Dagger and Shield

Don’t you sometimes ask yourself:

“Is something cool going to happen at school today?” Or, “Why is my shirt backward?” Or, “How did I end up in the back of a moving van?” Or even, “Why is my detention teacher so scary?”

Yeah, I asked myself those questions in a single day. Now possibly most of you that are reading this are possibly thinking about question two, How did my shirt end up backward? Three words, I don’t know.

Anyways you’re really wondering about question four. I. . . also don’t know.

Okay, I’m going to stop messing around- Question one! I’m just joking! Keep reading, please. No more jokes. . . really.

My name is Jason Sky. I went from an average antisocial teenager to a guy who’s basically seen everything: Guns, blood, and even death.

I live in Cupertino, go to Cupertino High School, and am pretty dying for something to happen.

I am fourteen. Blond hair, American, slightly tanned, blue eyes from my mom, and a mischievous look from my dad that causes people to steer clear from me on the streets. I wouldn’t say I’m tall, nor short. I’m a little bit above average though. I’m fit but I don’t play sports yet I’m lazy as- I mean. . . Heh.

Now! Moving on to how I got my shirt on backward. Yay. . .

The day I turn my life into a giant hole I can’t get out of. I woke up to my mouth tasting like fish. I squinted through the sunlight coming through my window. I felt my green pendant that was strung from my neck. My parents gave it to me on my tenth birthday, “For emergencies.” Or whatever that means.

My house is over a restaurant so I’m constantly hearing the loud clatter of dishes, loud talking, and- god help me- A child screaming at the top of their lungs.

I got up and checked myself out in the mirror.

“Yeesh,” I grumbled. “another day of Jason the homeless guy.

My hair was a mess, my eyes half open. My shirt somehow ended up backward. I turned to a photo frame with a picture of a guy and woman in camo uniforms. My mom and dad, the truth is they’re no longer with me. They died in a mission, a very secret mission. After they died a bunch of very mysterious people in white cloaks barged into my house claiming they were doctors and that I needed a flu shot. I didn’t care, I was too young to understand what was going on. After they administered the shot they left without another word.

I yawned then my door room ripped off its hinges. A big guy in a green army uniform stood there shocked. I glared at him through the dust.

That’s Sean, he was a friend of my parents in the military. After my parents died these people with suitcases and suits and ties scrambled around trying to find me a new family. Sean stepped in and took me under his wing. He had to retire from his military work to take care of me. I was grateful he was there. After all, I couldn’t imagine being sent to a new family who acted like I was fragile cause I just lost my parents.

Sean however taught me how to choke someone out the first day I met him. I liked him instantly after the first day. He’s a muscular guy so you can see his abs through his shirt. He has messy black hair, is Hispanic, and has the same kelp green military uniform. His olive eyes saw everything, sort of. Looking past his scary appearance you’ll see he’s an accident disaster. Sometimes he loses control of his strength and crushes the TV remote. Let’s not talk about when his favorite football team lost the Superbowl.

Resuming the present, as we stared at each other, the door in pieces, I reached for my bag. This is how it usually goes: He breaks something, we stare at each other, then I get out there as fast as I can to avoid a long explanation from him regarding whatever broke.

“Look, Jason-” He started.

I grabbed my bag and some clothes and then proceeded to exit, Via the window. Absolutely normal, smooth, and dangerous. I landed on the concrete and rolled to avoid breaking my legs. In the process, I startled a kissing couple.

“JASON!” I heard Sean yell from the window. “THIS IS IMPORTANT!”

“See you after school!” I yelled back.

I ran to school. Great Cupertino High. A lovely place for giddy seniors showing freshies around and constantly finding a couple of Freshmen asking for directions.

I went behind a building and started changing. I looked around. Please don’t find me this time. I prayed.

I was putting on my shirt when I heard footsteps and that unmistakable voice.

“Mr. Sky!” A lady said exasperated. “For the millionth time!”

I froze, silently cursing. Then I tried to put my shirt on casually. . . only it was stuck. In a panic to put on my clothes, I managed to put both arms in one sleeve.

“Hello, Mrs. Lee. . . I. . . Uh, I appear to be stuck.” I said muffled.

“Hold still.” She sighed.

I felt my shirt get pulled off. I came face to face with a serious-looking lady. At least in her forties, a gold earring hung from her left ear, she had blond hair and brown eyes. She wore an orange dress with heels.

“Thanks,” I said slowly, grabbing my shirt from her. I put it on quickly.

“I have to take you to Mr. Gomez.” She replied.

I jumped, startled. “What? Why? You let me off the last time!-”

“That was before the camera was placed.” She said quietly.

I turned a camera peered down at us from the roof.

“What?” I sputtered.” When was that there?”

She put a hand on her hip. ” A couple of boys were found trading illegal things back here. So It would look bad if I let you go.”

“But- But!” I stuttered

“Sean? Yes, I do know how he is, but I’m afraid security does not.”

She led me to Mr. Gomez’s class. Before I explain what happens, a couple of things first about Mr. Gomez. He makes Sean look like a teddy bear, which is saying a lot. This guy looks like he’s been working out since the day he was born. He was the only guy I feared at this school and hoped to never meet his bad side. Fortunately, I was able to stay away from him. . . till now.

We reached his classroom. I stood outside his door and groaned.

“None of that, Jason. Mr. Gomez is nice-”

“Nice?” I asked sarcastically. “To you teachers probably! He is downright sca-”

The door opened and I froze staring at a pair of polished boots.

“Downright what?” A deep voice asked.

If I had eaten Sean’s carbon-load bean burrito yesterday I would have tooted. I looked up at Mr. Gomez. He had sunglasses over a long scar, rumored to be caused by a grenade shrapnel

“Uh. . . Scary?” I whispered.

He leaned over inches from my face. I stared at my reflection in his sunglasses. After a minute of staring at each other, he threw his head back and laughed loudly.

“You see, Lily?” He laughed. “What do these kids tell each other?”

“So that scar wasn’t from a grenade?” As soon as those words came out of my mouth I wish I had just shut my mouth.

He froze then his face relaxed almost instantly. “Oh, no. They got that right.” He sighed. “Anyways, why are you bringing Jason here?”

“I caught him changing behind class seven hundred.”

He shrugged. “He always does that. Every teacher knows it.”

“They do!?” I yelped.

Both of them ignored me.

“But the camera. . .” She whispered

“Oh. . . right, well come along Jason. . .” He said casually.

I stepped into his classroom, Mrs. Lee walked off while Mr. Gomez steered me towards a chair in the front row closing the door behind him. I sat down nervously looking around. Inside was blank, unlike every other class that was full of inspirational posters and cheesy quotes. His room was depressing, blank, white, and boring. Nothing but desks and a whiteboard.

“Sit.” He ordered. “Due to specific rules. . . I hereby sentence you suspended.”