Sorry for taking so long to update. It took a while to figure out how to make the next few chapters go. Anyway.
Okay. Now we've skipped several years into the future. Katia is now eleven. And because of her genius, has ended up skipping grades twice, putting her in 9th year. (8th grade for Americans).
Chapter Ten: School is Boooring
Katia bit her lip and sighed. Clutching her lunch tray, she nervously glanced around the cafeteria, searching for an empty table. Not seeing one, she turned to exit the building and find a spot on the grass outside. As she spun around to walk out the door, she found her nose inches away from someone's chest. The scrawny eleven-year-old yelped and sprang back, almost dropping her lunch.
The Tenth-year boy in front of her chuckled. "Well, if it ain't lil-miss-smartypants."
Katia sighed and rolled her eyes. Pushing her glasses back up the to the bridge of her nose, she spoke. "Hullo Thomas."
"Oi!" he barked, "Ma name is Twitch." he said as he got up in her face.
"Yes, Tom. You've told me every single time we've crossed paths."
He scowled. "Yeh really ought ta start showin' some respect, punk."
The short ginger held her head high as she started to walk around the tall scottish blonde. "I'll remember that when I come across someone who's earned it." she said politely.
Thomas's face turned an ugly shade of red. He grabbed Katia's arm and got up in her face again.
"You wanna say tha' again, freak?"
The young girl's face darkened and she frowned at his hand gripping her arm. Katia glared at Thomas and spoke in a low frightening tone. "If you don't want to end up making a scene, I suggest letting go of my arm."
"What're ye gonna do 'bout it if ah don't?" the older boy sneered.
Katia grinned like the Cheshire cat.
"You probably don't want to find out." she said.
The blonde blinked, confused wary disgust in his eyes. He scowled and roughly let go of Katia's arm, shoving her as he stalked away.
"Freak." he muttered bitterly.
The ginger stuck her tongue out at his retreating form, then continued out the door to eat her lunch.
She was starving.
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Katia sighed in relief as she exited Middleton Academy. It was the weekend. Finally. She may have been a genius (the only 11 year old in the 9th year), but school was school.
The ginger adjusted the strap of her homemade satchel and mounted her bicycle. Taking off down the block, she enjoyed the feel of the wind in her long wavy hair. Katia paused at a street corner, waiting for the pedestrian light. She winced as a group of teens sped past in a convertible, their music blasting at full volume. The scrawny eleven year old didn't know why she had enhanced senses, but often enough it was more a curse than a blessing. The world was altogether a bit too loud. And it stunk. Thankfully, her sense of smell had dimmed down.
But one sense that grew stronger instead of dimming was her eyesight. It had gotten so sharp that it became just too confusing. That's why she had the glasses. They were at a prescription that was meant to worsen the person's eyesight. But it just put her at a little better than 20/20 vision.
Eating was an adventure. Most of the time Katia could taste the specific chemicals and preservatives that they put in most everything these days. So she leaned heavily towards organic foods.
But the sense that was the most of a curse to her was her sense of touch. It was cool when examining stuff with interesting textures. But when it came to cuts and bruises, the pain was ten times worse than normal. She felt pain on an entirely different level. Katia had learned to generally ignore pain, but that didn't make too much of a difference.
The ginger suddenly snapped out of her daze as a car honked. She realized the light had turned. Hurriedly making her way across the zebra-crossing, she then took off again, heading through town. The sidewalks were a bit busier than normal, so Katia weaved in and out of the small crowd, agilely avoiding collisions. Skidding to a stop, Katia smoothly dismounted her bicycle. She bounded over a couple of stairs and through the door that led to her favorite bakery.
A bell jingled as she entered. The young girl skipped around a couple of customers and up to the back counter.
"Hi, Martin!" she chirped cheerfully.
A tall bald man in a floury apron turned from where he was talking to a younger employee.
"Heeey, Pipsqueak!" he grinned, "How's school?"
Katia shrugged. "Boring."
"As always"
The ginger scrunched her nose and scratched the countertop in front of her. "It's just… people can be so… dull. In more ways than one."
Martin chuckled.
"Compared to you, everyone is." He joked.
"Hey!" Katia said in mild indignation.
Martin just grinned. "I assume you're here for your weekly groceries." He said.
The ginger smiled. "Yup." she said, popping the 'p'.
Martin went around, grabbing various types of breads and putting them in a paper sack.
"Why do you fetch the groceries anyway? Don't you have housekeepers and such?" Martin asked.
Katia shrugged. "It gives me something to do." she said. "Plus, Sharry says it'll teach me how to function in society and learn responsibility."
Martin smiled as he brought three bags of bread over to the counter. "Like you need teaching…" he said a bit sarcastically.
The girl rolled her eyes.
Martin started adding up the costs at his cash register while the ginger peeked into each of the bags. She blew a strand of hair out of her face and looked into the last bag.
She pouted playfully, "No Famous Apple Pie Bites?"
Martin grinned then spoke, "Tell you what, I'll throw in a whole batch for free, but only because I like you."
Katia's face lit up. "Really?!"
The bald man gestured to a warming rack with said pastries on it.
The eleven year old gave a little squeak of joy and rushed over, putting a dozen in a sack.
"Awww, Come on! You know a batch is four dozen!" Martin called out.
Katia giggled and snatched three dozen more. She skipped back over to the counter and set down the sack. She then counted out the money needed and handed it over to Martin.
Gathering up the bags in her arms she thanked the cheerful baker and skipped out the door. Katia placed all the bags in her bicycle's basket and then took off towards home, munching on the most delicious Apple Pie Bites in the world.
Awww yeah... Suspenseful times to come. Tell me what you think about Katia. Is she adorable? Who loves the sass? Theories on her enhancements? Who likes Martin? I do. He's sweet. BTW, Sharry is the head housekeeper.
Middleton Academy... Midtown High... get it? Ehehehehehe... I'm so sneaky.
Seriously guys, if you have questions, PLEASE REVIEW.