Cat in a Cauldron

Chapter 5 - Kitty Tricks

The day passed quicker than Anne thought possible. Her advisory teacher, Mr. Darby, gave handed out class schedules and gave a vague overview on how the year would proceed. There were a bunch of forms that needed to be filled out and turned in, most having to do with graduation. When the short advisory class was over, they were on their way to their first period.

Anne had Creative Writing that period, the first of her electives. She was glad to learn that the teacher was Mr. Darby. He was a funny guy, young and good-natured. Anne had always loved to write, and she was instantly happy she'd taken the class. Mr. Darby gave the class a syllabus explaining the plan for the year and that needed to be signed.

Second period was Government, the first of her required classes for graduation. The Sisters had been generous in giving Anne the credits equivalent to three years in high school, so she could take just as many electives as the other Redbloods. The counselors had told Anne that all she needed was to take government, English, and a few electives, and she could walk with the rest of the graduating class of Serrano High.

After government, which was in the PAC like a college class, Anne had her second elective, Newspaper. The teacher, Mr. Roper, was an easy-going guy who really loved his Newspaper class. He was a self-proclaimed Hippie and had worked on all the local newspaper staffs. Anne was looking forward to that class as well.

When Anne walked into her fourth period English class, the first person she saw was Todd. He was sitting on one of the desks in the back of the class in the middle of a group of kids. Anne considered walking over and saying hi, but decided not to. She just went to take a seat in one of the middle rows.

"Hey, Anne. Wanna join us?"

Anne's eyes flicked up to meet Todd's and she gave a little smile that she hoped didn't appear too shy. She went to sit on top of one the desks beside him as he introduced her.

"This is Jason, Evie, and Devin."

Jason was tall with glasses and dark hair. Evie had long black hair as straight as a pin and had her fingers in Jason's pocket. Devin was reading a book, and Anne could just see the top of a head of brown hair. They all nodded at her, Evie smiling brightly.

"So how is Serrano treating you?" Todd asked.

Anne shrugged.

"So far, not that bad. But there's still two more classes for me to judge."

"Five-period day?" Evie asked. "Do you know what lunch you have?"

Anne must have looked completely clueless, because Todd asked to see her schedule.

"Oh, you have Theater Arts fifth period? Then you have first lunch."

"You go to lunch after this period," Jason explained. "And then you go to your theater class after."

Anne nodded her understanding and thanked them. Just then, the bell rang and the class settled into their seats.

"Why don't you get your bag and sit back here?" Todd asked Anne, who smiled and agreed.

The teacher was Mr. Howard. He seemed really hyped about his subject as well, and when he gave a list of the novels the class would be reading that year, Anne decided she liked him. 1984 by George Orwell and The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. Two of her favorite classics.

When class ended, Anne was gathering up her bag and sliding her third syllabus inside when Todd joined her.

"You wanna hang out with us at lunch?" he offered.

Anne didn't have to think about it. She had no one else to chill with for 40 minutes.

Together, they all left the class and headed out to the quad. Todd led the group to one of the tables beneath the canopies. Jason and Evie set their bags down and went to get lunch while Anne sat down and fiddled with the straps of her bag, feeling claustrophobic.