The Prince and the Unsuspecting Commoner
Blech, right? It was the only thing I could think of.
Anywho, this obviously isn't the only part, so don't post in this thread. I suggest the Story Review subforum for that. Don't worry, I'll see it.
Oh, if anyone has a better name for the teacher, I'm open to suggestions.
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Danielle sighed, leaning her head on her hand. School could be fun, but not when the teacher had a monotone voice and just kept droning on and on and on. It was even worse when he was making you watch a badly-paced, boring documentary for the fifth time that year.
“Ms. Bradley, do you find something boring about learning how plastic gets made?”
“No, Mr. Fickles.”
“Good. Then pay attention.”
The brunette rolled her eyes. She yawned, then casually shifted in her seat so she didn’t have to stare at the TV. Her eyes drifted over to the door just as it opened and a red headed boy stepped through quickly. He conversed quietly with the teacher for a moment, then handed him a note.
“Alright,” Mr. Fickles said, just loud enough for Danielle, the only one who’d noticed, to hear, “Go take that empty seat over there and watch the film while I go down to the office. I just want to make sure they’re sure you’re in the right place.”
Danielle looked around the room, before realizing the ‘empty seat’ was right next to her! With it empty she had an unobstructed view of the left side of the room, so she could keep an eye on the door and the teacher at the same time. She turned back to the movie as the boy wove his way between the others, who were all too sleepy to notice him. As he sat he glanced at her, did a double take, then stared at the TV. The brunette couldn’t help but smile.
As soon as the door closed behind Mr. Fickles, everyone else perked up and the noise level raised a few notches as they started talking again. Danielle glanced at the new kid; he seemed a little nervous, like he’d never really dealt with a rowdy crowd before. Taking pity on him, she tapped his desk. “Yo, new kid. You look kinda lost.”
He blushed out of embarrassment for a moment, and nodded slightly. “Maybe a little. I’ve never really…” He sort of trailed off, right before getting hit in the head with a foot ball. “Sorry, dude.” He chuckled nervously for a moment, then answered as he tossed the ball back, “No problem.”
Danielle nodded. “You need help,” she said matter-of-factly. “First thing you need to do is find a friend, somebody who’s been here longer than you. You can check that off your list.”
He looked at her confused. “How’s that?”
She grinned and stuck out her hand. “I’m Danielle. Pleased to meetcha.”
He smiled goofily and said, “I’m William, junior.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away swiftly and smoothed back her hair.
“Too slow. William, huh? Mind if I just call ya Will?”
“Please,” he said, with a slight shudder.
“Who’s your senior, then?”
He put his head in his hand and leaned toward her. With a little smirk, he answered, “Tell.”
Danielle threw her head back and laughed, drawing some attention. She ignored it and they turned away again. “Oh, a comedian, are we?”
He shrugged slightly. “I try.”
“Epic win, bro. Nice one.”
“I’m actually kind of surprised you got it. Most people don’t.”
Danielle shrugged this time. “It’s kinda hard to not get a William Tell pun when you hear one. People who are over ten and still don’t know who William Tell is are idiots.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Meh, I would. It’s a bit of an unfair generalization, but not much of one. It’s pretty much true.”
Suddenly, a mousey girl who was standing by the door squealed. “He’s coming back! In your seats, everybody!” There was a group gasp for a moment, then rushed whispers and rustling as everyone settled back down. Danielle glanced around, then gave a thumbs-up to ‘Mouse Girl’, who dashed to her own desk just in time for Mr. Fickles to come back in the room.
“I certainly hope everyone had common sense enough to not do something silly while I was gone. William, you’re to stay here. Apparently everywhere else was full.” He walked back to his desk muttering about the over-crowded public school system.
Will nodded, then jumped when he got a jab in the side. Turning, he looked at Danielle, who started tapping an open notebook on her desk. Reading it over, he smiled. ‘A welcome is now officially necessary. Congrats.’ “Thanks,” he whispered, nodding as she pressed a finger to her lips. He pulled out his own notebook and opened it to a clean page, scribbling a note quickly in his rushed chicken-scratch. ‘’Preciate it. Say, what’re we watching, anyway?’
‘The Amazing Process of Plastic. Gag much?’
‘I think I saw that once. Yeah, on the Most Boring Videos Ever top 10.’
The girl next to him snorted slightly and stifled laughter. ‘Where?’
‘Number 2. But it was an awful close race between it and The Many Uses of Sand. Sand was the eventual winner. There were dozens of casualties from the battle.’
The brunette couldn’t help herself any more. She broke into a fit of laughter; right at the most inappropriate part of the movie.
The teacher stood angrily and stomped to the TV, pausing the film. “Ms. Bradley! Do you find something funny about plastic workers getting deadly injured on the job?!”
Danielle had to hold up a finger from him to give her a minute. His face turned an awful shade of red, but he waited tapping his foot for her giggle fit to finish. After a moment, she took a few deep breaths and coughed slightly, and nodded to show she was ready.
“Well?”
Exhaling, she looked thoughtful for a moment. “Is there any answer I can give that won’t result in detention?”
“The truth. The truth won’t get you detention.”
She nodded and changed her face to a somber expression. It looked so real even Mr. Fickles relaxed a little. “No, Mr. Fickles, I don’t think plastic workers getting hurt on the job is funny.”
“Then… What were you laughing at?”
Will’s right hand twitched a little, almost making him drop his pencil. If she told the truth they’d both be in trouble. And he couldn’t get detention his first day of school!
“A joke I heard earlier in the cafeteria.” Something about the teacher’s face changed; maybe a twitch of terror, but who could really tell? “I just now got it. I can retell it if you want…” she trailed off to give an opportunity to rebuttal.
“N-no, no, that’s fine. I believe you.” He coughed nervously and switched the TV back on. “Go back to your movie, children.” He disappeared back to his desk.
Once Will was sure the coast was clear, he scribbled down another note. ‘Thanks for not ratting on me.’
‘Are you kidding? If I told on you I’d’ve gotten in trouble too. I really don’t need another detention this week.’
‘… I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad statement.’
Danielle’s shoulders shook with a silent chuckle. ‘Don’t worry about it. There’s just a few minutes left in class… You wanna join me at that new soda shop in town? I was planning on checking it out today.’
Will bit his lip, but decided it couldn’t hurt. ‘Sure, why not? Meetcha there?’
‘Meh, find my locker and we’ll walk.’
‘’K.’
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© blazestonefire656 2009
