Wisdom Is The Power #Wattys2016

Late, again?

    I finish my lunch quickly. It's not tasty, but really are cafeteria foods ever tasty?

    "So, how's the food?" Kane asks me.

    "It tastes like cafeteria food, that's what." I pull a strand of my hair behind my ear. How did it get loose from my ponytail? I shift out of my sitting position to throw away the tray. My black combat boots clunk against the tile floor. I walk back to where Kane is sitting.

    "So, what's your next class?"

    "Spanish." His eyebrows furrow.

    "What do you need that class for?"

    "In case you didn't know, being bilingual can increase the possibly of getting a job. A good one. Also, Spanish is one of the most common spoken languages in the world." He probably doesn't need to know that, but it's useful. To some people.

    "Oh." He cocks his head, jaw tightening, "I didn't know that. That's really useful." His brown eyes narrow a little.

    "Um, Kane? You okay? You look-hmm-suspicious." I accuse him. He stands up. Or, well, more like jumps up.

    "You are very observant." He mutters something I can't hear.

    "What?" If he's saying bad things about being observant...

    "What?" He smiles, acting innocent.

    "What did you just say? Was it about me?" I'm accusing him again, whatever.

    "I don't know what you're talking about." He's not acting innocent anymore. He wants me to think that he said something. About me. I'll play this game.

    "Oh, well. I just  thought you said something. And now I think about it, I just forgotten what I was going to say. Tsk-tsk." I shake my head in mock sympathy. "And I was so sure that it was important. Oh dear." I pull out my schedule, a plain white sheet of paper filled with ink. Spanish is on the third floor. My eyes dart to the stairs to my left. They were long and grey, with a rail to the side.

    "God, you sure do change a lot." I see him smile. All white teeth, perfectly healthy. His eyes crinkle around the edges. He has a beautiful face, one that many would want. To me, he seems so wealthy, and I don't know why. Why that feeling stood out, I know not. Words I mix, I smirk, make me sound smart.

    "How observant of you." I turn from him and walk toward the stairs. The floor is so shiny, taken care of everyday. I feel warm all of a sudden. Just comfortable. A black T-shirt, black pants, and black boots; is all that's on me. My backpack, stands out, purple and all. I'm not goth, oh not at all. Goth people are...scary. Well, seem scary, dull, dark.

    "Hey, wait up!" I hear Kane call behind me. Does he have Spanish too? No, of course not. He just asked why Spanish should be taken as a class. What does he have next? I shouldn't ask. But I want to.

    "What class do you have next?" I call over my shoulder. I'm at the very top of the stairs, just reaching the third floor. He reaches me, having to had to sprint up the stairs, two or three at a time. I notice now, he has such long legs. Slightly uncommon in Asian men, but what's to judge?

    "I have World History next." he wheezes for some air. Then breathes normally. The third floor has few windows until someone goes into the classrooms. But that's the same with every floor. I now notice how old my school is. The technology isn't old but the building itself is. Some floors creak, others sturdy as ever. The building doesn't look old, seems old.

    "Jessie?" I haven't heard him say my name for a while. It actually sounds nice. For once.

    "Yeah, huh?" I must have dazed out. That's not what I tend to do. Or should do.

    "You seemed to be in la la land."

    "La la land? Excuse me?" Such immature words he uses to describe things. Though mine are too mature, to some. He laughs.

    "Nothing." The first bell rings. Time to go to class.

    "You need to go."

    "What? Why?"

    "To class. Duh." I roll my eyes. How stupid is he? But he isn't stupid. Just new to the things here. If here, America, is new to him, where is he from? It was kind of weird to hide where he's from.

    "Oh, yeah. The bell says when I'm late and when to go to class and tells me to do whatever it says." He complains. Complaining about a bell, of course that's expected. Weird to weirder.

    "Um, I don't really know about the 'do whatever it says' part, Kane. A bell can't actually talk." Logical me, now that's expected.

    "Figurative language." he winks, "It's a charm." He's trying to act smart, maybe he is smart. I should really stop thinking I'm smarter than everyone. But when did I even start thinking like that? Now, I'm weird.

    "How about being literal for once? It would make a lot more sense."

    "But it isn't fun or charming, literally." I sigh, we're going to be late if we don't move. I start walking, no need to reply.

    "Isn't World History on the second floor?"

    "Yeah."

    "Then why are you walking this way? You're going to be late."

    "What if I don't care?" Is he serious? He should care, if he's late to every class, every day... only trouble will come.

    "You should."

    "Anyway, isn't the Spanish teacher scary and mean? That's what I heard. Maybe I'm coming with you to protect you." And he's goofing off again. He's doesn't want to part with me, that is clear as glass.

    "I can protect myself, thank you very much." I walk faster, I don't need his protection. Even if it's not even real.

    "Sassy, much?" He laughs, again. "What else can I get from you Missy?"

    "You aren't getting anything." I look at my phone, an old Iphone 4. It's small and nearly useless. But cheap. It's almost time for the late bell to ring. Kane should really go now. He keeps walking besides me. Everyone is looking, glancing, thankfully never staring. Or glaring.
"Kane, you are seriously going to be late. You have one minute left before the be-" The bell is ringing. I'm at the door, glaring at him to leave. The people are all gone, in their classes. They weren't as loud as I thought they would be. He then turns and sprints down the hall, like a cheetah. I walk into my class and sit down at the back. I was wondering the whole class period:

Is he going to be late? Again?