The Scratch Paper

Chapter 1

Let 'em know that we're still rock N' roll!... I don't care about my make up, I like it better when my jeans are ripped off.....

  " Iñigo! Why did you turn off the radio?"

"Casper, it's already seven o'clock and you're still not ready for school! Remember we have a long quiz today with Mr. Antonio first thing in the morning. "

"What?!  You didn't tell me! "
  
"I was telling you last night maybe you were not listening because you are busy reading your The Vampire Diaries series ."

  "Whatever! I forgot to review Iñigo. What am I going to do?"

  "Go get a shower so we could leave. For sure the school bus will leave us again because you're so slow like a turtle."

A week is not complete without that scene happening to Casper and Iñigo. Their home are just next to each other so since first grade, before going to school, Iñigo fetches Casper or if not, vice versa. They are best buddies and so as their parents. Sometimes they tease them if they have a thing but they always end up discriminating each other.

  "Beep! Beep! "

The school bus has arrived. Casper and Iñigo always sit at the back because their classmates on the tenth grade think that they don't belong to the cool people.

Students in Griffin High are diverse. They are punks, nerds, jocks, royalties (rich), rockers, hotties (cheer leaders and football star players) and those who are bleachers' buddies--- where they belong. They are the wallflowers. Nobody notice when they are absent.

Whenever the class is boring, they sneak at the school park and dub every people they see around while eating snacks packed by Casper's mom. On the classroom, as expected, Casper has to erase all the writings on her desk; "A football star player's loser sister." On the other hand, Iñigo has to remove all the chewing gum on his chair with a note; "Stick your butt. Clumsy jumpsuit boy." They are no more bothered about these things. If they would give their attention to the bullies, it will just ruin their day.

  "Hey Casper! " your forehead shrinks. Don't tell me Becca has put you down with these vandalisms in your chair?"
  "No. That blondie cheerleader, no way! You know what, she's not beautiful. She's just the mayor's daughter. I don't know why she always bullies me since fourth grade when there is nothing to envy about me."
 
"Okay. Then what is the reason behind that forehead?"

  "Well, I wonder why my alarm clock did not rang today. I remember I set it on 5:30am." Casper said with confusion.
 
"Maybe it's the batteries." Iñigo answered intuitively.
 
"That's impossible. I change its batteries the other day."

"Oh. Yeah... Remember last night we played the X-Box of your brother. I... Uh... Used the batteries of your alarm for the controller." While scratching his head, Iñigo withdraw his look from Casper.

  "Iñigo!" Casper look at him with dismay.

Suddenly, Mr. Antonio, their handsome English teacher arrived. The zoo classroom turns into a quiet and solemn place. He ordered everybody to get a piece of paper for their long quiz.

  " Casper! " Iñigo whispered softly.

  "What? The quiz is about to start."

"I...uh... Forgot to bring my pad paper. "

"See. You are very early to catch me yet you are not ready." Casper gave his disorganized best friend a piece of paper.

Mr. Antonio gave his instructions for his quiz.

"Okay." He said as he clears his throat. "Today I'm going to give you something you least expected. This is not just an ordinary long quiz. What you are going to do today for one hour will serve as your term project which means it is thirty percent of your final grade. This will assess what you have learned from my subject. I think those who read a lot will have an edge for this. All of you will write a passage about your favorite novel. Make a literary criticism. You may all start writing. I'm gonna leave you for now but I will be back in a moment."