Zoophobia: Alternative

Basket Case -- Part 1

Zoo-Phoenix Academy was a rather financially well-off school, and one of the primary indicators of that was the design of the front campus grounds. A patch of trees had been planted next to the school building. Five winding cement paths led onto the school grounds from five different gates in the aluminum fence marking the campus border. The paths merged at the center, where there was a small garden full of flowers and a tiny pond, behind which were three sets of stairs that led up to the main building. An array of benches were scattered across the campus grounds, providing places to sit other than the stairs.

Ryan sat on one of the benches closest to the gate, bobbing his head as the music on his phone filtered through his earbuds. When the song came to an end, Ryan looked back down at his phone to pick another. That was when he heard the sound of high heels clacking on the ground as somebody walked over and sat on another bench nearby.

Ryan looked up to see who was there, being met with the sight of a mature-looking Hispanic girl with rose red hair that went down to her waist. The girl was clad in a red tube top and a matching skirt, a dark maroon vest with the sleeves ripped off, and a pair of fingerless elbow-length gloves and high heeled boots, each colored white and having a hot pink stripe. Her eyes, one brown and the other magenta, were accented with crimson eyeshadow, and under the right one was a black tattoo of a heart. Another tattoo of the same shape and color was on her right shoulder.

Ryan failed to notice that he was staring at the girl until her eyes suddenly turned in his direction. Realizing that he was within nail's length of being forced to have a conversation with another person, Ryan looked away sharply, returning his attention to his phone.

Okay, he thought. So far, so good. We barely even made eye contact. If I'm lucky, she should probably think nothing of what just happened, and this interaction won't go any further-

"Hey. You in the trenchcoat," The girl said to him in a firm tone, making him flinch. "I saw you staring."

Dammit, Ryan cursed mentally to himself. Groaning in dismay, he turned back to the girl.

"Sorry, I thought I was alone," he grumbled. "I'll just go somewhere else now."

"Wait, hold on," the girl responded. She raised a brow curiously. "What are you doing just sitting by yourself over here?"

"Oh, I have my reasons," Ryan said in an annoyed tone. "Mostly because I prefer not to be around a bunch of hyperactive manchildren who cackle like hyenas at unfathomably stupid sex jokes."

As if on cue, both heard overheard a conversation from the main courtyard.

"Dude, the bun looks way to small for that hot dog."

"That's what she said!"

The crude joke was followed shortly thereafter by a bout of hysterical laughter from the group of boys, causing Ryan to shudder in irritation and disgust before taking a deep breath.

"So! How about you?"

"I'm just waiting for my friends."

"Is it because you're dressed like you're going to a rave?"

The girl shot him a dark look.

"That's rich coming from the guy who looks like a Highlander character."

Ryan snorted.

"Uh, if you were trying to insult me, you should probably try again, because I consider that a compliment."

"Nobody else wanted you around, did they?"

"Shaddup! It was mutual!"