The Division: Hestia

2 - Ice Cold

• T'ibebi Solace •

All I want is a regular day at school. Is that too much to ask? I want to just go to school and keep to myself. I mean, who would want to deal with a freshman? Even then, if you want to be technical, I'm not even a freshman. I jumped up a whole grade. So I'm lower than a freshman really. I skipped the 8th grade and with the teachers announcing that to the whole world, that paints a target on my back. Now everyone sees this brainiac wanna be who thinks they are all that.

And to make things worse, this sophomore girl starts flirting with me. Me of all people. And all I can do is just stand there and nod. After that embarrassing moment, I decide to quickly meet up with my cousins and head home. I make my way to the junior hall and try not to meet them in the eyes.

As I walk I bump into someone and try to move quickly but they grab me by the shoulder.

"Watch it fresh meat. You bump into me and don't even say sorry?"

I keep silent and don't meet his eyes.

"Oh, I get it. Just because you skip a whole grade, you think you're smarter than us or too good for us?" He comments.

I don't say anything and thankfully I don't have to. My cousin Zemmie is here.

"Is there a problem?" Zemmie asks. She has her hand on her left hip. She is wearing beige khaki shorts with black tights underneath and a collar, navy blue t-shirt with a thermal and black ankle boots. Her caramel skin glows in the sunlight and her short hair that covers a bit of her face is raven colored and silky but her hazel eyes glow with anger.

The guy looks at her and lets me go, "we were just having a chat."

"Uh huh, just like you'll be having a chat with the nurse when I kick your ass if you don't step away from my cousin." She threatens.

He coughs and backs away.

"You okay?" She asks me.

"Yeah, thanks and sorry for being trouble."

She ruffles my hair, "you're never trouble. You're a good kid," she smiles.

I smile a little.

"Let's head home." We hop into her convertible and drive home.

The drive home is relaxing. The fresh cool mid October breeze blowing through my face is invigorating. It makes me forget all my problems and feel like I don't have to worry about anything.

"What do you think so far?" She asks me as she drives.

"About school?"

"No, about my car."

"Oh, well---"

"No silly, of course I meant the school," she chuckles.

"Oh, it's um big and uh roomy."

"Did you make any friends?" She asks.

"Uh, well, this sophomore is crushing on me... I think."

"What?! Really? Tibe that's amazing!"

"I guess."

"Well what did you say, what is she like?"

"Uh, well, I didn't say much and I barely know her but she knows me."

"Oh come on Tibe. You're not gonna make friends if you don't break out of your shell," Zemmie says.

I sigh, "I'd rather just keep to myself. It's hard enough being a freshman. I don't even qualify as a freshman. I'm an 8th grade know-it-all to them or some pip squeak."