No Mercy (5 page)

             
I drop my backpack down next to my desk in the front of the room and take a seat. I should’ve asked for an Advil while Maggie was feeling charitable. I feel like I’m going to die in about two seconds.

             
“You can place your hall pass on my desks. I’ve already taken roll,” Mrs. Bennett says. “Like I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted, I will post the lessons and any supporting documents on my Facebook page. The school’s site will also have a link to my page. I’ve created the page specifically for AP students so please don’t share it with your friends.”

             
“That’s what’s up,” Damon, one of her favorite ass kissers says, making Alia smile. I thought her smiles were only for Chase these days.

             
“That’s a very good idea, Mrs. B,” Reid says, nodding in agreement. “Highly efficient.”

             
“Exactly my goal,” Mrs. Bennett says, proud of herself. “Please read the sonnet on page twenty and then construct an expository paragraph on the main topic. You have ten minutes.”

Is there something wrong with me
, because everyone else seems to love Mrs. Bennett? Maybe it’s just me, but she’s one of the evilest teachers I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering.

“Miss Jackson, where’s
your note?” Mrs. Bennett asks, sitting down behind her desk.

“I was in the restroom. That’s why I’m late,” I say, praying she’ll cut me some slack.

“That’s all fine and well, Miss Jackson, but without a late pass I cannot let into this room. Surely you know the rules: No restroom passes during the first five minutes of class do to the pertinent information you’ve just missed.”

“The office doesn’t give passes to the restroom last I checked,” I say, defensively. Even her diabolical self has to have compassion for a girl with cramps.

“Is the student now the teacher, Miss Jackson?” Mrs. Bennett says, rising from her desk unsympathetically. “Do you think I, of all, people don’t know how this school works?”

The other nineteen students try to focus on their reading while Mrs. Bennett continues to make an example out of me, as usual.

“No, Mrs. Bennett. But I have no reason to lie to you. I had an emergency that couldn’t wait another five minutes.” I don’t want to spell it out for her but I will if she keeps on pushing.

“Of course you wouldn’t lie to me, because you've been so forthcoming with me in the past, right?” Mrs. Bennett asks, referring to a couple of things I’m sure, but they’re all beside the point, especially when I know she’s one of Esmeralda’s godchildren in a round about sort of way.

“I’m not lying," I say, sick of her bullying. "I was in the restroom and I have the cramps to prove it."

             
The already silent room is focused on Mrs. Bennett’s next move. I think I’m the only student in all of her classes who refuses to back down from her bull.

"You need a pass to enter my classroom late, Miss Jackson,” Mrs. Bennett says, reclaiming her seat. “Otherwise, it's an automatic detention referral. Your choice."

Damn it. Why is she messing with me when I'm in pain?

The students look at me and then back to our teacher who’s not budging.

“Fine,” I say, slowly rising from my seat end exiting the room. I wish I had it in me not to come back, just go to the beach like Jeremy or Chase would do without a second thought. I only know of one place to go when I need a remedy to all school related ailments.

“Ms. Toni, I hate to bother you,
" I say, entering her office inside of the main hall. When I get all the way inside I see that she's already preoccupied with another visitor. Mr. Cho, the one man who knows his way around this entire campus with access to every room, is the supervising janitor and has worked at South Bay High for over thirty years.

“Jayd, what a lovely surprise,” Ms. Toni says, ushering me to come inside. “You know Mr. Cho.”

“Of course,” I say, reaching out my right hand. “Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning to you, too, Jayd,” Mr. Cho says, in a soft Chinese accent. I’ve only heard him speak a few times. He takes my hand and slightly bows his head. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I hope it’s all good,” I say, forcing a smile. “I wish I could stay and chat but I actually need a favor.” I walk over to my school mom and hug her. I have faith that one day she won’t smell like the cigarettes she smokes. I gave her a little something for that but it hasn’t kicked in yet.

“What’s up?” Ms. Toni asks, touching the beautiful vase full of exotic flowers.

Mr. Cho also pays special attention to the bouquet. If I didn’t know better I’d say that I just broke up a make out session.

“It’s that time of the month and I was late to Mrs. Bennett’s class because of it. Sorry to blurt out all of m
y business, Mr. Cho, but I’m in a bit of a rush.” Even though I’m out of the room because of Mrs. Bennett’s request, I know she’s still going to hold me accountable for the morning work.

“Oh Jayd,” Ms. Toni says, hugging me back. “You’ve got to stay out of that woman’s way.”

“Me?” I say, near tears. “She’s the one who’s always messing with me. I don’t know what I did to her to make her hate me so much.”

             
“She can’t break you, Jayd. That’s why most people on power trips abuse those who refuse to bow,” Mr. Cho says, kissing Ms. Toni on the cheek. “I’ve seen Mrs. Bennett break many students, but never one like you.”

             
“John’s right, Jayd,” Ms. Toni says, calling Mr. Cho by his first name. Now I’m really uncomfortable. “As long as she doesn’t break your spirit you’ll be fine.”

             
Ms. Toni reaches into her desks and takes out her student passes. As the ASB advisor she’s got every pass available. 

             
“You wouldn’t happen to have any Advil would you?” I ask. What I really need is a heating pad and some of Mama’s raspberry tea, but modern medicine will have to do in this moment.

             
“You know I’ve got my baby,” Ms. Toni says, pulling a bottle out of the first aid kit on the wall next to her desk and handing it to me. “As long as I’m here that woman won’t get away with too much. Success is the best revenge, Jayd. Remember that.”

             
I don’t know about that one. I can think of many other ways to get revenge on Mrs. Bennett, and my diploma has nothing to do with any of them. Turning the other cheek with her has run its course. Along with Esmeralda and Rousseau, Mrs. Bennett’s on my short list of hating elders that need to be taught a lesson in chilling out on my ass. They only have themselves to blame when I come after them with all I’ve got.

“Most people would rather see you cry than smile.”

-Mama

Drama High, volume 15: Street Soldiers

~3~

NEVER NOT BROKEN

              It was rough getting through the rest of third and fourth period, but it was worth it to finally get to lunch. Chase treated me and Alia to take out and bought dessert. We’re so close that my play brother can even tell when I need a good dose of chocolate ganache cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory, my favorite local restaurant.

             
“Greetings, scavengers,” Matt says, interrupting our feast. It’s unusual for the drama club devotee to socialize during lunch even if he and Chase hang out from time to time. He’s usually off campus smoking a cigarette somewhere.

             
“Matt,” I say, too busy licking my fork to say much.

             
“We’re announcing auditions for the Fall Festival,” he says, passing out the fliers. “It’ll be interesting to see who tries out this year.”

             
“You know I’m in,” Chase says, reading the neon colored paper—no doubt Seth’s contribution. If it weren’t for Seth’s organizational skills and Matt’s physical labor, the drama club wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it is. What’s Seth going to do next year when Matt graduates with the rest of us seniors?

             
“Alice in Wonderland,” I say, feeling a personal relationship already developing between me and the main character. “Count me in, too.” I recall last year’s fiasco when Laura thought she was going to steal my part. I dare her and Mrs. Bennett to try that shit again this year. I’ll have both their heads on platters.

“W
hat’s up with your girl, Nellie? She’s not looking so good,” Matt says, noticing Nellie’s passive demeanor.

Chase looks worried, much to Alia’s disliking
but she can’t really say much the way she was cheesing it up for dude in class this morning.

“She had a rough weekend,” I say, leaving out the pertinent details
of Operation: Rescue Nellie. It’s Nellie’s story to tell, not mine. And she’ll tell whomever she pleases whatever she pleases, whenever she pleases.

             
“I’m going to see what’s up with her,” Chase says, letting go of his current girlfriend to check on his ex.

             
I would walk over there but when Nellie left my mom’s apartment yesterday morning she made it clear that she never wanted to mention Saturday night again. Nigel was still asleep on the living room floor when Nellie and I had a brief but telling conversation about her very emotional relationship with David. I think she’s in over her head with the preacher’s son but she says she can handle it.

             
“Is it just me or is Nellie good at playing the victim?” Alia says, observing the body language between the two former lovers, both of them my friends. Alia’s a cool homegirl but I know where my true loyalties lie.

             
“I don’t think she’s playing,” I say, further pissing Alia off. Normally I’d be right there with her in thinking that Nellie was up to something—I know she senses the change.

             
“She says she’s fine but I don’t know,” Chase says, putting his arm around a resistant Alia. “Something’s not right.”

             
“Well, why don’t you take her home and grill her about whatever’s going on,” Alia says, sarcastically.

I think this is the first time that I’ve ever heard the girl use anything but a nice tone with her man. It’s funny how jealousy can turn even the sweetest chick into a monster.

“Babe, you good?” Chase asks, finally noticing Alia’s foul disposition.

“Yup, just peachy,” Alia says, removing his arm and walking off toward the main hall.

“What did I miss?” Chase asks, completely oblivious. Most boys are clueless when it comes to the games of love.

“A lot,” I say, smiling at my best guy friend.

Chase looks from Nellie to Alia and shakes his head, finally figuring it out for himself.

I can’t be mad at him, but if he were my man I would probably feel the same way as Alia does right now. Chase has been hung up on Nellie for two years. That shit doesn’t just fade away because he’s got a new girl by his side.

              “Come on, Chase. We’d better get to Speech and Debate.” I’m looking forward to Mr. Adewale’s daily topic. He always picks some good ones.

             
“But seriously, what did I do wrong? Am I not supposed to check on Nellie because we broke up?” Chase asks as we join the procession to fifth period.

             
“Depends on the chick you’re dating,” I say, eyeing Alia eye us. “And apparently Alia has a well-hidden jealous streak.”

             
“You’re her friend,” Chase says. “Did you know she’d trip on me like this?”

             
“First of all, Alia and I are acquaintances. Don’t go throwing the word friend around so loosely,” I say, taking my seat. “Second of all, I’ve never witnessed her on the dating scene before so no, I didn’t know she’d trip on you like this.”

             
“Damn, and I thought she was cool like that,” Chase says, quoting one of our favorite old school rap songs.

             
“She was cool like that until you knocked her boots from here to Tijuana,” Nigel says, smacking his boy on the back and joining the conversation.

             
“How did you know what we were talking about?” I ask, accepting the kiss on the cheek.

             
“I didn’t,” Nigel says, sitting next to me and putting me in the middle. “It just seemed relevant.”

             
“Damn straight,” Chase says, nodding as Mickey and the rest of the class enters the room. “You know what’s up.”

             
“Don’t we all,” I say, glad I’m still a virgin. The shit that happens when sex and love mix is not what I want to deal with right now. So far, none of the relationships I’ve witnessed end on a positive note once sex enters the equation.