Detention Club

“Calvin, honey. I know it’s a lot to ask but please, try to stay out of trouble and come home early.” His mom said. He would listen if not for his stubborn mind and how his shit excuse of a brother is urging him to get out of the damned minivan.

Trudging past him and kissing his mother goodbye, he slowly crept up to the doors of hell. Okay. Maybe he was threading this a bit far out but what can he do? He was basically forced to move out from the warm summer breeze and into the cold tundra of Shady Creek's autumn.

It was cold, and for Calvin (who only wore a flimsy jacket) it was like walking through the Artic. He wasn’t very keen on staying out in the cold but he can’t help but notice a student struggling to carry boxes. Must be a TA, he thought.

“Hey. Let me help you.” He said walking towards her, careful not to slip and embarrass himself. She looked young for a TA, with a round face and choppy bangs. She also walked like a penguin, considering how much clothing she had stacked upon her.

“Oh. Hey, hi. Thanks.” She looked at him with wide eyes and a questioning expression was painted in her face.

“New student?” He nodded.

“I’m Sarah Phelps. Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it. So, where you from?”

“Hawaii”

Sarah gasped while catching up to Calvin’s long strides. Eager to keep up the conversation she chatted about how much she wants to visit Hawaii.

"I guess you should go to the principal’s office first because of your schedule and all. I can be happy to accompany you to all your classes really. And I’ll introduce you to my friends at lunch. Sounds good?” Sarah kindly offered.

She was nice, but still. Calvin had his walls up for a reason.

“Uh, yeah sure. Thank you.”

Nearing the office, he can’t help but notice another girl. Leaning against her possible locker and shamelessly staring at Sarah. Her piercing gaze watching Sarah as they near the door to the office. She looked Asian, with her black hair and that petite stature.

The mysterious girl finally stopped staring at them when a boy attacked her lips. Being shocked was an understatement. Calvin never expected student’s to be this open and yet he kinda likes this behavior.

Growing up in a conservative town and a more conservative family, he usually kept to himself about his strong desires.

Sarah opens the door and lets Calvin enter before her. The faculty office looked like the hallway, decorated and lively. With the teachers bustling and laughing, having coffee and talking amongst themselves.

One of them notices the duo and acknowledges them by ushering them to the side where the boxes should be placed. Mr. Wilson, was what was written in his name tag. Without a word he left them and returned to his fellow teachers.

He can’t help but think about how that girl from the hallway. How she watched Sarah and how he practically had shivers running down his spine. She was not scary, Calvin can practically pick her up and throw her really, but she had that aura.

He spun around to face Sarah.

“Who was that?” He asked.

Surprised by the sudden question Sarah reluctantly answered, “Mr. Wilson.”

“No. The girl.” He stated, mentally rolling his eyes for his stupidity (and he really wanted to roast Sarah at that moment too)

Noticing his demeanor, she said “The girl? From the hallway?”, he nodded.

She thought about it for a moment. Who was the girl? She clearly had no clue, as it was written on her face. Calvin gave up and dismissed his question rather quickly, as to not waste time. His mother always told him “Time is precious, we should not loiter around and do nothing.”, and that stuck to him like a leech.

With that said, he quickly searched for the door to the principal’s office. Glancing around he found it with no effort at all, for it was there. Smack right in front of him, in big bold letters, ‘PRINCIPAL PHELPS’. Wide eyed, he looked at Sarah with chagrin.

“Yeah, sorry. My uncle can be a lil’ extra.” She winces. That explains the decorated hallway and office. Although perplexed, he didn’t want to be rude. Sarah was nice enough to help him find his way and Calvin was nice (at least that’s what he thought).

Opening the door, the fresh smell of lemon entered his senses. He had taste, for an old man.

“Hello. How may I help you?”, a man in his early or mid twenties asked. Calvin’s eyes widened, there’s no way he’s the principal. His eyes immediately began searching the room for another person, but it was only him and that man.

Shamelessly he asked, “Are you the principal?” to which the man smiled and nodded.

What the actual hell.

"Are you sure?’ Calvin asked, just to be sure this man wasn’t pranking him. It’s his first day and he’s not taking any chances.

“I can tell you that I’m the Principal. I mean, this is Shady Creek High, right?” The principal said, amused by how this seemingly lost student couldn’t fathom seeing his face for the first time.

Thinking of Sarah, and how she would be of great help she will be as of this moment, she popped her head through the door.

Thank heavens for Sarah Phelps.

“Hey Uncle James. New student. Calvin…uhm.” Lost for words, both Calvin and Sarah looked at each other sheepishly.

“Brown. Calvin Brown. I forgot to tell you sorry.” Calvin apologized.

He forgot to introduce himself, properly. His mother would have face palmed herself if she was here.

Recognition passed through Principal Oli’s face, “Ah, yes. Mr. Brown. From Hawaii.” He then proceeded to do that sign with his hand.

Calvin, holding in his true emotions. He would really like the world to swallow him.

He returned the gesture by smiling. The flat line smile because he literally cannot wait to wipe that smile off the Principals face.

Sensing his discomfort, Sarah then looked at her uncle as to remind him of his job description.

“Uncle James. Can we get his schedule so that we could find his rooms before classes start?”

He was awfully cheery, Calvin thought. Runs in the family he guesses. Although Sarah’s cheeriness was tolerable, her uncles' was a different story.

Scanning his table filled with paperwork, and is that… an octopus plushie? He finally found Calvin’s sched and said, “ I took the liberty of putting Mr. Brown in the same classes as you dearest.” Cough, “I mean, Miss Phelps.” He smiled at Sarah like a kid.

He’s obviously single.

After much more awkward talk (between Sarah and her uncle) and two signed late slips, the duo took off and went to their first class.

Geometry.

Calvin thought, great. He’s incredibly smart, he just not looks like it, with his built physique and height, not to mention he likes to keep his hair long. He looked more like the typical loner.

Well, he is kind of a loner, but he likes company too. He just kept to himself really.

“You can sit beside me if you want.” Sarah offered.

She’s really nice, Calvin thought. Too nice.

But it’s too early to say anything, he pondered.

“I can handle myself Sarah. But thanks for the offer.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

“Okay then. You still up for lunch though right?” she asked, eyes twinkling with happiness.

She reminded him of a toddler. Not to mention, she only stood past his shoulder.

“Yeah sure. I’ll treat you. What do you wa—“, he was stopped mid-sentence by a guy with black hair and a cheeky smirk on his lips.

Sporting an all-black ensemble and messenger bag, he slowly lifted his hands up as if he was being arrested.

“Oops. Sorry man, late for class”

He wasn’t mad, he was just surprised. But the look on his face said otherwise, and Sarah being the kind soul broke his stare.

“Cookie dough ice cream.” She said, seemingly out of breath.

Remembering his offer, he looked at her, his expression blank. Sarah winces at his glare, like a bunny trapped in a fox’s stare.

“Don’t scare the lady dude!” A voice opposite from them shouted, it was the guy who bumped Calvin earlier. Saluting them, he disappeared from sight after taking a left turn.

Realizing his mistake, he apologized hastily for scaring Sarah. He didn’t mean to; he just has a resting bitch face (that’s what his friends called it).

Like a kid, Sarah immediately showed her cheeky grin and proceeded to skip (to keep up with Calvin’s long strides).

Not long after they entered a classroom, filled with students, either listening to the teacher of are gossiping in hushed voices. They handed out their late slips and went to their seats.

Calvin was glad he didn’t have to introduce himself. ‘You can introduce yourself later, after my class. I’m sure you know that this isn’t grade school anymore.’ The teacher said in a bored tone.

Spotting an empty seat next to the window, he quickly got there as to not disturb the class. Thankful for the view of the school field, he opted to zone out and bask in the sun’s warm autumn glow. Nothing much was happening, the teacher didn’t really mind that his students weren’t listening.

Much to Sarah’s chagrin, she didn’t get to sit next to Calvin. But that’s okay, she thought. Free ice cream was on her mind. And also the girl Calvin mentioned.
Sensing someone’s eyes on her, Sarah turned around and saw her seatmate, Prince, with his hands reached out like he was begging. Sarah rolled her eyes and reached into her bag for a pack of nerds, peace offering, Prince dubbed it.

Slapping the pack onto his outstretched hand, she forcefully smiled and turned her back on the blonde.

Smiling to himself, Prince reluctantly popped a nerd in his mouth and thought about his blossoming friendship with the Phelps girl.

“You’re not so bad Phelps. Thanks.” He whispered against her ear, giving Sarah shivers.

‘Asshole’ she thought.

Across the room, Calvin saw this exchange and smirked to himself.