Polaroids & Headphones

Morrisville

Alone, a girl wanders down misty streets, headphones plugged into her phone. A steady beat sways into her eardrums, and her bag thumps in time to music only she can hear. A young man sneaks up behind her, this man wears a ruffled looking expensive shirt, leather shoes and expensive cologne. His hair is combed back, and he walks behind her, always just out of her peripheral vision. He waits until they are past the sweet suburban neighbourhood before he pounces.

His fist never makes it to her face.

In an instant, she has blocked him, and smashed him into a nearby brick wall. He groans, and tries to kick her off. She lets go, and he barrels forward, while she neatly side steps. He runs madly onto the road, where a taxi swerves to avoid him, the driver yelling at him. Red faced, the boy stumbles back to a calm victor, sweat dripping down his face.

"You win Karma. But only for today! I'll beat you tomorrow. Anyway, I let you win today." He brags, dusting off his shirt. Before he even has time to register, he has been elbowed hard in the stomach, and the pain is sharp and sudden.

"Oh really? I could break your arm if I wanted, Carter. And make it look like you did it!" Karma says, stepping back while Carter recovers.

"Fine! You won! Let's just get to the bus stop, okay?" Carter mutters, to which Karma only smirks.

"But I have my motorcycle."

"No! You know I hate those things! I'll walk." Carter sets off angrily, trudging through the morning dew.

Karma smiles knowingly. He'll be over it by the time he gets to school, he always does. Whipping her chocolate dark hair into a bun, she slides on her deep purple helmet and starts the engine. The purr of her sweet baby calms her, the reward of three years babysitting and waitressing coming to life beneath her.

~

The school courtyard, slightly damp and cold, is crowded with kids, stereotypes from all sides. Just from the parking lot, Karma sees the socially inept nerds discussing light sabers.

The awesome gamers playing games on their phones.

Wannabes twirling their hair and carrying fake Chanel bags.

Carter and the rich boys, sitting on the hoods of loudly painted and ridiculous looking cars.

The rich girls, carrying real Chanel bags and the latest phone.

Finally, the Queen Bee and entourage, hanging out on the front steps. The leader, Milly Kyler has red hair that she continuously flicks over her shoulder to get better laser glare eyes. A smile tugs the corners of Karma's mouth, thinking of a villainous Milly in a spandex suit being taken down by Supergirl, also known as Karma herself.

It's with a small chuckle that she walks up the steps, and walks confidently right past the Plastics of Morrisville. Glares and slight giggles aimed at her clothing follow her, but a girl like Karma doesn't pay attention to girls who carry mini dogs in their handbags. They are clearly witches.

Inside, even more kids are milling about the lockers and chatting. Carter has come inside, and is standing in front of Karma's locker. His girlfriend, Maya, is laughing at something he says. Karma moves to her locker, and rolls her eyes, detaching Maya and getting out her Maths books.

"Go and get your own locker, idiots! Some people come here for something other than making out." Carter starts, and grins at her.

"Ugh, I'll see you later, honey. Try and shake off this poor kid. Charity can be extreme, you're too good."

Maya struts off, looking very snobbish and dignified. But not without tripping over a very accidentally misplaced foot, and banging her face into a locker. Giggles and a satisfied smile follow her out of the building.

"Again, Karma? I don't always need you to save me."

"Oh, really? Last week, Sofi."

"She was psycho, sure, but I had it under control. I swear."

"Come on, Carter. We have a date with Mathematics."

"On a Monday?"

"Good thing I smuggled three thermoses of coffee inside this prison!"

Karma bounces off, the metal clang inside her bag echoing through the halls. Carter shakes his head, straightens his shirt and follows her. Inside the maths class, the Queen Bee and entourage taken up the back half of the room, normal people the most of the rest of the room, and then Karmer. That's the nickname Karma came up with in second grade, which Carter reputed as being inaccurate. They sat right in the front, but still got away with texting and good grades.

"Good morning, class!"

A new teacher. On a Monday. Who is a morning person. Internally Karma groans, and then realizes that it is just her stomach rumbling very audibly.

"Are you okay, Miss...uh... Karma?"

"Oh, yes. I just didn't have much left in me after robbing a bank this morning!" Karma responds brightly, playing with her hair. The teacher's shocked look is quickly replaced with irritation, and Karma smiles at a job well done.

"Right. A maths test, and you can blame Karma for that!" Yells the teacher, and cheers erupt around the room.

Being the most intelligent maths class in the school means that when tests come around, they love it. Competition, excitement, and triumph all mashed into one hour of a brain workout. Except for Karma, who hates it all, but manages to get into the top groups. She hates it.

Just as the teacher is starting a timer, a freshman rushed into the room.

"Karma...Karma go to the office....now...hurry!"

He breathes, before collapsing on the floor. Karma gets up calmly, and steps over the crumpled body, and begins to make her way down the tiled halls, contemplating the big questions in life. Why have tiles on the walls? Seems unnecessary.

In the office, there is a strange quiet, five kids sit on a couch.

"Take a seat, Karma." Says the principal, quietly.