OVERPOPULAS

Chapter 3

When we pulled up to the school we had to pass through a gate first with government guards around the place. They had to identify that I was a student of the school by using my fingerprint. Once they've confirmed, they let us through to the parking lot of the school. My father parked us up close near the front. I got out of the car and looked at the high school. Loiderin High School, owned by Yanka Loiderin. The school was a big two-story building along with four mini buildings surrounding it along with the gym that was on the way back from the school. The auditorium was also in the back and was noticeably bigger than the gym.

Once we headed through the front gates, I had to depart from my family as I had to be in my homeroom class, which was in the large main building that held the science and math classes. The rooms at the bottom floor of the building were the science classes, biology, environmental science, chemistry, physics, and geology. While the second floor held the math classes. My homeroom teacher was Mr. Kiffin who taught AP Statistics. So, as I headed upstairs I heard the familiar chatter from my peers as I walked the hallway to my homeroom.

I reached the door to my homeroom and froze. This is really happening, after this it's the start of being a grown-up. My hand reached my hand out to the doorknob and turned it. When I opened the door I saw a bunch of people sitting down in their assigned seats all looking at me.

"You're late Mr. Pulpis." Kiffin pointed out as soon as he saw my face. "Do you have any excuse?"

"No, sir. Sorry sir." I quickly said, rushing to my seat as the whole class looked at me.

"Welp, since you're here we can finish taking attendance and begin lining up." Kiffin said out loud to the whole class. I looked down at my desk, lost in thought as Kiffin took the attendance. Still mad at the fact that Eric didn't want to come to my graduation. As soon as Kiffin got done with the attendance he told us to line up outside in our designated order. Luckily the person I was behind in my order is one of my only friends in the school, Slinca.

She was blonde with pretty blue eyes, and part of her long hair covered her left eye. She was my friend throughout my highschool years and a very tough fighter, like my brother. When we were sparring partners she would absolutely level me every time. Slinca comes over to me and gets in her spot. I get in my spot behind her.

"Aren't you nervous?" I ask her.

"Why should I be?" She asked back.

"Well after this we become legally killable. Isn't that scary to you?" I questioned.

"Come on Lee, I thought you knew me? Of course I'm scared, but there is really nothing to fear. The death rates have gone down like 1% so violence seems to be at a decline." She responded. Did she even know the question I asked her? Even if the death rates go down by a percent, you still could be killed at any time. Deciding not to question her more, I kept my mouth shut as Kiffin led the line to the auditorium.

Along the way there Slinca turned towards me and whispered in my ear.

"Are you scared?"

"Well obviously." I whispered back.

"Is it because of your lack of fighting skill?" She speculated.

It took me a little while to respond. Because, I was wondering if that was the truth or was I just letting Eric's words get to me. I responded with a "Maybe" I shrugged.

"You shouldn't really get worried. If you stay worried your whole life. You'll just never enjoy it."

It took me a little while to respond. Because, I was wondering if that was the truth or was I just letting Eric's words get to me. I responded with a

"Maybe" I shrugged.

"You shouldn't really get worried. If you stay worried your whole life. You'll just never enjoy it." Slinca pleasantly said.

Those words echoed in my head, as if she was speaking into a canyon. Have I been over-complicating things? Was I really scared for no reason? Those words are easy to say, but can you actually follow through with them?

As soon as we got into the auditorium we lined up by classroom teacher order.Which meant that each homeroom teacher class line would go, then the next, and then the next. The classes were in the back of the auditorium and on the other side were a bunch of parents ready to see their child go up on stage and accept their certificate. The principal was in front of a microphone announcing names and shaking the graduates hand as they came up. We were the next to last line. It took an whole hour before our line started being called. Name after name benign called.

"Slinca Forshest" The principal announced. Slinca then went on ahead to the stage and after that I didn't see her. Only heard the cheers from her family.

"Lee Pulpis" The principal announced.

It took me a second to get my bearings, I wasn't truly ready to receive my award. Only when the teacher basically pushed me forward when I got to walk up onto the stage. I walked over to the vice principal, who was standing next to the principal, to receive my graduation certificate. I looked out to the crowd and heard my parents cheering all the way in the back. I'm pretty sure I heard them yell that they are proud of me. I grabbed my certificate and shook the principal's hand. Again, I looked into the crowd and saw my family, only wishing that Eric was there too. A tear went down my face and I rushed off the stage and back into the auditorium.