Chapter Text
"Do I have to?" Hannah asked, looking out the passenger side window at the school before her.
Ethan sat in the driver's seat, hair haphazardly pulled away from his face, looking between her and the school. "Yep. Sorry, Banana. That's just how the cookie crumbles."
"Can't I skip?"
"Absolutely not."
"You and Lex skipped all the time."
"Yeah, and look at Lex now, huh?" He leaned on the wheel and tried to look stern. "She dropped out and now she's gotta take that awful test."
"You graduated."
He quickly faltered. "Yeah. But it still wasn't fun. Would've been a lot easier if I hadn't gotten in trouble and skipped and all that."
Hannah sighed. She knew it was important not to skip, but she really didn't want to go. "It wasn't even my fault."
"I believe you. And so does Lex. But schools are pretty shitty at punishments. They just stick you in a classroom on a Saturday and call it there." He patted her shoulder and gave a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, kiddo. But hey. I'll pick you up at three and we'll get some 'za, 'kay?"
"...Okay." She opened the door and climbed out.
"Love you!"
"Love you too." She shut the door without looking back at him.
"I must say I'm surprised at you," Solomon puffed his cigar, glancing at his daughter through the smoke.
Steph fought back a cough. "What can I say? I'm taking this seriously."
"Only took you flunking a semester and not graduating, hm?"
"Sure."
"Or is it your nerdy new boyfriend?" He nearly spat the term. "How long are you going to keep him around?"
"As long as I like him," she sighed, trying to avoid an argument. "Are we there yet?"
The car was pulling up to the front of the school. "Impatient, are we?"
"I just want to get this over with."
The car pulled to a stop and Steph jumped out, shutting the door quickly behind her. Solomon rolled down the window. "Stephanie." She froze. "Try not to get in even more trouble. It doesn't reflect well on either of us."
The car drove off before she could respond, not that she was planning too. She pulled her jacket tighter around her and hurried inside.
Behind the limo was a small, blue-grey car worn with age and a dent in the trunk. The woman at the wheel whistled as the fancier car pulled away. "Imagine having that kind of money and still going to a public school. Do you know who that girl is?"
Daniel, in the passenger seat, meekly looked out the window. "I don't think so. She looks older."
"Maybe she's a TA or something" She looked to her sullen son. "C'mon, Daniel. Look, I know your dad got upset, but everybody gets detention at least once in their lives. It builds character!"
He nods, pulling his jacket tighter around himself. "I know. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Look, you get through today, and it's all in the past."
"And I won't do it again."
"I believe you, sweetie." She offered her hand and he squeezed it.
"Will you be alright?" His voice was quiet, hesitant.
She squeezed his hand back in lieu of an answer. "I'll see you when you're done, alright? Get some studying done, it's a good opportunity."
He waited, hoping she'd answer his question. After a long moment, he nodded. "I'll try."
He opened the door, and held his breath. After a long moment, he let it out, rubbing his face. "Bye, Mom."
A slick black car screeched to a stop in front of the school, making Sophia nervous. Despite it, she hesitated to get out and head inside.
"Sophia," her father caught her attention. He stared hard at her for a moment before sighing and softening. "You know, if you keep doing this—"
"I'm not gonna graduate, I know." She finished for him. "This was all a stupid accident. Wasn't even my fault."
"I don't care. We can't afford accidents, Sophia."
"I know."
"Just…" Another sigh. "Don't make things worse, alright?"
She nodded, biting her tongue, and hopped out of the car, careful not to slam the door. The car sped off just as fast as it arrived, and she had to force herself to detense. Her dad was a good man, it wasn't him she was afraid of.
Steeling herself, she checked the time on her phone and hurried inside the school when she saw how late it was getting. At least she could plan some revenge while serving her time.
As the teens ambled into the library of Hatchetfield High, it was quiet. The only greeting between the four was when Steph arrived; she said hello to Hannah, as they shared a shop class. The air was tense and still as the four sat in silence.
Said silence was broken with a thud as the heavy library door opened abruptly, and everyone sat up straight. Instead of a teacher, however, they were met with a blur of blue clothes and blond hair, who hopped into a desk at the front of the room. He fixed his hair and posture, pretending as though he'd been here the whole time, before looking around behind him.
Daniel was largely unaware of the boy and his bizarre entrance, but the girls were not so ignorant. Hannah tried to hide in her hood, averting her eyes, while Sophia huffed and Steph glared. The newcomer stared right back at Steph, smirking.
"Stephanie, babe," he leaned back in his chair. "Get caught in the bathroom again?"
"Tell that I deal and I'll tell that you buy, Callahan," she shot back. "And besides, I don't deal anymore."
"Deal what?" Daniel asked, looking over. "Like a card dealer…?"
"Weed," Steph said, not breaking her glare.
"Oh." He paused, then cleared his throat. "Uh, did you hear Perky's burned down? They said the owner went crazy or something."
"Ziggs used to go here," Sophia chimed in. "Art students are always crazy."
Daniel looked away and nodded, and the newcomer shifted in his seat as he noticed Hannah. "And you decided to show up. I was thinking you wouldn't!" When she didn't answer, only burying her head further into her hood, he continued, "I mean, I heard your sister sure skipped a lot."
"Leave her alone, Brad," Steph interrupted. "She's a kid."
"She's a freak," he said, turning back to the front of the room.
In the back, Hannah held her breath, pulling on the strings of her hoodie. Sophia glared at the back of Brad's head, hands curling into fists, a sizzle sounding from her palm, unknowingly catching the younger girls' attention.
The door opened again, and everyone sat up straight. This time it was not a student, but a teacher: Tom Houston. He'd only recently returned after nearly two years of time off due to the untimely death of his wife. He had been doing much better recently, his son soon to be entering middle school and dating a local nurse, and many students and fellow teachers were happy to have him back. The higher-ups, however, apparently decided that, since he was technically new again, he got stuck with the shit jobs. Like running Saturday detention.
He looked around the room of teens pretending to behave, lingering on a couple familiar faces. His arms were crossed and he wore a stern look. "So. Just the five of you?" Everyone nodded, and he nodded back. "Well, should be quiet enough, then. How many of you have done this before?"
Steph, Sophia, and Brad raised their hands. Tom only nodded, but his expression showed that he wasn't at all surprised. "Great. So you know the gist. Sit quietly, maybe do some homework, or read a book. Just don't go causing any issues. I'll be checking in on you every now and again."
Daniel raised his hand. When Tom gave him a nod, he lowered it and asked, "Aren't you supposed to be in here the whole time? I-I mean, what if something happens?"
"What'dya mean by something?"
"A fire, or a fight, or… something."
Tom shrugged. "I'm just gonna be across the hall, maybe a little further down makin' copies and all that. I'm sure I'll know if either of those happen. And if there's a fire, you all know the drill. Literally."
That got a laugh out of Daniel, and Tom grinned, uncrossing his arms, dropping the stern persona. "Look, I'm sure you all did something totally deserving of this. So just… take it easy. Aight?"
Everyone nodded, and with no further fanfare, Tom left and did just as he said he would, going into the office right across the hall from the library. The five were quiet and still.
For a couple minutes. It wasn't long before everyone started idly doing their own things. Hannah was content to hide in her hood and watch everyone else from the back row, occasionally whispering to herself and abruptly looking away whenever anyone caught her staring. Brad sat sideways at his table, one chair for his body and a second for his legs, arms crossed as he shifted between glaring at Hannah and at the ceiling of the library. Sophia had her legs up on the table, sunglasses on, and her silent breathing soon turned to quiet snores. Daniel had a book but he was soon to abandon it and began staring off into space, drumming his fingers on the table. Steph held her phone under the table, looking through Instagram.
After the quiet turned from pleasant to neutral to annoying, Steph quietly turned in her seat to face Hannah, who was still hiding in her hood. "Hey," she whispered, and was met with no response. Tapping on Hannah's desk, she whispered again, "Hey, you awake?"
She tensed and looked up, not quite meeting Steph's eyes. The older girl tried to look non-threatening. "You doing okay?"
Hannah was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Fine," she said plainly. "You?"
"Yeah, I've been through this whole song and dance."
"I thought we weren't supposed to talk?" Daniel asked from the front, at a normal volume, startling the whispering duo. Steph whipped her head around and Daniel recoiled at her angry face. "Sorry, sorry. I just thought— Nevermind. Can we start over?" The room was silent, and after a moment, he offered his hand to shake. "I'm Daniel Wyndham."
Steph stared at him for another few seconds before limply taking his hand. "Steph. Lauter."
"Oh!" He smiled. "You have the same name as the mayor!"
"Yeah, that happens when he's your dad."
"Oh."
"Hannah," she put out her own hand. "I'm Hannah."
Steph let go of Daniel's hand so he could shake Hannah's, and he gave her a smile. "Nice to meet you. I think I've seen you around."
"English," she mumbled. "We… have the same English class."
"Oh, then that's probably where."
Brad let out a dramatic "Ahem?" from where he was lounging. The three looked over to see him still with his arms crossed over his chest, an unimpressed look on his face. "Enjoying your little pow-wow over there?"
"What do you want?" Steph spat.
He raised his hands. "Hey, I'm just backing up Danny over there—"
"Daniel," the boy corrected.
"—about how we're not supposed to be talking or anything. You're gonna get in trouble if Mr. Houston comes back."
"He's not coming back," Steph rolled her eyes. "He doesn't wanna be here, just like the rest of us."
As she spoke, however, Hannah perked up. "He's coming." She let go of Daniel's hand and sat properly at her desk. After a second, Daniel did, too.
Just as Brad was about to scoff, everyone heard the heavy footsteps of the giant man that was their shop teacher, and the older two scrambled to sit properly. Sophia let out a soft snore and, not thinking, Steph threw her phone at the girl's stomach. It hit its mark and Sophia yelped, waking up. She looked around, angry, and Tom opened the door.
She fell silent with the rest of them, and Tom scanned over them all with squinted eyes. After a pregnant silence, he cleared his throat. "Uh. I gotta take your phones."
"What if there's an emergency?" Steph asked, hoping that her phone hadn't broken when she chucked it at Sophia.
"I'll let you know. Your parents and all that are supposed to call the school, and not you." He had a little box, and held it in front of him. "You'll get 'em back at the end of the day. And you'll be fine without 'em for a few hours, trust me."
With some hesitance, Brad threw his phone in the box. Sophia and Daniel surrendered theirs, and Hannah shook her head. "Don't have one." The other teens looked suspicious, but Tom simply nodded, and presented the box to Steph.
"I don't have it with me," she told him. Unlike with Hannah, he didn't buy that.
"Where is it?" He asked, unamused.
"I left it in the car."
"She threw it at hothead back there," Brad scoffed, still facing forward.
Steph stayed quiet, glaring at him, but Sophia shook her head at Tom. "No she didn't. He's just trying to start something."
Brad whipped around. "She threw it at you, and you're taking her side?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sophia chimed, squinting at him under her sunglasses.
Tom shook his head. "Okay, fine. Just leave each other alone. Sophia, don't wear sunglasses inside." She took them off and hung them on her collar as he walked back to the door. Before he left, he nodded at them all. "Alright, I'll let you guys know when it's lunch. Uh. Yell if something's on fire or something. Kay?"
The group nodded, and he was gone again. It was quiet for a moment, and then Sophia whistled, and tossed Steph's phone back as she turned. Steph caught it, and Brad rolled his eyes.
"Way to show your biases, Mr. Houston," he grumbled. "The freak and the mayor's kid."
"Maybe if you weren't such an asshole, I'd have covered you, too," Sophia told him with a scoff. "Assuming you were smart enough to lie, that is."
"Why didn't you give him your phones?" Daniel asked the girls behind him. "I won't tell or anything, I was just curious."
"I don't like other people touching my shit," Steph told him, opening the phone and checking her texts.
He looked at Hannah, and she shook her head. "Didn't lie. I don't have one."
"Bullshit," Brad spat. "Everyone has a phone."
"I don't," she glared from within her hood. "Don't have the money."
Brad fell quiet and looked away, note quite ashamed, but apparently seeing that he'd crossed a line. Still, he mumbled, "Can't Webby just make calls for you?"
Hannah stood, knocking her chair back, and the lights flickered. No one said anything, but everyone stared at her, tense and waiting. After a minute, she fixed her chair and sat back down, silent. Everyone continued to stare, and her face began to color.
Not a moment too soon, Tom poked his head back in. "Lights go out in here, too?" Everyone nodded. "You all okay?" Everyone nodded again, and he began to leave, but Daniel interrupted by raising his hand.
"...Yes?"
"Are we allowed to move? Like, walk around, or switch seats?"
He thought for a moment, and shrugged. "Sure. Just don't go too far. Stay in," he gestured to the tables, "this area."
"Thank you."
Tom waved, and was gone again. Once the door was shut, Hannah dropped her head onto the table, hood encompassing her and blocking all light. Brad and Sophia jumped up and began walking around the library, leaving the area Tom designated. Daniel collected his book and his backpack and moved to the seat beside Hannah in the back row. She looked up slightly, and then put her head back on the table.
Steph, still sitting in front of them, resumed texting, her mind split between the girl behind her and the boy in her phone.
peter parker pussy eater
shes layin facedwn on the table
what do i doooooo
babeee
You should just be paying attention to yourself.
You put yourself in there, no offense.
no ur right
but stfu <3
I'm sure she's fine. Face down on a table is pretty average high school stuff.
ok mr college man
mr smart guy
You'll be Miss Smart Guy soon enough.
wow babe….. r u proposing???
I mean that you'll be in college soon, it's a little fast for that.
JK JK unless?
LMAO
Anyway, who else is there?
brad FUCKIN callahan
Oh, ew.
yea
also some kid named dnaiel???
daniel
hannah knows him i guess
also sophia brandt
I don't think I know either of them?
daniels a freshman
sophia is that super tall karate chick
Oh yeah, wow. What'd she do?
idk
punch someones head off like in wwdits
That would be sick, but I don't think that's what you do in karate.
kung-fud it off then idfk
i dont TALK to these losers pete
I thought you were talking to Hannah?
shes not a loser shes a kid
Kids are losers.
fuck
Also, you're not talking to her now, you're talking to me.
thank you capn obvious
At least I'd hope you aren't trying to talk and text at the same time.
im not im not
shes talkin to dan now
i think they just quoted a fucking vine
yep
missed my chance, f in chat
F
You'll have other chances. You're there all day, after all.
i knoooooowwww
Here, we'll change topics.
How's Brad been? Any drama?
just a lil shit as fuckin usual
him n sophie are gonna like
commit arson or some shit
Maybe you should stop that?
not what im here for petey
Yeah, fuck them.
Maybe if they burn the school down, you can leave sooner.
dont get my hopes up
Behind Steph, as she texted, Daniel idly watched Sophia and Brad scout opposite sides of the library, occasionally giving each other dirty looks. He frowned, and turned back to Hannah, who had her head on the table still and was humming something quietly.
"What song is that?" He asked. "I think I've heard it before."
Hannah abruptly stopped and shook her head without sitting up. "No, you haven't."
"Oh, did you write it? It's very good."
Hannah stiffened. "No. Webby taught me."
Daniel nodded. "Sounds cool. Is Webby a music teacher?" He looked in the direction of the school's music room. "I thought that was Mr. Lockhart."
"No," Hannah finally lifted her head, sighing. "She's… a friend. Of mine. You wouldn't know her."
Daniel hummed for a moment, thinking. "Is this like a girlfriend-from-Canada thing?"
"A what?"
"I don't really understand it," he shrugged, "but sometimes people lie about having a girlfriend in Canada so people can't ever meet her."
"That's weird."
"Yeah. Is Webby like that?"
"No!" Hannah made a face, but was sitting fully up now. "Webby's just a friend. Kind of another sister, sometimes. She's very old, and she lives further away than Canada."
"What's further than Canada?"
"Lots of places. California."
"California isn't that far, it's still in America. Canada is a whole nother country."
"Yeah, but it's just above us. If you take a boat out on the lakes, then you'll end up in Canada."
"I did that once, and I ended up in Wisconsin."
"Then you went the wrong direction."
Daniel thought for a moment. "Have you ever been? To Canada?"
"No."
"Me either. It doesn't sound that interesting."
Hannah laughed. She was suddenly feeling more relaxed — probably because of how silly the conversation was, and how easy it was talking to Daniel. She was also relieved that he hadn't pressed about Webby. Looking at her hands, she asked, "Do you have anywhere you want to go?"
He looked around the library. "I thought we weren't allowed to leave?"
"In the world."
"Oh!" He flushed, embarrassed. "I don't know, uh…"
"You can think about it."
He shakes his head flushing more. "No, I-I know, it's. Well. It's a little silly."
"No it's not," she told him earnestly.
"...Daytona International Speedway."
"What's that?"
"It's a famous racetrack."
"Like NASCAR?"
"Yeah! You know it?"
It was Hannah's turn to flush. "We're all one race. The human race."
Daniel grinned. "What about NASCAR?" The two laughed for a moment, making the older teens look over — but neither noticed. "That's my favorite Vine."
"Because you like cars?"
He shook his head. "I don't really care about cars that much. I just like fast stuff. Races. Cars, horses, people. It's… neat."
Hannah nodded, realizing why it was so easy to talk to him, unlike most of her peers. "I like spiders," she offered. "And Lovecraft."
"Love craft? Like Minecraft?"
"No, I've never played Minecraft. Like—"
"You've never played Minecraft?!" He cut her off, a little too loud for her liking, and she flinched. "How have you never played Minecraft?"
"I don't have a computer," she shrugged, growing embarrassed and anxious.
"I bet you'd love it. You build things, and survive, and grow food, and go mining. I like playing survival, but I turn the mobs off because I don't like the noises they make."
Hannah let him talk, deciding not to tell him that she had watched videos of the game and knew plenty of what it was about. It was nice to hear people talk about things they were passionate about. She hoped people thought the same of her when she started talking about spiders or eldritch monsters.
But Daniel's rant didn't continue much longer. Once he settled down some, he chewed on a string of his hoodie and looked at her. "So, is love craft like that?"
Hannah smiled and shook her head. Her braids now gone, her hands found her own sweatshirt strings as she explained. "H.P. Lovecraft was a writer in the early 1900s. He wasn't popular then, and he wasn't a very good person because he was racist, but he was the author and creator of the Cthulhu mythos…"