THE ROOT OF DARKNESS

CHAPTER ONE

Miss Penelope clapped her hands rounding up the students.”Okay people, let’s get going”. She called out with a oud voice as one by one the twenty students started loading the school bus. 

Miss Penelope was their history teacher and she had decided to take them on a field trip to a museum alongside Mr Alfred, their physics teacher. 

Miss Penelope’s reason for bringing Alfred along was because she thought it would be more cordially to have two adults with the kids rather than it just being her but Alfred’s reason for trudging along was to make passes at Penelope. 

“I swear to God if Mr Alfred dares to make me feel single on this trip,I’m going to kill him”. Daisy a goth with a heavy metal choker on her neck says with disgust. 

“That’s why you should change your appearance if you want to look presentable to guys”. Kira, a drop dead gorgeous beauty says to Daisy while clutching onto Phil, her boyfriend’s arms. “Don’t you agree babe?”

“I do”. Phil replied. 

“Can you all just shut it. I’m trying t read here”. Caleb, a nerd and a down to earth geek says from the back seat of the bus. 

“Sorry to chim in and say this dude, but only a moron would want to read in a bus”. Jackson, a jock and the best player in the school basketball team joked which earned a laughter from the rest of the kids. 

“I can’t wait for this fucking bus to move already”. Liz muttered under her breath, talking to no one in particular as she stared outside the window, looking up at the sky. “I hope it doesn’t rain”.

She felt someone push her, causing her to turn to her left where she saw two other kids locking their lips with eachother’s. “Eww.. get a room”. 

Desire tore her lips away from Vivian’s as she turned to face Liz, seeming apologetic as she says. “I’m sorry”

Taken aback by how friendly she seemed, Liz replied awkwardly. “It’s okay” before turning back to look out the window. 

Desire cleaned Vivian’s lips that were heavily stained with her lipgloss. “I got carried away back there, didn’t I?”

Vivan flashed her his sexiest smile. “Not at all baby”. He leaned closer to Desire to kiss her when he felt something hit him. 

“Peer pressure exists”. Cassey, Desire’s bestfriend shouted from the back seat as Vivan flashed her the middle finger.

Cassey rolled her eyes as she looked around her at the back seat wondering why a nerd had to be sitting down by her right.

She turned to her left where she was a really fine, muscular guy she’d never noticed before looking outside the window with his headphone over his ears. Cassey tapped his arms, getting his attention as he paused his music to listen to her. 

“Is something the matter?”. He questioned. 

“What’s your name?”. Cassey asked as he looked at her, confused. 

“Derrick”. He replied.”Why do you ask?”

“I’m Cassey”. 

“Okay?”

“And I’m really bored so do you mind if we share that thingy?”. Casey questioned pointing at his headphone as Derrick wondered how it could be shared. 

But knowing that there was no getting rid of her, he remove his headphone as he placed it over her ears. “You can have it”

“But…”. Derrick had looked out the window before she could say anything else as Cassey grumbled some mimical nonsense. 

Miss Penelope had entered the bus, clapping her hands as she brought the students to order. “Now, now. Let’s get in order while I count you”. 

Miss Penelope did a rough estimate of head count as she frowned. “You guys are supposed to be over 20 but you are just 9. What happened?”. 

“Who cares? Let’s just go already!” Daisy the goth shouted as Miss Penelope climbed down from the bus.

She was about to close the door of the bus when Becky, a fat cheerleader with blonde hair arrived, breathing heavily. “I’m sorry I’m late, Miss Penelope. The try out took ages”. She apologized as Miss Penelope waved it off. 

“It’s okay. I’m just glad you could make it”. 

“Bree, Monica and Sasha said I should tell you that we can go without them that they’ll meet us there”

“Are you sure they’ll find their way, around?”

Becky chuckled as if she’d just been asked the world’s most silliest question. “Of course”.

Miss Penelope nodded her head. “Then hop right in, Becky”.

“Thank you ma’am”. As Becky climbed onto the bus, the students screamed as they felt the boss nearly tumble. 

“Hey, Fatso. Are you really going to take the bus?. We could all die because of you”. Jackson said harshly, unfeeling. 

“Not cool, Jackson”. Miss Penelope warned him, sternly as she turned to face Becky. “Please take a seat”. 

Becky moved to take a seat beside Daisy who was obviously displeased by this. 

“Eww..why is your body is sweaty?”. Daisy cried out loud in disgust. 

“Sorry, I just finished try outs and I had to run if I didn’t want to meet the bus..”

“So you are telling me you got this sweety from running from the cheerleaders quarter to the bus which is just 3 miutes?”. Daisy questioned in disbelief.

“Hey, knock it off. You’re one to bodyshame others, you walking dead”. Liz says behind Daisy loosing her cool. 

Daisy, offended turned to face her, standing to her feet. “What did you say?”

“You heard me and I’m not going to repeat myself twice”

“Kids!”. Mr Alfred shouted bringing everyone to silence. “We’re about to leave now”. He turned to face Daisy. “Sit down. The bus is about to move”. 

Daisy rolled her eyes as she grudgingly took her seat, separating her arms and Becky’s from touching.

Seeing everyone calm down, Mr Alfred shut the door as he moved to the driver’s seat whereas Penelope sat at the opposite side. 

“I think you should go stay at the back with the kids”. Alfred says softly. 

“I think so too”. Penelope replied as she moved to the back. When she was all settled, Alfred took off. 

Miss Penelope looked around at all the kids. They hadn’t forced anyone to be here so why did it look like they were all here against their wish. 

Her gaze landed on Kira who seemed to be the only one excited as she showed Phil some random places they passed by as Miss Penelope found herself somewhat relieved that someone, even though it was just one person, was having fun.