"I can't believe this shit," I look up from my desk to see John and Tavros come into my classroom.
"Language, Mr. Egbert, language," I say as I take a sip out of my coffee mug.
"Sorry," He turns back to Tavros "I just can't believe that Scratch postponed the assembly!"
"Now you have more time to practice your prank," Tavros says as he sits down in his seat.
"Whatever that prank maybe," I intervene, the last thing I need is a bunch of kids putting a bucket of water above my door. "I suggest you don't get me involved in it, Mr. Egbert," But, if the prank is on other teacher then I don't care.
"A prank on you Mr. V? I wouldn't dream about it," I roll my eyes and watch him smile innocently.
"Whatever," I hear the minute bell go off a crowd of students usher themselves in. There seems to be one missing from the pack, however.
"Mr. Nitram, where is Makara?"
I looks up from his English book and turns back to John, "Where is he actually? I haven't seen him since after lunch."
"I saw Coach Zahhak take him out of last period, he's probably down in the Gym,"
"God dammit," I say under my breath "Okay class, I was going to tell you that your chapter review was today, but I've decided to give you some time to study while I go take care of something," I clasp my hands together, "As Seniors, I should trust you to behave yourselves while I am gone,"
"Sure thing, Mr. V, you can totally trust us," John reassures me.
"I said should trust you, but I don't so, Nitram, go across the hall and get Ms. Maryam for me, please? She doesn't have a class to teach,"
"Yes, Mr. Vantas," He gets up from his seat and walks out the door.
I leave my class to their studying and make my way to the Gym. I don't know how many times I have to tell the coaches, I want any student that leaves my class to have a pass. Written and signed by them with the time they expect them to be there. Normally I really don't care, but Coach Strider and Zahhak are such a pain in my ass I think they deserve the same courtesy. I shove open the doors to the gym to see the floor packed with students. Mostly upperclassmen with a few underclassmen sprinkled throughout. Standing on a metal bench, Coach Zahhak is shouting out the names of kids who must have made this year's team.
"And last, but not least, Nepeta Leijon and Gamzee Makara. To the rest of you who did not make the team, that doesn't mean you can't try out next year, you did your best and that is most admirable," There's grumbles and groans coming from the students "You all may leave, but to the ones who did make the team, I expect you to be here afterschool ASAP so we can start our first practice,"
"But, Coach, we only have like thirty minutes left. Can't we just stay down here?" A boy at the back of the crowd speaks up.
"Well," He scratches the back of his neck. I see he scans the crowd and his beady, bloodshot eyes land on me. "No, just go to class." He jumps down off of the bench heading in the opposite direction of me. The kids grumble and walk out the back door; through the crowd of students I spot the one that brought me down here in the first place.
"Makara!"
"Oh, Mr. Vantas, what's up? Why are you down here?"
I grab his shoulder and point to the benches. "You, sit, I need to talk to your coach," I turn away from him and that stupid goofy looking smile he has on his face. "And you have after-school detention,"
"Sure, whatever you say Mr. V," He goes over to the bleachers by the locker-rooms and plops down with his phone. "He was looking for you earlier, by the way. Said he needed to talk to you."
"Why?" I'm caught a little off guard knowing that he wanted to talk, but I'm honestly not surprised. I wonder what's the favor this time.
"He said something about my pass to class, and wrestling? I can't remember, Mr. V, it was like thirty minutes ago."
I roll my eyes and head in the direction that I saw him walk. I swear if Coach Strider or Zahhak ambush me in the hallway down there I'm going to strangle somebody, preferably them. I open the door leading the small gym area. In the middle of the floor, I see Coach Strider and Zahhak arguing with each other. I stand behind the second set of doors and listen.
"No, Equius, you've lost your mind. There is no way in hell I want that blowhard, dictionary cog, on my sports team! I didn't even want him to help with the track-meet, let alone help with wrestling!" Coach Strider shouts at Zahhak.
"Just because the two of you are on such hostile terms with one another, doesn't mean I am. Nobody else wishes to work with the P.E. department, let alone with the sports team because they're sick of us. Mr. Vantas is the best qualified,"
"Can't you go ask Ms. Serket? She'll do it," Strider seems like he's begging now. "All you have to do is give her something."
"She no longer wants to tolerate dealing with us either, in fact, she finds you to be an annoyance. As well as immature. " I have to hold my breath to prevent myself from laughing. It's nice to know I'm not the only one.
"There's no need to be hurtful," He crosses his arms, with the gym light reflecting off his shades "And tell me, what makes Vantas more qualified? He hates us more than any other teacher,"
"He still will work for us at the right circumstances," Zahhak shrugs.
There's a silence between the both of them, "Fine, ask the whiny brat, but if he's says no, I'm going to laugh my damn ass off at you,"
"I find that my persuasion skills will be adequate to convince him,"
I believe this will be my que to enter. I push open the door and both of their heads swivel in my direction. "Coach Zahhak, I have a bone to pick with you,"
"Great, " Coach Strider growls "Fuck this, I'm out of here."
"Where are you going?" Coach Zahhak inquires.
"I'm not going to sit here and watch you sallow your pride to this," He pauses "This idiot."
"So says the Physical Education teacher wearing his 99 cent shades inside a building. In all seriousness, Strider, I'm starting to wonder if your blind and dumb," I tell him flatly. The smug side of me seems to be showing at the moment because I feel as if I'm untouchable. "Furthermore the idiot in this room would not be me. It also wouldn't be Coach Zahhak, because not only is he a sports coach, for every team this school has, unlike you, he's also the mechanics and engineering. As well as the on-campus, sub for the English department. I actually graduated college with a Master's. While, you flunked high school and went through the teacher training program that I taught. Which, you almost failed again. " I stop having earned the coldest glare I could mine from Coach Strider. "Am I missing anything, Coach?"
He doesn't say a word. Coach Strider just stares a little longer at me and then silently walks out the door.
"As for you Zahhak," I turn my attention to him now. "You have some nerve pulling my student out of my class without telling me when I specially told you to deliver a pass to my classroom prior to any sports meeting or game. Yet, I received none."
"Mr. Vantas, I a quite sorry that I did not deliver my pass any sooner, but I was delayed by Coach Strider," He pulls a crumpled orange slip from his back pocket "Then, the students were arriving and my Student Assistant has gone missing."
I look at him and snatch the paper from his hand. "If you think I believe any of that for a second, you're not as smart as I assumed." I shove it into my back pocket. "But, your excuse will do for now,"
"Mr. Vantas, I have a favor to ask of you," Mr. Zahhak takes off his glasses his piggish, beady, bloodshot eyes looking right at me.
"What is it now? Can't you pin one of the other teachers down?" I roll my eyes. "It's not even the first game yet, who could you possibly want me to pass?"me
"Actually, no one, it's more of an actual thing you must do yourself, if you say yes I mean,"
"Then what is it? I do have a class to get back and teach," I pace around in circles like a lion eyeing his prey. I'm ready for him to ask me whatever it is, and I know exactly what I'm going to say and do.
"There's been a new set of rules for all wrestling teams this year, there must be official weight measurer and strength trainer. Normally, Coach Strider or I would do it. But that's violating regulations. Really all you have to do is weigh the boys before their games and make sure they stay in their weight class, as well as coming wrapping up their muscles so they don't sprain themselves,"
"Sure," I say to him "Should I be at practice today?"
He looks at me stunned "J-just like that? You aren't going to uh, have me talk you into it or anything?"
"Look, I'm not sure about yourself, Mr. Zahhak, but I'm a man who has things to do. I'm not going to sit here and argue about something I already fine slightly intriguing. All I do after school is grade papers and go home to do absolutely nothing. So I'm willing to try this training coach, thing." I turn away from him, smirking "Besides, I want to show what this dictionary cog can do."
As I walk out of the room, I can hear Mr. Zahhak mumble "I hope this was a good idea,"
Going back to the main Gym, I see Gamzee still sitting in the same spot. I walk over to him, and sit on the side "Makara, I've decided not to give you afterschool detention," I say aloud not looking at him. I'm still having mixed feeling towards him, ever since Wednesday. Kissing your students and having a crush on them files under serious prison time; but Gamee doesn't seem like my student anymore. I guess he never really has, he's been more like a friend. Ever since I was hired at Skaia High, he's been someone I could talk to. I hate to admit it, but I would just give him after-school detention just so we could stay together. Sometimes I wouldn't give him any, and he would still stay after. Now I don't know what to do, because apparently Gamzee hasn't seen me as his teacher.
"Really Mr. V?" He stops texting on his phone and turns to look at me.
"You have lunch detention," The bell rings over head dismissing the students for their weekend. "And you wouldn't happen to have some spare shorts I can borrow?"