Bular x oc: Red Eyes

part 3: A Rope

The bell rang, signaling the end of Mr. Strickler's History class. Kai gathered her books, her mind still processing the wealth of information she'd absorbed. The lesson on Athens and Sparta had been particularly interesting, not least because she had vivid memories of that period. It was strange to hear about events she had witnessed firsthand being discussed as ancient history.

As she packed up, Kai glanced at her two new friends, Jim and Toby. She couldn't help but smile, grateful for their easy acceptance of her. Jim was still gazing dreamily at a girl sitting a few rows ahead – the same girl he'd been stealing glances at throughout the class.

Toby caught Kai's eye and grinned, leaning towards Jim. "Close your mouth, you're drooling," he whispered teasingly.

Jim snapped out of his reverie, his cheeks flushing. "No, no I'm not," he retorted quietly, but his eyes darted back to the girl one last time before he started packing up his things.

Kai chuckled softly, finding their interaction endearing. As they prepared to leave, she noticed Toby hunched over his laptop, scrolling through images of what looked like a toy amulet.

"What are you doing?" Kai asked, raising an eyebrow at the screen.

Jim leaned over, curiosity piqued. Toby glanced up, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "I'm doing research."

"About what? Toys?" Kai prodded, her tone a mixture of amusement and genuine interest.

Toby shook his head emphatically. "No, Jim and I found this amulet in the canal this morning. I think it's some kind of walkie-talkie or something."

Kai hummed thoughtfully, her eyes flickering briefly to Jim's backpack where she knew the real amulet was hidden. "Interesting," she murmured, turning back to her own computer. She stared at the screen, acutely aware of how little she understood about the device in front of her. Her eyes drifted to the bottom corner, taking note of the time and date displayed there.

As the final students filtered out of the classroom, Kai stood up, gathering her books. She pulled out her class schedule, studying it with a slight frown.

Toby peered over her shoulder. "What's your next class, Kai?"

Kai squinted at the unfamiliar abbreviation on her schedule. "Physical Education?" she said, her tone turning the statement into a question.

Toby nodded, a grimace crossing his face. "Phys... oh, P.E? Same for me and Jim. Coach Lawrence is a menace..."

Just then, Jim emerged from a brief conversation with Mr. Strickler, joining them at the door. "Ready to go?" he asked, his earlier embarrassment forgotten.

Kai and Toby nodded, and the trio set off towards the gymnasium. As they walked, Kai listened to Jim and Toby's chatter, picking up bits and pieces about their lives, their families, and the town of Arcadia. It was a flood of information, but Kai absorbed it eagerly, filing away every detail that might help her understand this new world better.

When they reached the gym, the boys headed to the male locker room while Kai hesitantly approached the girls' changing area. As soon as she stepped inside, a hush fell over the room. Every head turned to stare at her, some with curiosity, others with thinly veiled disdain.

Kai straightened her shoulders and walked to the back of the locker room, ignoring the whispers and pointed looks. She found the locker assigned to her and began to change into her gym clothes, all too aware of the eyes still watching her every move.

Suddenly, a gentle tap on her shoulder made her turn. A girl with striking black and blue hair, adorned with an array of colorful clips, stood there with a warm smile.

"Hi, I'm Claire," the girl said, her voice friendly and welcoming. "You're the new exchange student, right?"

Kai nodded, relieved at the girl's kindness. "Yes, I'm Kai. It's nice to meet you, Claire."

Before they could continue their conversation, Coach Lawrence's booming voice echoed through the locker room. "Alright, ladies, time to get moving!"

Claire gave Kai an apologetic smile. "I'll see you out there, Kai!" she said, waving as she rejoined her friends.

Kai quickly finished changing, stowing her hoodie in her locker before following the stream of girls into the gymnasium. As she entered, she immediately spotted Jim and Toby standing near a large mat. Above it hung a thick rope that extended all the way to the ceiling.

"Hey, Kai, over here!" Jim called out, waving her over with a smile.

Kai joined them just as Coach Lawrence began explaining the day's activity. "What are we doing?" she whispered to Jim, eyeing the rope warily.

"Rope climbing," Jim replied under his breath, a hint of dread in his voice.

As Coach Lawrence's explanation concluded, Kai studied the rope more closely. It looked simple enough, but watching her classmates struggle to ascend even a few feet made her reconsider. She decided it might be best to feign difficulty, to avoid drawing too much attention to herself.

When her turn came, Kai approached the mat, gripping the rope tentatively. She glanced at Jim, who gave her an encouraging nod. Something stirred within her – a mixture of pride and the desire to impress her new friends. Without thinking, she grinned and leapt onto the rope.

In a fluid motion that surprised even herself, Kai began to climb. Her movements were swift and graceful, muscles remembering centuries-old training. Before she knew it, she had reached the top, slapping the bell with such force that the sound reverberated through the gymnasium.

As Kai slid back down the rope, she became aware of the stunned silence that had fallen over the gym. Jim and Toby rushed over, their faces a mix of awe and excitement.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Jim asked, his eyes wide with admiration.

Kai shrugged, trying to downplay her feat. "I used to train with my parents," she said, the lie coming easily to her lips.

Coach Lawrence strode over, a rare look of approval on his face. "Now this is the hustle I want to see from the rest of you!" he bellowed, giving Kai a rough pat on the head before moving to berate some of the less athletic students.

As the class's attention began to drift away from her, Kai noticed Toby trying to get her attention. She turned towards him with a smile, but it quickly faded when she saw the blonde boy standing behind him, a sneer twisting his features.

"What do you want?" Kai asked, her voice cool as she raised an eyebrow at the newcomer.

The boy's sneer deepened. "You look like a freak," he said bluntly, his eyes flickering over Kai's unusual appearance.

Kai felt a flicker of anger, but she pushed it down, forcing herself to remain calm. She'd faced far worse in her long life than a petty schoolyard bully. With a smirk, she replied, "And you look like you're compensating for something. At least I can climb a rope."