Kidnapped

New Girl

He just happened to be in every one of my classes. I should have been nervous, and sometimes I was, but there were times when it felt like he wasn't even there. Maybe it was because I couldn't read his mind and emotions. Maybe it was because I didn't know his name. My ears went deaf as soon as someone felt like calling his name. It got fuzzy and I felt light-headed.

The other new kid, the one that I'd met in the hallway, seemed like his best friend. I could read his mind. His name was Justin Houston. They both, apparently, fitted in with the 'Kool Cids'. That's how they spell their name. The kids who walked around as if the whole world was their stage. The kids who whispered when you walked by. Brandon Jennings was part of the KCs and Jeremy Clarkson was his own personal target. I on the other hand had a bunch of targets on my back. It wasn't hard; all I had to do was exist. Some of them knew when to back off and the others either didn't care about their life or didn't know all of the rumors yet. I read their mind. I knew.

Well the new guys didn't know. Not really from what I could read from Justin. Even his thoughts were fuzzy sometimes, and not just when he had thoughts concerning his best friend.

There was a new girl on Wednesday, the third day of the new school year. I walked inside the school doors feeling a little edgy and tired and a little bit pissed, because I still hadn't figured out Rude Boy's name, and I remember feeling his burning gaze, as if he had nothing better to do than glare at me from a great distance. So I ran inside as soon as I crossed the school line, but it hadn't helped much because the glare followed me down the first few halls. I ran toward the girls bathroom, to see if I could block the unease in there, and ran smack into a body.

The girl grunted and I kissed the wall, marking us as a couple. I have been against this wall enough times already. I looked over to see the girl on the ground, picking up her spilled books, and when I reached down to help her, her head snapped up. We stared at each other, studying each other. I stepped back and she straightened, staring at me with familiar eyes. Eyes that were too blue and framing blonde hair that looked white as snow. I let out a breath when her mind opened up easily as she regarded me. Is this her? The girl? Then she paused as if someone was going to reply.

She was shorter than me, I realized, focusing on her height. "Sorry," I said, gesturing to her books. One of her books had slid down the hall. I switched my gaze to it, pulling it in with a lift of my finger. The girl didn't notice it, but I pulled it in quicker, just in case.

She tilt her head to the side and stepped over her math book. Interesting. "No! It's okay," she said. "I'm a klutz! Everyone tells me so."

I blinked at her. "I-it's okay?" I don't know why it came out as a question but it did, and the girl smiled a big bright smile as if I said something funny.

"I'm new here," she informed me, tucking her snow blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm Mena Emerson!" Her voice had that odd cheerful tone that belonged to the KC girls. Theirs were usually full of the fake factors though, but this girl wasn't faking. She smiled, waiting for something and I shifted. Should I ask her for her name?

I nodded politely. "Welcome to Suander High School then."

Mena smiled again and held out her hand. "For a second there I thought you didn't speak, but hey you do!" She took a step forward, still smiling. Justin is stupid. "What's your name?"

I stared at her extended hand like it turned green. She wanted to know my name? Justin? Why is she thinking about him? When I kept on staring at her hands, Mena-- unlike other people-- chuckled and shook her whole arm. "Go ahead and take it. I swear, I clean my hands."

My mouth popped open and I kept on staring at her hand, before grabbing it and squeezing. Her hands were warm and her fingernails were painted pink. Everything about her screamed 'Cheerful Cheerleader!' "You probably shouldn't mention things like that to the kids in this school. They tend to think the opposite." She squeezed back, her smile brilliant, like she'd just solved a hard math problem. "My name is Geneva Blake."
Ahh, I knew it! I was staring into her eyes and a little excitement fluttered around. Mena is a little too giddy than normal, but that was her problem. She didn't seem like a threat to me.