Why am I in trouble again?
…
Oh, RIGHT…
Good times…
Quirking an eyebrow as Peter waved to me from his seat on Wolfe's back, I tickled his stomach, earning a giggle from the toddler.
Hey, he's CUTE when he's not being weird.
Climbing into the backmost seat so the others would be comfortable, I held my Batman bag on my lap while watching Wolfe struggle with strapping Tyler in.
Not wanting to be late today, since suspension isn't NEARLY as fun as it sounds, I leaned over and did it myself.
"…Thanks."
Nodding in reply, I settled back and put on my seatbelt as the SEAL got into the driver's seat.
I get the feeling this is gonna be a bumpy ride…
I was TOTALLY right.
They don't teach Navy SEALS how to drive under the speed limit in the academy, I guess.
Still, we made it just in time, getting into the principal's office at the last second on Murney's stopwatch.
GOD, I hate that thing…
"Sorry, it's my fault." Wolfe apologized just before the final school bell rang.
"Yeah, I always said these kids needed a parole officer. I guess, uh, Mrs. Plummer thought so, too."
I swear, if it wouldn't get me expelled I'd punch that smug jerk SO HARD…
"Wow, you've got a real upper torso going on. You ever, uh, do any time?"
Right now, I'd rather be in class.
And I HATE math.
"Sasquatch." Seth muttered, causing me to smile and Zoe to giggle.
"You got something to say, boy?"
Oops.
"…No."
"'No.' Okay…Wow, it looks like you've got a pair of legs coming out of your shoulders. You hit the gym a lot, do ya?"
Jeez, just ask him out for ice cream, why don't you?
"Wooly mammoth."
The smile on my face hurt to keep subdued, but Murney had better hearing than he let on.
"Alright, you know what, Creeper? You just bought yourself an extra fifteen minutes on the mats, WITH THE MURNINATOR."
Low self-esteem, much?
"Excuse me. Lieutenant Shane Wolfe, I'm watching the kids for the Plummers." Wolfe introduced, offering a hand to shake politely.
"Oh, babysitter huh? All good with whatever job you can get, right?"
Okay, NOW I'm getting upset.
"I'm Murney, Dwayne Murney. My friends call me Little Puppet."
TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
"I'm the VP here, I'm in charge of discipline and conduct, and truancy. Top to bottom. K to twelve. You're in MY house now, strongman."
"You're the vice principal?"
Yeah, a bit of a surprise, huh?
"And the wrestling coach."
He means the leader of Hell's army.
Trust me.
"See the Creeper over there?"
Okay, if he calls Seth 'Creeper' one more time, I'm going to rearrange his unmentionables with my foot.
"He's played hooky from every wrestling practice this month, and her?"
Murney pointed towards Zoe.
"She's missed TWENTY-TWO driver's ed classes. OUT OF TWENTY-THREE!"
His eyes settled on me, and I glared back, entire body tensing.
"And that little girl right there has been in sixteen fights in the last three weeks alone."
Not like I started it…
"These are the worst students IN MY SCHOOL."
He was about to say more, but the door opening nearly startled him out of his chair.
I relaxed at the sight of Principal Fletcher, smiling at the way she so thoroughly unsettled Murney.
"Good morning, kids." Fletcher greeted politely as Murney got out of her chair, half-awkward and half-restrained.
"Um, Mr. Murney, thank you for watching my chair for me. I'll take it from here."
"Roger that. Absolutely. I was just, uh, informing our, uh, new friend here about some of the duties of vice principal…"
"Yes, speaking of which…How's it going with the investigation into the bologna slices on the cafeteria ceiling?"
Now THAT was a fun day…
"Ah, that's been taking twists and turns-."
"Just keep up the good work."
"Yeah."
"Okay, I'll be on the roof." Murney informed, walking out through the side door.
"Alright then, kids. I think it's time to get back to class. I'll cut you some slack today considering it's Lieutenant Wolfe's first day. Thank you."
Nodding, I turned to follow the others before she called my name.
"Loyce?"
Half-turning in the doorway, I noticed the same worry on her face from when she realized I wouldn't talk.
"You'll see the counselor today, won't you?"
I HATED going to the counselor…
But…
I could only nod in reply, not willing to express how much of a chore I was doing just because she asked, and kept going.
It's gonna be a LONG day…
I hate spending time with my counselor.
I pretty much spend hours glaring at her while she tries to force me to speak, and she gets just as frustrated by my refusal.
Does she even know what would come out of my mouth if I gave in?
Every ugly, horrible thing I've ever thought would get out, every angry jab let loose, every insult jabbed into someone's back like a knife.
I won't do that to my family.
The counselor gave up early today, most likely because she was learning this was a losing battle on her side, and I walked out to the playground.
My current class was going to be over in about ten minutes, and then I had study hall, so I decided to settle down somewhere with a comic.
I thought counselors were supposed to make you relax…
Spotting Wolfe on a see-saw with at least six children on the other hand, looking around with a pair of binoculars, I rolled my eyes and sat down under a tree.
Opening 'Final Crisis: Part 1', I felt my shoulders sag.
Maybe today won't be so bad…
I was wrong.
Today SUCKS.
"Hey, sweet-cheeks."
Looking up from my comic, I nearly huffed in annoyance.
Bryan Nichols is on the football and wrestling teams, a jock through and through, that thought he was God's gift to women.
When I refused to roll over and give him what he wanted, he started tirelessly pursuing me instead of the other girls throwing themselves at his feet.
Stupid hunter instinct…
"Wanna hang out tonight? My place?" He offered, trying for a flirtatious smile that seemed more like a predatory leer to me.
Shaking my head in the negative, I put away my comic and got up to leave when Bryan grabbed my arm.
"Come on, just once. You'll like it."
My expression must have turned as fierce as my rage, since he released me and held up his hands in a 'hey, calm down' manner.
"Hey, I'm just offering."
Brushing past me, he pinched my ass and winked.
"Call me."
Cant' get suspended-Can't get suspended-CAN'T GET SUSPENDED-
"Loy!"
Turning around at Lulu's shout, I saw Seth getting pushed around by some of the wrestling team.
Screw getting suspended, I'm kicking their asses!
Wolfe arrived on the scene first, pulling Seth out of the ring to keep the cycle from continuing.
The wrestlers didn't seem put-off by this, ready to continue their game, when the sound of a backpack dropping cut through the air like a gong.
All six turned around, and Wolfe was surprised to find it was Cece that had stepped up, expression beyond enraged and entire body tense.
The entire playground seemed to go quiet and still, and Wolfe suspected that Cece had earned quite the reputation to get that kind of response.
She mock-lunged, and the reaction was instantaneous.
The wrestlers scattered like frightened dogs, tails between their legs, and the circle of curious students took a few hasty steps back.
Wolfe was impressed, considering that Cece was so small in comparison and yet inspired such fear, but held back any praise he might have given.
Murney was heading towards them…
"What's going on here?"
Turning to face the vice principal, I held my ground like I'd done against his wrestlers, showing no fear.
And mom said reading Batman comics wouldn't teach me anything…
"You start another fight, ghost-girl?" He accused, immediately standing up for his jerks.
I nearly snarled at the implication, that I was just a violent sado-masochist looking for my next pain fix, but dug my fingernails into my palms instead.
"Leave her alone, she didn't do anything!" Seth shouted in my defense, though Wolfe stopped him from moving closer.
He still has that big brother instinct, even though I'm the one with the fighting experience.
"I can't be so sure. Maybe if you man up and defend yourself once in a while, I wouldn't think your, uh, BABY SISTER came to bail you out again."
Fighting down the adrenaline from the near-fight and the accompanying feel of wanting to punch something, I scowled.
Sticking my tongue out at him, I pulled it back in when he turned sharply, putting on a blank expression.
Probably thinking his eyes had tricked him, since he had most likely only see me do that out of the corner of his eye, Murney turned back to Seth.
This time, I flipped him the bird, and was too fast for him to catch again.
Oh, but he knew I was messing with him.
Even though MY face was blank, there were students around that were barely holding in their laughter.
"You better watch this one, babysitter. She's the devil incarnate." He warned.
"Go to class, ghost-girl."
I considered defying him, but…
Not in front of Wolfe.
Picking up my bag and sending Seth a look to make sure he was alright, I headed towards my class.
School SUCKS.