With The Lunatics - Chapter 2

“Mr. Clay, seriously what were you thinking?, I hope you’re not planning on majoring self-destruction in college” Principal Mandy said to Clay with an exclaimed look on her half moon glasses. “What did i do wrong this time?” Clay said in a rather tired way. “Ms. Veriz told me right before the fourth subject starts that she saw you throwing a juice bottle in our newly built fountain” Clay stared with an apologetic yet annoyed look on the floor, regretting his own dumb mistake which he admitted inside his head “Great Clay! Now you’ve earned another record, two scolding in a day, what have gotten into you?” He lectured his own mind.

Back to reality, Clay will not let this end without a fight “I don’t even know this Ms. Veriz you’re talking about, i mean i did carelessly threw the bottle but what if that girl is just messing with me and just wants me to get punished? In fact this wasn’t the first time that i’m accused of something i didn’t do” The principal stared at him for a moment then said “Very well, you wait here while i fetch Ms. Veriz” and with a small thud of the door Principal Mandy is out in the halls. While waiting for his another disaster to happen, he couldn’t help but observe the Principal’s room. It was so quiet with a minimalistic ambiance and low tweets of the birds outside, it feels so calm. Clay was astounded to see the mini posters, more like pictures not framed, hanging on the wall, it was his favorite band, the “STEPS” which he heard from his parents. He had a liking on old music, for him it has a lot more sense than most pop songs nowadays.

As seconds gone by with him staring at the poster he couldn’t help but to take a good look of it to a much nearer perspective, he slowly got up and walk past the principal’s table, stood behind it admiring the old posters with signatures on it. “Wow” he whispered

Then the door suddenly creaked open, he turned around and to his surprise he half shouted “You?”

It was that blonde girl whom he tried to help but ended up getting more trouble than it cost him. “Yeah me” said Ms. Veriz with an eyebrow raised, Clay wondering if she did not put that brow down ever since lunch when they met.

“Mr. Clay this is Ms. Veriz, Jean Veriz, and it seems like you k now each other huh?” Said the principal.

“Not at all Ma’am, if i knew her maybe i would have just let those bastards get away with what happened this morning” Clay said with a mocking voice still staring disgusted to Jean. Jean just simply rolled her eyes and stared at the window beside the door

“Sit, the both of you” said the principal as she maid her way to seat in her rightful place, Clay and Jean sat facing each other angrily staring at each other’s eyes. “So, is it true Ms. Veriz that Mr. Clay threw that bottle in our school fountain?” Asked the principal. “Yes Ma’am i saw it when i turned to him wanted to say something, but he walked too fast that i didn’t catch him” she said politely. “Why is it a big deal if I really threw that bottle in the fountain?” Clay said half-mad half-curious. “Because it was recently built and functioning a couple of days ago, and also because, unlike maybe your former school, we strictly don’t tolerate students without that much sense of responsibility to throw their own rubbish in the rubbish bin” the principal said to Clay with her eyes fixed on Clay’s. With another look in the ground he sighed, “Whatever, so what will be my punishment this time?” Clay said with bored tone. “I see that you and Ms. Veriz don’t have quite the proper introduction to know each other, since you are both fourth years i will make Ms. Veriz your classmate from now on” said the principal dismissively. “W-what?!” They both exclaimed. “And also seatmates and will be effective by tomorrow” added Ms. Mandy.

…

T H E N E X T DAY

Clay’s POV

I arrived at the school at exactly 7:13 AM , 12 minutes early for the first period, so I can bring my stuff and get my front seat secured for the first subject (Values) this day. Fidgeting with my phone, i waited the class to start. Yes, of course I didn’t forget about Jean and her ungrateful blood, “if she ever bothers me or talk to me, i will go directly to the principal and clean her room till morning, it’s irritating enough to be her seat mate.” I whispered to myself. Then our teacher, Ms. Ri, entered the classroom, and started calling the attendance. After awhile, a knock is heard from the door, it was the ginger woman, she looked so angry. She hastily walked through the back of the classroom and sat at the very far corner seat. “Umm…Ms. Veriz you are supposed to seat next to Clay, it is the principal’s order” our teacher said. With a roll on her eyes and a deep ugghhh she quickly sat next to me muttering something like “don’t you dare let your skin touch mine”.

The first subject felt like hell with an irritating seat mate with a ton of different colored markers to write on her poorly designed notebook. Suddenly, the bell rung. I quickly got out of the room, gone to my locker to change books and headed to the next classroom, with a short period of time jean entered the classroom and sat next to me. Nothing more, than being beside her, irritating happen. Before i knew it lunch is raging.

As usual, i got my pasta and bottled juice from the canteen and started eating at the same spot yesterday. Then suddenly something unpredictable happened. Jean is climbing through my direction and sat next to me, with a little frown on her face. “I’m sorry for turning you in and thank you for yesterday” she said with an act of deep disgust. “See it wasn’t that hard to tell, wasn’t it?” I didn’t smile, i just simply continue to eat my food. “Honestly, i don’t want to be your enemy, it’s just that… I have been in a really bad mood recently that i don’t really need someone to barge in my life” jean said conversely. “Fair enough” i said.

We started talking a little then the bell rang for our fourth period, of course my Favorite subject Math, “We better get going” she said. I was surprised about how moody she was. The other day she this goddess-of-anger that could spit on every person who get near her, and now she kinda been nice to me. But as truthfully as she said, we better get going.

“I have a news for ya’ll said our Math teacher, Ms. Lane, we’ll be having a surprise quiz today!” She said excitedly as if it was a big promotion for her. Most of the student sighed in disgust of the ‘news’ but i just simply smiled back and return to my neutral face. Beside me, jean was deep annoyed by it, she doesn’t look like someone who loves this kind of surprises. During the quiz, Jean momentarily scratches her head and tap her pen on the table, clearly math isn’t her best play. After several minutes “Okay time’s up! Now pass your papers to the front and your scores will be declared in this room tomorrow” she said. Then the bell rung.

“I’m done with this” jean said, “tell our next teachers that i had a bad stomach” she added quickly stuffing her bag to go out of the room. “What?” I said in confusion. “I’m ditching classes” she said. As she quickly walked her way in the hall, i followed her trying to stop her evil act. “Are you insane?” I said when i finally caught up with her. “Here you are again barging your way in other’s life” she said turning her face in me with yet another eye roll, this girl really has a bad habit for it.

Jean’s POV

“This boy has some nerve” i whispered to my self as i turned to face him. “Here you are again barging your way in other’s life” I said, rolling my eyes to him. For the record i don’t usually roll my eyes to people, just to those who irritates me to boot. “What are you thinking? You’re ditching the rest of the class because of some stupid pop-up quiz?” He said half concerned half annoyed at me. “Will you look at that concerned boy” i thought to myself. “And what is it to you if i do?” I replied. “Well for starters, you should’ve invited me too” he said with a smirk on his face. I was caught by surprise that I quickly said “Woah” then he continued, “It’s not fun ditching classes alone, besides i didn’t want to be held accountable again for you so i might as well be ditching classes with you” He said with much affirmation and continued walking down the hall. I was still surprised by his sudden behavior then quickly followed him. I spotted him standing waiting for me at the end of the locker room, well he obviously don’t know where to go yet because he’s still new here.

“So…where do you typically go?” He asked me. “Well, i don’t think it’s nice of me to have company, especially you” i said to him mockingly. “I thought we’re fine now?” He said with slight confusion in his face. “Oh yeah, i forgot, and you see i don’t hang out with people i just know the name of” i said. “Well then, we can talk our way to your ditching spot” he said. “This is not i wanted him to react” i thought.

“So who starts first?” He asked me while walking. “Well since it’s you who dragged yourself here, you start first” i said smiling. He’s not a bad company so far. He started talking about how good his old school was and was only transferred here because of some family issues we’re not so close enough to talk about. “How about you? What’s your highschool life?” He asked. I talked about how shitty this school we are in now. I basically grew up here, so i can never compare this place to another since i’ve never been to. All i could say to describe the school is that, you’ll get used to it quickly and get bored.

We talk and talk until we have reached my spot. “Here we are” i said. He stops in awe, “I never thought that a tree house is still on the run in life” he said his mouth slightly apart. “Well, hop in” i said, as i climb my way up. “I’ve never been here for like what, 2 days?” I said jokingly. For once i felt fine with this boy since we started talking to each other. “So you built this yourself?” He asked. “Nahh Mark helped me build it, took me a couple of months and a dozen of stolen foods” i said to him. “Who’s mark?” He asked. “He’s my childhood best friend, which reminds me, i have to get him here.” I said as i dial my phone to contact Mark. After several minutes of silence Mark showed up at the bottom of the tree and is climbing his way in.

“I guess introduction is in line” i said. As i look at the both of them.