I woke up before Auntie did this morning, and went into her bedroom. In her
top drawer of the oak dresser, I found a picture of my mother, and father.
Somehow I felt that they would be closer to me if I carried their picture
along, but still I hesitated for a moment not know if I would be made fun
of if I was ever caught with it. Then I heard the coffee pot being turned
on, so I grabbed it, and went to get ready.
***
"Stop it!" I heard a boy yell, who had to be no other than Ken. I ran up
to see what the action was. Amber had thrown Ken to the ground, and had a
wad of his money in her hand.
"Give it back!" I yelled firmly.
"Oh, don't tell me your standing up for the weasel!"
Before I knew it my hand was in a fist, and was diving right towards her
face. My goal apparently was to punch that ugly look off her face till she
could never make it again, until Nathaniel came over. It was hard to be so
harsh, and angry when he looked at me with soft, pleading eyes.
"I...I'm sorry...I don't know what I was thinking." I apologized.
Nathaniel was yelling at Amber, while I gave Ken a hand up.
"Your the best person I know in my whole life!" He said thankfully.
"I really am sorry." Nathaniel apologized. "She gets so out of control!"
"No, I'm sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?"
"Well..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "This may be to much to ask, but
come into my office later, and I'll talk it over with you."
"Ok, I will see you then!" I said, hoping I could make it up to him.
As I sat in class, I could not stop thinking about what I had done. I
seemed calm, but there was so much hurt, and anger built up behind my
face. I wasn't exactly sure Auntie ever understood the way I felt.
A familiar grin appeared to me over my desk.
"Where'd you come from?" I asked Castiel, and for some reason, felt as though he was reading my mind.
"I sit right behind you, dummy. He said, which caused my face to turn a
bright red. " You don't have to sit outside during lunch break. I saved
you a seat inside.
"...OK..." I said slowly, not knowing why he was being nice.
***
As I was followed Castiel to the cafeteria, I figured there must be
something he wanted to either show me, or tell me. As soon as I sat down,
one, by one everyone started laughing.
Castiel pointed to the seat right by him. "Sit." He ordered.
"Why is everyone laughing?" I leaned over, and asked him.
He grinned, and pulled a piece of folded paper out of his pocket. My
student ID photo head a mustache drawn on it. My face heated quickly. I
could hear stifled laughing sounds as Castiel put a hand over his mouth,
and looked at me.
After staring at him for a moment in disbelief, I asked slowly, "What the
HECK was this doing in your pocket?"
"There everywhere!" He said, grinning.
I ran into the hallway. Photos of me were everywhere just like he had said.
No one but Amber would have done this. I saw Nathaniel trying to tear than
all down, but there were so many it didn't seem possible. He glanced at me
sorrowfully.
"I don't know how someone got ahold of your picture. I'm really sorry this
happened."
"Its OK. I'll take care of it."
I went back into the cafeteria, and slumped into my seat with a face that
felt as though it must have been looked awful. Out of aggravation, I took
a pea, and thumped it. Unfortunately, that was not such a good idea,
because it smacked Castiel right in the side of the cheek.
"...I...I didn't mean to do that...I'm s...". Before I could finish Castiel
had smacked me between my eyes with a spoonful of mashed potatoes.
" How dare you!" I yelled, and then planned revenge. I took my open juice
box, and broke it over the top of his head. He looked at me with a face
that made me regret what I had just done. Before I knew it, the entire
room burst into a full-fledge food fight.
***
"I'm sorry..." I apologized to the principal who was scowling at me.
"Well, Miss Crystal, I am holding you for full responsibility. I looked at
Castiel, expecting him to turn himself in. My punishment was to clean the
entire cafeteria after school. Once we left, I turned to Castiel.
"That was over half your fault!" I exclaimed.
"I know," he shrugged, "But watching you getting busted, after being such a
'good girl' was way better than doing the right thing!" I glared at him.
"You idiot!" Amber screamed, "This is all your fault! I am going to get
you back, I'm telling you! I will!". She had ketchup, and mustard all over
her.
" That was pretty good." Nathaniel said, smiling.
"Thanks!"
"So, about early, you said you would make it up to me. There's an absentee
note that I need you to ask Castiel to sign, because we don't exactly get
along..." He said.
"I could certaintly give it a try."
"Thanks a lot!"
***
I began walking to the courtyard, wondering what the best way was to go
about it.
"Have you come back for more potatoes?" He smirked.
I rolled my eyes, and smiled. "No, actually I need you to sign this paper."
"What is this?" He growled, then took it from me. He grinned.
"Do me a favor, and leave me alone."
"Come on, Castiel, he needs you to sign it."
"He? That idiot president sent a little girl to do his dirty work?". It
wasn't until then that I realized what I had said. He stormed into the
school with his hands in fists. I chased after him. When I reached
Nathaniel's office, I saw him come out of it backwards with Castiel's hads
gripping his coller, as he shoved him. Nathaniel's back slammed against the
hallway wall.
" Just leave her out of it!" Castiel yelled, and raised his fist.
"Stop it, Castiel!" I ran up behind him, and threw my arms over him
grabbing his fist with both hands. He backed off.
"The first chance I get your face will be black, and blue!" He yelled at
Nathaniel.
***
Most of the kids had already left by the time I was handed a mop, bucket,
gloves, and a rag. This was all over a little pea. I pulled my hair into
a high ponytail, and began the long, horrible job.
"You missed a spot." Castiel was leaning on the opening of the door.
"Just wait till I tell every guy, and girl in this school how you betray
your friends. You'll be alone without one person to talk to you."
"I believe your the one who was that problem." He smirked, "The girls will
always keep falling for me on the other hand.". I threw a rag at him.
"Let's see if you clean as much as you talk."
***
"See you tomorrow, Ken!" I called as I was on my way out. I pulled out a
list of things that Auntie gave me. "Bread, soap, napkins..." I read to
myself.
"Hey Crystal!" Nathaniel called, "I was just heading up to the dollar
store, and was wondering if you wanted to come with me."
"Ya, sure! I was just on my way over there now to pick up a couple of
things."
We talked, and laughed the whole way there.
"You know, that mustache picture was kinda cute." Nathaniel said, looking
down, and smiling.
"You think?" I laughed, "What if she had given me a beard!" He burst out
laughing, then noticed I was watching him. " What?" He asked, rubbing the
back of his neck.
"I wouldn't have ever thought you'd be so fun when you weren't consumed by
work, and study, that's all.
" I'll race you the rest of the way there!"
"You're on!" I yelled, and took off.
We reached the dollar shop.
"Your so fast!" Nathaniel said, bending down, trying to catch his breath.
"I know" I said, flipping my hair vainly.
"See you tomorrow!" He called as we split ways.
***
As soon as I got home, I flopped on the couch, and turned on the TV. The
news was on of a house that just burned down 8 miles from where I live.
I shut it off as soon as Auntie walked in the room.
"I've never been very fond of news." I said quietly.
Before going to bed I pulled out my diary.
Dear Diary,
I've been going to Sweet Amoris for quite some time now, and know most of
the kids. Thankfully no more have tried to take this from me.
Auntie came in my room. "Hi, honey. How was school?"
"It was good." Life had been pretty decent lately I figured.
"Have you met anybody special?" She inquired. I laughed.
"Well, what about that boy who has red hair. The other day I drove you
when you missed the bus, he was right there waiting for you."
"I don't think its like that, Auntie. I've only been going there for a
month at the most."
"Well, I'm going to make some tea, dear. If you want some you can come
join me."
I sunk into my pillow. I had never thought about any of my friends like
that before. Especially Castiel.
