In an Instant

Okay, I have a real problem starting stories, so I'm just writing one on the spot for the beginning to be critiqued. You are welcome to give constructive criticism for the rest as well, but I'm looking particularly for the beginning. Enjoy!

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Ahh, the monotony of another Thursday morning. The buzz of weekend anticipation wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, and the students were as sluggish as always. English class wasn't enough to keep any of them awake, due to the cluelessness of the teacher. The kids knew plenty about kissing up to adults, and this one was an easy catch. Even the biggest trouble-maker of them all, Justin Manowitz, could wriggle out of anything with a little flattery. It was far too simple to be any fun, so most everyone paid no attention to her lecture, instead choosing to sit with blank expressions on their faces, like a batallion of robots all lined up in a row. No animation lit up their eyes, and no sparks flew from their tongues. It was a case of classroom boredom.

That is, except for a choice few students, scattered around the room at random. Archer, Ivy, and Teddy were the only ones with a pencil in hand, the only ones with notebooks out, and the only ones raising their hands. As no AP classes were available until junior year, these gifted students were bored to absolute tears - even more than the rest of the class. And yet, they were the most involved, only due to their thirst for knowledge. But sometimes, it was hard to keep up such an act; after all, so many days of constant disappointment were enough to make all of them explode.

As the bell rang over their heads and Mrs. Dougherty stood up to begin, the door banged open, startling the already-sleeping students as well as the only three awake ones. Heads turned towards the entrance to see a rough, disheveled-looking boy in a long, tan trenchcoat appear in the doorway, one hand in his over-long hair and the other holding a distinctly emtpy-looking backpack.

"Sorry I'm late," he said brightly, the apology falling short of reassuring a stunned Mrs. Dougherty. "I'm new here, and I'm afraid I missed the bus."

Most students were staring in shock, but Archer giggled quietly to herself. She couldn't help it - the routine of this class had never been broken before, and the look on Mrs. Dougherty's face was enough to cause a riot. Unfortunately, only she was paying attention, and her giggles faded before anyone could notice.

Disruption boy strode right up to Dougherty's desk, holding out a strong, brown hand for her to shake. "I'm Cody. Cody Cotton. But you probably knew that."

She nodded, struck mute for the first time Archer could remember. Her pale, pudgy hand rose up to meet his, and he shook it once with a certain air of power before letting it drop. She stared at her skin as if it was new to her before blinking and collecting herself again.

"Well, Cody, your seat's right over there," she said, pointing to the only empty seat in the room. "I won't mark you tardy this time, but it shouldn't happen again, all right?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, snapping a salute before heading over towards Archer. Her eyebrows shot up her forehead in surprise as she realized that Mrs. Dougherty had been pointing to the seat across from her. The new, exciting Cody was going to sit right there, in easy staring range, just begging for her to take him in. Archer had something new to occupy herself with, here in the purgatory of this room.

She pressed her lips together to contain the excitement, as if it were about to come bursting forth from her mouth. It bubbled up in her throat, begging to escape, but she thrust a lid down on it just as Cody came into her territory, taking up the seat that had been empty since the start of the year. Finally, someone to talk to.

As Mrs. Dougherty began, Archer whispered, "Hey - my name's Archer. Welcome to hell."

He laughed quietly - a nice laugh, low and husky but still soft somehow - before answering, "Thanks. Let's hope the devil runs out of time to hang us by our ears from the ceiling."

The battle of wits continued on, Mrs. Dougherty oblivious as always, until the bell jarred both from their seats, beginning the flurry of packing up and dashing out of the room to second period. As Archer was just standing up, Cody extended his hand to her, comical yet gentleman-like in the same movement. She shook it with confidence, and he nodded once as if to say, See you later. With that, he was gone, flashing through the room and out the door. Archer stared down at her shaking hand, wondering if he was real.

Ivy was beside her in an instant, blue-green eyes wider than DVD's, her mouth open like the entrance to a cave so wide that Archer could picture the lion jumping straight in. Ivy was a spazz, and it was easy for her best friend to tell what was about to explode from that famous mouth. She held one hand up to stop the flow before it started, and Ivy deflated like a balloon left out in the sun. Archer always won these battles: Ivy was a push-over.

But before the blonde could start mouthing off like always, Archer was gone in a flash, following Cody down the hall when Ivy knew well that her second period was in the opposite direction. The girl was on a mission now, frog-green eyes darting around as she passed between the people, pursuing the swing of a tangled brown ponytail she had instantly fallen in love with. She was... not exactly boy crazy, but love-obsessed enough to stalk boys like this. It was a habit that had not quite broken from second grade, as chasing boys had never seemed unladylike to her.

Ivy sighed, walking forward with her head down, laughing to herself. "Leave it to Archer to fall in love at first conversation," she muttered with amusement. She'd have to keep her eye on this infatuation. After all, one couldn't be too careful with the heart of one's best friend.