Didn't Expect (Book 2 of the KBI series)

Chapter 8 - Orca Sandwich

By the time lunch rolled around, the gossip about the 'new kids in town' wouldn't stop making its way from student to student, then from faculty member to faculty member. It might as well make it on the news.

"Have you seen the new kids?"

"Are they foreigners?"

"Are they single?"

"That one looks like a twinkie, if you know what I mean." 

I let out a breath of relief once I sat down at the trunk of a tree on campus. Away from the sound of the talkative student body and from the sudden rampage that my friends bring whenever they enter my life. Just for a moment. I didn't expect to sit alone for long. Kai would most likely track me down in about five seconds or le-

"Hayley." I heard his voice sing playfully as footsteps neared from behind. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled lightly. I didn't have enough energy for much else. Between spending the entire morning showing everyone around school, to going through school itself has me beat. I don't know how anyone on the greeting committee does it.

It has been an uncommon experience having them in school with me. More attention gets drawn wherever I go inherently, because they are there, which is something I haven't been used to. For example, I go to the bathroom with Scarlett and people get jumpy or they stop to observe as much as they can before they feel awkward themselves for having so much interest. At first, I didn't see why the interest was there in the first place but I took note after she drew lipstick on the mirror in place of her lips to see if she really wanted to wear it.

"Hey Kai." I greeted him and resumed my rested position on the trunk. His tall figure hovered above me for a moment before the smell of his fresh cologne was at my level, beside me.

"You doin' okay?" He gently questioned. I met his concerned, dark brown eyes and suddenly I wanted to talk about everything.

"I'm tired." I began with an exasperated groan. "From not communicating with my best friend all day because I'm affiliated with wanted felons, to feeling like I'm babysitting other people, down to the fact that no matter how many mirrors Scarlett puts the lipstick on she'll never really know if it'll look good if she doesn't just put it on her lips. I'm exhausted. And I'm happy that you're all back, I am. But there's just so much going on at once."

I felt a strong arm find it's way to wrap around my shoulder. Leaning into it a bit, I heard his deep voice attempt to soothe me.

"I know. It's alot and it's sudden so it's understandable. If you ever need your space just let me know. I can't go too far, we're under alot of pressure right now but I'll try." 

My mind just exploded. I don't know why I didn't expect his words to help, but they did. He just made me feel- 

"Yeah, I'm good at what I do." Kai gave himself praise. But Kai forgot that if he chooses to even acknowledge one of my narrations again, I will personally rip-

"Got it. Understood." Kai randomly said out loud. I wonder why he did that.

"I'm sure if you lived with dolphins, you wouldn't feel the way you do right now." A Tiger attempted to explain to Peter who didn't sound like he was recpetive to any of it.

"Dolphins are a gift. They're friendly, beautiful and above all -" Peter's rambling grew louder as it grew near but didn't get anywhere past that sentence because Tiger wouldn't allow it.

"Murderers. Sexual Abusers. Pufferfish puffers. They are the things I hate about humans but in a fucking fish."

"I don't hear all of this noise when it comes to Orcas."

"Orcas are intelligent sociopaths! There's a difference!"

For a moment as they sat down, I thought to stop the argument and clarify that both are dangerous and not neccassarilly on Santa's nice list, but I considered how much I would rather be entertained. So, it continued.

"With your perspective, Orcas should also be condemned! They jump other creatures in the sea for fun!" Valid point, Peter.

"At least Orca's have the strength to tear us limb from limb like they're smoking a joint, there's a reason to idolize its power. And typically, the power display stops there. Dolphins would have intercourse with a human. Do you hear me? An Orca would never. " Tiger aggressively whispered at Peter, glaring with distate in his eyes. "The intelligence behind an Orca's skull amounts to something so great your tiny dolphin-sized penis of a brain will never be able to comprehend."

There was a thick silence that followed that left almost everyone around appalled. Tiger then took a moment to compose himself before relaxing his soft features. I glanced over at Kai, who I hoped would give me some kind of path to dealing with this situation, but I should've known better. His expression was holding in a laugh that seemed to be eating him up from the inside. I turned my focus back on the two, now silent, debators.

"Well." I stated to distract from the aggressive atmosphere. "Both are morally fucked. How did this argument even begin?"

"Peter thought it would be a great idea to join a 'Save the Dolphins' after-school group or something. I only strongly warned him against it." Tiger explained with simplicity. As Peter held a bothered look on his face, Val then walked up with Mickey and Wuess.

"Guys, we just came from the best class on Earth." Mickey started and soon they joined us on the ground, "Driver's Education. I had no idea some of those laws existed and I've only gotten through the first chapter."

"Which is why you don't drive." Peter interjected smoothly, which was a surprise.

"What classes does everyone have next?" I questioned, a sudden peak of curiosity rushing over me.

"We all have English Class. The one class we all share with you." Wuess explained, speaking for the group.

"Why did you all need a class with me?" The thought of having them all in one subject with me was both exciting and terrifying. It was like having your all your favorite cousins over, but your professor and classmates are there. 

"Everyone has their different reasons. Kai is obsessed with you, Peter wants to see how many good outfits you can throw together in a given week-"

His explanation got cut off by Peter himself. "Everybody has an off day, and for some reason I'm thinking Thursday is definitely your lazy day."

"Thursday?" I repeated with curiosity.

"Think about it Hayley. Far enough into the week to want to give up, but not quite the big celebration of the week ending. For someone like you, it makes the most sense."

Someone like me?

"Someone like me?"

Weuss cut in to gear the conversation back to his point. "Personally, I will be observing your behavior to see how you would react if aliens were to invade on Saint Patricks Day, specifically. So far, my calcualtions about everyone have been correct."

"He's right." Val said with passion while staring into my eyes. "He figured out things I would do that I didn't even know I would do but I would definetely do."

"Yes. So, I need to see how you fit into the equation." Weuss finished. 

I could only nod my head in compliance. My mind trailed back to the class in question, my jaw dropping mentally when I remembered which one it was. 

The Animal Farm Fanclub.