Chasing Companions

Chapter 7

 As Calla and I sit on the bleachers in class as Mr. Kent lectures us once again.

"I am not going to babysit you! If you have a missing assignment, I will not remind you that it is gone." The Dark Nightmare runs laps in her glass home behind him. "If you have one missing assignment at the end of the quarter, you will not take the test and you will not get the chance to earn your GMP." He stares Calla and I down, then begins pacing around his desk.

"He is so scary." Calla whispers as she pretends to rub her nose. She looks as flawless as yesterday.

"Unlike all the other teachers here, I remember being a kid. So, I don't give homework." All of the students in the room go insane when he says this. The sudden noise makes the dark nightmare scream and scratch at her glass barrier. You can see in her eyes that she wants to tear us apart.

As usual, mr. kent waves us off without giving a full lesson.

"I'm coming over again." Calla strides beside me as we walk to the apartment. The awkwardness of us standing wordlessly in the elevator is unbearable.

"Hey, I was thinking," I put my hand behind my head. "Do you want to... can you... would you like to... you know like." my tongue works itself into a knot. "Like, hang out again?" Calla turns to me.

"Like last night?" She looks at me, her green eyes watch my every movement. "I would love to." She smiles. My heart calms like a baby given a bottle of milk.

The elevator doors open and we walk down the hall. As we enter, the wailing sound of arguing fills our ears. We find Jack yelling at Zack. When Jack sees us, he stops screaming and shuts his mouth. Calla shots her twin a dark look.

"Dude! What is it with you lately." I stare him down like a hawk. "Zack says since the day we have gotten hear, you have been a jerk." Jack shies away like a horse, flinching every time I move. "Unless you want a beating, I suggest you stop." I put a fist in my palm.

"I'm sorry, I thought I was doing the right thing by putting in his place." Jack stands to his full height and looks me dead in the eye. "You know, refining the pecking order. Ask Calla, I used to do stuff like that all the time at home." He points at her and she sighs.

"He did. It got really annoying bringing his homework home for him when he was suspended for being as bully." She puts a hand on her forehead. "You know, I thought you might change when we came here, but apparently, I was wrong." This makes Jack's head hang. "We are like, what, a week into the quarter and you are already being a jerk to your roommate?"

"Oh, shut up Calla!" he walks up and slaps her on the cheek. She stumbles back as I sock Jack in the nose. "Great!" Blood spills out of his nose like Calla's did a few nights ago. "Now we have to live with each other for two weeks! Oh wait, I forgot, I already live with you, freak!" he points a finger at me as he stands up. We waddles to the kitchen sink and washes his face. As he does so, I help Calla to her feet.

"Thanks." She holds the side of her face. "He has never done that before. He has always been good to me." She looks at him for a few seconds.

"All of this because I am a fat lard." zack whisperes to himself.

"No. Zack, don't think like that." calla jumps to his side. "He is just a freakish jerk."

After a few hours, calla leaves to her apartment and we all surrender to our rooms. It is strange. I have never seen a brother act that way to sister before, especially with that kind of aggression. It seems like Calla is just another person to protect from Jack.