Chapter 10. That's it! Time good a job.

"Okay, I think we all know why we're here." Mr. Albert pushed his thick-rimmed glasses up his thin nose and crossed his ankles. "I want no talking, gossiping,  littering, and most importantly,  don't try to take your phones."

Not too long after his instructions were given,  he nodded off, snoring heavily. The class consisted of eight students in total. They were to be here till late evening.

Ronnie folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at the teacher's position. "Yeah,  I don't think we're gonna be quiet while he naps are we?"

Adana finished the first paper Crane and breathed out. "With the looks of them- she nodded in the direction of the group of four behind them. Two with headphones and the other two with music players- we're good."

"I think those guys have been here countless times so this doesn't bother them much." Adana shrugged and picked another plain paper from the small stack on her desk. She knew she would be bored so why not keep herself busy.

The door flung open and clicked shut. No one bothered looking up,  knowing others were to come. Students always managed to come late to school and detention. It was as if they didn't care. Scratch that. They didn't care.

The boy straightened his jacket and scanned the room before settling on the pair separated from the whole class. It was evident this was their first time because one slouched with pouted lips and a small frown while the other folded what looked like a bird and was already making the third one.

When he was settled on the chair beside the girl focused on the paper birds, he used his left leg to push hers with a little force. His spicy signature scent teased her nostrils but she went on ignoring him.

"I'm here. No need to say you missed me. I know."

Still concentrated on the Crane,  she scoffed,  "you better stop," she smirked,  "your ego is showing and it's too large for you."

"It's not the only large thing I have."

She scrunched up her nose. "Ew, Storm. You pervert!"

He chuckled, "I meant my arrogance," he lied conveniently just to see her squirm. He knew he succeeded when she remained silent. "Now who's the pervert?"

"Shut up."

The slight scraping his chair's legs indicated he had shuffled closer to her but she was taken by surprise when he initiated a conversation with Ronnie who had been staring into the space in front of her.

"So Rodrigo is it?"

Ronnie's round eyes traveled from his face and Adana's feigned bored expression. Now she wasn't a mind reader but she could read the obvious sign that her new friend liked this boy. Who wouldn't like him? His hair was held in a ball bun behind his head giving him a neat look and worked wonders in enhancing his now wide eyes.

Uncertain,  Ronnie cleared her throat. "Yeah Ronnie Anne, though I'd like you to call me Ronnie. Adding Anne makes it long and ancient."

Adana's ears pricked up at the smooth chuckle which came from Storm but she remained silent and tried ignoring the fact that they were having a conversation while she was sandwiched between them.

"I heard you're part of the exchange program," he started leaning closer,  "whats school in Mexico like?"

That was all it took to have Ronnie revealing a lot of details about her last school and her parents' jobs which led to the change of schools. Adana was taken aback that this same girl who had remained quiet in their presence was now rambling to a guy she just met.

"No way! That's so cool." Storm exclaimed with genuine awe. He had always wondered what schooling in a different place with a different language would be like and here he was getting the juicy details.

"Yeah I know but I'm coming to accept schooling here too." She concluded and went back to folding her arms, bringing the conversation to an end.

Storm nodded and focused on a slighting pissed off Adana. "What's up with the angry emoji face?"

She just spared him a glance but kept her mouth shut. She wasn't ready to admit she was already used to his constant attention on her or her slight jealousy that he had given that attention to another girl.

A loud ringtone broke the chattering in the room, succeeding in jolting the snoring teacher awake. They all knew what that meant. It was finally over and they could go do other things.

"Okay,  you can all go home or whatever you go to after school hours," he instructed while trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes, "and try not to drink or take weed."

Storm clapped without producing sound and wiped the nonexistent tears from the corners of his eyes. "That's the most honest thing I've ever heard a teacher say."

Ronnie patted his shoulder and wiped her own fake tear. "I'm so fucking proud of him. I taught him well."

They paused before exploding into balls of laughter. Holding each other for support. A smile cracked through Adana's lips despite her efforts to keep a straight face.

***

"Mom?" Her voice was absorbed by the walls of their small living room.

She couldn't wait to start working and maybe move out. Her so-called mother only changed for the worse every day and was not only hurting herself by drinking and bringing men home but also scarring Adana physically and emotionally by using her for punching bag sessions and occasional whipping coupled with degrading insults cursing her existence.

"Yes, sweetums?" Helen Spindly slurred from the couch.

Adana's face paled when she took in the sight before her. Not only was her mother in her birthday suit but also with two men. One at her breasts and the other's face buried between her open thighs. Her lunch threatened to come out from where it was. She didn't bother to cover herself up but only glared at her gaping daughter.

Not being able to stand the repulsing sight any longer,  she turned to make her way upstairs but not before the sounds of bodies slapping together, and her mother's moans reached her ears. She ran to say a sad goodbye to her lunch.