Cream walls everywhere. Pictures that litter the cream walls, all showcasing the works of former prisoners. Rows of bunched up metal cages designed to hold belongings. Jail cells that had brown doors instead of bars.

Welcome to Bloomsbury High.

I sighed as I strolled to my locker. Just one more year, then i'll be free.

"Yo, Angelo!"

Glancing away from my locker, I found myself staring at a classmate. His large brown eyes twinkled as he grinned at me. He had gotten a high skin fade with part of his hair combed over to the side. Considering his round face shape, it fit him a lot. His once warm ivory skin tone had tanned during the summer, and his muscular build had gotten even bigger.

Fuck. 

After grabbing my stuff for the first two lessons, I slammed my locker, then started heading to class. "Andy."

He followed me. "How was your summer?"

I groaned exaggeratedly. "Ugh, it was horrible! Terrible! Worst summer ever! I hated it! Wanna know why?"

The grin on his face became sheepish. "Uhh, well-"

I rose an eyebrow at him. "Exactly, you don't. If you'll excuse me, I gotta get ready to sleep: we have math now, after all."

. . .

"Mr. Smith!"

"Mm-what?"

My eyelids fluttered open, exposing my eyes to the glaring face of the bearded man who stood before me. Yawning, I began rubbing my eyes.

A sharp knock on my table directed my attention back to the man's ruddy, chestnut-colored face. I sighed. "Yes, math teacher, can I help you?"

His slanted brown eyes looked almost black as he growled, "Pay attention! Also, my name is Mr. Howard!"

I shrugged. "I'll take your words into consideration, sir."

He glared at me, then turned back to his other students. He went back to torturing them with the names of the math topics that were to be studied for the term.

Sighing, I looked out of the window.

"Mr. Smith!"

I looked back at Mr. Howard, then hissed, "I am paying attention, math teacher!"

"To your daydreams, maybe! And I told you, my name is Mr. Howard, the man who would appreciate if you paid attention in his class!"

I forced a smile onto my face. "Well, Mr. Howard, maybe if your classes were interesting you wouldn't have to force students to pay attention."

"Don't get smart with me, young man! Also, that doesn't mean much coming from you." He scoffed. "After all, teenagers like you think every teacher is boring."

I chuckled. "Mr. Howard, what a silly thought! Of course, not all teachers are boring: I've had interesting teachers, like Mr. Jackson, Mr. Bill, Miss White...I could go on for hours!" 

I paused, then added, "Actually, I can't. That shouldn't matter to you though because even if I could, your name wouldn't be mentioned."

Mr. Howard's glare intensified as my classmates snickered. He matched to me. "Is that so? Very well, maybe you shouldn't be in my boring class anymore!"

I smirked. "Sir, are you insinuating that I should leave the class?"

"I'm not insinuating; I'm stating it!"

"You aren't actually-"

"I don't care! Now, out!"

I glanced around the class, scanning my eyes over the hordes of grinning observers, then looked back up at Mr. Howard. "You know what sir, forget about this incident and continue your lesson."

His eyes bulged. "Excuse me?"

"No need to shout; I'm right in front of you. Anyways, I'm trying to help you. Go back to work. You're paid to educate students, not deafen-"

Bang! 

He slammed both of his shaking hands onto my desk, leaning towards me.

I sighed. "Control yourself, sir. I hope you realize that if you break this table, it comes out of your salary?"

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Get the fuck out of my class, now!"

Gasps reverberated through the room.

I wrinkled my nose, wiping at my face. "Ew, was that your spit?"

"Get out!"

"Fine, damn! Of course, I'll be going to continue my lesson in the principal's office. I'm sure we'll have an enlightening discussion about appropriate language in the workplace. Well," Sighing, I got up and gathered my books, "I'll be on my way now."

I had already walked to the door when Mr Howard finally growled, "Go back to your damn seat, Angelo."

Smirking, I faced him. "So glad you've decided to see reason. I suggest that as I'm going back to my 'damn' seat, you resume your 'damn' lesson as well, math teacher!"