Chapter Two
Following Mr. Hurst into his office, I could see he spent more time and money on his own surroundings than that of his waiting room. My guess is that he's trying to impress any important people that might come in. Everything inside was very plush and expensive looking from his chair to the mini bar behind his desk. The chairs in front of the desk looked like they could sink a ship. The black leather looked like a forbidden black hole just waiting to be entered but hopefully not by me. The walls were covered with pictures of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, The Great Wall of China and other exotic or famous places around the world.
As I sat down in front of Mr. Hurst, my earlier thoughts were right. I slowly started to sink down in the chair like the Titanic did in the Atlantic. I quickly shifted my weight and pulled myself up so that I sat on the edge of the chair. I watched as he opened a folder that lay on his desk and looked over it for several minutes. When he finished, he looked up at me and smiled, clasping his hands in front of him on the desk.
"Well Miss McClure,"
"Please call me Dodger. I only respond to my last name if I'm in trouble. Do you think that I could have my name changed to Dodger McClure on the attendance sheet?"
"I can't see why not. (BUZZ) Miss Jacobs? Please change Miss McClure's first name to Dodger on all attendance sheets."
"Yes sir."
Mr. Hurst turned his attention back to me.
"Well Dodger, since you have a nickname I and the staff of Sherwood High will be sure to use it. We like to encourage others to be called the way they feel is best. Having you here will be a wonderful contribution to the student body."
As he said that part, I could just hear the struggle with the words.
"Now looking over your transcripts.."
Yada, yada, yada. Mr. Hurst droned on and on about my academic achievements, the different groups I had been apart of (though I was Gothic, I was still part of the newspaper.) and what groups there was at school. I think I caught some words about a writing group of some kind besides the newspaper. Maybe I'll go for that when I'm ready. Looking up at the Felix clock behind Mr. Hurst, I saw that it was getting close to lunch time and my stomach was about to growl for food.
Pulling open a drawer beside him, Mr. Hurst pulled out several papers.
"Here is your new schedule, some sheets you will need to get signed and a map of the school. If you aren't able to find your way around, just ask one of the students. They will surely help you with guiding you. Good luck."
With that, he turned his chair to me indicating that I could leave. I grabbed the papers on the desk and get up from my seat. Rather than waiting for the words to dismiss me, I take it upon myself to do so. Exiting into the waiting room, I smirk as I leave the area, catching sight of the secretary looking at me over her glasses once again. Outside, I gave a laugh, knowing I had caught another person off guard with my appearance.
Gazing at the map, I noticed that my locker wasn't too far around the corner. With my head down, I didn't realize until it was too late that someone else was coming around. We smacked into each other and I ended up dropping my papers to the ground, including my folder that I had accidentally grabbed.
"Sorry."
We both said at the same time as we went down to collect the papers. The other person and I ended up bumping heads.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry about that. I should have been watching where I was going. Here's your map."
Taking the map from the person I straightened up and stuffed all the papers into my jacket pocket. Looking at the person, I realized for the first time that it was a guy wearing glasses and a bowler cap. Behind the dark framed glasses were a pair of chocolate brown eyes that looked familiar somehow.
"Uh thanks."
"No problem. Listen, my name's James."
He stuck his hand out, waiting for me to grab hold of it. I took hold of it. His hands weren't overly soft, but not callused either.
"Nice to meet ya. I gotta go."
With that I walked away, leaving James dazed and confused. I don't like giving out my first name and the only way someone will find out my real first name is when I absolutely trust them. After a few days, most people figure out that my nickname is Dodger. Teachers always give me weird looks when they read the attendance sheet but I'm glad. Look at me and think I'm weird, then I'm probably a freak and I'm proud of it.
I finally arrive to my locker, which happened to be around another corner. I had been looking at the map upside down. Spinning the dial, I didn't even look to see if the numbers were right. I just took a wild guess and I was right. I threw my bag inside and the only things that didn't go in were my Rock Mix CD, CD player and writing book. Those items stayed with me always in the pockets of my trench coat. Closing my locker, I leaned against it and pulled out the papers that I had stuffed into my pocket. Shuffling the papers until I got to my schedule, I read it over and saw classes that I liked.
"Not bad, not bad at all. Spare first period which means I get to sleep in. Yes! American Literature during second period, third period is drama and then lunch. Okay, my fourth period is Advanced English, fifth is math class and lastly World History. At least my day ends off on a good note."
Pulling the map from my pocket, I straightened it out and found that if I retraced my steps to where I had bumped into that James guy, I'd find the cafeteria. From my pocket I pulled out an old chain that had a new pocket watch on the end. It read that the third period classes would end soon. Putting the papers and watch back into my pockets I walked down the hallways and arrived at the Cafeteria doors. Just as I reached them, the bell rang and the halls filled with warm bodies.
I slipped in and around the door, watching as everyone waltzed into the cafeteria. From the wall I stood at, I watched as people lined up to get their food or scramble for one of the many tables; a time-honoured tradition. From where I stood, I could see that in the middle of the entire cafeteria, there were two tables that hadn't been touched by a single soul. Just as my thought finished, I caught sight of preps walking towards those tables.
"Figures."
The same seating arrangement had been at my old school, though I hadn't sat in the cafeteria all that much during my years. Since I hadn't packed my regular lunch of peanut butter and jam sandwich with Dr. Pepper, I lined up with the others, receiving strange glances from those who were in front and behind me. I grabbed a tray and as we moved along, I looked over the food selections and in the end, picked up a Dr. Pepper, a Crispy Crunch chocolate bar and a bag of potato chips. I had to fish through my pockets to find the right amount of change for the food and once I paid the food lady, I surveyed the room for a free table so that I wouldn't bother any one.
Before heading to the table I found near the back door of the cafeteria I took the food and stashed it in the pockets so I wouldn't have to deal with the tray afterwards. Making my way over, I overheard whispers about me. Like, why was I eating indoors and not out with the others? When had I transferred here? Stuff along that line. Arriving at the table, I pulled the food, my CD player and writing book out and set them around me. I slipped the headphones on and pushed play on the Walkman. "Bed of Roses" by Bon Jovi came on over the pieces and started up my 'chicken scratch' as Spike had so fondly called my writing. As I wrote, I soon had the light being blocked by several shadowed figures.
Looking up, I noticed that there were three guys and a girl. I recognized the girl from this morning and hanging around her side was a boy that looked to be a couple inches taller than her. Seeing them together makes me figure that they're dating. The tallest guy, to the left of the couple, wore a bandana around his neck and a cowboy hat on his head. To the right of the couple was James. The girl pointed to my headphones, indicating that she wanted to talk to me. I slipped them off to the back of my neck and looked up at them smiling.
"Greetings and Salutations."
I've always wanted to say that, ever since I saw the movie 'Heathers' starring Christian Slater and Wyona Rider. The groups of preps looked down at me and at each other in confusion. My guess, they've either never heard the phrase or seen the movie before. We'd all been silent for sometime, taking in each other's small movements. I was about to put my headphones back on when the girl spoke up once again.
"You're new right?"
I starred at them in slight disbelief. Did she just ask me if I was new?
"Uh, no. I've been hiding in the basement for the past 3 years and decided now would be a great time to experience upper high school floors."
All the preps got eerie looks on their faces, not sure what to make of me. Oh man, I couldn't stand it anymore.
"Oh, man. Yeah, I'm new."
That seemed to satisfy them. Relieved looks came to their faces and they all let out sighs of relief. As usual the girl spoke up.
"Oh, well as school president I'd like to welcome you to the school. I'm known as Ice and this is my boy friend Spot."
Spot and Ice? What kind of names are those? They sound like a dog and cat.
"This is Jack or as we like to call him Cowboy because of his bandana and love for the west."
Okay, so the name made some sense now that she explained his. but theirs still made no sense.
"I'm named after my eyes and Spot here is named after his initials. Simon Patrick Oliver Tate."
I had to bite my lips. What a large name for a short kid.
"Finally, this is,"
"We've actually met. James right?"
He nodded but Ice scowled. Spot this time spoke up.
"We actually like to call him Specs because of his glasses."
Specs? Not bad name. I looked at them and from the looks on their faces, it looked as though they expected me to tell them mine. Well that's not going to happen. There had to be a reason as to why they were still there after so long.
"Your point for being here is??? I don't think all of you would come over here to welcome little ol' me?"
I said with a southern twang. This time, rather than Spot or Ice, Specs was the one to speak up. His bangs kind of fell in front of his bangs and with a swift movement, had them up under the bowler hat.
"Well, it was more my idea to come and welcome you. We were wondering why exactly you are in the cafeteria and not out with the other goths? The way you dress like that but stay in here."
Specs friends nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, most goths that I know wander outside until the bell rings. Even then they don't come in for another 5, 10 minutes."
Jack added, switching his weight to his other foot. I pushed myself up from the table and stood my full 5'6" height. Even at that height, I was still shorter than the three guys.
"Are your skulls thick naturally or does all the hairspray and gel block the words that are coming out of my mouth? I told you that I'm new here. I don't know anyone here because this is my FIRST day here. When someone's new, normally they don't know anyone. The only reason I came in here in the first place was to eat and scope out the place. Now, if you don't mind."
I sat back down and put my headphones back on and turned the music up so that it drowned out everything or anything that the preps were saying. Soon the shadows faded to nonexistent and I was left alone to my writing.
A/N: Well, there's chapter two so far. I'd like to thank Lucky for her review in the Newsies section and to byrdgirl in the Robin Hood section. I appreciate your reviews a lot. I don't own any of the 'preps' or Mr. Hurst or Mrs. Jacobs. Those belong to Disney and to Ice Renegade.
Lucky: Thanks a lot for your review. I hope to have you as a regular. You get a cut out of your favourite Newsie. Hausta!
Byrdgirl: Robin Hood will come in later on. Writing past tense and what people are thinking is hard, but I'll keep on working on it. Thanks again. Hausta!
Well, I hope you all like this chapter and please review it. Thanks. Bye!
Following Mr. Hurst into his office, I could see he spent more time and money on his own surroundings than that of his waiting room. My guess is that he's trying to impress any important people that might come in. Everything inside was very plush and expensive looking from his chair to the mini bar behind his desk. The chairs in front of the desk looked like they could sink a ship. The black leather looked like a forbidden black hole just waiting to be entered but hopefully not by me. The walls were covered with pictures of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, The Great Wall of China and other exotic or famous places around the world.
As I sat down in front of Mr. Hurst, my earlier thoughts were right. I slowly started to sink down in the chair like the Titanic did in the Atlantic. I quickly shifted my weight and pulled myself up so that I sat on the edge of the chair. I watched as he opened a folder that lay on his desk and looked over it for several minutes. When he finished, he looked up at me and smiled, clasping his hands in front of him on the desk.
"Well Miss McClure,"
"Please call me Dodger. I only respond to my last name if I'm in trouble. Do you think that I could have my name changed to Dodger McClure on the attendance sheet?"
"I can't see why not. (BUZZ) Miss Jacobs? Please change Miss McClure's first name to Dodger on all attendance sheets."
"Yes sir."
Mr. Hurst turned his attention back to me.
"Well Dodger, since you have a nickname I and the staff of Sherwood High will be sure to use it. We like to encourage others to be called the way they feel is best. Having you here will be a wonderful contribution to the student body."
As he said that part, I could just hear the struggle with the words.
"Now looking over your transcripts.."
Yada, yada, yada. Mr. Hurst droned on and on about my academic achievements, the different groups I had been apart of (though I was Gothic, I was still part of the newspaper.) and what groups there was at school. I think I caught some words about a writing group of some kind besides the newspaper. Maybe I'll go for that when I'm ready. Looking up at the Felix clock behind Mr. Hurst, I saw that it was getting close to lunch time and my stomach was about to growl for food.
Pulling open a drawer beside him, Mr. Hurst pulled out several papers.
"Here is your new schedule, some sheets you will need to get signed and a map of the school. If you aren't able to find your way around, just ask one of the students. They will surely help you with guiding you. Good luck."
With that, he turned his chair to me indicating that I could leave. I grabbed the papers on the desk and get up from my seat. Rather than waiting for the words to dismiss me, I take it upon myself to do so. Exiting into the waiting room, I smirk as I leave the area, catching sight of the secretary looking at me over her glasses once again. Outside, I gave a laugh, knowing I had caught another person off guard with my appearance.
Gazing at the map, I noticed that my locker wasn't too far around the corner. With my head down, I didn't realize until it was too late that someone else was coming around. We smacked into each other and I ended up dropping my papers to the ground, including my folder that I had accidentally grabbed.
"Sorry."
We both said at the same time as we went down to collect the papers. The other person and I ended up bumping heads.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry about that. I should have been watching where I was going. Here's your map."
Taking the map from the person I straightened up and stuffed all the papers into my jacket pocket. Looking at the person, I realized for the first time that it was a guy wearing glasses and a bowler cap. Behind the dark framed glasses were a pair of chocolate brown eyes that looked familiar somehow.
"Uh thanks."
"No problem. Listen, my name's James."
He stuck his hand out, waiting for me to grab hold of it. I took hold of it. His hands weren't overly soft, but not callused either.
"Nice to meet ya. I gotta go."
With that I walked away, leaving James dazed and confused. I don't like giving out my first name and the only way someone will find out my real first name is when I absolutely trust them. After a few days, most people figure out that my nickname is Dodger. Teachers always give me weird looks when they read the attendance sheet but I'm glad. Look at me and think I'm weird, then I'm probably a freak and I'm proud of it.
I finally arrive to my locker, which happened to be around another corner. I had been looking at the map upside down. Spinning the dial, I didn't even look to see if the numbers were right. I just took a wild guess and I was right. I threw my bag inside and the only things that didn't go in were my Rock Mix CD, CD player and writing book. Those items stayed with me always in the pockets of my trench coat. Closing my locker, I leaned against it and pulled out the papers that I had stuffed into my pocket. Shuffling the papers until I got to my schedule, I read it over and saw classes that I liked.
"Not bad, not bad at all. Spare first period which means I get to sleep in. Yes! American Literature during second period, third period is drama and then lunch. Okay, my fourth period is Advanced English, fifth is math class and lastly World History. At least my day ends off on a good note."
Pulling the map from my pocket, I straightened it out and found that if I retraced my steps to where I had bumped into that James guy, I'd find the cafeteria. From my pocket I pulled out an old chain that had a new pocket watch on the end. It read that the third period classes would end soon. Putting the papers and watch back into my pockets I walked down the hallways and arrived at the Cafeteria doors. Just as I reached them, the bell rang and the halls filled with warm bodies.
I slipped in and around the door, watching as everyone waltzed into the cafeteria. From the wall I stood at, I watched as people lined up to get their food or scramble for one of the many tables; a time-honoured tradition. From where I stood, I could see that in the middle of the entire cafeteria, there were two tables that hadn't been touched by a single soul. Just as my thought finished, I caught sight of preps walking towards those tables.
"Figures."
The same seating arrangement had been at my old school, though I hadn't sat in the cafeteria all that much during my years. Since I hadn't packed my regular lunch of peanut butter and jam sandwich with Dr. Pepper, I lined up with the others, receiving strange glances from those who were in front and behind me. I grabbed a tray and as we moved along, I looked over the food selections and in the end, picked up a Dr. Pepper, a Crispy Crunch chocolate bar and a bag of potato chips. I had to fish through my pockets to find the right amount of change for the food and once I paid the food lady, I surveyed the room for a free table so that I wouldn't bother any one.
Before heading to the table I found near the back door of the cafeteria I took the food and stashed it in the pockets so I wouldn't have to deal with the tray afterwards. Making my way over, I overheard whispers about me. Like, why was I eating indoors and not out with the others? When had I transferred here? Stuff along that line. Arriving at the table, I pulled the food, my CD player and writing book out and set them around me. I slipped the headphones on and pushed play on the Walkman. "Bed of Roses" by Bon Jovi came on over the pieces and started up my 'chicken scratch' as Spike had so fondly called my writing. As I wrote, I soon had the light being blocked by several shadowed figures.
Looking up, I noticed that there were three guys and a girl. I recognized the girl from this morning and hanging around her side was a boy that looked to be a couple inches taller than her. Seeing them together makes me figure that they're dating. The tallest guy, to the left of the couple, wore a bandana around his neck and a cowboy hat on his head. To the right of the couple was James. The girl pointed to my headphones, indicating that she wanted to talk to me. I slipped them off to the back of my neck and looked up at them smiling.
"Greetings and Salutations."
I've always wanted to say that, ever since I saw the movie 'Heathers' starring Christian Slater and Wyona Rider. The groups of preps looked down at me and at each other in confusion. My guess, they've either never heard the phrase or seen the movie before. We'd all been silent for sometime, taking in each other's small movements. I was about to put my headphones back on when the girl spoke up once again.
"You're new right?"
I starred at them in slight disbelief. Did she just ask me if I was new?
"Uh, no. I've been hiding in the basement for the past 3 years and decided now would be a great time to experience upper high school floors."
All the preps got eerie looks on their faces, not sure what to make of me. Oh man, I couldn't stand it anymore.
"Oh, man. Yeah, I'm new."
That seemed to satisfy them. Relieved looks came to their faces and they all let out sighs of relief. As usual the girl spoke up.
"Oh, well as school president I'd like to welcome you to the school. I'm known as Ice and this is my boy friend Spot."
Spot and Ice? What kind of names are those? They sound like a dog and cat.
"This is Jack or as we like to call him Cowboy because of his bandana and love for the west."
Okay, so the name made some sense now that she explained his. but theirs still made no sense.
"I'm named after my eyes and Spot here is named after his initials. Simon Patrick Oliver Tate."
I had to bite my lips. What a large name for a short kid.
"Finally, this is,"
"We've actually met. James right?"
He nodded but Ice scowled. Spot this time spoke up.
"We actually like to call him Specs because of his glasses."
Specs? Not bad name. I looked at them and from the looks on their faces, it looked as though they expected me to tell them mine. Well that's not going to happen. There had to be a reason as to why they were still there after so long.
"Your point for being here is??? I don't think all of you would come over here to welcome little ol' me?"
I said with a southern twang. This time, rather than Spot or Ice, Specs was the one to speak up. His bangs kind of fell in front of his bangs and with a swift movement, had them up under the bowler hat.
"Well, it was more my idea to come and welcome you. We were wondering why exactly you are in the cafeteria and not out with the other goths? The way you dress like that but stay in here."
Specs friends nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, most goths that I know wander outside until the bell rings. Even then they don't come in for another 5, 10 minutes."
Jack added, switching his weight to his other foot. I pushed myself up from the table and stood my full 5'6" height. Even at that height, I was still shorter than the three guys.
"Are your skulls thick naturally or does all the hairspray and gel block the words that are coming out of my mouth? I told you that I'm new here. I don't know anyone here because this is my FIRST day here. When someone's new, normally they don't know anyone. The only reason I came in here in the first place was to eat and scope out the place. Now, if you don't mind."
I sat back down and put my headphones back on and turned the music up so that it drowned out everything or anything that the preps were saying. Soon the shadows faded to nonexistent and I was left alone to my writing.
A/N: Well, there's chapter two so far. I'd like to thank Lucky for her review in the Newsies section and to byrdgirl in the Robin Hood section. I appreciate your reviews a lot. I don't own any of the 'preps' or Mr. Hurst or Mrs. Jacobs. Those belong to Disney and to Ice Renegade.
Lucky: Thanks a lot for your review. I hope to have you as a regular. You get a cut out of your favourite Newsie. Hausta!
Byrdgirl: Robin Hood will come in later on. Writing past tense and what people are thinking is hard, but I'll keep on working on it. Thanks again. Hausta!
Well, I hope you all like this chapter and please review it. Thanks. Bye!