The Brat Pack

"Andrew Clark and Brian Johnson, please report to Mr. Vernon's office immediately."

The senior English class is dark. The projector is drawn down, Mrs. Burner giving in-depth notes on William Shakespeare.

Andy isn't paying attention, though. He hasn't been all period.

Instead, he's been staring ahead, at the desk three rows in front of his, one to the right.

His chin is resting in his palm as he watches her. He likes the way her short, dark hair moves when she leans her head down to write more notes. The way it plays on her shoulders.

"-Andy. Andrew? Mr. Clark!"

Andy jolts forward, looking ahead. Mrs. Burner is frowning at him.

"Go on, dear."

"Huh?"

"To the office. Did you not just hear that?"

Andy shakes his head, trying to clear away his daze. "Oh, yeah. Right. Sorry."

He bumps his knee into his desk as he picks up his notebook and binder, shoving them under his arm and making his way towards the door.

In the brightness of the hall he blinks, turning and quickly glancing in the classroom one last time.

Ally smiles at him as he shuts the door.

Andy takes his time walking through the halls, stopping to stretch every now and then. He isn't in some hurry to visit Vernon, especially not after their time spent together on Saturday.

He hums to himself as he goes, fingering some of the locks clamped on the locker doors.

He's going straight when someone rams into him suddenly from the side, both of them dropping to the floor.

"Hey!" Andy growls, watching as his things splay across the floor.

"Oh. Oh God. I'm so sorry. I-" Brian looks over. "Oh. Oh, hey Andy."

"Hey yourself." Andy stands up, brushing dirt from his jeans.

Brian runs a hand through his hair, pulling his bag to his chest. Andy sticks out a hand. Brian hesitates, then takes it, being hauled quickly to his feet. He nervously watches Andy collect his things from the floor. Andy stops and stares at Brian for a second before moving along in the hall.

Brian jogs up behind him. "So, uh, what … what d'you think this is all about? Are we in trouble again or something?"

Andy looks back at Brian and shrugs. "I don't know." He huffs out a breath. "I sure hope not."

"Yeah, same. Same."

Brian almost walks into Andy again as they stop outside Vernon's door. Andy gives him a strange look before hitting the wood with his fist a couple times.

The door swings in, Vernon standing on the other side. He snarls a bit, hands on his hips. Brian steps nervously from foot to foot. Andy swallows the lump in his throat, staring up at Vernon. All three are silent for some time.

Vernon finally points across the hall to the library. Andy and Brian both follow his finger. "In there. Go."

Brian quickly walks through the doors. Andy turns back to look at Vernon for a minute.

"Go on, go!" Vernon says, storming along behind him.

In the library, Vernon puts his hands back on his hips. "Set your things down."

Both find a table and do as they're told. Vernon points to the librarian's desk. "Behind there is a mess." He points off to the right. "Books. Over there. Destroyed."

He points to another table. Brian and Andy follow his finger again. A black trash bag is laying across the top of the wooden desk. "Clean it all up. It better be exactly the way you found it on Saturday. Ruined books and such are put in the bag. Any mistakes, and you'll both find yourselves in detention until you graduate. Understand?"

And with that, Vernon storms off.

In her office, Mrs. TeAll stands with her arms crossed over her chest.