Hanson's hands were shaking. This concerned Penhall, as they were currently driving down a pothole ridden road.
"It's just another assignment. Don't get so worked up,"
"I know," Hanson muttered, "It's just…a staple, man. These kids make random household objects into weapons."
"But they're still just kids! We are trained police officers!"
Hanson nodded, but he was still trembling.
A lawn came into view. It stood out against the brick and steel of the industrial park surrounding it. A square sign sat in the middle, that read,
'Juvenex Academy: An Exciting Alternative High School'.
Hanson pulled into the parking lot, and almost hit a forklift. There was a marble plant next door, and Penhall could hear Billy Joel faintly playing over the clashing and clanging of machinery.
"What is this place?" Penhall said, looking around.
"It's exciting," Hanson said, as he parked.
They walked into the school, through one glass door, then another. It was seemingly empty. The only other people Penhall could see were a circle of kids, sitting next to a wall in between two doors. There was a large yellow poster on the wall, that said,
'The mission of Juvenex Academy is to provide a caring, well-structured learning environment where academically, emotionally, and/or socially needy students can develop the necessary skills to become productive citizens.'
Penhall scoffed.
'Productive citizens, my --'
"We're supposed to go in there," Hanson said. He led Penhall to a door, near the circle of kids. Penhall saw them staring.
Hanson knocked on the door. A bald man answered.
"Come on in," he said, in a strangely soft voice.
The room was painted blue, and covered in various posters with 'My Future' written morosely on them. No two chairs in the room were alike. Hanson sat in a blue rocking chair; Penhall, a cushy red one.
"I'm Kevin," the bald man said, "I'm the vice principal and counselor."
Hanson gave a timid nod.
Penhall rolled his eyes at this.
"So?" he grunted, in his Doug-McQuaid-boisterous-semi-retarded voice.
Kevin grinned, and handed him a piece of paper.
"There's your class schedule," he said. He gave one to Hanson as well.
"If you don't know where a room is, ask someone. The layout here is pretty easy to figure out, anyway. You're both in all each other's classes."
Hanson smiled slightly. Penhall wanted to kick him.
Kevin opened the door.
"Welcome to Juvenex,"
Hanson quickly walked out. Penhall sighed and strode out, brushing roughly against Kevin. When he turned back, he saw that Kevin didn't break his smile.
When Penhall turned again, he saw Hanson talking to a really short girl. Penhall came up to his side.
"Who are you?" he bluntly stated.
The girl grinned.
"I'm Violet. I was just telling your brother that you're welcome to sit with us."
Penhall grunted and grabbed Hanson's collar, pulling him.
"Bye," Hanson said, before being dragged away.
Penhall led him to a deserted corridor.
"What are you doing?" he growled as he let go of Hanson.
"Um…"
"We are the McQuaid brothers, not the Bashfully Polite brothers."
"Yeah, well, who knows what'll set a kid off here?"
"They aren't fucking time bombs!"
"How do you know?"
"They're just high school kids, how much damage can they do?"
"They killed a teacher with a stapler!"
A monotone bell sounded.
"What was --"
A herd of kids thundered up the stairs. Hanson took off in the opposite direction.
Penhall followed him, grumbling curse words the whole way.