Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Romance

                          Chapter 2 
          Sun Amary High has a strict rule for its late comers. Those who have broken the rules would be sent to detention and with a certain amount of strikes, you're out. No one has ever experienced it, but it is rumoured that the punishment itself is worse than death itself! 
            Chris, who is only 16, has recently transferred to this school around 5 months ago and he has already been late for school way too many times he knows of the consequences way to well. One last time and he'll be facing the rumoured punishment. The most popular rumour that has been going around is that there’s a torture room that was left behind from back in the days hidden underneath the school grounds! Just the thought of it sent chills down his spine. 
          Chris looked at the time on his cell phone as he ran in the direction of the school. He gasped at the time. He was a full hour late! At this rate, it would be suicide to expect to walk through the front gates without getting caught. 
          Chris made it up the long road leading up to the school. He stopped at a distance to observe the situation of the school’s front gate. He hid behind one of the trucks. Just as he expected, one of the disciplinary teachers, Catherine was standing guard in front of the school gates.          Chris started to measure his options. Catherine, who is only 22 is a nice and friendly teacher, one of the sweetest in fact. If he were to apologize to her, she might let him go free. But, he has run out of excuses to give. There isn’t an excuse that Chris has not used for turning up late. Anything, you name it! He could try to sneak in, but he risks getting caught as there were visibly nothing in sight that he could use as a hiding spot to cover his ass. If he were to just run for it, he would be immediately caught red handed, no doubt! And Chris isn’t going to run a fail mission.            This leaves him with one last option!
          And that was to climb over the railings behind the school.           Chris settled with the third option. It was the one option that required the most work and effort, but at the same time it was the safest. He crept out from behind the truck and instead of heading towards the school gates he ran to the back of the school. The boy ended up at the back of the school in no time. 
          Chris scanned his surroundings, the back of the school has many big trees that provided shade but in this case, it served well as a cover. He wouldn’t want any students in the classrooms to see him. Chris was glad that there tend to be no passers-by at this side of the school as well, if he were to be seen, his infiltration would have been a big flop. 
          When he was sure no one was in sight to witness his break-in, he threw his sling bag over the railings. It landed with a thud on the ground. He then proceeded to climb across the railings. Because of his agility and amazing reflexes, he made it onto school grounds without even breaking a sweat. He picked up his bag and swung it across his shoulder.           Chris couldn't help but smile at his swift success, but it was too early to celebrate, his mission wasn't close to completion. He still had to make it to class without alarming anyone. 
           Chris headed for the stairs, but he couldn't even make a few feet before he heard footsteps coming from the nearby corridor. He immediately ducked behind a bush. He peeked out of the bush to see who the footsteps belonged to. He had hoped they belonged to fellow classmates, but he was lucky he managed to pull off his hiding spot as they belonged to teachers chatting as they headed towards where Chris believed to be the faculty office. The moment they were out of sight, he dashed out of the bush and sped for the stairs.           Chris ran up the stairs, skipping as many steps as he could, he couldn't risk meeting another teacher, he wouldn't have a hiding spot now that he was out in the open. 
          Just when he was about to turn into the hallway after the flight of stairs, he heard voices. On reflex, he darted back down onto the stairs.           Classes were ongoing, there shouldn't be anyone out in the corridor around this time! 
          Chris clicked his tongue in frustration. Condemning the terribly luck he has been bestowed upon today in his mind, he peeked out to see whoever was once again blocking his path.
          The first person that came into picture was an unfamiliar face. It was a girl that looked around the same age as Chris. He couldn't recognise her. He was certain, that they've never met before, otherwise, he would have remembered her, but she looked strangely familiar.         From the distance and angle that Chris was at, he could only see her side profile. She was around 4.9 feet tall and had long, slightly wavy brown hair that fell all the way to her mid-back.             She wasn’t alone. 
          Chris’s gaze shifted to the other individual who was standing in front of her. Chris almost fell backwards when he saw who the second person was. It was as if to say that he has not gone through enough today. Chris recognised one of them to be none other than the school's principal, John. Someone Chris knows way too well.          
          John is only 23 and from what Chris heard from the other students was that John was appointed as the principal only at the start of last year.           
          From where Chris was, it was impossible for him to make out whatever they were talking about. But from the atmosphere Chris was getting, the girl and John don't seem to be getting along. Chris noticed that the girl kept shaking her head and hands as if to reject whatever John was telling her. The tension between John and the girl could even be felt all the way from where Chris was hiding. He then realised that he was staring for way too long. He pulled his head back behind the wall in a hurry. He had almost forgotten his current predicament. He needed to get out of this situation fast! 
         Just when Chris was conjuring up an alternative route to take to his classroom, his cell rang. The call was so sudden, Chris jumped.
          Chris cursed under his breath. Whoever could be calling him at a time like this?!           Chris reached his hand into his pants' pocket and pulled out his cell. He looked at the caller and to his utter surprise, the call belonged to a certain someone that goes by the name John!
          Has he been found out?!          Chris put his phone on silent mode and ran down the stairs. He had only managed to make it down a flight of stairs before someone grabbed him by his left shoulder, forcing him to come to a halt.           
          "Looks like I caught myself an ears dropper!" John said with a quizzical look. Chris tried to break free by tugging his left arm but the grip on his shoulder was firm, Chris had no way of breaking free with force.
          "Now, would you kindly turn around for me to see who you are?" John continued to tease Chris, his tone clearly playful.           Chris slowly turned to his left, since John’s hand was on his left shoulder.
          "If it isn't Chris, our infamous student!" Mr John intentionally acted surprised to see Chris. As if he did not already know, with the phone calling stunt he pulled. 
          After eyeing Chris's lazily tied tie, untucked shit, bed hair, John asked derisively, "Could it be you were late? Were you trying to sneak into class?" Raising an eyebrow at his last sentence.
          Chris rolled his eyes. The man even went as far as to intentionally raise the volume of his voice to make sure he could be heard even from a mile away.           Chris wanted to curl away in embarrassment. Of all the people to get caught by, it had to be John. Just what did he do to deserve such amazing luck today!
          Looking up from the flight of stairs, Chris noticed the girl who John was talking to earlier. She was standing at the top of the stairway, looking down at them with confusion written all over her face. When their eyes met from a stairway away, Chris looked away and blushed in embarrassment. How could John embarrasses him in front of a girl?! 
          John had a wry grin plastered on his face. He found it so much fun to ridicule Chris. The boy wanted so badly to smack the smirk off of John's face.           
         John then turned back at the girl to apologize, "I'm sorry my dear, I'm afraid we'll have to put a hold to our conversation for another day. As you can see, I have other things to take care of right now."  The innocent face that John had on was enough to make Chris want to puke.
          The girl frowned in concern. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she only nodded and left them to their devices. 
         "Your acting skills have certainly improved sir."  Chris praised John sarcastically. 
          "Why, Thank You Chris! I never thought there would come a day when I would get a compliment from you!"  Chris could feel the grip on his shoulder tighten. 
          Now he has done it! Escaping would be impossible now!          Chris knew he had to switch strategies. He opened his mouth but before he could even utter a word, John shut him down.           
        "Don't bother with sweet talk Chris, save it for detention later." John released Chris’s shoulder and grabbed Chris’s left arm, yanking Chris from a stationary position, forcing him to walk forward.
          "Wait! You can't send me to detention!" Chris cried out. He ran ahead and stopped right in front of John while sticking his palm out to gesture John to stop. 
          Slightly annoyed at being stopped, the playful display he had on long gone, John said unhappily, "Yes, I can Chris and I will.” 
           "Oh, come on Sir! You understand my circumstance; another strike and l might get expelled." Chris was practically begging at this point. He tried very hard not to let desperation show in his voice.
          "Are you asking me to spare you just because of that? That's hardly an excuse!" John continued to pull Chris by the arm forward. 
          Chris's heart sunk a little as with every step they took, they inched closer to the detention hall. His heart was racing with nerves, he had to think of something fast!           One last turn and he can kiss his freedom goodbye. The detention hall was just around the corner! 
          Just then, a thought flew across his mind. Chris halted walking suddenly. This time, John was yanked backwards. 
          "What is it this time?" John asked reluctantly, turning back to look at the boy.
         Chris was silent for a good few seconds, thinking. Receiving no reply from Chris, John turned and just before he was about to continue walking, Chris asked, "…...How about this? If you help me this time, I'll help you?" 
          This managed to catch John's attention. He turned to face Chris. 
          "And how exactly are you going to help me?" He asked, eyeing Chris suspiciously.
          At that moment, Chris remembered who that girl was and why he found her so familiar. Chris has seen her before. Not in person though, but her picture in the year book. She is the school’s top scholar. 
          "That was Bea Kath right? You were trying to.... to...." Chris eyed the folder tucked underneath John’s left arm.            "...... Convince her to participate in a competition, right?" Chris nervously asked. He took a wild guess, truth be told, he has no idea what John was talking to Bea about.
          "You really were eavesdropping on us?!" John's reaction was not what Chris had expected but at least he was right on the subject. Chris grew confident, he has a chance of escape now!
           "She rejected you and judging by her personality, you can offer her gold and she still wouldn't agree…… but I can get her to change her mind!" Chris proudly proclaimed.
           "You're implying that if I let you go this time, you would be able to convince her to participate?" John asked. Still doubtful of Chris’s words.          
          Chris nodded furiously. He even crossed his heart with his thumb.           Chris felt the grip on his shoulder loosen and he started to rejoice at the thought that his words had managed to convince John. But it wasn't a split second later when the grip was forceful again.
          "Are you sure you can do it?" John asked, he looked at Chris directly in the eye. Chris was slightly taken aback by the seriousness in John's voice. And the look on John’s face shows that he was not playing around. 
           "Y-Yeah...!" Swept along with the flow, the words just escaped his mouth. 
          “It’s not exactly a competition, it is an event that is in a months’ time. We need Bea to participate as a representative for our school.” John clarified. 
          The man then looked at Chris as though he was waiting for Chris to ask him something, but Chris remained silent. He didn’t want John to suspect him. He wanted John to believe that he knew what he was getting himself into, even though he had not a clue on how to convince Bea at all. 
          "Then I'm counting on you Chris, get her to agree to participate in the event and I'll let you go for now." John said.          Chris was surprised. He never expected negotiations to go that swiftly. He thought he would need to at least bargain more before he could get John to agree. 
           Just like that, John released his grip on Chris’s shoulder. His left shoulder felt sore from being pushed and pulled by John from one hallway to the next. 
         But John wasn’t finish just yet, he then placed both his hands over Chris’s shoulders and pat them hard to reassure Chris on how serious he was in the deal. Chris continued to smile but he couldn’t avoid gulping nervously.         
          That was unexpectedly easy, Chris thought as he ran in the opposite direction of John and the detention hall. He wanted to get out of John's presence as soon as possible before John has second thoughts and changes his mind.
          "Don’t be late again! I won't be able to help you then!" John shouted right before Chris was about to turn into a corner. Chris wanted to stop and glare at John for shouting so load in the middle of the hallway during class time but figured running away was a much better option, so he didn't bother to slow down or look back. 
          Rather, John's words had a completely opposite effect on him, it prompted him to run faster.          
          "Remember the promise you made!"           Chris was pretty sure that claim was made by John shouting from afar, but with the growing distance Chris was putting between them as he ran, John's words sounded nothing more than a mere whisper.
          That was the last thing Chris heard from John before he was standing in front of his classroom door, drenched in sweat and out of breath but smiling with relief. 
                  XXXXXXXXXX  
          John watched as Chris disappeared out of sight. He had his arms crossed as a smile crept over his face. He was about to go back to his office when he heard a classroom door to his left opening. 
          And a lady walked out. She immediately noticed John. She closed the door behind her and walked up to him.          Upon greeting John, she asked, "What brings you here Sir?" 
          John smiled friendly at her. "Good day Miss Catherine. I was just taking a stroll around the grounds." 
          "I reckon everything is to your liking? Seeing that smile you have on your face."
          "Well, to tell you the truth, there was a student that was giving me quite the headache." John looked distressed.          
          "Must be quite a student to be able to cause you such distress." She had a mischievous smile on her face, like she enjoyed seeing him distressed.          
          "Indeed, he is." John laughed as he thought of Chris.
          John’s reaction caught Catherine by surprise. He was a very attractive man and his laugh was contagious. She didn't think much into what he said and just laughed along.
All Rights Reserved © 2018 by Anne Teng
End of chapter 2~Wow, this chapter came out surprisingly long! If you managed to make it till the end, you must comment at the comment section to let me know! You are amazing! I'm trying out different fonts and designs for my Images, hence, there will be a different image for each chapter! Hope you like it!
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