Sorry it took so long for this update, I've been super busy lately. But without further ado, Lionblaze's, um, interesting time in science!
Lionblaze padded into the room.
"Go stand in the back of the room with the other students. I will be assigning seats once everyone gets here," Dustpelt told him.
Figures, Lionblaze thought, but he nodded. "'Okay." he padded to the back of the room.
"Hollyleaf!" he gasped. "You're in this class too?"
"Yeah. Sadly." Hollyleaf rolled her eyes. "I would've rather had a different science teacher, like Tawnypelt. I heard she's an awesome teacher."
"I could've had my homeroom teacher, but noo, I had to get Dustpelt." Lionblaze snorted.
"Now that everyone's here, I shall assign seats. Foxleap and Whiskernose, take the seats right here. Hollyleaf and Minnowtail, sit at the desks next to them. Breezepelt and Lionblaze, sit in the seats behind Foxleap and Whiskernose. And lastly, Olivenose and Berrynose, sit behind Hollyleaf and Minnowtail."
Lionblaze groaned. Breezepelt was in his class? He was the most annoying and mean cat in the grade. Yeah, Berrynose was annoying, but now that Lionblaze thought of it, Breezepelt was the most annoying. He slid into his seat. "Hi," he said cautiously to Breezepelt.
"Sup, dorkus." Breezepelt lifted his chin.
So that's how he wants to play. Lionblaze narrowed his eyes and gave Breezepelt a curt nod.
"Quiet down, please!" Dustpelt silenced them. "Welcome to science class. This year, we will be studying forest science, which will involve going outside to the outdoor classroom often."
"So, wimp, I should hope that I don't have any more classes with you. You're so pathetic I rather dread the fact that everyday now, I'll be sitting next to you."
"Right back atcha," Lionblaze snarled.
"Lionblaze and Breezepelt!" Dustpelt's stern meow snapped the bickering toms back into realization, by which meaning that they were in a classroom. "Switch seats with Hollyleaf and Minnowtail. And do not let me catch you talking while I'm talking. Which brings me to rules and classroom expectations..."
"Nice going, dummy," Breezepelt shook his head and picked up his binder. Lionblaze sighed and grabbed his stuff. He slid into Hollyleaf's former seat.
"Now, as I was saying, gum-chewing will not be tolerated in this class, as many of your teachers will say. So I wisely suggest not bringing gum to school, because if it is seen, it will be confiscated."
Lionblaze groaned. It's like we're new here!
Breezepelt stuck his tongue out at Lionblaze, revealing green, chewed-up gum.
Unfortunately for Breezepelt, Dustpelt saw him. "Not off to the best start, are we, Breezepelt?" he growled. "Go spit out the gum and give me the pack, if it is with you."
"It isn't." Breezepelt answered.
Yeah, right. Lionblaze thought. He saw a Watermelon Splash gum pack poking out of Breezepelt's pencil case. But he kept his mouth shut as Breezepelt leaned over the trash can so that his face was practically hidden in the trash. Then he "spit out" the gum.
Dustpelt was still suspicious. "Open your mouth," he ordered.
Breezepelt opened his mouth wide, the gum hidden under his tongue.
"Under your tongue, please." Dustpelt seemed to have been through this event before.
Breezepelt's eyes widened. He closed his mouth, and wincing, he swallowed the gum. He then opened his mouth.
Dustpelt snorted. "Swallowing gum isn't good for you. I hope we don't have to go through this again. If so, there will be punishment."
"Yes. Sorry." Breezepelt avoided the teacher's narrowed eyes. He slid back into his seat.
Dustpelt continued to talk. Breezpelt took the pack of gum from his pencil case and passed it to Lionblaze. "Take it," he growled. "And give it back to me after class."
"I'll take it," Lionblaze whispered coolly. "But I won't give it back. I rather like this gum."
"You're crazy." Breezepelt huffed. "There's only two sticks left in the pack. Besides, I borrowed it. From Toadfoot. And he said that he'd get me if I didn't return it."
"We both know that Toadfoot's a grump and an over-exaggerator. Besides, you deserve it. When he corners you and asks you where the heck his gum is, you can tell him the truth about what happened."
"That you took it and didn't give it back?" Breezpelt's eyes were wide. "I'll keep it and take the risk that Dustpelt sees it."
"Can't you just get a fresh pack? Remember? Birchfall has a gum store in his locker."
"My mom gave me enough money for lunch, and nothing else."
"Get somebody to loan you money."
"Fine. Can you loan me money?"
"Are you insane?" Lionblaze shoved the gum back to Breezepelt. "No way!"
"Lionblaze and Breezepelt!" Dustpelt interrupted them. "Stop talking! You know what, Breezepelt, go switch seats with Hollyleaf. Lionblaze, stay there."
Breezepelt groaned, and grabbed his stuff. He slipped the gum pack into his pencil case and stood up. "Thanks a lot."
"Anytime." Lionblaze responded through clenched teeth.
Hollyleaf slid into the seat. "Sup, bro?"
"Hello."
Hollyleaf was rather cool.
"So, Blazey."
She also made nicknames for everyone she knew. Lionblaze was Blazey. Mousewhisker was Mousey. Some were obvious. Some were just plain weird. Like, Birchfall was "Tree-Dude".
"It's because "birch" is the name of a tree. A birch tree." Hollyleaf had said to him when Lionblaze had asked where Birchfall's name had come from. "What are you doing after school? I'm going over to Cinderheart's house."
"Oh, I'm going to the outdoor mall with Mousewhisker, Heathertail, and some sixth grader named Sedgewhisker."
"Now I need to make a nickname for these little kids. You can tell her that the Queen of Nicknames has bestowed on her the name "Li'l Sedge."
Weird. "Why?" Lionblaze asked.
"Cuz she's a little kid. Once she moves up a grade, I'll change it."
"Interesting." Lionblaze nodded.
"Lionblaze! Could you stop talking?" Dustpelt half-growled, half-screeched at him. "You know what, go sit at the empty desk at the back of the classroom. And honestly, I hoped I would not have to do this on the first day of school, but come up here. I am going to give you lunch detention for the rest of the week. You will not have it today, because Crowfeather doesn't need this kind of junk on the first day of school."
Lionblaze's jaw dropped. Some kids gasped. Some laughed, including Breezepelt.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Dustpelt puffed irritably.
Lionblaze shut his trap and picked up his stuff. He walked slowly to the front of the room. Dustpelt was scribbling on a pink slip. He handed it to Lionblaze. "I'm very disappointed with you."
"I'm sorry." Lionblaze bowed his head and avoided Dustpelt's eyes. He took the slip and scurried to the back of the classroom. He sighed and sat in the desk. It was so empty around him. The closest cat to him was Berrynose, and he was fox-lengths away. He felt so lonely.
Detention was different things for different cats. Some cats thought of detention as a joke, who took their pink slips while they laughed and smiled, or acted like they were voted Clan leader. This was Breezepelt, Foxleap, Hollyleaf and several others.
Others didn't care if they got detention or got away free, but acted like they cared, so that the teachers would be satisfied. This was Lionblaze.
And then there were the cats who made a big fuss. They did not like detention at all. They would pout, cry, and tell the teachers, "I'm so sorry! Please, find it in your heart to forgive me!" Berrynose would be like that, although he had never gone to detention.
This is not best first day ever, I can already tell. One period in and I have earned myself a detention from the hardest-to-please techer in the school.