Lucy just walked forward while cracking her knuckles.
"Hell no."
Turning a deaf ear to her words, he said, "Hey Lucy, you remember when we had Daniel, right? We were in high school."
He started reminiscing about a much simpler time when they were both in high school. This made Lucy stop and hear the clown out.
It was high school. Both James and Lucy were freshmen. James had moved in from out of state. He had joined the school in the middle of the year because he had to deal with a bunch of things at home. James hadn't been to school since 8th grade. Any knowledge he learned from middle school was thrown out the window. It was like his brain needed a refresher on the basics.
Lucy, being in both his math and science classes, was asked by a teacher to help James with refreshing his knowledge. Lucy, being the quiet kid she was, couldn't say no but didn't like the whole idea. Plus, the teacher who asked her to do this offered extra credit from both classes because the math teacher was his wife. They both discussed this with each other. Since James hadn't been to school since 8th grade, they knew all too well what happens to a teenager's brain when they go long periods without using the knowledge they learned from school. So, with reluctance, she said yes. After all, extra credit never hurts.
Thanks to both the science and math teachers, James and Lucy sat next to each other in every class. James would ask questions whenever he didn't understand something. Lucy would always be annoyed at answering this guy's questions. She even sent lend him her notes, the same ones most people begged for, some even offering to pay her. Yet, this guy was getting them for free. Perhaps this train of thought was the reason she had no friends. Or maybe it was something else.
Throughout their interactions, Lucy realized this guy wasn't as annoying as she thought. They seemed to share the same interests, games, opinions. Overall, he wasn't as dumb as he made himself out to be. She estimated it would take him at least two months to learn all the info she had given him. It took him just under three weeks. Yet he continued to play dumb in class.
"Hey James," Lucy said, frowning as she looked at him. "I know you're just as smart as me. I don't know why you keep doing this dumb act. Are you just doing it so you don't have to do as much work?" she asked, squinting her eyes in an annoyed expression.
One thing she hated was people who took the easy way in life, especially when it involved throwing others under the bus.
"Well," James said without missing a beat, "I guess you're right. I am lazy."
"Yeah, I thought so. I'll be letting the teacher know about this. And well, this will be the last time we talk to each other."
James just looked at her walking toward the teacher, smiled, and said nothing.
Soon after, the teacher came and asked if what Lucy said was true. James, being quick on his feet, gave a half-truth and half-lie about everything.
"Well, teacher, I did learn some of the material, but I'm not quite sure of myself. That's why I still want Lucy helping me. But if it's too much trouble, she doesn't have to help me anymore. After all, I would be pretty annoyed too if I had to help someone like me," he said with an awkward and self-deprecating laugh.
Lucy was baffled by this guy's shenanigans. "Wait, what? Teacher, that's not it at all! He's just lying!"
"Listen, Lucy, if helping him is such an annoyance, you could've just said so. You don't have to put up with the burden of teaching another student. I'm sorry for putting this on you. After all, you're just a student, and it's my job as the teacher to make sure he catches up on his studies. I just thought since you're smarter than most kids, you'd be able to... Nevermind. I'll be in charge of teaching him from now on. Don't worry about it anymore."
"Wait, teacher! I didn't mean it like that!"
"Don't worry. I know how much that extra credit means to you. I won't be taking it away. After all, you still went through all that trouble of teaching him. It's the least I can do as your teacher."
"Wait, Mr. Willson, I don't really mind helping him," she said with a guilty conscience. "You go through so much trouble grading our papers, you do so much for us."
He smiled, as if he was a whole different person from a moment ago.
"Well, if you insist, I'll leave him to you. I knew I could count on you. If you do need anything from me, just let me know."
"Ehh... wait." She was a little stunned at how quickly he agreed.
"Is there anything else, Lucy?"
"No. Nothing at all, teacher. I'll be sure to teach him all I know."
He just smiled while walking away.
"Wow."
Lucy turned to her side and heard a familiar sound from her right.
"What?" Lucy said, irritated at hearing this all-too-familiar voice.
"For being as smart as you are, you seem to have no people skills whatsoever."
Even more annoyed, and with a slightly curious tone, she questioned, "What does that mean?"
"I mean, you do know both the math and science teachers are throwing me—their workload—onto you, right?"
"Yeah, right. And I'm the prettiest girl in the world."
James just looked her up and down. "I mean... there's potential."
A blush made its way onto her face. "Yeah, right. And what makes you think that Mr. and Mrs. Willson are dumping you onto me? They're some of the best teachers I've had in a while. Even if they are doing that, so what? They probably just need a break. They deal with a lot of troublemakers and try their best to help everyone."
"Yeah, no discredit to them. But just because they're good people doesn't mean they're incapable of doing bad. And the reason why I'm so sure? It's probably because my parents paid them to make sure I get good grades in their classes."
With an unconvinced expression, she said, "I don't believe you."
"Why? I mean, the evidence is that they're very lenient with me. A bit too lenient. I know I'm new and all, but it's been three weeks, and I haven't shown any signs of learning anything. Not even the simplest concepts in any of my classes. And despite all that, my grades don't fall below 80%. It's like I'm not even trying. They don't seem to care. They just keep taking the bribes my parents give them. After all, they're being paid to make sure I get good grades. They just never specified how. Not that they even care," he said, the last part trailing off with a hint of sadness.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Lucy didn't say anything more. Silence seemed to be her only answer.
"I'll take the silence as disagreeing. Meet me today at 6:30 around the convenience store down the block. You better be there, 'cause I'll be waiting. Don't be a no-show," he said, walking off to his next class.
After the final bell, Lucy was about to walk home—just a ten-minute walk away—when she noticed James pointing at her, then at the store down the block, and finally at his watch. He was clearly indicating 6:30.
"Yeah, yeah. I see you in two hours."
She went home, took a bath, studied a bit, then put on a hoodie and jeans with a pair of black sneakers, as if ready for an adventure.
Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the convenience store.
James was already there, dressed in all black.
"Oh, you made it."
He looked her up and down. "Hmm, not bad. All black looks pretty good on you. We even match."
"Thank you... I guess."
"Alright. Let's go."
"So, I've been thinking. What you said sounds reasonable, but you have no evidence. I can't just believe you based on words alone. Mr. and Mrs. Willson might be using me, but they've been nice to me. I just can't believe what you're saying."
"Uh-huh."
"It's just absurd."
"Yeah, I know. Why do you think we're here?"
"Huh? Wait—why are we in front of the school?"
"Why else? To see what your favorite teachers are up to," he said, pulling a small box from his pocket. It was a lockpick set.
"You got curious so your natural response is to break into the school?" she said, alarmed.
"Well, I tried other things. None were as successful," he said as the door clicked open.
The moment it did, a wave of fear hit Lucy.
"I think I know what they're up to, but I can't be sure," James said, stepping inside.
"Hey! Wait! Don't just walk in! Come back. It's not too late to turn back. We can still lock the doors and act like nothing happened."
James grinned. "You better close the door, Lucy, before someone sees you."
She looked back and saw a group approaching. "Crap." She shut the door quickly and peeked out the glass. Thankfully, the group moved on.
James was already walking deeper inside.
"Well, come on Lucy. You're here. Might as well see. Come with me."
She frowned but followed, irritated with the day's events and silently swearing she wouldn't hang out with this guy again.
As they walked through the hallway, James seemed to be looking for something—or someone. He peered through each classroom door. Eventually, they reached their science class on the far east side of the building. That's when they heard faint sounds.
They moved closer. The faint sounds turned into unmistakable moans.
Lucy's eyes widened. James smiled.
Just on the other side of the door, Mr. and Mrs. Willson were very clearly doing something they absolutely shouldn't be doing at school.
Lucy felt a wave of confusion and anger. "Wait... This is why they made me teach this guy?! So they could fuck each other in the damn school?! What the hell!"
Before she could raise her voice, James put a finger to her lips.
"Shhh. Don't be loud."
Lucy looked at James. He was smiling like he expected this. He pulled a camera from his backpack.
"Wait—what are you doing?"
"Obviously recording the evidence."
"How? The door's closed. The window's blocked."
"Exactly why I plan to go in."
"You can't be serious."
"How else are we going to prove it? We need to show someone—the principal, police, anyone."
"Yeah, I get that. But why are you so excited about this?"
He shrugged. "Maybe it's the thrill."
She grabbed his hand. "Wait. What happens to us after we take those pictures? What if they kill us to silence us?"
James almost burst out laughing.
"It's a valid concern!"
"Yeah, but they're not that stupid. Or at least they shouldn't be. Besides, we left fingerprints. My parents track me. And everyone knows they're always the last to leave. It wouldn't be hard to figure out."
"Still, we could just report them now."
"Come on, Lucy. Who do you think they'll believe? Two students—a shy girl with no friends and the new guy—or their two favorite teachers?"
He pulled his mask down and motioned for her to do the same. He counted down.
"Alright, you ready, Lucy?"
She panicked. "Wait! I'm not ready!"
"Three..."
"Wait a sec—"
"Two... One!"
Seeing no other choice, she opened the door. James barged in with the camera.
"Hahaha! Got you crazy fucks!"
He was expecting something shocking.
What he saw went far beyond.
Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Willson were indeed doing the deed.
But sitting in the corner, pants around his ankles, was the principal.
James froze. Lucy peeked inside and froze, too.
Then a voice came from the corner.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Who are you?!"
Before the principal could even get up, a middle-aged man sprang forward, dashing straight at James.
"Oh shit," James muttered. Mr wilson was making his way towards james as if hes life depend on it and it did.