The cracking pencil I held with an iron grip did not help my rising temper in the least.
"Mitch," I breathed, trying to remain as calm as I could, "This is the third time this week,"
The teen stared at me from the back row of desks impatiently, as if I was somehow bothering his pranking. His curly blond hair strewn over his eyes, making it hard to tell if he was even paying attention. I always assumed he wasn't.
"C'mon everyone laughed," Mitch sneered, glancing to both sides of the classroom for peer approval.
"Pull a stunt like that again, and I'll have no trouble with calling your parents. I doubt they want to hear that their son nearly impaled his English teacher with a pencil for the third time this week" I sneered back.
"Oh please, man up, would 'ya?" Mitch laughed. The pencil snapped between my fingers as I reached across my desk for the landline phone.
"Wait, wait, it's fine, I'm sorry Ms. Hawthorne," Mitch started as my hand settled on the phone. I looked him directly in the eyes, unblinking.
"This is your last warning,"
Mitch sulked back in his chair, scoffing. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the salary of a high school English teacher wasn't worth the hassle. The class bell blared over the rusted speaker, signifying the end of another long shift. The twenty students in my Remedial English class quickly ran towards the door, tripping over their desks to get out. They reminded me of rats to cheese, but in this run down school, they'd be trapped for the next few years of their life. Rockwell Junior Senior High School was just short of making failing marks last year. I remembered attending several years ago, and I was absolutely miserable. Fortunately, the only people who recognized me were the advanced physics professor who left the community college for a 'break', Professor Silas, and the night janitor, Mr. Sanchez.
Smoothing down my pencil skirt, I scooped the half-finished homework assignments into the off-brand designer handbag I had bought from Goodwill at the start of the school year. Erasing the useless vocabulary off the whiteboard behind me, I flicked off the lightswitch and walked into the empty hall. Only five minutes had passed since the bell rang, but all the students had cleared from the building. Rockwell Junior Senior High School spanned the entirety of Rockwell County. Ely, Hayesville, Lovelock, and Reno were the four cities comprising Rockwell County, and all of them were rural towns. In fact, there was a time long before I got into the school when it was divided into two schools: Rockwell Junior High, and Rockwell Senior High. I remember being one of five kids in advanced physics, which is part of the reason they decided to merge the two schools into the high school, leaving the other building completely abandoned. It was a popular spot for the local gangs to hide out, though.
Listening to the light clicking of my kitten heel shoes against the cracked tile flooring, I paid attention to the lockers that lined either side of me. They were painted a deep blue color, which didn't match the school mascot colors. Ever since the merging of the two schools, the principal, an older, strict woman named Ms. Bonstance didn't bother to change the mascot, so she kept the high school one and ditched the junior high signature scorpion. Now, we're collectively considered the Rockwell Raiders.
Briefly waving to the janitor, Mr. Sanchez, I opened the school doors to step into the Nevada sun. The school year was almost over, and all the students were itching for their summer vacation. Although there were still several quizzes I was required to administer due to the failure of my class to stay up to the calendar, there wasn't much material I had left to teach. I was the youngest teacher in the building, which the high school students were quick to point out. Although I taught the junior high remedial English, certain dim-witted high schoolers would bang on my classroom door to catch me off guard while they passed. I doubted any of my students would earn their three-credit English requirement before graduation, but I really didn't care. None of the other staff did either. I only looked forward to the well deserved nap at the end of every day back at Nick's house. There was a brief period towards the middle of the school year I had looked for other living arrangements for Luke and I, but could never find anything amongst the roach-infested apartments we both agreed on. So, we stayed at Nick's farm house. Luke grew tired of sleeping in the same room as me, so he ended up, much to my annoyance, asking Nick if he could have his own room. Luke now sleeps in the storage shed out behind the house. He seems to like it, as Nick took great care in helping to clean it up so Luke had somewhere comfortable to sleep. I stayed in my own room, as I was completely content with have any place at all to sleep. Liv was going to Rockwell Community College, but still lived at Nick's home. I hadn't the slightest idea what Nick did during the day. The animatronics were always bored until one of us came home, which was understandable.
"Luke, I'm here," I called, as I approached my Mustang sitting patiently in the back corner of the parking lot. I slid the key into the slot, unlocking the blue doors. I had gotten the windshield repaired using my first paycheck.
"Keep it down Vic," Luke growled, emerging from behind the car. His voice had gotten deeper since the beginning of the school year, and he was beginning to put on some muscle mass. He was beginning to get a bit of height as well.
"It's not like we're being watched, you don't have to hide behind there every day," I replied, loading my bag into the passenger seat.
"Weren't you the one who kept tellin' me we had to remain, what word did you say," Luke paused for effect, "Inconspicuous?"
I sighed, glancing at the angsty kid standing behind the Mustang. Luke would often wear clothes from sources I didn't recognize. Everytime I asked where he got a certain item, he'd insist it was his to begin with. Today, he had a pair of black jeans and a gym shirt. A white bandage wrapped tightly around his right hand, courtesy of my own doing.
"Did those kids give you trouble today?" I asked, entering the driver's side. The leather seats were hot, and made the back of my dress shirt cling to my sweaty skin.
"No," Luke replied, waiting until I started the air conditioning to get into his seat.
"How was school then?" I asked, putting on my ski goggle sunglasses. The exterior of Rockwell Junior Senior High was pretty bland. It was made almost entirely of bricks, which was a valid choice considering the lack of insulation inside. The football field was poorly maintained, having crooked goal lines and random holes dug around the perimeter. The scoreboard was broken, having only the 'home' side functioning. The large Raider logo atop the scoreboard had faded from the sun, and needed to be replaced. Just like the rest of the school.
"School was fine," Luke mumbled. I glanced at him through the rearview mirror, watching him stare out the window. I pulled out of my parking spot, accelerating back to the main road. There were several kids still waiting at the front of the school for rides. Luke ducked under the window upon seeing them.
"You know we can be seen together. Everyone knows we're related," I laughed.
"Yeah, and it's annoying," Luke replied.
"It's annoying you're related to someone who works at your school?" I asked, pulling onto the main road.
"Bingo,"
This conversation happened at least once a week. I wasn't quite sure what Luke was so embarrassed about, but he hated the fact I worked at his school.
"It's not like I'm your teacher," I scoffed, honestly happy Luke didn't have to take my class.
"I know people who have your classes," Luke started, "Do you know how many times I get asked if you're single?"
"And you tell them what exactly?" I replied.
"That she's in a committed relationship with an animatronics weasel," Luke sneered.
"You better not tell them that," I snarked back, "That's an over exaggeration anyways,"
Luke scoffed loudly, "That's not what everyone else is saying back at Nick's,"
"You tell them I'm too good for them. Understand?"
"Whatever makes you happy, Vic," Luke sighed. I had driven down the freeway so many times this school year, I had completely memorized the streets, and could, in all honesty, drive them with my eyes shut. Ever since coming to Ely, I had become familiar with all the local hangouts. In the place of the decrepit remains of Walmart on the outskirts, there was a proposed construction plan for another, more fire-retardant version. About ten minutes from Nick's house there were several restaurants and stores, all of which were locally owned. The school was near the West side, and there was a large office complex about five minutes from there. There weren't many housing neighborhoods or apartment options. Most of the kids at the school lived in neighboring towns. There had been a massive memorial service for the citizens of Hayesville, all of whom were reported dead. Except for me. Luke, Liv, Nick, and I attended, and watched as everyone from Hayesville's photo was displayed on a large cardboard poster from the local craft store. Luke's was there, which he found humorous. There was a lot of talk from then on out about what went down with Jerry, and where Jerry went. As far as everyone in Ely was concerned, Jerry and his crew were still at large. For that reason, people were very wary of each other and their surroundings. I couldn't have a single conversation with the other teachers at the school without Jerry being brought up. I had become very good at pretending to not know what happened to them. I hoped Luke had better Luke disguising his knowledge than I did.
"How are you feeling today?" I asked Luke, pulling off down a dirt trail.
"I feel fine," Luke replied in a monotone voice.
"Is there anything you need to talk about today?" I asked again. I watched Luke shake his head from the rearview mirror. I fished my hand into the cupholder, pulling out the garage door opener Nick had lent me. The large, blue garage door opened silently as I pulled in next to the spot where Nick's Camaro was. Liv usually took it to college for the day, and she always made it home before we did. Luke promptly exited the vehicle, not even waiting for me to cut the engine. Like every single day prior to this, Luke would spend the rest of the evening in his room. I pulled my stuff together, trying not to drop my phone as I got out of the car. I had been fortunate to be able to afford a phone recently, and wasn't about to let this one break. Every major purchase I made had to be signed by 'Victoria Hawthorne'. It was a little hard to get used to the last name change, but after a while of correcting myself, I managed to get the hang of it. I didn't know if Luke was having better luck with his name change.
Pulling the keys from the ignition, I closed the garage door and tripped my way inside. Swinging open the door to the house, I was immediately greeted by Liv.
"Vic," She smiled, helping me step into the house. My ankles were sore from wearing the kitten heels. "How was work?"
"Almost done for the year," I smiled, removing my sunglasses from my eyes.
"We've been waitin' for ya," Arty called from the living room. I peered around the corner, seeing all eight of the Willy's Wonderland animatronics gathered on the couch, surrounding a piece of paper.
"What are they doing?" I asked Liv.
"They wanted a shot at my calculus," Liv shrugged in reply.
"You're not doing it right, you're supposed to evaluate the exponential curve, not the straight line," Ozzie argued.
"Well how am I supposed to know which one is which?" Arty rerted.
"Ugh, you guys have been at this for the last hour," Sara complained.
"What are your plans for this evening?" Liv asked, directing my attention back to her.
"Grading some papers, you?" I replied, kicking off my shoes.
"Homework. And helping Nick out with the dinner," Liv replied, smoothing down her hair.
"Do I hear Vic?" I heard Willy ask from the living room.
"It might be," I smiled back.
"Ya' should join us, you're a teacha' you know a thing or two 'bout math," Arty called.
"Let me change into better clothes, I'll be over there in a second," I responded. Liv snickered.
"How's Luke?" She asked.
"The same as yesterday," I shrugged, sighing.
"Do you think you should take him to a therapist?"
"Even if I did, they're not gonna believe a word he says. We both know why he's acting like this, and there really isn't anything a therapist could do," I replied. It was no mystery that Luke's strange behavior was stemming from Jerry's disappearance.
"You're right. If any word got out about you or him being connected to Jerry, you'd both be in a lot of legal trouble," Liv replied.
"Did he go back to his room?" I asked.
"Yeah, as soon as he came in. He said hi to Tito, then went out back. Tito went to talk to him,"
"That's good, at least," I shrugged, forcing a smile. Ever since coming to live here, Tito had been putting in a special effort to help Luke out. Ever since the night Luke stayed in the garage, he's been acting a little differently. More reserved, more quiet, more secretive...I only assumed it was because he was enjoying the camaraderie with the animatronics enough that he didn't want me to see him having fun.
"Do you want me to check up on them later?" Liv offered, listening to the animatronics arguing to the left of her.
"It's alright, I can check on them after I unwind. I'm not ready to have another conversation with him right now," I spoke. I held my bag close, walking down the hallway to my room. Liv had been kind enough to buy me several non-work attire outfits. I had to shop at the local Goodwill for all of my work clothes, which I was okay with. I could barely afford my gas bill, let alone new clothes.
Entering my room, I swiftly changed into a pair of soft jeans and a blouse. Taking my hair down from its ballerina bun, I brushed it out in the bathroom. There wasn't much that had changed since leaving Hayesville. Luke and I were slow to get along, we spent most of our time in separate locations, and he seems to hate my guts. The only things that have changed is that Liv is now back in my life, and so are eight sentient animatronics. This was fine with me. In fact, as long as things stayed the way they were, I'd be completely content. With the exception of Luke's attitude of course, but I reasoned with myself that he was going through a phase.
"Nothing more, nothing less," I whispered to myself out loud. As much as I wanted to believe things were going to keep looking up for Luke and I, a progressively growing sinking feeling in my chest was continuing to form that I was in for something much deeper than angsty attitude.