“Gayyyyy!” A blur of letterman jackets rushes by Nathan, the created sea of red and white eventually parting to reveal a disgruntled kid curled up in a corner. He had bright green hair that could stand out in any crowd- the kind of electric color that would give even a flashlight a run for their money- practically glow in the dark. Nathan could understand why he would be a moving target. The way he slumped over and grabbed his books he was carrying broke Nate’s heart- it did.
He was on his way to help- he really was. His feet were carrying him through the onslaught of freshman wandering the halls trying to find their homeroom. He must’ve been only inches away, with his mouth open, syllables forming, when his arm was pulled suddenly, and he was swept into the stampede.
“Bro, what are you doing?” Jeremy yelled over the roar of the crowd of new students. He raked his hand through his sandy brown hair, “we gotta read the announcements in five minutes dude.” He shook his head, “already forgetting things are we, boy’o?”
“Cut it out Jeremy,” Nathan muttered under his breath grumpily- he was looking over his shoulder to see where that kid went. He was nowhere to be seen. “Ugh…” Nathan unzipped his school hoodie, and adjusted his backpack a bit to the left.
“Who you got your eye on Nate? Careful, Lia’ll be jeal-“
“Can’t you learn to shut up, Jeremy?” He laughed nervously: “don’t talk about things you don’t know.” They turn a corner, walking farther left to accommodate the difference in the hallway width. The science wing’s hallways (which they were in now) were wider than most classrooms, Nathan had to admit.
Jeremy leaned over annoyingly close to Nate and ruffled his blonde curls. “Aw, did you and Lia have a fight?” They locked eyes: “Did she find your joints again or something?” His voice was dripping in sarcasm.
If there was one thing Nathan hated, it was people sticking their noses in other people's business. Problems are best solved if kept quiet- it always worked for him. No one cares about fights or about how overwhelmed you feel with homework. “Jeremy, just…stop.”
Nothing had happened with Lia. Nothing at all. Jeremy just pissed him off- the best way to annoy a nosy dude was to ignore him. Jeremy was definitely nosy. He spent so much time in other people’s business, and worrying about their lives- it’s a wonder he had time to live his own.
“Sheesh. Fine.” Jeremy huffed, putting his hands in his pockets. If there was one thing that Jeremy hated, it was when Nathan got in these moods. He just tried to make it seem like he cared, and Nathan went and shut down on him.
They finally turn into the office, avoiding the oncoming students, who were gazing down at their course sheets. They’re greeted by Mel, as usual. The cheery, upbeat secretary, (who has been there since the stone age), seemed happy to see everyone, from student council president and vice president to druggies and goths. And somehow, her over-the-top outfits, ranging from sequin dresses to brightly colored, stupid sweaters and neon leggings managed to put smiles on most faces- even if they were there for detention slips.
“Boys! Here for announcements once again! Another year, huh?” She shook her head, her bright yellow hoops shaking along with her head and her crimped blonde locks. “Time flies- it really does.” Jeremy gestured to the loudspeaker phone next to her. She reaches over for it: “First day. Make it a good one, hun!” She says to Jeremy, handing him the phone.
“As always, Ms. M!” He took off his letterman jacket (varsity football, quarterback, two years in a row, thank you very much). He hung it on the chair next to where Nathan had plopped down. Not that he had much seating choice in the office- two lumpy chairs by the door were never too inviting; you’d swear you’re sitting on a camel half the time.
“Ah, balls! Nate, ya got the paper with you?” He turned to face Nate, putting the phone down on the desk. “I didn’t get it.”
“I thought you had it.” Nate sighed at him, slouching further into his seat, his hoodie rising up his back. “You know, since it was your job to grab the announcements.” He glared pointedly.
“Oh. I uh- I didn’t do that either.”
“Figures,” Nate mumbled. “Fine, where is it?” He got up, and pulled the back of his hoodie back down.
“It’s… it’s uh..” Jeremy scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, shifting his weight on one foot to another. He looked damn uncomfortable- which doesn’t match with his normally goofy joch exterior.
“Jesus H, Jeremy- really?” Nate was livid. He had one job. One. As vice president he had one thing he was responsible for. He swore that Jeremy didn’t have one non-athletic bone in his body. “Mel, any idea where it is?”
She shook her head: “No, but if I had to guess, maybe the principal kept another copy. I’d check with him- I think he is in his office.”
“Thanks.” Nate stormed past Jeremy, not even gracing him with a look in his direction. God, he was mad. He almost hated that kid.
He went through the doorway behind Mel, trailing his hand on the doorframe as he went through. Nate loved the feel of cold metal- refreshing, and a break from the constant heat the school always seemed to be in, no matter the season. The hallway he was in was lined with doors- so many faculty break rooms (like really, Nate didn’t even see the need for 3 different ones. Like what in God’s name will they do with three, come on). He went to the end of the row, and knocked. The little plaque got fixed from last year, the one on the door. Instead of “Principal Jam son” as it read last year, the rogue letter that eventually went missing had been replaced, to read “Principal Jameson.”
The door swung inward, and the tall man greeted Nate. “Well if it isn’t the student president!” He reached his hand out, patting him on the shoulder, and ushering him in. “What do you need?” He sat behind his desk.
“The announcement sheet. Jeremy forgot to grab it. I also need the news sheet.”
Nate always liked Principal Jameson. He always greeted his students warmly, regarding them with a wide smile. He also knew how to dress and what colors matched, something a majority of the male faculty seemed to lack. His suits were always perfectly tailored, and he even manages to pull off the bald haircut. People often compare him to Obama- Nate always thought that was a little racist. Really the only thing they had in common was their race. They looked completely different. Then again, Nate looks into things too deeply most of the time anyways.
“Of course. The kid forgets everything, I’ve learned to make two copies.” He chuckles, walking over to the old filing cabinets and pulling out a folder. Nate likes that about his school- everything seems to be new and improved- new technology everywhere, but it’s filled with little antiques. A wooden filing cabinet here, one of those old desks with the inkwell in the science room, even chalkboards not yet taken down in spare rooms. It’s like walking through a city and seeing a smaller bakery you can tell has been around since the dawn of time.
Soon, two sheets are in his hands- one reading ‘Announcements 9/04,’ the other reading ‘News 9/04.’ “Thanks, Mr. J.” Nate nods at the principal, starting to the door.
“It’ll be a good year, Nate.” He calls after him. “I can feel it.”
His smile is almost infectious. Nate finds himself grinning back at him before he even realizes his facial muscles have moved. “Me too.” He finally exits, walking back through the hallway.
For someone who hates nosy people (like Jeremy), Nate sure does like to look into other people’s business even though he’d never admit it. As he walks back through the hallway, he unconsciously looks into the other three doors. The first two are empty. The last has two people in it- one male one female, both at what he assumes to be the coffee machine. They’re leaned in close. One laughs, or coughs, he isn’t sure. He stops and looks. The dude puts his arm around the girl, and she-
“Dude, come on. We’re almost late.” His view is interrupted by yet another tug on his arm. Jeremy is pulling him back to Mel’s desk. He sees her chuckle at their antics, which only makes him more irritated.
“Would you quit that?” Nate says. He really hates Jeremy feeling like he can pull him around everywhere. He’s not property, for God’s sake.
“Never, bro.” He chuckles, once again fluffing his hair. Not only is that another habit that irritates Nate, but even his hair color makes him a bit mad. It couldn’t have picked one color or the other, no, it had to be both. Like what type of a color is sandy brown anyways. God. He’s such a tryhard.
“Let’s just do this. You’re on Announcements.” He sits down on the same lumpy chair as before. He just wants to get to first period already. He almost would’ve rather gone to homeroom than do this- and that’s saying something. His advisor there, Ms. Davis, was basically a breathing tree stump. She did attendance, then promptly fell asleep every day last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.
Jeremy picks the phone back up on the desk, “Goooood morning, Serack High! Happy first day of school! Announcements for this week; the Chess Club welcomes you to join them on-”
And that’s when Nate rolled his eyes and zoned out. Chess club. Who gives a shit.
Nate being president of student council was honestly the weirdest thing to him. Yet, when he decided to switch from being class rep (a position he held for three years prior), and go for the president position, he managed to beat out Jeremy. He still was amazed by that. He, a nobody, beat out a jock. He’d like to think it was because of his speech, but he knew better.
Serack had its own set of politics. Instead of republicans and democrats, there were the stereotypical jocks and nerds. How disappointing- Nate had wanted to believe that all those high school movies weren’t actually real. He classifies himself as a Libertarian within the school- the sort of odd one out. He didn’t dignify either groups with his membership. He sat with two friends everyday, and he was content. Politics weren’t his thing after all.
So, a school running on a political system would have ruled him out as a candidate immediately. How did he win? Well, Nate has a theory. He figures, as the last encounter as evidence, that the principal rigged it. He likes Nate- or “Nathan” as he calls him.
Maybe Jameson got tired of the airhead jocks running everything. Maybe he saw that Nathan actually had something in his head. But Nate swears- those ballots would not add up in his favor.
Not that he was complaining. He had goals- goals he didn’t make public, sure, but he really did have ambition… well, some. He had one dream. One. He just wanted to go to Medical School. He wanted to be one of those first responder people, the EMTs. But as he’s been told time and time again from teachers over the years, he doesn’t have the grades. Or the ambition, according to most.
That doesn’t stop him from fantasizing. The long hours, the speeding down the highway, saving lives. He supposes it is wrong to be drawn to the job for having power over life and death, but he doesn’t care. It’s his one dream.
He’s jolted out of his dreamland by hearing Jeremy call out his signal to stand and get ready: “and now, we have some school news!” Nate gets up, and grabs the phone from Jeremy’s outstretched hand, only to see Jeremy down where he just got up from. Jackass. That was his spot.
“We only have three pieces of news for you today.” He always reads directly from “First up, we have news from the guidance office. If you want to change classes, the deadline for finalized schedules is next Friday. Secondly, we are now selling tickets to Homecoming! Buy them in the front office or in your homeroom.” Why is that set up now…? Nate already thought dances were ridiculous, but getting tickets ready months in advance? Ew. “And last but not least we have our tryout week, come down and try out for fall sports. Have a great day Serack!”
Points: 31396
Reviews: 760
Donate