FicWad

"Harper!" My Lit. Teacher shouted at my sleeping form during a balmy afternoon in May. "Would you like to explain to me why you decided to use my class for naptime?"
I yawned and stretched, thinking of what witty remark I could spit and not get sent to the office. Mr. Werner crossed his arms angrily as he waited for my response.
"I felt it was right for the topic of Romeo and Juliet." I smiled cockily at him hearing a few snickers behind me. "I mean they did get a finally naptime at the end of the play, right?"
Shane glanced at my and shook her head almost like she was ashamed of being my friend. Patrick sat back and watched as I made a bitchin mess of myself.
"Continue." Mr. Werner said through clenched teeth.
"I mean, Romeo loved this girl enough to kill himself." I rose form my seat and started for the front of the class. "No one wanted them together, but they knew they were meant to be."
A few kids nodded, Shane couldn't help but smile and Patrick smirked as I stood in front of the class.
"It's basically a middle age soap opera." I looked at Mr. Werner and smirked. "You could find the same story line on HBO."
After a few more minutes of silence Mr. Werner started clapping and laughing. I started at him shocked and blinked a few times to see if this was really happening.
"That is what I call an explanation!" He came up and shook my hand. "The best one I've ever heard."
"Um...th-thanks?" I stuttered.
"But I still have to punish you, see me after class." He frowned and I slowly made my way back to my seat. "Let's continue with the lesson."
I sat there stunned and waited patiently as he shuffled his papers a little and hummed what sounded like a Ramone's song.
"Ahhh, Harper." He hummed pulling out a piece of paper. "You're a clever girl."
I laughed nervously and shifter awkwardly from one foot to the other. Finally he stepped forward and handed me a pass, along with what looked like a rubric for an old assignment.
"Um...what exactly 'is' my punishment?" I swallowed and looked at the paper for any sign of detention of referral.
"Your punishment is to put your clever mind to good use." He smiled, looking very proud of himself.
"By doing what?" I looked at the paper closely, but still couldn't see any punishment of any kind.
"You are going to write a modern parody of the very popular drama Romeo and Juliet." With that he turned and picked pu his briefcase. "Have it on my desk by Monday."
He made his way for the door, but I stopped him.
"But, Mr. Werner." I chewed my lip. "I don't understand."
"To put it quite simple, you need a hobby." He smiled and pointed to a poster of a pen and paper. "When I was I kid I was just like you, smart, sneaky, but always living under your potential."
I smiled and sighed. It still didn't make sense. He must have noticed the confused look on my face because he picked up a manuscript and handed it to me.
"This should get you inspired." I looked at the curled and mussed pages and then back up at him. "Write what you feel fits."
I nodded still unsure but a little more confident. I turned and headed for the door.
"You'll find your niche." He spoke after me. "If it isn't this, it may be something else."
I hugged the manuscript as I made my way to my next class but didn't feel much like sitting through another stuffy class. I walked right past my class and made my way to the old, rusted bleachers behind the school where almost everyone went when they skipped class.
I sat on the top seat with my knees tucked under my legs. The manuscript sat in my lap, staring up at me, taunting me. I ran my fingers over the ripped paper, feeling the ragged edges cut into my skin leaving them feeling tingly.
The Chase. I turned the first page and slowly read the opening paragraph, being instantly sucked into the plot of a girl leaving a boy forever but knowing that they needed each other.
I didn't even notice when Patrick came up the bleachers and sat down next to me until he grabbed my hand and waited for me to look up at him. Finally I glanced up and smiled at him before looking back down at the page.
"I knew you'd be up here." He said starting out across the field of boys playing soccer. "I just know where you are all the time."
I couldn't help but smile. But I felt awkward sitting up here, alone. Shane had sex with Joe about a month ago, but things changed after that. After that all they did was stay at home and sex it up while me, Patrick, Pete, and Andy went bowling or whatever we could do on a school night.
Soon me and Patrick started talking about the same thing Shane and Joe had talked about back in March. I knew I wasn't ready and he was 'okay' with it. He never pressured me, but took things deliciously slow.
"Don't act weird cause of something I do, okay?" I whispered after slipped the script into my backpack and resting back on the rickety railing.
"Never." He shook his head.
I smiled at him, but to up when the bell rang and made for the bottom of the bleachers. He followed and held my hand as we made our way for lacrosse and Jazz Band. After we started dating he lost most of his aggression and put most of it into his newfound love, music.
I got ready and stepped out on the field ready to play my hardest. And I did....until, I fell hard and felt a snap when a really klutzy girl tripped over my ankle with her cleats.
"OW!" I screamed and clutched my leg in agony as I curled up into a ball and rocked back and forth.
"Move!" Coach Gram yelled pushing a few girls that hovered over me out of the way and kneeling beside me. "Don't touch it."
I felt tears rush to my eyes and she pulled off my cleat and pushed up my sock and shin guard. I winced as she applied pressure and almost cried out as she lightly turned it and examined it more.
"Oh wow, someone call an ambulance." She ordered and helped me up and over to a bench.
The medics came and looked at me closer. I bit my hand as they turned it this way and that then moved it again.
"You may need to some to the hospital, this looks serious."
I got in the ambulance and rode in silence as we rushed to the hospital. When we got there the doctor took one look at my throbbing ankle and nodded.
"Looks like a separated tendon." He sighed and handed me a mouth guard type piece of plastic. "Bite down on this."
As soon as it was in my mouth he gripped my foot and pulled down sharply. I bit down so hard I was sure my teeth would break. Then he pushed it back into place and patted it lightly.
"Alright, stay off it for two weeks." He helped my off the table and handed me a pair of crutches. "If it's still sore by then, come see me."
I nodded and put the crutches in place then followed him down to the lobby.
"Do you have someone to come get you?" He turned to me after he was finished writing an excuse from gym and other things.
"Um, yeah." I thought back to Gabriel. "Where are your phones?"