We end the tour quickly because most of the people behind me must of been here last year because they wine the whole time that 'we all ready know the place'. I try to find my sense of direction but the second floor is even more complicated then the first. Hallways branch off into more hallways and I'm trying to name them to figure them out when Theo starts to head back to the classroom, signaling that the tour is over. I'm so gonna get lost here, I think to myself.
Theo is still being cold to me and he still hasn't said anything else as we head down the stairs. We turn the corner and head back to the classroom. As we enter it looks like we're the last group to arrive. I realize Arthur's group isn't here yet, not surprising.
As his group finally arrives, all riled up with excitement from who knows what, we start the first day of school. The periods slip by and soon I am heading outside to eat lunch. I walk with Lattie, which right now, my only friend. We settle down at a picnic table under a tree that sways back and forth in the wind. The rain has cleared up from this morning and now the sun is shinning bright in the sky. As we start to eat she tells me about herself and the people at the school.
The 25 students in the class that I had first walked into and another class of students makes up all the sophomores. It's not a big school. There's even less Freshmen. She tells me about her other friend that had moved away last year
" Oh that stinks. I'm sorry." I say, trying to comfort her but I don't think I'm doing a good job of it.
" Yeah, it's ok. Thanks though." She says really sadly. I smile and grab her hand and squeeze it. I don't normally touch people and I don't like people touching me but I really like Lattie and I don't like that she's upset. She smiles which makes me happy.
" I'll be your new friend." I say. She smiles even bigger.
" Well, can my new friend go and get me a fork? Please?" I sigh but I get up and walk inside to the cafeteria where I saw spoons and forks earlier. I grab a fork and start heading back to Lattie. Just as I start to walk across the grass to our picnic table I hear footsteps behind me and I feel a sudden smack on my behind. I whirl and find Flint standing there smiling. Before I know what I'm doing, my outstretched hand collides with his face and my hand stings as I pull away. The blow of the smack made him trip and fall. He now lies in the grass, holding his face with his hands.
I'm about to lunge for him to beat the crap out of him, when big calloused hands grab my arm and I am wrenched away.
" Hey!" I shout and turn around to find Théodore dragging me away.
" Let go of me! I need to beat that kid's face into the ground!" I see his mouth curl into a small smile but he doesn't let go. " Where are you taking me?" I've stopped struggling, it's obvious he's not gonna let go.
" Away from that scene. You don't need to get into trouble on the first day of school." he says. I cock my head.
" Oh, and so now you're my mother? Watching out for my safety are you?" he turns towards me, his eyes slits.
" Just shut up."
" Oh, so we're back to being rude again I see. That's great." he gives me a hatred look but I see amusement in his eyes. As he drags me to a parking lot I hadn't noticed before, he opens the door of a lightning blue mustang for me and gestures for me to get in. I cross my arms and stare at him, not moving.
" I'm not gonna get in until you tell me where you're taking me." I say sternly. He sighs and clenches his jaw.
" Anywhere but here." that's all I needed to hear. I jump into the car and he shuts the door for me. As he gets in the driver's seat he starts the car and we head down the road that passes through the forest. I just stare out the window for a while, keeping my mouth shut even though my head is buzzing with questions. Finally I can't stand the silence.
" Why did you pull me out of that fight?" I ask, still looking out the window. I feel him shift in his seat.
" That was barely a fight. It was more like a beating. If you would of hit him one more time you could've been suspended." I move my eyes to look in front of me, watching as the car eats the road.
" It wouldn't of been anything new." I say, forcing myself not to look at him. I see out of the corner of my eye he's looking at me.
" You've been suspended before?" I don't hear any surprise in his voice, just curiosity. I finally look at him. He has one hand on the wheel and the other on a leaver. I look down and realize there's a third pedal by his feet. As I'm about to answer he shifts the leaver and I see his foot push down on one of the pedals and then he releases it. I want to ask him a question about the car but I know if I don't answer his he'll just ask me it again.
" If you haven't noticed, I don't play well with others." I say, kinda avoiding the question but making him smile. Now I get to ask my question.
" Is this car stick shift?" I say, staring down at the handle every time he moves it. He scrunches his eyebrows, probably surprised that I know what type of car this is.
" Yeah, why?"
" Just wondering. My dad use to have one. He promised me he'd teach me how to drive one but," I hesitate, wondering whether to tell this stranger about a sensitive subject of my life, " it was too late." I look down at my hands in my lap, picking at my nails. He doesn't ask any further questions, which I'm glad. It's silent for a few minuets until I realize what we're doing.
" Where are we going?" I ask, looking around. It looks like we just exited the high-way and now we were driving down a road that's cracked and very bumpy. Theo turns right and we head down another cracked road.
" Well, I did have plans before I had to rescue you." I scrunch my eyebrows and open my mouth in surprise.
" I did not need rescuing! I was gonna beat that kid to the ground! He smacked my butt!" I say defensively. He just nods and smiles.
" And what would beating him up do?" he looks at me and I realize I'm smiling.
" It would of teached him a lesson not to touch me."
" And do you think teaching him a lesson is more important then getting suspended?" I open my mouth but don't know what to say. He manipulates my words and it catches me off guard. I close my mouth and don't say anything as I turn back to the window.
We turn left and I see a warehouse ahead. It finally hits me what Theo said earlier about having plans. Why would he have plans in the middle of the school day? I start to get a little nervous as we pull into a parking lot next to the big building. He parks and motions for me to get out. I slowly open the door and close it, not knowing what to do. He starts to walk towards the warehouse which is covered in graffiti. I'm trying to decide what to do next when Theo looks behind him and waves for me to follow.
A million thoughts are racing through my head right now and a lot of them are telling me not to follow him. I quickly make a decision and run after Theo.
(Sorry not sorry for the little cliff hanger. Up to 44 reads! Keep reading guys and thank you so much!)
~Katrina
