A Locked Box

Chapter 3

   Kat ran straight to the school building. She didn't have time to change at home or grab her school bag. She barely had time to make it to her class before the bell. She slouched into her seat, panting.

   A familiar chuckle sounded from a desk away. "Wake up late?"

   Kat glared at Devin but her sharp words were drowned out by the bell. The teacher appeared seconds later.

   "Now, I want you to turn to page thirty-six." He started to write the assignment on the chalkboard.

   Kat was the only one to stay motionless. A dull throb was starting to form in her knuckles and the joints in her fingers.

   "Miss Frost, did you hear me?" The teacher was scowling at her.

   Kat snapped her attention to the teacher. "I don't have my books." Her voice was dull. She didn't have the mood to calmly handle the situation. The class was holding its breath in anticipation.

   The teacher eyed her with scrutiny. "And I'm sure you forgot your uniform as well."

   "Yup." She popped the p.

   "You will have to share." He surveyed the classroom.

   "I'm alright with just sitting here," Kat said with a hint of boredom in her voice.

   The teacher stared for a moment, blinking stupidly. Did he think she had spoken in a different language? "Do you think you will be excused because you forgot your supplies?"

   "No. I just thought a new student would have more slack from teachers." Kat retorted already over this conversation.

   A vein on the teacher's forehead bulged. "I'm guessing you forgot your manners too." Gasps of shock echoed around the room.

   Kat smirked. "No, I just realized how overrated this conversation was." She replied sharply. More gasps sounded along with quiet murmurs.

   The teacher was turning red from the restraint of keeping his anger inside. "You will be working with someone." He eyed the room quickly. "Sit beside Mr. Carver and work before I send you out of the class."

   "That would be better." She mumbled under breath as she saw Devin's irritatingly bright smile. Plopping down, she hid her face in her arms. Devin scooted his chair closer, sliding the book over as he did.

   "How fitting," He said happily.

   "I feel like I'm going to gag on how cheerful you are," Kat said rudely. Her voice was muffled by her arms.

   "Pay attention to the teacher," Devin scolded.

   Kat snorted in amusement. "Ow!" She exclaimed, holding the back of her head where the teacher had smacked it.

   "Miss Frost, you are really testing my patience today," the teacher said, clearly angry. "You will have to do a second assignment on top of this one if you don't start listening." Kat rolled her eyes but kept her head up the rest of the class. "Mr. Carver, I give you permission to smack Miss Frost if she stops paying attention." He added.

   She glared a warning at Devin. He just chuckled. She was reading her side of the book when Devin broke the silence between them. "You don't have a pencil or paper do you?"

   "What don't you understand about forgetting my school bag?" She asked, irritated.

   Devin pulled out a second pencil and blank piece of notebook paper. He slid them over and Kat snatched them away. After a moment of silence, Devin gasped. "What no thank you?"