^Mr. Michaels up top.^

~Val~

I was in the mood for a cigarette. I don't have an addictive nature so I wasn't hooked on the things but once in a while I just wanted one. I guess it had to do with what happened yesterday with my personal treasure hunt for my class and the beating Andy got.

Right now I was standing outside in the court yard, it was lunch time but I wasn't in the mood for food, just a smoke. Sneaking to a spot far from any teacher who might pass by I walked between a huge tree and the school building and sank down against the wall.

Reaching in my jacket pocket I took out my brand new pack I just got today. Put the filter up to my mouth and lit the end, taking a nice long drag.

"That looks refreshing" a voice came from nowhere and I screeched in fright, dropping the burning cigarette in my lap.

"Shit!" I coughed fiercely, the smoke clouding around me from my mouth and nose as I snatched the thing up before it burnt a hole in my jeans. I glared up at whoever interrupted my first drag, in who knows how long. I was surprised to see meet Andy's heavily dark ringed blue eyes and my anger was gone just as quickly as it came. I watched him slowly and carefully sit up against the tree opposite of me.

"Are you well enough to even be at school right now?" I asked putting the cigarette back up to my mouth.

"Oh, this was nothing more than a scratch." He said closing his eyes and waving his hand in front of him as to express his statement. I rolled my eyes and exhaled laying my arm over my bent knee; my eyes dropped downwards surveying the smoking cylinder object in between my fingers. It might sound weird but I felt the tension in my body slowly dissolve as the velvety smoke did its job before leaving.

"Do you have another one of those?" his voice was soft. I pulled the pack out and threw them in his direction which he caught out of reflex but it caused him to wince and I grimace in return.

"Sorry"

"Don't worry about it." he told me taking one out, used the lighter that I had tucked into the clear packaging around the box and throwing it back.

"So tell me how did your hospital visit go?"

When we had arrived at the nurse's office she had poked around on him before she told us that it looked serious and he would need to go to the hospital for a more thorough examination.

He hmphed, before sucking the crap out of his cigarette.

"That bad?" I asked

"That bad?! That barbarian went and fractured three of my ribs and I had a little internal bruising!"

My eyes widened in shock, I can't believe he was letting that ass get away with it. I had told him to tell the nurse when she had left the room but he shook his head.

"Are you going to tell the principle or report him to the police?" this questioned was answered with a 'Are you Serious' expression.

"No" he muttered under his breath which caused me to frown. He didn't sound like he wanted to keep the guy safe, so why was he not ratting the douche out?! But from the look on his face I could tell he wasn't in the mood to tell me so I shrugged it off and went back to my cigarette.

When the bell rung I smashed the butt into the dirt and hopped to my feet.

"Well time for more school, yay." I said with a sarcastic cheery voice.

"You know what I've noticed?" Andy said getting to his feet with me. I pulled the strap of my bag over my head and turned to him expectantly.

"What's that?"

"You're not very aware of your surroundings." He smirked glancing down at his feet as he threw the end of his cigarette on the ground and stomped on it. I jerked my head slightly in question.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he just laughed.

"It means that I've been in three of your classes already and you haven't even noticed."

"Seriously?" and here I was thinking he was in the hospital all day. Can you say oblivious or what?

"From my observational skills I've picked up that you space out into your own world most of the time."

I raised a brow at him,

"Oh, you've been staring at me that much to pick up on that have you?" I teased.

He just shrugged, "Well how am I supposed to ignore my savior when she's no more than three feet from me?" I smiled at this, shaking my head.

"Let's go" I snorted in amusement.

***********

Since I knew the way to my last class now, I finally made an appearance. I trudged towards an empty middle seat, thumping my book down and slumped in my chair with a relived sigh. One more class and I could go home and sleep! The room with filled with the soft murmurs of students talking to one another, anxious for the final bell. I spotted Andy walk in and he shook his head at me. He took the seat next to me.

"I told you, we have almost every class together except electives."

"Well thank god for small miracle's." I smiled mockingly, he laughed.

About a minute passed before a movement caught my attention and I watched as, who I assumed to be my teacher, Mr. Michaels stood from his desk; I had totally missed him when I came in earlier. He took roll silently but stopped when he came to me, I guessed because of the confused look that crossed his face, and then his eyes met mine.

"I see our new student decided to show up today." he said aloud and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

'Way to put me on blast like that.' I growled to myself.

"Miss Jamison I presume?" his grey eyes held my own green ones in a strong stare, practically demanding me to try anything. "Would you care to tell me why you didn't show up for class yesterday?"

"Not really" I stated.

"That's not a good way to start off first impressions." His voice held a tone of disappointment. "Especially at a new school"

"Well I wasn't trying to impress you 'sir'" I shot back with a flat, bored attitude.

A course of ooohs filled the class as this little standoff went on. You can say I was being a bitch but I wasn't a big fan of teachers who embarrassed me publicly like this. Those cold grey eyes narrowed slightly before he shook his head and forced a smile on his face and glanced back at the rest of the class.

"Alright class, I need everyone to take out their text books and turn to page sixty five."

From there I sat slouched in my chair, not in the best of moods.

At the end of class I snatched up my things and made my way towards the door when I heard my name being called.

"Miss Jamison, please wait." Mr. Michael stood with his hands flipping through papers. I glanced at Andy who was watching through the door, with a shrug he pointed his thumb behind him in a silent indication that he would wait outside.

With that I turned towards my teacher, slowly trying my hardest not to glare at him.

"What?"

His brow rose slightly before he shook his head and walked around his desk. I watched as he leant his bottom against the edge.

"Alright, I get the feeling you don't like me already." I rolled my eyes.

"Really?"

"Oh sarcasm, never gets old does it." the sound of his own sarcasm was clear and loud. He picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to me.

"This was the homework from yesterday; I thought maybe you wanted to make up the work you missed?

"Thanks" I muttered and snatched the paper from him and marched out of the class to Andy.

*******

"So what are you doing today?" Andy asked as we sat on the front school steps. He was staring out at all the people rushing towards their cars or rides. I shrugged,

"I don't know, go home I guess." I'd rather hang out in a rotten smelly dumpsite than go home.

"Oh" his voice was muffled by the thumb nail he's been nibbling on this whole time. "Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow then"

"Mm" I hummed in agreement and stood up.

"See ya" I waved halfhearted and walked off.

Of course I didn't go straight home because that would be stupid. So I decided to have a night on the town. For such quiet boring residential areas the downtown life was lively and very up to date with the times. I saw so many Starbucks I lost count, which is a good thing; I do love my Starbucks from time to time though I wasn't a coffee nut.

There were brand name stores all around like banana republic, Forever 21, JC Penny, Burlington Coat Factory, along with a lot of other stores that I never heard of but looked pretty cool. I browsed a bit, buying little thing from time to time. Man, and all of this was just a few blocked from my house.

I spotted something that looked live a music café / restaurant. Curious I walked in and just as I expected I heard the sounds of a live performance and the smell of food.

"Welcome to Hole In The Wall, is it just one today?" an overly cheerful voice said. I turned to see the host staring at me expectedly.

"Huh?" I said dumbly.

"Will it just be you or is there more people with you?" she asked still smiling brightly.

"Oh, no I was just looking. I'm new to town." Her smile dropped slightly and I got a sick kind of joy watching her cheery façade slightly break.

"Oh, ok, well do you want a table?"

"Uh, sure" I said giving in.

"Cool" her smile was back.

In the end I just ordered chips and salsa, which were super good, and listened to the performers. I should come here more often. I had a habit of finding one place and sticking with it forever. My last place was a karaoke bar.

After about almost two hours at the café I grudgingly went home. The moment I opened the door I heard the slam of doors upstairs.

'Well my parents are home together. Great.'