Chapter 20

I crinkled a piece of notebook in the air and tossed it up and down. This was my attempt at ignoring Baseball Boy's stare. He was sitting way too close at the Biology lab table.

"It's a travesty, really. A girl like me with those ruffians in the detention room." The paper went up and down. "I bet I'll learn all sorts of bad habits like carving skulls into the desks. I can learn to make a bong from a toilet paper tube. Chief Charlie would be impressed. Then I can observe how to talk back to teachers using dialogue from Saved by the Bell. This is Forks after all, not some rough inner city school. I'm sure there's a Zach Morris type that was being obnoxious in home room that got sent to high school jail."

The kid stole my paper ball from mid air. I gave him the stink eye. He admonished, "Bella, let's be serious! This..."

"Is confusing to you, because you have no knowledge of pop television culture outside of sports movies and television? Would it have been easier if I said Dawson from the Creek, because he was in the movie version of Friday Night Lights?" I had to wrinkle my nose. "Your sports entertainment is rubbing off on me, I don't like this."

He kissed my nose. I hope I'm not subconsciously nose wrinkling on purpose.

"You shouldn't be in detention, because he was trying to intimidate you!" The kid grabbed my hand. "He could have hurt you!"

"James Taylor was left crying on the floor by this girl." I poked my chest. "You can stick that sword away, Prince Charming. I've got this.

Detention equal nap time for Bella. Sweet, glorious nap time.

"Your father..."

I forgotten for a moment about the master plan.

"Oh yes, the old timer will be upset at his eldest child receiving punishment. Bad, bad Bella will be put in Swan Prison. I promise a diet of cold pizza and Sprite, not bread and water." I gave him a fake, sad smile. "Guess that date night has to be on hold for awhile."

Kid slammed his fist on the table. It shook slightly. It was strangely seductive. Weird.

"I refuse to let you be punished! I will free you from injustice!"

Good luck with that, buckaroo.