Class of '97

4. Massacre

November22nd 1996 11:23 pm

Doomsat against the wall during the lunch hour and looked around at theother students lounging on the grass. "Dude," he said to Kyle, "Iused to think I hated school, you know, before the plan. Now, I thinkI hate it twice as much."

Kylenodded in agreement. He peered around the school yard through hissunglasses. He was quiet that day, and Doom did not know why.

"It'sgetting warmer every day now, I can't believe it'll soon be summer."

"Doom,don't look, but that April girl keeps looking at me."

"AprilDuncan?" whispered Doom. He smiled excitedly. "Didn't she used tolike you back in like...sixth grade?"

"Thatwas before and this is now," Kyle shot down Doom's implications."She's popular. I'm not- we're not."

"Sowhat?" Doom laughed. "Maybe she's overtaken by your charm."

"Shutthe fuck up," laughed Kyle.

Thetwo of them looked down at the ground as Sean Fisher passed them witha couple of his friends.

"Whyare you both wearing black, it's like 70 degrees out?" he asked.His friends chuckled.

"We'redressed for your funeral," Kyle replied defensively.

"Ooh,edgy." The group walked away, towards the spot where April sat withher friends. They were welcomed warmly by her friends, Sean receivinga kiss on the cheek from one of April's friends.

"Seventydegrees isn't even hot," Doom said flatly.

Kylegazed around himself. "Yea, it's nice out."

"God,I can't wait until Massive Retal, with people like these."

"Shutup about Massive Retal in school, Doom."

"Youmade that crack about his funeral," Doom said in defense.

"Yea,but I would have said that anyway. Did you bring me anything forlunch? I'm fucking starved."

"Ibrought nothing," Doom said grabbing his backpack.

Kyleglanced towards the popular crowd. "Fucking cake-eaters," hemumbled towards them. "April is still looking at me, I swear on mymother."

Doomwinked and Kyle slapped him on the arm. Doom turned away laughing."Stop it Kyle!" he laughed like a schoolboy.

"Shutthe fuck up Doom, this is why people think we're gay." Kyle quicklyshifted himself in a different direction. "Holy fuck, she's gettingup and she's coming this way. Sit up!"

Doomsat up straighter and smirked. He looked up at the beautiful longlegged brunette who approached them.

"Hi,Kyle," she said in a sweet voice. She tugged at her big black beltthat held up her blue shorts. "And...what's your name?"

Doomwas pale.

"Hisname's Corey," Kyle replied.

"Oh."April laughed nervously. "Well, Kyle, I came over to ask if youwanted to come sit by me and my friends."

Corey'sjaw dropped.

Kylesat straight up. "You're friends?" He looked towards the incrowd, the worshiped ones, sitting on the grass and staring in hisdirection. "Sean Fisher beat me up three weeks ago."

Aprilwas flustered. "He's sorry. That's why he asked if I wanted toinvite you over there."

"Whatabout Corey?"

"Well...Imean he seems nice and all...but we didn't say anything about him,so..."

"It'sokay," Doom said patting Kyle on the back. "I can go hide in thelibrary."

Coreystood up, and Kyle looked at him for help.

"Sowhat do you say, Kyle, you want to come sit with us?"

Doomthrew his backpack over his shoulder and waved before walking off.

"I...Imean I guess...but Sean Fisher just-"

"I'llmake him behave, come on, get up." April was more confident withoutDoom around. She reached down and grabbed Kyle's arm gently.

Kylesmiled and got up from his spot, grabbing his backpack from behindwhere he sat. April linked arms with him and they walked with herhead high towards the popular kids spot. Kyle was nervous as theyapproached the group. They all gave him shallow smiles and cleared aplace by April for him to sit.

"Where'sthe blonde one?" a girl with red hair asked.

"Ididn't know if you wanted him to come sit by us," April saidinnocently.

"Soyou sent him away?" the other girl asked. "That's rude!"

Thecrowd laughed softly.

"Oh,don't invite him over, he's a Satanist," a blonde girl saidquietly.

"Anyway,"April introduced, "this is Kyle...Holly?"

"Holland,"Kyle corrected.

"Right,Kyle Holland. I used to know him back in middle school."

Thegroup was quiet. Kyle felt intrusive and nervous.

"Whatwas he like?" a girl in a mini-dress asked.

"Aprilhad a little crush on him." Sean said loudly.

Aprilwent red. "He had...he had short hair and he was..."

Seanwas laughing as hard as he could.

"Shutup, Sean!" she said laughing.

Kylewas embarrassed.

"Hey,Kyle," Sean Fisher said.

"Yea?"

"Nicesunglasses, I like them."

Kylesaw through the smirk he wore. He realized he was being ambushed bythe people who wanted to harass him for their entertainment.

"Thanks."

"Theycompliment your features," a girl said, "they make you lookreally good."

Everyonewas holding back laughter.

"HeyKyle?"

"Yea?"

"Wheredo you get your haircut?"

Halfthe group burst out laughing and Kyle looked at the ground, debatingwhether or not to leave right then.

"Ilove your hair, Kyle," a girl said kindly. "I could just run myfingers through it, it's so nice."

"Thendo it," one of Sean's friends dared.

"No!"laughed the girl.

"Whynot?" Sean asked.

"Idon't know if he washes it!"

Aprilsmirked and looked at the grass to avoid laughing. When she lookedup, she caught a glimpse of Kyle staring sadly at her through hisglasses and her eyes fell to the grass again, this time sorrowfully.

"Kyle,you're good at math, right?" Sean asked.

"Why?"Kyle asked sharply.

"Whoa,buddy, what's wrong? You're fine." Sean replied. "If you do Mr.Sims' math homework for us every night, you can sit here with usevery day."

"Areyou serious?" Kyle asked in shock.

"Yeadude, just one homework assignment a night for us all to copy and youcan sit here every day at lunch."

Kylesnatched his backpack from the ground and stood up quickly. "Not achance."

Seansmirked up at Kyle who stood over them.

"Youcan bring your boyfriend too!" the girl in the mini-dress calledout causing the group to laugh again.

 Kyleturned around without a final word and marched off, the familiarsound of laughter towards his turned back following him off.