First Day: The Challenge He Was Waiting For.
Author: Bayley
Story: Suburbia
Word Count: 1603
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Mason surprises Parker. But that still doesn't mean she's impressed.
Flavors: Blueberry Yogurt #26 - Double Take. Chocolate #18 - Confinement.
Notes: Last chronologically in the First Day stuff. There will probably be at least one more, this is just the next one I wrote. Also, the titles are getting harder and harder. I might have to be lame and break the song lyric pattern soon. I don't get how people do it.
By the last period of the day, Parker is finally able to make it to a class on time. Creative Writing - and only because it was about thirty yards down the hall from the front door. Regardless, it's a relief to be able to sit down and actually take in the surroundings before being thrown into God knows what next.
For the first time all day, she's actually impressed. Unlike all of the other tiny, overly bright and fluorescent classrooms at Palmera, this one reminds her of her old English classes. She looks at the classic movie posters and quotes tacked all over the walls, the piles of books leaning everywhere, and can't help but wonder if it's just an English teacher thing.
The class is small - maybe ten other people besides her. Ten others who quickly pair off in the double seated tables, leaving her on her own. Not that she minded.
"Just in time. Welcome Creative Writing students!" The teacher scurries inside just as the second bell rings. A woman who doesn't look much older than Parker named Mrs. Hobbs - if the scrawled words on the chalkboard behind her were any indication - with a loud, funky shirt and a nose ring. "First day. Fun stuff, fun stuff. Now, I'm supposed to go over the course description and rules and all thatm but you guys can handle that on your own right? I'm a little too anxious to get started."
An impressed murmur of consent goes through the class, Even Parker cracks a small smile. She likes this chick already.
"Great. Now the first thing is - well, it looks like we have the first straggler of the day." Mrs. Hobbs says as the door opens and Mason tries - and fails - to slide in discreetely.
Parker frowns. She forgot that he would be in the class with her. She isn't exactly thrilled - the few times that she saw him around the building earlier, he tried to get her attention by waving his hands like a moron and shouting - but she figures it can't be worse than the shitstorm earlier with his bitchy chick friend.
"Sorry. I was in the bathroom." Mason says casually, not looking too sorry at all.
Mrs. Hobbs just waves him away, not looking too bothered. "Just take a seat."
Parker's scowl deepens. Why couldn't he get humiliated like she did earlier today - three times? A big part of her wants to get right in his face and ask him -
"This seat taken?"
Parker turns around to see Mason sliding into the seat next to her, not even waiting for an answer. She rolls her eyes and tries to turn her attention away from him.
"You don't look thrilled to see me." Mason says as Mrs. Hobbs starts talking.
"As if I should be?"
"Well, rumor has it I do make a good desk partner."
"I don't do partners." Not if they're you. It takes her a lot of willpower not to add.
"Ever? That must get boring."
"I like it that way."
"Well, I'm sure if the right one came along . . ." Mason shrugs as if to say here I am.
Parker finally turns to shoot him an annoyed glare. If Mason even notices, it doesn't phase him at all. It makes her want to smack herself in the face. First Andrew, then him. What planet did these people come from?
"Maybe. Maybe if I had one that could keep quiet for a few seconds." She said with a venom-filled smile.
"Still boring."
"Why do you insist on tortuing me?" She snaps. "I don't even know you."
"Well New Girl, around these parts, we call it being friendly." Mason says with a cocky grin, like he thinks he's freaking hilarious.
Parker opens up her mouth, then decides to shut it. The only things she wants to say to Mason would probably get her suspeded, and as entertaining as the idea if, she wouldn't want to hear the endless tirade from her dad. Instead, lips pressed closed, she turns her attention back to the front of the class, where Mrs. Hobbs is writing what looks like a random collection of words on the chalkboard.
"Word association." She says, turning around and smiling at the class. "I know it sounds like something that should belong in a psychologist's office, but this is one of my favorites. I want you guys to partner up, pick a word from up here," She waves her hand at the random collection of words behind her. "And just see where you go from there."
Everyone else scoots closer together and starts chatting over the assignment. Parker looks at the words at the front of the class; all seemingly random words - dark, color, open, pain, new. Stuff like that.
Words that shouldn't mean anything. But surprisingly, Parker's mind is working fast within seconds. She pulls out a notebok and leans over a fresh page, ready to jot down everything that's popping into her head, when she can feel a presence looming over her shoulder.
She closes her eyes and exhales deeply, loud enough that Mason should be able to take a hint. Should be.
"Can I help you?" She asks in a clipped, calm voice.
"Well, if we're going to work together, you're going to need me scoot a little closer."
"I told you, I don't do partners."
"But I do. And you're the only one left, so . . ." Mason raises his eyebrows and bites his lip in what looks like some kind of pout. For a split second, Parker wonders how many other poor saps he can make fall for that pathetic crap.
"Well, that's just too damn bad, isn't it?" She says, then turns back to her notebook. Only now, her head is blocked. She clicks the top of her pen over and over again and frowns at the paper - what happened to all the thoughts rolling around in her head earlier?
"You look a little stuck." Mason notices, twirling a pen through his own fingers.
"I'm just thinking. Wanna give it a try, and maybe give me some peace?" Parker snaps.
"You know, I'm pretty good about getting rid of writers block. I have my own special method."
"Fantastic. And what, praytell, would that be?" Her voice is dripping with sarcasm, but secretely, she wants to know if Mason is serious.
"I'll let you know if you help me out."
Maybe it's just to make him be quiet, maybe it's just to get this ordeal over with and end the day faster, but surprisingly, Parker can't think of any more arguments or reasons to keep him at bay.
"Fine." She snaps, shoving her notebook so it's a bit closer to him. "As long as it will shut you up."
"Alrighty then." Mason says with a smile. "Now, the first thing we have to do is pick a starting point. I was thinking about -"
"Confinement." Parker decides, glancing at the chalkboard. It was the last one on the list - the one her eye was drawn to first.
Mason nods and gives her a smile. Not a cocky, arrogant smug-ass smirk, but a real smile. A tiny one, but still. "That's actually exactly what I was thinking too." He says as he writes Confinement at the top of the paper
"Oh." Parker says and looks away before he takes the opportunity to do something stupid.
"I'll start." Mason writes something down on the paper then pushes back to her.
Hell. He wrote. Parker cracks a smirk. He's making this way too easy.
This town.
Mason just laughs as he writes his next word. Parker doesn't even bother to tell him that she's completely serious.
Home.
Gone.
Disappeared.
Ditched.
Vanished.
Abandon.
Leave.
Alone.
Mason puases for a long minute before carefully writing his next word.
Alone.
Parker blinks down at the paper. "What? You stumped?"
Mason shrugs. His face, strangely enough, is unreadable. Almost like he's thinking. "It's what I thought of."
Before Parker can say anything - not that she'd know what to say - Mrs. Hobbs is swooping down the aisles.
"Time's up." She's saying. "If I may, let me see what you came up with?"
Mason and Parker are the first pair she gravitates to. "Yes, you first Mason. I'm curious. You always have good work for me."
Parker's eyebrows shoot up into her hairline. Does she mean good as in amusing, or good as in . . . good?
Mrs. Hobbs makes a noise of approval as her eyes scan over the paper. "Interesting. Short. Simple. Kind of dark, it seems like. I like it." She smiles at Mason who gives her a half smile back, but also becomes super focused on the white-blond hair he's twirling between his fingers. Like a sort of distraction.
Then she turns to Parker. "I may not know you, but this is your good work as well. I think you two might make good partners this year." She says before going off to another pair.
Parker makes the mistake of turning to look at Mason, who looks actually happy. Better than the smug look she was expecting from him, but it still grinds at her.
"Whatdya know? Looks like we go good together."
"You got lucky." She scoffs.
"Well then, I guess you did too." Mason slumps forward so he's resting on the desk - at leas he's not staring at her anymore - but she swears that under his messy, overgrown hair she actually sees him wink.
Story: Suburbia
Word Count: 1603
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Mason surprises Parker. But that still doesn't mean she's impressed.
Flavors: Blueberry Yogurt #26 - Double Take. Chocolate #18 - Confinement.
Notes: Last chronologically in the First Day stuff. There will probably be at least one more, this is just the next one I wrote. Also, the titles are getting harder and harder. I might have to be lame and break the song lyric pattern soon. I don't get how people do it.
By the last period of the day, Parker is finally able to make it to a class on time. Creative Writing - and only because it was about thirty yards down the hall from the front door. Regardless, it's a relief to be able to sit down and actually take in the surroundings before being thrown into God knows what next.
For the first time all day, she's actually impressed. Unlike all of the other tiny, overly bright and fluorescent classrooms at Palmera, this one reminds her of her old English classes. She looks at the classic movie posters and quotes tacked all over the walls, the piles of books leaning everywhere, and can't help but wonder if it's just an English teacher thing.
The class is small - maybe ten other people besides her. Ten others who quickly pair off in the double seated tables, leaving her on her own. Not that she minded.
"Just in time. Welcome Creative Writing students!" The teacher scurries inside just as the second bell rings. A woman who doesn't look much older than Parker named Mrs. Hobbs - if the scrawled words on the chalkboard behind her were any indication - with a loud, funky shirt and a nose ring. "First day. Fun stuff, fun stuff. Now, I'm supposed to go over the course description and rules and all thatm but you guys can handle that on your own right? I'm a little too anxious to get started."
An impressed murmur of consent goes through the class, Even Parker cracks a small smile. She likes this chick already.
"Great. Now the first thing is - well, it looks like we have the first straggler of the day." Mrs. Hobbs says as the door opens and Mason tries - and fails - to slide in discreetely.
Parker frowns. She forgot that he would be in the class with her. She isn't exactly thrilled - the few times that she saw him around the building earlier, he tried to get her attention by waving his hands like a moron and shouting - but she figures it can't be worse than the shitstorm earlier with his bitchy chick friend.
"Sorry. I was in the bathroom." Mason says casually, not looking too sorry at all.
Mrs. Hobbs just waves him away, not looking too bothered. "Just take a seat."
Parker's scowl deepens. Why couldn't he get humiliated like she did earlier today - three times? A big part of her wants to get right in his face and ask him -
"This seat taken?"
Parker turns around to see Mason sliding into the seat next to her, not even waiting for an answer. She rolls her eyes and tries to turn her attention away from him.
"You don't look thrilled to see me." Mason says as Mrs. Hobbs starts talking.
"As if I should be?"
"Well, rumor has it I do make a good desk partner."
"I don't do partners." Not if they're you. It takes her a lot of willpower not to add.
"Ever? That must get boring."
"I like it that way."
"Well, I'm sure if the right one came along . . ." Mason shrugs as if to say here I am.
Parker finally turns to shoot him an annoyed glare. If Mason even notices, it doesn't phase him at all. It makes her want to smack herself in the face. First Andrew, then him. What planet did these people come from?
"Maybe. Maybe if I had one that could keep quiet for a few seconds." She said with a venom-filled smile.
"Still boring."
"Why do you insist on tortuing me?" She snaps. "I don't even know you."
"Well New Girl, around these parts, we call it being friendly." Mason says with a cocky grin, like he thinks he's freaking hilarious.
Parker opens up her mouth, then decides to shut it. The only things she wants to say to Mason would probably get her suspeded, and as entertaining as the idea if, she wouldn't want to hear the endless tirade from her dad. Instead, lips pressed closed, she turns her attention back to the front of the class, where Mrs. Hobbs is writing what looks like a random collection of words on the chalkboard.
"Word association." She says, turning around and smiling at the class. "I know it sounds like something that should belong in a psychologist's office, but this is one of my favorites. I want you guys to partner up, pick a word from up here," She waves her hand at the random collection of words behind her. "And just see where you go from there."
Everyone else scoots closer together and starts chatting over the assignment. Parker looks at the words at the front of the class; all seemingly random words - dark, color, open, pain, new. Stuff like that.
Words that shouldn't mean anything. But surprisingly, Parker's mind is working fast within seconds. She pulls out a notebok and leans over a fresh page, ready to jot down everything that's popping into her head, when she can feel a presence looming over her shoulder.
She closes her eyes and exhales deeply, loud enough that Mason should be able to take a hint. Should be.
"Can I help you?" She asks in a clipped, calm voice.
"Well, if we're going to work together, you're going to need me scoot a little closer."
"I told you, I don't do partners."
"But I do. And you're the only one left, so . . ." Mason raises his eyebrows and bites his lip in what looks like some kind of pout. For a split second, Parker wonders how many other poor saps he can make fall for that pathetic crap.
"Well, that's just too damn bad, isn't it?" She says, then turns back to her notebook. Only now, her head is blocked. She clicks the top of her pen over and over again and frowns at the paper - what happened to all the thoughts rolling around in her head earlier?
"You look a little stuck." Mason notices, twirling a pen through his own fingers.
"I'm just thinking. Wanna give it a try, and maybe give me some peace?" Parker snaps.
"You know, I'm pretty good about getting rid of writers block. I have my own special method."
"Fantastic. And what, praytell, would that be?" Her voice is dripping with sarcasm, but secretely, she wants to know if Mason is serious.
"I'll let you know if you help me out."
Maybe it's just to make him be quiet, maybe it's just to get this ordeal over with and end the day faster, but surprisingly, Parker can't think of any more arguments or reasons to keep him at bay.
"Fine." She snaps, shoving her notebook so it's a bit closer to him. "As long as it will shut you up."
"Alrighty then." Mason says with a smile. "Now, the first thing we have to do is pick a starting point. I was thinking about -"
"Confinement." Parker decides, glancing at the chalkboard. It was the last one on the list - the one her eye was drawn to first.
Mason nods and gives her a smile. Not a cocky, arrogant smug-ass smirk, but a real smile. A tiny one, but still. "That's actually exactly what I was thinking too." He says as he writes Confinement at the top of the paper
"Oh." Parker says and looks away before he takes the opportunity to do something stupid.
"I'll start." Mason writes something down on the paper then pushes back to her.
Hell. He wrote. Parker cracks a smirk. He's making this way too easy.
This town.
Mason just laughs as he writes his next word. Parker doesn't even bother to tell him that she's completely serious.
Home.
Gone.
Disappeared.
Ditched.
Vanished.
Abandon.
Leave.
Alone.
Mason puases for a long minute before carefully writing his next word.
Alone.
Parker blinks down at the paper. "What? You stumped?"
Mason shrugs. His face, strangely enough, is unreadable. Almost like he's thinking. "It's what I thought of."
Before Parker can say anything - not that she'd know what to say - Mrs. Hobbs is swooping down the aisles.
"Time's up." She's saying. "If I may, let me see what you came up with?"
Mason and Parker are the first pair she gravitates to. "Yes, you first Mason. I'm curious. You always have good work for me."
Parker's eyebrows shoot up into her hairline. Does she mean good as in amusing, or good as in . . . good?
Mrs. Hobbs makes a noise of approval as her eyes scan over the paper. "Interesting. Short. Simple. Kind of dark, it seems like. I like it." She smiles at Mason who gives her a half smile back, but also becomes super focused on the white-blond hair he's twirling between his fingers. Like a sort of distraction.
Then she turns to Parker. "I may not know you, but this is your good work as well. I think you two might make good partners this year." She says before going off to another pair.
Parker makes the mistake of turning to look at Mason, who looks actually happy. Better than the smug look she was expecting from him, but it still grinds at her.
"Whatdya know? Looks like we go good together."
"You got lucky." She scoffs.
"Well then, I guess you did too." Mason slumps forward so he's resting on the desk - at leas he's not staring at her anymore - but she swears that under his messy, overgrown hair she actually sees him wink.