself. But hearing from his dad hurt a lot.
~next day~
Baljeet woke up, laying on the couch, but he had cloths on. He changed his clothes after he watched about an hour of tv. He also finished all of the homework he had to grade. He got off the couch and went to get dressed for the day. Buford didn't get up, no he just couldn't. But his dad came in and yelled at him that he would be late and he would have to explain to the teachers why he was. So Buford got up and got dressed, going down the stairs his vision was still a bit blurry. He tripped on the last step and fell on his butt, he groaned and slowly got up to get on his shoes. Baljeet was also late he was rushing to get his shoes on and all of the papers together. Buford quickly got his shoes and coat on, now thinking his dad wouldn't give him a ride, and speed walked out the door. He huffed out a cold breath of air, his eyes were red from crying which made it hard to see very well. He walked on though, almost running into a lamp post, and faintly saw his teacher running out to his car, he didn't have a coat on, he had a button up shirt on that wasn't buttoned and a tie hanging loosely around his neck, and his shirt was half tucked in and half not. Buford smiled happy he wasn't the only one that woke up late today. His vision went really blurry and when it came back to normal he ran into a tree.
"Ouch!" Buford yelped falling once again on his butt. Baljeet looked around to see who or what made that noise and saw Buford on the ground in front of a tree. He giggled and ran over to him leaving his coat and papers in the driver's seat.
"Buford you okay?" he asked reaching Buford and holding out a hand for him. Baljeet watched Buford look up, his eyes red and puffy a red mark on his forehead, and just the way he fell didn't look right. Buford calmly reached out and took Baljeet's hand, Baljeet pulled and helped Buford off the ground. Buford was still a bit dazed of what just happened and on top of that he was a bit wobbly. Baljeet tilted his head to the side, just a bit.
"I'm fine…" Buford finally answered as soon as he could see his teacher clearly.
"I don't think you are," Baljeet said back suspicious, but worried.
"I promise I am…" Buford said quietly noticing he was still holding onto Baljeet's hand, he let go and nodded thanks.
"Wait Buford lemme give you a ride!" Baljeet said cheerfully, buttoning up his shirt and tucking it in. Buford was going to say no but he was being pulled to the car by a man two years older than him. Buford opened the car door and sat down in the seat closing the door. Baljeet came in and closed the door putting the keys into place and turning on the car. Baljeet backed out of the driveway and started driving to school trying to tie his tie.
"Why you dressed like that? You usually wear jeans and a regular t-shirt." Buford was curious he had to ask.
"Parent teacher conferences, and a business woman from a company is coming to check on our classes to see if we can keep our jobs or not." Baljeet sighed frustrated that he couldn't tie his own tie. He switched subjects. "Did you eat breakfast yet?" Buford shook his head.
"No, I did wake up late, hence why I ran into a tree." Baljeet chuckled.
"I'm sorry but that was funny. And I highly doubt that's the only reason." Buford turned his head and looked out the window, he didn't want to tell his teacher anything. He didn't want to tell anyone. Baljeet took the clue and dropped the subject and pulled into McDonald's drive through. Buford turned his head away from the window to his teacher who was digging in his pocket for his wallet.
"You did say you didn't eat breakfast, neither did I, and I need my coffee. What do you want please hurry and decide." Baljeet successfully dug out his wallet and was looking at the menu to see what he wanted to eat. He gave up on trying to tie his tie, and just left it hanging around his neck.
"Can I get a caramel mocha, and some cinnamon melts?" Buford asked quietly. Baljeet smiled.
"Sure." He pulled up to the speaker and spoke. "Hi. I would like two medium caramel mochas, a cinnamon melt and the breakfast burrito please." Baljeet drove and paid the lady and got their food and started to drive to school. Buford fished around the bag for his cinnamon melts, they were at the bottom, and gave Baljeet one of his burritos. Baljeet happily bit into his breakfast burrito and chewed. Buford took out the fork and stabbed one of the cinnamon melts and put it in his mouth, also chewing. By the time they got to school, both of them finished their breakfast including the caramel mocha.
"Thanks for the ride and breakfast…" Buford said quietly getting his backpack off of the floor board.
"No problem!" Baljeet smiled, trying again to tie his tie. He took out his keys, grabbed his coat and briefcase, and got out of the car, Buford followed. Baljeet locked his car and put on his coat still trying to get his tie on, he got it but it was crooked.
"Baljeet, where did you learn to tie a tie?" Buford asked smirking. Baljeet pouted.
"Off of a website…" Baljeet said sheepishly. Buford put his backpack down and started untying his teacher's tie. Baljeet just realized how taller Buford was than himself, and he definitely looked a lot stronger. Buford started to tie his teacher's tie swiftly.
"There ya go," Buford said successfully tying his teacher's tie.
"Buford, where'd you learn to tie a tie?" Baljeet asked curiously picking up his briefcase off the ground.
"My dad, he tied my ties when I was little and he taught me how after I kept asking him." Buford smiled remembering those days were him and his dad got along. Baljeet waved in front of Buford's face, Buford snapped out of his flash back. They nodded to each other and went off on their separate ways to hurry to get to their classes before the bell rang. Today would be a very bad day for Baljeet to be late.
~end of day before parent teacher conferences~
Baljeet was fidgeting frantically in his chair. Buford stayed knowing his dad wouldn't show and he really didn't feel like going home. He wasn't dressed for the conferences, now was he allowed to stay in the room, but he wanted to try and calm down Baljeet. Baljeet was thankful Buford was staying, still he wondered why, but he kept tapping his fingers nervously on his desk. He'd done student teacher conferences before but he was with other teachers, not alone. And on top of that the supervisor would be watching how well he was with the conferences. Him not any other teacher, but him. After a couple conferences she would leave. It was still terrifying for Baljeet, he couldn't act like himself, well his teacher self, in front of the woman, she would evaluate him, he could lose his job. That terrified him even more, it didn't help when the first parent knocked on the door. He almost peed his pants but instead he jumped in his seat and stared wide eyed at all tall thin man that slowly came in the room. He had blood shot eyes with dark black bags under them, he was thin enough you could see the outline of his jaw bone, his hair was sticking up and all messy, like he just got out of bed, and he was wearing a old fashioned suit and an old navy pin, pinned onto his collar. He was staring blankly at Buford, Baljeet knew instantly from the expression on Buford's face, it was his father. The woman came in also, closing the door behind her and walking to the back of the room and sitting down. Buford's father sat in the seat in front of Baljeet's desk, not moving, except for breathing softly, and staring at Buford's teacher. Baljeet started freaking out. Why! Why is Buford's dad my first conference? Why!-? Baljeet thought. He was mentally freaking out, and on the outside he was staring at Buford's father, fidgeting slightly. A minute went by in silence, Baljeet fidgeted more and more as each passing minute went in silence. Buford, who was leaning against the window, got worried about his teacher, someone was watching what he did for the conferences. They were using him and his father like guinea pigs, he didn't mind though. He coughed but Baljeet didn't tear his eyes away from his father.
"Baljeet!" he coughed. Thankfully, Baljeet tore his eyes away from Buford's dad and looked blankly at Buford for a couple of seconds before turning back to his father and speaking like his normal self.
"I'm very sorry. Now shall we start?" Buford's father nodded. "Buford is just passing with a C+, which I know that he could do so much better than he is now. He gets all the work right on the tests, but then he puts down the wrong answer." Baljeet took out some test from his bag and spread them out on his clean desk and continued talking, "Mr. Buford doesn't take the notes in class, nor does he listen to anything I say. I know he can improve, I know he knows these things, here take a look. All the work is correct, just not the answers." Baljeet handed Buford's dad some of the test Buford took. He looked them over and handed them back sighing.
"Buford's a dumb kid, I'm sorry that he just doesn't try. He just wants to fail. He just gives up to easily. I tell him to work harder but he just ignores me and is trying to fail, just for one purpose." Buford's father stopped talking after that so Baljeet had to ask before he said anything.
"What's the one purpose?" Baljeet asked curiously.
"He wants to make me and mother pay attentions to him. But I just think he's straight out stupid, he doesn't even have to t-" I slammed my fist down on the table and glared at Buford's dad.
"Buford does not act stupid, he is not stupid at all!" Baljeet said loudly trying not to yell, but stood up from his chair, "Buford is very smart, he's smarter than anyone in the class, he taught the class for two days, they listened and actually took notes. He could be acing this class and he wouldn't have to lift a finger! So don't you dare, don't you dare say he's not smart or trying to get your attention. Did you ever think for once, that he might've been trying to make you proud in one way or another, that he didn't want to fight with you, or hear you and your wife fight? So don't you dare say that Buford is stupid, he is far from it!" Buford's dad stared at Baljeet for the longest time, not saying anything. Baljeet breathed out and sat back down, calming down, or at least trying. Buford's dad cleared his throat before speaking up again.
"I'm his father, I can say anything about him." Baljeet stared him down.
"Precisely, you're his father, you're supposed to try and understand him, be proud of him, be his father! If you think he's purposely acting stupid ask him if it's true, ask him why. Yelling at him won't solve anything at all, he's your son, one and only." Buford turns his head and blushes, Baljeet was sticking up for him, all the other teacher's changed the subject or agreed because they were scared of Buford's dad. Buford's dad slowly got up and walked out of the room, so did the woman in the back and closed the door behind her. Buford was still blushing, Baljeet slowly got up and walked over to Buford.
"Thank you Baljeet…" he said quietly, but when he say Baljeet standing in front of him, Buford hid his face in with his hands.
"Um…your welcome Buford. Don't hide behind your hands! Show me your face, please," Baljeet chuckled and tried to remove Buford's hands away from his face. Buford moved his hands away and was blushing furiously, Buford giggled.
"Shut up Baljeet, you have conferences so get them done," Buford walked out leaving his teacher to giggle and finish his teacher conferences.
Baljeet went to finish his conferences with that woman walking around through them. She was kind of creepy actually. After conferences were done Baljeet got ready to go to his car and go home. Buford was walking out of the school buildings following his dad, no one had ever yelled at HIM like that. Buford slowed his steps and watched his dad slowly disappear behind cars. After Buford couldn't see his dad anymore, he walked back into the school. Baljeet got his stuff together and stood up, walking out of the door. He turned around and fiddled with his keys trying to find the key to lock the door. Buford walked sluggishly through the school halls watching parents leave. Buford didn't know if he wanted to go to Baljeet or just walk through the halls. Buford decided to walk through the empty halls, he went up a floor and walked around until the janitor found him, or locked him in. if he got locked in he would just crawl out a window. Baljeet was walking out the front doors when he saw Buford's dad walking around the parking lot. Baljeet didn't like him very much, but it seemed like something was troubling him. Even though he didn't want to Baljeet walked up to Buford's dad.
"What's wrong?" Baljeet asked as kind as he could.
"Buford's gone!" Buford's dad said but he wasn't finished, "That stupid brat ran away again! Does he have to make me worry about him all the time?-!"Baljeet stared at him.
"If you worry about him don't you dare say he is stupid. I'll find him if you swear not to call him stupid, or yell at him to get your anger out!" Baljeet said still a bit angry.
"Fine! Just please find my son." Baljeet blinked a couple of times and started walking back towards the school, but stopped in his tracks and turned around walking back to Buford's dad.
"Are you proud of your son?"
"Yes actually I am. Even though I yell at him and tell him he's stupid, he keeps trying. He might get bad grades, a C- is a bad grade in my book, he shows he can do it. And I have to thank you actually, when you yelled at me tonight, I thought over. Should go easier on him and see how he actually does. But I'm going to act like nothing happened because he must learn to get my respect to stand up for himself when I tell him he's stupid. But secretly I will admire him and be proud of him, I was too scared to yell back at my dad no matter what he said. But promise me you won't tell him?" Buford dad's eyes softened and he looked like a normal father, not like a scary abusive one. I smiled sweetly and walked happily back into the school.
Buford sat on the roof, as high to the sky as he could get, he even climbed up on the roof of the top of the door, thing. Baljeet, remembering the records that he found in the teacher's desk, Buford walked the school at night. Baljeet didn't know why but he put his briefcase near the door of his room and got out his keys, having a copy of the keys that unlock every door in the school, and walk. He was kind of happy he helped the janitor some nights of the week for extra pay. Buford breathed out and sat down leaning on his hands to keep himself upright, he watched the cars leave the school parking lot and disappearing on roads or behind houses. Baljeet quickened his pace and went up to the second floor looking behind every corner. He saw the janitor cleaning one of the halls, Baljeet went up to him and asked him if he saw Buford. Sadly the janitor said no and Baljeet frowned not happy with the answer.
The stars were shining bright that night, Buford thought it might've been a good night to run. He looked around and tried to point out me of the constellations. Baljeet checked every room, he thought Buford already left. He pouted and looked out the window, also looking at the stars. His eyes widened and he turned on his heels looking for the door to get up to the roof. Buford pointed out the big dipper and was trying to find the little dipper. He heard a squeaky noise, he didn't move, but turned his head away from the sky and looked at the roof.
"Buford!" Baljeet yelled. Buford smiled and joked, I found my little dipper. He fell down laughing and holding his stomach. Baljeet heard someone cracking up and tuned to the other roof of the door. He climbed the latter and saw Buford laying with his arm over his stomach and laughing. Baljeet sighed in relief and crawled over to Buford.
"Buford!" Baljeet scolded, "You scared me, your dad told me he couldn't find you." Buford stopped laughing and was know trying to catch his breath.
"Sorry Baljeet," Buford said sitting in an upright position.
"That's not good enough." Baljeet pouted.
"Oh, then how bout I take you to lunch tomorrow? How bout' that?" Buford smiled and Baljeet actually thought about it.
"Sure," Baljeet said happily, "But go home."
"What you wanna get rid of me that badly?" Buford said sadly.
"No your dad is still looking for you come on." Baljeet stood up but Buford didn't move.
"I don't want to." Baljeet sighed and held out his hand towards him.
"Buford stop acting like a little brat and stand up." Buford looked at Baljeet and took his hand. Baljeet helped Buford up and they started walking to the parking lot. As soon as Buford came close to his dad, he got yelled at, Baljeet couldn't help but smile. It's weird yes Baljeet knew, but Buford's dad was smiling, and after yelling at him, gave his child a nuggie. Buford was somewhat surprised that his dad was smiling, and also his head hurt. He looked over and saw Baljeet smiling at them. Buford didn't see his dad smile at Baljeet though. Buford's dad took Buford home, Baljeet also went home with a smile on his face.
OMG I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I tried to write this chapter but I was worried about school so I didn't have any time! Actually I writing this part in school right now, in algebra class... I can't tell how long this chapter will look like and I'm terribly sorry if there is grammar mistakes and if it's short! This is my first review thingy so I'm trying sooo hard not to sound like a creeper. Baljeet is only supposed to be a couple ages older than his students because he graduated college early. Oh also I'm not good at like arguments so I know it's bad but I'll try and make it better. :3 I'm also trying not to type in my text talk or I'll get yelled at by someone '-_-
Any who please review! :D thnx. And wish me luck I hve 2 tke ALL my final XP
