Ten minutes before the first period begins, Tanner Lockhart walks into the principal office. Before she was at her locker when she got the call by the school's secretary over the PA system, which surprises her since she never has been called there in two years of attending here. Noticing that no one was in the fairly decent size office space. Although many students would dread being in here. 

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The desk is neatly organized with her husband and son pictures, files, and her desktop computer, behind her desk our three bookshelves, consisting of the yearly student code of conduct handbooks to textbooks ranging from Chemistry to Spanish. On the wall is her Master Of Education Degree from Western Kentucky University.

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On the other side of the shelves, is the board where photos and up-to-date handwritten notes from former students from her tenures as principal, vice principal, and even English teacher our are on there.

 

Tanner finds herself sitting waiting for a minute or so before the heels make their way into the office. She sees her principal closing the door behind her. Brynn Barker puts on a smile that would rival any presidential candidate's when she sees the girl who isn't just a member of the student population. But the girl she has known since she still had all of her baby teeth and cried in the theatre watching UP. She happens to be the mother of her best friend and classmate Elijah Barker. 

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Brynn is a woman in her mid-50's but still has the vitality of a woman fifteen years her junior with her natural auburn red hair and warm presence. However, no one can be as overbearing like her. Today she is wearing a charcoal neck sheath dress from her favorite store, Ann Taylor.

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She tells Tanner to take a seat as Brynn sits behind her desk that has her name engraved on a nameplate which fits her impeccably.

 

" I bet you're wondering why I called you in here Tanner. " Brynn says

 

" I'm not in any trouble am I, Mrs. Barker? " Tanner asks trying to hide her nervousness.

 

Principal Barker shakes her head and laughs. " No, no you're not in any need for reprimand, in fact, I called you here because I need you to show around a new student here at Radcliffe High this morning. "

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In a town like Radcliffe, no one new arrives in the middle of the school year.

 

' Okay, " Tanner replies in a somewhat confusing tone wondering why she wants her to be the tour guide to this new student?

 

" With your 4.0 GPA and extra circular activities, I strongly believe that you can influence this young man who needs some guidance. and you two share two classes and a lunch period. What do you say? "

 

" Sure I'll do it, Mrs. Barker. " Tanner replies

 

Principal Barker leads her out of the office into the hallway where groups of students are still hanging out.

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" Young people, I believe the warning bell will be ringing any minute so start finishing up what you are doing and get to class thank you, ladies and gentleman. " Mrs. Barker denounces with enough authority to be taken seriously without sounding harsh.

 

The crowds start to dissipate knowing she means business in terms of her announcement.

 

Mrs. Barker stares directly at Tanner. " Our new student is at his locker on the second floor. "

 

" What is his name? "

 

Mrs. Barker moves strands of her hair behind her ear. " I didn't tell you I'm so sorry, his name is Thomas Covington.  And Tanner don't forget to show him some Radcliffe High pride. " She then does a little pep dance which would've funny if she didn't say who she would've been showing around all day.

​

Tanner finds enough strength to move towards the staircase

 

She first met Tommy Covington, the other day at JoJo's Café, when his older brother came to introduce him to Elijah and herself. She found him kind of stuck up like he thought he was too good to get to know what he probably considers country bumpkins. Then he thought he knew her so well stating in so many words that she is too much of a loser to host a party where alcohol is being consumed.

 

Tommy closes his locker and turns to her with the facial expression of him already knowing that she was supposed to be his tour guide.

 

He had on a black and white striped long-sleeve cotton top and dark jeans. He also had on a black LL Bean backpack on his back too.

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" Hey Teach " Tommy Covington greets her.

 

" Hi yourself, so uh were is your schedule? " Tanner says

 

Tommy searches in his bag where he finds the paper in his folder which he passes to her without any word.

 

Tanner looks at his schedule and mentally compares it to hers. " You're in AP English too? "

 

" Why is that so hard to believe Teach? " Tommy says smugly.

 

Tanner does her best not to give into temptation by punching him." And don't call me teach. "

 

" Yeah, I know the difference between a sonnet and a haiku ok. " Tommy explains himself. He then aims his eyes at somewhere else within the hallway as it begins to thin knowing the first period is about to start in about five minutes.

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" Who are they? " Tommy asks her.

 

Tanner sees Jordan McKnight and her tagalong Mariana Anson marching down the hall like they already own the school.

 

" This morning just got worse, " she mumbles to herself.

 

Of course, the two girls find their way over to them sensing an opportunity to humiliate Tanner like a shark sensing blood in the water.

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" Oh Tanner, I'm surprised you're talking to a boy." Jordan McKnight says icily.

 

She is always dressed like she is going to a nightclub, she has on a leopard print dress with high-heel boots, her blonde hair is in a ponytail making her seem more innocent than she really is.

 

Mariana giggles at her best friend's insult.

 

Jordan sizes Tommy and smiles. " I'm Jordan, and you are? "

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" Tommy Covington." he introduces himself.

 

" You mean of the Covington's of Home Farm? " Mariana inquiries as her huge breast nearly perk up hearing his surname.

 

" Yeah " Tommy simply answers.

 

By now Tanner finally took notice that Lynn Lockhart and Elijah were now standing beside her.

 

" Looks like the rest of the loser patrol is right on cue. " Jordan mocks.

 

" Who are you calling a loser Jordan? " Lynn asks rolling her eyes at her sometimes friend.

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" When is your lunch period Tommy, we can get to know one another. " Jordan flirts.

 

Tommy asks Tanner to help determine where his lunch period is on his schedule. Tanner assists him in which Lynn and Elijah both wonder why is she doing that?

 

" Fourth Period. " Tommy declares

 

" Mine is fifth period, damn, well hopefully, we'll have a class together or run into one another. " Jordan says like she is crestfallen that this wealthy cool boy can't find the time to spend time with her.

 

The five-minute warning bell sounds off which has students beginning to abandon their lockers and head into their designated classrooms.

 

"Come on Mariana, see you later Tommy. " Jordan says her farewell she and Mariana then saunter like they want him to be instantly taken by them.

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Tommy's expression on his face isn't hiding his humor. " They're ---interesting. "

 

"How polite of you." Elijah says

 

"Tommy, this is my twin sister Lynn. " Tanner introduces the two of them.

 

"Hey," Lynn says respectably she already knew that they had already met him before and so far he seems pretty all right.

 

The four of them begin walking simultaneously down the hall knowing they have to be in class soon.

 

"So you're the girl who got wasted? " Tommy says somewhat proudly.

 

Lynn nods her head unsure of it's an accomplishment or not.

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"I'm thinking about skipping." Elijah announces to the trio.

 

Both the twins start laughing like they couldn't stop themselves.

 

"What?" Elijah wants to know why they're cracking up.

 

"I love you Elijah, but I cannot see you cutting school at all. " Lynn says in between hysterics.

 

Today Lynn had planned to ditch lunch to get away from here.  Since the start of school, she had been skipping plenty of classes and right now has about a C average which is fine with her since she has no plans of going to college after graduating in a year and a half.

 

" I wish that I could, but my father would lose it, besides I think the principal and my father talked to each other about if I do anything out of fucking line she would call him." Tommy says which highlights his New York accent fully for the first time.

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Tanner is somewhat impressed that Tommy isn't exactly acting like a butthole like he did when they first met one another. She directs Tommy to the classroom on the end where their AP English class is held in. Lynn and Elijah head to the third floor where World History awaits for them.