The Price of Freedom

Ch. 11: A Helping Hand

Katelyn sat on the bench taking a drink from her water bottle. She wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead. Third period was almost over which meant that school was closer to being done. Surprisingly, most people ignored her which Katelyn thought was unusual considering her house had blown up two days ago. Turns out S.H.I.E.L.D. had covered the tracks of the incident from the news media. That was the last thing she needed; people's endless questions and nosiness.

She watched the other gym students run laps around the track. They had about three weeks until their annual physical fitness test. She hated that test, not that she minded the exercise. She just hated how the students would turn it into a major competition. Someone had to always be the best at something when clearly the physicality between students was as varied as night and day. You had the athletes who took it seriously, the ones who tried to best everyone, the ones who didn't care, but to pass the class, and those like hated to exercise period.

As a track and field athlete, she had physicality and could pass easily, but some of her friends struggled and she tended to stay behind with them just to offer support. She may be made fun of for it, but it meant a lot to them and that was so worth it.

The students running on the track looked like a small herd of water buffalo kicking up dirt across an African landscape. She sighed and then looked down at her watch. They had about 20 minutes left of class which meant she had five more minutes to herself. Most of her friends were in the group running the track, so she ended up with students who were more acquaintances and could care less what she did with herself. So, while the rest took their break inside, she sat down on one of the metal benches surrounding the track.

Her mind still raced with endless thoughts of why she of all people would be the target of a terrorist organization. She was a nobody, just a regular girl with a mother who worked overtime as a trauma nurse just to pay the bills. She racked her brain to think of something that would make her stand out, but nothing came to her mind. She grew up without a father, had no siblings, and any extended family on her mother's side lived in France and rarely even talked to them. She had a cousin who did modeling for a time before becoming a stay-at-home-mom.

She had a high GPA, but what good did that do for a terrorist group? Anarchy looking to recruit what, a computer hacker? She could barely crunch numbers for math class. So clearly, they weren't recruiting her for her brains nor for her brawn. She had a slim athletic build meant more for long distance running than tackling someone to the ground. There were probably more kids at this school with a better potential of being targeted than her. Amanda Tendols for example. Her mother was a Hollywood actress and speaker, and her father was on the board of directors for the school. Katelyn would never admit it to her archnemesis, but Amanda herself had more interesting traits than Katelyn, always into the latest tech or fashion blog. Do terrorists need clothing designers? Sure, she was mean, but she had popularity and presence even if it was flaunty. Katelyn was someone to be overlooked, passed by, ignored, forgotten.

She hated waiting around for things to just happen. Patience was once of her worst qualities and this was going to be a great test. She wished she could call Agent Coulson and ask for an update every day. Did they find this Anarchy group? Shut them down permanently, so they could leave her and her family alone. Coulson's words echoed in her mind. This is out of your league. Thanks, that's comforting to a sixteen-year-old still trying to find her own league at school.

Katelyn was so wrapped up in her own mind games, she didn't even hear Emily behind her. She was looking up at the clouds one moment before someone's hands clamped over her eyes. Katelyn grinned.

"Guess who?"

"Hmm, Santa coming to give me my present?" asked Katelyn.

"What? No besides you're about a year off. It's the middle of March silly."

"Oh, wait a minute. I know that voice! Is it the soon to be famous Emily Vanguard?"

Katelyn loved to tease her friend about her accomplishment as a vocal singer. She had won first place at last year's National Conference for Vocal Talent. She had dreams of pursuing a career as pop singer like Kelly Clarkson or Mariah Carey.

"Yes," replied her friend lifting her hands. Katelyn looked up to see Emily smiling down at her. Next to Aaron, Emily was her other best friend. They had first met in middle school and clicked when they were assigned together for a history project.

"Whatcha thinking about Katelyn? You didn't even hear me come up behind you."

"What? Oh, nothing just all the homework I have to do tonight."

"Really?" Emily asked raising a brow.

"Yes. I do have a lot to study for," she replied. That was technically true. She did get a lot of homework.

"Look, Katelyn, I know you better than that. Something's bothering you. What is it?" Emily came around the bench and sat down next to her.

Katelyn looked down at her hands. What was she supposed to say? I am being targeted by an unknown group known for their terrorist activities known as Anarchy. And not two days ago, they blew up my house! Aw, crap. How was she supposed to explain her new house location?

"You're right," said Katelyn pausing. "I was going to tell you after class, but I guess I can tell you now. This past weekend, my mom and I moved houses."

"What? Why? You're still close right?"

"Yes, my mom needed to be closer to work so she made a sporadic decision to jump the fence, so to speak. So, that's what was on my mind."

"Do you need help unpacking? I'm free this afternoon."

"No, Aaron came over and helped get us settled in. I'm in a new neighborhood called Willow Breech which is still in Fort Nelson, but it's a small homely community. Lot's of single homes and older people. It's quite peaceful and there's lots of nice walking trails for Angel."

"Well that's exciting. Right?" Emily waved her hand in front of her friend's face. "Hello! Earth to Katelyn?"

Katelyn shifted her eyes back to her friend. "Yes, it's kind of a new beginning of sorts. I'm sorry, I guess I'm just tired and it's Monday after all." She gave her friend a weak smile.

Emily pulled her into a half hug. "Oh, girl. I understand. Say how about we grab some dinner together at my place? Make it a girl's night?"

Katelyn perked up at that idea. "I think I'd like that. I'll bring some homework over and we can catch up."

"Alright, let's say five. My parents are away on another business trip, so it's just my older sister and I."

Katelyn smiled and stood up just as their gym teacher blew the whistle. Time to head in. She pulled Emily to her feet and together they walked back to where the other students gathered. Class ended early to which Katelyn was extremely grateful.

Her next time slot was study hall. So, she got a pass to go to the library where she hunted down her favorite book series. It was a story about a team of six people banded together across time and space to save the universe from an evil warlord. It held a mix of adventure, love, family, and trials. The main leader Shira Kagani and her team went through many trials and tribulations to not only save the world, but the very universe and reality itself. They called themselves Soultron. They commanded flying jets that would then combine to great a giant wolf mech with light sabers.

She could sit there for hours reading the series. It was in this space that she could forget about her own life and dive into a different world. She was about halfway through the first book when the bell rang signaling the end of study hall. Even though she's read the series over about five times, she always found something new to love about it. The thrill of the fights, the closeness of family was something that Katelyn clung to. The main character had lost both her father and mother in a shuttle explosion. Her passion to become a space explorer drove her to complete the mission her parents never could.

Katelyn gathered her belongings and headed out of the library. She headed down the stairs toward her locker when someone shoved into her from behind. Others started to move past her when she realized they were all headed to something up ahead. Students had started to gather in a circle surrounding someone, but Katelyn couldn't see who it was. That's when the chanting started. At first, she thought it was a dance competition between some of the senior guys, when some books went soaring into the crowd. Then a cry of distraught rose up before being drowned out in laughter. Warning bells went off in Katelyn's mind. This was no dance group.

Katelyn tried to get through the group, but they wouldn't budge, so she ran around the other side where there were less students. The crowd kept pressing in toward someone, but Katelyn was too short to see who. She elbowed her way through before she found herself within the inner circle.

To her horror and astonishment, she found a young boy, probably a freshman, splayed out on the floor. Several students had rooted through his bag and where throwing his things into the crowd giving way to cheers and laughter. The kid looked terrified and helpless. This had to stop. Katelyn stepped forward when a hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned to see Amanda and her gang of girls grinning delightfully at her.

"Looks like someone's trying to play hero," smirked Amanda.

"Let me go, Amanda." Wait what was she even doing here? I thought she had been suspended momentarily?

Amanda leaned in close to Katelyn. "Don't think I've forgotten the little stunt you pulled on me in the principal's office."

Katelyn almost laughed out loud. "Stunt? You're the one who cheated."

Amanda yanked on her hair. "If you say anything to anyone, you're dead Katelyn."

Seriously? This girl was all bark and no bite. Katelyn smiled back at her. "Try me." She whispered back fiercely.

For the first time, Amanda looked shocked that someone dared stand up to her. Katelyn was so over Amanda and her bullying. She had much more important things to worry about. Like stepping in for the poor kid behind her.

"Fine. I think I will," Amanda snarled. With that she gave a shove and sent Katelyn flying into the circle with the boy.

Katelyn staggered backwards before catching her balance. She looked up to see several eyes blinking at her.

"This girl thinks she can ruin our fun!" cried Amanda dramatically. Several students started to boo.

Katelyn frowned. Enough was enough. Time to end this. She straightened up tall and stuck out her chin.

"If you guys think this is fun, going through another student's property, then there is something seriously wrong with all of you. What if this was your little brother or sister or friend? Would you let others pick on them just for the fun of it?" Katelyn whirled around to address those surrounding them. "It's against school policy, so I suggest you scatter before the hall monitors show up," Katelyn said eyes flashing.

The mood died down and the mob began to disperse. She saw Amanda glaring at her furious before spinning around and disappearing into the crowd. Katelyn turned around to see the young boy staring at her in shock. She squatted down to his level.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine really. You didn't need to step in like that."

"You're right. I didn't need to, but I wanted to," Katelyn smiled at him. She reached out her hand to help him to his feet. "I'm Katelyn."

He looked at her hand and then back at her face with a questioning look.

Katelyn laughed. "It's alright. I don't have cooties if that's what you're worried about."

He smiled back at her and took her hand. Once back on his feet, he dusted his pants off before grabbing his now empty bag. He looked up to see Katelyn with an armful of books.

"I believe these are yours," she said.

"Thanks," he muttered quietly. He walked around the lockers gathering his lost pencils and pens.

He turned back to see Katelyn with a piece of paper in her hand.

"Did you draw this?" She asked turning the paper towards him. It was a graphite drawing of a man holding out his hand to a small child who was crying.

"Yes. I did," he grabbed it and stuffed it into a folder.

"It's amazing. You're a really good artist. I can barely draw a stick figure myself."

"Thank you, Katelyn," He turned around to face her after putting his backpack on. "I'm Eric."

"Nice to meet you, Eric," said Katelyn.

"I've got to head to my last class, but thanks again for what you did," Eric said giving her a tentative smile.

"Of course. I'll see you around. Bye!" She watched him disappear down a hallway before heading off to her own class.