I parked my car in the student parking lot, well, because of the fact that I was a student, but not exactly a student. Confused? I knew you would be. Read on.

I got out and walked into the building, into the main foyer. Since it was after school, I didn't really have to worry about a stampede of people coming my way. There were only about two people in the area. I walked into the main office and immediately that typical 'office smell' filled my nostrils. You know, when you go to the dentist and you're waiting in the waiting room. That smell. Well, if you don't know, pretend. So, I waited until the lady at the front desk finished talking about some kid who vandalized the flower bed this morning. In other words, took a piss in it.

When she hung up, she smiled nicely at me. "Hello. May I help you, dear?"

I smiled back at her, though I didn't really feel like smiling, I didn't have a choice. She was an adult and I was a teenager. You do the math. "Yes. Can I go see my father?" I asked as politely as polite can possibly get.

"Sure thing. Who's your father?" she replied, already at her trusty computer.

"Mr. Summers."

She looked surprised for a second. "Oh! Of course you can go see him. He's in detention right now. I'll tell him you're on your way."

"Um, would I need a pass or anything?"

She waved me off as she took the phone that connected the main office to all the classrooms. "No, go ahead. It's after school anyway."

I waved at her. "Okay. Thanks a lot," I said and smiled again. She returned the favor and continued her work at the computer.

I left the office and started my way towards the classroom where yep, you guessed it, my father was at. He was doing detention today, but it's kind of uncanny that a man of such a superior standing at this school would be monitoring those who are stuck with it. I feel sorry for them.

My father is the principal of this school.

Explanation enough?

In a large, cold room, sat juvenile delinquents serving time in detention. Nothing but silence was in the room, but that of course, was penetrated by the p.a. system speaker thingy above the chalkboard. Most of the students jumped at the noise.

"Mr. Summers?" It was that same woman from the main office.

The man sitting at the desk looked up at the speaker as if her face was there. "Yes?" he answered.

"Someone's on their way up to see you."

"Okay, thanks," Mr. Summers said and the beep sounded as the conversation ended. That was the first conversation in the past twenty minutes. The room got silent again and some of the students and the principal stared at the door for the next minute and a half, waiting for the door to open.

It finally did open, but much to their anticipation, all that came was a voice through the hall.

"Next time you try hitting on girls, try not to be a chauvinistic, egotistical and half-witted jerk!" It was a girl's voice, obviously. And she apparently didn't like to be treated as if she was some prissy skank strutting around waiting for the next guy to get her in bed. The classroom was silent still and they listened as a distant male's voice spoke.

"I don't care if you're the quarter back of your football team. Listen to me. I. Don't. Care. Got it?"

Mr. Summers sighed and got up, walking up to the door, to greet his daughter. "Aeralie, please get in here. There isn't any need to start trouble, especially if you don't go to this school," he said and looked outside the door at the cause of distraught to his daughter. "Kevin, please go to where you need to go. And please, don't mess with my daughter. Aeralie, come on, get inside," he addressed his daughter.

"But did you hear him? He was blatantly trying to get down my pants! Geez, is he out of his mind? He isn't even that cute!" she screeched out at Kevin's retreating form.

Mr. Summers sighed and tugged on Aeralie's arm. With the whole room watching bemused at the situation. Who knew the principal's freaking daughter acted this way? "Darling, please just get in here before you get yourself into trouble."

"But-"

"I don't care. Get in here. Now." The adamant sounding of his voice caused the girl to groan and get into the classroom, catching the attention of all the guys.

Aeralie kissed her father on his cheek and stood facing him with her arms crossed, not bothering to look behind her at fifteen pairs of eyes on her backside.

"Where's your brother?" her father asked, returning to his desk.

Aeralie rolled her eyes. "Dad, where else would he be?"

"Why didn't he come with you?"

She groaned again, flustered with her father's lack of knowing what his son did almost every afternoon. "Dad, I didn't need him to come with me, I got here all right, didn't I? He's off skating with his friends. You know, the thing he does everyday when he's not practicing," she informed him.

"I wish you two could spend a little more time together. Like you used to."

She laughed. "Dad, you really don't know what's going on sometimes, do you?"

Her father sent her a wary and confused glance, but she shook it off. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

Aeralie shrugged and sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I was bored and I haven't visited you yet - nice school by the way. Anyway, it's been thirty days dad, and I thought that I'd come and also tell you that you two lost the bet," she laughed, receiving a pointed look from her father and confusing the students more than they've been already.

"Sweetheart, don't you think it's a bit public to be exploiting this information?" he asked. Aeralie shook her head and snorted.

"Nothing these days go without being public. But I proved you two wrong! I haven't even started a fight and it's what, two months into the school year? Aren't you proud of me?"

That was a total shock to the guys sitting there, listening. I mean, come on. It's the daughter of their principal. She should at least be like her father. Or not do what he strictly sets rules on.

Mr. Summers chuckled at his daughter. "Of course I am, dear. But tell me this; how many people have already have you as number one on their hate list?"

Aeralie counted up to ten on her fingers but then stopped and looked at her dad. "Um…thirty five?"

Principal laughed. Some guys even smiled. "Quite a person you are. Have I taught you nothing?" he jokingly asked.

"No, you only taught me not to swear at teachers and not to do drugs," she said frowning before adding smartly, "Oh, and not to have unprotected sex." Eyebrows raised to hairlines at that remark.

"I've taught you well my dear."

Aeralie smiled but suddenly, she bit her lip and started slightly squirming around, catching her father's attention.

"What are you doing?"

"I have to use the bathroom. My bladder's constricting, I'm serious," she replied, squirming around even more.

"Then go use the restroom."

Aeralie quickly walked out of the classroom, but not even ten seconds, she came back in. "Where's your bathroom?"

He looked at his staring students and saw a guy sitting all the way at the back, writing something in his notebook. "Mitchell."

The young man looked up. "Summers." He said that in kind of a yes-sir-what-do-you-want-me-to-do kind of way.

"Take her to the restroom, please."

He got up from his desk and walked out the door without a second's glance at her. Aeralie quickly followed. She took this time to look him over. From bottom to top. He had on well worn converses, and her gaze followed up his jeans, to the black hoodie he wore, and up to his brown shaggy hair. She sighed. He was cute. Really cute. And to top that off, he committed some type of offense to end up in such a bad position after school.

Aeralie laughed to herself and he stopped suddenly, turning around to look at her through dark blue eyes. "Is there a reason for you to be laughing?"

Aeralie caught up with him, commenting, "Would you have a problem with me laughing?"

"It depends." He shrugged.

She stared at the polished floor as they walked. "I don't really know why. Well, actually I do, but I'm not getting into that. But I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at myself," she explained and he nodded.

They walked in silence for a while and she was starting to wonder where their bathroom was. She was about to point something out, but he spoke first.

"You know, you make it seem that you're not related to your father."

"Yeah, me and about every one of my siblings are that way. But we've got his smart genes. Nothing else. Lucky for me, I've got his tough side."a

"Funny, you've already figured out my name." Aeralie looked up but he was staring straight ahead.

"Tough?"

"No."

"Gene?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"Swear you won't laugh?"

"I don't like swearing."

"A bit uncanny for a girl who has a lot of people who proclaim to hate you, don't you agree?"

"I promise I won't laugh." She looked at him and for once, he looked back.

"Lucky."

Honestly, Aeralie thought that that was a really nice name. Her name was so hard to pronounce to people, but she was glad it wasn't like anyone else's. She smiled slightly and the corners of his mouth went up.

"Don't ask. I think my parents were high." They laughed and Aeralie glanced at him.

"I like that name, really."

"I like your name too. Aeralie," Lucky said.

They kept walking and Aeralie's bladder that was temporarily forgotten decided to act up again.

"Are your bathrooms that far?"

Lucky stopped and looked around, a crimson color rising up his cheeks. "Shit. We passed it. I'm sorry." He looked around them. "It shouldn't be far, oh, it's over there."

Aeralie laughed. "Yeah. I kind of noticed the sign."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She shrugged and turned around, walking away. "I don't know. I guess I liked talking to you, Lucky. You're pretty fortunate that I do."

Lucky stood there watching Aeralie walk into the girl's bathroom and he followed, waiting for her as he sat on the ground, contemplating what she just said to him. Does that mean that she would like to be his friend? Well, certainly if she said that he was fortunate that she talked to him, then…

Someone cleared their throat above Lucky and he looked up and saw Aeralie looking down at him, smiling.

Lucky got up and dusted off his pants. "Sorry. I was just thinking."

She shook her head and they started walking again. "You waited for me."

He turned around to look at her. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, most guys would just bring me somewhere and that's it. But you waited for me. You even sat there." Aeralie smiled.

Lucky blushed. He actually blushed. "I mean, it's common sense not to leave you. You wouldn't know where to go."

She looked down as they walked on. "Not many guys I know have common sense." She suddenly stopped and turned just a tad bit to the right to face Lucky. "Lucky…I'm starting to think that you'll be more than just an acquaintance to me. I want to be your friend." That last statement shocked him more than he intended to be shocked. He didn't even plan on it.

He laughed and looked at her face; she looked so innocent but tough in a way that made her features brighten…even though she had a serious look on her face.

"Aeralie, I'd love to be your friend."

And they started walking again.

"You seem pretty cool, Lucky."

"You seem pretty cool as well, Aeralie." There he goes again with her name. She kept a tiny smile plastered on her face as they walked back into the classroom. Lucky went back to his seat and Aeralie went to stand next to her father.

"Dad," she whispered.

Principal looked at her. "Yes?"

She shook her head. "Nevermind."

For the rest of the…five minutes left, Aeralie sat on the desk thing at the front of the class and swung her legs back and forth. She didn't want to leave just yet because she hadn't said goodbye to Lucky yet, and besides, she didn't feel like saying goodbye to him. It was Friday. They could hang out. That is, if Lucky wasn't busy.

Five minutes were up and it was now three. Principal looked at his watch.

"Okay you guys, you are dismissed. But I don't want to see half of you guys back again next week. Have a nice weekend."

They shuffled out the door and most of them eyed Aeralie appreciatively. She rolled her eyes and jumped off the counter. Since her dad was going to stay, she kissed his cheek and hugged him.

"Bye dad. I'll see you home later, if I'm there."

"Bye sweetie. Don't get into trouble now. And if you go to the mall, Aeralie, please don't jump in the fountain. You know what reputation I'll get?" he asked and she laughed and waved him off.

"Like they would care." She walked towards the door. "Bye!"

"Bye."

Aeralie left the room and walked down the stairs, out of the main foyer and outside. It was mid-October, but the weather was so nice, it felt like it was the first day of September.

"Aeralie." She turned around and saw Lucky walking up to her.

"Hey." When he caught with her, they walked to her car. "Do you need a ride?" she asked as she looked at him.

"If that's okay with you."

"I don't mind," he told her and they both got into Aeralie's car.

Aeralie didn't know where to go, so she started driving towards her house until Lucky pointed to a street.

"You can turn here. I actually need to go to my friend's house," he said.

He gave her directions and Aeralie started to wonder where his friend's house actually was. He told her to turn on a street and ironically, that was her street. Thoughts started swarming her mind. What would he be doing at her street? He could be friends with the boy that lived five houses down, but he was only 13.

She was so caught up in her thoughts, she barely heard him when he said something.

"You can stop here. Thanks for the ride."

Aeralie's mind just went blank. She pulled up at the large driveway and Lucky got confused when she shut the car down and got out. He followed. He walked to the open garage where three other guys were, setting up a band.

One guy smiled at him. "Hey Lucky. How was detention?" he asked while he stood there fiddling with wires.

Lucky walked into the garage. "Hey Ryan. It was…interesting." He was standing with his back to the driveway and Aeralie stood there, leaning against the door.

Ryan noticed her and smiled brightly. "Hey Anna! I saw you get out of the car with Lucky. You know him?" he asked peering at both of them with a curious demeanor.

Lucky turned around when he heard Anna, and suddenly wondered where Aeralie had gone. What surprised him was that Anna was Aeralie.

Aeralie walked up with a bewildered look etching her features and said, "Wait a minute, I'm profoundly confused."

Lucky looked from her to Ryan and his expression wasn't far off from Aeralie's. "So am I. You know Ryan?" he asked her.

Ryan looked between Aeralie and Lucky and held up his hands as if to settle an argument between the two. "Whoa whoa wait. How the hell do you two know each other?"

Aeralie laughed, "Boy, this is one small world."