Chapter 2—

Rebel Without a Cause

Just as expected, Jake doesn't show up for detention with Mr. Wright. I'm left sitting all alone in this room with a creepy, angry old man. Well, he isn't that old. Not like Mrs. Greene anyhow. Still, were Jake here, I'd probably just get into more trouble because he'd inevitably do something that would piss me off.

I think about him too much. It's a problem of mine that I seriously need to work on. It seems like I'm pre-occupied with him, doesn't it? I'm really not… it's just that, like it or not, Jake's had a huge impact on my life. Not in a good way, obviously—but an impact, nevertheless. Unfortunately I have a ton of daily contact with him and he's damn near impossible to escape from. I have Calculus, Drama, and Study Hall with him. Three out of seven classes with Jake Robertson.

It's irritating.

I want to kill the guidance counselor who does the schedules.

God, that clock ticks slowly. Ha, what a stupid sentence. That's what a boring, monotonous man does to you, though—makes you stupid. Although, I suspect it isn't all his fault. It seems like the clock of life is ticking by so slowly that I fear I might go insane if it doesn't speed up.

3:45

Only fifteen more minutes.

I try and busy myself with something, but honestly… I just want to get the hell out of here. It's so unfair to give someone detention just because they aren't exactly aware of their surroundings in a boring class. All detention does is leave a person even more bored than they were to begin with.

I feel like such a dolt for complaining so much about boredom. After all, how hard is it to entertain ones self? I never used to have any trouble doing so when I was a child. Of course, I had a lot of imaginary friends who kept me company back in those days. Maybe I should bring them back?

How insane do I sound?

They'd lock me up and throw me in the mental ward if I started talking to my old friends—Donnie, Orlando, and Megan. Declare me a schizophrenic or something. I just don't know what do. I feel like I should do something, but I don't know what. That's why I'm so iffy about this whole college thing. How can I go to college when I haven't the faintest idea what I want to accomplish by going there? I don't want to waste my parents money because of my inability to commit to something.

3:55

Ah, good. Five more minutes. Let's hope I don't end up here tomorrow because of lack of attention. It's a distinct possibility though. I start to discretely pack up my things, so I can fly out of here as soon as Mr. Wright dismisses me. I begin to nervously tap my fingers on the desk—not even realizing that I'm doing so. I stop abruptly when Mr. Wright looks up from grading papers.

Only… he isn't looking at me.

I turn around and see none other than Jake Robertson standing in the doorway. He's looking every bit the rebel without a cause, I see. He's got a cigarette dangling from his lips and a listless… yet amused expression on his face.

Well, now I'm interested.

Mr. Wright looks exasperated. I actually feel sorry for him. Guess there's a first time for everything, huh? Jake's such a dick, but I have to admit, the whole thing is pretty funny. I mean, fancy showing up an hour late and acting as if nothing is out of the ordinary.

"Ms. Peterson, you are dismissed," Mr. Wright forcefully addresses me.

"Oh, well that was quick," Jake rises from the seat he's just slid into. "Seems like I've only been here a few seconds."

I'm hard pressed not to giggle. I mean, honestly—he's such a smartass. He takes immense pleasure in unnerving people. It's kind of sinister if you consider that it's probably the way he gets his kicks in life. Sinister… and weird.

"Mr. Robertson, I would like to speak with you," Mr. Wright calmly says to Jake. "And Ms. Peterson, I shall see you tomorrow."

You know—it figures that the minute I'm interested in Jake Robertson and what happens to him, I get kicked out. I shuffle my way towards the door, hoping that maybe I'll hear something before I get all the way out.

No such luck.

I do, however, get Jake's used cigarette shoved into my face and a smirk from the man in question. I'm not even kidding when I say that I consider jamming the lit portion of the cigarette into his eye. In fact, I'm about to do so, when Mr. Wright clears his throat, and I think better of it. I drop the cigarette to the ground and squash it with my shoe, not wanting to take the risk of getting into trouble, and then leave the classroom.

Audrey, of course, is waiting for me at our locker. She's sitting on the ground with a book resting on her knees.

"Hey Audrey," I greet her. "Thanks for waiting."

"Oh sure. I just got out of tutoring a few minutes ago—so it's no big deal. How was detention?" she laughs at me.

"Awful," I frown. "Funny thing happened though."

"What?"

"Jake came in at 3:55."

"Five minutes before it was over with?" she asks in disbelief. "Why bother?"

"My thoughts exactly." I throw a couple of books into the locker and turn around just in time to see Jake strolling through the hallway right towards Audrey and me.

He looks like he's in on some joke that no one else seems to get. Least of all me. Why does he look so bemused? I mean, he must've gotten some type of punishment. It would be very uncharacteristic of Mr. Wright to just let Jake off after that little display he'd just pulled.

"Hey, what happened?" I grab his arm and pull him back to me. Uhhhh… I dunno why I did that. All it accomplished was him standing in very close proximity of me… again.

"Nothing much," he shrugs. "He's sending a discipline notice to old man Fisher."

"Principle Fisher?" Audrey gulps. She's always been afraid of authority.

"Uh-huh." Jake looks at her like she's nuts. "He won't do anything, though. Fisher's all talk and no action."

"Why did you do that?" I enquire.

"Do what?" he asks, as he reaches into his pocket for another cigarette.

"Come in so late."

"Better late than never," he offers as he slips the cigarette in between his lips. "Don'cha think?"

"You did it to get a rise out of Mr. Wright," I accuse.

"Oooooh, Kat, darling—you sure are getting intelligent," he sarcastically drawls.

"Did it work?" I ignore the sarcasm.

"Almost," he answers. "Not quite, though."

"Aren't you disappointed then? Since that was your goal?"

"There will be other times to piss off Mr. Wright," he says dismissively before walking off down the hallway and out of the building.

I turn back to Audrey.

"He's quite the strange one, isn't he?" she says to me.

"Understatement, Audrey."

"Gorgeous though," she sighs dreamily.

"What? Audrey… my God. You think he's… you think he's… Jesus! I can't even say it!" I pull a disgusted face.

"Well… he's sort of gorgeous," she shyly shrugs.

"How can someone be sort of gorgeous?" I counter, closing my locker.

"Well they can't… I guess. Kat, you seriously don't think he's good looking?"

"I suppose he's alright," I grudgingly admit. "In that rebellious, arrogant jerk kind of way."

"He's got pretty eyes," Audrey again dreamily announces to me.

Eh—even I can't deny that. He's in possession of these large eyes with the most gorgeous color of blue that you'll ever see in your life. I'd pinpoint the color to be cerulean, but that's just me. At any given time, there's always a debate over exactly what shade they are. Some say azure or sky-blue… while some say violet. It would certainly be interesting if he had violet eyes, but I'm near positive that he doesn't. In any case, his eyes most definitely are his best feature. I mean, hell… I hate him and even I can readily admit that the blue pools are practically awe-inspiring.

Maybe not… but they sure are pretty.

But just because he's a good-looking guy, it doesn't mean that he's worth any of the admiration that he gets. He's really not. He's a pain in the ass and takes pleasure in putting people on edge. He most definitely keeps me on edge and I wish that I could just ignore him.

My life would be so much easier were Jake gone.

Audrey once told me that I unconsciously appreciate Jake's presence in my life. She'd immediately taken it back when she saw my murderous death look and has never mentioned it again, but I mean… occasionally I think that she might be right. My life might be easier but I suspect it would also be a lot more boring.

Ugh. There I go with the boredom thing again.

"Kat! Earth to Kat!" Audrey snaps me out of my daze.

"Eh, sorry Audrey," I apologize. "Did you say something?"

"Yeah, I asked what you thought about Sid?"

Sid? Who's Sid? Oh yeah… he's one of Jake's friends.

I say, "Um… he's alright. Why?"

"Well, you know him right?"

"Yeah, sort of," I shrug.

"So, maybe you could introduce me?" she gives an unsure look.

"You like Sid?" I ask in disbelief.

"Kat… come on."

"Okay, okay. I'll introduce you," I agree.

Sid? Audrey likes Sid? I mean, he's a nice guy—certainly much nicer than his friend. I dunno. He's just so quiet and reserved. Of course, Audrey's rather like that as well, so I suppose it could turn out to be an inspired pairing. God, if she starts dating Sid, I'll have to put up with Jake even more than I do now.

Damn Jake Robertson.

It seems I'll never escape him.