Origins-P8
Hello minna! Thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed the story. I'm glad you're all enjoying it. And for the many of you who have asked, Ryo will be in there, just not till later. Once I get through with high school forever (only eight more days of classes as of right now!) I can concentrate on the writing. And make sure you check out the web site! Ja ne! --Jay'a
PART VIII
Ninth period on Monday found Sage wandering the halls. Normally he had studyhall, but since the sub hadn't questioned his claim of open studyhall privleges, Sage had left without a problem.
But almost as soon as he had left, he discovered that he really had nowhere to go. It was almost the middle of November so it was fairly cool outside; he'd already been to the library once during the day and the cafeteria was closed. The few teachers in the halls had not questioned him nor had they told him to get to class. Sage didn't know any of the other kids that had been in the halls, so he hadn't talked to anyone.
All in all, open studyhall had proved to be rather boring.
Of course, Sage mused, being bored out here is better than being bored in studyhall. And I don't have to worry about a lot of kids running through the halls, he thought remembering the fight he'd heard about last week. It's actually nice and quiet out in the halls.
"Sage! Sagey-kun!" came a sing-songy voice.
Damn. Spoke too soon, Sage thought. Sage's acting instincts turned on a moderately charming smile as he casually turned to face the troupe of girls heading in his direction. He nodded to them. "Kimi. Tammy. Ladies."
"Oh Sage," Tammy drawled, "we were all so worried when we couldn't find you in studyhall today."
"I wasn't worried," Kimi interrupted haughtily. She sidled up next to Sage . "I knew you were just trying to be sly with us." Kimi walked her fingers up Sage's shoulder.
Sage gently took Kimi's hand off of his shoulder. "There was a substitute so I figured I'd take a walk."
"Well, you don't mind if we walk with you, do you?" a third girl said giggling. They all looked at him expectantly.
Thank Kame there's only a few more minutes left in the period, Sage thought. I like talking to girls and everything, but this bunch? "I don't see why not," Sage said politely.
All four girls sighed audibly and gathered themselves around him. Sage walked with his little entourage in the general direction of his locker.
"So Sage," Kimi said seductively, "I'm not doing anything tomorrow night. Wouldn't it just be, like, the greatest thing if you could, like, take me out somewhere?"
Saved. "I'm sorry, I have kendo practice on Tuesdays."
"Aw, but couldn't you just skip it just once? Just for me?" Kimi winked.
Sage shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I can't."
"Oh."
"See," Tammy said, "he's sooo dedicated." Tammy grinned up at Sage.
"Why don't you, like, shut up, Tammy."
"Why don't you, like, try and make me, Kimi."
"I think you both should, like, shut up," the fourth girl said.
"Hey girls look," the third girl said, pointing back down the hallway. "Look, it's HIM."
All the girls looked and immediately contracted into a huddle with Sage awkwardly in the middle.
"Oh my God, what is the blue-haired freak doing in the hallway now? The bell hasn't even rung yet."
I wondered the same thing about the four of you, Sage thought.
"Yeah really. I mean, shouldn't he be in one of his 'high level college classes' right now?"
"He makes everyone in this school look so completely stupid. How disgusting."
Sage mentally rolled his eyes. Actually I think some people don't need any help in that department, he thought dryly.
"Hey freak!" Kimi called out. "What do you think you're doing in the hallway?"
Sage frowned. That wasn't necessary...
The blue-haired boy stopped short and threw a venomous glare at the group of five. His gaze lingered on Sage.
"What do you think you're even doing in this school?" Tammy said, one-upping Kimi. "They should have kicked your butt outta here and dumped you in some college years ago so the rest of us could get the grades we deserve."
"Yeah, so why don't you and your blue head just take your fancy books and get outta here?"
Thankfully the bell rang and kids started pouring into the hallway. But the taunts continued.
"You should dye you hair or something freak so you look normal like the rest of us!"
Sage frowned again. I have the only blonde head in the hallway...
"Hey Rowen!" A new disembodied voice filtered down from the other hallway. The blue-haired boy turned at the sound of his name and then back to the group down the hall.
Sage decided he'd heard enough. With the girls' attention still diverted, he slipped out of the group and disappeared down the hall.
Kento made it through the crowd of people. "Hey Ro, what's goin' on?" He followed Rowen's gaze down the hall to the small clump of girls.
"Hey look who finally joined the Brain!" Kimi yelled.
"Hey Kimi, why don't you stop being such a bitch and and try being nice for once?" Kento retorted. "C'mon, let's get outta here," he said to Rowen, pulling him along towards the stairs.
"Huh? But, wait, Kento I have to get –"
"Here," Kento said shoving a bookbag in Rowen's hands. "I already got your stuff. Let's go."
"What's the rush?" Rowen asked.
Kento gave Rowen a wry look. "Would you really want to stick around while the Bitch Squad is pulling their shit?"
"Well, no," Rowen answered slowly. "But you did go and get all my stuff."
"So?"
"So you only get my stuff when you're in a hurry. What's up? Your mom makin' dinner early tonight?" Rowen grinned.
"Ha ha, very funny," Kento said, lightly punching Rowen in the arm. "Nah, Mr. Hikino's on the look-out for me."
"Your math teacher, right?"
"Yeah. Apparently yesterday I completely misread the assignment on the board so I didn't have it done for today. It was the wrong page even. So since this is, like, the third time in two weeks this has happened, he kicked me out of the class and sent me to the office." They exited the building.
"Bastard anyway."
"Yeah, no shit."
"Did you actually go to the office?"
"Hell no. I hung out in the nurse's office. But I now I don't know how to do last night's homework, much less tonight's homework."
"Hey don't worry about it," Rowen said as they left school grounds and headed for Kento's house. "I'll help ya out."
"Really, ya will?"
"'Course."
"Rowen, man, you are a lifesaver."
"The cherry gummy kind?" Rowen asked hopefully.
Kento laughed. "Whatever kind you want, Ro."