Page 45 of Love is Strange
I must say, though, arson looks pretty damn good on my record. So does destruction of private property and fighting. I think if I rack up enough charges my parents will finally just discard me like the trash they think I am.
Now, after learning of my misdeeds, you see that me being at this vagina school for ballerinas and jocks with little dicks isn't the best idea. If you're wondering about the homeschooling, let’s just say walking around naked in my own home with my dick swinging about like an elephant trunk doesn't go over well with tutors who are Christians. Well, all but one, that is.
I give this school two weeks tops before they realize they’ve fucked up letting me in here.
Don't think of my piss poor attitude and background as me being an idiot. I’m smart. I've been alone long enough to teach myself more than I need to know in order to get by on my own. If it were up to me, I would have gotten my G.E.D. by now and left this shit town.
Unfortunately, I’m a broke teenager and a majority of employers don't like delinquents working in their establishments. I've tried getting a job but to no avail. I stopped getting an allowance when I was seven and bought a pellet gun. I guess for the time being, mommy and daddy dearest will have to take care of me.
One day I’ll disappear.
I’ll be what they have always wanted me to be from the day I took my first breath.
Invisible.
“Ryan Styles?”
I look up at the guidance counselor’s office door and see a tall woman standing there. Her sleek black hair and pointed stare tell me she means business. Luckily for her, so do I. I get up from the rock-hard chair and move into her office before plopping down onto one of the chairs in there. She stares down her nose at me before she takes her seat, the scowl never leaving her tight face.
“You've been around quite a bit I see.” She states. I can tell by the tone in her voice that she doesn’t want a response. “Well, first things first. We don’t take kindly to little rebels like you around here. We help raise well-rounded students and help mold the children of the future. One slip up of any kind from you and you are gone. And I can guarantee that no school within a two-state radius will take you once you have been booted from here. Do you understand?”
I suck my teeth, looking at her like I couldn’t care less. “I understand you sound a bit wound up. I can help with that, if you’re up for it?” I say, grabbing my groin.
For the first time in the past five minutes of me being in her presence, she smiles. It’s a tight one, but it’s there, wrinkling her face.
“Strike one.” She gets to her feet and walks around her desk toward the door, my class schedule in her hand. “You’re free to leave now. Be on your best behavior, or I will happily toss you to the side to make room for someone more appreciative.”
Rolling my eyes, I get to my feet and snatch the paper from her hand. Looking down at it, I scoff. “Hold up, dance? Is this a joke?”
“Only if you make it into one, and I’m sure you will find a way to make that happen. Good luck, Mister Styles.”
The door closes, and I’m left in the front office with the student volunteers staring at me from behind the desk. I smirk at the blonde who looks to be a freshman and blow her a kiss, causing her pale cheeks to turn bright red. The giggle she lets out hit my ears before I even leave.
I look down at my schedule again and shake my head. This must be some sort of cruel fucking joke. Out of all the extra-curricular classes they offer, they put me in fucking dance class. At least my moment to get booted will come sooner rather than later. There is no way in hell I’m prancing around with a bunch of preppy ass people in tights just to get an extra credit to graduate.
If I even graduate at all, I think to myself.
I sigh. You know what? Fuck it! Let's see what kind of shit storm I can brew up.
T W O
Most of myday has been spent skipping my classes and roaming the boring halls of Grand Valley Prep. I’ve done most of the stupidest shit I could think of, just to get some kind of rise out of the wanna-be hard ass Mrs. Welch.
After all, that is my end goal at this point. Piss her off and get kicked the fuck out so I have nowhere else to go but away. I have four months until I turn eighteen and then I can get the fuck out of dodge. If I leave now and get caught, I’ll be sent back to my parents as a runaway. If I bide my time until I’m legal, then they can’t take me somewhere I legally don’t have to be anymore. Although I’m sure they won’t appreciate me vegging out on their couch until the time comes for me to vamoose.
“Mister Styles. How nice it is to see you.” The counselor says, her heel clicking against the tile floor. The sound is like venom to my ears, making them burn. Her voice, not the heels smacking the floor like they are trying to crack the earth open and swallow her into the pits of hell. “Are you going to class? I’m impressed you managed to skip the other five today without getting caught.”
“Sorry, but I didn’t plan on it, Mrs. Welch.” I tell her, stuffing my hands into my pockets.
“Too bad, son. Let’s go.”
“I’m not taking dance. There is no way in he—”
“Mister Styles. I advise you to not only watch your language but for you to go to class. You have two warnings left, we wouldn’t want you to strike out on your first day.”
She grabs my elbow gently and pulls me along next to her like I’m her puppy in training. I snatch my arm away but follow her anyway. She said I had to go to class, she didn’t say I had to do anything. If it gets her away from me, then I’m all for it. I can always use the excuse of having to piss to get out of class and skip.
“Have you ever thought about your future?” Mrs. Welch says, causing me to chuckle.
