Not All Is What It Seems

Unappetizing

The bell for lunch rings finally and all I can do is just stare at Kyle. Somehow, I'm positive the gods have cursed me. Almost every class I've had so far today, Kyle has been in with me. This is a joke right? I'm hallucinating again, this is just some elaborate fever dream.

I got those bad during camp afterall. When they didn't let me heal a cut and I got sick because of it. I'm gonna wake up in the infirmary to Anna rubing a wet rag over my face. Actually, I think I'd rather keep this dream. Better than that nightmare. I really don't want to get cut again, ever. That was their plan.

In every class - besides german- we've have, he's sat next to me. I don't understand why. Windy hates me. I embarrassed both of them because I was pissed on how my first day could be such a shit show.

Yet, even now in forensics, after the bell for lunch rang, he's sitting next to me. "I'm sorry." I can't meet his eyes so I watch the teacher heat up something in the microwave on her desk. At least I apologized.

"You have nothing to apologize for" his reponse surprises me enough to look at him. He's watching the teacher too, so I turn back.

The woman looks like she's having issues. She keeps pulling the container out and checking the sides and bottom. Places it back in, runs it for 10 seconds and pulls it out again for a check.

I sigh "Yeah, but I called you out on something that isn't my business, but I do wish you told me before I slept ontop of you."

"She's not that bad. Just a little sexual."

"Honestly I just hate her, but not because I'm jealous. Well I am, but it's not because of that."

The lady finally gets her food the way she wants, and raises her eyebrows waiting for us to exit the room so she can hussle down to the teacher's lounge.

Both of us get up and grab our things. Kyle finishes before me, but miraculously waits by the door. After I finally wrestle a notebook into my backpack and meet him, we're off. The empty hallways greeting us.

"So why do you hate her?"

"Well, she kinda tried to kill me. Well, that's kinda harsh. She did betray me though." We turn a corner and the noises from the cafeteria can be heard.

"Reason?"

"I had something she wanted, so she got rid of me the quickest way she knew."

He stops in front of the stair class that leads to the 2nd and 4th floors. Turning to face me with his eyesbrows crunched in confusion. "What?"

"I think Windy is the reason I got handed over to Romano. She's the only other person besides you and Trevor that could know
what happened last year with Mr. Brodson." He nods thoughtfully to this. "Plus she's the only one with a motive." I finish off.

"And what is her motive?"

"You."

In situations like this, he never knows how to react. Either he'll stay quiet or he'll argue until he is right. Now, is a quiet time. He just nods then turns to continue the trudge to lunch. I follow him because what else is there to do.

♤♡◇♧

There's kids everywhere leaning against lockers that were once used in the schools eariler years. A time when willis was only a 1/3 of what it is now. In the latest expansion of the building -which happened when I was still in elementary school- they didn't even line the the 2nd main hallway parts with lockers. Really helps give the illusion, at least to me, that we're not really welcomed.

♤♡◇♧

Kyle and I part ways, when he joins one of the lines waiting for food. Then there was one vs a vast crowd.

I look around shortly then I see Trevor and Anna waving me down. Those two are opposite poles of a very long magnet. She's Elvira to his John Wayne, only willing to share the same space because of Kyle. I head over there, since there's nowhere else to go.

Managing to dodge and weave through a massive corn maze of students of all classes. Well as tables, circular and rectangular sporadically sprinkled around the open floor area. Bumping into at least two cheerleaders and one wannabe Crips member, I finally reach them.

"And do you know what time it is young lady?" Trevor greets me playing a disgruntled father. He's always playing around. He'll play anything from the supermodel to the Vietnam veteran. I kinda wish he'd pursue stand up comedy as a career.

"Oh hanging out with boy, mother"
I side hug him, then Anna, and sit across from them.

"So how's Charles Angels?" He steples his fingers on the table. I stare at him as if he's lost his mind. Anna just gives a nervous laugh.

"I don't know how you know, but I wouldn't talk about it in public. There's people - human or other - that can make you disappear." As if on cue Eliz sits down next to me. Music blaring through a new looking pair of earbubs. Its hard to catch her not wearing some.

She pulls an unknown brand laptop out of a watermelon backpack she's had since 8th grade. Only nodding to Anna before pulling the screen up. She's glad I'm back, her typing is more slow and lazy than the normal person's.

Everyone knows she's a hacker, a genius, some of us also know she's also a god. As such, Trevor goes pale. "Sorry." Is all he mumbles before telling us the story of how he broke his brother's watch.

"Me and him were going on and on of all day. We were in the living room, and I had it in my hand..."

A feeling washes over me. Trevor fades into the background. Anna gave him enough focus for the two us though. I glance around the cafeteria and hallway as far as I can to locate the source. It's not Kyle, he feels like fire and he is sitting outside under the patio with some guys, playing D&D. Of course Windy is hanging off of him like a leech.

This feels different. Darker, colder, and threatening. This is something that doesn't belong here. Eliz notices it too, as her typing stops. This is the part of the story where all the crazy shit from earlier today starts to make sense.

Bad luck is in the building. Bad luck is walking nearer. Bad luck wants me far away and gone. Its vibes are clear as day with that. Bad luck is the first vampire willis has had, maybe since its founding.