Untouchable (Original Story)

III

As Krystal stepped out of her mother’s car, Mrs. Briseno called back for her to turn around. Krystal did so, annoyance in her eyes, before her mother smiled and said, “te amo.”

“Yo también te amo,” Krystal replied passively, before readjusting her backpack strap and turning off towards the front doors of her respective high school. Her mother sighed through her nose as the car door slammed shut behind Krystal, and drove slowly off. Krystal watched her go, still frustrated that she never let her drive to school in her motorcycle that her Tío had gifted her. 

She turned, expectant to at least see Gemma, but was simply faced with snickering upperclassmen and people she didn't know. Krystal slumped. Syd was always busy. Being valedictorian and all. But Gemma? Gemma always stuck around. 

She walked aimlessly around the school, following the Syde pattern. Locker. Push the backpack in. Take out notes. Sketchbook. Homeroom. 

She tossed her things on the table, opening her sketchbook to a blank page. A difficult thing to find in her mess of art. Someone nudged her, Mia, who smiled and waved at her passingly, before walking towards her seat. Krystal smiled back, but it dimmed. She remembered homeroom in eighth grade. They would snicker and Krystal would draw buff men and they would get yelled at for not paying attention to the announcements. That was five years ago, and Mia cut her hair and bought flashier clothes and the curse started and now Mia just avoided her like the plague. She’d wave passingly or shoot her a tight smile, but nothing more would come of such an old, close friend. 

Krystal was taken out of her thoughts as Ms. Madison, a bigger woman with good skin and a long brown ponytail, shouted over the chatter to alert them that:

“The bell has rung. That means it’s homeroom period. Not passing period. Phones and voices away,” she loudly reminded, and all of the kids sighed and put their things down. Ms. Madison’s eyes flicked to Krystal. 

“And unnecessary utensils until announcements are over.”

Krystal rolled her eyes, shutting her sketchbook over her barely started anime portrait and tucked it under her desk. Ms. Madison smiled smugly before turning towards the projector and raising the remote, starting the announcements. 

They were the normal game of charades that morning announcements were. A lowerclassman smiling awkwardly through a set of braces reading off dates, upcoming events, games, the score between the Varsity Soccer teams and so on. What grabbed Krystal’s attention was a significant name spoken through the student’s lisp. 

“And now, a PSA directed by this year's valedictorian, Syd Stutz!”

Other kid’s interest was grabbed too. Syd tended to stick to herself throughout most of their senior year. This was new. 

Syd strutted comically into frame, over a poorly green screened background of a sun-lit, cloudy, euphoric place. She put her hands together, lips taut, and as the sentimental music played and Nathan’s face sloppily faded next to her, Krystal knew exactly what this was about. Her stomach fell. 

“One year ago today was the last of the eight terrible losses that plagued this town, this school, and this graduating class.”

Pictures of all of the deceased boys began to slowly shuffle on the screen. Krystal’s hands tightened and she slumped. Some kids’ eyes fell towards her. One kid giggled, getting shushed by Ms. Madison. 

“We cannot express the sorrow that is felt with the unexpected death’s of these eight boys. But we can express our gratitude that there has been no more in this year. We can celebrate that no more young men have been taken too soon. Young men who some loved. Some called family. Some called friends.

“To celebrate and to support the families that tragically lost these boys, a fundraiser will be started to help raise money that will be sent to their respective families.

“Nathaniel Deep. Ben Sioux. Mick Martinez. Antho-”

Ms. Madison stopped the video, angrily turning towards the right side of the room. Krystal lifted her head, curious. 

“The disrespect!” Ms. Madison stated, and stared angrily at a group of some of the more popular people. Some girl was recording while the rest were snickering and whispering something. 

“Hallway. Go.” She pointed. 

Krystal looked away, pulling her sketchbook back out. 

~

Krystal sat next to Gemma uncomfortably, feeling like everybody’s eyes were on her. Gemma looked at her sympathetically, attempting to get her to eat her salad, but Krystal’s appetite was gone. It was replaced with anxiety, paranoia, and embarrassment. 

She fidgeted with her hands as Syd walked up, waving at a handful of people before smiling and stepping over to their small group. 

“Hey guys! How’s it-”

“Why did you air that?” Krystal snapped, not looking at her. 

Syd’s face fell, “what?”

“Who’s idea was it? To air that.”

Syd stood awkwardly.

“The anniversary of the last death? Krystal, it’s a fundra-”

“I don’t care what it is,” Krystal huffed, “y’know. People were finally starting to leave me alone. To forget about this stupid curse. And you pull this stunt. It’s a lot harder to survive in high school with a constant rumor at your throat. It’s not as easy when everybody likes you, Syd.”

Syd’s whole world shattered, no no no no-

“Krystal I-”

“Just go Syd. I need a day.”

Tears formed in the corner of her eyes, it felt like a rug was just ripped from under her feet, spilling her backwards and making everything inside of her shatter. No, Krystal, Krystal please, no no. This wasn’t meant to make you upset. It was a warning. A warning for him. 

Suddenly, anger rose up inside her, and she snapped, “it’s ‘cause of him isn’t it?”

Krystal looked up confused, “what? Who-”

“You know exactly who I’m talking about. What did he say to you?” 

Krystal kept looking up at her in absolute bewilderment. 

“WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?” Syd yelled through clenched teeth, a few people in the cafeteria now looking at the two. At Syd. At Krystal. 

Krystal just swallowed, and pushed past Syd, exiting the cafeteria. Syd looked on, confused and angry and heartbroken. Gemma’s eyes fell from Krystal to Syd. 

“Nice going.”

~

Krystal leaned against a brick wall, watching the soccer boys’ scrimmage. She heard the approaching sound of footsteps, first thinking it was Gemma, but deciding they were too heavy and knew it was Syd. She sighed, trying to look away for as long as possible, until they stopped and Syd was standing next to her. She finally turned her head, but her face fell when she realized it wasn’t Syd. 

A familiar unlabeled black hoodie stared back at her. Antoine. His hood was down, revealing more of his messy straight hair and pale eyebags. He stared at her for a minute before smiling and waving awkwardly. 

“Hi.”