2020-11-26 - Grafitti

 2020-11-26 - Grafitti

Spencer Newcastle had been plotting and picking his times and today was the day. He had noticed Mr. Negron feeling a little under the weather at the end of the day on Wednesday and with Covid protocols about staying home while symptomatic, he’d surely call in sick the next day and there would be….a sub. A sub meant he wasn’t on their watch in the same way. A sub meant they’d go to the office first and he would come in early and carry out his plan. Now he stood at Miranda Roger’s desk with his pocket knife and carved. Miranda had been snarky with him in the last class yesterday. It was time to take her down a  notch...but let someone else take the fall. He scratched the words into the desk nice and big. The first part was personal...but then he grinned. What had Gene called her again? Oh yeah,,,,that would do it.

Miranda Rogers has great tits. Too bad she’s an uppity bitch!

Spencer admired his graffiti after and blew the dust off his pocket knife before folding it back up and tucking it away. Then he left, just like he had with the poster and came back at his normal arrival time with the regular masses. Just an ordinary day.

Miranda walked into school with her earbuds in but sort of intermittently nodding along with a song. She saw Winona and Tyler at the lockers and popped out one earbud and smiled “Hey….I’m listening to Warriors by Avril again and I was thinking about her whole fight with Lyme disease and how maybe it gave her some perspective on writing this song about Covid...ya know?” Miranda is very passionate about her love of Avril Lavigne.

Tyler looks a little lost as Miranda greets them with a musical theory “I uh….you know I’ve never heard it...or really much by her.”

Miranda slumps and slightly hissed at him and then looks pleadingly at Winona “You’ve heard the song right? Does anyone understand my brain today?” She’s laughing though and suspecting she might get shot down. She hangs up her jacket and repacks her book bag a bit and then starts ambling towards the classroom with her two friends. As she gets to her seat she goes to put down her binder and freezes at her desk reading something scratched into it “What the fuck?” She looks up at Winona and Tyler as if seeking their input on what she’s just looked down at.

Winona smiles at her friend.  “Of course I’ve heard it.”  she’d had to Google it, but she’d listened to a couple of songs online.  “But I don’t understand your brain.  I’m just not that good?”  she offers, trying to soften the blow.  But Miranda is laughing and that is just rare these days, it seems.  She puts her coat in her locker and heads into class with Miranda and Tyler and then the laughter stops.  Following her eyes, Winona looks at the text.  She sighs deeply and blinks, reading it again.  “Jesus… what the fuck...”  she looks at Tyler as if expecting him to explain, do something or both.

Gene had glanced up from his last ebook to see Miranda and her crew at their lockers, which were near his locker.  So he waited until they went into the classroom before he went to his locker and put his afternoon books and homework in it.  His fishermans sweater had become his coat, at least for now.  Books separated by morning and afternoon, he goes back to his book and walks blindly into the classroom.  He hears Miranda’s voice demanding what the fuck, followed by Winona’s voice parrotting her.  Gene ignores them.  Whatever it is, it isn’t his business.  He goes back to reading.

Alexandra Academy had a fairly small pool of substitute teachers. Often they tried to just cover for each other within the school and shuffle around but there were one or two folks in town who could answer the call as well. Now properly accredited after the separation of the fog was Lindsay Baxter. She had been inches from her education degree graduation as the fog hit and was newly married at the time to Austin Baxter. Now she had fast tracked her last course and graduated by distance education over the summer. She was the first number on the substitute list and today was her first official day as a sub in Mr. Negron’s class. Mrs. Baxter was eager, optimistic and oh so new to it all. But she had the oldest group to start. Surely they were mature and easy to self direct. After all, she had really enjoyed and excelled in high school. Didn’t everyone? She had read the email from Angel Negron and had gotten his worksheet attachment to print out. So now she was at the office making copies and looking forward to a productive day with fresh young minds. She was still making good time before the second bell and happily chatting with the secretaries. 

Sparrow was heading into the 11-12 room. She had seen the back of Gene head in from a distance and now it seemed Bitchface and ehr little crew were gathered around her desk having some sort of dramatic moment. She rolled her eyes and walked to her desk, thinking she might get a chapter of her book read if she was fast enough and the room wasn’t too loud. She plunked down and opened her book, trying to ignore the chatter with a quick smile back at Gene as she took her bookmark out and found her spot.

Tyler was flabbergasted. He looked helplessly at Winona and then at Miranda “Who would do this? This is….this is…” He didn’t even have the words until he said “so ...personal.” It wasn’t ordinary graffiti. She was named and targeted.

Levar walked in with Otis and they seemed mid conversation “He said it right at the desk...to me...not even to my Dad at the shop….do we do manscaping...I mean….dude we’re a barber shop….there’s not dropping trou in…” He broke off as there seemed to be a commotion happening at the back of the room around Miranda’s desk and she suddenly got loud.

“Uppity bitch…...funny only one person in this room has called me that.” Miranda spun on her heel and glared at Gene Sinclair “When he told me I could have the seat back….for fuck’s sakes Gene if you’re going to carve shit about me into the desk you can fucking keep it!” She yelled and folded her arms just standing and steaming mad.

Fernanda was stopping Duncan at the classroom door and brushing something from the edge of his mouth with a little smile “Got you with lipstick...sorry.” Then she frowned “Is that Miranda yelling?” She turned and walked into the classroom and curiously towards Miranda who was clearly upset.

Spencer sauntered in behind Fernanda and put on his best poker face. He could hear the yelling too. Good she had discovered it. He waited for his cue to look surprised that anything was happening.

Gene glanced up when Sparrow walked in and waved at her with his phone.  It was a little joke between them.  She read her paper books and he read his electronic books.  Then he immediately looked back at the words on his phone when he heard the words ‘uppity bitch’ in Mirandas’s voice followed by her accusing him of … he really didn’t know what.  He caught her glare and forced his face to remain deadpan, but he was confused.  He stood slowly .. he was tall, but so was Miranda, so it didn’t have the same effect as if it were say Elise.  But he tried and looked down at her.  “What are you bitching about now …”  he didn’t want to call her a name, but he also didn’t want to call her by HER name.  So he ended with “Randy.”

Otis watched … these two … but he said nothing … it seemed .. well … he didn’t know what it was yet.

Duncan grinned at Fernanda and then heard his sister.  He walked in just as Gene was standing and calling her …  Randy?  He couldn’t say another because he had a special name for Fernanda … but he liked Fernanda and Gene and Miranda didn’t seem to be on that road.  Quite the opposite.  He watched but knew he had to let Miranda fight her own battle.

Gene watched as Miranda stood her ground and he had a flash of admiration for her.  He stamped that out fast as they stared at each other.  Then she motioned to her desk and he read the sentences while she ranted.  Now he got it.  She thought he wrote that on her desk.  He straightened.  If he had a pet peeve it was being accusd of something he hadn't done.  At least the info on the flier was more or less true.  "I said it to your face."  he tried to keep his voice even.  "The first part.  As for the second part."  he actually avoided looking her up and down.  "I've never seen your tits.  Maybe you should be accusing someone who has."  its more a simple suggestion, as he is just assuming she isn't a virgin and that she might have pissed off some ex lover, because she seemed great at pissing people off.  Suddenly Fernanda was telling her to report it.  "Yes .. report IT ... not me .. cause I didn't write that shit."  he snapped, showing a bit of temper for the first time .. ever, really.

Duncan took a step forward and looked at the writing on the desk as Miranda and Gene snipped at each other.  He tightened his jaw as Fernanda read it out loud.  He looked at Gene and then around like Levar.

Cosmo came in as Miranda and Gene were arguing and he looked at the desk and backed a laugh.  Then he realized no oe else thought it was funny and backed off a bit.Now Spencer turned with a look of feigned concern. He wished he had brought popcorn.

Miranda saw Gene stand and look down at her and she drew herself up to her full height in response to his body language. Was he trying to intimidate her physically? Oh just try it buddy! And Randy? She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging that part but she did gesture aggressively at the words scratched into her desk “Are you honestly going to pretend you didn’t write this? After that’s exactly what you said to me…..and the first part….let me tell you mister…..MY TITS DO NOT EXIST for YOUR viewing pleasure! Pig!” She hunched now so that her sweater puffed out and any definition of her upper body was not in any way accented by her posture or clothing. How dare he?

Tyler shrank back from between the exchange of energy and words happening on the path between Miranda and Gene’s spots and looked nervous.

Fernanda gave a little frown between Miranda and Gene and then gave into her urge to see the desk and strode over looking at it from the side. She read it out loud in a questioning voice “Miranda Rogers has great tits? Too bad she’s an uppity bitch? Whoah…...Miranda you need to report this to Mr. VanBuren or Ms. Fisher….”

Levar cringed “Shit….yeah that’s not ok…” He glanced at Gene and then around the room “Did anyone see who wrote this?” He wasn’t going to jump to conclusions but it did sound kinda bad for Gene right now. He honestly hoped it wasn’t him after the whole poster fiasco. Gene seemed like a good guy.

Sparrow glared at Miranda and tossed ehr book on the desk without putting her bookmark back in. She looked ready to cross the room any second. She was sure Gene would not do this.

Gene watched as Miranda stood her ground and he had a flash of admiration for her.  He stamped that out fast as they stared at each other.  Then she motioned to her desk and he read the sentences while she ranted.  Now he got it.  She thought he wrote that on her desk.  He straightened.  If he had a pet peeve it was being accused of something he hadn't done.  At least the info on the flier was more or less true.  "I said it to your face."  he tried to keep his voice even.  "The first part.  As for the second part."  he actually avoided looking her up and down.  "I've never seen your tits.  Maybe you should be accusing someone who has."  its more a simple suggestion, as he is just assuming she isn't a virgin and that she might have pissed off some ex lover, because she seemed great at pissing people off.  Suddenly Fernanda was telling her to report it.  "Yes .. report IT ... not me .. cause I didn't write that shit."  he snapped, showing a bit of temper for the first time .. ever, really.

Duncan took a step forward and looked at the writing on the desk as Miranda and Gene snipped at each other.  He tightened his jaw as Fernanda read it out loud.  He looked at Gene and then around like Levar.

Cosmo came in as Miranda and Gene were arguing and he looked at the desk and barked a laugh.  Then he realized no one else thought it was funny and backed off a bit.  “Just …  you know …  it rhymes…”  he looked around a bit helplessly and shrugged.  “It does …”

Spencer couldn't help but crack a smile at Cosmo. His pal appreciated his prose, even though he didn’t know it was his. “It does rhyme.” He whispered and then he sat taller and said out loud “But it’s so disrespectful….” He was speaking to the room in general and not looking at Miranda or Gene.

Miranda reacts to Gene’s comment on her tits and accusing someone who has seen them as being increasingly boorish with another flash of anger access her face and a brief jaw drop and then a huge eye roll “Really? Really! Are you fucking serious?!” She was s pissed now she didn’t even hear Spencer’s words, he was background noise in the room. The second bell rang and she was still squaring off with Gene, not backing down. He had some nerve challenging her directly. A perky little blonde woman walked into the room with a big sunny smile and Miranda saw it in her peripheral vision and chose to ignore it.

Mrs. Baxter set her purse and a stack of papers down on the desk and turned to face the room “Good morning 11-12s. I’m Mrs. Baxter. If you could all go to your desks I’ll be taking roll call after O’Canada.” She slung her jacket over the back of the teacher’s chair and came back around looking expectantly and as cheerful as a muppet “11-12s? Hi there…...if you could just….” They were ridiculously distracted and not by their phones like she had been warned. Two students seemed to be having a disagreement. She could diffuse them...no problem. Her voice was very sing song “I’m sensing some tension...let’s start the day with a few nice deep breaths and then we can talk it out….”

Miranda snapped her gaze to the chipper substitute “No...we cannot. Sorry.” Then she grabbed her binder and gave Gene one last glare “Asshole.” She hissed at him and then stalked out of the room.

Gene listened to both Cosmo and Spencer, but it was Spencer he wanted to pound.  In a way, Miranda saved him from it by snapping at him ... again.  His whole life had been about not losing his cool.  He'd only done it once and it got him landed in prison.  There he learned an even better way to handle bullshit like this.  He didn't back down one millimeter ... but he also did not reply, settling into a stony stubborn silence.  Out of the corner of his eye came some tiny blonde with a big happy happy joy joy smile on her face.  He didn't go to his seat. O Canada could kiss his ass.  When the teacher keeps talking and sounding like some kind of yoga guru or something, he only glanced at her when Miranda looked away, backing down first.  Minor victories.  Miranda called him an ass hole and he straightened even more, refusing to reply, because at this point, nothing he said could be nice and as far as he was concerned would probably be used against him.  He was’t American, but he would use their rights to save himself … and then he remembered what they were called … Miranda rights.

Duncan nearly rounded on Cosmo when he realized that Cosmo just wasn't terribly bright and probably didn't mean anything from the comment.  Then Miranda continued, but Gene went quiet.  He did not look happy.  But he didn't have to.  The blonde who bounced in had sunshine and happiness to spare. he didn't sit.  He wasn't leaving his sister.  Then the teacher started asking for miracles and his jaw dropped slightly.

Otis groaned softly and backed toward his seat, even as Miranda stormed off.

Cosmo moved his eyes between Spencer and the new teacher ... who seemed very happy and had her own set of nice tits as far as he could tell.  Miranda ran off and he moved to his own seat.

Levar awkwardly stood up. This was a shit show...again and with a sub who talked to them like a kindergarten teacher. “Mrs Baxter, I need to be excused to go do morning announcements. Levar Hawkins-Domino for the attendance sheet. And that was Miranda Rogers…..who stepped out.” He watered it down from stormed out. 

Mrs Baxter beamed at Levar “Oh yes your name was in the email. Go ahead Levar. The rest of you, by your own desks please. We all have conflict. It’s ok. Just breathe.” She gave an almost pitying look to the young man who had been called an asshole but she didn’t know the context of the fight. Maybe it was a break up? Young love was fragile after all. O’Canada came on over the PA and people did shuffle back to their desks and stand but it was tense.

Sparrow stood sideways at her desk trying to catch Gene’s eye and offer a look of support. Why the hell couldn’t he catch a break? Bitchface was having a bitch day. And Spencer and Cosmo were useless tools.

Spencer turned and stood at attention feeling immensely satisfied with his work today. The sub was cute to boot, annoying...but he could tune that out and just look . Things were looking up.

Fernanda had moved back to her desk and eyed Duncan to see how he was reacting. His sister kept getting caught in the drama lately but this writing on the desk was pretty horrible. Fernanada sympathized with her. She wasn’t sure if it was Gene but she got Miranda’s rage for sure.

Miranda was down the hall trying to decide what to do and shaking with fury as she stood for O Canada halfway to the office. She was blinking hard and fighting tears. How could this near stranger who seemed to have it in for her hurt her feelings so easily? Fuck you Gene Sinclair, she thought.

Levar caught up with Miranda part way through the anthem. You were supposed to stand still but he needed to be in the office as the song finished. So he was standing at attention and inching down the hall like a sneaky cat. He passed Miranda and gave her shoulder a little pat but didn’t talk.

Miranda looked back at Levar and gave him a brief tearful smile and then wiped at her face. Dammit. He looked like he was going to come back and she waved him off and mouthed It’s OK….I’m fine. She wasn’t but she didn’t want to make him late or drag him into it. Should she report it? She looked towards the office, considering it. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. No. She wasn’t going to. Their day started with gym class and they were doing a unit on basketball, her game. She would lose herself in it and take out her anger on the court...and hope to god Mr. Burrows put Gene Sinclair on the other team. Miranda bolted to the gym after O’Canada and was changed during the morning announcements.

Gene heard Levar and then hears this woman ... Mrs Baxter say they all had conflict.  Gene wondered if she was goign to suggest they all hold hands and sing about it.  He moved back to his seat, as usual not singing a word of O Canada.  He looked at Sparrow and tightened his jaw.  This is what happened when things got good for him, his pained eyes told her.  He hadn't done it, but he fully expected to go down for it.  But homeroom ended without his being called to the office … immediately.  If Miranda didn’t report the desk and implicate him … someone else would.

Duncan looked at the ray of sunshine and then towards the door.  Miranda might actually get mad at him for following her, so he stayed, going to his seat for O Canada.  But he didn't sing, he looked at the door, hoping to see Miranda return and wondering where she'd gone.  But the class ended and the next began with … nothing.

Cosmo smiled at the substitute and O Canada'd his heart out.  She was cute .. and that made up for a lot.  

Mr. Burrows was surprised to see a student arrive before the bell fully changed and ready but he shrugged it off “Hey Miranda.” He knew this one well as she was captain of the girl’s basketball team “Racing here early because it’s still basketball?” He teased and bounced a ball her way.

Miranda gave a noncommittal nod and forced smile but caught the ball and ran with it like it was her salvation. She sank basket after basket and ran and ran, feeling a slight sense of things lifting. But as the class came in she tensed again. She had just screamed at Gene in front of everyone and there were those words on the desk. Miranda focussed on the ball and shooting more hoops until the teacher called them to the center of the room. She sniffed and focussed on the gym floor. Mr. Burrows numbered them off and she nearly bit a hole in her cheek when she ended up on the same team as Gene. Fuck that. But he was the last of her problems as she ended up on the opposite team as Sparrow.

Sparrow wasn’t on the basketball team but she new how to play. She wasn’t as good as Miranda, who she had to admit was insanely good, but she could block Miranda and make her game harder, which she did, fully bumping her as often as she could.

Miranda got jostled and bumped by Sparrow to the point of frustration and finally stepped back from her mid game and called her on it “Get the fuck off me already.”

Sparrow got back in Miranda’s face “Leave Gene alone. He didn’t do it.”

Miranda bounced the ball from Sparrow’s hands roughly “Whatever.” And then pushed past her and dribbled it down the court and passed to Fernanda, even though Gene was open and right by the hoop. She shot him a glare and ran for another pass coming her way.

It was a long tense game. Levar tried to step in and crack jokes and only half the class laughed so he stopped and stood by Otis “Think we’ll ever just get a quiet week?” He mused.

Tyler as usual stayed to the sides and tried to avoid the ball, watching the whole thing and looking nervous.

Gene rolled his eyes every time he was open and Miranda wouldn’t pass him the ball.  He shook his head at Sparrow and as Levar spoke as he was passing by, Gene replied with.  “Not with me around, apparently.”  he hadn’t meant to be an ass about it but it felt that way to him.  But at least class was almost over.

Echoing through the gymnasium came a rumbling male voice front the PA system.  

Miranda Rogers, please report to the Administrative offices.  Miranda Rogers.

Spencer had been sitting on the bleachers just watching. He hated basketball so he had put on a tensor bandage and forged a doctor’s note from Dr. McKinney. Mr. Burrows was new and he bought it. Sucker. But the Miranda, Sparrow Gene show on the court was the best sporting event of the year so far. 

Levar felt bad at Gene’s reply and gave him a little friendly clap on the shoulder “Hey man..it can only get better…” But then Miranda was being called to the office by what sounded liek Mr. VanBuren and he awkwardly pursed his lips.

Miranda stopped short mid dribble towards the hoop when she heard her name on the PA. “Fuck…” She muttered but loudly and tossed the ball randomly and ironically right to Gene as she made her exit from the game. She huffed when she saw where it was headed and then grabbed her bag and stalked to the office. She hadn’t been planning to report him….

Arthur VanBuren was waiting when Miranda arrived at the office.  Vera had also been informed and he motioned her into his office, closing he door behind her.  “I understand there was some graffiti placed on your desk this morning?”  it was still morning, of course.  But he had to begin somehow.  He already knew what it said … now it was time to figure out what the hell was going on.

Vera moved into Arthur’s office and took the chair opposite from the one closest to Miranda. She let him take the lead since he was the principal and she had just been informed. But it wasn’t the first graffiti carved into a desk, just the first targeting a student.

Miranda had run hard in gym, trying to work out her anger physically and by the time she was in Mr. VanBuren’s office with both admins she was thoroughly sweaty and still in her gym clothes basketball shorts and a t-shirt from her old school team that said Bateman Timberwolves with her hair in a messy ponytail. She nodded at Mr. VanBuren “Yeah...there was.” She couldn’t deny what was still on the desk.

Arthur listened to Miranda and withheld a sigh.  “Mrs. Baxter explained the scene when she first walked in. so I am giving you a few minutes to tell me who you believe may have been responsible.”  he tells her.  He of course knows about the commotion … and who she was toe to toe with in homeroom.

Miranda looks truly conflicted as she asked to name Gene. She wants to and she doesn’t. But if he’s asking around and hears it from someone else what can she do “I...uh….the words were similar to something someone said to me. So I accused Gene Sinclair. Honestly I can handle it. And I know he just went through a bunch of stuff over that poster. “ She’s still mad as hell at him but maybe he’s just taking his shit out on her and this will be the end of it. She hates being a snitch. “I can solve my own problems.”

Vera looks at Arthur with a raised brow and then at Miranda “We don’t doubt you Miranda. But we’re here to help. And whoever did this...if it was Gene or another student defaced school property and wrote something I’m guessing was very upsetting to you?”

Miranda looks sideways at Ms. Fisher and then back to Mr. VanBuren and reluctantly nods.

Arthur nodded slowly.  He wasn't pleased to hear Gene's name, but he'd heard it from Mrs Baxter first.  "Miranda, I am sure you believe that.  However, the crime occured on school property."  he blows out a breath as Vera begins to explain the exact same thing and, as she continued, he picked up his own school microphone and spoke into it.  "Gene Sinclair, please report to the Administrative offices.  Eugene Sinclaire."

Gene heard his name as he changed out of his gym clothes and he snorted.  He'd been expecting it, so he was far from surprised.  He got dressed and moved to the administrative office, where he knocked on the principals door and waited to be called in.  When that happened, he walked in, ignoring Miranda.  He saw Ms Fisher and voided sighing.  He moved to the desk and stood feet apart and hands in front of him.  “You called me, sir?”  he replied with the utmost respect.

Arthur looked at Gene and suppressed his sigh.  The boy's stance betrayed his time in prison.  “I think you know why you’ve been called.”  he explained to him.  “I just want to get your side of this story.  Mrs Baxter said it looked like you and Miranda were arguing?”

Gene sighed deeply and looked straight at Arthur.  “She accused me of vandalizing her desk.  I denied it, sir.”  he paused and sighed.  “I am willing to empty my pockets and give you permission to search my locker for whatever carved those words.  I don’t own a knife.  All of the members of my foster family can testify to that as well as a couple of people outside of it.”

Arthur sighed deeply.  “Alright ….  I accept your offer, son.”  he pulled open his desk drawer and got out a permission form, which he began to full out.  “Sign here and empty your pockets.  You were coming from the Gym?  I am adding that locker as well.”

Gene nodded once.  “Yes sir.  And …  I did and I .. know you will.”  he didn’t seem surprised.  At all.  He empties his jeans pockets.  Wallet, phone and keys.  In the wallet are a brand new bank card and condoms, but that’s it.

Miranda was a bit unsure of how to react to Gene’s stance as well as his willingness to empty his pockets and have his locker searched. He claimed he doesn’t have a pocket knife but then she has a specific question “What about a protractor, from a geometry set? Maybe it wasn’t a knife…..we all have those,,,I’m not trying to make this more difficult….just..” She shrugs and gives Gene a hurt and bitter look, even if he doesn't look at her and see it. His words hurt her, deeply and she doesn’t know why. She’s angry about that too.

Vera tilts her head watching Gene and noting his absolute and respectful compliance. That had to be in some ways hard for him even if he made it look natural. “A protractor would be a certain size of etching. We could take a look..” She suggests.

Gene closed his eyes.  Of course Miranda was right ... and she had very potentially just slit both of his wrists with the alleged protractor.

Arthur listens.  "That is true.  But if a protractor was used, the tip would also likely be damaged."  he sighs again.  "Gene, is your protractor in your locker, son?"

Gene stands ramrod straight and opens his .  "Yes sir."  he hesitates.  "You'll be having Mr .. I mean Detective Lawrey search my lockers?"

Arthur nods.  "Yes." but this time, he picked up his cell phone and sent a text message.

Miranda cringed. She didn’t actually want any of this. She fidgets with the hem of her shorts and rolls her head to one side. Now Marcus was being called. This was all going to go right back through her family even if they hadn’t already called her father. And this might even make her a bigger target for whatever Gene hated about her since the poster day. What did she care? She didn’t like him either? So why was it so awful she wanted to puke? She let out an audible sigh.

Vera gave Gene a rueful nod “Thank you for being so cooperative Gene. And thank you both for telling us your perspectives. I know you’re both angry. But consider the fact that you are in the same class for the rest of the year. And maybe when some time has passed we can help you talk some of this through. Just consider it. We won’t force it. But it’s an option.” She’s not assigning blame to either of them.

Miranda looked at Ms. Fisher doubtfully. She was pretty sure they were past the talking things out stage forever and more at the arch enemies forever part of their lives.

Gene looked at Vera Fisher.  "I don't have a choice, Ms Fisher."  he tells her.  "Not unless I want to force the police to get a warrant.  That only makes me look guilty and I can't afford a lawyer."  he still doesn't look at Miranda.  "I just want this over with, ma'am."  Miranda Rogers is forcing him through abject humiliation.  Of course she could get away with that.  A white girls word against his.  His only possible salvation was that he really was innocent … not that he expected that to help him.  “I’m not mad.  I’m just a con.”  he knew this could happen to him, especially since he did have a record.

Arthur looked up from his phone.  “Lawrey and Sharp will be checking the lockers now.”  he looked at Vera as she tried to smooth things.  But Gene was right … for good or ill … he was right.  And he hated it.

At Gene’s reply Miranda can’t stay quiet any more. She rounds on him “Look...I wasn’t going to call the cops over you writing something mean about me on a desk. Seriously….I’ve had worse. You have NO idea….I told you off about it. I wasn’t even going to tell them….” She gestures at the admins “But I got called in and they already knew...i could tell. As far as I’m concerned, if it was you, you know how pissed I am. And honestly if it wasn’t...so does the rest of our class and probably the school by the end of the day. Let’s agree to stay the hell away from one another and just be done with it all. Because believe me, I want it over with too.”

Vera heard Gene and knowing what he had been through she realized his perspective was valid and heartbreaking. Miranda took her off guard a bit but then she has to interject “Because it’s a desk in our building….we do have to follow up. If it was something of yours, a binder, a bag...then you could make the choice you’re suggesting Miranda.” she doesn’t mention the fact that it’s not the first graffiti carving because the students aren’t privy to that, but she looks significantly at Arthur. That was another reason they had to follow up. But the first round happened before Gene arrived. Now she looked suspiciously at Miranda. Because she was here then…...hmmm….”Miranda, to be fair, would you also sign the waiver to have your belongings searched?”

Miranda blinks at Ms. Fisher “You think I call myself an uppity bitch?” Then she rolls her eyes and laughs “You know what fine. I don’t have a knife and my protractor is also in my locker. I’ll write down the combo.” She stands up and dramatically opens her purse and dumps it on the principal’s desk. There’s nothing unusual in it for a teenage girl. She has her phone, earbuds, a small journal, some random receipts, 3 tampons, a bottle of hand sanitizer, a little black zippered wallet with a pink haired cartoon character on it, a set of keys with a  T-Rex keychain, a hairbrush with hair elastics wrapped around it and a tube of lipgloss. “Do you want the backpack after that lot?”

Gene finally looks at Miranda.  He isn't sure if he believes that she wasn't planning on telling about the graffiti, but it had been wound so ... it made sense.  He scoffs.  "You accused me in a public place, Randy."  his voice is tired.  "And I am a ex convict, at least until I am eighteen.  You ..."  he almost says she should tell them who might write about her tits, and maybe she knows that, but he decides not to.  To cover, he simply says.  "You get to witness your power first hand.  Enjoy."  it was a slap in her face and he didn't care.  Everyone knew he was a convict ... how could she NOT know he would be the first one they looked at?  Ms Fisher offers to search Miranda's locker and Gene scoffs a derisive laugh.  He looks at Miranda and sighs.  "Whatever makes you all feel better."  his bitterness slips through the cracks and he clears his throat and damn near stands at attention, just waiting.

Arthur's lips part at both Miranda, Vera and Gene.  He couldn't stop Vera from speaking, but if he could have, he absolutely would have.  Gene's words slap him as well.  Because that is the only reason to ask Miranda, the victim, to agree to a search.  “May as well, Miranda.”  he tells her.  He won’t contradict Vera in front of the students.  He gets what she is doing but .. it looks horrible to the uninitiated.

Miranda does feel the sting of Gene’s words and can’t retort. She has some awareness that he’s right even if he’s being a  major ass about it. So now she just turns her head away from him and waits for this moment to be over. He called her Randy again? Asshole. Her family and friends got to pick nicknames, not mortal enemies.

Vera hesitates before looking at Miranda’s belongings as Gene speaks. She can immediately see how it’s coming across. Of course she can’t explain her reasons. “We have to investigate all possibilities.” Is all she can say and stay vague. Vera picks through Miranda’s things and there’s no knife. “Ok you can pack that up again and pass me the backpack. Please don’t dump it out. We’ll also take that locker combo.” She grabs the post it notes and a pen and slides them across as she takes another waiver and fills it out quickly and also passes it “But sign this.”

Miranda writes down the combo and signs before roughly packing up her purse. Then she hands Ms. Fisher the backpack and sits back down painfully aware that she’s sitting while Gene stands. There was another chair in the corner he could have pulled over or sat in but he didn’t.

Vera opens every part of Miranda’s backpack and looks through but there’s nothing but school supplies and her regular clothing as she’s still in her gym clothes right now. She slides the post it to Arthur “For Detective Lawry and Lieutenant Sharp?” She shrugs. They’re in it now, even if this would be an awkward debrief later.

Arthur takes a written inventory of what is with Miranda and places it beside what is on Gene.  He looks at Vera and adds.  “If they need it, yes.”  Then the office falls into a bit of an awkward silence.  What was there really to say?  Even if he wanted to give Gene advice on a smoother transition into this school, he couldn’t do it in front of Miranda.  And he cna Vera couldn’t talk until after Miranda’s locker had been searched.

Gene stood still.  This was just like any other time he’d gotten in trouble in school or in prison.  The similarities in the institutions fascinated him in a morbid kind of way and he made a anote in his head to talk to Dante about it when he came back … if this Miranda bitch didn’t manage to get him back to prison on more bullshit before he got a chance.  He looked at her out of his peripheral vision.  She looked as pissed as he felt, but her face was less disciplined.  Her skin looked smooth and cool and her hair was still beautiful, maybe even especially since she’d just been playing basketball and ranting at him in the office without brushing or combing it.  Then he realized he was thinking about Miranda Rogers skin and hair and stopped doing that immediately.  That was helped a bit when a knock came to the door and Mr Detective Lawry walked in.

Marcus knocked twice, but walked in without waiting for permission.  He ignored the kids and walked straight up to Arthur.  “Both of their lockers check out.  Neither has a knife and both of their protractors are undamaged, although it’s been concluded that the damage to the desk is from a smaller knife, most likely a pocket knife.

Arthur nodded.  “Thank you, Detective Lawry.”  he looked at the kids in his office.  “You kids are free to go.”

Miranda glanced at Marcus as he came in but he was focussed on Mr. VanBuren and doing his job. They weren’t exactly pals but she’d seen a side of Marcus at family gatherings where he loved board games and was kind of a big kid. She compartmentalized that because that was not the energy of this room at all and she let herself look at Gene while Marcus talked because it still looked like she was looking at Marcus. There he was all tall and stoic in that fisherman’s sweater again. It was the kind of sweater on a guy she always fantasized about cuddling into and the second the thought popped into her head related to Gene she beat it out with a ratty mental broom. This was not a cuddling man. What the hell Miranda? They were both cleared of suspicion but she knew the damage had been done. She also couldn’t rectify how the words Gene said right to her were now on her desk. As soon as she heard Mr. VanBuren say the words free to go she grabbed her things and bolted out the door. She didn’t even change out of her gym clothes until lunch time but sat through what felt like the longest ELA class of her entire life. Mrs. Birch was starting a unit on poetry. They would first analyse some poems and then be writing their own. Miranda let the verses of Margaret Attwood and George Elliot Clarke wash over her, barely hearing a word of them. She looked despondent at her blank page in her notebook. She’d beg Winona or Duncan for the notes later. 

After Marcus and the kids left Vera looked sheepishly at Arthur “I apologize for my side of that. I knew the minute Gene called it out how it must have looked…...but he wasn’t here in September when we had that first report from George and then of course Clare…..Miranda was. I had to know if it was her. I realize my timing…” She held up a hand and then dropped it to her lap. “I jumped the gun.”

Everyone but Vera left Arthurs office and then Vera apologized.  “I understand that, Vera.”  he sighs deeply.  “And I wish there had been some other way … Bad timing or not, at least we know it wasn’t Miranda Rogers.”  he looks at his closed door.  “But those two … if this were a larger school, I’d separate them into two homerooms … but I can’t do that.  We just have to hope this all blows over.”  he sighed deeply and hoped that this part of the day was the worst the day had to offer.

Gene left the office and walked to their next class trying to concentrate on Mrs Birch and her poetry.  He had to pay attention, because the last thing he was going to give this place was the chance to ruin him over grades.  He realized that he sounded paranoid.  But it was a paranoia inducing sort of a day.  Once the class was over he went to his locker, which he expected to find a mess, but it wasn’t.  It was clear to him it had been searched but just because nothing was really where he’d put it but in other places.  Well … the cops were a hell of a lot nicer about things at least.  Once Miranda Rogers got him arrested for something it would be almost a pleasure to be thrown in jail by them.  He lew out a frustrated breath and took his lunch and walked to the gym, which was now  the cafeteria.  Since starting school he had never sat with his own classmates, but with the younger group … Gen, Elise and Nolan.

Nolan saw Gene enter the lunchroom and waved him over.  Today he could pay attention as he was all caught up on his past work and even a little ahead of the curve.

Gen waited for Gene to sit down, at least.  “We heard your name … and hers over the PA ….  But did we REALLY see the police going through your LOCKER?”  she demanded.

With a sigh, Gene told them what happened.  Never had he wanted to just cut school as much as he wanted to now.

Elise was outraged at Gene’s situation “That’s just fucking horrible. Way to assume. And after what she said about the poster.... I want to give Miranda a piece of my mind. Maybe whoever heard you say uppity bitch was just scratching it into the desk in agreement! Kinda not ok to talk about her body parts though...that’s a bit low. I’m so sorry Gene.”

Sparrow sat down as Elise was talking but she had caught the story from Gene as she stood getting her lunch bag out  “I just call her Bitchface. She looks pissed at the world or mopey all the time anyway. Now she’s taking her bullshit out on Gene? Nope....all the nopes. Privileged stuck up whiny baby. She has no fucking clue.” Sparrow glares down at Miranda who seems to be listening to music like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

Elise slaps the table “Gen you should quit that stupid basketball team and then we can heckle and protest the practices and games. She should not have the title and responsibility of captain of anything. I don’t care if she is our best player.”

Gene shrugs a little bit.  “I called her an uppity bitch in public and I couldn’t tell you who heard me, or who heard me and told someone else who told someone else..”  he shrugs.  “It could be anyone who did it. I don't know anyone here except you guys and Lyra, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Lyra, even though she can be a little honey badger too.”  he is amused at Elise’s anger because she is so tiny.  But he is glad his friends and foster sisters are at least on his side.  In what he’s pretty sure is a vain attempt at changing the subject, he looks at Nolan.  “She’s on the basketball team?”

Nolan is always amused when Elise gets angry and he nods at Gene.  “Yea … I don’t know if it’s just a small town thing or what.  Unfortunately I haven’t had much change to see her play because of hockey.”  he sighs at Sparrow.  “I hate to say you’re right, but your right I think.  I mean her brother Romeo seems pretty down to earth.  He’s in our class.  I mean … I don’t even know if she’s being racist or if this is just a fucking comedy of errors or what.”

Gen was also infuriated and she nods in agreement.  “Actually I may quit.  I only joined the stupid team to have something to take my mind off of Dante and it isn’t even working.”  she blows out a breath.  “I do not understand most of it.  Maybe it is because of my relationship with Dante that I am not so … over privileged white girl as I may have been.” she looks at Gene.  “Which reminds me … you did speak to Natalia, oui?  About your locker being searched and how you have been targeted in school by this girl?”

Gene blinks and looks at Gen.  “Natalie isn’t my lawyer.  I mean she was for the whole case that got me out of prison, but .. she’s not anymore.  That was just pro bono work.”

Elise rolls her eyes "She is the basketball team. Well she's it's captain. She's good but I feel like she knows it...if you know what I mean. I actually thought she was pretty cool when Gen tried out. but if she's a racist....and she could be even you know, without meaning to be, then I dunno. I mean their Dad's gay but just because someone's pro gay doesn't mean they're antiracist. And Romeo IS super nice.....but he's his own person. I'm not sure I've even heard the older brother talk. I know he's dating Fernanda. He looks frightfully like the dad." She thinks about Brett and Flynn just briefly and then clears it from her head. Her own father and brother bore a striking resemblance too, " And honestly Dr. Rogers and Dr. McKinney basically....." She looks at Nolan "Well they saved you. So I'll be eternally grateful to them for my whole life. But that doesn't mean his daughter is exempt from human decency. You should talk to Natalie. Maybe she'd even give her a bit of a scare about harassment if Miranda is still coming at you. Because you don't deserve that at all." She nods in solidarity with Gen.

Sparrow is just snide about it now "Yeah she thinks she's hot shit. And honestly her tits aren't even that great...I mean I've never seen them in full. But for all her purple hair dye I bet she's just average in every way. Mediocre. Duncan's alright. Romeo's actually pretty hilarious. And Dr. Rogers is a nice guy. Maybe there's just one in every third family?" she snorts "You should call Natalie. I'll take up a collection just to have that woman scare the crap outta Bitchface. She's sexy, and scary. I like her. Natalie....not Bitchface....just to be clear." Sparrow fiercely bites a stick of celery to end her rant.

Elise starts giggling at Sparrow and can't resist a joke to Gen "Maybe Miranda just has a bad case of pussy bats.....just like Mrs. Norris...."

Sparrow looks at Elise like she's a weirdo "What's a pussy bat? Are we to assume that the pussy is a belfry or something?"

Elise points at Sparrow with a spoon before dunking it into her yogurt "That's exactly right. If you never get laid they just circle around in there and then fly out and scare the crap out of everyone...if they can get through the cobwebs and the dust. It's my new favourite STI.....although if it comes from disuse maybe they're more like fibroids...." She looks between Gene and Nolan. She knows Nolan can take it "Sorry...I do go on sometimes..." she smiles sweetly.

Gen snorts.  “Well the captain can fuck off.”  her accent thickening slightly in her anger.  “And maybe you should talk to Natalie.  Maybe they are still covering you pro bono?  You never know.”  she snorts when pussy bats are brought up.  “Pussy bats are not an excuse for being racist and even if she isn’t racist, she is being a bitch to Gene for no good reason.”  she looks rather dignified.  “I should know because after all this time I should have plenty of pussy bats.”  she snorts.

Nolan looks at Gene.  “You get used to it after a while.”  he tells him and then even he looks at Gen.  “I am sure you have the nicest pussy bats in all of Canada?”  every word of the sentence being clearly a question.

Gene blows out a breath.  “LIsten guys.  I really appreciate you standing up for me.  That sort of this doesn’t happen to me a lot.  But I’d just be happy if Randy and her average mediocre tits just left me alone.”  he doesn’t mention that he loves average mediocre breasts on a woman.  They added to her looking what he’d consider normal and that was his turn on.  Mediocracy.  Normalcy.  But then the subject of pussy bats comes up and he looks at all three girls, then Nolan.  “I promised to barely look at Gen .. no fucking way am I looking for her pussy bats.” he shakes his head.  These were really strange kids and he liked it.

Elise stopped goofing around long enough to nod at Gen looking earnest for a moment "No excuse. I agree." Then she smiles between Nolan, Gene and Sparrow "She just needs her Batman back....to the batcave." Elise is on a  roll and she can't resist. "With his batmobile...." Now she's cracking up again with no shame.

Sparrow makes a face at Gene "Randy? okie dok...." Then she almost dies laughing at Elise and looks at Gen "Tell me your man doesn't call his dick THAT?" She laughs with Elise who proceeds to tip right off the lunch bench. "Oh shit...Elise..."

Elise just sits on the floor laughing for a minute. someone from another table looks concerned and she waves at them "We're all fine here..." She chortles as she crawls back into her seat "Ow my butt!"

Gen caught the name Randy, but before she can say anything about it, talk of her pussy bats starts and Gen laughs her ass off, so to speak.  She flopped her hand at Sparrow.  “No!  No!  God No!  He does not call his dick .. oh my god!”  and she leans over a little trying to help Elise up.  “But if he did ….  Oh my god I would never spread that around.  Mon dieu.”

Nolan just shakes his head and laughs a bit when Elise falls on the floor.  “Need help, honey?”  he asks innocently.  “Talk about too much of a good thing.”  he snorts.  He looks at Gene.  "You know you can hang out with us after school.  Both of you, really.  I live across from Dante’s house and elise lives behind me.”  he looks at the girls a little suspicious as if they will start talking about Elise being behind or something.  These girls were unpredictable.

Gene just gapes at the idea that Dante would name his dick … anything .. or that any man would name his dick.  Had he been living under a rock?  He realized he actually probably had been.  He looks at Nolan.  “I appreciate the offer.  Maybe someday … probably definitely after Dante gets out and takes care of the local pussy bat infestation.”  he deadpans.  “But at least tonight … I have to work.”

Miranda dragged herself through the rest of the day and finally trudged home as soon as the bell rang. She didn’t even stop at her locker so by the time she was home she was shivering and her nose was running. She kicked her way out of her boots and jogged upstairs to blow her nose from the box of tissue in the bathroom. Then she looked at herself in the mirror critically. The day was swirling in her head. The words on the desk, her name over the PA, Gene’s words....she felt the whole thing pressing down on her entire being until it cracked her a bit, enough to let out an audible sob as she just broke down and cried in the safety of her home. She sat down in front of the bathtub and leaned her back into it with her feet resting on the cupboards under the sink.

Duncan had been watching his sister carefully all day.  He didn’t know exactly what had happened but the whole school had heard her called to the office, shortly followed by Gene.  That could go anyway, really.  After school, he headed straight home, so worried about her, he really didn’t think.  Part of him realized that he had left school without Fernanda for the first time in … ever.  But he was really worried.  Romeo had things with his friends, but it was possible he simply did not make any connection, especially since Miranda wasn’t really sharing anything with him.  So the house was empty right after school.  He came in quietly and took his bag up to the room he shared with Romeo and could hear the crying in the bathroom.  Blowing out a breath, he tapped on the door with his knuckles.  “Hey Mir…”  he called, letting her know he was there if she needed him.

Miranda had heard Duncan come in and now he was knocking. She wasn’t sure if he was checking on her or if he just needed to pee. They only had one bathroom after all. “I can get out if you need the toilet...” She could be heard moving around and getting to her feet. She popped the door open and looked out at her brother standing there with her red eyes still tearing up.

Fernanda could see Duncan watching over his sister and it made her love him all the more. She had said goodbye to him with a kiss but when she did get home she texted. 

If you need backup I can be there in minutes. Love you.

Duncan looked at her once she answered the door.  “I’m good, thanks.”  he paused.  “But are you?  I’m honestly worried about you, Mir.  What the fuck is going on?”

Miranda sniffed “I don’t totally know. Gene seems to hate my guts for no reason. Not a big fan of him either. He yelled at me after the whole poster thing and told me to take the desk back. I wasn’t sure what it had to do with that but that poster was so awful I was honestly willing to take one for the team. I know it was way worse for him. But then I came into that stuff on my desk today....he called me that last week. How was I not supposed to think it might be him? I wasn’t going to tell the office though. They called me in and they already knew. So I confirmed it. Then they called him in and we had more words. He basically called me a racist without saying it or I guess called me on my privilege.” She blows out a breath “He wasn’t wrong but I wasn’t trying to put him in a shitty position. They ended up searching us both...which maybe made it worse. I don’t really know what to do now. I mean whatever he hates me. I get that...but was there any other way it could have gone? Now I’m not sure if he wrote it or not and I just feel sick...” She had just blurted and bawled as she talked so it was all a bit of a mess coming out.

Duncan took her by the shoulders and led her into her bedroom.  He sat her on her bed and he sat on the floor.  “You two just never got off on the right foot.”  he sighs.  “Not even before that when he took your seat.”  he held up his hand.  “I don’t think he knew and I didn’t tell him .. neither did anyone else.  “I guess I decided that if you rally wanted the seat, you’d tell him to move … and that went pretty badly pretty quickly it feels like.  And of course the posters … and now this straw on the camel's back.”  he sighs.  “I don’t know why he’d hate you for no reason.  Why aren’t you a fan of his?  Maybe we can do something to make it right?”

Miranda wipes at her face and shakes her head “I didn’t care that much about the stupid desk. And I don’t know why I don’t like him. I just get this flash of intense something around him. I feel like it’s negative because it’s not a happy feeling. I don’t think I have ever instantly disliked someone before. Fuck maybe I am a racist...” She kind of laughs. “I don’t think it’s that it’s just a feeling. He could be white, blue, polka dotted rainbow and I would still have the reaction.” She rolls her eyes “I think it’s probably best if we just stay away from one another. I can recognize he’s had some shit....but I am clearly not someone who can improve that with my attitude and how we clashed.” She crosses her legs “Duncan did you ditch on Fernanda to check on me?” She looks curious and touched.

Duncan listens, but he shakes his head.  “You’re not racist.  I can’t tell you what it is either.  Maybe you should talk to Romeo about that magnet he has in his ass for people.  If any of us is a social butterfly, it’s him.”  He smiles a little.  “But then again maybe you two should just stay away from each other.  Tyler is between you two now, right?  But I mean you have to be in the same room together.”  he pauses and then smiles when she mentions Fernanda.  “I did not DITCH her.  I love her. I'd never ditch her.  But I was worried.  She said if you need her, she could come over …  you know … girl talk and all I can listen and learn how you tick?”

Miranda makes a face “Magnet in his ass? I guess that’s one way to put it. I don’t always play well with others. This is not new. Fernanda is welcome to come over for girl talk. If one session makes you an expert you can write a self help book for lost hetero dudes who can’t deal with their shit.” She jokes. “Also my girl talk game is a little stunted by growing up with a male best friend. I know you don’t ditch her. And I am thankful Dunk. Tyler will be our Switzerland. Even if it terrifies him.”

Duncan smiles and shrugs.  “He attracts everyone.  Male and female.  If he actually does get into politics he’ll get that vote for sure.”  he laughs and pulls out his phone, sending Fernanda a text to come on by.

Please come on over for Miranda talks.  Love you!

He grins and looks amused.  “You think Tyler is scared of the 6’2” Indiginous guy he sits besides?  Why?”  He sounds mildly innocent.

A text come back from Fernanda that says:

On my way. XOXO

Miranda laughs about Romeo "Yep....he would and then we'd have to listen to him on the news too. But hey if it's what he wants...." She pushes her hair behind her ears and has to laugh about Tyler "You know I've seen him get chased away by a cat. Mind you it was the mayor's mean cat....but still. Tyler's a hobbit....the big humans and wild creatures frighten him. I'm 99 percent sure he's in love with Winona but terrified to ask her out. I keep nudging him. But then he'll like trip over his own feet and spill paint all over her in art class. He's a disaster. I am feeling a little less like a basket case now Dunk...thank you. I'll still girl talk with your girlfriend so you can analyze us for your anthropological survey."

Duncan chuckles about all of it, really.  Tyler did seem sort of high strung in general, never mind his behavior around Wynona.  He snorts and looks around.  “Lets go downstairs.”  he suggests and stands, pretending to pull out a notepad.  “The females will be congregating near the kitchen.”  he begins in a wildlife TV host voice.  “Will they cook, giggle, braid each others hair or a combination of the three …”

Miranda swats at her brother “Just to spite you I might make the entire conversation about bras and menstruation now. But we can braid hair and bake cookies....actually...fuck it...let’s make cookies.” She heads downstairs to the kitchen and starts gathering ingredients. Baking is therapeutic for Miranda.

As she’s setting up the mixer the doorbell rings. Fernanda is standing outside with a light winter jacket on as well as earmuffs and mittens. Under it all she has regular high waisted blue jeans and a striped black and white sweater. Her sneakers are black and white too.

Duncan takes the sisterly hit.  “And the evil male of the species manipulates the world and may get cookies.”  he drones, triumphantly.  He hears the doorbell and greets Fernanda with the same announcer drone.  “Welcome female.”  He gives her a quick kiss.  “With two here, I can now learn how to braid hair into cookies.  Victory for the males!”

Fernanda kisses Duncan back and then gives him an odd but amused look as she takes off all her outdoor stuff and shoes “That sounds mildly horrifying.” She walks down the hallway into the kitchen and smiles at Miranda “K what kind of cookies are you really making? And what have you done to Duncan’s beautiful mind?”

Miranda grins “Chocolate chip. And I lobotomized him so he can be converted to an android and trained to your will. Consider it an early Christmas present.”

Fernanda snorts “Cool thanks. But he’s pretty well trained.” She winks at Duncan after.

Miranda shudders and pretends to stick her fingers in her ears “La la la la la...” Then she rolls her eyes and dumps sugar into the mixer bowl.

Duncan moves into the kitchen with the girls and grins,  “What are you covering your ears for?”  he demands.  “With Fernanda in my life and Levi in Dad’s, you only have to deal with Romeo’s overlong showers.”  he reminds her, sounding innocent.  Then he looks at Fernanda.  “So … just to catch you up … “  he tells Fernanda what Miranda told him about her being called to the administrative offices before Gene.  “You already know about the near altercation between her and Sparrow in gym just before.”  he leans back.  “It’s the beginning of a Capulets against Montagues thing … except this is Miranda we’re talking about, not Romeo.”  he references at least one Shakesperian family feud.

Miranda rolls her eyes at Duncan about the shower comment and then  sighs as she shakes in the chocolate chips and listens to Duncan “I don’t want Sparrow to hate me too...but I get it. I mean if someone told off Duncan or Romeo in public I might....in fact I would be super pissed at them. I guess it’s cool that as a new foster sister she has his back already. Kinda makes me admire her more. And yes he’s a foster. I saw Gene with the younger foster sister and Shea Walsh on Saturday in the hardware store. Talk about awkward customer service. I don’t miss Abbotsford... but I miss it being big enough not to run into people you don’t want to like every damn day.” She hits the button on the mixer and it gets loud for a few minutes.

Fernanda takes in all the information from Duncan with a few nods as he goes on and then a wince about the exchange in the office. She listens to Miranda and then waits out the mixer “So....are you ok? Cause yeah you’re going to see these people all the time. Don’t they live down the street? I’ve seen them all walking a bulldog around our two blocks.” Then she comments on the whole Capulet and Montegue thing. “So two houses of Alexandra then? Does that mean Miranda and Gene are actually star crossed lovers destined to die uselessly from the fact that they poorly planned their exodus from their families?”

Miranda nods “Rufus....fuck why did the dog’s name stick in my brain? I heard the younger sister calling him one day. It’s a very dog name. Like Fido...ok moving on. I’m ok I guess. Just a shitty day.” Then Miranda looks horrified by the star crossed lovers suggestion “No….no...AND NO. We are the furthest thing from lovers any two people could be! Duncan…..no cookies for you!”