It seems like forever, but I know it was only five minutes and twenty-six seconds, the bell rings.
Everyone rises, but Mr. Hendenbrook motions for them to sit. He wouldn't care if I stood, but I sit anyways.
"There is an assignment," he says. "Everyone will pick a partner and write a short story, minimum twenty pages."
The whole class erupted in groans, but I smile and the three new kids begin looking around, wondering why everyone is so upset.
"The topic will be on murder. It must be fictional," he pauses. "You may leave. Make sure you pair is put together by tomorrow, and everyone has to have a partner."
"But Mr. H," Elizabeth Drowmny wine. "There are only twenty-one of us, and you said groups of two."
"If you hadn't noticed, Liz, we have some new additions, which makes twenty-four." Elizabeth turns to look, and gasps grabbing her heart.
"Omigawd! I didn't see them back there," she says.
"Okay, you're going to be late," Mr. Hendenbrook said. "Go."
Everyone cleared out, but I stayed. Mr. Hendenbrook looked up, and I could see the terror in his eyes. "Mr. Hendenbrook…" I begin.
He gulped. "Y-y-yes, K-K-Kalika?"
I look at him, confused. "Who? Mr. Hendenbrook, my name is Sanaii."
"Yes, yes! Of course! My apologies… what is it, K-Sanaii?"
I take a deep breath. "Why are people afraid of me? Why do they treat me like this? Like I'm nothing? Am I not important?"
It must have been something I said because something shifts in his eyes. "Sanaii, it's not you, it's what's inside of you. Who you are. What you'll become."
"The only thing that I'll become is depressed," I say, feeling the tears pick at my eyes. "If I died would they care? Would you?"
His face went blank. "Y-you shouldn't take your own life so-"
"Wouldn't you?" I cut in. "If you were alone? If you were hurting? If no one cared?"
"Listen, Sanaii," he says, lowering his voice. "There's a dark secret involving you. If you die, something terrible will be unleashed upon the world. Terrible things will happen. If you die…you're the only one who could control it."
"Control what?"
"I've said too much. I'm sorry, Sanaii, but I…can't tell you. Please, you'll be late for your class."
"Okay," I murmur, walking out of the room. By the time I was down the hall from my locker, I saw some commotion. A group of people, twenty-seven to be excat, surround my locker. I sigh, hoping that I'll be able to get through. Jake Tremoni is pinning someone to the locker that just happens to be mine.
"Let's see you fight without your toys," he sneers.
I want to get to my locker. I want my books. I want…to be seen. I want people to stop standing in my way.
Then make them…the only way you can do that is if you fight for their respect.
"Hey, Jake," I say, grabbing his shoulder. "Why don't you leave him alone?"
He looks at me. "Why don't you mind your own business, brat?"
"How about no?"
He drops the new kid, the one with the purple lines on his face, and turns to face me. "How about I pummel you to a pulp?"
"I'd like to see you try, jock." I smirk as he lunges for me. He thinks he can take down, but I know the way he fights. He's predictable.