SOUL DEEP
Johnny casually strolled into the classroom. Only two seats were left open, one in the front of the class and one behind Karen in the last row, next to a nerd. He taps the nerd on the shoulder and orders him to move. The boy quickly grabs his things and moves to the front of the room. Johnny took the seat the nerd vacated, kitty-corner from Karen, a much better vantage point to copy her answers. As he adjusted his seat the bell rang to begin class. The teacher, Ms. Jonsey, stood in front of the class with the worksheets for today.
“All right class, let’s settle down and get to work.” She began and was stopped by a knock on the door.
“Excuse me, Ms. Jonsey.” It was the principal. “You have a new student, just transferred from South Ward High. Good luck, son.” He finished with a pat on the young man’s shoulder and left.
“You must be Mr. Bryant. It doesn’t seem that you have much choice on seating today so please, be my guest.” She gestured to the empty chair next to Johnny. Johnny looked around nervously and searched in vain for another seat. A firm hand grasped his shoulder and pushed him firmly into his chair.
“Stay.” The young man ordered.
“Sure, Cease. Whatever you say.” Johnny shuddered.
Cease ran a hand through his blonde hair as he sat down. The teacher began handing out the packets of papers and paid no attention to the discussion going on in the back of the room.
“I didn’t know you were being transferred so soon, Cease," Johnny began. “If I had known…”
“If you had known, you would have found out my schedule so you could avoid me as much as possible, right. You better hope I don’t find a reason to straighten you out.” Cease glared at Johnny. When he turned facing the front, the girl in front of him was looking at him, holding some worksheets over the back of her chair. He was a little surprised by the contempt in her look. She huffed as she turned around after depositing the papers on his desk.
“Problem, sweetheart?” he asked.
“Not yet," she replied smartly not even turning around.
Cease turned to Johnny, “Who’s the smart-ass?”
“That’s Karen. She’s one of the brains around here. Probably the smartest in the school but she’s got the temperament of a she-wolf.”
Cease pushed his desk up to the back of her chair and leaned next to her. “Karen, right?”
“Make it quick, I’m busy.” She replied not looking up.
“Well, you’re the brains around here so I’ll make you an offer. You do my homework and I’ll be nice to you.”
Karen lifted her head and turned to look him in the face. Challenge radiated from her eyes.
“In your dreams,” was her reply and she returned to her work.
“Every night, love.” he replied back. “What’s her story?” he said turning back to Johnny.
“Karen? No one really knows her story. Not bad to look at but a guy is lucky to get the time of day much less a kind word. She’s not worth the effort unless you want a headache and a tongue lashing.”
“We’ll see about that.” Cease scribbled on a piece of scrap paper, and folding it slipped it over Karen’s shoulder and onto her lap.
She picked it up, reluctantly opened and read it.
“Im not so bad once u get to no me so how bout it?”
Karen scribbled back and then handed it to him over her shoulder.
“Like I said, in your dreams, Laurence.”
He glared at the back of her head as he crumpled the note into a small wad and chucked it across the room. Johnny caught his breath and some of the other students whispered amongst themselves. Only Karen and Ms. Jonsey seemed undisturbed.
“Who does she think she’s dealing with?” Cease growled.
“Hey man, whatever she said, she’s not worth it. Just relax,” Johnny whispered.
Cease snapped toward Johnny. “You are already on my list so don’t get on my nerves.” He then turned his gaze back to Karen. “I’ll show her who’s boss.”
Class went slowly for Cease. He decided that no matter how hard he stared at the back of Karen’s head, it would make no difference. She had tried to make a fool of him and he would make her pay. He looked at the worksheets and then shoved them aside. He pulled his earphones out of his bag next to him and listened to his music until the end of class. He quickly shoved his music back into his bag and walked out of the room.
Karen slowly got her papers together letting everyone leave before her. She carefully placed them in a folder and then into her bag. She got up and turned toward the door. She noticed that Cease had left his papers on his desk. As she picked them up, a shadow fell over the door. Karen casually looked up.
"You forgot your homework. If you like I could help you. I won’t do the work for you, but you might as well earn a passing grade."
"Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t know anything about me, or do you?” Cease responded closing the door. "If you think you can use any of this information against me, you've got another thing coming."
"Chill out. I don't plan on doing anything with this 'information', and where I got it is my business. Now if you wouldn't mind moving, I have to get home. As for my offer, think about it." She shoved the papers at him and reached for the door. Cease reached out and grabbed her arm, jerking her toward him.
"I'm not through with you yet."
Karen yanked her arm free. "If you ever touch me again, you will be the one who is through," she snapped at him, then turned, opened the door and left.
Cease stood there for a moment in complete shock. No one had ever stood up to him like that before. The look on her face was one of pure hate. Cease chuckled. He found the entire exchange absurd in some respects but threatening in others. Karen had disclosed enough information to make him wonder what else she knows and can find out, and the damage to his reputation it might cause. On the other hand, she would make an excellent informant. With her information, if this wasn't a fluke, he could have complete control of the school. He had to admit a sneaking admiration for her abilities. Still, she had to be kept quiet, one way or another.
Karen stormed down the hallway and out onto the street as she made her way home. She knocked over garbage cans and just about any inanimate object that was in her path. She finally got to her house and sat on the porch steps. She closed her eyes and put her head in her hands. Karen knew that she shouldn’t have let that punk get to her like that. She started calming down when the front door of her house opened. A large burly man stood just inside.
“What are you doing out here? Get in the house now!” he ordered.
“Yes sir,” she replied and quickly rose grabbing her things and rushed into the house.
Karen arrived late to class the next day. After getting the assignment packet from Ms. Jonsey, she returned to her desk. On the desk was a note. She picked it up as she sat down and looked around the room. Everyone was in the usual seats except Cease and Johnny who had switched seats. Cease looked like he was working on the assignment. She opened the note and read it.
I want to taKe you up on you helpin me. Can we Talk? After School in the libary. I hear thats where peoqle study.
Cease
She looked up at him and he was looking up at her. He shrugged his shoulders and tried to look helpless. She rolled her eyes and turned to the front of the room. Then she began to work on her papers.
Class went slowly again for Cease. He started working on the papers again but he quit shortly. After class Karen quickly left and Cease strolled to his locker. When he opened it, a piece of paper fell out. He picked it up and opened it to find a note.
I accept your apology. I can't stay after school. Come to the Registrars Office tomorrow fourth hour and we can start your study sessions. I have enclosed a pass for your study hall teacher so there shouldn’t be a problem of getting out. This offer is valid for a limited time. I will see you tomorrow.
Karen
He shoved the note in his books and the pass into his pocket and went home.
“Your late.” Karen stated without looking up.
“Sorry, the teacher almost didn’t let me go.”
“Let’s not make a habit out of this.” She looked up at him. “Well, grab a seat.”
“Where’re the adults?”
“They take lunch an hour early because the normal lunch hours are very busy for them. Is that a problem?”
“No. Just wondered.”
“Why don’t you get out the worksheets from yesterday and we’ll get started.”
Cease reached into his bag and started pulling out the slightly crumpled worksheets. “Why are you doing this? What do you get out of it?”
“I’m a sucker for lost causes which you have been called. Actually, when I found out that you were being passed on through your senior year without earning the required grades, I decided that you could use some help. I figured you could earn at least one decent grade before they pass you through graduation.”
He stood up. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I earned my grades. You’re just some smart ass, self-absorbed, goodie-goodie who can’t mind her own business!” He shoved his chair at the table and threw the papers at her.
She turned her head to avoid being hit in the face by the pagers. Then she stood up calmly. “Either you sit down or you get out. Just remember that you’ll never get a chance like this again. If you think that after high school, this all high-and-mighty attitude of yours is going to get you anywhere, you’re fooling yourself. If you want to do something with your life, you will sit your sorry butt in that chair and get to work.
They stared at each other, her face calm and his scowling. He broke first. Grabbing the chair he yanked it out and slumped into it. She stood there for a moment and then sat down facing him.
“Shall we get started?” she asked.