CHAPTER II
Carter
I sat in my mother's office at Bellows Prep, her position across the desk in her high backed chair made me feel a bit intimidated, even though I had seen her like that a million times before. Her black framed glasses fell down onto the tip of her nose, and with angry, shaking fingers she pushed them back into their proper position. She took a deep breath.
" Carter Micheal Johnson. I am very disappointed in you." Even before she said it, I knew she was mad for two reasons. One, she had used my full name. Two, she had that eerily calm tone to her voice that she only used with the really bad kids in the school. She continued. "Rigging the plumbing in the bathroom? That little juvenile stunt is going to cast this school a lot of money. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
I didn't. Even though it wasn't my fault, how was I supposed to tell my mom that all I did was think it would be hilarious if the toilet water shot out and smacked the kid in the face, and it happened. I sighed. "No, ma'am. I don't."
She studied me carefully, and I bravely stared back at her with my matching set of bright blue eyes, searching her face for any sign that I might get off the hook. I didn't see one.
" You'll have to serve three weeks kitchen duty, and your curfew will be nine instead of ten. I think we are done here. You may go." She waved me out, and I got out of my chair and strode out the door, trying to keep what was left of my dignity intact.
As the door closed, I clenched my jaw. I didn't think highly of my mother in the first place, since she was the headmistress I was often the target of angry bullies who wanted to get back at her, and now I just plain hated her. I hadn't even done it , and as her son she should have believed me. I was still lost in thought when Willa came up to me.
She giggled when I looked at her, looking back at me and shamelessly batting her eyelashes. "Hey Carter! Funny meeting you here, huh?"
I tried the best I could to hide the look of annoyance on my face as I said " Yeah." but I got the feeling it didn't work. Now, don't get me wrong, Willa was pretty. Her curly black hair fell down her back in cascading ringlets and her startlingly violet eyes were entrancing, but she was way to clingy, and I really got the feeling she was kind of stalking me.
She giggled again and took a step closer to me, and I countered with a step back. " What are you here for?"
I tugged nervously at my green and gold striped tie. " I... I kinda made some toilets explode in the boys' bathroom."
Her eyes widened. "Ooh! A bad boy, are you? I like that."
I wanted to tell her that I didn't even know how I did it, or even if I DID do it, but all I said was, " I should probably ask you the same question."
She smiled, like she had been waiting for the conversation to turn to her. " Oh, just turning in some extra credit papers from the summer." She grabbed them out of her bag and waved them in my face. "Just trying to get ahead, you know?"
I swallowed, my ever prominent Adam's apple bobbing. " Well, I gotta go. Kitchen duty in..." I looked at my watch. "Half an hour. Sorry," I called over my shoulder as I jogged down the corridor and out of sight.
