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One minute she was there in her seat, the next, she was gone.
But not today… Today, I was going to pay closer attention. She couldn’t get away with just ditching every day. I mean, I was no snitch, so there’s no way I’d ever tell the teacher on her, but I would confront her.
Following her is what her dad, Craig, the rink manager and my friend, would want me to do… Right? Craig called me “the man with a plan,” and I didn’t want to lose that title. It was important to me. I was hoping that would catch on more than stupid “ball of hate,” which was what everyone else called me… You get in one too many hockey fights and they all think you’re crazy, but as soon as they get cheap-shotted, they’re looking to me to defend them. Stupid.
As soon as Luke sat back down, the teacher started moving around the room, checking in everyone's homework.
I pulled my English grammar workbook out and turned to the homework from last night. As soon as Ms. Henry marked my paper with a check mark, I glanced over in Claire’s direction.
And she was gone.
So that's how the sly little sucker was doing it.
She knew I’d be the only one watching.
She knew it, so when I was distracted, that’s when she struck.
Not tomorrow though.
Nope.
I wasn’t planning on doing my homework tonight anyway, so there’d be nothing to check in for me tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I’d catch her.
The following morning, I paid closer attention. This time, I saw her skipping out. As soon as she reached the hallway, I jumped out of my seat and started toward the door, but Ms. Henry called me out and I blanked… I couldn't think of a single possible reason for being out of my stupid seat. My mouth just dropped open and no words came out, making the rest of the class laugh at me.
So, the next morning, I strategized. Third times the charm, right?
I waited for Claire to be a safe distance down the hall, then hopped to my feet.
“Mr. Callahan!” Ms. Henry called out in a shrill voice.
“Bathroom! Emergency!” I threw over my shoulder as I hurried out. I heard giggles in my wake and felt myself grin. She couldn’t stop me today.
I spotted Claire’s blonde head bobbing ahead of me by about fifteen feet. I needed to maintain a safe distance because I didn’t want her to stop walking. I wanted to follow her and find out what she was doing every day.
I backed behind a locker bank until she turned each corner, then I quickly followed.
But now she was going into the gym…
I stealthily moved to follow her, but as soon as I turned the corner into the gym doorway, I felt the pain like a lightning bolt through my entire body.
“Fuck!” I grunted and doubled over.
She freaking karate chopped me in the balls.
“Shh! Sorry! I didn’t know it was you!” she whisper-yelled. “Are you even allowed to say the F-word?” she asked skeptically.
I dropped to my knees and tried to slow my breathing by taking deep, deep breaths.
“Were you planning on throwing a nut shot on anyone who was following you? What if you did that to a teacher?” I winced.
She just shrugged and patted my head. “I am sorry. But itisyour fault for following me.” She cocked her blonde head to the side. “Why are you following me?”
“I just wanted to know where you were going. You can’t skip class every day,” I told her.
Her face cracked in annoyance. “Says who?” she asked.
