Years

(PART 2) Chapter 15

"Is it something for the class?" He asked. "No. I'm sorry-" "You don't sound sorry. Detention. I don't care what you wrote or who it's for, but going off task is not allowed in this classroom."

I opened my mouth, then shut it.

I can't argue nor refuse.

Usually I'm excited when the last bell rings. It means I can go home, and finally school can end.

But today, when the bell rang, I was not excited. Sure, classes do end, but I'm still technically at school. I have no idea what you do in detention, but I do know for sure it is held in room 198.

I walked in to the room. "This the detention room?" I asked. The teacher sitting at the desk nodded, and I went in. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Bethany. But then again, it was my fault for wanting to write that note in the first place.

"What do I do?" I asked. "You sit down at that desk for thirty minutes." She said, pointing to a desk in the back. I never got detention before, so I don't know what to expect. I went over to the desk. I read the board.

Detention rules

No talking

No moving out of your desk

If you escape, your detention will be doubled

So basically I just sit at the desk doing nothing, just sitting in this chair and breathing. How boring. I'd rather still be in class than do nothing. I turned around the room and realized there was another student on a far desk to the right. She looked to be in grade six, and she had black hair and brown eyes. She wore a white shirt that looked like it was stained with orange juice.

"Hey." I tried to whisper. She didn't respond. I sighed. The detention was supposed to go on for another 25 minutes by now, but it felt like it was going to go in for another six hours.

Bethany ruined something. She wanted me to be here. It was part my fault and mostly her fault for the situation I'm currently in, and I just hate her so much for this. I need to do something to get her back, but I don't know what. I don't know what to use against her.

After what felt like years of staring into blank space, the teacher finally spoke, "Detention is now over. You may leave."

As soon as she said that, I rushed out the door, and the sixth grade girl also rushed out. "Holy. That felt like years." I said. The girl turned around. "That's usually how detention kids will feel. You've never been to detention?" She asked. I nodded. "Why are you in detention today?" She asked.

"I was writing a note that I could have passed over to a friend, but my enemy spotted me writing the note, so she told the teacher before I had to pass it over. I could've passed it over without getting caught if it wasn't for her." I admitted. "Oh. The feeling must've felt pretty bad, depending on what you wrote about in the note." She said. "The feeling is bad. She's done much worse things. Why are you here?"

"Me? I was late to class for first period." She said. Then she pointed to the shirt. "What's your name?" I asked. "I'm Ashley. I'm in grade eight." "I'm Maya, and I'm in grade six." She said.

We walked and talked while we headed home together, being sure things couldn't get worse.

Except I'm not sure how I will explain this to my parents.

Present

2003

There wasn't much to expect around the house now that both Sylvia and Hailey headed off to college and both onto their own lives.