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[26] detention & flattery

Kendra: mom can u pick me up at 4? Im not coming home on the bus
Mom: ok, I can pick u up later. why?
Kendra: ill tell u later

I take a deep breath and put my phone in my pocket, grab my bag and slam my locker shut.

First day of detention, here I come.

I walk into my math class and sit in my normal seat, but it feels entirely different. I'm not in here to learn, I'm in here to... learn from my mistakes? Face the consequences?

I look around. Only five other people. Brandon, Miles Ethan (the "classic bad boy" of our school) Amy Rey (I'm not sure why she's here though, she seems nice) and a girl I've never seen before, in a black hoodie, the hood pulled over her head. I can't really see her face, just black hair tumbling out of the hood, and Zeke Dean from my English class. I turn back around and rest my head on my desk, praying this hour will be the quickest of my life.

"Alright, let's take attendance." I look up to see Mr. Jackson strolling in, a stack of paper tucked under his arm. He doesn't have his usual sense of light enthusiasm in his voice like he usually does. He seems stern, ready to snap. I look down, hoping he doesn't notice me. Of course he will though, when he calls my name.

"Dean, Zeke."

"Not here." Deke says. Mr. Jackson grunts.

"Miles Ethan."

"Yep," Miles mumbles.

"Abigail Jones," he says, glancing around when no immediate response is thrown at him.

"Abigail Jones?" No answer. He gets up and walks to the phone, punching in numbers.

"Yes, hi. Can I speak to Debra? Thank you" he pauses for a second, his lips pulled into a taut frown. "Hi, Debra. This is Mark. We're missing an Abigail Jones...detention, yes...no...can you alert her parents?...oh," he says, his eyes widening. "That's...where is she now? I see. Well, tomorrow...tomorrow we'll have to talk with her. Yes, I see. Thank you...okay, bye." He hangs up and looks around. "Let's continue," he says, sitting back down and folding his hands.

"Melanie Marie," he says, his voice a little deeper than before.

"Here," says a quiet voice. I turn around. It belongs to the girl in the hoodie.

"Amy Rey."

"Present."

"Kendra Ro-...Kendra Ross?" He says, looking up at me. I look down and nod.

"Here," I say, looking up again. His surprise fades and he looks back at the paper.

"Brandon Terry." I cringe.

"Right here." I stare ahead, at the whiteboard.

"Alright, that's everyone. Now, stay in your seats. Do not talk. Do not eat. You may do homework. If you have any other requests, please see me."
___________________

I close my eyes and sigh, throwing Romeo and Juliet across my bed. My head is throbbing and when I try to look at the tiny words I feel sick.

My phone pings! from somewhere on my bed. I turn around and grab it, staring at my home screen.

Archer: hey...u good?
Kendra: yeah... detention was ok
Archer: Brandon do anything?
Kendra: no
Archer: ft?
Kendra: sure

I smile as I accept the request. "Hi." He smiles.

"Hey, so how was it?" I sigh and push my hands through my hair, already aware it's probably sticking up at odd angles.

"Good, I guess. Nothing really happened. I just glared at Brandon for a bit, and then I did my homework." I say, shrugging. "Honestly, it wasn't that bad, but I wouldn't do it again." He grins.

"You have detention again tomorrow." I sigh and flop down on my bed.

"Oh, really?" I grumble, sitting criss cross. "It definitely wasn't all I could think about, that's for sure. So thanks for reminding me. Thank you very much." He scoffs playfully.

"No need to be sassy. Are you gwumpy?" He says, like I'm a little kid. I scowl.

"Yes," I mutter, putting my head in my hand, my elbow resting on my knee. "Very grumpy." He gets up from his couch and comes back a minute later with his dog, Remus, in his arms. He's a squirming mess, trying to wiggle out of Archer's arms. I squeal, my grumpiness momentarily forgotten.

"Ugh, he's such a bean!" I exclaim, watching Archer scratch his belly. "I need him!"

Archer laughs. "Well, I guess you're not grumpy anymore?" He scratches behind Remus's ear. I smile.

"I guess. Hi boopie!" I coo, waving at Remus as he looks at Archer's phone, probably wondering what that annoyingly high pitched sound was. Archer quirks an eyebrow at me.

"Boopie?" He questions, holding up Remus so he faces him. "Are you boopie?" I laugh as Remus licks his nose. "I guess so, then. You shall henceforth be known as Boopie!" I laugh again.

"Thanks, I'm happy now," I smile, still watching Remus, now snuggled into Archer's lap. He grins.

"You're welcome." He pauses. "Does your mom know?" I frown, sighing through my nose.

"Why'd you change the subject? I was finally happy," I say quietly. "And yes, she knows."

"Does she know why?" I puff air through my cheeks.

"I told her I had too many missing homework assignments for algebra. She believed me. It's my worst subject," I say, feeling guilty all over again that I lied to her. "I feel horrible that I lied, but I guess it's just easier to not tell the truth," I pause, choosing my words carefully "then I would've had to explain everything. About Brandon, about Kit. The only thing she knows is that I'm dating you." He smiles.

"That's all that was worthy of saying," he says proudly, grinning at me. I sigh.

"Don't flatter yourself."
_________

I read until my eyes grow heavy, sprawled onto my bed. I tear up, as usual, when Juliet kills herself. How it gets me every time, I don't know.

"'O happy dagger. This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die,'" I whisper to myself, staring at the words, reading them over and over again until my vision gets blurry and a tear stains the page. Blaming my drama on my lack of sleep, I put my book on my nightstand and check my phone. 2:39. Damn. I have school tomorrow.

I pull my sheets up, still in my clothes from school, and replay the day in my head over and over again until my thoughts cloud over and I drift into sleep.

Please vote if you enjoyed!
Okay so I know I don't usually write A/Ns (unless you've been here from the beginning and read my old ones) but I've gotta give some credit to my sis akorns ! Her character, Abigail Jones, made a teeny tiny cameo. So go read her story Love Note! It's dope and honestly made me cry.