Forever Changed

“Mr. Clark, did I just see you put your hands on another student?” Mr. Cribbs asked, appearing from around the corner.

“Yes, sir,” I replied, recognizing my opportunity.

Five minutes later, I strolled through the hallway on my way to Smokeville with a week’s worth of detention stuffed in my back pocket, along with my drumsticks.

Writing a letter of apology turned out to be easier than I had anticipated. I realized whether intentional or not, Mrs. Leighton had given me an easy out. Detention, on the other hand, weighed heavily on me the next morning as I got ready for school. We’d seen the losers who frequented afterschool detentions when we needed to grab props for a certain cheer routines from the auditorium. We'd have to endure the obvious comments and whistles because of our short skirts. Depending on her mood, Lacey would either egg them on by sucking seductively on her finger as we walked by, or just flip them off if she was in a pissy mood.

As the day progressed, my apprehension grew and I fought the temptation to blow the whole thing off, but the thought of flunking out and maybe having to go to summer school changed my mind. I had been slacking off enough this year as it was, so I really needed to pull it together.

“Hey, stranger,” Colton said, coming up to me after seventh period. “I heard you finally had something to say in class yesterday,” he said shooting me a mischievous grin before nudging me with his hip.

“Ha, what can I say? I guess my inner-rebel is coming out,” I said, joking with him for the first time in months. “Besides, what person hasn’t wanted to tell Matthews to f-off?”

“Right, I just never thought it would be you who got the honor.”

“Well, how 'bout we give you the honor and you can serve my detention,” I said, shooting a grin his way.

“No can do, chica, I have to flip burgers this afternoon.”

“What, you got a job?” I asked incredulously. As far as I knew, money wasn’t an issue for his family, with his father being a lawyer and all.

“Yeah, my dad has some grand scheme to man me up by making me get a job,” he said sarcastically.

“Man you up? You’re about as manly as they come,” I said, throwing a mock punch at his bicep. What the hell is that all about?” I asked confused.

“It’s too much to delve into now. I’ll tell you some other time so I don’t ruin your “detention high.”

“You’re a crack up,” I said tossing my bio and world history text books into my locker before slamming the door.

“Lunch tomorrow?” he asked hopefully as I started off toward detention hell.

“Can’t, I have to see Mrs. Leighton,” I said with a grimace.

“Ugh, counselor session?” he asked.

“I guess.”

“Maybe it'll help,” he said quietly, sounding a little unsure.

“Maybe,” I said, sounding doubtful. Maybe if she let me cuss out more teachers during the session, I couldn’t help thinking to myself as I entered the dimly lit auditorium.

I signed in with the teacher's aide that had the unpleasant task of making sure none of us skipped out. I walked down the slanted aisle, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dim light. After a few moments, my eyes were able to scan the rows of seats and my heart sunk when I saw the hard-edged faces and sneering looks of the other attendees studying me. Finding an empty row, I walked several seats in so I could have the space completely to myself.

I pulle

d out my iPhone and opened up Facebook. I’d stayed clear from the social network scene over the last few months knowing Lacey was making catty remarks about me. I never bothered to check any of the comments until I realized I had more than two hundred missed notifications. Clicking on the oldest one, I was surprised by the words I read.

Sheesh, Lacey, stop being such a beeyotch, she just lost her dad. What did you do, bury your compassion with that stick in your ass? A senior I rarely talked with had commented. I couldn’t help but snicker as I pictured Lacey’s face when she read the comment.

For the next half an hour, I clicked through all the messages, surprised that the majority were all favorable toward me. I had been so wrapped up in the way my friends had treated me after the accident, I pretty much assumed everyone would feel the same. I just figured no one would want to hang out with "Ms. Doom and Gloom," as Lacey liked to call me.

There were tons of private messages to me, expressing their sympathy over my father passing. I swallowed a lump in my throat that so many people I had once considered beneath me had shown more decency than those I had trusted the most. Overcome with mixed emotions, I set my phone to the side and scanned the room. A handful more students now filled the seats, and I found the row in front of me no longer empty.

I studied the person that sat almost directly in front of me and couldn’t help admiring the thick hair that slightly curled at his collar line. It was a rich auburn color that most girls would die for. Mesmerized, I leaned forward to see if it was a supple as it looked.

I jerked back just before my hand could reach its destination. What the hell was wrong with me? Cussing a teacher out, pulling a fire alarm, and now, almost touching some guy's hair I didn’t even know? I was definitely losing it.

My thoughts were interrupted by a light tapping noise in front of me. Leaning forward, searching for the source of the noise, I saw the occupant in front of me was Maddon, drumming on his knee with a pair of drumsticks.