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doorway. Wonderful. The
day was just not going to get any better. Noticing Gwen, Tina still
managed to take an aggravated breath through her look of urgency.
“Pete. We have a...” she looked down the hallway behind her.
“Problem,” she finished. Just then Ashton walked in behind Tina
holding her own pink sparkly gym bag as well as Gwen’s muted black
and white plaid one. 
    “Hey, we’re going to be late, you ready?” she
asked, eyeing Pete. 
    “Ash, this is-”  “Pete, from Baltimore
who loves outdoors and…loves English, yah I heard,” Ashton
interrupted with a giggle.
    “Sorry to interrupt this friendly
get-together but seriously Pete, I need to talk to you.” Tina
looked nervous, almost scared for a split second as she peered
behind her once more, brushing her bright blond bangs out of her
stunningly vibrant, blue cat-like eyes, adorned with a delicate
diamond eye brow piercing. Ashton turned to meet Tina’s gaze. They
were exactly the same height. 
    “Who are you?” Ashton asked with a tough girl
tone. 
    Tina rolled her eyes, “Pete?” she
prodded. 
    “Listen here miss thing-,” Ashton began.
Great. A battle of the short people. 
    Gwen intervened, “We don’t really have time
for any more introductions Ash, let’s go before Mrs. I think I’m
greater than thou returns and gives us all detentions.”
    “Ms. Darling!” the scratchy voice boomed.
Gwen flinched. “Greater than thou has returned, sadly you will
indeed be spending the rest of the day in detention and your
parents will be called.” Mrs. Jenkins huffed as she made her way
back to her desk to set down her large coffee mug. “The rest of you
get to your next class before you find a seat right next to her.”
Gwen shuttered. How. Extremely. Embarrassing. Detention was served
in the administration’s office, right in front of a large window
enabling all who pass through the main hallway to the cafeteria to
witness who has found themselves incarcerated. 
    “Let’s go Gwendolyn, follow me,” Mrs. Jenkins
barked. Gwen grabbed her things and reluctantly followed the old
grouch down the walk of shame to the office. Thankfully the bell
rang and most of the other students were scuttling into their next
classes. She’d be safe from degradation for now. She turned and saw
the others circle down the opposite hallway toward the gym, Pete,
looking over his shoulder the whole way. Gwen swore she saw him say
“be careful.” 
    “Here, sit down and I will notify them you
are here.” Mrs. Jenkins pointed to a line of small wooden desks.
Gwen chose the one closest to the door so she could at least have
the entertainment of watching people come and go through the front
entrance. The small desks were completely empty. Nice, Gwen
thought. First one of the day. She looked at the big institutional
clock on the wall in front of her. Nine thirty. Ugh. Six more hours
of detention. At least she’d get a lunch break soon. 
    Gwen rummaged through her bag and took out
some already completed math homework. She’d better look busy. Aside
from the occasional student in to see the guidance counselor or
loud ring of the phone, the office was pretty quiet. Profanities
covered the top of the shiny wooden desk. Classy. As she ran her
finger across the etched curses, she heard the front door open and
shut. Huh. Act two.  She cheated a glance at the front
desk. 
    A boy walked in who looked to be around her
age. His skin was deep bronze, well from what Gwen could see from
under his gray thermal shirt. His jet black hair, cut short, was
barley seen from beneath a low billed maroon ball cap. He was huge.
She thought Pete was pretty jacked until she saw him. Almost oddly
large and tall. Woah, she thought to herself. The football team’s
going to rock this year. He stood at the desk, a slip of paper in
his large hand. His face was baby skin smooth with a brown mole on
one side, some could consider a flaw, but somehow it added
character. As he walked up to