Don't worry Klaus is going to make an appearnce soon.
I was again having trouble with my locker. My father's offer of switching them out was starting to sound more and more appealing. Stupid pride! I decided that I would give it one more try before giving it up. I gave it one swift kick, and leaned my head against it as a means of trying to calm myself. A voice calling out to me broke me out of my trance.
"Whoa easy there killer." Tyler approached me with his hands raised. "All you need to need to know is the secret." He threw a wink my way and with in seconds he had my locked open.
"Great just great. I am really starting to think that it is just me and this stupid thing hates me." I commiserated offering Tyler a smile. We were flirting; it felt nice.
"That won't compare to the hate you'll get if you show up late for Taner's class. I'm in that class too; we can walk together." Tyler grabbed my book bag as we our way down the now empty hall. Tyler was the first boy to pay me. I liked it, I liked it a lot.
We were making idle conversation and I found myself laughing a lot. "So there is a bonfire tonight; it kind like the first unofficial official party of the year. I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?" He was nervous and rambling. I thought it was cute.
"And what would be happening at this bonfire?" I was playing along.
He put his arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. "Well I can say it will be a good time; booze, food, and lots of unshapperoned teenage anttaics."
Unfortunately we waled into to Taner's class late. "Mr. Lockwood and Miss. Forbes care to explain to me and the class why the two of you walked into my class late? More importantly why you feel the need to not only waist my time but the time of your classmates because apparently neither of you know how to read a clock?" Taner was one of those teachers that not only enjoyed teaching but rather enjoyed humiliating his students more. "Maybe you've been hit one to many times on the football field. We all all know that your running game can use so work Lockwood. Or tell me Ms. Forbes did the beach from your over processed hair seep into your brain?" Taner finished who rant with a smirk earring a few giggles from the class.
" Happy I can help perpetuate the stereotype of the dumb jock for you Mr. Taner." Tyler joked happy to be out of the spot light. He knew that if he was careful Taner would make him pay later during football practice.
"He was helping with my locker you ass." I snapped, okay so I have a bit of an anger management issue. While I can say that I regret my choice of words; I did not regret sticking up myself.
Taner was floored; this was the first time that a student had ever talked back to him. "What did you say to me?" Taner was the only one who was in a state of shock the whole class seemed to be holding their breaths.
"I called you an ass, or did your negative attitude impair your comprehension abilities." I should have quit while I was a head. Me and my big mouth.
"Get out of my class and go to the principles office!" Taner punctuated his commend by gesturing to the door.
A half hour later Caroline was seated next to her father while the principle read off her offense. "She call her teacher an ass...twice. Mr. Forbes I'm sure you can understand that we do not tolerate this level of disobedience.
"That's because," Caroline was quickly cut off by her father. "That's enough Caroline.
"Mr. Forbes it is my duty to inform you the school has a strict policy of zero tolerance in regards to our staff. However, given recent tragic events in Caroline's life I am willing to give her a pass; this is a one and only time allowance." Principle Kane stood to shake my father's hand assuming the meeting was over.
"While we are grateful for your understanding during this difficult time; I am more concerned at what lead up to the out burst. For instance did Taner or did he not ask my daughter 'if the bleached seep into her brain'?My father fixed principle Kane with the look he normally reserved for cross examination.
"Mr. Forbes we are not her to discuss Mr. Taner's actions, but those of Caroline's to insure that she gets the most out of her time her at Fells Churh high." Principle Kane was nervous. Getting on the bad side of the founding families and council was not something he has intended.
"While I appreciate you concern for Caroline's well being; can't tolerate emotional abuse. Given the nature of the redirection that Taner was using I find it more that fair that Caroline defend herself. In fact I encourage it. The language she used may have been out of line but the principle was well with it her rights. I need some assurance that this so called teacher is going to be put in his place."
The council was official a group of individuals that over say the management of the town. Unofficially they were made up of only members from the founding families. Their sole purpose as to dictate and enact policies, and they always got what they wanted. "Mr. Taner is a tenured teacher. There isn't much that can be done to him."
"If the school is not going to get their teacher in line and protect our children I have no problem taking this matter to the council." All at once you could see Principle Kane weighing the decision. Either he came down on Taner and risked angering him, or he got on the bad side of the council and risk losing funding. " I can assure that this matter will taken care of by me personally."
Being satified with the direction of the meeting Bill and Caroline departed. "You were awesome in their dad." I gushed. My dad totally kicked ass.
"You are not off the hook completely Caroline, what you did was out of line. You should have came home and told me. " Bill tried to reason.
"Dad, he was being an ass, and he liked what he was doing. You should have saw his face."
"Yes, I know. I have had the displeasure of being alone with Taner more times then I can count. Be that as it may you are not to mouth off to teachers anymore. Deal?"
"Deal. So what is my punishment going to be?"
"What do you think is fair?"
"I could offer free babysitting services?" My dad and I were actually talking. For the first time since I arrived in Fell's Church we were speaking. It felt good really good.
"I accept your offer and purpose two days of extra dishes duty." He was using his playful lawyer tone. I hadn't heard that tone since I was a kid and he would make deals with me to eat my veggies.
"I accept."