School Daze

Monday, December 2

"What's this big test today?" Brandon asked while he turned his black SUV into the school parking lot.

"None of your business, numbnuts," growled Madison.

The female half of the Cole twins hadn't taken the scene he caused at the O'Dells' house yesterday very well. On the way home last evening, Brandon attempted to question her whereabouts further, but a few choice words from his sister silenced him. Something about revealing an embarrassing secret from their childhood that Madison considered her nuclear option. Both teenagers' foul moods increased when they discovered that their father hadn't even followed his own orders to be home in time for an important dinner. Whatever the big deal was, it had been postponed until Monday evening.

"At least wait until I finish parking!" Brandon scolded Madison as she opened the door before he came to a complete stop. Making her sudden move seem even worse, she raced around to the back of the vehicle to meet someone coming from a parking space in the rear of the lot.

Getting out himself, Brandon walked around to the trunk section to grab his bag. While he did that, he yelled a reminder to his sister.

"Remember, I'm supposed to bring you home tonight. So don't disappear!"

"I have cheer practice tonight. I'll find a ride," Madison shouted in response, as she walked back toward the SUV.

"That's not what Mom—" Brandon started to say, but stopped cold as he saw who Madison had gone to meet.

Locking eyes with him, Lisa looked like a deer caught in a pair of headlights. She tripped over her own boot, nearly falling face-first onto the ground. The only reason she didn't is that she stumbled slightly sideways into Madison, knocking her friend into a parked car.

"The hell!" Madison exclaimed.

"Sorry I'm so sorry. Uh, damn potholes," the tripper apologized, kicking the pavement. "Um, let's go this way," she said, cutting between two parked cars to avoid coming any closer to Madison's brother.

For his part, Brandon stood like a statue, checking out the dark-haired girl's appearance. Not much could be seen underneath her winter coat except for her jeans. Those firm buns swaying back and forth proved enough for the mesmerized teen. Slowly the jacket disappeared in his mind. Then went the sexy top he imagined her wearing. Next, her jeans disappeared, revealing a red lace set of lingerie. The bra and panties began to shapeshift, turning into a giant red bow.

A finger-snapping next to his ear broke Brandon from his daydream. Turning he saw, Max standing beside him with a confused face.

"You still sick?" he asked. Behind him, Robin Ridge giggled.

RJ's sixteen-year-old sister occasionally got a ride to school from Max. Their mothers were friends, and the Ridges lived a few blocks away from the Moxeys. A short, spunky girl with an easy-going personality, she had shoulder-length, dark brown hair, almond eyes, a toned ass, and an impressive pair of large breasts. Even with her diminutive size, Robin already showed exceptional skills on the volleyball court, where she took after her older sister, Ellie.

"Maddie around?" she asked, peering around him to peek inside the black SUV.

"Nope, you just missed her," Brandon managed to reply, his mind still clogged with cobwebs.

Robin frowned in disappointment. She adored Madison and had been devastated when she quit volleyball to focus on the drama club and cheerleading. Looking around, she spotted the long red hair of her friend, Holly McRose.

"Thanks for the ride, Maxy. Bye, Brandon!"

Brandon watched as she scurried off toward Zack Bishop's blue sedan, where his friend had exited the car along with Chloe McRose and Gavin Westher. A sick feeling hit the pit of his stomach. What am I doing staring at Zack's girlfriend? Shit, I can't face him right now.

"Let's head in, Max. It's cold out here," Brandon said, already walking a brisk pace. "Didn't you pick up Trent?"

"Oh, man. Didn't you hear? I guess he and Trishelle had a major blowup after you dropped him off yesterday. She was getting ready to leave, and they couldn't get along. Trent's dad finally had enough and grounded Trent. So, all this week, he's getting dropped off and picked up from school. He can't do anything else."

"Damn, that sucks. Is he grounded for the weekend too?"

"Sounds like it, but you know Mrs. Thornton. She'll probably work to shorten it," Max remarked.

"I have no idea how she thinks Trent is such a little angel. He's most certainly not an angel," Brandon stated loudly, getting chuckles from other students nearby.

He reached forward with confidence, pinching the velvet material with his thumb and forefinger. The covered chest heaved with desire under the red bow. The exhales of breath quickened in pace.

"Brandon, what are you doing?" breathed Lisa.

"I'm claiming you as my present," he responded, tugging on the ribbon.

"Brandon!"

"Wha?" the teenager muttered, snapping out of his daydream.

"Brandon, I asked you what x is in this formula," Mrs. Griffin repeated.

Focusing on the chalkboard, the now awake teenager stared at the various shapes, letters, and numbers spread out in front of him. Oh, shit. What problem is she talking about? Fuck, I hate Trigonometry class.

"Um, I'm sorry, Mrs. Griffin. I must have been not paying attention."

"Yes, that was fairly obvious, Brandon. Pay attention from now on. You're getting the next one to solve," Harmony Griffin informed him while scanning the rows of desks. "Mr. Winkie, would you care to help your teammate by going up to the board and showing him what x represents."

"Uh, do I have to?"

Brandon crossed the name off his list. No, Mads wouldn't be interested in March. Think, man, think. We've got Wynwick, Clawfoot, Harrington, Ross, and...Ravers? Would she be interested in him? Shit, I better keep him on the list. Alright, next we have the basketball team. We got Jackson, Griffin, and...no way she's interested in a guy that calls himself the Paulster. Okay, we got—

"Well, I'm waiting, Brandon."

Looking up from his list of names, the teen glanced around his World History class. A few kids that had been in first period snickered at his not paying attention in his second class in a row.

"I'm waiting for the name."

"Uh, Roosevelt?"

"No, Brandon. The Japanese admiral that planned the attack on Pearl Harbor was not President Roosevelt. See me after class."

"Um, sorry, sir."

Brandon shook the black pepper shaker into the pot. He just ignored me. Ignored me! How the—what the hell is wrong with him? I spent the last two years busting my butt for him, and now he can't even say hi to me in the hall. I know Coach saw me!

"What the hell, Cole? You're supposed to put a tiny amount of salt, not pour it full of pepper," Meagan Volland said, shoving him away from the stovetop. Peering inside, she saw half a pepper shaker dumped onto the cheese soup. "It's full of pepper."

"I'm not eating that. No way," Jasmine Fadel declared, shaking her head, and steeping away in the small kitchen area. "Why did I get the dumb jocks as my Home Ec partners?"

"What's going on?" asked the fourth member of their table. Kessler turned away from his flirting with the four girls in the mini-kitchen next to them. He stepped over to see what caused Meagan to bitch about this time. "What the hell, Cole? I'm not eating that. I don't care what Mrs. Klunkhemmer says."

"Doesn't your mom own a restaurant? How do you ruin a damn cheese soup?" Meagan questioned in exasperation while sneering at him. "Are all those steroids rotting your brain?"

"We're never going to cook anything but soups at this rate," Jasmine moaned. "It's already the first week of December. Other classes are usually making real meals at this point."

"Okay, listen up. It's time to taste your soup," Mrs. Klunkhemmer announced, peering down at her class. The stern, elderly Home Economics teacher sat behind a small, high counter at the front of the room. Six mini-kitchens full of four students each rolled their eyes. This was the second time this semester she'd made them make cheese soup. The first time back in the middle of October had not gone well. "I hope for your sake that you took it more serious this time."

"This is all on you, Cole," Kessler stated, jabbing his finger at his kinda-friend. "I'm not getting food poisoning again."

"It's only a little extra pepper," Brandon tried to downplay.

"Good, then you won't mind eating all of it," Meagan replied, handing him the ladle.

"Psst! Hey, Liam, can I have the rest of your Mountain Dew?" Brandon asked, the guy seated in front of him in Mrs. Moreau's Literature class. "I'll buy you another one at lunch."

"If that will stop your lip-smacking, then fine," Liam remarked, handing the bottle over his shoulder to his annoying classmate.

"Thanks. Our cheese soup didn't turn out right in Klunkhemmer's class," Brandon revealed. While Mrs. Moreau gathered up their assignment to return, he quickly guzzled the remaining half of the soda bottle. He hoped the burning taste on his tongue would go away. The full bottle of water he'd downed at the start of the class hadn't helped at all.

"I expect better on this week's assignment, Brandon," Mrs. Moreau said, handing him his paper with a big, red C at the top. "And I don't want your partner doing all the work."

Dammit, a C? Dad's going to get pissy if he sees it.

"Don't worry, Bran, we'll get your grade back up," Zack told him from the desk next to him. He tilted his paper to show the A+ at the top. "You want to work on our assignment after school today or tomorrow?"

Thank god, I got Zack as my partner. This stuff is easy for him.

"Maybe today. I might have to stay and wait for Madison. She's got cheer practice."

"Cool. Let's meet in the library after school if you have to wait," Zack then leaned over. "Is everything okay with you and Ashley? She keeps on looking over here in concern."

"I—we had an argument the other day, but it's not a big deal."

"Bran, I'm sooo sorry," Ashley apologized. After the bell rang, she'd hurried across the classroom to hug her boyfriend. She's heard about and noticed the funk he'd been in all morning, and assumed their fight caused it. "If I'd known you'd be this out of it, I'd have called you last night."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, right. I've been worried about you too," Brandon recovered from his confusion. "How have you been?"

"I'm better now that we've talked," the compassionate blonde replied, taking his hand as they walked toward the lunchroom. "I don't like fighting with you, so let's not do that again. But you do need to back off of Madison. She needs some room to breathe. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure. I can do that," he lied as his eyes narrowed at Charlie Harrington. Is he the guy?

While Ashley chatted away about what she did yesterday, Brandon studied every possible guy on his list that he saw. Watching to see if they behaved guiltily, he couldn't be sure if anyone could be eliminated or confirmed as a suspect.

Grabbing their lunch, Ashley led him to her table. "You're sitting with me today. I missed you so much yesterday."

"Sure. I did too, babe. Let me put my lunch down and run to the bathroom." They had a quick kiss, and Brandon left the lunchroom. It didn't take long for him to pee. Walking out of the boys' room, he walked right into a person heading for the girls' room.

"Oops, I'm sorry. I—oh!"

"No, it's my fault–you!"

Standing close together, Brandon and Lisa stared at each other, unsure what to say or do. Flashbacks of what happened in her parents' bedroom on Friday took over their minds. Brandon recalled for the countless time how incredibly sexy she looked. Lisa recalled the mixed emotions she had felt that afternoon. First, shock and horror for his seeing her dressed that way. Then a flutter in her stomach for the way he had stared in awe at her.

They only stood that way for around six or seven seconds, but it felt like an eternity to them. They both began to breathe deeply as Brandon fought off an urge to pull those oh-so-kissable lips even closer. Acting as the rational one, Lisa backed away and then moved around him to head toward the bathroom. Neither said a word to each other during the awkward moment.

Blinking back to reality, Brandon realized that Lisa had left. Was she even here? Or am I going crazy? Heading back inside the lunchroom, Brandon slid onto the bench. Ashley smiled warmly at him, kissing his cheek. While he dug into his food, Brandon barely noticed Ashley and Heather huddled close to Victoria.

"Finally?! When did it happen?" Heather questioned.

"This is so awesome!" Ashley gushed.

"Shhh!" Vicky hushed them in embarrassment. Sharon and Tanya rolled their eyes at each from the other side of the lunch table.

Brandon heard Saturday night mentioned, which took him back to the aggressive round of sex he had with Ashley. Images of him pounding her petite body from behind filled his mind. Next, the image startled him by shifting to his argument with Madison in her bedroom. Suddenly, losing his appetite, the teenager picked at his food for the rest of lunch. Consumed with his thoughts about Ashley, Lisa, Madison, Coach Thorne, Dawson, and Ivory's advice, Brandon barely noticed the whispered conversations happening around him at the cheerleader table.

"Alright, babe. I gotta get to Geography. Have fun in Spanish," Ashley parted with a kiss on his cheek.

Spanish?! Aw, hell! Brandon swore as memories of Thanksgiving night and Lisa's sex cries in that language surfaced. Now, he found those shrieks from the Woodsens' guest room and the images of Lisa in her red bow merging into one wild fantasy. Feeling his cock stiffening, Brandon rushed to his locker to grab any item to help hide his erection.

The embarrassed teenager didn't need to worry about his dick getting noticed as it softened when he saw the scene around his locker. Standing at her locker next to his, Madison threw back her head, laughing loudly at what one of the two guys said. Kevin Jackson and Leon Griffin stood far too close to the brunette cheerleader for Brandon's taste. As the two basketball players shot to the top of his suspect list, Madison punched Kevin in the shoulder. Furious over what the other teen did to deserve a punch, Brandon raced forward, slamming the dark-skinned senior against a locker.

"The fuck you doing, Jackson!"

"Bran!"

"What the hell, Brandon?" Kevin questioned, staring in shock at the guy forcefully pushing him into the locker door.

"Bran, let him go!" Madison ordered.

"I saw you punch him."

"We were joking around, man," Kevin told him.

"It didn't look like a joke to me," Brandon growled.

"We were joking around about Psychology class," Leon attempted to explain.

"Stay out of this, Griffin, or you're next!"

"It was a joke punch, Bran. Let him go!" Madison ordered again. "Or I'll remind you what my real punches feel like."

Backing up, Brandon released his grip on Kevin's shirt. The basketball guard shoved the football quarterback further away.

"You got issues, Cole. Serious issues in the head," Kevin spat at Brandon. Turning toward Madison, he added. "I'll see you later, Maddie."

"No, you won't. I'm warning both of you, stay away from my sister. She's not interested in basketball clowns."

"That's one messed up dude," Kevin could be overheard telling Leon as they walked away. "You ever think of treating your sister like that?"

"And shove girls against lockers? I don't think so," Leon joked about his lesbian sister.

Brandon glanced around and noticed a small crowd watching him.

"The entertainment is over, people. Move along–oof!" he gasped, feeling the blow to his stomach.

"That's a reminder of what my real punches feel like," Madison said. "Stay out of my life, or I'll remind you what my kicks feel like next."