Outcasts
(A/N) Hii there, if you're back for chapter two then I guess I should take that as a good sign. I got three reviews! Woo! –Does a little happy dance- Thank you guys so much who bothered to read this little insignificant patch in the midst of all these awesome stories Blahh, the chaps are going to be short in the beginning T.T since this is all expirimentie. Kay, I'll shutup now…
The next day, a Monday, I awoke with a sinking feeling. I hate Mondays. Not like any other day of the week was any better. I struggled out of bed and pulled on a random pair of jeans over my Hello kitty underwear I preferred to sleep in. Stumbling down the stairs, I alighted in the living room, the cheery bright yellow walls seeming to leer at me. I made my way to the deserted kitchen and dug out a box of strawberry pop tarts and boiled up a pot of tea.
I was always alone in the morning, my single mother off to work long before I woke up for school. The quiet comforted me slightly, the feeling of dread ebbing away in the serene early morning and quelling the uneasiness bubbling in my stomach.
Once I left the warmth of my bed I transformed into an alert morning person, enjoying the gray predawn light and the stealthy way it seemed to creep across the linoleum. Tea and pop tarts finished, I climbed the stairs to take a shower and straighten my wild hair.
All fixed up, I went to the closet and grabbed the first things I got my hands on, a pair of ragged black jeans and an electric green shirt with black sharpie scribbles decorating it. A result of my boredom after just finishing a good book.
Pulling on a piano-key belt and my (colorfully) scribbled black converse, I dashed down the stairs to grab my bag full of last nights completed homework. I ran out outside and hurriedly fed our dozen or so chickens, all scolding me for my tardiness. The way to the high school was a short and easy walk through an old horse pasture and a bit of woods.
When I snuck through the front door, I was stunned to see Annali coming toward me with a huge grin on her face, calling "Good morning Kat!" all bright and chipper-like. She was tailed by a snobby looking blonde and a tall, athletic brunette. They looked like the cheerleader type. (A/N sorry to anyone who is a cheerleader, I know not all are bad!)
Fighting the urge to groan out loud, I just stared at them, wondering if they came to torment me about getting hit in the head at those stupid tryouts my mom had suggested. They had almost seemed like a good idea.
They were all dressed in soft pastels, colors I tended to avoid. The blonde was showing more skin than I would like to see. The cheap mood ring on my finger shifted until it showed the color that symbolized calm. I smiled. It always knew the exact opposite of what I was feeling.
"Hey!" Annali said brightly, finally reaching me through the tangle of kids in the hallway. "I want you to meet my friends Amber and Chloe. Say hi girls. They're on the cheer squad." I shuddered. Too happy for a Monday. I was right about the cheer thing, though there really wasn't anything else they could be.
Her pals didn't look too thrilled about being seen with me, a generally social outcast, but they echoed her with soft "hellos". I continued to stare, not saying a word, purposefully making them feel awkward as the silence continued and the tension built.
"Well..." Annali said bravely, breaking the silence. "Well, we, I mean, I, wanted to know if you would like to hang out on Friday, maybe at the mall? You seemed kind of…" she trailed off, her bravado at approaching me fading.
"Lonely?" I finished for her, and she nodded ever so slightly.
So. Befriending the outcast. Apparently, her followers were just there for back-up, in case it turned out I was violent or had rabies or something. Not like any of them could really hurt me; I may be short and slim, but I had my history of hitting people back in middle school, and my strong legs were excellent for kicking. I should have done track, but I was banned after I nearly killed someone with a javelin, due to the little hand-eye coordination thing that was essential for aiming.
I decided right then that this was a perfect chance to be contrary by surprising them all.
"Sure, I'd love to hang out Friday. I've got nothing planned." I answered, watching a surprised look pass between blondie and the brunette, and secretly smiled. Leaving them with mouths hanging open, I crept away to class, hearing Annali's call behind me, "Have a good rest of your day!" after she had recovered from the initial shock. I snorted. A good day for sure.
The rest of the day passed quickly, until finally it was last period and I was in Math. This was my favorite subject because I was good at it, and I sat next to Callum.
Callum was my dream guy. But I don't let him know that. Because he was also one of my best friends. He had dark brown hair that looked always mildly messed up, covering his left eye completely. The tips of his hair gradually got lighter until they were bleach blonde near the end, but at the very tips they were blood red. I knew he straightened his hair, even if he never admitted to it. I had caught him in the act before. He wore tight black clothes, showing off his slim-but-muscular figure.
I was in the middle of doodling along the edge of my notebook and daydreaming about Callum while the teacher prattled on, when a neatly folded shred of paper landed on my desk. I looked up at Callum and raised my eyebrow, but he just mouthed, "Read."
Opening the tiny scrap revealed a note in his neat hand, asking a simple question: Were you talking to Annali Brooks in the hall this morning?
I scribbled a quick Yes. Why? and watched as he opened it and began his reply. A new scrap landed on my desk in the form of a paper airplane, saying: Just wondering. You know she's like, the head cheerleader, or whatever it's called? Was she harassing you?
Oh, Callum, overreacting and protective as always. Nope, she just wanted to ask me to hang out on Friday. You know. The usual. Besides, I thought you never paid attention to what cheerleaders do, much less cared.
His adorable brow furrowed with concern as he read it, and wrote back: You're right, I don't pay attention to them, but I do pay attention to you. What was your answer?
Of course I told her yes. No need to be unfriendly, you know? I wrote and threw the note back, adding a little smiley face at the end. He shook his head and wrote: Always the contrary.
At this point the teacher had walked up to us, making grunting noises in his throat, which I assumed meant we were in trouble. I rolled my eyes at Callum as the teacher told us we had detention tomorrow for disrupting the class.
Whatever. At least it was with Callum, and not alone. Then we could discuss the manga we had recently read, along with other good books, because I knew they never really watched you in detention, as it was a good emergency hang out spot for the rest of my little group. We could also discuss what Annali's sudden interest in me could mean and what her (possibly evil) intentions were.
Okay, there was chapter two. I know nothing really happened, but the Friday thing is crucial and you got to meet Callum :D A bit longer this time, i'm getting there. Suggestions, comments, ANYTHING. They make me all tingley on the inside :P
Love & hugs & Sugar & spice,
Kuuanvang