8). THE TORTUROUS DETENTION

Ian, Rebecca, Ash and Tia were sitting in Braddin's car. Roy was right behind them, with Skyler and Ethan following them to Ian's doctor. Skyler had told everyone about Kate mocking her about the sling and now Ian was determined to get it out whether it was healed or not. Even more, the news of Ash and Roy's kiss had also spread like fire in the whole group. The girls couldn't keep it to themselves even though the boys were appreciating that. Roy and Ash were like small cuddling children, as they became shy being teased about it. Upon reaching the hospital, they went straight to the doctor. Skyler and Rebecca went in with Ian while the others waited outside.

"So are you guys official or something?" Ethan asked, punching Roy on the arm.

"I guess so, yeah !" He said his eyes dropped on Ash.

"You little creature, I didn't know you were that fast dude. I am more handsome than you and still single." Ethan said.

"You will find one soon," Roy said sympathetically.

Ethan sighed in distress, eyeing towards where Rebecca disappeared hungrily, wanting nothing more than to be with her all the time. He felt like a magnet towards her. Attracted involuntarily towards her. He should take some tips from Roy.

"Same here, I never ever knew Ash would wind herself in this relationship. You nitwit !" Tia said pushing Ash on Roy's arms

"Stop it !" Ash laughed, making the others laugh out too.

"You owe me a treat, Lady Roy !" Tia teased again

"Shut up ! Out of money." Ash snapped, unable to stop herself from giggling.

"How's that, you both are going to give us treats. You are one step senior now !" Ethan jokes.

"Right you are man! I am waiting for my SUBWAY! Braddin said, running his hand on his stomach. Roy and Ash looked at each other smiling. Roy slid down his hand and gripped Ash's pressuring on it. Ash returned, her smile getting wider.

Inside the doctor room, Ian was sitting on a bed with the Doctor examining her arm. Skyler and Rebecca were standing in the corner .

"Does it hurt ?" He asked, through his thick spectacles. Ian shook her head even though it hurt a little but she was very much determined to get that out. The doctor moved her arm in different directions, twisting and bending it. Ian clasped her fist together to bear the pain, fighting hard to keep up her facial expression.

"Now ?" He asked.

"I am fine. It doesn't hurt." Ian said.

The doctor checked again even by tapping it. Rebecca unknowingly gripped Skyler's hand gasping when the doctor twisted Ian's arm.

"It's ok," Skyler whispered, patting her hand. "Ian's ok. Don't you worry."

"She's not fine. She's in pain. Just look at her face." Rebecca whispered.

Skyler shook his head. "She says she's fine."

"She's definitely not. She only wants that sling out because everyone is bullying her." Rebecca said.

The doctor twisted her arm and a weak groan escaped Ian's mouth.

"That's it. I'm gonna stop him now. Ian should wear that sling for some time." Rebecca took a step forward but Skyler held her back. "What?"

"If Ian thinks she can handle it then let her be." He said slowly.

"Skyler just look at her. She's in pain." Rebecca argued with him.

"I know, we'll see about that later. If you step in between, Ian will be furious." He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled back.

Rebecca rolled her eyes with a soft groan. "You are an idiot."

Skyler smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Well I must say, you look fine to me." The doctor said.

"So can I get this thing away from me ?" Ian asked hopefully.

"Yes, you can. But you still have to be very careful." He warned.

He took the sling out much to Ian's happiness. Ian jumped down and hopped towards a grinning Rebecca and Skyler. "Finally," Rebecca said hugging her tightly

"Well Done buddy," Skyler ruffled her hair.

Once out, the others saw a happy galloping Ian running towards them. Ash was the first one to spread her arms out to cuddle Ian. She was so happy that she almost forgot to let Ash go, tightening her grips more and more firmly around her.

"Me! Me!" Rebecca jumped and pushed Ash away.

"Hey!" She growled with a frown, while Ethan helped her up. Rebecca ignored and hugged Ian very tight. At that very moment, just as Rebecca embraced her Ian felt an unusual warm feeling. The same which Ian hasn't had for years. She smiled, shutting her eyes, burying her face in Rebecca's arms. And surely it was very difficult for her to point out who she was hugging. Rebecca or someone she longed for so long?

Both had the same warmth in themselves. Ian had mourned that warmth for years and years. Close to half decades and now that moment was very precious to her that she felt the same warmth and closeness with Rebecca. Roy and Ethan were the second to share her happiness but when she turned towards Skyler, he pounded his fist again. Ian slammed her own then clapped together laughing.

"Let's head home?" Ethan asked, swinging his car keys on his finger tip.

"Nah! Let's stop at a nearby Ice cream parlor. It's time to celebrate. My treat! " Ian said happily.

"Wow! On it bro! " Ethan gave her a thumbs up.

On the way back home, the group stopped by the Dipshop to enjoy some ice cream. Ian and Rebecca dug in for cadbury chocolate, Tia had pista flavor, Ash had chocolate chips. Braddin got himself vanilla and strawberry, Ethan enjoyed chocolate caramel, Roy and Skyler took Mint chocolate chips. They thanked Ian for a wonderful sweet treat then the boys dropped the girls at their homes. Rebecca and Ash kept a regular call at Ian's phone late at night until she slept to check upon whether she was fine or not. The two of them knew Ian was a little bit still in pain but was only anxious to get the sling out because of Kate. At midnight, Ian's sister Tally texted them that Ian took some analgesics and now was ok and was sleeping peacefully.

The next day, at school the bell rang when Tia, Rebecca, Ian and Ash slammed their books and copies shut. Kate walked past them but did not make eye contact. Even though she spotted Tia and Ash, she pretended like she never saw them. "What now ?" Ash asked. "Are we free ?"

"Yeah, so someone can run to Roy !" Tia teased Ash by hitting her.

"We are on free track but Ian and I got detention. It's 11 am. We gotta go." Rebecca said, sadly packing her bag

Ian dropped her head on the desk and shielded them with her arms. "Too tired. Can't even stir my little arms." Ian mourned.

"Too bad," Tia said, patting her head. Ian jerked up and pointed at Ash. "It's because of you !" She shrieked.

"Me ? I didn't put you in this !" Ash said giggling.

"Yeah, you did. If you hadn't told us before that you kissed, we both wouldn't have jumped in that old hag class and never got detention." Ian complained.

"Excuse me, you are on for it. When you learn to love someone then you will understand." Ash fought back.

Both of them stuck tongues out to one another. Rebecca grabbed Ian's collar and pulled her to stand up "Come on, skinny. Gotta go." She said pulling Ian behind her.

"All the best !" Tia gave them thumbs up, with a smirk.

"Oh, shut up!" Ian growled at her.

Ian and Rebecca trotted past the others' classes, down the stairs toward Madam Percilla office. They found Roy and Ethan in their sweatshirt holding a football.

"Your widow is waiting for you at the English class." Ian said grimly to Roy. He laughed out with Ethan. Both the boys knew that they were making their way to the office.

"Detention?" Ethan asked with a low grin.

"No, shopping!" Rebecca frowned at him. "Of Course detention, idiot."

"He's just messing around." Roy nudged him in the ribs. "See you around, girls."

"Only if you get out alive!" Ethan teased again.

Before Rebecca could strangle him, Ian grabbed her and dragged her along with her. They kept moving, wishing they hadn't made that mistake in Madam Percilla class. Ian was literally grumbling bad, angry words but Rebecca was concentrating more on finding her way to the office.

"Hey you," called a voice.The girls turned around and saw James standing behind them.

"Hi James. How are you doing ?" Rebecca greeted him happily.

"I am doing my best. And hello, Ian. I see you are healed!" He glanced at Ian.

"Yeah. I am ok now thankfully." Ian said.

James beamed at her then held out his hand to shake. He gave an extra bit of shake to Rebecca, giving her a very wide grin. "Where are you both off too ?" He asked.

"Detention. Got by Madam Percilla." Ian said, making an ugly face.

James looked at both of them in disbelief. He couldn't believe that Rebecca and Ian were in detention.

"D-detention? Why? Did you both skip the class?" He asked.

"No, no. We weren't paying attention to her. Like the way she wanted." Rebecca said not to mention the real reason.

James giggled looking at them. "She gave out detention in her first class ?"

"Second actually." Rebecca said, showing him her two fingers.

"Right. That's bad luck to both of you. You all have to be very careful. She's quite strict in these. I also landed in one of her brutal detentions." He said pushing his spikes hairs into more spike looking.

"Then what ?" Asked Rebecca.

"And you made out alive. That's good to see." Ian said.

James chuckled. "Yeah, I made it out alive. But barely."

"What type of detentions does she give ?" Ian asked immediately.

James whistled then raised his eyebrows. "She makes us work in her office. Like polishing the trophy, painting the furniture. Helping her out with her school work etc etc."

"Works ! I never heard of this type of punishment before. No one ever gave this." Rebecca exclaimed in shock.

James chuckled, folding his sleeves. He leaned against the wall. He picked his cell phone out to check something then placed it back.

"And what other punishments come in your ETC ETC ?" Ian asked in horror.

James thought for a moment his eyes rolling around in a circle. "Emmm like writing stuff." He said.

"Great. I will go on with writing." Rebecca clapped her hand with relief.

James shook his head with a short grin. "Oh you think. She forces you to write thousands of paragraphs that you wished you were never born!" He warned.

"Murderer," Rebecca murmured.

James laughed then looking around he stood on his feet. "I have to go. See you soon. Goodluck both of you." He said.

"Easy for him to say," Ian mourned lazily when they turned to go to their doom.

"Enter." Came a sharp voice when they knocked on the door.

Rebecca and Ian stepped inside a cabbage smelling office. Or it may have smelled like that to them. Percilla was seated in her chair, behind her desk with the most cruel face she could ever plastered.

"Place your bags in the corner and phones on the desk." She ordered.

The girls exchanged a quick nervous glance before tossing their bags in the corner and handing over the phone at the desk. Rebecca made sure Ian and her cell phones were on silent mode.

"Now, Immanuel, you will do the writings and Thomas, you are going to polish the trophies that you can see on that shelf !" Madam Percilla screeched. " Hurry up and get along with it!"

Happy and excited that she got the writing, Rebecca winked at Ian, sneering at her for going to the desk. Ian threw an ugly look. Rebecca sat down and took out her pen and a copy.

"You will be right, I WILL PAY ATTENTION IN MY CLASS." She ordered.

"How many times ?" She asked without looking at the teacher.

"As long as I want." Was the only command given to her.

Then turning to Ian she handed her a brush, a polish and a shinner and sent Ian towards the shelf.

Ian gasped to see countless trophies settled inside the shelf. "All of them?" The words fell out before she had the power to stop them.

Madam Percilla shot her a weird scary look that Ian felt her insides gone numbed. "Yes, all of them and if they are not polished well, I will have you for another couple of hours."

Gulping hard, Ian got hold of the first heavy trophy and began to rub it quickly. Rebecca began her work, slowly trying not to get tired quickly. She thought going slow would let the time go faster. Meanwhile, Ian got herself brushing the dirt and black out of the trophies. There were so many on the shelf that Ian felt she would willingly do all the work at home rather than polishing this mess. A couple of hours later, Ian was barely able to stand when she appeared at the main office, looking exhausted and got dirt and black all over her hands and face like she appeared from the coal mine.

Rebecca pressed her hand on her mouth when she saw the look at sweaty and dirty Ian, fighting herself not to laugh. Ian shot an angry look at her then trotted towards Madam Percilla. "Excuse me, Ma'am ?" Ian said, her voice shaking.

"Hmm ?" She asked, without lifting her eyes.

"All done." Ian whispered.

The teacher took a pause then looked up from behind her book.

"Greatly done. Now, you take the pen and paper and sit down to write. Immanuel get up and polish the next shelf and BE QUICK !!"

Ian literally burst out in laughter then sharply got herself to cough, trying to act innocent but inside she was dancing. Rebecca's eyes were wide with shock. Polishing ! After this tiring writing ! That was Ian's work.

She got up with the same facial expressions that Ian and when passing by bumped Ian on the shoulder. Ian grinned looking at her and sat down at the desk. Another hour went by when Rebecca appeared with the same looks as Ian squeezing her arms tightly. "Done Ma'am." She whispered.

The teacher placed her books away and leaned forward, looking closely at them through her spectacles.

"I hope you have both learned your lessons. Next time I get you, you will be on for a whole week. Now get out of here !" She warned.

Hearing that, Ian and Rebecca quickly grabbed their bags and cell phones and ran outside as far as they could. They were so tired and exhausted, their legs couldn't carry them to the cafe. They collapsed down on a bench to catch their breaths.

"That crazy woman! What does she think of herself? Stupid jerk!" Ian growled angrily.

"Oh my God! Don't even ask, I think I pulled my muscles." Rebecca sighed heavily.

"Can we take a day off?" Ian asked, yawning widely.

Rebecca rubbed her eyes and pulled her messy blond hair back. "Let's head to the cafe. We'll see about it later."

"I can't move my legs." Ian yawned again

"Argh!" Rebecca sighed heavily, grabbing Ian by her collar and dragging along with her

Half an hour later, Tia and Ash found the two of them sprawled on the cafe table. Their heads down, eyes closed and low audible breathing.

"How did it all go ? Are you guys ok ?" Tia asked when they sat down at the cafe.

"You looked like you were cleaning the whole building." Ash said puzzled.

"Pretty close to that," Rebecca said, lifting her head. "That woman made us write and polish!"

"Polishing trophies ?" Tia was astounded and worried.

"Can't you see from your beautiful conditions," Rebecca snapped then dropped her head again.

"Seriously, are you both ok !"Ash asked, placing her hand on Rebecca and shaking her. Tia walked towards Ian and placed her own arms around her.

"Do you have some water? I think I am dying!" Ian said in a very tired voice.

Tia quickly reached for her bottle, opened it and handed it to Ian. She placed the bottle mouth on her lips but felt too tired the half of the water spilled on her shirt.

"Carefull!" Tia said wiping and brushing the extra water away.

"You better get yourself washed and fresh." Ash suggested placing Rebecca's exhausted face on her shoulder.

"Our clothes are also dirty. What do you expect us to wear ?" Rebecca asked.

"Yeah and we wear yours then what will you wear ?" Ian asked in a drunk voice.

Tia lifted her head as Ash, allowed Ian to rest her head on her shoulder and within a second Ian was snoring. "They are drunk." Ash said.

"Definitely !" Tia replied, stroking Ian's face.

"Hi all. Got something to tell you !" Skyler ran in but then stopped immediately. Ethan bumped into him when he made a quick break looking at the girls in which two of them were clearly dozed off.

"Jerk !" Ethan said, appearing behind Skyler and pushing him.

"What's going on ? What happened ?" Skyler asked, kneeling beside Tia to have a look at sleepy Ian.

"Are they alive or should I get my funeral suit?" Roy asked bending down to check upon Rebecca.

"Back off Nitwick !" Rebecca shoved him aside.

"She's alive." Roy said casually, earning a snicker from Ethan and Skyler. Tia sighed, placing her one arm at Ian's back to support her loppy body."Came from detention" she said.

Braddin who came along a bit later shrieked in laughter. He ruffled Ian's hair and took the next chair. Ian didn't stir when ruffled but kept snoring. Skyler sat beside Ian leaving Ethan and Roy to occupy other chairs.

"Hi sis," Ethan smirked, dragging a chair and sitting beside Ash waiting for the fun to begin.

Roy appeared bringing another chair and dropped it beside Rebecca. He looked around and saw Ethan sitting beside Ash.

"HEY! DUDE!" He jumped and Ethan Braddin, Tia, Ash and Skyler burst into laughter.

Rebecca raised her head from Ash's shoulder looking around. Ian was awake too but kept her head still on Tia's. Roy dragged a heavy size Ethan from beside Ash and then sat himself.

Laughing at him, Ethan adjusts himself beside Rebecca. "What did you want to say ?" Tia asked.

"Wakey, wakey, Ian!" Skyler snapped his fingers in front of her.

"I told you, you'd make out but barely alive." Ethan chuckled.

"Yeah, we kind of get the feeling of what you were saying about." Ian whispered with a frown.

"Anyways, listen! We got a field trip to go on !" Skyler said with happiness.

"Field trip ? Where ?" Tia asked.

Braddin settled himself more comfortably placing his one leg on the other and leaning back "There are multiple places. Funland farm house and the beach. It's a week package." He said.

"Oh yeah. I heard about it in the van," Ash said. "Some people were talking about how we're gonna have a picnic this week."

"Exactly," Braddin said, pointing at her." So that's the plan. I guess Funland, Beech and then the farm house. It's the schedule."

Ash clapped her hand on the desk in excitement grinning broadly. "Awesome! Are we in?" She asked in excitement.

"Definitely, we are. That's why we came to tell you all." Roy said, smiling at her.

"Farm house. I have always dreamed of going to the farmhouse." Ash said dreamingly. Roy gripped her hand and kissed it delicately and she smiled at him.

"When will be the trip?" Tia asked.

"This coming week." Braddin said.

He slipped out a piece of paper on which the names of the students were present. Many of them had a tick mark in front of their names. Ethan handed him a pen and Braddin marked all the names of his group. Tia looked down reading the name when she halted at James and Kate's name.

"Kate's coming too ?" She asked her voice down.

"Yeah, she is. Met her outside the class and she named herself straight away." Braddin said, giving the pen back to Ethan.

"I say we will have fun. We will enjoy it together !" Skyler said, grabbing a roll from Ash's lunch box and eating it.

"Sure, we will. Someone will spend some romantic time alone." Ethan teased.

"I will find one for you there, don't worry." Roy snapped.

Rebecca rubbed her eyes giving out a very big yawn. "Morning dirty fellow !" Skyler joked, grinning widely at her.

"Lose the grin, stupid." She said lazily.

"How are you feeling ?" Ethan asked, coming closer to her.

"Tired and exhausted. God will ask that old hag." Rebecca said.

She never said anything bad about any teacher but now when her muscles were aching so badly she just wanted to lay down and rest and all this was because of Madam Percilla .

"Madam Percilla is a torturing teacher. She likes playing with her students." Roy said, drawing out a bubble gum and offering it to Ash.

Rebecca stretched herself. "I got this from today onwards." She grumbled.

"Hey guys," came a voice from behind them.

They looked around and saw Kate standing behind them. She walked gleefully towards them. Seeing there was no space to sit she made her way and sat down on the arm of Braddin's chair almost pushing Tia away from him. "Hey Kate. " Braddin said.

"Hi Braddy. Are you guys going to the picnic?" She asked, looking at them.

"We might," Ash said, gazing awkwardly at her.

"Oh. I am coming too." She then turned to face Braddin, addressing him. "Oh, I can't wait for this, Braddy. We are going to have so much fun. You and me"

Braddin felt a little awkward but just smiled at her with a nod. Tia was peeking from behind Kate at Braddin. She was feeling hot and angry the way Kate came and sat with Braddin and now she was planning to be with him all the time. Tia wanted to hit Kate and throw her away from the chair. She felt very uneasy looking at Kate practically sitting on Braddin's laps. Her ears and cheeks went red.

"Hey, you ok ?" Ian whispered, raising her head.

Tia said nothing but just nodded. "Ian ! How are you doing ? How was the detention ? Did you enjoy it ?" Kate joked, in other ways making fun of her.

"I will ask you if you landed in one, surely." Ian grumbled forcing a smile on her face.

"Oh, I am careful with this stuff. You don't know, that's why you ended up like that. And don't take my talkings seriously." She boosted.

"Yeah. Gonna remember that." Ian murmured. Tia got up, seizing her bag and turned to go.

"Where are you going ?" Braddin asked.

"Restroom." Tia said hotly her tone totally changed in anger. Braddin noticed that as he pushed Kate out of his way and jogged after Tia. Kate went red. Her face was swollen seeing Braddin going after Tia. Skyler, Ian and Rebecca sneered.

"Hey Kate, that's what I felt in that detention !" Ian said laughing. "Now you know!"