What could go wrong?

Walking Home

The nurses office scene was permanently burned into my brain. I was now walking down the hall with ice held tightly against my skull. Remember how I said there only a few people worth talking to in this school? Well, I really meant one. Hannah Kate, my best friend. She's as tall as me, with long brown hair and green eyes that lit up when she spoke. She was funny and sweet and just, my best friend. Which explained the concerned look on her face as she saw me. "Oh my goodness! Katie, what happened? I was told you had a run in with Jake but that's not possible." I gave her a grave look. "Oh my goodness! What?! Tell. Me. Everything." I sighed. "Nothing to tell. Just that he ran into me and we went to the nurse and that's is." My voice cracked. I was a terrible liar, and she knew it. "Alright, you and I both know something else happened, spill." "What? Pfft, no nothing happened." I lied. She narrowed her eyes at me. "Fine, two can play at that game. KATIES REAL NAME IS..." She's cut off by me slapping my hand over her mouth and dragging her around the corner. I can feel her smile against my hand. She always knows how to get me to talk. "Ok ok, he found out my real name and for him not to tell any one he made me swear to spend time with him over the course of two weeks." She smiled at first then seemed confused.

"That seems a bit drastic to keep your real name a secret, doesn't it." We start walking and talking. "Maybe to you, but I hate that name on me. People think Katherine's are sophisticated and funny and special, while I'm not." "So your saying Katie described you better?" She questions. "In my mind, yes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hatin on either names, I just think Katie describes the average me." Being my best friend, of course she try's to argue. "Katie, come on, your smart and hilarious and pretty and..." I cut her off. "Ok, so maybe I might be smart and funny, but we've had the conversation before that I am definitely not pretty." She smiles knowingly. "And we agreed that your beautiful in your own way." I begin to protest, but she already left.

I ride the bus to school, but I walk home. It relaxes me. I walk out the school doors leaving the building behind me as I trudge home. I turn left on a sidewalk when a deep voice says, "Where do you think your going?" I jump five feet in the air and shout, "OH MY LANTA!!" As I clutch my heart that is beating at a seriously dangerous pace, I hear a big laugh. I look behind me and see Jake doubling over in laughter. "Oh my lanta? That's one of the funniest things I've ever heard!" He laughs some more. I scowl. "You scared me half to death!" More laughing. I look for an excuse for my weird outburst. "I say weird things when I'm scared ok?" His laughter slows into small chuckles. "Well, Kathryn, you have a way with words." My head snaps from left to right making sure there are no people in earshot. "Be careful where you say that name!" I yell/whisper. "Oh whatever. So where are ya going? Buses are that way" he motions towards the opposite direction. "I walk home Jake." "Hmm." He replies. I turn around and start walking when I hear, "I'll walk with you." He catches up to me easily with his athletic structure. "Are you sure you want to walk me to my house just to turn around and go back to your house?" I ask. "Yep. Who wouldn't want to walk with their best friend."

He puts his arm around my shoulder. "Whoa, since when are we friends?" I shrug away from his hold. "Since you agreed," he says, putting his arm back over my shoulders, but tighter so I can't escape. "To spend time with me so I can be the only person in the school to know who Katie Schwab is." I start to ponder what he says. "Why do you want to be that one person?. He furrows his brows in concentration. Then he looks over at me and smiles. "It's more of, I want to know why you hide away. Why no one knows your name." I frown. "Hannah Kate knows who I am. She's my best friend." "Hannah Kate?" He says in shock. "You mean the tall, brown haired one? The one who's spunky and outgoing? She's your best friend?" I nodded slowly. "Wow. I thought her best friend would be more like her." "Hey! That's slightly offensive in my favor!" He glances at me with a smile plastered on his face. "Yeah, it is. Oh well." I smack him on the arm still around my shoulders.

He just continues walking. Welp, my curiosity got me into this. Might as well let it take control. "So if you ignore all the other girls in the school, why suddenly be all open and upfront with me?" I look at him, but he doesn't look back. He just smiles at the distance. "Because they throw themselves at me. They want me to get to know them, or who they pretend to be. You don't, and now that I finally know who you are, I'm gonna find out what makes you different." His arm tightens around me. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I look and see a text from Emily.

From: Squirt

Hey! I'm on the bus, just letting you know since you always worry about me. (Over protective.) What? Who said that? Any ways, can't wait to tell you about my day! Love ya, Em.

I smile and send back a simple K. Can't wait to see you. Love you too squirt. I get a frowny face return. My smile broadens. Only then do I notice Jake looking over my shoulder. I look at him. "Is there something you want to see here?" "You really love your sister, don't you?" "Well, as you saw me send, yes I do." I smile up at him. He looks me dead in the eyes and smiles. "That's rare. A lot of people hate their siblings. You are truly rare." I smile extra wide. My house comes into view. "Thank you for the walk home. Even though it's like I had a choice. But I think I might be able to survive the next two weeks. " he smiles at me, and releases me from his grasp. "Goodbye my dear Kathryn. I look forward to the next time I force you to spend time with me." I frown at the use of my name. I roll my eyes and head up to my house.

###################################################################

Heylo!,

My friends, I would just like to let you know that the Hannah Kate in this chapter is real, and she has an account. hk_softball. Follow her for me. And look! My chapter is longer! Yeah me! I guess just the same stuff, give me feed back, yadayadayada. See you in the next chapter!

#KS