A Locked Box

Chapter 10

   Devin looked around the now empty cafeteria. He had been so interested in Kat's words that he had not heard the bell. Checking his watch, he stood. If they ran, they could make it in time for the final bell. Kat was already out the door. Devin cursed quietly as he threw his empty lunch containers into his school bag and sprinted out of the cafeteria. He made it through the classroom doorway just as the bell rang. The teacher was nowhere in sight. Kat plopped down into her seat seconds later.

   "Where did you go?" Devin asked, leaning into the aisle to speak to her.

   She smiled. "I gave us some extra time in case your freakishly long legs didn't help you run," she was smirking which meant something bad.

   "Did you hurt our teacher?" Devin asked, surprised.

   "No, of course not! I just delayed him," she held up a ring of keys.

   "Whose keys are those?" Devin asked, his surprise turning quickly to panic.

   "Relax, they're just the janitor's keys, I'm just borrowing them for a moment," she smiled as she took a small silver key between her slender fingers. "And this key is the master key to all the bathrooms in this school, including the staff," she explained and as she spoke, the teacher barged in, hair sticking up in different directions. He looked like a mess, staring around the classroom. His vein in his forehead was bulging.

   "If you're caught, you're going to be in deep trouble," Devin whispered as he slid back into his seat to face the front.

   Kat chuckled. "You think I'll get caught. That's cute!" she teased as she pocketed the ring of keys. The tips of Devin's ears were pink at her words. They watched as the teacher slowly calmed down, ranting about locked restroom doors and slipping in a puddle. Kat had to hide her snickers, Devin following suit at the sight of her face. They were the only two who knew the truth as to how the teacher had been locked inside the staff restroom alone and as to why the on-duty janitor 'lost' his keys.

   "So when are you going to give them back?" Devin asked, smiling. They were walking out of the classroom, both grinning.

   Kat shrugged as she twirled the keys around her finger. "I guess now," she dropped them on a mobile cleaning station as the janitor had turned his back to clean a window.

   Devin gaped at how oblivious the man was to Kat. "You know how to pickpocket?"

   Kat chuckled. "You could say that," she spoke lightly. In one fluid motion, she pulled a small wallet from a male student who was minding his own business. The student was completely clueless.

   Devin was shocked.

   Kat sneaked a twenty dollar bill from the wallet before tossing it over her shoulder just as the student patted his back pockets. She pocketed the bill as they walked away. They could still hear the student's surprised gossip as they left the school building.

   "You're a thief," Devin said incredulously.

   Kat shrugged. "Thief is such a strong word, besides not everyone is born with money,"

   Devin fell silent. "That's not what I meant," he hung his head. He had been one of the lucky people who did not have to fight very hard for income.

   "I know," Kat said chillingly. "I know a lot, Devin," her tone had taken a dark turn. Her mind dipping into the dark world that she was fighting to stay away from.

   Devin stopped her by grabbing her arm. "How much do you know?"

   "About you?"

   "Sure," Devin said, not caring of the subject, just to get her out of whatever world she was drifting into.

   She looked him up and down. "Well, I can tell you have a decent amount of money," she gestured to his clean clothes and soft hands. "You haven't worked very hard to survive financially," her voice held no jealousy but informative.

   Devin nodded. "Okay, and does that matter?"

   "No," they started walking again.

   "Then why bring it up?"

   Kat sighed. "You have never seen what it takes to break a person,"

   "Physically?"

   Kat snorted. "You don't ask anything about my sanity but if I mean to hurt someone," she laughed, something Devin was surprised to hear.

   Devin smiled. "I don't see the point in asking about that. It won't change anything,"

   Kat smiled. "Well, I meant both if you really want to know,"

   "Tell me about it,"

   Kat raised a suspicious eyebrow. "You, the innocent college student wants to hear how to physically and mentally torture someone?"

   Devin shrugged. "If this will help me understand what is going through your head then I want to hear it,"

   Kat stopped him this time. "Why do you want to know what is going on in my head?" she was so lost in the world of human emotions and actions. It was the one thing she did not know.

   Devin's ears went pink. "I-I don't know. I just feel like you need someone to be your friend and I can't be your friend if I don't know things about you,"

   Kat was speechless. She had never been so close to running away because of her inner emotions before. The things swirling inside of her chest as she stared up at the rather attractive man in front of her. "Why do you want to be my friend?" it was a question that was nagging her.

  Devin looked baffled by the question. "Why not? Please tell me you have had friends before," his tone was playful.

   "I have!" she smacked his arm. "I just thought you didn't like me,"

   "Kat, if I didn't like you, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now," Devin said.

   He had a point. There was a moment of silence as Kat mulled over Devin's words. They were reaching the nearby park. "Why are you walking with me?"

   Devin smiled. Kat noticed a couple dimples in his cheeks. "Friends walk with each other after school,"

   Kat could not argue.

   Devin's phone buzzed in his pocket. They stopped on a corner leading out of the park. Answering it, Devin's tone changed. It was serious, cold. "Why are you calling me?"

   Kat was surprised by the change as Devin listened to the person on the other end.

   Irritation was creeping on his face. "Where's my father?" Silence. Devin sighed. "Alright, I'll be there shortly,"

   Kat raised an eyebrow as he pocketed the cell phone. "Everything okay over on the picket white fence?"

   Devin cracked a smile and nodded. "My father needs me at his office,"

   Kat nodded, gesturing for him to leave.

   "I'm sorry that I couldn't walk you home,"

   Kat shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I can walk the rest of the way,"

   Devin smiled. "See you tomorrow," he waved as he jogged away.

   "Bye," Kat turned and walked in the direction of her apartment. She needed to change before her early shift at the noodle shop. Changing quickly, she stepped out of her apartment with ripped blue jeans, black cartage, and a white long sleeve V-neck. Her work was uneventful, it like the usual rush hour with no strange visits. It was when she was getting ready for bed that her day flipped upside down.