A/N: Hey all! Thanks to those who have reviewed so far. I really appreciate
it. I'd like to say that I don't own any of the Newsies mentioned except
for Dodger and Mike. Elf belongs to my friend Elf, Frenchy to my new friend
Frenchy and Ice to of course, Ice. Most of the teachers belong to Disney
except for the drama teacher. She's my own creation. Any musical songs in
this that is mentioned belongs to the artist that is put beside them. Oh
ya, Gus and Spike are mine, all mine. (Laughs like evil doctor until starts
coughing)
Okay, I'm better. Now onto the thanks.
Lulu Bell: Thanks for the review. Find the movie. It's great.
Boogalaga: I've got Elf and Frenchy and Mike as regulars. I may have mentioned that they look like punks, but they're pretty regular people. She meets Robin Hood and the others in two maybe three chapters. Don't worry. Most of the story is actually placed in Sherwood, Robin Hood time. Oh ya, thanks for the idea to have her dress in pink. I know exactly where to put that in the story.
Chapter Three
Even though they had left my table, I could feel their eyes boring into my head. I couldn't' take it anymore. Sure I was used to the stares, but normally they stopped after a few minutes when people got tired. Finishing off what I had started in my book, I put my chips into my pocket and got up from my seat. I walked over to the trashcan and threw the bottle and wrapper into the garbage before heading out the doors and into the hallway. As I walked down to my locker, I noticed a couple leaning against it in each other's arms.
"Oh great."
As I got closer, I saw that they didn't fit the prep persona I had already witnessed today. They were dressed slightly grungy with baggy pants and while the girl wore a spaghetti strap army top, the guy wore a dark blue Skate Shop shirt. The girl really reminded me of Gus, not only in clothing, but a little in looks. They both had the same dark skin and hair colour. Seeing the girl they were talking to, she would have made a perfect match for Spike. Her hair wasn't very short, but enough that the back could be spiked up a little. Arriving at my locker, I realized that they hadn't seen me come up.
"Excuse me, you're on my locker."
The three of them looked my way and sized me up, looking from my face to boots and back up to my face. They stepped to the side and spinning the lock, opened my locker top, putting the chips on the top shelf while reaching into my bag for a folder on the bottom shelf. (A/N: They are half lockers but top and bottom go to each student.) From the folder, I pulled out a group photo of Spike, Gus and I that my boss had taken of us before I moved. I also pulled out a picture of me that Gus had drawn of me a month ago. I was sitting in the hallway working in my book, hair tucked behind my ear, no trench on for once.
"That is a great drawing. It's got the same technique as the one Elf's done. Elf, show her the picture you did of Mike."
I turned around to have the one I compared to Spike looking over my shoulder and the one she called Elf opening up her own locker. She reached in and pulled out a sketchbook that had magazine pictures glued to the front. Elf flipped a few pages until she got to the one picture she was looking for and held it up. Low and behold, there was the picture of the boy with us in the same technique.
"Nice. My friend Gus did this before I moved out here."
Elf looked at me in small surprise.
"Really? Cool. I have a cousin named Gus that is an artist too. He's the reason I started to draw. Last I heard from him was that his best friend was lost to the worst thing ever,"
At the same time Elf, the punk and I said,
"Parents."
We stared at each other in shock. How could it be that we all said the same thing? Gus was the only person I ever knew to say that. I looked at Elf.
"Is Gus his nickname?"
"Yeah. His real name is August Standish the III, but he hates being called that. Why?
A smile creeps to my face and I laugh a little.
"Would this happen to be him?"
From where I grabbed the drawing, I pulled out the group photo into view. Elf took it from my hands and gave it a good look over. Her eyes soon filled up with recognition and surprise.
"You're Dodger! I should have realized it was you from the last picture Gus sent me. I think it was of you're 18th birthday. Gus's hair colour has changed since I saw him in the summer and I see Spike's hair is shorter than usual. Frenchy, this here is the infamous Dodger McClure."
Infamous Dodger. Those words had a nice ring to it. Looks as though the move here does have a small perk. I looked to the punk Elf called Frenchy.
"So, the name's Frenchy?"
"Yup. And yours is Dodger. It's nice to finally meet the person Gus talked so much about. So how do you like our lovely institution?"
Heavy accentuated on the lovely part. We all laughed knowing that the school wasn't lovely and we would rather be somewhere else.
"Oh, Mr. Hurst is just great. I showed up this morning at 8 and wasn't let in till 10. He spent all the hot air he has explaining how much I will contribute to the school and that took him another 2 hours. Oh ya, I've already met the school's prep squad. Madam president and her pose."
Elf, Frenchy and Mike all groaned and Elf piped up.
"Ice and her group pretty much run the school. They've been brought up that prep is best, though they don't really act like it."
Not act like it? They seemed to today.
"Well, I think I freaked them out today in the cafeteria. Just little phrases seemed to make them very confused."
I relayed to my newfound friends what had happened and they burst out laughing.
"Just been in the basement for 3 years and decided now is a good time to come up? Oh man, I would of loved to see their faces."
Mike choked out as he wiped a tear from his eye. Elf and Frenchy both agreed just as the bell went off. All of us groaned as we reached into our lockers for our books. I only had my binder for classes as to not having any textbooks yet.
"Well, better get to class." Frenchy said from the opposite side of the hallway.
"Does anyone know where," pulls schedule out of my pocket, "Advanced English is?"
Mike nodded.
"I've got that class. Elf and I'll show you the way since her class is next door."
I nodded my thanks to him and the three of us said bye to Frenchy as she walked down to her Biology class. As the three of us walked towards my class, I got several stares. I asked Elf what time the goths normally came in from the yard.
"Normally they don't come in until the class starter bell rings. Even then they come in late." She gave me a wary look. "You aren't gonna start that habit are you?"
I shook my head.
"Both my parents drilled it into my head that school came above everything, even hanging out with my friends. I don't mind that they did, I actually enjoy school or at least the subjects I like; always have. The only downfalls of school I find are the nagging teachers and annoying preps."
Elf laughed as we stopped in front of her classroom and shook her head.
"Gus told me about your parents. Tough break. Well this is my stop for the day, drafting. I'll see you guys after school?"
"I've got to go home straight after to report to my aunt, but maybe tomorrow."
Elf said all right and she entered her classroom as Mike and I headed into our own room. As we entered, I found that the Ice girl's boyfriend Spat or whatever it was, was also in this class.
"Oh great, just what I needed to an all ready weary day."
Mike gave me a soft smile and patted me on the back.
"Don't worry about him or the others. C'mon, I'll introduce you to the teacher. She's a pretty okay person."
Mike led me over to the teacher and she was pretty nice. She was kind enough to sit me beside Mike. He gave me the notes I had missed from the beginning of the unit and the class began. Just as soon as the class had begun, it ended. I packed up the two books that the teacher had given me, and also my notebook. I left the classroom with Mike only to part ways as he headed for his Phys. Ed class. I was lucky. My Math class wasn't that far though I wish it were half way across the world. Numbers don't exactly bring joy and happiness to my life like my writing does. I think when my parents signed me up for the course; they decided that I needed something more stable than English and History.
Being new does have its advantage though. Near the end of the class after Mr. Denton, who I must say is so boring and actually wears these weird colour bowties, gave out homework I asked if I could be dismissed early to check out where my next class was. He gave me a wry look before letting me go, probably thinking that I would use the 15minutes to go out and have a smoke. I gathered my books up and quickly left the room. I wandered the halls. I didn't really need to be let out early. The History room was on the first floor with my other classes.
Going down the hallway was like walking through some kind of sport hall of fame. On one of the basketball pictures where the boys had shorts that were very short, the pennant that the boys in the centre held up read 1945. They all looked like replicas of my dad. I pushed my body past them so I wouldn't remember the reason why I was at the school in the first place. By the time I reached the History room, I still had 10 minutes before the bell and other students were allowed out.
I leaned down against the wall outside the door and pulled out my Math homework. If I could finish it now, I wouldn't have to take it home to work on. I struggled at first but soon made my way through them, only to have the last question finished as the bell rung. I got up before the crowd spilled into the hallways so that I wouldn't be trampled on. All the students rushed out of the near-by classrooms like there was a disease ridden within and to run was their only escape. I waited till the last student had left the doorway before entering and groaning. Sitting at the back of the room was James or as he liked to be called Specs.
"Oh boy, not another one."
I walked over to the teacher, Mr. Pulitzer and luckily for me, he decided to assign me to the seat in front of Specs. Not wanting to have an argument on my first day, I gritted my teeth and walked to my new seat and sat down. Rather than do nothing and have the unfortunate chance to talk to Specs, I pulled my Walkman from my pocket and put 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' by Def Leppard on. I tapped my foot to the music as I watched the other students milled into the class and take their regulated seats. The last student to slide in before the bell rang was Frenchy. I made a mental note to ask Mr. Pulitzer if I could move to a seat by her. I heard the faint sound of the bell ring and removed my headphones and tucked the Walkman back into my pocket.
Mr. Pulitzer, like my other teachers, didn't bother to introduce me to the rest of the class. He just started up with his lesson. As he droned on, I ended up tuning him out. I had covered all this stuff two weeks ago. All I would have to do is bring my notebook from my old school and save the new one for writing. Pulling my own writing book out of my pocket, I started on a story idea but my concentration was disturbed by a click of a door. I turned my gaze to the door to see Ice slide into her seat, which was conveniently paced by the door.
I know there is some unwritten law about not ratting on fellow students but Mr. Pulitzer didn't see her slide in and she's 30minutes late. I started to raise my hand to let the teacher know a 'stray' had entered the classroom when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I turned around to see Specs giving me a warning look. His brown eyes gave a stormy look of warning. Besides the scowl and stormy eyes, I noticed the other features of his face. The glasses framed his face very nicely and were set off by his brown hair mixed with dirty blonde. I'm not sure if it was a dye job or if that truly was his hair colour. When he had the hat on earlier, I couldn't see exactly how long the hair was. Now, I could see that it ended just below his neck. It was brushed back, kind of in a wavy look.
I racked my brain, trying to figure out why he looked so familiar. Trying to think of from where I had seen that wry look of warning and similar looks. Then it clicked. Christian Slater when he had been in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Clearing my mind of whom he looked like, I focused back to the scowl on his face and gave him a questioning look.
"I wouldn't stay like that if I were you. Scientific research has proven that your face will stay in a permanent scowl if you look at me like that any longer."
"Well I wouldn't be scowling if I didn't know that you were about to enter the lioness's den."
Now that I think about it, his voice even sounds like Christian Slater's. There was a hint of roughness within it.
"Well, don't worry about me. I can handle myself."
He released his hold on my shoulder.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
I rolled my eyes and turned around in my seat, just to have Mr. Pulitzer take notice of Specs' and my little chat.
"Young lady, is there a problem?"
"Well, actually, there was something I."
As I said this, I took a quick glance at Ice. I guess Mr. Pulitzer caught the movement because he too caught sight of her.
"One moment miss. Miss Monroe. It's nice of you to finally join our little history community. I don't want to hear any of your excuses. This is the fifth time in the past two weeks. Detention after school."
Mr. Pulitzer turned his attention back to me.
"Now, what was it that you wanted to ask me?"
"I uh, was just wondering if you had an extra textbook. I seemed to have left mine at home."
Mr. Pulitzer pulled a textbook from behind his desk and carried to my desk. I took it and smiled. As he walked back and started writing on the board again, I saw Ice give me a hard stare. I did something that I guess she didn't expect I smiled. I then mouth, 'No crime, no time.' The rest of the class went by very quickly. I answered several questions that had Pulitzer surprised that someone actually knew what the answers were. When the final bell rang, I put my books into my pockets and pulled my headphones from my pockets. Placing them on my ears, I pushed play and got up from the desk, moving out towards the door. Frenchy had already left so I wouldn't be able to catch up with her.
Getting closer to the door, I passed Ice's desk just as she stuck her foot out to trip me. I was lucky though; I caught sight of the movement she made in the nick of time. My instincts told me to jump and I did. Not even looking back, I headed off down the hallway. I ended up staying after school so that I could talk to my morning teachers and find out if I had any homework that I might be able to do. Talking to my Drama teach Mrs. Pereira, I found that she was really cool. In fact, said she might have a job for me in the school play as a prop creator. Meeting Mr. Kloppman was great. He told me we were covering Mark Twain and Louisa May Alcott. When he handed me the books, he gave me a warm, friendly smile.
"At least there's one great teacher."
I said to myself as I walked down to the parking lot. The detention bell had long since rang so my footsteps were the only life to a dead hallway. Walking out into the bright sun blinded me a bit, but no more then the next scene I saw. Where my mode of transportation was, a group of people were standing around it. For my sixteenth birthday, my parents actually complied with giving me what I wanted, a motorcycle. At first they objected to it, but when I said that they were all the rage in the 50s, they couldn't deny it. How it's known that guys name their cars, I did the same with my bike naming it after my favourite actor, Christian Slater.
I gritted my teeth and walked towards them. As I neared, I saw that there was a kid with a patch sitting on Slater and making some kind of motor sounds. The sight was truly pathetic. I got to the outside of the group, only to have the people not realize I was there.
"Do you mind getting off my bike so that I can go home?"
Everyone turned to look at me. As things turned out, the group was a bunch of preps and their leader was Ice. She was standing off to the side with her boy toy Spot hanging beside her and Jack to the other side. Spot looked me over then at the bike and finally back to me.
"This is your bike?"
I nodded and all he did was laugh.
"Yeah right. Someone like you I very much doubt could own one of these."
I gave him a cold glare before shifting my bag on my shoulder and giving a retort.
"I'll prove that this is mine if the dingbat over there will get off."
The kid I had just insulted looked at me as if I hadn't even asked him to get off. He sat up and looked at me.
"The name's not Dingbat, it's Kid Blink." Like I cared.
"Just get off."
He looked to Spot who nodded in agreement. Kid Blink shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and got of Slater slowly. I then made my way over and strapped my bag onto the carrying rack. Once the bag was secure, I got on and pulled a key from under my shirt, putting it into the ignition. Deathly silence was filled with the sound of the engine.
"Is that enough proof?"
Before anyone could answer, I pulled the bike out of park and drove out of the parking lot leaving the airheads in the dust. Driving home was the only thought on my mind. The plan was that when I got home, I would have my 80s rock music turned up loud until 5 o'clock when Aunt Medda got home from work at the diner. I would relax with a can of Dr. Pepper and work on either letters to Gus and Spike or on a story.
Not even halfway home, my bike had other plans for me. I looked to the gas gauge to see that the tank was empty. I steered Slater to the side of the road before it went completely caput. I pulled the key out of ignition and placed it back around my neck. Removing myself from my bike, I put my headphones on and started the music up. There was no sense pushing the bike home without some good tunes.
"Looks like I won't get any free time tonight."
I mumbled to myself as I trudged along the side of the road. I was about 3 blocks from the place Slater had decided to call it quits when just as I passed a giant puddle from the rainstorm the previous day, a car sped by. Water sprayed up from under the tire and ended up splashing all over my coat. I could hear laughter echo from the car, as it turned left and disappeared from sight.
"Probably Madam Ice's car."
I stopped pushing the bike and tried wiping away the water beads on my trench. There wasn't any use though, there was mud clinging to it as well so I wouldn't be able to treat it properly until I got back to Aunt Medda's. Pushing the trench material behind me, I grabbed the handlebars and start pushing the bike along the street again. 5 minutes or so later another vehicle drove past me. I didn't notice what type it was, I was too busy muttering to myself about how much the preps had annoyed me today. Getting to the 4-way-stop, I looked up to see that I was only at Delaware.
"Oh just great. The way things are going, I'm not gonna get home till after 6. Why did she have to live so far away from the school?"
I turned my bike right and started trudging down Delaware Street and the music on my headphones was "Is The Love?" by Whitesnake. Walking down the street, I took in the scenery of the houses and gardens. Everything was so beautiful and posh. They looked like pictures in magazines. Some had gnomes scattered in the yard while others had fountains and one even had a porcelain doll house surrounded by the garden. As I passed by the 'doll house' house, I caught sight of a 1950s truck that looked in perfect condition.
"What I wouldn't give for a car that worked."
A few seconds after I passed it, the engine revved up purring like a kitten.
"Even sounds good."
Shaking my head knowing that my own bike wouldn't sound like that until I got the gas tank filled, I started pushing Slater down the street again. As I walked, I caught sight several times of the truck rolling slowly behind me. Every time I stopped, the driver stopped the truck too. This went on for several more minutes until I couldn't stand anymore. I propped Slater against the kickstand, moved my headphones around my neck and made my way over to the driver's side of the stopped truck. The windows were tinted and as the person rolled them down, I started to yell.
"Where in the frickin' world do you get to come off following me? Why don't,"
But before I could finish my sentence, the window was all the way down to show the driver. Sitting in the driver's seat was Specs and there was a small smug look on his face. I groan, rolled my eyes and pushed my hand through my hair. I turned my gaze solely at him.
"What do you want?"
I demanded as I moved my arms across my chest. Specs leaned forward on the window ledge.
"Well, I happened to see you walking down the street rather than riding your bike and thought that maybe you would need a ride. Do you?"
I looked at Specs like he was psycho or something.
"You're joking right? You're just distracting me so that your friends can come and take my bike away."
Specs shook his head.
"Nope. My friends live back the other way so they would have no reason to be in this neighbourhood."
I continued to stare at Specs, not entirely sure if I should believe him or not. He gave a small laugh and pushing the door open, stepped out. He leaned against the door once he closed it.
"C'mon. Do you really want to push that machine all the way to your house? You can do that or you can let me give you a ride. I'll carry you into the truck if needs be. I'm not one to leave a girl out stranded."
Standing there looking at Specs, I caught a look on his face that read that what he said was true. Rather than having someone carry me against my will, I decided to go along with it. I let down my arms.
"Fine, but only if you have room in your truck for my bike. I'm not leaving that machine out of my sight."
"Yeah, there's room. I'll open the hitch and you go get your bike."
As Specs walked around the truck, I went back to the side and pushed my bike to the back. When I got to the back of the truck, I saw that he had put a plank of wood on a slant so I could push Slater up there. Though I voiced that I didn't need help, Specs gave it anyways. With no time we had the bike up into the back and Specs strapped it down as I jumped down. I moved to the passenger door and slid in as Specs moved the plank back into the back and pushed up the hitch. The last time I had been in the passenger seat of a vehicle, was when Spike, Gus and I went downtown on New Year's Eve.
Once we were both in the cab, I rolled down my window, hoisted my arm up and leaned my head down wishing that I was back home in Aspen. I waited for Specs to start the truck up, but he still hadn't pulled out of park. I lifted my head and turned to look at him to find he was staring back at me.
"What?"
"Seatbelt."
"Oh ya."
Putting a seatbelt on is still foreign to me. The only time I did was when I rode with my parents and that wasn't that often. Driving with Spike and Gus I usually didn't have a belt on. I reached up and pulled the belt over and clicked it into place. I resumed my place on the ledge as he pulled away from the curb.
"So what street?"
"Dawson Crescent. The second opening by Central Park."
"You live that far from school? Wow. What does your house look like?"
"It's the one with the blue shutters. Number 83."
I hoped that was going to be the last of our speaking to each other during the ride but Specs had other plans.
"So, since you're new here, where are ya from?"
"Aspen."
"Really? Cool. I've been there a couple of times. They've got great hills don't they?"
"Wouldn't know. Don't do winter sports."
Silence took over the cab as we stopped at a stoplight. I waited for Specs to ask me how I could live in Aspen and not ski or snowboard, but he didn't. It wasn't until we got through the intersection before he started talking again.
"How does your family like Sherwood?"
I groaned and sat up in my seat, fixing the belt.
"My parents stayed in Aspen. I'm living with my Aunt Medda."
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Specs jaw dropped a little.
"You're aunt is Medda Larkson?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well I just thought she didn't have any family. She's never mentioned any before."
Okay, how exactly does he know my aunt? Heck, I've only known her for a couple of days. I guess Specs saw the confused look on my face for he answered the questions.
"The gang and I hang out at the 'Soda Shop' that she works at. She's pretty cool."
We turned down a street and from where we were, I could see the corner of my new house. I turned my gaze to the truck's clock and saw that it was 4:30.
"At least I'll have half an hour to myself."
I muttered to myself, looking out the window. Specs turned and looked at me.
"Did you just say something?"
I shook my head.
"Just drop me and my bike here. I can walk the rest of the way."
"No, I'll finish driving."
Damn, a stubborn one. Specs soon pulled into my driveway and as soon as he had pulled to a stop, I unclipped my belt and jumped out of the truck. I made my way to the back and pulled down the hitch. I hoisted myself up and undid the straps over Slater, slowly moving the bike to the end. By this time, Specs had gotten out and had the plank up to ease the bike down.
"Well, thanks for the ride. Bye."
I pushed the bike up the driveway before he could answer me and put Slater on the kickstand before I realized I couldn't find my bag anywhere. I turned around to see if I had dropped it on the driveway, but soon found that Specs was right behind me. In his hands was my bag.
"It wouldn't stay on while I was driving."
I gave a small smirk and tried to take it from him, but he held it behind him out of my reach. I hate being short.
"I believe that I'm at least entitled to a name for the ride I gave today."
I groaned and my luck is that he wouldn't give in any time soon.
"Fine. McClure."
I moved around Specs quickly and grabbed my bag and headed to the front door before he could say anything else. I wasn't in the mood to talk and I wanted to listen to some music to clear my thoughts.
Okay, I'm better. Now onto the thanks.
Lulu Bell: Thanks for the review. Find the movie. It's great.
Boogalaga: I've got Elf and Frenchy and Mike as regulars. I may have mentioned that they look like punks, but they're pretty regular people. She meets Robin Hood and the others in two maybe three chapters. Don't worry. Most of the story is actually placed in Sherwood, Robin Hood time. Oh ya, thanks for the idea to have her dress in pink. I know exactly where to put that in the story.
Chapter Three
Even though they had left my table, I could feel their eyes boring into my head. I couldn't' take it anymore. Sure I was used to the stares, but normally they stopped after a few minutes when people got tired. Finishing off what I had started in my book, I put my chips into my pocket and got up from my seat. I walked over to the trashcan and threw the bottle and wrapper into the garbage before heading out the doors and into the hallway. As I walked down to my locker, I noticed a couple leaning against it in each other's arms.
"Oh great."
As I got closer, I saw that they didn't fit the prep persona I had already witnessed today. They were dressed slightly grungy with baggy pants and while the girl wore a spaghetti strap army top, the guy wore a dark blue Skate Shop shirt. The girl really reminded me of Gus, not only in clothing, but a little in looks. They both had the same dark skin and hair colour. Seeing the girl they were talking to, she would have made a perfect match for Spike. Her hair wasn't very short, but enough that the back could be spiked up a little. Arriving at my locker, I realized that they hadn't seen me come up.
"Excuse me, you're on my locker."
The three of them looked my way and sized me up, looking from my face to boots and back up to my face. They stepped to the side and spinning the lock, opened my locker top, putting the chips on the top shelf while reaching into my bag for a folder on the bottom shelf. (A/N: They are half lockers but top and bottom go to each student.) From the folder, I pulled out a group photo of Spike, Gus and I that my boss had taken of us before I moved. I also pulled out a picture of me that Gus had drawn of me a month ago. I was sitting in the hallway working in my book, hair tucked behind my ear, no trench on for once.
"That is a great drawing. It's got the same technique as the one Elf's done. Elf, show her the picture you did of Mike."
I turned around to have the one I compared to Spike looking over my shoulder and the one she called Elf opening up her own locker. She reached in and pulled out a sketchbook that had magazine pictures glued to the front. Elf flipped a few pages until she got to the one picture she was looking for and held it up. Low and behold, there was the picture of the boy with us in the same technique.
"Nice. My friend Gus did this before I moved out here."
Elf looked at me in small surprise.
"Really? Cool. I have a cousin named Gus that is an artist too. He's the reason I started to draw. Last I heard from him was that his best friend was lost to the worst thing ever,"
At the same time Elf, the punk and I said,
"Parents."
We stared at each other in shock. How could it be that we all said the same thing? Gus was the only person I ever knew to say that. I looked at Elf.
"Is Gus his nickname?"
"Yeah. His real name is August Standish the III, but he hates being called that. Why?
A smile creeps to my face and I laugh a little.
"Would this happen to be him?"
From where I grabbed the drawing, I pulled out the group photo into view. Elf took it from my hands and gave it a good look over. Her eyes soon filled up with recognition and surprise.
"You're Dodger! I should have realized it was you from the last picture Gus sent me. I think it was of you're 18th birthday. Gus's hair colour has changed since I saw him in the summer and I see Spike's hair is shorter than usual. Frenchy, this here is the infamous Dodger McClure."
Infamous Dodger. Those words had a nice ring to it. Looks as though the move here does have a small perk. I looked to the punk Elf called Frenchy.
"So, the name's Frenchy?"
"Yup. And yours is Dodger. It's nice to finally meet the person Gus talked so much about. So how do you like our lovely institution?"
Heavy accentuated on the lovely part. We all laughed knowing that the school wasn't lovely and we would rather be somewhere else.
"Oh, Mr. Hurst is just great. I showed up this morning at 8 and wasn't let in till 10. He spent all the hot air he has explaining how much I will contribute to the school and that took him another 2 hours. Oh ya, I've already met the school's prep squad. Madam president and her pose."
Elf, Frenchy and Mike all groaned and Elf piped up.
"Ice and her group pretty much run the school. They've been brought up that prep is best, though they don't really act like it."
Not act like it? They seemed to today.
"Well, I think I freaked them out today in the cafeteria. Just little phrases seemed to make them very confused."
I relayed to my newfound friends what had happened and they burst out laughing.
"Just been in the basement for 3 years and decided now is a good time to come up? Oh man, I would of loved to see their faces."
Mike choked out as he wiped a tear from his eye. Elf and Frenchy both agreed just as the bell went off. All of us groaned as we reached into our lockers for our books. I only had my binder for classes as to not having any textbooks yet.
"Well, better get to class." Frenchy said from the opposite side of the hallway.
"Does anyone know where," pulls schedule out of my pocket, "Advanced English is?"
Mike nodded.
"I've got that class. Elf and I'll show you the way since her class is next door."
I nodded my thanks to him and the three of us said bye to Frenchy as she walked down to her Biology class. As the three of us walked towards my class, I got several stares. I asked Elf what time the goths normally came in from the yard.
"Normally they don't come in until the class starter bell rings. Even then they come in late." She gave me a wary look. "You aren't gonna start that habit are you?"
I shook my head.
"Both my parents drilled it into my head that school came above everything, even hanging out with my friends. I don't mind that they did, I actually enjoy school or at least the subjects I like; always have. The only downfalls of school I find are the nagging teachers and annoying preps."
Elf laughed as we stopped in front of her classroom and shook her head.
"Gus told me about your parents. Tough break. Well this is my stop for the day, drafting. I'll see you guys after school?"
"I've got to go home straight after to report to my aunt, but maybe tomorrow."
Elf said all right and she entered her classroom as Mike and I headed into our own room. As we entered, I found that the Ice girl's boyfriend Spat or whatever it was, was also in this class.
"Oh great, just what I needed to an all ready weary day."
Mike gave me a soft smile and patted me on the back.
"Don't worry about him or the others. C'mon, I'll introduce you to the teacher. She's a pretty okay person."
Mike led me over to the teacher and she was pretty nice. She was kind enough to sit me beside Mike. He gave me the notes I had missed from the beginning of the unit and the class began. Just as soon as the class had begun, it ended. I packed up the two books that the teacher had given me, and also my notebook. I left the classroom with Mike only to part ways as he headed for his Phys. Ed class. I was lucky. My Math class wasn't that far though I wish it were half way across the world. Numbers don't exactly bring joy and happiness to my life like my writing does. I think when my parents signed me up for the course; they decided that I needed something more stable than English and History.
Being new does have its advantage though. Near the end of the class after Mr. Denton, who I must say is so boring and actually wears these weird colour bowties, gave out homework I asked if I could be dismissed early to check out where my next class was. He gave me a wry look before letting me go, probably thinking that I would use the 15minutes to go out and have a smoke. I gathered my books up and quickly left the room. I wandered the halls. I didn't really need to be let out early. The History room was on the first floor with my other classes.
Going down the hallway was like walking through some kind of sport hall of fame. On one of the basketball pictures where the boys had shorts that were very short, the pennant that the boys in the centre held up read 1945. They all looked like replicas of my dad. I pushed my body past them so I wouldn't remember the reason why I was at the school in the first place. By the time I reached the History room, I still had 10 minutes before the bell and other students were allowed out.
I leaned down against the wall outside the door and pulled out my Math homework. If I could finish it now, I wouldn't have to take it home to work on. I struggled at first but soon made my way through them, only to have the last question finished as the bell rung. I got up before the crowd spilled into the hallways so that I wouldn't be trampled on. All the students rushed out of the near-by classrooms like there was a disease ridden within and to run was their only escape. I waited till the last student had left the doorway before entering and groaning. Sitting at the back of the room was James or as he liked to be called Specs.
"Oh boy, not another one."
I walked over to the teacher, Mr. Pulitzer and luckily for me, he decided to assign me to the seat in front of Specs. Not wanting to have an argument on my first day, I gritted my teeth and walked to my new seat and sat down. Rather than do nothing and have the unfortunate chance to talk to Specs, I pulled my Walkman from my pocket and put 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' by Def Leppard on. I tapped my foot to the music as I watched the other students milled into the class and take their regulated seats. The last student to slide in before the bell rang was Frenchy. I made a mental note to ask Mr. Pulitzer if I could move to a seat by her. I heard the faint sound of the bell ring and removed my headphones and tucked the Walkman back into my pocket.
Mr. Pulitzer, like my other teachers, didn't bother to introduce me to the rest of the class. He just started up with his lesson. As he droned on, I ended up tuning him out. I had covered all this stuff two weeks ago. All I would have to do is bring my notebook from my old school and save the new one for writing. Pulling my own writing book out of my pocket, I started on a story idea but my concentration was disturbed by a click of a door. I turned my gaze to the door to see Ice slide into her seat, which was conveniently paced by the door.
I know there is some unwritten law about not ratting on fellow students but Mr. Pulitzer didn't see her slide in and she's 30minutes late. I started to raise my hand to let the teacher know a 'stray' had entered the classroom when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I turned around to see Specs giving me a warning look. His brown eyes gave a stormy look of warning. Besides the scowl and stormy eyes, I noticed the other features of his face. The glasses framed his face very nicely and were set off by his brown hair mixed with dirty blonde. I'm not sure if it was a dye job or if that truly was his hair colour. When he had the hat on earlier, I couldn't see exactly how long the hair was. Now, I could see that it ended just below his neck. It was brushed back, kind of in a wavy look.
I racked my brain, trying to figure out why he looked so familiar. Trying to think of from where I had seen that wry look of warning and similar looks. Then it clicked. Christian Slater when he had been in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Clearing my mind of whom he looked like, I focused back to the scowl on his face and gave him a questioning look.
"I wouldn't stay like that if I were you. Scientific research has proven that your face will stay in a permanent scowl if you look at me like that any longer."
"Well I wouldn't be scowling if I didn't know that you were about to enter the lioness's den."
Now that I think about it, his voice even sounds like Christian Slater's. There was a hint of roughness within it.
"Well, don't worry about me. I can handle myself."
He released his hold on my shoulder.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
I rolled my eyes and turned around in my seat, just to have Mr. Pulitzer take notice of Specs' and my little chat.
"Young lady, is there a problem?"
"Well, actually, there was something I."
As I said this, I took a quick glance at Ice. I guess Mr. Pulitzer caught the movement because he too caught sight of her.
"One moment miss. Miss Monroe. It's nice of you to finally join our little history community. I don't want to hear any of your excuses. This is the fifth time in the past two weeks. Detention after school."
Mr. Pulitzer turned his attention back to me.
"Now, what was it that you wanted to ask me?"
"I uh, was just wondering if you had an extra textbook. I seemed to have left mine at home."
Mr. Pulitzer pulled a textbook from behind his desk and carried to my desk. I took it and smiled. As he walked back and started writing on the board again, I saw Ice give me a hard stare. I did something that I guess she didn't expect I smiled. I then mouth, 'No crime, no time.' The rest of the class went by very quickly. I answered several questions that had Pulitzer surprised that someone actually knew what the answers were. When the final bell rang, I put my books into my pockets and pulled my headphones from my pockets. Placing them on my ears, I pushed play and got up from the desk, moving out towards the door. Frenchy had already left so I wouldn't be able to catch up with her.
Getting closer to the door, I passed Ice's desk just as she stuck her foot out to trip me. I was lucky though; I caught sight of the movement she made in the nick of time. My instincts told me to jump and I did. Not even looking back, I headed off down the hallway. I ended up staying after school so that I could talk to my morning teachers and find out if I had any homework that I might be able to do. Talking to my Drama teach Mrs. Pereira, I found that she was really cool. In fact, said she might have a job for me in the school play as a prop creator. Meeting Mr. Kloppman was great. He told me we were covering Mark Twain and Louisa May Alcott. When he handed me the books, he gave me a warm, friendly smile.
"At least there's one great teacher."
I said to myself as I walked down to the parking lot. The detention bell had long since rang so my footsteps were the only life to a dead hallway. Walking out into the bright sun blinded me a bit, but no more then the next scene I saw. Where my mode of transportation was, a group of people were standing around it. For my sixteenth birthday, my parents actually complied with giving me what I wanted, a motorcycle. At first they objected to it, but when I said that they were all the rage in the 50s, they couldn't deny it. How it's known that guys name their cars, I did the same with my bike naming it after my favourite actor, Christian Slater.
I gritted my teeth and walked towards them. As I neared, I saw that there was a kid with a patch sitting on Slater and making some kind of motor sounds. The sight was truly pathetic. I got to the outside of the group, only to have the people not realize I was there.
"Do you mind getting off my bike so that I can go home?"
Everyone turned to look at me. As things turned out, the group was a bunch of preps and their leader was Ice. She was standing off to the side with her boy toy Spot hanging beside her and Jack to the other side. Spot looked me over then at the bike and finally back to me.
"This is your bike?"
I nodded and all he did was laugh.
"Yeah right. Someone like you I very much doubt could own one of these."
I gave him a cold glare before shifting my bag on my shoulder and giving a retort.
"I'll prove that this is mine if the dingbat over there will get off."
The kid I had just insulted looked at me as if I hadn't even asked him to get off. He sat up and looked at me.
"The name's not Dingbat, it's Kid Blink." Like I cared.
"Just get off."
He looked to Spot who nodded in agreement. Kid Blink shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and got of Slater slowly. I then made my way over and strapped my bag onto the carrying rack. Once the bag was secure, I got on and pulled a key from under my shirt, putting it into the ignition. Deathly silence was filled with the sound of the engine.
"Is that enough proof?"
Before anyone could answer, I pulled the bike out of park and drove out of the parking lot leaving the airheads in the dust. Driving home was the only thought on my mind. The plan was that when I got home, I would have my 80s rock music turned up loud until 5 o'clock when Aunt Medda got home from work at the diner. I would relax with a can of Dr. Pepper and work on either letters to Gus and Spike or on a story.
Not even halfway home, my bike had other plans for me. I looked to the gas gauge to see that the tank was empty. I steered Slater to the side of the road before it went completely caput. I pulled the key out of ignition and placed it back around my neck. Removing myself from my bike, I put my headphones on and started the music up. There was no sense pushing the bike home without some good tunes.
"Looks like I won't get any free time tonight."
I mumbled to myself as I trudged along the side of the road. I was about 3 blocks from the place Slater had decided to call it quits when just as I passed a giant puddle from the rainstorm the previous day, a car sped by. Water sprayed up from under the tire and ended up splashing all over my coat. I could hear laughter echo from the car, as it turned left and disappeared from sight.
"Probably Madam Ice's car."
I stopped pushing the bike and tried wiping away the water beads on my trench. There wasn't any use though, there was mud clinging to it as well so I wouldn't be able to treat it properly until I got back to Aunt Medda's. Pushing the trench material behind me, I grabbed the handlebars and start pushing the bike along the street again. 5 minutes or so later another vehicle drove past me. I didn't notice what type it was, I was too busy muttering to myself about how much the preps had annoyed me today. Getting to the 4-way-stop, I looked up to see that I was only at Delaware.
"Oh just great. The way things are going, I'm not gonna get home till after 6. Why did she have to live so far away from the school?"
I turned my bike right and started trudging down Delaware Street and the music on my headphones was "Is The Love?" by Whitesnake. Walking down the street, I took in the scenery of the houses and gardens. Everything was so beautiful and posh. They looked like pictures in magazines. Some had gnomes scattered in the yard while others had fountains and one even had a porcelain doll house surrounded by the garden. As I passed by the 'doll house' house, I caught sight of a 1950s truck that looked in perfect condition.
"What I wouldn't give for a car that worked."
A few seconds after I passed it, the engine revved up purring like a kitten.
"Even sounds good."
Shaking my head knowing that my own bike wouldn't sound like that until I got the gas tank filled, I started pushing Slater down the street again. As I walked, I caught sight several times of the truck rolling slowly behind me. Every time I stopped, the driver stopped the truck too. This went on for several more minutes until I couldn't stand anymore. I propped Slater against the kickstand, moved my headphones around my neck and made my way over to the driver's side of the stopped truck. The windows were tinted and as the person rolled them down, I started to yell.
"Where in the frickin' world do you get to come off following me? Why don't,"
But before I could finish my sentence, the window was all the way down to show the driver. Sitting in the driver's seat was Specs and there was a small smug look on his face. I groan, rolled my eyes and pushed my hand through my hair. I turned my gaze solely at him.
"What do you want?"
I demanded as I moved my arms across my chest. Specs leaned forward on the window ledge.
"Well, I happened to see you walking down the street rather than riding your bike and thought that maybe you would need a ride. Do you?"
I looked at Specs like he was psycho or something.
"You're joking right? You're just distracting me so that your friends can come and take my bike away."
Specs shook his head.
"Nope. My friends live back the other way so they would have no reason to be in this neighbourhood."
I continued to stare at Specs, not entirely sure if I should believe him or not. He gave a small laugh and pushing the door open, stepped out. He leaned against the door once he closed it.
"C'mon. Do you really want to push that machine all the way to your house? You can do that or you can let me give you a ride. I'll carry you into the truck if needs be. I'm not one to leave a girl out stranded."
Standing there looking at Specs, I caught a look on his face that read that what he said was true. Rather than having someone carry me against my will, I decided to go along with it. I let down my arms.
"Fine, but only if you have room in your truck for my bike. I'm not leaving that machine out of my sight."
"Yeah, there's room. I'll open the hitch and you go get your bike."
As Specs walked around the truck, I went back to the side and pushed my bike to the back. When I got to the back of the truck, I saw that he had put a plank of wood on a slant so I could push Slater up there. Though I voiced that I didn't need help, Specs gave it anyways. With no time we had the bike up into the back and Specs strapped it down as I jumped down. I moved to the passenger door and slid in as Specs moved the plank back into the back and pushed up the hitch. The last time I had been in the passenger seat of a vehicle, was when Spike, Gus and I went downtown on New Year's Eve.
Once we were both in the cab, I rolled down my window, hoisted my arm up and leaned my head down wishing that I was back home in Aspen. I waited for Specs to start the truck up, but he still hadn't pulled out of park. I lifted my head and turned to look at him to find he was staring back at me.
"What?"
"Seatbelt."
"Oh ya."
Putting a seatbelt on is still foreign to me. The only time I did was when I rode with my parents and that wasn't that often. Driving with Spike and Gus I usually didn't have a belt on. I reached up and pulled the belt over and clicked it into place. I resumed my place on the ledge as he pulled away from the curb.
"So what street?"
"Dawson Crescent. The second opening by Central Park."
"You live that far from school? Wow. What does your house look like?"
"It's the one with the blue shutters. Number 83."
I hoped that was going to be the last of our speaking to each other during the ride but Specs had other plans.
"So, since you're new here, where are ya from?"
"Aspen."
"Really? Cool. I've been there a couple of times. They've got great hills don't they?"
"Wouldn't know. Don't do winter sports."
Silence took over the cab as we stopped at a stoplight. I waited for Specs to ask me how I could live in Aspen and not ski or snowboard, but he didn't. It wasn't until we got through the intersection before he started talking again.
"How does your family like Sherwood?"
I groaned and sat up in my seat, fixing the belt.
"My parents stayed in Aspen. I'm living with my Aunt Medda."
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Specs jaw dropped a little.
"You're aunt is Medda Larkson?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well I just thought she didn't have any family. She's never mentioned any before."
Okay, how exactly does he know my aunt? Heck, I've only known her for a couple of days. I guess Specs saw the confused look on my face for he answered the questions.
"The gang and I hang out at the 'Soda Shop' that she works at. She's pretty cool."
We turned down a street and from where we were, I could see the corner of my new house. I turned my gaze to the truck's clock and saw that it was 4:30.
"At least I'll have half an hour to myself."
I muttered to myself, looking out the window. Specs turned and looked at me.
"Did you just say something?"
I shook my head.
"Just drop me and my bike here. I can walk the rest of the way."
"No, I'll finish driving."
Damn, a stubborn one. Specs soon pulled into my driveway and as soon as he had pulled to a stop, I unclipped my belt and jumped out of the truck. I made my way to the back and pulled down the hitch. I hoisted myself up and undid the straps over Slater, slowly moving the bike to the end. By this time, Specs had gotten out and had the plank up to ease the bike down.
"Well, thanks for the ride. Bye."
I pushed the bike up the driveway before he could answer me and put Slater on the kickstand before I realized I couldn't find my bag anywhere. I turned around to see if I had dropped it on the driveway, but soon found that Specs was right behind me. In his hands was my bag.
"It wouldn't stay on while I was driving."
I gave a small smirk and tried to take it from him, but he held it behind him out of my reach. I hate being short.
"I believe that I'm at least entitled to a name for the ride I gave today."
I groaned and my luck is that he wouldn't give in any time soon.
"Fine. McClure."
I moved around Specs quickly and grabbed my bag and headed to the front door before he could say anything else. I wasn't in the mood to talk and I wanted to listen to some music to clear my thoughts.