The Challenge Read Online Free Page B
Henry asked.
"Lunch room duty," Mr. Coughlan said. I made a face. Lunch room duty was horrible. "Only on the days you have a free period after lunch." I groaned on the inside, but resisted reacting this time. "Is there a problem with that from either of you?"
"No, sir," Henry and I grumbled.
"Good," Mr. Coughlan said. "Now...since you have a free period right now, you can start your duties." We stood up and left. As soon as we were away from the office, I kicked a locker.
I muttered, "God, I hate him!"
"Who's that? The principal or your ex?" Henry inquired.
"Both, but right now it's the principal," I said.
"I ruddy hate both of 'em, too," he agreed, but more to himself than me.
When we got to the lunch room, the lunch lady was expecting us. Luckily, we didn't have to clean the tables where the students on their free period could see us. We got to stay in the back, and clean the trays and whatever dishes were used.
"How often do you get this punishment?" Henry asked.
I looked at him. We had been quiet for a few minutes. I was cleaning the dish they had put gravy in. "Not a whole lot, but I've gotten it a few times," I said. "Why?"
"Well, you've obviously done this enough to know how to clean these things right proper," Henry commented.
I rolled my eyes, and turned my attention back to the dishes. My old job required cleaning dishes this way, so that's how I knew how to do it. Of course, I didn't tell Henry that.
I was lost in my own thoughts for a while, until I felt hot water hit my arm. I jumped, and looked at Henry, to see him unsuccessfully try to hide a grin.
"You jerk!" I said, spraying him with the hose for rinsing dishes.
"Hope you don't mind, pet." Henry said.
"I'm not your pet!" I shouted, groaning. Henry gave me a look, but I just rolled my eyes again and went back to cleaning.
Last class was Drama. I knew I needed to get past the damned kissing with Henry. There were a few parts in our sketch that had us kissing, so I had to suck it up. We never managed it, though. Every time we had to try, we either stopped or something happened that got us distracted. I'm not complaining. The drama teacher complained a lot though and said that even simple "mock" kisses would do. I loved acting most of the time and I'm usually willing to do just about anything to make things believable, but...this?
Normally I was able to escape it all after Drama, but then detention came. To top off my bad mood, I was forced to sit next to Henry. I occupied myself with doodling in my notebook. That was, until a folded piece of paper landed in front of me. I looked over at Henry and he nodded at the paper, which I unfolded.
Want to get back at them?
I frowned and drew just a single question mark before passing it back to him. I drew a bit more and he handed it back.
Dave and Lauren
I stared at the paper and mulled it over in my head. I wasn't a fan of Henry's, but I absolutely hated David. Then, smiling, I wrote a reply.
What do you have in mind?
I folded the paper, waited until the teacher wasn't looking, then passed it back. I continued drawing and, whether I realized it or not, I had wound up doing a rough sketch of Henry's face. I turned the page over, just as he passed the note back.
You and I pretend to be dating in order to make them jealous.
I grimaced, and wrote a reply.
I don't want to make David jealous. I just want him to leave me alone.
Henry's reply was quicker this time.
Make him suffer, then. Come on...I need your help!
I grimaced and shook my head, not even bothering to write a reply. I then refused to look at Henry or even reply to any more of his notes. When detention was over, I went to my locker and put everything away.
"You know it's not really my fault, Henry," David said. I turned to see him, Henry and Lauren all standing by the entrance. "I'm just so damn good looking."
"I don't bloody believe this!" Henry said. "That's the best excuse for taking my girl?"
I put my backpack over my shoulder,
"Lunch room duty," Mr. Coughlan said. I made a face. Lunch room duty was horrible. "Only on the days you have a free period after lunch." I groaned on the inside, but resisted reacting this time. "Is there a problem with that from either of you?"
"No, sir," Henry and I grumbled.
"Good," Mr. Coughlan said. "Now...since you have a free period right now, you can start your duties." We stood up and left. As soon as we were away from the office, I kicked a locker.
I muttered, "God, I hate him!"
"Who's that? The principal or your ex?" Henry inquired.
"Both, but right now it's the principal," I said.
"I ruddy hate both of 'em, too," he agreed, but more to himself than me.
When we got to the lunch room, the lunch lady was expecting us. Luckily, we didn't have to clean the tables where the students on their free period could see us. We got to stay in the back, and clean the trays and whatever dishes were used.
"How often do you get this punishment?" Henry asked.
I looked at him. We had been quiet for a few minutes. I was cleaning the dish they had put gravy in. "Not a whole lot, but I've gotten it a few times," I said. "Why?"
"Well, you've obviously done this enough to know how to clean these things right proper," Henry commented.
I rolled my eyes, and turned my attention back to the dishes. My old job required cleaning dishes this way, so that's how I knew how to do it. Of course, I didn't tell Henry that.
I was lost in my own thoughts for a while, until I felt hot water hit my arm. I jumped, and looked at Henry, to see him unsuccessfully try to hide a grin.
"You jerk!" I said, spraying him with the hose for rinsing dishes.
"Hope you don't mind, pet." Henry said.
"I'm not your pet!" I shouted, groaning. Henry gave me a look, but I just rolled my eyes again and went back to cleaning.
Last class was Drama. I knew I needed to get past the damned kissing with Henry. There were a few parts in our sketch that had us kissing, so I had to suck it up. We never managed it, though. Every time we had to try, we either stopped or something happened that got us distracted. I'm not complaining. The drama teacher complained a lot though and said that even simple "mock" kisses would do. I loved acting most of the time and I'm usually willing to do just about anything to make things believable, but...this?
Normally I was able to escape it all after Drama, but then detention came. To top off my bad mood, I was forced to sit next to Henry. I occupied myself with doodling in my notebook. That was, until a folded piece of paper landed in front of me. I looked over at Henry and he nodded at the paper, which I unfolded.
Want to get back at them?
I frowned and drew just a single question mark before passing it back to him. I drew a bit more and he handed it back.
Dave and Lauren
I stared at the paper and mulled it over in my head. I wasn't a fan of Henry's, but I absolutely hated David. Then, smiling, I wrote a reply.
What do you have in mind?
I folded the paper, waited until the teacher wasn't looking, then passed it back. I continued drawing and, whether I realized it or not, I had wound up doing a rough sketch of Henry's face. I turned the page over, just as he passed the note back.
You and I pretend to be dating in order to make them jealous.
I grimaced, and wrote a reply.
I don't want to make David jealous. I just want him to leave me alone.
Henry's reply was quicker this time.
Make him suffer, then. Come on...I need your help!
I grimaced and shook my head, not even bothering to write a reply. I then refused to look at Henry or even reply to any more of his notes. When detention was over, I went to my locker and put everything away.
"You know it's not really my fault, Henry," David said. I turned to see him, Henry and Lauren all standing by the entrance. "I'm just so damn good looking."
"I don't bloody believe this!" Henry said. "That's the best excuse for taking my girl?"
I put my backpack over my shoulder,
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