"What do you mean?" I set the device down.
"You heard me."
It was rare that those words ever came out of someone's mouth. What phone couldn't connect to the internet? Even toddlers had devices that could access the world wide web so they could watch their videos or play their games. He had to be making excuses.
"Let me see your phone."
"Fuck off."
"So what do you plan on doing for the rest of the period?"
"There's one of us actually holding a phone. Meaning you do the research, and I give the approval."
"You're not just going to sit there and do nothing."
"You have any other suggestions?" He glared.
I knew he didn't bring the supplies he actually needed, but he had to have a piece of paper. I took my notebook and tossed it on his desk.
"Start brainstorming. That way we can see what ideas we can merge or agree on."
"Then hand over the packet."
I continued my task, but I could see out of the corner of my eye that Hiccup had no interest. He flipped through the packet idly, soon enough putting it down and looking in the direction of the window. It was a rather misty day today, and there was rain in the forecast for the evening. I wanted to at least have a research topic chosen by the end of the period, but I also knew that with one of us researching not much was going to get done. The teacher would be okay with being given a topic a later day.
The essay was due in three weeks, and the presentation would be a week after that. Which meant that this grade would be culminated by the efforts made in a month. As soon as the bell rang Hiccup had tossed the notebook on my desk, shoving aside anyone in his way to get out of the classroom. As I gathered my own things, I could swear that the teacher was giving me a glance of sympathy. We might've been better off working alone. Now he'd drag me down with him on his sinking ship.
Heather wound her arm through mine as we made our way out of the classroom. I could see that she had a sticky note attached to the clear plastic of her binder, a phone number written in burgundy ink.
"I just have to say that you're screwed."
"Oh I know it." An exasperated breath escaped me.
"Of everyone to be stuck with, it had to be Haddock. The worst student in Hooligan High. You know he's already been expelled from three other schools?"
"And the district board wanted to make the students suffer further by having to deal with him?"
"He's just a problem they need to pass on. He has to drop out of his own volition."
I sighed. "He's got an infuriating attitude, but we did just start. I have to hope that we'll actually make progress."
"Always an optimist, Asti." She laughed. "You should talk to Mrs. Vaiker though. See if there's something else you can do."
"I can leave that as a last resort. For now I'll be on his case about getting this done. He did show some interest in the assignment."
"Yeah, but don't try to push him too hard. I don't want you to wind up getting stabbed."
"Like that'll happen." I smirked. "He'll have his own blade inside him before it even touches me. How dare you doubt my capabilities."
I wondered if he actually carried a blade. The rumor had been floating around the school, but no one had ever reported being sliced or attacked. Maybe some students had been threatened, but been frightened enough not to say a word. The way he acted, it could be assumed that he did walk around armed.
"Maybe you should bring pepper spray or something. You'll be stuck with him for this project, you'll need proper protection."
"Can't go pick it up today. Got a shift from 4:30-8 later."
"They're making you work on a weekday?" Her eyes widened.
"Hey, better I work a few hours today then cram in eight hours on Saturday. We have practice in the morning, if you haven't forgotten."
"Right, a day that the Berkian fog will be nonexistent. Hey, I'll come by and visit you then! I've been in the mood for a hazelnut latte."
"You just want the discount." I grinned.
"A friend at the Nadder's Nook has its benefits. See you then?"
Her arm left mine, and she turned in one direction while I went in another. I hadn't even gotten to mention that he didn't have a proper cell phone. It was just fuel for her seeing Haddock in an even worse image. I couldn't help but boggle at his statement. A phone without access to the internet. How much did his parents hate him that they had to limit him in that way? I could only hope that he hadn't already torn up that index card, that he was going to find some form of internet and do his own research. He'd kept the packet, and I had enough know-how to be able to make progress when I had the chance.
I also had Heather as a resource. She'd be able to send me pictures of whatever I needed. I wished I could do the same for Hiccup. Make headway in the evening by sending him pictures of the topics we could do. I had neglected to ask for his number, considering the fact that he didn't even want to hand his cell phone over. It was crucial. If I was going to be worrying myself this much, I needed to make that I had his commitment and could hold him to it. I'd find him at the end of the school day. He couldn't be that hard to find. Dagur had to know where he was.
His favored spots on where to go and smoke a cigarette. After school it wouldn't be difficult to find him. Just look for that cloud of gray and the smell of tobacco. Find that face already having seen me as I strode toward them. As I watched the clock in my remaining classes, I had time to debate whether or not it was the right thing to do. The number could wait until tomorrow. Then again, he may not even show up for class. He is known to ditch as well. Heather was afraid he'd threaten me with his blade. I felt that he would give me the same response as earlier.
Not wanting to hand over his phone. Be completely closed off. May just ignore me completely, act like I didn't even exist. I definitely would not appreciate if he blew smoke in my face.
When the bell rung, I carefully packed my things. Hoping not to regret what I was about to do. I found Dagur, he was was next to the exit gate, watching the students exit the school. Dagur would be one of the only people who knew where he was. He was only a couple years older than us, but he was one of the security guards who knew what most students were up to. He may be a little eccentric, but he meant well and got along well with the other teenagers.
He gave me three locations. I wanted to try one, if he wasn't there, wasn't worth it. I tried to hide the surprise that Dagur knew where Hiccup may have been. Then again, he was a security guard. If he didn't know where Hiccup liked to do his illegal habits, what kind of school supervisor was he? I headed toward the patch of trees near the east side of the football stadium.
I had thought he wasn't there, until a plume of smoke went up from behind a trunk.
