An Earned Break...[Open]

[James Louis Hartwell-Thompson]

James didn't know how he felt about a nightclub in the school, never mind that the teachers and students shared it.

In theory, he guessed it was an idealistic way of bringing the students and teachers together, helping dismantle the authority and discipline between them.

In reality, it was a totally different story.

The teachers saw things that could ruin a teacher-student relationship, illegal things, drug-taking, raving, and a whole load more that he didn't care to think about. The students had a laugh with the teachers, but then if a teacher got drunk, got high....man, was HIS life a misery forever. The students would make sure the teacher never forgot making a fool of himself.

Tonight was a Sunday - which was his favourite night to come to this place. Cheap booze, no classes for him in the morning, no meetings with his teachers and only a trickle of students came into the club.

He was sat at the bar, his hand cupping a bottle of beer as he tapped his foot in time with the pop music blaring out from the speakers on the opposite side of the room. He was wearing an black shirt, open-collared, with a very lose light blue tie hanging around his neck. His dark blue jeans looked too casual for a headteacher, but he didn't care - he didn't do the 'old professional man' look.

[crysta denise cruz]

Cigarettes, 80 proof,
Take my picture, I'm so damn cute!
Fake ID's, lots of cash
Race that Benz, we go real fast
2 a.m. and I'm still goin'
Pour my drink, it's overflowin'!
Take me home, rough me up
No one's here so lets just fuck!

Crysta smiled as she entered Sinners. No, she wasn't meeting a date or getting ready to get fucked up off all the drugs in the building, but was happy that she actually had time to go to the club. Although she would usually spend her time drawing and partying, the week had been stressful. Her motorcycle was taken to a mechanic to get fixed. She was still unsure of what was wrong with it, but she wasn't going to take any chances. Her motorcycle was her pride and joy and she wouldn't risk it getting damaged. Besides that, Crysta spent the rest of her week doing extra credit for all her core classes and had a visit with her brother and mother. It isn't that Crysta isn't smart, but she's extremely lazy when it comes to class and homework. The only time she does what she's supposed to in class, is during art.

The visit with her brother and mother went fairly well. Crysta made sure to have them when her father was on a business trip and had her mother promise her not to tell him. She skipped a day or school to catch up with her brother, Jason who was going to be graduating in a few short months , and her mother, who was doing fairly well. Crysta showed no signs of the grudge she had against her mother, for abandoning her emotionally as a child. Her trust in people has all but decayed, although she does not show it. Now, inside Sinners, she scooped the dance floor. She almost regretted coming on a Sunday, considering the small amount of people there but looked on the bright side. You wouldn't really have to shove people out of your way just to get a drink. You could just scoot past them.

A sudden thirsty Crysta ventured over to the bar, taking glances to a couple of people already snorting cocaine lines. A small urge almost overtook her body, but she took control and kept walking. She had been drug free for almost three years, not counting a few relapses or the occasionally bong hit. As she finally arrived at the bar, she smiled. James was there. Ever since she arrived at Cathedral High and joined the Black Dahlia's she'd known them, and although they were not teacher-student BFF's, they did talk. Art class was more bearable with a teacher who wasn't completely antisocial or in your face. She then, ignored her thirst and standing somewhat close to him, spoke. "Wanna get high?" Of course, she meant this as a joke. Anyone who read magazines with her in it, talked to her, or partied with her, knew she was never high, but if she was, no one knew about it. She turned towards the bar, signaling the bartender over to her, while still facing James. "So, what are you doing here?"

Wordcount;; 602 wo tags
Lyrics;; i Like Money- Millionaires
Notes;; may i join?

[James Louis Hartwell-Thompson]

James was in a daydream - he stared at into the mirror that rested behind the bar, his own reflection a little distorted from the slight bends and chips in the otherwise perfect glass. He didn't even feel the trickle of condensation roll gently down the neck of the beer bottle and come to rest on his finger.

He smiled as he heard the joke of getting high behind him, and saw Crysta's reflection in the mirror. Smiling at her reflection, he chuckled, "Sure, what you got?" he joked back - she knew full well he didn't do drugs anymore. At least, not anywhere near his students - ha!

He liked this particular student - pretty smart naturally, although she did have a lazy streak. But he didn't mind that - most lazy students had a tendancy to be really thick, which was just plain annoying. At least with Crysta, you could have a conversation with her.

She'd joined the Black Dahilia's when she started school here, which is how he knew her. They had spoken on a number of occasions, outside classes, which had been a relief for him - the Dahilia's had a good group of forward-thinking students. Plus some nasty ideas thrown in too.

James twisted on his chair to face her, grinning at Crysta with his natural charm, "I'm drowing my sorrows after teaching all you bloody kid's" he joked, "I need a drink at the end of the week after that! How about you?" he asked, "And what are you drinking, it's on me."