The Crimson Monster

After Taste

I smiled with pure joy radiating from me, my breath slightly ragged after the fight, my fists clenching and unclenching. I was itching for another fight. I tried calming myself down and hit a cracked wall, my knuckles bleeding as a result.

Jordan just stared at me, his bangs stuck to his forehead with sweat.

"Looks like you still miss the feeling." A fimilyer voice rang out from our surroundings.

Jordan and I turned to the source as we saw a figure shrouded in darkness walk towards us, stopping under the lamp post.

"Mason." I acknowledged.

Mason looked into my eyes, his face clouded in grief, his platinum blonde hair as silky as ever.

"I don't." I replied, trying to defend myself and failing miserably. Mason saw through me like I was made of glass. "Hurry up and take him home. I don't feel like talking."

Mason accepted defeat and took Jordan with him. He stopped in his tracks for a moment. "This is where I'll find you? Just in case I need anything?"

I sighed, knowing Mason wouldn't need anything from me. He never did in the past, and that wouldn't change. I knew he just wanted to know where I was living.

I nodded. "Here or Pictoner Carpenters. I work there from time to time for petty cash."

Mason smiled. "Since when do you know how to fix or make stuff?"

"I do the heavy lifting. I said petty cash."

"Join the club." Jordan spoke up in a serious tone, all traces of teasing vanished. "You're good."

I didn't bother replying and walked back to the club.

I sipped on my fourth glass of Jack Daniels, feeling restless.

I was feeling the rush, the high of my first fight in almost 2 and a half years.

I smirked. "You're getting rusty Katelyn." I murmured to myself.
"You say something?" The bartender asked, assuming I'd ordered something.

"Oh. No. Sorry." I replied.

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I yawned while entering the classroom, falling on my butt as a petite figure jumped on me, hugging me in a tight embrace.

"I got above 95% on the mid-terms!" Arlene squeeled, helping me up after knocking me down.

Honestly! I really wasn't in the mood for socialising. "Good for you."

"Check your score! What'd you get?"

I was too tired to argue so I just walked to the teacher in charge. She handed me my report card, looking disappointed.

I took it from her and shoved it in Arlene's hands, not bothering to look.

She gasped. "Katelyn! This is horrible!! You're gonna fail at this rate!!"

I clenched my fist, I was getting pissed. "Do I look like I give a damn?"

Arlene grabbed hold of my collar and pulled me as much as she could with her fleeting strength. "Follow me. Now!"

Her voice dripped with authority. I stood up, following her to the girls washroom.

I leant against a basin, waiting for her to start talking, my anger replaced by curiosity. After all, this was the first time Arlene had raised her voice against me.

She raised her hand, and slapped me. Not hard, but I felt it. My eyes widened in shock.

"Do you remember the day we first met? At the school's opening ceremony?"

I nodded.

The opening ceremony took place exactly two years ago. I was 40 to 45 minutes late, and although attending the ceremony wasn't compulsory, I wanted to.

I'd just climbed over the gate when I saw Arlene trying to climb over it too.

She hesitated to jump. I was gonna mind my own business and leave her alone but, I saw her legs trembling unevenly.

"Either you hurt your leg real bad, or it's artificial." I stated.

"It's artificial, so what?!" She snapped back.

I smiled sadly, I could tell she hadn't come to terms with her leg, which ment it was recent. Or maybe she was in a plain bad mood.

I tapped my shoulder. "I'll help, if you need it."

She looked to the ground beneath her, and then my shoulders. Reaching a conclusion, she placed both legs on my shoulder and I bent down from my knees so she could jump with ease.

"Th.....thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Arlene's voice bought my thoughts back to the present.

"We ended up being classmates and you never once asked me about my leg, or how it happened. You didn't bully me or tell anyone else. You were the first person to just ignore me." Tears brimmed in her eyes as my eyes widened further. "I know you don't give a damn about me or consider me a friend. But please, graduate with me. I want you to."