"Mom, I have to be in that class," Katy Ann huffed, slamming a hand on the table. Mrs. McNally flinched, scowling at her daughter.
"For the last time, no," she stated firmly. "And watch your temper. We just replaced that table from your last temper tantrum." Katy Ann crossed her arms moodily, staring her mother down. She could feel the rage building up in her, the familiar tickle of heat reaching her fingertips. No, that would just make matters worse. Katy Ann breathed a calming breath, closing her eyes momentarily.
"Just hear me out for once. Just once," Katy said, opening her eyes, adding a little harshness to just once. "The school says this program can help me with my ability. The teacher calls it a gift. It could stop my tantrums." Mrs. McNally momentarily glared while she said gift. "Can you at least think about it?"
Mrs. McNally drummed her fingers on the blue counter top, thinking it over for once. Katy Ann widened her brown eyes innocently, hope flooding her heart. Her eyes trailed down her mother, from the ear piece slightly hidden behind her long auburn hair, down to her professional pointed heels, back up to her heart shaped face.
"No. And that's final."
Katy Ann couldn't stop herself. She stomped her foot, feeling the rubber sole of her shoe melt away from underneath it. Her vision blurred and she could only hear the sound of her own enraged scream. In a complete fit, she swung her fists wildly, kicked defiantly. A heat engulfed her and her hair tickled the back of her neck in a different kind of way. She ignored the angry yells of her mother. It was not fair. She was never fair. Kaitlyn, control that temper of yours. Behave yourself for once.
Suddenly, she felt cool foam being sprayed onto her. She unclenched her hands and panted a few smoky breaths. Her eyes finally trailed up to her mother's face. A lump formed in her throat.
From head to toe, scorch marks and soot flared on Mrs. McNally's clothes and skin. Katy Ann stepped back, dripping in foam. "I'm so-"
"I don't want to hear it," Mrs. McNally growled, slamming the fire extinguisher back under the sink. It sounded like they were almost out. "Wash up and I'll drive you to school. I'll talk to the teacher is in charge of that class." With that, she walked away, Katy Ann listening to the clicks of her shoes. She stared down at the ground around her. Scorch marks ran from her out. She ran a finger across the table, examining the soot that had collected. A sigh escaped her.
Walking to the bathroom in her room, Katy Ann stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair looked more brown when wet. It clung to her cheeks. Katy watched as her eyes miraculously began to water. It didn't spill over. Like always.
The girl in the mirror didn't deserve to have a name. Only people had names. The girl in the mirror was a monster.
Showering quickly and drying off her hair, she changed into fresh clothes. She waited in the car afterwards, staring at random cars passing by from the rearview mirror. Her hair now glistened with tints of red, the sun brightening it up. She spotted her mom walking out ten minutes later, fresh clothes, reapplied makeup and all. Her purse swung from her elbow as she slid into the driver's seat, starting the car. Katy Ann avoided her gaze.
The young teen didn't care if her mom didn't want her to be in the gifted class. Katy Ann had to be in it. Even if she couldn't learn to control herself, she had to meet kids like her. It might be her only way on not losing her sanity, and make her not feel like a complete freak.
They pulled into the school parking lot. She heard the loud rattle of the school bell, the one announcing students they only had two minutes to get to class. Her mom led the way to the school steps. Katy Ann could feel the tickle of the wind on the back of her neck. She stared off into the distance.
A few students were still walking in through one of the side doors. Among them were a few of the populars. The door slammed shut behind them. Right before she was about to turn her head, Katy heard the faint sound of the rolling wheels of a skateboard. She saw it was a boy. His hair was entirely covered by a snowboarding cap and he wore a greenish-grayish hoodie. He was skating full speed towards the closed doors. The skateboard could not slow down in time. He was going to crash.
Katy Ann took in a breath, prepared to yell for him to look out. But the breath stuck in her throat as she watched what was before her.
He was rolling straight towards the door, but his face clenched up in concentration. He glanced around him before focusing back on the task at hand, whatever it may be. He and the board rolled right up. At first, Katy heard the tell tale bang of the skateboard hitting the door. The boy yelled, but as he flew forward, he didn't make contact with anything. The boy just went through the door. The board skittered back a few feet, down the walkway.
Katy finally heard her mother barking at her. "Kaitlyn Annabelle McNally, stop staring into space and get in the building." The girl realized she had been standing in the middle of the lot and finally started moving again. But right before she stepped onto the side walk, she sent a fleeting look back at the board. The boy had come back out to get it, struggling to keep the door open and reach for it at the same time. He grabbed it, glancing around. He locked eyes with Katy. Even from so far away, she could see how blue they were.
"Katy!" Mrs. McNally ordered. With a small shake of her head Katy Ann jogged ahead to the school doors. The boy may have easily slid through those doors, but pushing him to the back of her mind seemed impossible to Katy Ann.