This Masterpiece

There were some days in life that went by in a blur, while others tended to drag by slowly. It was those slow days that Katherine really wishes she wasn't stuck going to school.

School was something she hated. Whether it was because she disliked the people, her teachers, or her lack of friends, she wasn't sure. Or maybe they all had a little something to do with it. But either way, Katherine hated it. Too bad she couldn't get out of it. And so, in the process of deciding whether she actually wanted to get up this morning, her alarm began to ring.

She groaned, and ripped the covers off herself, deciding that she needed to get to school. Her grades would fall behind if she missed anymore days.

In her zombie like state, Katherine went through the motions of getting ready. Shower, sleep, blow dry hair, sleep, get dressed, pack up things, say goodbye to parents, lock the door, walk to school.

She quickly shoved her headphones in her ears, blasting her music. It was better than listening to the loud sounds of cars running by.

School was about a twenty minute walk for her, as long as she kept up a decent pace.  So Katherine did exactly that, letting the time pass by with her favorite songs on repeat. It wasn't until she heard an obnoxious honking, the sound just barely made it to her eras,  that she looked up. She ripped out her earphones, a grin on her face.

"Hey Kat!" The all too familiar voice of her best friend Jace echoed past her. Katherine stared in awe at the car he was currently driving. It wasn't what she was expecting. Jace didn't have a car - at least not until now.

"Jace!" She called, walking up to the window where his head was currently sticking out. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were finally getting a car?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise. Come on, get in." He leaned over the passenger side, and opened the car door for her. Kat quickly sprinted around to the other side, sinking down into the seat. "1998 Volkswagen Jetta." He gently rubbed the dashboard.

"You know I don't know the first thing about cars."

Jace let out a laugh. "Her name is Carolina."

"I like it. Very fitting. You got an aux cord yet?"

"Ha! You kidding? I had one before I got the car." He handed over the cord, and Kat quickly attached her mp3 player, letting the music blast as loud as the speakers would allow. The ride to school was much quicker than her fast paced walk. They reached the school in no time.

They both got out of the car together, and started heading towards the schools enterance. Jace wrapped his arm around her shoulder and grinned. Kat looked up at him, his smile was infectious, she couldn't help but smile with him. "You ready for another day of high school hell?"

"I don't think I'll ever be prepared for it, but oh well." His grin faltered a bit.

"Hey, at least we only have this year left. We're seniors right? It'll go by quicker than you can say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

"Did you pick a long word on purpose?"

"....Maybe."

Jace barked out a laugh. "Come on, at least we can suffer together." 

As soon as they stepped through the door, the bell annoucing it was time to go to class rang. They both mumbled goodbyes, and headed towards their classes. 

This was the part of school that Katherine hated the most. Suffering through classes was the worst, and she usually spent her time reading books or blasting her music. Her teachers quickly learned to let it slide, because even though her grades weren't top notch, she kept them passing.

With her technique of music and books, creative writing, math, and biology passed by in no time. She found herself at her usual lunch table, waiting patiently for Jace to appear. They usually sat together, away from the rest of the crowd.

Kat grinned at the sound of footsteps behind her. "Hey hotstuff, was wondering when you'd get here." She said, in her usual teasing voice. It was a game she and Jace often played, the back and forth flirting. Although it usually didn't mean anything, at least coming from him it didn't.

She waited for a response but when seconds past and nothing was said, she looked up to see a face, one that wasn't her brown-headed best friend. "Oh." Kat gasped in surprise. "Sorry about that, I thought you were someone else."

"It's fine." A girl stood before her, she had shoulder length brunette hair, and she was somewhat on the short side. "May I sit with you?"

It wasn't often anyone asked to sit with Kat and Jace, actually it never happened. So, with a smile, Katherine nodded her consent. "You new here? I don't think I've seen you around."

The girl nodded as she took a seat with her lunch tray. Kat tried not to pay attention to the gross food that sat in front of her. "My name's Saruh. I just moved here from Greece." Her voice was soft, and somewhat quiet.

"Greece? Wow. Must of been kind of sad leaving such a beautiful place. I'm Katherine by the way, but you can call me Kat."

"It wasn't that bad, plus I have some important things to take care of here in Flordia. Either way, nice to meet you, Kat." Saruh smiled, and it was stunning.

"Nice to meet you as well, Saruh." Kat smiled back.

"Whose this?" 

Katherine quickly looked up at the direction the voice was coming from. She smiled lightly when she realized it was Jace. "This," She said gesturing towards Saruh, "Is a new girl. Her name's Saruh." 

"Well Saruh! It's nice to meet you." Jace's signature grin appeared on his face as he offered her his hand for a shake. "I'm Jace."

"Hi Jace." Saruh mumbled, her voice even softer than before, almost embaressed. Kat stared at her, and then at Jace. The eye contact was so obvious, as was the fact that their hands stayed together for a few seconds longer than a normal handshake.

Katherine's stomach lurched as she realized the implications behind the look Jace was giving Saruh. Why couldn't he look at her like that? Kat quickly glanced away, letting the moment stay between the two of them.

After a few minutes of awkward silence(and more staring, to Kat's dismay), she quickly offered up an idea. "So! Saruh, Jace and I were planning on going shopping this weekend. Would you like to tag along?"

Saruh finally broke her eye contact with Jace and smiled. "Sure, I'd love to. It's been a while since I've been able to enjoy myself, with this big move and all."

Jace grinned, "Awesome! Then shall we go after school on friday?"

"Sounds good to me."

Katherine nodded. "So it's settled. Tomorrow after school. We can all meet in the parking lot, yes?"

Saruh and Jace nodded their agreement just as the bell rang.

"Well then, off to class. Where are you headed, Saruh?" Jace wondered, his intentions sounded innocent, but Kat knew what he was hoping for.

"I have pre-cal next."

Jace's grin grew two times bigger. "Me too! Shall we walk together?"

"Sure."

"See you, Kat!" Jace yelled as he walked beside Saruh and began to strike up a conversation.

"See you..." Kat mumbled, her voice didn't reach his ears. 

Did that really just happen?