Cage of Butterflies

Chapter Two

TYSON POV

Mums not talking to me. She hasn't said a word in weeks, I don't expect she'll ever speak to me again. 'Aaron can you tell Tyson to pass me the tomato sauce, Aaron can you tell Tyson to turn down the TV, Aaron can you tell Tyson to stop looking at me,' Shes pathetic. I'm disowned completely. Tikani has to come on every car ride because she can't stand to be alone with me. She's over reacting.

Today's my first day at Codrine. Usually you'd be getting the shits. It's hard to start over halfway through year 11. Little pretty rich boy walking the halls of Australia's Detroit. I know I'll get shit for being new, for being black, for being rich. I don't care. This is where I belong. If it means travelling hours to and from school so be it. I'm not born for prissy private school life. Mum wouldn't believe me when I told her that at first. I didn't think I'd have to take it that far to prove it to her. I'd vandalised, stolen, started fights but she still thought I was an angel. Now she truly believes me to be satan. I don't regret a thing.

The car stops and I step out without looking at her. I already know the expression that'd be plastered on that face of hers. It's the same one she's worn since she got the call from St. Marks. Tikani, on the other hand, is leaning up against the window, tongue hanging out low, cheering me on with every bark. He's what sets the smile on my face as I sling my backpack over my shoulder and walk off into the main entrance.

I have to find the front office and surprisingly the school is huge and well populated. This is the worst part, finding someone thats actually willing to be a nice person. Ahead of me I see a tall brunette swinging a long ponytail. I'd rather take a chance with her than any of the guys at the moment. I walk faster until I'm side by side with her.

'Hey excuse me,' I start awkwardly.
'You're Tyson right?" She ask me. The deep slit in her lip screams for attention.
'Yeah, am I suppose to know you," I say and rub the back of my neck.
'No, everyone knows you though, we don't get many new kids," she explains. This doesn't help my situation. It's going to be harder than I thought settling in. I wanted to make a name for myself I just didn't want it to be new boy.
'Oh, well that's a little embarrassing,' I admit, she giggles, 'would you help me feel less embarrassed by showing me to the office," I toss her a charming smile. She takes it and pushes me in a different direction and walks by me. I get looks from literally everyone, finger pointing, muffled words, laughs a few eye rolls.

'I'm Kate by the way,' she introduces herself. I just smile at her again. She's got pretty eyes, sultry eyes. The kind of eyes that make your knees tingle. Plump, inviting lips and smooth u flawed skin. Unfortunately her body is hidden in sweats. It's a cold day, I know, but why aren't any of the girls wearing stockings and coats? What's with the heavy sweatpants and jumpers? Anyway, I have to nail this chick some day.

The office is shabby and reeks of tobacco, like the rest of the school. The heater isn't heating, it's just making a noise that should be the soundtrack to the next slender man type game. The lady at the desk seems uninterested. Without even asking my name she pulls out a class schedule with my name up the top.

'You want a map too?' She ask and chews on a piece of curly white artificial hair.
'I'll show him around its fine,' Kate steps out from behind me. The lady perks up, suddenly interested.
'Who did your lip.' She smirks.
'Zoe, I still won though," she drums her nails on the counter.
'Hm I saw her eye yesterday, foolish girl doesn't know how to keep her hands up,' she chuckles.

At St.Marks signs of beatings were rare. Slightest sign of distress meant a full health check. My mate, Yusuf, was jumped one time and they wouldn't let him show his face at school. It apparently ruined the schools reputation. Here I suppose it gives you a good one. Earns respect and takes away others.

'Is fighting common here?' I ask as we exit the office. She looks up at me and frowns.
'You're not serious are you," she ask.
'Dead serious I'm afraid."
'Fights are more common than books in this school,' she chuckles.
'Oh' is all I answer. I'm not scared or worried, just anxious to know when my first fight will be. I was captain of the football team before I was expelled, I can't be that bad at fighting. I'm in shape, I know how to throw a punch, it'll be fine.

The siren sounds and Kate snatches my schedule off of me. It turns out we both have math together. I let out a groan. Maths on a first period Monday morning? I hate maths. I'm ok at it but it's boring and useless.

'Don't like maths?' She ask.
'I detest it,"
'If you don't like it don't do it,' she laughs like its so obvious. Does this chick have any idea about finals or futures, jobs and careers? I shrug off and take a seat next to her. Everything is gloomy and the classroom is already haunting me. Kate plugs in her headphones as all the other classmates do. I shuffle around in my pocket only to find that I've left them at home. Fuck that was stupid. At St.Marks electronics are band but everyone knows it's different in publics.

Kate notices my distress and gives me one of her ear buds. She's into me I know it. No ones this nice to strangers. I've always been popular with the ladies and this trait has worked better for me than you could ever imagine, still I'm grateful and I listen along to her music. It's Biggie, thank god she isn't into that normal pop bullshit. Fucking DJ snake and Jason Durolo ruining this planet. A piece of paper collides with the back of my head. Some bald dude leans in between us and smacks the middle of the white chord causing the music to plummet to the ground.

'What the fuck," Kate turns around and shoots daggers at the guy.
'Are you two already fucking?' He scoffs. Imbecile.
'Yep," she rolls her eyes and fetches the headphones. A smile stretches across my face.
'Slut," he spits. She also smiles wide and bites her lip. Clearly amused. I resist the urge to hit him.
'Ex?" I mouth to her. She nods and I laugh with her. The teachers walks in but no one takes notice. He reeks of marijuana. It's only 9am.

When the bell sounds I collect my books and bolt before I have to talk to the teacher or the dude behind us. Kate catches up to me, eager to help me find my next class. She seems well liked, many people smiling at her as we glide through the corridors.

'Why did you put up with that guy, people obviously like you more than him. He wasn't sitting next to anyone in maths and he looks tacky. His shirt had come stains all over it, he mustn't even own a washing machine. You could've had his throat," I smile.

"Well my lip wasn't really caused by Zoe, it was just too embarrassing to admit," she looks at the ground.
"Wait, he hit you!" I half shout. My hate for this guy builds.
"Look, here it's not a big deal if you fight a girl, it's normal. It's just embarrassing that I lost. That puts him above me in our system. No one cares about looks, wealth, how cool you are. It's all about the fight."