Detention was never my favorite place to be, for the obvious reasons. I usually never got them—maybe once or twice every few months. I wasn't some rebel—I just was at the wrong place at the wrong time. My bad luck...yet again. I opened the door to the empty classroom where detention was usually held—a small classroom, dusty and the paint peeling. There were already several people in there and they all looked up as I entered the room, but just as quickly as they looked up their eyes went back down to their desks—I'm sure if Amanda Bradshaw walked in they would all stare at her. Again, my bitter side coming out.

I registered another fact in my mind: I was the only girl in here. I was surprised—I knew at least two girls who always got detention, every week. I looked around for an empty desk and found one beside Teddy DuChamp. Mr. Flatswatter sat at his desk, scribbling away on some paper. He didn't even look up when I entered the room...the poor guy was probably too used to detention-sitting.

"Hey Teddy," I greeted him, sliding into the rickety seat. I set my bag down beside me and looked over to him. Teddy DuChamp hadn't changed much over the years, except for the height difference. He was always short for his age, but he seemed to have a growth spurt when he hit sixteen. Now he was decently tall, though not quite as tall as Gordie and Chris. Teddy's hair was still messy—it could never quite lay down straight...he and Chris often fought over whose hair was craziest. But Teddy no longer wore glasses anymore...and that made him look so much more mature. But he was still kooky Teddy.

"Hey Lark," he said, looking up at me. His elbows were perched on the desk and he looked exhausted.

"What did you do to get in here?" I asked him, pulling out a notebook to write with while the time crept by so very slowly. He looked up at me and sighed, ran a hand through his tangle of hair, then looked at the clock, and finally back at me.

"I skipped first period and got caught," he muttered. "Stupid hangovers."

I shook my head. "Tsk tsk...Teddy it's only Wednesday for Christ' Sake. At least wait until Friday to come to school buzzed."

He laughed a bit and shrugged. "Yeah well...my mom got this letter from my dad...and...well...you know...it didn't go too good."

I looked at him sadly and nodded. "Oh."

I didn't really know what to say. I didn't know what it was like to only have one parent. My parents had been married for a long time...I felt bad that I didn't know what Teddy was going through. But I could understand how he felt...

He laughed to lighten the mood and cleared his throat. "Yeah, so what did you do?"

I sighed and sat back, closing my notebook. I wasn't able to concentrate, Chris and my fight still fresh in my mind. The look he gave me right before he left...it was pity! I hated that...I didn't need him to pity me. He didn't understand the half of it. Stupid male.

"I didn't answer a question right," I said, scratching my head. "Isn't that fucked up? I got a question wrong, and I get detention."

Teddy shook his head. "Yeah well, what do you expect? It's not like the teachers here are great or anything..."

I nodded. "Teddy...er...do you know who Amanda Bradshaw is?"

Teddy squinted his eyes in thought and leaned back in his chair. "She blonde?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, I know her. She went out with Davie Rogers last year. She's really hot, but I hear she's a slut."

I growled and put my head in my hands.

"Why?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Because she is Chris' next victim. She hates me. And Chris doesn't see that."

Teddy chuckled and rubbed his forehead. "Our Chris? That's funny. Two whores together...wonder what they'll be up to..."

I punched him on the shoulder and he yelped in pain. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Chris isn't a whore," I said defensively.

Teddy smirked. "He's pretty damn close. Why, you like him or something?"

"No!" I cried, cursing the blush that crept into my cheeks. "He—he—she's mean to me and now that Chris and her are going to be together, I'll never get away from her!"

Teddy laughed and I punched him harder. "Ow! Stop that Lark...Jesus you can punch. I doubt they'll last that long anyway..."

I sighed and looked at the lock. "I guess you're right. Now shut up—people are starting to stare."

~*~*~

I was stuck without a ride home for the second time that week. It wasn't that cold out and I really didn't mind walking...but I was just too lazy. I threw my bag over my shoulder and squinted in the sun, standing on Castle Rock High's front steps. I sighed...looked like I had no choice.

I was walking down Main Street, just passed all the shops and the square, when I heard a car pull up beside me. I turned to see who it was and frowned when I saw it was none other than Chris and Amanda. I wondered for a moment why they were still driving around at three thirty—how far did Amanda live? But I realized I didn't want to know the answer.

"You need a ride?" Chris asked, rolling down the window. I looked coldly at him, then at Amanda who was busy looking at her nails.

"No."

Chris sighed. "Come on Lark, it'll take you forever to get home. Come on, I'll give you a ride."

I arched an eyebrow at him and continued my walk home. He followed me slowly in his car. "No," I said again, louder this time.

"I'll run you over if you do not get in the car." Chris looked at me and smirked but I didn't look back. I sighed.

"Fine."

I walked around to the passenger side and squeezed in beside Amanda. She didn't acknowledge that I was there and that was fine with me—I just leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes. The whole ride there Amanda talked to Chris and I felt sick...he talked to her like he never talked to me. All sweet and polite...with me he talked however he wanted.

Finally we reached Amanda's home and I didn't bother looking at it. I knew it was one of the rich houses, and that would only make me even sicker. I wondered why Amanda even bothered with Chris...she was above him socially. I climbed out of the truck so Amanda could get out and I forced myself to look away when Chris kissed her.

He watched her walk all the way up to her door and then enter her home. I rolled my eyes and fiddled with the radio until I found some good music.

"She's something, isn't she?" Chris asked, as we pulled out of her driveway. I scoffed.

"Oh she's something all right..."

I don't think Chris caught the sarcasm in my voice. "Listen Lark, I'm sorry for earlier...you know, about what I said to you."

I shrugged indifferently and looked out the window. "You meant what you said."

Chris shook his head and I could feel him looking at me. "I didn't mean it...I was just being a prick."

I laughed coldly. "Got that right...and I don't care anymore. I'm getting real used to this apology shit. It's repetitive."

Chris looked at me and I saw the hurt in his eyes, but my heart didn't twinge. He deserved what came to him, that jerk. He hurt me, and this wasn't the first time. More and more as the days flew by, as we got older, he hurt me more and more...and I didn't like it.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "Usually you don't take what I say seriously."

"I have fucking feelings, Chris!" My face was hot now. "I'm not like Gordie or Teddy or Vern. They are GUYS! I'm a girl! Have you forgotten? I have FEELINGS and I DO take things seriously!"

Chris looked at me. "I just never thought..."

"You NEVER think...do you even care about me, Chris? A little?"

He looked at me sadly. "Lark, I care so much about you. How could you think that?"

"I don't know what to think anymore. I can walk from here...bye."