Runaway

Chapter One: An End, and a Beginning

The adventurer's home is neither forwards nor backwards. It is not left or right. It is simply the earth beneath his mud-caked boots. He cannot linger for his feet will not be stayed. It is his destiny to wander.

The harsh glow of the lightbulbs above me stung my eyes. My heart was beating fast and would not let up. My gaze followed Mr. Harriman as he stalked up and down the room, returning our final projects. I was anxious to receive mine back, even though I knew it was the best work I had ever done. It was the same thing every time. I would sit at my desk waiting nervously for the teacher to hand back the test, paper, or whatever and then be relieved to see my grade. I'm not sure why I always expect failure, I guess it keeps me from getting complacent.

I watched the facial expressions of my peers as their papers were returned. I saw smiles and heartbreak around the room, it only made me more nervous. I fidgeted with my calculator, even though the class was english. I mashed the buttons on the keypad, filling the input screen with an extremely long number. I quickly cleared it, finding that it was unable to sate my anxiety. 

I took a deep breath as Mr. Harriman walked down my row of desks. He handed papers to the four students in front of me. I didn't bother to note their expressions, my mind was blank, simply awaiting my grade.

"Darren, what a disappointment," Harriman's voice was like a dagger through my mind. He dropped the stack of pages that was my assignment onto my desk. I looked down and saw a giant red zero scribbled on the top.

My heart sank and my throat closed up. A zero? A freaking zero? It was impossible. I had worked for hours composing that masterpiece, what could I have done wrong? I looked up at him blankly. He had a smug look on his face, clearly amused at my failure.

"You didn't do the assignment. I asked for an essay and you wrote me a narrative," Harriman said simply. With those words rage boiled inside me. I knew Harriman didn't like me, but he had never been able to take it out on my schoolwork before. I always provided work to the best of my abilities and he could not deny that. I just dealt with his sour words and condescending tone.

"The assignment said exposition on a topic of my choice. So I wrote one. Perhaps you are unaware of the many different kinds of exposition," I said sarcastically, done playing nice.

"Excuse me?" He said, shocked at the way I had spoken to him.

"You heard what I said. How could you do this to me? You know that was worth at least a ninety,"

Harriman just laughed and turned to the class. "Class, I'd like to let you all know that since the majority of you got over eighty percent on this final assignment I am going to increase how much it's worth in your final average. This will help boost all of your marks," He turned back to me.

"Oh, well maybe not for you. Actually, I think this brings you below a fifty. That's just too bad, huh?" He said in a patronizing tone. 

Now I was really mad. So mad that I could do really stupid things. So I did. I stood up violently, sending my chair falling down behind me. Harriman's face turned confused. His thick eyebrows furrowed and his mouth tilted at the tips. I still can't believe I did what comes next.

I lifted an arm and balled my fist, taking a swing straight at his face. I felt his nose give way as my knuckles pressed into it, sending a hot trickle of blood onto the back of my hand. The man staggered back and the room fell silent. Everyone's eyes were on me, boring holes into my soul. I just stood there, partly in shock and partly very satisfied.

"I have discussed the situation with Mr. Harriman and he has agreed not to press charges," said Mr. Trilk, the principal of the boarding school I attended. He stared at me over his thinly rimmed glasses. The grey hairs on his head were combed sideways, not at all flattering. He wore a black suit and a red checkered tie. It was always intimidating when I sat in his office. I slumped back in my chair, relieved I wasn't going to have to deal with the police.