John just smirked, recognizing the smart-alec attitude all too
well. "Don't flatter yourself, Angel and why don't
you watch the profanity, okay?"
"Shit, whatever you say, Johnny." Angel grinned,
placing her feet back down.
He glared at Angel. John could almost see a faint resemblance of
his old self in that brunette teen rebel. "Angel"
His voice warning.
Angel just smirked, obviously enjoying every testing moment.
John focused his attention off of Angel for a minute, though he
knew that she would pull him back in any second. He looked over
the bunch that he would be babysitting over for the next ten
hours. As he gazed over them, he found himself startled by the
group. "Jesus," He breathed, "It's like
looking into the past."
"Mr. Bender?" He heard Meghan's voice, concerned
over him. "Mr. Bender, you okay?"
He glanced at the young athlete, then woke up from his reverie.
John nodded, cleared his throat, then began.
"Alright, people, listen up. This is detention. Which means
there will be NO talking. NO moving amongst THIS ROOM or the
halls as freely as you please." Glancing purposely at Angel,
"That includes visiting one's LOCKER"
For a brief moment, Angel's vixen face paled, but quickly
regained self control.
"I will decide when it is time for all of you to use the
restroom. I will decide when it is time for lunch. And I will
decide when it is time to set you free."
John began to pass out a sheet of paper and a pencil to all five
teenagers. He felt an eerie sense of deja vu.
"What is this? No one said anything about a test!"
Angel ranted in a tone that John recognized from beyond the
grave.
"I want each of you to write me a hundred word essay.
Telling me who you think you are. And I will not tolerate for any
smart-alec response. Nor will I accept any essay where one single
word is written again and again one hundred times. Believe me,
ladies and gentlemen I know all the tricks all too
well." John stopped, then slowly allowed his defenses to
fall for the briefest moment. "Believe me when I say that I've
been here before. I know all the stunts, all the tricks"
Again, he gazed purposely at Angel, "The facade"
And back addressing everyone, "Everything."
John pointed to an office space that he himself once despised
entering. "I will be right outside" As he began
to exit, he reminded them, "And remember I know. I
know."
Once Mr. Bender was out of proximity, Angel began to crumble her
paper. In that taunting mocking voice, "I know ALL the
STUNTS, ALL the TRICKS I know EVERYTHING" Her
regular voice returning, "Good God, give me a break!"
"Y'know, why don't you just shut up?" Meg
groaned, already tired of Angel's obnoxious presence.
"Well why don't you just fuck off?" Angel replied,
then tossed the crumbled paper ball towards the trash bin.
Meg watched with quiet satisfaction as she witness the paper ball
bounce off the rim of the trash can, and onto the floor.
"Talk about brick." Meg smirked. She then crumbled up
her own paper, then tossed it perfectly into the trash bin. Meg
turned around, allowing herself to give Angel the satisfaction of
being beaten. "Nothing, but net."
Angel just calmly sneered, crossing her arms, "Brick, huh?
Well, who said that I was talking about each of your mother's
ass cheek?"
Meg's eyes turned cold, glaring dangerously at Angel.
"Bitch!"
Malibu teenybopper voice returning again, "Oh! Like, my God!
She called me a bitch AGAIN!"
"Hey, guys."
The two girls turned towards Mark, who's attention was
between them and the door. "Would you guys, like, tone it
down? Bender might hear us."
"So let the anal bastard hear us." Angel quipped. She
laid back in her seat, allowing a few seconds of silence settle
on all of them.
Then "So" To Kyle and Meg, "Are you
guys, like, boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Kyle and Meg glanced at each other, then glanced at Angel before
turning back to the front.
However, Angel only continued. "Steadies? Lovers
any hot fucking between the two of you?"
"Okay, that's it!" Meg jumped from her seat,
irritated beyond extreme. "You are SO going to get the bitch
slap you've been asking for!"
"Bring it on, cunt!" Angel pounced out of her seat,
arms outstretched, ready for any rumble. Her eyes were livid,
which slightly scared Meg for a moment. Suddenly, Angel gazed at
something behind Meg, and a small smile played on her lips.
"But first" Angel slowly walked towards the open
door. She glanced out, figuring that Bender probably walked out
for some coffee or some shit. Knowing that this was maybe her
only chance, she began unscrewing the hinges off the heavy door.
"Luther! Luther, c'mon now!" Meg cried, knowing
full well what she was up to.
"Angel" Kyle was also worried, "C'mon,
Angel, don't do that."
"If we're gonna rumble, Meggie Meg I really don't
want old Bender to get in the middle. Poor guy might get hurt"
Angel grinned triumphantly as she gathered all the screws, tossed
it aside, then allowed the heavy wooden door to slam violently.
Angel scurried to her seat, just as she heard a very surprised,
and soon to be pissed, John Bender.
Meg fell to her seat, fear not only on her face, but on everyone
else's. Well maybe not on Angel's.
John Bender knew that going to get that cup of coffee wasn't
such a good idea. He should have just let Andy grab it for him
like he had offered.
"Holy shit!" He cursed, placing his cup down and making
his way from the teacher's lounge and back to the library.
"What the hell was that, Bender?" Andrew exclaimed, as
both he and Brian stood up from their seats in the lounge.
"You remember that time you got pissed at me when I took the
screws out of the library door?" Bender spoke, as he made
his way to the library, with Andy and Brian behind him.
Andy and Brian glanced at each other, just before Bender
disappeared into the library. Both men uttered the same name,
knowing full well who John Bender's successor was.
"Angel"
"Okay! Even though I already know full well who was behind
that little stunt, I want answers and I want them now!"
His eyes scanned the little group, who was dead silent.
"Well?" He waited, though he was waiting more for Angel
to cover her ass than anyone else's response.
Angel just gazed down on her table. She then looked up, her eyes
almost as innocent as her name. "This is an old school,
Bender. Screws fall off all the time."
John crossed his arms, nodding his head, though he really wasn't
falling for that excuse. He heard the door open, glanced behind
him, and smiled knowingly at his two colleagues.
"Well, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Clark, I'm glad that you could
join us. If you hadn't heard Miss Luther a moment ago, she
just explained to me that this is an old school.' That
screws fall off all the time.' Isn't that
something?"
"Deja vu." Brian mumbled, while Andy just nodded.
Andrew's gaze suddenly fell on his most prized athlete,
young Meghan Price. He felt his defense fall at the sight of her
quiet, fearful like exterior. He especially felt sorry for her as
he recalled the major event that got her into this mess. If only
she knew that he could relate to her. Maybe she wouldn't be
as upset with him as she revealed to him two days ago when he
dispatched detention upon Meg for her actions.
John glared at Angel, smirking, "Well, Miss Luther. This
world is quite an imperfect place then, isn't it?"
"Couldn't have summarized it better, Johnny."
John nodded thoughtfully. He then turned to Kyle. "Mister
Stone? Come with me for a moment."
Kyle just remained there, momentarily fearful. However, by the
reassuring look on Mr. Clark's face, Kyle obediently stood
up and followed.
Angel, however, wasn't very happy. "Hey! What the
fuck?!"
"Angel" Brian's voice warned her,
"Watch that language of yours, Miss Luther."
"Shit!" Angel kicked the table, still wanting to rant.
"Why does Stone get to get out of his seat? Very soon there'll
be absolute anarchy!" Indicating to Mark, "First Stone,
then Beckett over there will get out of his seat!" Pointing
to Todd Sanders, "Then the loner will get up!"
"Hey! That loner' as you so compassionately put
it, has a name!" Meg snapped unexpectedly.
Angel wasn't the only one surprised by Meg's outburst.
For the first time, Todd and Meg met eyes, and it startled her.
What was he saying to her with those eyes of his?
"Sorry Sporty Spice." Angel said, then turned to
Todd. "Hey, what's your name?"
Todd just looked at her, as soon as he diverted his eyes off of
Meg's. He mumbled something, then fell silent, looking away.
"What?" Angel's patience wearing thin.
"His name's Todd." Meg spoke up. "So now you
have no excuse to call him other than his given name."
Angel was about to retort, when everyone turned to hear John
giving Kyle instructions.
"Okay, hand me the screw driver, Stone."
Angel's mouth gaped in disbelief. "Crap." She
mumbled.
Andrew smiled knowingly at Bender, watching him screw in the
extra screws he always kept in his office, in the likely event
something like this would happen.
When Bender was done, he placed the door back in its rightful
position and ushered Kyle back to his seat.
He gazed over the small group of Seniors, shaking his head at
them. "Don't think that I don't know what's
going on inside of here when I'm not looking."
"Didn't know you were psychic, Johnny. Tell me my
future c'mon, I dare you." Angel smirked, laying
back in her seat.
John was becoming extremely irritated by Angel's lack of
respect towards his authority. He found that his tolerance
towards her was fading with each of her snap remark. John took a
deep breath, "Okay ladies and gentlemen, I want you to
listen up. I will not tolerate anymore pranks or any other shit
you all decide to pull, you understand me?"
Mumbles of agreement echoed throughout the room, surprisingly
including that from Angel.
John nodded, his blood pressure starting to calm. He acknowledged
Brian and Andrew to the students, "Now, Mr. Johnson and
Coach Andrew have both volunteered their Saturday to also watch
over everyone of you. So if I'm not present to bust your ass
for pulling off some similar stunt that occurred moments ago, I
am leaving that responsibility to either Johnson or Clark. Is
that clear?"
"Crystal, sir." Angel murmured, daringly meeting eyes
with John Bender.
Andrew, Brian, and John exchanged glances before John indicated
for them to exit.
"Blah, blah, blah" Angel mumbled silently,
watching the "parental units" leave the proximity.
Once they were out of sight, and hopefully out of ear shot, Meg
spun around to face Angel, her young face raging. "Shit,
Angel! Don't you ever shut up?!"
"And why should I, pretty princess?"
"Because if you don't, I'm sure that I can shut
that pretty mouth of yours for you." Meg smirked, yet her
eyes dangerously glimmered at Angel.
Angel shot up, her eyes also a pair of lethal glimmer. "Oh,
really? You can shut my mouth for me? I'd like to see you
try, I mean, after I kick your fucking ass so far into your
cunt!"
"I will so mess you up, bitch!" Meg jumped out of her
seat, causing all the men in the room to freeze in their place.
It took a mere second for Kyle to react, and just enough time to
get in between the two girls.
"Hey! Girls, enough!"
Todd and Mark also got to their feet, rushing towards the two
women. Mark grabbed onto Angel, while Todd grasped Meg.
Each girl began to squirm within the males grasp, wanting the
chance to attack the other opponent.
"Shit, let me go, white boy!" Angel snapped at Mark, a
bit surprised by this nerd's strength.
"Todd! Let me go!" Meg cried, anger evident in her
voice, though her eyes flickered in shock by his immense hold on
her.
Angel jabbed Mark in the stomach, causing him to release his hold
on her. She was about to jump Meg, but was stopped in her place
by Kyle.
Kyle stood tall, not really touching her to hold her back, but
not letting her escape past him either. He glanced at Mark,
worried over his inflicted state, "Hey, Mark? You okay,
man?"
Mark coughed, clutching his stomach lightly. He managed a small
smile though, despite still feeling Angel's wrath. "S'okay,
Kyle *cough* as long as you got her."
Kyle's eyes found themselves on Angel's vengeful face.
"You gonna chill out, Angie?"
"Fuck you, Stone!" She growled, exasperated, "I
can fuckin' make it so hard for you to reproduce!"
"Meg" Todd softly spoke, causing Meg to suddenly
halt in her efforts to fight Angel.
Meg looked up at Todd, her eyes slightly softening at what she
saw.
"Calm down, Meg. Okay?" He spoke again, this time with
more concern.
She numbly nodded, though her anger towards Angel was still alive
and present.
"I'm not letting you hurt her, Angel."
"Oh, sorry!" She sneered, "Didn't realize
that I was gonna go psycho on your girl!"
"Sit, Angel." Kyle spoke softly at her, though his
voice was firm.
"Make me, Stone."
Kyle reached for her arm, but was violently swatted away by
Angel.
Her eyes were livid, yet there was a hint of fear that flickered
for a brief second, but not brief enough for Kyle to ignore.
Angel's voice was strain, yet vicious as she snarled,
"Touch me, Kyle, and I will fuck you up."
"What the hell is going on here?!"
The teens spun towards the library entrance, facing John Bender.
"Shit!" Angel cried, throwing her hands up.
"Shut up, Angel." Kyle urged her softly. His eyes met
hers, pleading, "Please, just shut up."
Angel closed her mouth, briefly considering whether or not she
should listen to Kyle, whose pleading eyes and soft voice were
begging at her to be quiet. She would have done it to, but John
Bender's angered state had triggered something in her.
"And why the hell should I? Huh, Stone?" Her voice was
rising, causing Kyle to sigh in defeat.
"Angel!" John snapped. His eyes were worn, his voice on
the verge of frustration.
"Yes, sir! Hitler sir!" Angel snapped back, saluting
John.
"Okay! That's it, Luther!" John stalked towards
her, grasping her arm.
"Don't fucking touch me!" Angel screeched,
violently shoving John away.
Everyone backed away from her in surprise. Not by her action,
mind you, but more stunned towards her reaction. Her once violent
eyes were now mixed with anger and absolute fear, and brimming
with tears?