The Daughter

chapter 11 - mushrooms

"michelle, you are a monster from hell" - michelle, sir chloe

Katelyn Sullivan

I ignored Annabeth after my ... revelation. I didn't want to speak to her. I don't think she wanted to speak to me either. Suddenly, it was like we hadn't met at all. Things went back to normal. I was friendless again. Things were the way they should've been. Annabeth and I's friendship was a one-time thing that would never happen again. I was completely fine being anti-social. I still sat with Penelope. She was breathing down my neck, so I just decided that it would be easier for everyone if I sat with her. School was the regular, soul-sucking routine. Teachers were assholes, students were idiots, and the world spun around the way it was supposed to.

"Is it just me or is school like particularly awful this week," Penelope said one lunch, "It's so boring."

"I know right?" Someone to her left answered.

"What do you think Katelyn?" Penelope asked suddenly. I wasn't sure why she was trying to include me so badly.

"I mean school is generally a shit show, so I don't think anything's changed."

"The resident sadist has spoken," Annabeth said, "Thank you for your input." I felt like slapping her, but instead, I just gave her my best glare. We hadn't spoken in almost a full week and all she had to say to me was thanks for your goddamn input. At least she had the decency to look a little guilty.

"You really are a sadist, Kate," Penelope said.

"Do you actually know what sadist means?" I asked, "Cuz it's not the same as pessimistic."

"I know," she smiled.

"Alright then," I muttered, "I gotta go, see you guys around." I walked about 5 steps before Penelope caught up to me. A new record.

"Kate," she grabbed my shoulder, I turned around to face her.

"What, Penelope?" I couldn't do this right now.

"Just Penny," she said with a slight smile, "And I was hoping to talk to you later. After school in the band room? It's really urgent. Please?" I studied her face. She looked genuine and slightly desperate.

"Sure."

She sighed, and her face brightened, "Thank you!"

~~

I can't say that I was eager to find out what Penelope wanted, but here I was, on my way to meet her. There was a part of me that wanted to ignore her or blow her off, but something in her facial expression stopped me. Either way, I made it to the band room.

"Penelope?" I said, loudly, "You here?"

"I'm here," she emerged from behind a drum.

"Have you just been waiting for me behind a drum?" I laughed.

She shrugged, "Maybe."

"Okay so, what did you want to talk about?"

She took a deep sigh before speaking, "You know, you're a very special person Kate. More special than you probably even realize."