•MARIANA•
Despite taking a car to school, we were still twenty-five minutes late due to the morning rush. Mrs. Hathaway stopped the car in front of the school, and both Vanessa and I got out.
“Have a good day at school, girls. Bye!” she said, and we nodded as we waved goodbye, watching her drive off. Vanessa and I turned toward the school and walked through the gate.
We first went to our lockers to grab the necessary books, then headed toward our classroom. Vanessa and I let out nervous breaths as we approached the door. I opened it and stepped inside first, with Vanessa following closely behind. All eyes immediately fell on us, including the teacher’s, who was glaring at us as if we’d committed a crime for being late and interrupting his class.
“Alas! Miss Jackson and Miss Hathaway have finally decided to join us,” Mr. Stankiewicz exclaimed with his thick Polish accent.
“Can the two of you explain why you’re thirty minutes late?!” he demanded angrily. Mr. Stankiewicz had always been quick to anger when students disrupted his class, and unfortunately, we were his targets this morning.
“We’re really sorry, Sir, but we have a valid reason for being late,” I spoke up.
“Really? Then tell us the reason,” he said, eyes narrowing.