Chapter One
"A city of apathy,
Heralding blasphemy
Shouted from rooftops
Caught like Persephone-"
"Sorry for interrupting, Keira Blackfoot, please report to the main office. Thank you," the droning voice of the office attendant cut into my English presentation. I groaned and gathered my papers.
"Hurry up please, we need to get to the next poet!" My ditzy English teacher exclaimed. I sighed, already walking out the door. I jogged down the hall of the high school, wondering what could be in store for me at the principal's office. Before I arrived, I remembered that I had signed up to mentor a freshman a few weeks earlier. That must be why they called me, to give me a little freshie!
When I stepped into the main office's waiting room, the attendant just pointed at the principal's door. I smiled at her, hoping that would cheer her a bit, and knocked on the door.
"Come in! Ah, Keira, just the lady I wanted to see!" Principal Bastion grinned at the senior.
"Hey Principal Bastion, what's up? I'm assuming this has to do with the mentoring program I signed up for?" I examined her face and found a smile of approval.
"I'm glad you remembered, and yes. Your freshman is Greg Heffley. Ask around and figure out who he is, because he's taking a test at the moment and I can't call him out class in the middle of it," She handed me a schedule and patted me on the back. "Thanks for coming by."
"No problem," but it's not like I had a choice, I thought.
During lunch, I asked my friends and they all said they had no idea who he was. So, I found some freshmen who pointed Greg out to me. He was on the cusp of attractive, as most freshmen are. A little taller than average, skinny with dark hair and light eyes, I couldn't tell their exact color from that distance. I moseyed on over to him and sat down at his table. A hush fell over the ninth graders as I plopped myself into a seat and stuck out my hand to Greg, whose eyes, I discovered, were a bright blue.
"Hey, I'm Keira. I'm going to be your mentor for the duration of the school year. Basically I help you and guide you and stuff," I smiled reassuringly at him and he relaxed a bit.
"Hey Keira, I'm Greg and I guess you're going to be mentoring me!" Greg laughed brightly but a little nervously and shook my proffered hand.
"Alright cool, meet me by the doors after school. I'm sure you'll be able to find me!" I laughed.
"Yeah, you are pretty distinctive," Greg chuckled in agreement.
And I guess I am, with my hair in a bright blue buzzcut and my clunky boots and facial piercings.
"Alright, well see ya in a bit," I waved good bye and returned to my table to finish lunch.