Ajax cut the engine of his motorcycle. He was terribly late for class, not that he cared. He had spent the early hour of the morning nursing his wounds then passed out after that. Just because he won the fight doesn't mean he was able to avoid all injury, the other guy was just worse. His eye was still throbbing, a bruise just beginning to form. His knuckles were completely busted. He had wrapped them in some gauze to staunch the bleeding. He was thankful his next fight wasn't scheduled until the weekend, giving him time to recuperate. He unbuckled his helmet and put it in the compartment. He ran his hand through his hair, thoroughly screwing it up, but it was better than helmet hair. He straightened his leather jacket and grabbed his bag before walking into the building he called hell. He didn't understand why he had to go, he would fine with taking online classes. But his mother told over and over again that it was good for him to be with other teens his age, that socializing was good for him. He could socialize, he just hated everyone at school. They were all too uptight for him. They just needed to let loose. Ajax considered taking a smoke but he really couldn't afford to get caught smoking on campus grounds again so he decided against it. He walked into the school building, his boots scuffing the floors. He walked into the office where the administrator was already waiting with his tardy pass extended to him. He took it and made his way to class, English. He particularly hated that class. the teacher, Mrs. Baker, refused to let him sit in the back with his headphones in and work on assignments. No, she was all about being in groups and working together and he hated every second of it. Ajax opened the door, placing the tardy slip on the teacher's desk, then made his way to his seat. "Look who decided to grace us with his presence," Mrs. Baker said. He acknowledged her with a nod of his head before dropping his bag to the floor and all too gracefully plopping down in his seat. "As I have just gotten done telling the class, we're doing a project instead of a midterm. For the project, you will be using one of the books we have read this semester and coming up with your own interpretation of it. You will be using examples and quotes from the book of your choice. You may present it any way that you wish. The official rubric is on Blackboard. This project will be due when you would have your midterm, so you'll have exactly four weeks from tomorrow." Mrs. Baker started to head back to her desk, "Oh, and since you decided to be late, your partner will be chosen for you. So you and Yesim better get started." It was in that moment that Ajax considered leaping forward and strangling his teacher.