Prank War

Prank War [15]

       I drummed my fingers impatiently on my desk. It was my last class, and Max wanted me to help him with a prank. He wouldn’t say what it was though.

    Max was sitting next to me, and he shot me an annoyed look. I stopped tapping my fingers against the desk, and Max turned his attention back to the teacher.

    I let out a silent groan, and turned back to staring at the clock. Maybe pressuring it would make it go faster. When I saw that there was only two minutes left, I broke into a smile.

    But then I saw that the hour hand was on nine, and my smile immediately disappeared. Oh right, Kristen must have changed that one.

    I let out a groan again, but unfortunately, I forgot to keep it silent.

    The teacher stopped talking and faced me, “Ariane, what’s the formula for photosynthesis?”

    I looked at the board, trying to see if I could find it. Except there was something about ‘natural selection’ written on it.

    “Wait, we’re not learning about photosynthesis,” I commented. Max muffled a snort.

    “Stand up, and tell us what the formula for photosynthesis is,” the teacher repeated with a small smile.

    I stood up, and remembered how this is exactly what Caden made me do. If only it was Caden instead of her.

    It was obvious that she wanted to humiliate me in front of the whole class, so I’d learn my lesson. But I wasn’t going to let her win.

    “6CO2 plus 6H2O and sunlight energy makes C6H12O6 and 6O2,” I recited.

    Silence filled the classroom for a few seconds, and even the teacher looked surprised. I couldn’t help but smile in victory.

    “Just … pay attention next time,” the teacher said quickly, and returned to the lesson.

    “You’re a genius,” Max whispered, “That was like, way back in seventh grade. I wouldn’t be able to remember it even if it would save my life.”

    “Of course you could,” I replied, “It’s simple stuff. Please don’t tell me I’m turning into a nerd. Because that’s the last thing I want to do.”

    “Nerds aren’t that bad,”  he replied, “Look at Caden. He’s … not … that bad.”

    “I thought you didn’t like Caden,” I commented.

    “Nah, he’s ok. We used to be best friends. But then he became obsessed with school, and we just sort of fell apart.”

    “So why did you want to eliminate him quickly if you don’t hate him?” I asked.

    “Because there’s actually a prize involved. I’m pretty sure he’s not going to let me win this time,” Max shrugged, “He’s a brilliant prankster, even if he’s trying to stay away from it all and only focusing on school.”

    “Wait, class is supposed to be over!” a random guy suddenly noticed, pointing to the clock. I couldn’t help but smirk. What a noob.

    “Someone obviously changed the time,” the teacher answered, almost in a bored tone. She stared pointedly towards Max and I.

 ~♥~ 

    “Hahaha,” I said nervously, “You’re kidding right?”

    “I need a lookout,” Max shrugged.

    “Isn’t it like, illegal?”

     “Not that I know of,” he said. He didn’t sound so sure though, “Come on, I really want to eliminate Jack with this prank. It won’t take long.”

    “Why can’t you use another prank?” I asked, glancing around to make sure no one was lurking in the hallway.

    “Because I’ve got the itching powder right here,” Max sounded impatient now, “Please? Don’t be a wimp.”

    “What if someone’s changing in there?” I asked, horrified, “That’s not something I want to see.”

    “Then you can cover your eyes,” he stated, like it was obvious.

    “But you said you wanted me to be your lookout,” I pointed out, “I can’t be a lookout if I’m covering my eyes.”

    “You only need to see if Jack’s coming. Or his friends.”

    “I don’t even know how they look like!”

    Max sighed, “You’re making this more difficult than it has to be.”

    "Why couldn't you ask a guy to help you?"

    "Cause you're pretty much the only person who's willing to help me. And you're the only one I trust."

    “What if someone sees me?”

    “Just make up an excuse. Say that you thought it was the girls’ locker room. And it probably won’t happen anyways. I checked the Gym schedule, and they’re supposed to be outside, running the mile.”

    “Well it’s obviously not, if you’re there,” I said, “And they’ll think I’m stupid. I mean, everyone can tell the difference between that boy stick figure and the girl stick figure. Unless guys have started wearing dresses.”

    “Ok, how about this. Just come with me and make sure no one comes in while I put the itching powder in his clothes. It won’t take long. And when we go to the city on Saturday, I’ll show you the prank store there.”

    I hesitated, “I might not even be able to go to the city. My grades aren’t looking so good.”

    “Well then, just do this as a favor? For me?” he gave me a stupid pleading look.

    “Fine. But I’m still pretty sure it’s illegal.”

    Max rolled his eyes, and opened the door leading to the guys’ locker room, “After you.”

    “No way, you’re going in there first.”

    He rolled his eyes again walked through the doors. I stayed glued to my spot. Honestly, I was grossed out by the thought of going into the guys’ locker room.

    “Are you coming?” Max opened the door, raising his eyebrow. I doubled checked to make sure no one would see me go in there.

    “You owe me for this.”

    As I walked in, I noticed a weird smell lingered in the air, “Oh gross. I knew the guys’ locker room smelled bad.”

    Max let out a snort, and kept on walking.

    “What do you want me to do?” I asked.

    “Uh, be my lookout?” he stated the obvious. I watched him turn the combination of a locker, and opened it.

    “How did you get his combination?”

    “Caden,” Max replied without looking up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of white stuff – itching powder.

    “So now you’re working with Caden?” I asked. I kept glancing nervously towards the door.

    Max shrugged, “Temporarily, I guess.”

    “Why are you aiming specifically for Jack?” I wanted to keep a conversation going, so it wasn’t too awkward.

    “He’s been trying to prank me since the war started,” he told me as he started getting some itching powder on the clothes, “Unsuccessfully, of course, but with him out of the way, it would be easier to prank people, since I don’t have to look out for him.”

    Suddenly, I heard the door open.