Aquaphobia

Chapter 12

[MATTHEW CAYUK]

Sometimes I feel like I'm too angry. Whenever I get these feelings, I think of idiots like Walker Murphy and Ian Fischer who cause this anger. Other times, I think of cowards like Scott Voorhees, who doesn't stand up to me on his own but has the audacity to beat me with an 80 lb log when he's with friends. I really hate him now, possibly as much as I hate Murphy and Fischer. How did that wuss even lift it anyway? He not only lifted it, he also swung it around and beat me with it. I think that when it comes to that kid's physical strength, there's certainly more than meets the eye. I don't like that. He isn't stronger than me.

I can't even use the lake outside my house anymore, because every time I look outside, I see those three idiots fishing, boating, or sometimes doing both. What a dumb thing to do anyway! Who even goes to lakes anymore? Insula is an island surrounded by oceans, and those fools choose to use the lake. Lakes are for five-year-olds, not seniors in high school. They probably know I live by the lake. I bet more than anything they're trying to make fun of me. I've seen Fischer and Murphy win gold medals in surfing competitions, yet they're spending their free time at the lake. There's simply no questions to it; they're mocking me.

Apparently throwing rocks at them from behind isn't going to get them off my turf. To be a hundred percent honest, I don't mind people using Lake Iaz at all. After all, it isn't even my lake. I just don't want those three pansies using up my good water. I don't want them anywhere near me. Luckily, nobody's been around to see them fight me. I don't even want to think about what would happen if someone was.

I arrive home from school and I ignore all of my father's questions and insults. Instead, I decide I'm just gonna go walk somewhere. I live about a mile or two away from a bait shop that everybody goes to. It's literally even called Bait-n'-Tackle, and they've got a huge inventory. They've even been recognized in the American newspaper The New-York Times as one of the best aquatic outfitters in the world. On their list of Top 100, Bait-n'-Tackle was ranked #6. Personally, I think that's amazing. It certainly is an amazing shop. They've got anything and everything an Insulan could want. I hear that the store is family-owned, but I've never actually gotten to meet the family. I've only ever seen one person working there, Miss Candice, and she always used to give me lollipops and chocolate when I was in middle school.

Today, I find myself at Bait-n'-Tackle once more, and as soon as I arrive at the corner leading up to the front doors, I instantly wanna go home. The first thing I hear before I even turn the corner is a familiar voice saying an even-more familiar name.

"Yeah, Scott! She wants to meet you! She'll be here in like five more minutes! Who knows what she's doing!"

Of course, it's the voice of none other than my favorite Walker Murphy. WHY IS THIS BOY EVERYWHERE? I can't even go to the tackle shop without running into this idiot! All I want is some peace and quiet to enjoy myself without him getting in the way! I might as well just pulverize him here in the parking lot and continue to go about my day.

I argue with myself internally for a few more minutes. Is it really worth it? What if they go against me again and do what they did last time? I'm in no way admitting that either Murphy or Voorhees is strong, simply because they aren't, but I don't want to risk anything. Just as I finalize my thoughts and prepare to turn the corner and slam those chickens, I hear yet another familiar voice, and it stops all of my movements.

"Hiya, Murphy!" the voice exclaims. The thing is, it isn't the voice of Ian Fischer as expected. Instead, it's a high-pitched female voice. The voice of the only person at Insula Academy I have tolerance for.

It's a girl named Alice Angler, and she's the only one I can truly call in any way a "friend." Seeing her stand next to Voorhees, I can see that their hair color is nearly identical, yet their faces are anything but. While his face manifests an abyss of monstrous disgust, hers demonstrates the world's most peaceful and pleasant harmony of neighboring allies. It's quite an exaggerated analogy to say the least, but it more or less accurately portrays the difference between that ugly and freak and that decent girl.