"Detention"
Ch.3
Morning. I was walking out the door of my apartment on my way to school before Auntie caught my arm with one hand while tying her long, strawberry blonde hair into a bun with the other. She had on a crisp white dress shirt with a black pencil skirt. Auntie, you're trying way too hard.
"Please, don't forget to get Mr. Faraize to say good things about me to the Principal BEFORE I arrive at noon."
I smiled. "You Google his name or something? Last I recall he was 'Ferris' to you, Auntie."
"So what if I did! Don't mess around with me, Gracelyn. This is serious."
"Well, I wouldn't count on Mr. Faraize to help you. The principal barely likes him, let alone respects him. You are probably better off on your own. What about Boris, anyways? Sometimes he's around and you two are best friends."
"He's only a substitute teacher. I don't think he has much to say."
"It doesn't hurt to try. Have him talk to her after the interview. It could be good."
"...or sound clingy. I'll see how the interview goes first. Thanks for nothin', Gracie."
"Hey, all I said was Faraize wouldn't help! I don't want to hurt your reputation with any of this social networking garbage."
"Social networking is most of your life after school, Gracie. The enemies you make now will haunt you. Look at me, I can't get the job I've worked hard for because of a high school enemy. Don't make the same mistakes as me, Gracie. I appreciate your help anyhow." She winked at me. "Go off to school. Help that Lysander boy find his notebook before the bus arrives." We laughed and I headed out the door. Successfully this time.
I walked down the hall to my best friend Rosayla's apartment door. With her dating Leigh, she understood my relationship with Faraize. She actually found out the hard way, seeing that she got back into her habit of spying on people and catching good snapshots. She was completely okay with it all, though. I was surprised for such a secret to be accepted. She's always been a sister to me and now, she is my person.
"Rosa, baby! Time to leave!" I could hear giggling through the door. "Leigh, let her go to school!"
Every morning! What would she do without me?!
Rosayla slipped through the door with Leigh and smiled at me.
"Jealous?"
"Jealous that you get a personal alarm to tell you when to leave for school? Yeah, a little."
We all walked down the stairs and met up with Lysander in the lobby. He seemed lost but perked up when he saw his brother.
"Another sleep over, Leigh? Such an example."
Leigh started to walk off to the apartment him and his brother shared. "Follow my lead and you might be half as charming as me when you grow up."
I was curious as to where Castiel was. Surely Lysander would have stayed with him, but they weren't together. "You stay with Castiel last night, then, Lysander? I don't see him around."
"Yeah. You know him, though. Always late to school. I can't do much about it. So this morning I decided to go ahead and look for something I couldn't find last night...what was it and where is it again?"
"You mean your notebook? I think I saw it by the staircase."
"Thank-you, Gracelyn." Lysander bowed and left to retrieve his notebook.
"So Castiel is a no. Nathaniel always leaves early and Melody and Peggy carpools with. Amber and her crew drives with Capucine tailing them. Violet and Kim are probably outside. Iris...oh! Hey, Iris! I didn't see you there on the couch. Alexy is probably trying to pull Armin out of the arcade. Kentin is probably with Boris at the school gym. Dake left us for Australia again. Jerk. Jade finished dual credit last week. Dajan left for private school not too long ago. AM I FORGETTING ANYONE, ROSA?"
"You're forgetting to breathe. You don't have to account for everyone. Let's just get going before the bus leaves. I hate walking to school in these boots."
"It's not even that far, babe. You don't want a lovely stroll through the park at first light? The sun reflects so brilliantly off your white locks of hair."
"I know. But I had quite the workout this morning along with romance so if you'd mind." She began pushing me out the door.
"Eww..Rosa. You shouldn't tell me these things."
"I didn't tell you any specifics...yet. Just wait until we get on the bus."
"No!!......"
Everyone managed to get on the bus, even the very tired Castiel who obviously just got out of bed.
"Good morning, Sunshine!" I winked at Castiel as he went further back to find a seat next to Iris.
"It'll be an awful morning for you, little girl, if you keep up the fairy act." He retorted.
"Castiel, do you always have to talk that way to Gracie?" Iris pleaded.
"Don't worry, Iris. Sarcasm is Castiel and I's love language."
'"Who said I was being sarcastic? And this 'love' crap. You wish. I'd never go out with a little girl who has an ironing board as a chest." I knew Iris would blush at this.
"Stop it, babe. Your gonna make our love child's face grow redder than your hair."
Kim laughed but I could hear Violet's whisper. "L-love child?"
"It's okay, Violet. You'll always be my number one. We'll have an in-marriage, legitimate child soon enough." Rosayla was poking my side but I felt Kim's glare more painful than the poking.
"Cut it out, Grace. She's gonna pass out."
"Fine, fine. Rosayla's getting jealous anyways. If only there were enough of me to go around..."
"I already know you're mine, Gracyln. But now I want to share the intimate details with you about last night."
"Last night? I thought it was this morning?" I paused to think. "Oh, no. Don't tell me..."
Rosayla grinned. "Twice."
I turned away from Rosa. "Don't even look at me. You need professional help."
The bus stopped at the school. "When you're in love, you're in love. You know how it is."
Castiel was heading up the bus. "I doubt that," he called from behind. But as he got next to my seat he lowered himself to my ear and whispered, "I can show you, though." And off he was.
I grimaced at the thought. "Ugh, Castiel. I'd like to not throw up at the start of my day. He always take things too far."
Kim soon was near me. "As do you, Grace. You'd be quite the couple if he'd ever allow it."
Rosayla laughed. "He never would!"
"Oh, thank-you, best friend. You always stand up for me and help me with my self esteem. A true pal, Rosa."
"Anytime, doll."
I turned as I heard the blaring of Alexy's and Armin's headphones. Alexy always listened to music whereas Armin always listened to sound effects of his video games. Two peas in a pod, those twins. At least they didn't have to witness the horrors of today's bus conversation like poor Violet and Iris. Their golden hearts just can't take it.
Rosa and I were last off the bus. I quickly apologized to my Violet and my Iris before coming back to hear Rosa's gruesome tale. Then I remembered my more pressing matters--Auntie working at Sweet Amoris High. I placed my finger onto Rosa's lips just before she was going to tell me of her night and morning. She smacked my hand away.
"I'm serious, Gracelyn. It is ine thing to shrug this off in a crowded place but not when we are alone together."
"Rosayla, Auntie wants to work HERE. She has an interview at noon."
"So?! Let the woman work!"
"Rosa. If she does, she might find out about Faraize and I. No more "detentions." No more "meetings." No more time alone with him for invalid reasons. We'd have to go elsewhere. And there is no where else to go!"
Rosa smiled. "Maybe to his place, this could go well for you."
"And risk getting caught by my neighbors?! All if whom GO TO THIS SCHOOL. We'd be ruined and I'd have to move again. And I don't think Kentin's parents will allow him to follow me to another high school again. He's my teddy bear, Rosa. I can't stand to be without him let alone without YOU."
"You are such a drama queen. You sure you don't want to follow your aunt's lead into an acting career? Nothing bad will happen. You know why? Because destiny. That's why. You and Faraize have a strong, lifelong bond. Nothing can sever that."
"Well, you obviously don't know the lengths my parents will go to find the sharpest pair of scissors capable of severing said bond."
"I thought the same of my parents but it turns out they don't care. They expect me to move in with Leigh and Lys after graduation. They will stop providing for my rent and for me altogether when that day comes."
"Come here, boo. The inseparable bond will always be between us. Forget your parents. They don't deserve you."
"As long as you forget yours. It'll work out better for you. I have a feeling."
"Whatever you say, love. Can we at least try to trash this interview? It's still embarassing to have my aunt work here. Imagine what Amber or Peggy will say. Imagine what CASTIEL will say. I can't go through that. He would never leave me in peace. That tease."
"Okay, Gracie. We'll sabotage the interview. Let's just go in before we end up with a lunch detention. She started heading in but stopped when she noticed I wasn't moving.
"You know how much I love detention, Rosayla." I teased.
She laughed and and I let her pull me to the school.
Detention was never bad, but I needed lunch to be free in order to take down Auntie. I love her but she just can't work at my school. Not at all.