Undeniable

Chapter 1: Katarina

There's something about adrenaline that becomes addictive. The feeling of the blood coursing through veins from head to toe is almost euphoric. When the muscles tense and strain against every push, pull or tug then turn into aches the next day. The body cries and pours sweat showing off the work it has put itself up against.
20 more. Only 20 more. My heart was pumping hard and my arms wanted to give away. I pushed through the pain and continued my pull ups. My arms burned as I felt the sweat starting to make my hands lose grip on bar. As I attempt to pull myself up for one more rep my hands slip and I fall right onto the floor.
"Ughhh." I let out an exasperated and exhausted sigh as I continue to lay on the floor clearly beating myself up in my own head.
"What are you doing on the floor Kat?" I hear a familiar voice say as I turn my head to see who it is.
Michael stands over me with a small smug grin then offers his hand to help me up.
"I thought I looked better on the floor." I roll my eyes as I take his hand and he pulls me to my feet.
Michael looks up at the pull up bar that's drilled into the door frame.
"What happened to the grips around the handles?" He turns back to me pointing towards the doorway.
I chuckle slightly knowing full well what happened to them. Torn to shreds, that's what. I walk in the doorway and grab the bits of rubber that are left and what used to be the bar grips. I open my hands and show him the pieces and he shakes his head.
"I'll replace them while you're at school today." He laughs.
"Do I have to? I could just get my GED and call it square." I rebuttal leaning back against the wall.
"Kat, I know you're not fond of school but it's your last year. It's even a new school." He says trying his best to convince me.
"I"ll go but if anything.. and I mean anything bad happens it's on you Michael." I give a breathy laugh and walk into the office room then shut the door.
Michael knocks twice to tell me to shower before the morning gym members get there and use all the hot water. I hate the morning members they're all leery old men. I grab a fresh pair of black ripped up jeans and a shredded tank top with an old band logo on it. I head to the women's showers and there's already a few men passing me near the showers entrances. Creeps.
Throughout my shower I just couldn't help but feel lightheaded and have an airy stomach. The severe and various panic attacks are starting to ensue again. I lean back against the shower wall letting the hot water run down my body and fall to the floor. My heart is racing and the airy feeling in my stomach has turned to knots. My breath beginning to leave my body faster than I can catch it as I feel myself sinking to the floor. My head feels like it's going to drop to the floor like a rock as I catch it in my hands resting my elbows on my knees. The tears are far beyond welling in my eyes and streaming down my face. Memories of my mom, possible scenarios and what-if situations flood my mind bringing my body to succumb to my weaknesses.
A loud knock barks at the door and I hear Michael's voice.
"Kat! You're going to be late." I hear him shout
through the door.
It snaps me out of my episode as I slowly start to pull myself together. I finish off my shower as quickly as I can. I rush to get dressed and brush my teeth simultaneously. While I wipe the water from my face I look at the mirror to see my cheeks blushed. Great now everyone will know you've been crying. My phone vibrates on the sink counter.

Michael: Do u want a ride to school?
Kat: No I'm okay I'll walk.
Michael: U sure?
Kat: It's fine.

I don't have time to do anything with my hair. I leave it down to let it dry into its normal soft beach waves.
"Oh well." I say to myself while walking back to the office to grab my backpack.
"Bye Michael!" I yell out as I'm walking out the front doors of the gym and he's spotting a middle age man on the bench press.
The parking lot is run down and covered in cracks. It shows years worth of wear and tear and neglect. The paint separating each parking spot has faded into almost nothing. I take a deep breath taking a look at my surroundings once more before starting my walk to hell.
Ashland, Oregon is a relatively small town. A population just over 21,000 doesn't seem so small but with a town with almost absolutely nothing to do except walk down historical Main Street it can certainly classify itself as small.
The walk to school is just roughly a mile down the road but it feels like forever when you're surrounded by woods and fields. The only redeeming quality the landscape has to offer is the mountains in the distance. The air is crisp and tastes like a menthol cigarette throwing itself into my lungs. You should have brought a jacket.
The distraction of the landscape had me distracted I almost didn't realize I was approaching school campus. The building is made of red brick filled with moldy mortar. Ashland High School the engraved concrete block in the middle of patchy green and yellow grass reads. I take a deep breath before crossing the road onto school grounds. The schools in the states are set up far more differently than I'm used to. My chest starts to tingle and I can feel my heart starting to beat faster. No. Not here. I open my bag and rustle through it to find my prescription. Almost frantic I find the bottle at the bottom of the bag and grab my water canister. I down the pill and water as quickly as I can hoping no one saw the near brink of insanity my own mind causes me. I look up and around glancing at everyone's faces as they're all glued to their cellphones or deep in conversations. I sigh softly getting back on my feet and head to the front door. I glance at the sign on the wall just inside the front door which points to administrative office. I enter and I'm greeted by a lively blonde secretary.
"Ms. Zavesky! We've been expecting your arrival." The blonde woman says with a smile on her face as she reaches out to shake my hand. I hesitantly oblige to the unwanted gesture.
"I'm Ms. Wilson, I have your class schedule here in order. We placed you where we thought you would fit based on your transcripts. I also have an interpreter here if you need assistance." She says motioning to a woman with long black hair.
"I don't think that will be necessary." I reply to her before she could go any further.
"Your accent is lovely." The black haired woman says to me with a smile.
My confusion must have snuck onto my face because Ms. Wilson chimes in before I could say anything.
"It's just you sound a little different than the rest of the students and faculty here that's all she means Katarina." She smiles.
"I appreciate the compliment." I give her a half smile back.
"Well you're going to need a guide around the school, it's a maze around here. I've orchestrated to have someone show you around even though he wasn't happy about it he still agreed." She tells me.
The same moment she finished her sentence the door clicked as someone entered.
"Ah Deklyn right on time." She says smiling wide.
I turn and meet his eyes.
"Hi." He says looking at me as if he's staring into my soul.