Shit takes money, though.
Why the fuck did good things always take money?
“Detention dismissed.”
The teac
her’s voice caught my ear and I gathered up my things as quickly as I could. I had to work from seven to close at the grocery store tonight. But Michael said he was treating Allison and me to soup and sandwiches. I dashed out of the room, heading straight for the front doors of the high school. I shoved myself out of them, ready to race home to find my bike so I could get to the bistro quicker.
Until a horn honking caught my ear.
“Come on, Rae! Get in!” Allison exclaimed.
She waved her arm out the window to catch my attention and I smiled. I trotted over to the SUV Michael’s parents had bought him and climbed in back, happy to be with my friends. He blazed a trail away from the school, heading into town as Allison craned her neck to look back at me.
“So, how’s the time you’re doing? What’s it like? Does it remind you of prison?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not jail time. It’s just detention.”
Michael snickered. “And we’ve never had detention. You have to fill us in on everything that’s happening. What’s it like? Does it smell? How’s Clint been?”
I sighed. “You know damn good and well Clint Clarke doesn’t show up to things like detention.”
Allison paused. “Wait, he’s not showing up?”
Michael chuckled. “Doesn’t shock me one bit. What do you think they’ll do to him if he doesn’t go?”
Allison scoffed. “The nerve of that jerk. Sticking you in detention by ruffling your feathers, then skipping out on the punishment he deserves. Selfish little—”
I grinned. “Careful, now. You might ruin that pristine outfit of yours.”
Michael sighed. “I mean, he’ll probably get expelled. Which would give us all a nice break.”
Allison fell back into her seat. “Well, I for one hope it happens. Everyone’s tired of that knucklehead.”
I smiled. “Allison, your insults give me life. You know that?”
Michael grumbled, “I can’t stand that guy. Someone needs to beat some sense into him.”
Allison gasped. “Michael. I’ve never known you to be a violent person.”
I snickered. “He’s not, until he is. I’ve seen him come close to punching someone in the face. Remember that guy that kept teasing you sophomore year?”
Allison thought about it. “Oh, my gosh. I completely forgot about that. The foreign exchange student from Germany that we had. Timmy?”
Michael frowned. “Tommy.”
Allison patted his shoulder. “That’s right. Tommy. He was teasing me about my braces, and you stepped in to shut him down. What was it you said to him?”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you don’t remember this. He said—”
“—If you ever decide to look her way again with anything but admiration in your eyes, be prepared to lose them,” Michael supplied.
Allison giggled. “Aww, my hero. We can always count on you, can’t we?”
The pride in Michael’s face warmed my heart.
We rode in silence until he pulled the vehicle into the parking lot of the bistro. I looked across the road and sighed, already dreading my four or so hours of work. But it was necessary if I wanted to eat lunch. Or put away any money for my future. Or generally not piss my mother off with not having any money she could mooch off me.