Dexter cracked open one eye to see a dirty shoe inches from his face. Rolling over onto his back, flattening several rumpled clothes and tangling his legs in his sheets, he yawned and stretched his arms over his head. Somehow, he had managed to fall asleep on his floor. What a great way to start the day, he said sarcastically in his head. Dexter groaned again and started to untangle himself from the sheets that had fallen with him. He grabbed some dark grey jeans and a red T-shirt and glanced briefly in the mirror at his reflection before going across to Nathan's room.
He opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to find Nathan sitting up in bed, staring at the window across the room. "Good morning, Nathan," Dexter said, coming over to give him a kiss on the temple. He helped Nathan get out of bed and went across the room to pick out some jeans and a blue jumper. Nathan silently raised his arms as the jumper slid over his head and mutely watched as Dexter slid a pair of green socks on his feet.
When he had gotten Nathan dressed, they went down the hall to have breakfast. Looking through the shelf of cereal Amara kept in her pantry, Dexter picked out Cinnamon Toast Crunch and a banana muffin for Nathan, before taking a bowl for himself too.
At exactly 7:35, Dexter put the bowls in the dishwasher and checked Nathan's bag to make sure he had everything. Lunch box? Check. Homework? Check. Binder? Check. Satisfied, Dexter called out to Nathan. "You ready to go Nathan?"
Dexter helped Nathan put on his backpack, before slinging his own over one shoulder. The two played their usual word game all the way to the bus stop. Ms. Chase was on time as usual, exactly 7:40. "Kay, Nathan. I want to see another sticker when you get home!" Nathan said giving Dexter a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Nathan smiled and bobbed his head as a way of saying yes, before walking up the steps and disappearing inside the bus.
"See you, Dexter!" called Ms. Chase before pulling out into the street again.
After getting Nathan on the bus, Dexter got on his own and quickly did some Spanish homework he had neglected to do the night before. Twenty minutes later, his bus pulled up to the school and Dexter clambered out just in time to hear the warning bell ring inside of the school. Jogging inside, he quickly found his locker and spun his lock a few times to open the door.
"Hey, you," Anna greeted, giving him a one armed hug.
"Hey," Dexter replied, "What's up?"
Anna shrugged, tucking a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Nothing much, you?"
"Eh," replied Dexter, taking his book for his first class out of his locker. Then he was falling painfully against the edge of his locker door. "Hey!" He protested.
"What, ass?" swore someone behind him slamming him against the cool metal. The breath whooshed out of Dexter's lungs as he grasped the door for support.
"You ok?" asked a worried Anna, grabbing Dexter by his arms to hold him up.
Dexter managed to nod once before glanced around to see the jocks and cheerleaders strutting down the hallway shoving unfortunate souls against their lockers.
"What the heck is wrong with you people?" Anna yelled after them, still supporting Dexter as he gasped for air against his locker. The posse turned as one and stared at the couple.
"Oh, hey Anna, we didn't see you there," one of the guys, Luke, said with a sneer. "How are you doing?"
"Don't 'how are you doing' me!" she screeched, flashing her grey eyes on the whole lot and drawing a whole lot more attention.
"Oooh, feisty are ya? I like mine feisty..." said Luke looking Anna up and down.
Nico watched Anna's chest rise more rapidly and knew she was getting mad. She marched right up to Luke and gave him a glare that could vaporize him to ash. "F off, asshole," hissed Anna.
The jocks behind him muttered 'Oooh...' While the cheerleaders wrinkled their noses at her like she was the weekly trash, before settling into "mean girl" expressions that made them look like total hitches.
"Oh, What'cha gunna do about me, bitch?" threatened Luke, getting in her face.
"This," said Anna calmly before turning around. The jocks started to laugh, thinking she had backed down. But Anna whirled on her heel and punched Luke square in the nose.
"Ever seen Harry Potter?" Asked Anna, looking at the blood dripping from Luke probably broken nose as he glared at her. "Didn't think so, JOCK."
"C'mon, Dexter," She said. "We're going to be late for Spanish."
Dexter smiled at her, slinging an arm amiably over her shoulders as the two strolled placidly away.
"Oh my god, his face," laughed Nico. "That was priceless...I'm so happy I'm your friend. Hate to get on your bad side."
"I...know," wheezed Anna between laughs.
Then behind them came a stern voice. "Ms. Chase, Mr. di Angelo..."
'Oh shoot'...swore Nico in his mind as he and Anna turned to face their principal, Mr. Jones. I won't be able to pick Nathan up from his bus if I have detention...and if I don't pick him up...he's sure to have a huge tantrum...
"DETENTION. Three days starting 3:45 today." The principal said harshly before turning, leaving Anna and Dexter staring at each other.
"I'm truly and royally screwed." Cursed Dexter. And that was only putting it mildly.