Living Souls (Reimagined)

Part 1; Chapter 2A

August 19th
3:06 pm

The school day is finally over, but..  I don't want to go home. I just know he'll be home and drunk and- "Jade..?" I blink and look at Kate. For context, we're walking to our lockers together. "Mhmm?" I say back to her in a questioning manner. "You okay..? You look like you're zoning out there." She gave me what I assume is a kind smile. I return the smile and nod. "Yea, sorry, just.. Hey, wanna hang out today?" This seems to have caught her attention because she stops walking and stares at me practically with stars in her eyes. I also stop in my tracks and raise an eyebrow at her. "um.. is that a yes..?" She blinks a few times and starts nodding frantically. "Yes! I would love to hang out!" I chuckle at her and wait for her to catch up to me.

"I have the perfect place we can go!" She grabs my arm and starts dragging me. Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this? I chuckle as she struggles to navigate the crowded hall. She's so short, maybe I should help her and navigate us until we're out of the school? But I don't know my way around yet. I take my arm back from her, but I guess it was more aggressive than I intended for it to be because Kate stumbled. She looks back at me, hurt. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to trip you or snatch my arm back.." I feel so insanely guilty seeing that hurt look on her face. "I.. sorry.." Her face softens and she gives a small nod. "It's okay, I'm sorry for dragging you around." I give her a warm smile and pat her head. Right, time to initiate my plan. Help Kate navigate crowded halls.

I step closer to Kate and turn around, bending down a little. "C'mon," I say to her. She hesitates before I feel her start to climb on my back. I put my hands under her thighs to support her on my back before standing straight. "Direct through this mess, captain!" I hear her laugh as she begins to give me directions. I take note of how light she is on my back as I walk the halls. "Oh, no.. Jerk up ahead," she says. I raise an eyebrow at this before I realize who she means. "Samuel?" I ask. "That's the one," she returns. I sigh and look up, "How do we avoid him? Just give the directions and that's where we'll go." I give her a smile that I know she can't see and await her instructions. I begin to navigate the halls, while also avoiding Samuel. Major problem, Kate is about... 7 inches taller than she normally is? Yea, big issue. "Kate? We have a pr-" "Kate!" Good grief. "...oh.. you're here, too." I look over at the 'mystery' speaker. Aaaaaand, of course, it's Samuel. Why wouldn't it be?

"Good day to you, too, Samuel," I mumble back. I feel Kate squirm uncomfortably on my back and realize my grip on her is slipping. I hoist her back in place and tighten my grip on her so she doesn't fall. Upon doing this, her grip on my shoulders loosens. "Hi, Sam," she says coldly. I stifle a chuckle threatening to escape my lips. "What're you doing..? Why are you on her back? C'mon, let me help you down." He moves to grab Kate off my back and I feel her grip on me retighten. I turn so he can't grab her and he glares at me. "Can't you see she doesn't want to be on your back? Let her down. Now." I scoff at him and start walking away from him. "Excuse me, I'm talking to you." Kate sighs and I take that as a sign to keep walking. Or, I would've had he not grabbed my arm. "What," I say to him. "Where are you going with Kate?" "Somewhere away from you." I stick my tongue out at him and snatch my arm away before continuing to walk. "Clingy much." I hear Kate mutter. To this, I burst out laughing.

"Where to, Katie?" "Mm! What did you call me?" I stiffen up momentarily, "K-Katie..? Why, is that not okay..? Sorry, I sh-should've checked with you first." I feel her pat my head and cringe inside at the touch. "Actually, I like the name. It just caught me off guard, is all." I feel myself relax at her words and nod. "Thank god." I notice the halls are pretty empty now and feel myself frown. "It's pretty empty in here now, huh." I hear her say. "Yea... it is. I can put you down now, if you'd like," I say to her. I continue to walk at a slower pace to give her time to decide. "Hmm. No, I like it up here." I feel myself release a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Yes, ma'am." I keep walking with her on my back, as she leads us through the maze-like hallways of our school.