Chapter 33: Read Something
The next day at work while watching the sophomores sit down, I find Xander has become a hot commodity overnight. Lance has already gotten a replacement jacket and insisted the joker take the desk beside him.
"I'm telling you Larry, we've had this guy all wrong for years." Talking up his new favourite person to the other jocks, Lance doesn't even seem to mind that his dates from last night are no longer simpering over him. "Chet and Steve just took off when the gang banger jumped me."
The whole section of popular teens glare at the jocks exiled to the front row, making both boys shrink in on themselves even more. In the moment of distraction, Cordelia takes her chance to really get a good look at Xander's new look.
He's taken to wearing Liam's spare leather duster at all times, with a deep crimson button down underneath it for pop. How is he not sweltering in this heat?
Thinking back on the mean girl with a heart of gold's essays, I can easily see why her face is so conflicted right now. She spent so much time focusing on his lack of fashion, the sudden change must be hard to comprehend.
Getting saved by the guy she also called crueller than half the bullies in school. That's probably left Cordelia's very idea of Xander in shambles.
Not one put off by attention, Xander seems to be thriving under all the praise. "It was no big deal. I just did what any man should have when he heard some beautiful ladies screaming."
"I wasn't screaming Harris." Not willing to let the comment stand unchallenged, Cordelia smirks at the teen she's bickered with for most of her life.
"Guess I wasn't calling you cute," Counters Xander, his eyes flashing with some of that cruelty I read about. "Just the hotties you're friends with."
Glancing at Xander's usual group, I notice the glare Willow has had all day is briefly replaced with a pleased smirk. Jesse's own expression of frustration at how close his friend is sitting to his obsession, seems to shift into a plotting grin with the snarky comment.
"I'm telling you, this guy's face was all messed up like he ran into a porcupine." Lance brings the classes attention back to his 'champion' last night. "But Lex just charged the guy and saved my ass."
"Lance!" Snapping at the teen, I startle him out of his cocky mood with the gruffness. "You want detention with me at lunch scrapping gum off chairs or do you want to hand in an essay on donkeys tomorrow?"
Not daring to challenge me with his wit, Lance lets me finally start teaching the class."Essay sir!"
"Eight hundred words on my desk by first bell." Growling the instructions, I start pacing in front of the class for dramatic effect. "No one likes book reports. It's the same fifty books on the list for every school and I've already marked them all a dozen times."
The students exchange nervous murmurs of agreement, with a couple even trying to start a clap when I tear said list in half. "I'm not marking another report that can be copied from an older sibling. So you are all going to create this classes list."
"What do you mean?" Eager to please, Willow's hand is already in the air before I'm finished speaking. "Write a list of the best books?"
"Literature isn't just in books. I want each student to write down the best thing they ever read, no matter what it is." The comment stuns her into silence and I have to clarify myself before I get in a heap of trouble with Flutie. "No Jesse, it can't be a porno magazine."
Smirking as if he's figured out the answer, Larry waits for me to call on his raised arm. "Does that mean I could write down my favourite birthday card?"
"If it mattered to you, go for it." The closeted jock blinks at my answer. "I don't care if it's a comic book, poem, or a fashion magazine. I care that you read something."
The list I end up getting is quite varied and I grin when I tell them all to select a choice they didn't provide for the class. "Don't groan. I have to read them all before I can mark anything."
Once the bell rings, they all dash away before I can assign any more homework. The sideways glances I get on the way to the teachers lounge come with whispers about me being strict but at least fair.
My regular spot has been saved beside Russel and it takes me a few moments to realize I'm not thinking of Snyder by last name anymore. Oh shit... I'm actually friends with the Troll.
Most of the teachers seem to find a reason to be elsewhere once I pop my food in the microwave and I find only the new swim coach chatting up the nurse. Really need to take care of that creep once I have a chance.
With the room suddenly cleared out, Russel seems to decide now is a good time to share his life story. "So once my.... growth spurt never came in, Mom kicked me right to the curb. It's when I realized the only fairness in the world was the kind I enforced with my will."
"She kicked you out for being short?" That seems a little petty even for Sunnydale.
Glancing around the room to make sure the lovebirds aren't listening, Russel's voice becomes a hissed whisper. "You say you're supposed to keep things safe at the school. But how much do you really know about things here?"
"Enough to wear one of these even though I'm not sure what I believe in anymore." Pulling my collar down to reveal the silver crucifix, I can practically feel Russel relax at the sight of it.
"And you think it's all just scary stuff?" The way the balding man hesitates, has my curiosity surging.
"What, are you a werewolf or something?" Giving him an out, I reassure him I know it's only a three night a month thing.
Russel's mouth twists in a way that must be uncomfortable, his hands wringing as he tries to work up to the truth. "You know how the students like to call me a troll?"
"Yeah..." No way!
"Well that's the growth spurt that never came in." He watches me carefully for any sign of scorn, happy to find not a single shred. "And every time I hear the students call me one, I want to wring those scrawny necks. One eighth was just enough to make me ugly and bald."
Do I actually feel bad for him? The realization that I do, makes me take a very stupid risk.
"Well I'm half Brachen. You really don't want to see what I look like when I don't take my allergy medication."
The admission stuns the normally vindictive man. Eventually his lips turn upwards just enough to call it a genuine smile.
"Really?" The desperation is palpable in his voice.
In for a penny, in for a pound. "Must be why we clicked so fast."
"Glad we did." His smile shifts into a more familiar smirk. "The kids aren't giving me quite so much lip this week."
The door swings open to reveal the frowning face of the techno pagan Jenny. Her eyes dart between the only two occupied tables and I decide to put my own conversation on hold.
"Over her Miss Calendar. I think we can make some room for you." And give me a chance to figure out your schedule.
Russel snickers under his breath at first, only to swallow it when the woman accepts the offer gratefully. "Thanks. I was starting to think I had missed a fire drill or something."
