Ch. 7 First Day Hell Part 2
Sighing they took the journey through twisting and turning halls until they made it to the male's locker room. A muscular but slightly heavy set man stepped forth as the boys entered the locker room. "Looks like you are never on time. Laytner get in there and change."
"Yes Mr. Keefer. See you Ryo."
"What's your name?"
"The name on the list is Randy McLain. But it's Ryo."
"Ok McLain. New to the school to. Your uniform is set up on locker 57. Change and follow Laytner out to the gym."
The uniform he had been forced to wear seemed a little tight for his liking but as the shorts hugged his hips it was easier to move. "Listen up. The school makes your parents sign these slips since that one idiot got hurt two years ago. Basically they say we are not responsible if you get hurt and we do play sport where there is a chance of you getting hurt. Bring those in or you can't play."
Softly a neat signature filled the space before Ryo raised his hand. "Here Keefer."
"McLain that is for your parents to sign not you. Your not 18 yet so you can't sign."
"Check my file I have permission as of now to sign any documents meant for a parent or legal guardian. Call, you have a phone over there." As he pointed the man huffed.
"Smart ass too. Maybe I will call. Class be silent." Picking up the phone he dialed as others whispered about the new kid. 'Maybe this is working out as I wanted. Everyone is whispering about me. Ha… I knew it would be easy.'
"Seems as you are right McLain. They wouldn't tell me how it is possible but you do."
"Simple really."
"Since you are so much of a smart ass with a big mouth that likes to blab then tell the class."
"Ok. My uncle and aunt have legal guardianship over me. I moved from Japan but they had to stay there to work. They set it up with the school and with others that I make the decisions for myself until they say other wise."
"Well then. What do they do?" One of the football player boys asked not really interested but trying to keep from doing work.
"They work for Subaru of America and are redesigning door handles for a prototype that is coming out next year."
Leaning farther back into his chair Dee smirked. "So why didn't you just stay in Japan?"
"I didn't have a school to go to. Plus we were moving here before they got called in."
"Why don't you have a school? It have a fire or something."
"The private school I went to asked me not to come back the next semester. And before you ask I can't say."
"What you kill someone."
"No I signed a contract saying that I can't mention why I got kicked out due to people suing."
"Class, talk to him after class I have to explain things here…"
Once again Ryo blocked out the words being said but this time with the help of earphones and a MP3 player. Letting his hair fall he slowly slip the phones in his ears after slipping the cord under his shirt. No one was the wiser but Dee who sat behind the boy.
Class let out within minutes and they all shuffled out of the class when Keefer yelled to get papers in. Ryo stood and exited with Dee smiling close behind. Tapping him on the shoulder Dee smiled. "Maybe I didn't give you enough credit."
"What the hell do you mean?"
"Stating your opinion America sucks to a pro American teacher, belittle a English teacher in front of his class, showing the gym teacher he is stupid, listening to music in class and swearing. All these things are grounds for detention."
"Whatever. Does it really look like I care? The American school system is nothing compared to my old school. If that is all I'm off to woodshop where I'll be forced to get into another fight with the teacher about signing my own papers and then sit back and listen to the same babble about being careful."
"You have woodshop? So do I. Damn this is weird. Four classes together in a row. What else do you have?"
Pulling out a slip of paper Dee laughed. "What?" he asked rolling his eyes at the mindless act the boy next to was doing.
"We have lunch together and photography. No way I'm ever taking Algebra II and Drama sucks."
"Drama is easy. Acting and remembering lines. That's really all you have to do. Anyway it's a blow off class. And Algebra II I was going to skip that at my old school but I thought to take it here so it would be easier."
"That's why I'm taking woodshop. A blow off class and Metal Arts was already full and I can't cook. But photography is going to be fun. They give you a camera and say go take pictures. How hard can that be?"
"I've done it before. The developing is hard but it also depends on what type of pictures you take. The class is up ahead right? I can smell the saw dust."
That class was mindless again as Ryo fluttered out of real world after fighting with the teacher about signing another paper but now here he sat, a sub in front of him, at a lunch table with Dee next to him.
"So what do you think about the American lunch food?"
"Really I was hoping for something with rice because I haven't had it in a while."
"Rice? Oh yeah you eat a lot of that. You'll never fine any of that here. It's Hamburgers, subs, chicken, and pizza all the time."
"Something I could get used too." The silence grew as the subs disappeared. Once Ryo's was gone he looked at his wrists. Staring at the thick white line that contracted his honey skin. Within a split second though his face broke out into a slight smile as Dee brought up something funny that a kid said.
"You know Dee, you're not that bad… for a America that is."
"Thanks… I think…"
His next two classes passed by as slowly as the night before Christmas for an eager child. 'Drama,' he decided with an inner laugh, 'was a joke, and Algebra II was a nap hour with numbers.'
Once again he walked and sat down just as the bell rang which caused the teacher to look on and wonder about this boy all in black who was already chatting slowly with the troublesome Dee Laytner. "Class, look around the room… I'll give you one more minute to change seats if you would like…" The room itself was curious but few moved. After seeing that he smiled and continued. "Very well then. I have six rows holding 30 students. I want the first, third and fifth rows to look at the person to your right…" Dee looked over and smiled at Ryo. "The second, fourth and sixth rows look to your left… now everyone say hello partner… This person will be your partner for the rest of this class. You will have to do many projects with this person, learn about his person, and see what makes them tick, what are his or her hobbies? Most of all don't take this person lightly.
Each semester you will turn in a major project. This semester is a photo documenter on your partner. I want you to show us that person using photos. The project will be on a special program and you r allowed to talk but the next project is a photo documenter of the both of you, as friends or enemies. I don't care what you are or what you do in the pictures but have to be together in every photograph. And before anyone asks I will not change partners for anyone, for any reason. Since I now have that out of the way I need you to pass these back and read them... anyway they just say that there's a $1oo deposit fee and $30 equipment cost. As soon as that's in you can have your camera. Also I need you to sign the rules, also your parent needs to sign that…"
As the teacher droned on Dee looked over at Ryo, in a low voice he whispered, "You gonna turn your paper in now. It's funny to see the teacher when you proved em' wrong."
"Ryo turned slightly to face his partner, "Yea, and my money."
"Ok now for the next 20 minutes I want you to talk to your partner and only your partner." Out of the corner of his eye the teacher saw a hand raise in question. "Yes my dear boy, you have a question?"
"It's Ryo and no, but here is the money," drawing out his wallet, he quickly pulled out $130 and put it back as Dee looked on wide eyed. "And here are the papers that needed to be signed."
"Ryo, thank you for getting the money in today but the papers need a parent to sign." With that he began to walk away before his name was called.
"Mr. Rossow, I don't need a parent to sign…"
"Really? And that is because?
"The people I live with are over in Japan and I have a slip filled out saying I can sign any school papers that are meant for my legal guardian. Please, I've gone throught this six other times today, just believe me." He pleaded, leaning back in his chair, a fingers squeezing the bridge of his nose.
"I've had one other student do the same thing, as unorthodox as it is. Ryo please step out into the hall with me. I need to as you a few questions."
Before standing Dee shot him a worried glance as he watched shrug his shoulders and step out into the hallway. "Ryo, now tell me why your living on your own. Are you a runaway? Did you get emancipated?"
All was quiet in the empty halls before Ryo laughed, "Mr. Rossow it is truly none of your business but I assure you I'm not a runaway nor did I get emancipated."
"Tell me why you're living on your own?" His voice raising over the cockiness in the young mans voice.
"If you must know," he signed annoyingly, "I used to live in Japan, and then my aunt and uncle, whom I live with, thought it would be better if we moved here where I could start over after getting into a little trouble at my old school. They got called by work hand had to stay over for a while longer. So instead of shoving me into another boarding school they let me move here. Now if that's it I have to talk to my partner." With that he slide past the teacher and back into his seat and was talking away before the teacher entered the room.
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