Ben's last class of the day was American history. The teacher was absent, leaving the substitute to retain some kind of order by shutting off the lights and popping in a black-and-white version of Hamlet. Ben had no idea what Shakespeare had to do with the United States, but he wasn't complaining. Movies were good. Movies meant that the lights would be off, which meant that Ben could get a nap in.
He slipped in and out of consciousness for the remainder of the period, sequestered in a desk at the back of the classroom, and only woke fully when his desk was jostled as the other students prepared to leave. Blinking sleep out of his eyes, Ben yawned and slipped his backpack over his shoulder as he slouched out toward the main entrance. Goosebumps rose over his skin as he exited into the cold air. He had forgotten his coat in his locker, but after a few seconds, decided to let it be. It wasn't freezing. Besides, he had said that he would walk Mia to work.
Skirting the edge of school property, Ben caught sight of his sister and grinned as he approached her from behind, intending to scare her. Taking a deep breath, he let out a loud, "BOO!"