Chapter 2
The Swan and The Snake
I got a problem with the snakes that are crawlin'
Through my area when the darkness has fallen
And mommy told me that they like to bite
They stab you in the back, no shame, that's right
- Papa Roach
At the end of the long school day, Elliot hopped back in his car, turned up the radio, and drove home. He got started on his homework immediately. Will was right about the difficulty of the homework. Haney had given them a five page essay on why “supernomials” are essential to “didastic” trigonometry. Kain had assigned a four hundred page book to be read by tomorrow. It looked like he would have to pull another all-nighter.
~
Another school day had come. Another school day had gone, leaving Elliot with a feeling of hatred towards the teachers he had to deal with. But the day wasn't over and he would soon have to deal with something much worse than school: detention.
If it was any normal detention it wouldn't be so bad but this wasn't normal detention. This was Haney's personal hell and he ruled with an iron fist.
Elliot walked into Haney's classroom and took a seat at the back of the room. This would be a lot easier if he was far away from Haney.
“Elliot,” said a voice to his left, “didn't expect to see you in detention.”
Elliot turned to see who it was.
Shawna Carsh?
Shawna Carsh. A goddess if there ever was one. Her beautiful blue eyes shone in the light of the classroom. Underneath her flowing black hair, which spilled delicately over her shoulders, she wore a red tank top. Her long slender legs extended from the blue pair of shorts she was wearing. Her smile was warm and sincere.
Shawna? What are you doing in detention?
“Shawna? What are you in for?”
“Oh, you know,” she said nonchalantly, “got caught doing my makeup in class. Apparently that's a sin now. What'd you do?”
“Robbed a bank,” said Elliot calmly. “I tried to stash the money in my desk but Haney caught me. Wish he'd let me keep it.”
They both laughed at this.
“Seriously, though,” she said. “What'd you do?”
“Nothing serious,” said Elliot. “I was falling asleep in class. It's Haney's fault really. If he wasn't so boring I'd be able to stay awake.”
Shawna smiled. “So, Elliot. I was wondering-”
All of a sudden the classroom door burst open and a corpulent cretin sauntered inside.
Felix Logan. Ugh. This day just gets better and better.
Felix Logan was the biggest idiot at James Woods. He had repeated the tenth grade five years in a row and it looked like he'd be staying back again this year. Felix was fat. Not just fat, he was practically obese. From his incredibly short crew cut down to his stubbly toes, there was hardly any muscle on him. Elliot was amazed how someone so fat could bully others so well.
Despite all logic, Felix had managed to become the biggest bully at James Woods, both figuratively and literally. He sauntered around like he ran the school: beating up people he didn't like and stealing their lunch money. Felix didn't need an excuse to be in detention today. He belonged here.
“Well look who we have here,” Felix said, spotting Elliot. “What are you doing here, dorkenstein? Shouldn't you be out playing with your dolls or something?”
“Shut up, Lardo,” said Elliot, wishing he were somewhere else. “Why don't you go-”
“Silence,” said a cold voice behind them.
Sneaky Bastard.
Haney had arrived.
“Mister Logan,” Haney continued, “sit down or I shall have you expelled.”
Logan sat down in a seat next to Elliot. Haney began to walk up and down the rows of desks, glaring at each of them in turn.
“Detention has begun. There will be no talking, moving, sleeping, eating, yelling, or fun during this detention. If you do any of the following, I will make you stay an additional hour. Is this clear?”
Nobody said a word. Haney walked over to his desk and sat there, staring at them like a hawk. After a few moments, the awkward silence was broken by a knock at the door. Haney walked over and opened it. Mr. Kain was on the other side.
“What is it,” Haney snapped.
“I need a word with you,” said Kain, “privately.”
“Can't this wait, Victor. I'm in the middle of-”
“No, Harold,” Kain interrupted. “This is urgent.”
“Fine,” Haney sighed. “I'll give you five minutes. Not a second more.” He turned and faced us. “If anything happens while I'm gone, I'll give you a punishment so horrible you'll wish you were expelled.”
He walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
As soon as the door was closed, Felix got up and strutted around the room.
“What the hell are you doing,” Shawna asked. “You're going to get us all in trouble.”
“Lighten up, babe,” said Felix, a stupid grin on his face. “Rules were meant to be broken.”
“Shut up, Lardo,” Elliot said. “You are such an idiot.”
“Why don't you make me,” Felix said, walking right up to Elliot.
“You're not worth it,” said Elliot nonchalantly.
“Just stop, Felix,” said Shawna. “What are you trying to prove.”
“I'm proving that dorkenstein here is a coward. He's too afraid to fight me.”
“I just told you, idiot,” Elliot said, getting angry, “you're not worth fighting.”
“You're just a coward,” Felix smirked. “Why don't you go home and cry to your mommy? Oh that's right, you can't.” Felix cackled in glee.
He had gone too far.
“WHO...THE HELL...ARE YOU...TO...TALK ABOUT..MY MOTHER!!!” he shouted as he punched Felix in his smug face.
Overhead, the lights exploded one by one, raining down shards of glass. As darkness fell over the three teenagers, Elliot continued to punch Felix, his rage exploding as fiercely as the lights above.
Suddenly, the classroom door opened and Haney rushed in. Sweat was glistening on his forehead. Kain was right behind him.
“What the hell is going on here!!” they shouted in unison.
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