Joy Ride-Chapter 3
3
Lake View
Though school barely started, rumors spread around Lake View like wild fire. Teachers were on edge. Security called the police department for help. Since freshman entered, trouble brewed between them and the seniors. It finally escalated to a point to where a few ‘visitors’ were coming up to the school today. Another fight broke out in the lunchroom this morning. As I sat down with my tray, an apple whacked me in the forehead. Laughter broke out from a table across from mine.
“Lame!” one of the kids shouted.
A few more apples bounced against my noggin, causing me to spill my milk. Now I had a headache and a wet t-shirt. Classes dragged on. I waited in the main office for my dad to bring a new shirt.
“Can I leave early?” I asked when he arrived. He patted my head.
“Listen up, kid. You won’t get anywhere in life letting people walk over you like this. You did the right thing coming to me.”
An hour later, my dad and I were locked in a conference room with boy. Mark was pretty tall to be sixteen, his hair engraved with the latest designs. He sat slouched in a chair, hands tucked beneath him.
“No sir, it won’t happen again.” He mumbled.
Big crowds gathered on campus after the last bell. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but most students felt that what was to come is worth being rained on. I also stayed behind to witness the action.
“Pretty sad isn’t it?” asked a voice. A pallid faced girl stood next to me, her hazel eyes shone with a far-away look.
“Yeah,” I grinned. “But what’s worse is that we’re feeding into it.”
We shared a laugh, watching the crowds multiply.
“I’m Veronica.”
“Virgil” I replied.
She nodded. “I always see you sitting alone in the lunchroom. Maybe those guys wouldn’t pick on you so much if you sat with some friends.”
I looked away, shuffling my shoes. “Don’t have any.”
She smiled. “You do now.”
