Hulk Girl

Chapter Eighteen

Rika's first attempt to kill me started two weeks after the first day of classes. To be honest, the time she had chosen to bare her claws was a little weak; It didn't surprise my paranoid ass at all. If she had chosen to do it after a month, then I'd be surprised, if not a little bit unprepared.

It was Gym class. See, I already had a plan devised for when we change into gym clothes in the locker room. After my Math class, I'd come barreling down the place and be at least five minutes earlier than the girls. When my classmates start trickling in the locker room, I'm already warming up by the bleachers, safe from Rika's claws. My bag was also safe in one of the lockers (Yeah, I did bring my own lock, and I kept the key in a necklace). My plan to stay clear of Rika was effective.

"Heh, what a diligent student," Kieran came a few minutes later, stretching by my side. "I bet Rika's just dying to catch you alone, but you're evading her like a thief of the night. I'm impressed."

"Don't jinx me. Still too early to be impressed."

"But she hasn't done anything, right? What if she really has gotten over it?"

I looked at him seriously, "Kieran, say whatever you want. But I'm not letting my guard down. Get it?"

He half-smiled, "You'd make a fine personal bodyguard."

"Oho, did I hear right? Did you just say Cece would make a fine personal stripper?"

Both of us simultaneously scowl when Cameron, a new member of the basketball team that had just gotten in last week from the try-outs, appeared. He was what you'd call a stereotypical American jock--blonde, blue-eyed, and a bit of an airhead.

Thankfully before he could get any more words out, our teacher blew his whistle to get everyone rounded up.

"Starting today's session, we're going to be playing with balls--and don't smirk, Cameron, you're not getting your balls fondled at all," He announced with his hands on his hips, elliciting laughter from the class. "I want this class divided into four. Everyone familiar with volleyball, I take it? Good. Get going."

Crap.

I automatically snuck a glance at Rika and her minions. Seeing the confidence radiating off of her like the sun smashed mine into smithereens. See, that girl wasn't just pure looks and menace; she's also freakin' athletic, which was why I'm here trembling like a kid that's about to burst his bladder on a--

A hand came crashing down on my head and roughly ruffled my hair. Kieran bent down and met my eyes with a steady gaze, a small smile playing on his lips, "You're not about to pee your pants, are you, Hulk Girl?"

Like a switch, a glare settled on my face and I swatted his hand away, "Don't call me that!"

He danced away from my reach while laughing, "You never fail to amuse me."

But it was without a word that we were both on the same team which I was really thankful about yet I couldn't help but feel a little shame on myself. I just felt like I'm intruding on Kieran's every day life, even though he offered to do this for me. Man, I sucked. One thing was for sure though: I wouldn't let this situation go on forever.

"Oooh, I'm gonna be on Kieran's team!" Cameron appeared by our side with a big grin on his face. "Nothing can go wrong when you have this guy around!"

A knot appeared on Kieran's forehead, "Just don't mistake this for basketball, alright?"

"Don't worry! This gonna be a piece of cake for Cameron the Great!" His eyes swung to each of us in amazement, "Heck yeah, I rhymed!"