Kitty

4

 I wake up to the smell of pancakes, then I realize I was just dreaming of the smell of pancakes. Darn. Well, I guess I could make some before school. I check the time on my phone to make sure I can, and decide yes when I read 6:12. I usually head to school at 7:50 because it takes me ten minutes to bike there (it takes about 20 to walk), and I usually do my homework in the school's library before school officially starts at 8:30.

I drag myself out of bed and downstairs, trying to be quiet so I don't wake my parents, but that fails when I stub my toe on something and let out a tiny shriek. Whoops. It's hard to see at 6 am. What happened to my cat night vision? I finally make it to the kitchen and make sure to flip on the lights. I take out the ingredients and start mixing together the batter. I might or might not have dropped a piece of eggshell in the batter and gotten the measurement of flour wrong, but I end up with a nice nine pancakes at 7:27.

I hurriedly gobble up two, only pausing to pick eggshell out of them, and rush upstairs. I brush my teeth, throw on a white collared shirt with long sleeves, a sweater over that, and jeanes that are cuffed at the bottom. I like to be classy. Don't judge my style choices.

I try to quickly put my shoes and socks on, but converse shoes aren't the easiest to put on. Finally, looking stunning, I head out the door backpack on my shoulder, making sure to shut and lock the door behind me. I check the time. 7:59. Fuck. I jump on my bike that leans against the side of our house, pedaling as fast as I can. I make it to the high school and throw my bike under a special bush that nobody notices, and speed walk inside. I decide to head straight to my first class to work on my Math homework, which happens to be Math, instead of going to the library.

I make it before the first bell, and rip my homework out of my backpack. I start scribbling numbers down, hoping I can at least get credit for showing my "work". My math teacher doesn't have to know it's not "work". Focusing, I actually look at one problem, and realize I can actually do it. While I'm working on it, the bell goes off, meaning I have five minutes before it's due. I scribble faster, hoping to pull this off. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone heading over, causing me to pause and look up, hoping it's not the teacher.

It's worse. It's Jay.

"Need help?" He says, holding in a laugh and holding out his homework.

How dare he think this is funny. I want to so desperately say no, but my math grade is the more important factor here.

"Maybe," I say, snatching his homework and scribbling down the last 4 answers I needed. I give his homework back as the second bell rings, and say quietly, "Thanks."

He nods and heads back to his seat. Wow, look how civilized he can be. Why doesn't he act like this to cats? He'd have a collection of them if he did. He's like a whole new person when he's not yelling or trying to smuggle a cat around.

The rest of Math class I take notes on the new chapter, occasionally peering at Jay. Once he catches eye contact with me, and smiles. I feel a chill run through me and look away fast. After that, I don't look at him. When the bell rings, signaling that we need to go to our second hour, I pack my notebook up and put away everything in my backpack. Thankfully, no Math homework tonight. I dutifully head to my second hour and third hour, then finally lunch. I try to stick behind a taller person when navigating through the busy high school hallways, mainly due to my short height. I make it outside, on the campus still, since we're not allowed to leave campus at any time during the school day, and sit down on the grass instead of one of the outdoor eating tables. I like to sit in the field at lunch, away from everyone, so I can read or work on homework in peace. And eat as well, of course.

I pull my homemade lunch out of my backpack and start nibbling on leftover sushi. My parents and I found out I can't eat school lunch after I had an awful stomachache and diarrhea for three days after I ate it. What do they put in those lunches.

As I'm eating, I pull out my English homework I was assigned during third hour, and get to work on it. I finish easily, mainly because I'm better at English than Math, and also, all of our English homework is online, and I'm a fast typer. I sigh happily and flop back, full and satisfied with my school day so far. Except for the part with Jay in it. I crinkle my nose in disgust just thinking about him.

I look up at the sky, which happens to be open and sunny, stretching for miles. I uncrinkle my nose and smile at the sky, which I realize is kind of weird so I stop. I like the sun when it's chilly out. I bask in it for a while until the bell rings, then I sit up and hastily shove everything in my backpack and continue on to fourth hour.

Physics. I pass out on my desk when the teacher is halfway through his rant, and dream about birds. When I jerk awake, I wipe my drool off my desk and actually try to pay attention. I sneak looks around the classroom to see if anyone saw me dozing off, and nobody seemed to be staring at me, except for Jay. Dangit. I forgot we had 3 classes together. I glare back, not breaking eye contact, and we stay this way til he looks away. Haha, I won.

I shift my focus back to whatever the teacher was talking about, and realize I should be writing notes. I note down important stuff, keeping my writing neat and delicate, doodling some drawings to summarize everything as well.

Next, in P.E./Gym class, I stay near the lead of the running formation, making sure my stamina stays in good shape. My hearing picks up heavy footsteps behind me and I look back to see Jay jogging up to my side. How is he jogging??? I'm sprinting my darndest, and he looks like he's on a casual jog. Damn people and their long legs. He runs a hand through his hair and gives me a grin.

I shiver. Ew.

"H-how a-a-are you r-un-ning so huh fast," I struggle to say, mad at how he's making this look so effortless.

"Hm? Could you repeat that?" He says, pretending to look angelic. Damn him. Goddammit.

"Fuck no." I say, making it sound as clear as possible. I stick my short little leg out in front of him, and as he tumbles down, he takes me with him.

"HEY! WHAT'S YOUR PRo- huff huff -blem???" I try to yell in between my lungs almost giving out on me.

"Says the one who tripped me," he says, raising one eyebrow. I sit up and look down, carefully examining the concrete track we've been running on, listening to my other classmates jog by.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I retorted, standing up and dusting my P.E. uniform off. He snorts, then looks down at my knee, causing me to look down at my knee. I see blood and the world goes black.