CHAPTER FIVE

RAIN

Thankfully, the first week of school went by without a lot of visits from Derrick. He bothered me once on Wednesday and Friday but he was mostly busy planning the back to school party. Whispers this morning say it was a great party.

This morning, I didn't see them at all. I made sure I was in class before the bell and after all my classes, I blended in with the crowd and slipped into the next class. Living life like a ninja is something I've become used to.

Eva waves me over when she sees me. She's really taking this friend thing seriously. I'm embarrassed to say I like it. I've never had someone volunteer to be my friend. I've always been the girl in rich schools that she can't afford and I sadly got in Derrick's bad book early in my high school career so people stayed away from me.

"Hey, you. How was your weekend?" Eva asks.

I take a seat and start taking my lunch out.

"It was quiet. I did chores around the house and my homework."

"That's it? That's all you did during the weekend?"

"Pretty much yeah."

"That's sad Rain. Gimme your number, I'll save you from yourself."

I laugh and give her my number. Josh, a member of this esteemed table, joins the table with a crumpled flier that he straightens out and puts in the center of the table.

"It is finally time." He says.

Buck is the first person to take the flier, he reads it briefly then passes it to Eva who puts it between us so I can read. It's a flier for senior prank night.

"Yesssss, I finally get to experience this." Eva says.

"Why is it a big deal? They have it every year."

Eva looks at me in surprise. She's not the only one, other people at the table look at me like I'm strange. Buck shakes his head at me before addressing Eva.

"Rain has her head in a rock. She doesn't know what's so special about this night babe."

"Senior prank night is the one night the school doesn't give a shit what we do. We can do whatever and we won't be punished."

"That sounds like chaos." I say.

"It is. The pranks are always so funny and teachers are always on their toes. The pranks only targets teachers and the principal."

No wonder I don't see most teachers in school the morning after prank night. They stay home to avoid the chaos they know students have unleashed.

"And it's really special because it's just seniors. Anyone who's not a senior that gets caught ends up in deep shit." Eva continues.

"Urrgh. She's saying all the boring things about prank night." Buck says and positions himself to give me all the details.

"Prank night, is in two phases. Phase one is where you lay out your pranks for the teachers and mark the place off in Neon signs so no one sets it off before time. Phase two is where the real fun is. The building is locked so no one escapes, the light goes off so you can't see anything and we all prank each other."

I didn't know about that. "Really, that's the fun part for you?"

"Yeah, we've been planning this since freshman year and we all have our targets. Those rich spoiled kids are going to get it."

I guess I see the appeal. I would very much like to get back at Derrick but I'm not that bold.

"You should come." Eva says.

"No, it sounds like a nightmare. I don't want to be anywhere near there."

"Come on, don't be a chicken. Come! Come! Come!" Eva chants.

Her chants attract the rest of the table to our conversation and they join in the chant. People notice and start looking our way. I want to hide and bury myself so no one ever sees me again. This is embarrassing. My eyes meet Xavier's and the look I see in his eyes is disapproving. His disapproval fuels me. I'll attend. I'll even think of a few pranks to get back at him and his friends.

"Fine, I'll attend."

They all cheer and start giving me suggestions for pranks. They all know the people I have problems with in school so their suggestions are tailored to Xavier and his friends.

*****

The week is tortuously slow. Everyday seems to drag on. It's as if the universe knew I was anticipating Sunday night and refused to give me the win. Derrick is back to messing with me every day. I take all his insults and shoves and missing textbooks and wet gym clothes. Whenever he does something to me, I just close my eyes and imagine Monday morning and how his face will look when my prank goes off.

On Sunday morning, dad is free for the first time in a while. We have breakfast together and play games. He doesn't leave once it's noon like I thought he would, instead he calls me out to the garage and we work on his car and talk.

"Why don't we go see a movie tonight?" He says.

Who is this man and what did he do to my busy dad? The father I know doesn't have the time to see a movie with me. I almost say yes before I remember prank night. On one hand, I get to spend time with my father. One the other hand, I dish out a little of what Derrick has been doing to me to him.

Dad notices my silence and slides out from under the hood of the car.

"You have plans?"

"Yeah, but I'll cancel. It's no big deal."

"What? Of course it's a big deal, you never make plans."

Ouch. "Maybe, but I'd rather watch a movie with you. You never have time anymore."

He sighs and stands up. "I know I've been working too hard and I promise I'll cut back but you have to live your life. You can't wait around for me to get off work. Tell me, where are you going to?"

"School." I say slowly.

I never learned to lie to my father. He's very open minded and doesn't get upset by most things he should be upset over.

"School on a Sunday night?" He says eyeing me curiously.

"It's senior prank night."

"Oh, I get it. You have some scores to settle?"

"Something like that."

"Well tell me all about it, I want to know if you got my talents."

I tell him about my ideas and he helps me polish some of the ideas. My father really is the best.