Train to The Stars

Chapter Two

As a firefighter we had what we called 48/72 shifts. Meaning, for forty eight hours you are on duty and on call at all hours of the day. After those forty eight hours are up, you have seventy two hours off which sounds gorgeous is retrospect but your sleep schedule is so out of wack, it takes those full three days to regulate it. And as soon as it regulates, guess what? You're back on your forty eight hour duty.

I never complained, in fact, I loved it. It kept me busy minded and prepared for anything. While most of my buddies took the three days to rest and recoup, I liked to spend it a little different.

"That's correct." I said, smiling at a student who answered a question just as one of the constantly late students took his seat. He thought I didn't see him but my peripherals have become one of my most prominent weapons. "I think that everyone's on the same page about the revolutionary war, yes? In your opinion, Scott, do you think that the Tang Dynasty were just in what they did as well?" His head popped up, eyes bulging as if he was surprised that I would call him out. But it was all apart of my plan.

"Uh I uh," he stuttered, not making eye contact for two reasons, I'd assume. "The Tang dynasty wasn't during the revolutionary war, Miss Chase." I nodded slowly until he dug himself into his own hole. "That was 618 to 907. Revolutionary war was 1775 and I know that because I was listening."

Got him.

With a nod, I slowly walked to the board and pointed at the bold words that read 'Relationship between American Indians and Colonization'

Dawson chuckled from the corner of the room, along with a few of the students.

He dropped his head to the desk. "Right," I said just as the bell rung above us.

Dawson stood up, moving to address the class before they left. "No homework today but read down those notes, would you? We have a lot to cover about colonizers tomorrow because there's a lot of them!" The students brushed past us, others finding the humor and the rest just trying to get to lunch. And Scott being one of them. "Not you, Smith." He froze, sighed, then dropped to his seat. "Why were you late?"

I watched as my brother not necessarily scold him but spoke to him as if they were on the same level. That's what Dawson was good at. He became a teacher because all of his teachers treated him like shit. And he was the direct opposite of every single one of those teachers. 

"My dog-"

"And don't say your dog was sick because at this point, he should be dead." I snorted, looking down when I received a message from one of my best friends. "Your eyes are red as shit, Scott. What's going on?"

Did you leave coffee grounds in the sink dipshit?

I've been on break for not even a full day and I'm already being blamed for something at the installation.

I only buy coffee from Starbucks, Salem. Go ask chief!

Lowering my phone, I looked up to see Dawson questioning Scott about his eyes.

I suspected it was him getting high again because he had the same problem last year. I started to pick up on his habits when I first met him last year and he always came late on Monday and was either high or exhausted.

Today was Monday.

"Just some weed, Mr. Chase." Well I could've picked up on that, and he knew it. That's why he was giving up so easily. "I'm sorry I was late, I lost track of time but I'll take notes for the chapters we read today." He said, looking at him with honestly and sincerity.

I knew he meant it because he truly did do what needed to be done. "I know because you're a good kid, and you're a smart kid too but you're making dumb decisions. You're a senior, Scott. This is the end of the line to start making shit happen okay?"