Chapter 5
Study Hall
Study hall is one of those classes where you have an inept teacher who knows nothing, kids who are rodents, and lots of note passing. It’s a rule in both books and movies that any characters that are important to the story must all be in the same classes. Not only that, but also only one teacher is ever seen teaching or watching the students. My story isn’t any different. I have to defend myself, though. The reason that everyone’s in my class is because the class is study hall. Practically everyone is in the same study hall together. And as for the only teacher I tell you about, Mr. Backs, it’s because the interesting stuff only happens when he’s teaching.
After the weekend I had, I didn’t really want to go to school, but it’s not like my parents are going to let me stay home because of some “boy.” It’s not fair at all, I really wasn’t up for seeing Adam today, but what made things worse was he was in my class. I had been practically sad all weekend. I know that I shouldn’t let him to get to me, but I mean how can’t I? At least he got rid of his Mohawk, right?
“Can you believe that Mr. Backs is our new study hall teacher because Miss Rosemary fired Miss Ascot?” Keri clapped with joy.
“Yeah.” I nodded, looking around for Adam.
“Ash, you’re not looking for you-know-who, are you?” Jennifer asked.
“Maybe…” I hung my head in shame.
“Get over it! Jeez! You girls are so overly dramatic. He’s just a guy! Does it really matter THAT much?” Tad asked.
“Well, maybe it doesn’t matter to you because no girl has ever noticed you and because you have no feelings, but it does to me,” I snapped.
“Ash, come on. That was a little harsh,” Big Al said to me.
“Do you guys even know who I’m mourning over?” I asked.
“I do!” Jack answered.
“What?” I looked over at Betty giving her an I-can’t-believe-you-told look.
“Sorry, Ash. He and I tell each other everything. If it makes you feel any better, Ben wet his pants until he was ten.” Betty offered.
“Hey!” Ben gave Jack the same look that I had given Betty.
“Sorry, man, but you heard what Bet said.” Jack put his arm around Betty.
“So are you guys going out or what?” Jennifer asked.
“I don’t know.” Jack and Betty looked at each other as they said this at the same time.
“Oh, for gosh darn sake! Either you are or you aren’t!” Allie rolled her eyes.
“Wow! Such strong language, Allie!” Tad scolded Allie in a mocking voice.
“Shut up!” Allie crossed her arms.
“Anyway, are you two going out?” Tina asked.
“No.” Betty answered for the both of them. She looked at Jack for his approval. He shrugged his shoulders and brought his arm back up from around her. “You’re not mad at me are you, Jack?”
“Whatever,” Jack answered. You could tell that he was hurt.
“You mean you thought we were?” Betty asked, evidently she was very confused.
“No. I was just…” Jack’s voice trailed off as if he had suddenly noticed that everyone was there.
“Why don’t we just go sit down in our seats?” Keri said. We all sat down in out assigned seats just as the bell rang. I could feel Adam’s eyes on me. They were pleading for me to look at him, but I just couldn’t. It was time for me to move on. He was the enemy now. I mean, how could he just make-out with her one minute and then in the next kiss me? It just didn’t work. Besides, my mom told me, “Once a cheater, always a cheater.” There was no way that I was going to go out with him after what he had done. He sat diagonally behind me, which of course was way too ideal for me. I mean, what is fate trying to do to me? Is destiny trying to rip out my heart and just tear me in two?
“Ash…Ash…” I could hear Adam whispering my name, trying to get my attention.
“Shhhh!” I turned to my homework, and I got totally absorbed in my work. I decided that I would go on the computers and e-mail people. Our school had just gone high tech. Since our school was semi rich, everyone had a laptop underneath their desks. (I know, don’t you just wish you were us?) I reached under and opened up my account. There were three new e-mails. Two of them were junk mail and one was from Adam! How did he know my e-mail? I looked back at him and he was on his laptop chewing on his lip nervously. His eyes were intently staring at the screen. Ugh! He was so cute! Jeez! This was not fair at all. Why do all the jerks have to be totally hot? I opened my e-mail from Adam to see what he had to say. Although, I wasn’t about to just forgive him.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Chat
We need to talk. Please just let me explain for myself. You don’t have to believe me or even forgive me. I just want you to know the truth.
--Adam
I snickered. Yeah, sure that’s what he wants me to think. I’m so sure!
He just wants me to know the truth? Yeah, right! Why did he think that I would just listen to everything he had to say? What, as soon as I heard his story I would accept him with open arms or something?
From: [email protected]
To: Adam121212@ gmail.com
Subject: Re: Chat
Why do you think that I would want to listen to you? Besides, it takes too long for me to hear what you have to say through e-mail.
--Ashley
I sat there congratulating myself for having shot him down. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, believe me. All I wanted to do was just tell him that I forgave him. He was the cutest guy I had ever met and he made me feel so great. Well, at least he did until I found out he was a lying scum! There was a new e-mail in my inbox.
From: Adam121212@ gmail.com
To: CoolCatAsh@ gmail.com
Subject: Re: Chat
Please, all I want is for you to listen. If this takes too long then we could IM each other. My sign on name is just Adam121212. I’ll wait there.
--Adam
I snorted. Why did he think that I would just be so open to discussion? He had really hurt me. Oh well, I was really bored. I signed on.
CoolCatAsh: What do you have to say for yourself?
Adam121212: Sorry
CoolCatAsh: Not good enough
Adam121212: What else I can do to make you believe that I’m not into Lena?
CoolCatAsh: Oh, so the fact that you were sucking face doesn’t mean that you like her?
Adam121212: No! I like you
Adam121212: I always have
CoolCatAsh: Oh yeah. Ever since you saw me walk into the office it was love at first sight
CoolCatAsh: It was like a scene out of a movie. My hair was blowing in the non-existent wind, right?
Adam121212: Come on, Ash. Give me a break here. If you knew what actually happened you would just laugh at me
CoolCatAsh: Try me
Adam121212: It’s really embarrassing
Adam121212: You probably won’t believe me
CoolCatAsh: The more embarrassing the better. I don’t believe you now anyway
Adam121212: Ok
CoolCatAsh: So are you going to tell me or what
Adam121212: Sorry
CoolCatAsh: So you’re not going to tell me
Adam121212: I will but it’ll just take a while
CoolCatAsh: I’m waiting
Adam121212: Lena, heard that I liked you. I was talking to some of my friends about you
CoolCatAsh: All good things I hope
Adam121212: Of course. She and I have known each other since we were little and we used to go out. I dunno if you’d call it going out though. We were only in fifth grade
CoolCatAsh: Wait. Is Adam really your name?
Adam121212: Of course it is. What do you think I’m some secret agent or something?
CoolCatAsh: Maybe. I knew everyone that she went out with though
Adam121212: Oh that’s right! I went by my middle name bac
k then because I thought that Adam was such a stupid name.
CoolCatAsh: What’s ur middle name
Adam121212: Jonathan
CoolCatAsh: What’s ur last name
Adam121212: Houston
CoolCatAsh: Oh my gosh! You’re Jon Houston?
Adam121212: Yeah. So what
CoolCatAsh: I used to know you!
(That’s why I thought he was so familiar. Jon…er…Adam was Lena’s first boyfriend. She used to brag about him all the time and how she said that she thought she was in love with him! Then she dumped him because she said he wasn’t being good enough to her. Lena was really controlling, and come on they were only in fifth grade. She said that there was a really neat mysteriousness to him that made him so hot, but she never said what it was. She said he was “dangerous.” Adam…dangerous?)
Adam121212: You did?
CoolCatAsh: Yeah
Adam121212: What’s your last name?
CoolCatAsh: Benson
Adam121212: Ashley Benson
CoolCatAsh: Yup
Adam121212: Doesn’t ring a bell
CoolCatAsh: That’s not cool
Adam121212: Sorry
CoolCatAsh: Whatever. I thought you’d remember me
Adam121212: Well I dumped her
CoolCatAsh: I thought she dumped you
Adam121212: She got really mad
CoolCatAsh: You dumped her?
Adam121212: She knows stuff about me that no one else does
CoolCatAsh: Like what
Adam121212: If I told you
Adam121212: you might not like me as much
CoolCatAsh: Don’t worry. My opinion of you is so low you can’t go any lower
Adam121212: Oh. Well I used to be a really bad kid. I did stuff that wasn’t good
CoolCatAsh: Like?
Adam121212: Drugs, beer, stealing
CoolCatAsh: Oh
Adam121212: My mom died when I was ten and my dad left us when I was five. So I had no supervision
CoolCatAsh: Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry
Adam121212: It’s not your fault
CoolCatAsh: You’ve changed since then. You’re a better person now right
Adam121212: Yeah. I went to therapy and I got help. I turned my life around. The only thing that I didn’t stop doing was wearing a pink Mohawk.
CoolCatAsh: Yeah, but if both your parents are gone, who made you get rid of it?
Adam121212: No one made me.
CoolCatAsh: Then why did you
Adam121212: I was sick of it
CoolCatAsh: Oh. Then why did you say that she made you and what about the stink bomb?
Adam121212: I wanted to impress you so I fixed my hair and I never made any stink bomb
CoolCatAsh: Jeez! How many lies have you told me?
Adam121212: I only said that to impress you too
Adam121212: Hello?
Adam121212: Ash?
CoolCatAsh: Then why were you in the office
Adam121212: I had the highest GPA. They wanted to tell me that there was going to be a plaque put up in my honor
CoolCatAsh: ok…
Adam121212: Well anyway, this one time before I got help I stole from a store and that’s how I met Lena. Her dad owned it
CoolCatAsh: So did you steal a lot
Adam121212: Yeah that’s why I had to go get help
CoolCatAsh: How much
Adam121212: Look at me
CoolCatAsh: What
Adam121212: Look back at me
I looked at him. He put a hand up by his mouth so that no one else could see what he was about to say silently. When he mouthed how much he had taken, I yelped in surprise. I almost fell off my seat.
“Miss Benson?” Mr. Backs brought the entire class to attention. They all looked at me.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Are you all right?” He looked concerned. “You look pale.”
“No. I’m fine.” I shook my head.
“Then will you please get back to what you were doing?”
“Yes, Sir,” I answered.
“I really wouldn’t want to send you to the principal’s office or keep you in detention again,” Mr. Backs told me.
“Of course not, Sir,” I replied.
“You don’t want that either then do you?” Mr. Backs asked me.
“No I wouldn’t like that either,” I said.
“Well, then could you please not disturb us anymore?” He asked. Adam was snickering behind me.
“Mr. Houston, would you like to go to detention?” Mr. Backs’ attention turned to Adam.
“No, Sir. I really wouldn’t.” Adam’s smile faded.
“Then I guess that you don’t find that funny?” Mr. Backs asked.
“No, Sir, I don’t.”
“Really, Adam?”
“Yes, really.” Adam nodded.
“Then I suggest that you keep your mouth shut next time.”
“I’ll try to do that next time, Sir.”
“Don’t call me Sir,” Mr. Backs said.
“Excuse me?” Adam’s eyes squinted.
“Don’t call me Sir.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Get back to your work, Ashley. You’re on thin ice as it is,” Mr. Backs said to me.
“All right,” I went back to my work.
“Why don’t you want to be called Sir?” Adam inquired.
“Because I don’t,” Mr. Backs answered.
“No, really. Why?” Adam kept on.
“Stop while you’re behind.” Mr. Backs’ voice got louder.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-”
“Oh, I’m sure you didn’t,” Mr. Backs said.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Adam apologized.
“It makes me feel old,” Mr. Back answered.
“What does?” Adam was being annoyingly thick.
“I think you know.” Mr. Backs was really frustrated.
“No. Do you mean that I make you feel old?”
“Are you really not sure what I mean?” Mr. Backs was puzzled.
“Yes. I really don’t know what you mean.” Adam was confused.
“Oh my gosh!” I said. “Adam, he said that you calling him sir makes him feel old. Jeez. Can’t you just for once listen?” I was annoyed.
“Miss Benson, that’s enough,” Mr. Backs said.
“Sorry,” I answered.
“Everyone get back to work,” Mr. Backs said. Adam started to snicker again.
CoolCatAsh: What’s so funny?
Adam121212: You are
CoolCatAsh: I’m still mad at you
Adam121212: Sorry
CoolCatAsh: You’re the one that’s really thick
Adam121212: So
CoolCatAsh: Whatever, just tell me the rest of the story
Adam121212: Now that you know how much I took you know why it was such a serious crime
CoolCatAsh: Yeah. You got caught
Adam121212: No. The reason I went to therapy is because Lena convinced me to ask my foster parents for help. Lena said that she wouldn’t turn me in which made me like her and I thought I owed her
CoolCatAsh: What about once you dumped her
Adam121212: She got really mad at me and said that she would tell her dad what I had done
CoolCatAsh: What did you do to keep her quiet?
Adam121212: I let her tell everyone that she dumped me
CoolCatAsh: Oh that’s why I thought that she had dumped you. Why were you at the movies with her?
Adam121212: Like I said she found out that I liked you
CoolCatAsh: And she blackmailed you into going with her to make it so I wouldn’t like you
Adam121212: Yeah. I would tell the cops what I did but then I’d go to jail
CoolCatAsh: What did you do with the money?
Adam121212: I returned it
CoolCatAsh: How
Adam121212: I gave it to Lena and she gave it to her dad. They stopped look
ing for the thief
CoolCatAsh: Then you’re fine. Why don’t you reveal yourself so she can’t hold anything over your head anymore?
Adam121212: I could do that. You’re right. I should. I really hated the way that she made me look like her boyfriend in front of you. She made me kiss her and everything. It was so gross. Do you forgive me?
CoolCatAsh: Yes
Adam121212: Thanks. You don’t know how much this means to me
CoolCatAsh: You’re welcome. Just turn yourself in, now
Adam121212: I will soon
CoolCatAsh: Good
Adam121212: Can I call you Ash again?
CoolCatAsh: Yes
Adam121212: Ash?
CoolCatAsh: What
Adam121212: Will you go with me when I turn myself in
CoolCatAsh: Why
Adam121212: I’m nervous
CoolCatAsh: Sure
Adam121212: Thanks
CoolCatAsh: Your welcome, but I have to get back to my homework
Adam121212: Okay
CoolCatAsh: Bye
Adam121212: Bye
I signed off. I couldn’t believe how right my friends had been. I felt so stupid. How could I have let my jealousy get the best of me? I mean, he was trying to tell me the truth, and I wouldn’t listen. I thought he was the biggest creep, when all along, Lena was the one who’s skankiness was showing. I can’t believe that she was so mean that she had tried to get him away from me. She was never going to change! What a loser.
“Okay class. You may talk now. You’ve been quiet all hour, you may have the remaining twenty minutes to chat quietly,” Mr. Backs said closing his book as he started to grade papers.
“Ash, what were you doing on the computer?” Keri asked me.
“I was IMing Adam,” I answered.
“Why would you want to do that?” Tina asked me. “I thought he was the bad guy after what he did.”
I turned and saw Adam looking at me, “No. He had a good reason.” I turned back to my friends.
“Well, what was it?” Allie asked me.
“It’s no big deal.” I said.
“Come on don’t keep us in suspense,” Keri pleaded.
“I’m telling you, you’re not going to care.”
A Life Like Mine Page 7
