I named this story because of the (Pink Floyd) song. (As from what I've heard) it has to do with cocaine and this story has to do with drugs... so there's my explanation! -
This chapter (except for the ending and a few other parts) is based off real life and that's where I got the idea for this story. The school, teachers, town, students and classes are all real (except for Kenshin and Kat).
My dad was talking about a nark that used to be in his school and everyone knew who he was since he was like twenty years old. A nark (which I'm most likely spelling wrong so just bare with me) is short for narcotics and they are basically undercover cops. That's when this story started taking flight. So here's the result, enjoy!
Ah yes, you have been warned- OOCness (major and excessive)
(Just got back from the Winter Ball! I'm so tired and sleepy! (It's 12:45am Feb. 29th, 2004.)
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
Comfortably Numb
Chapter 1
Dedicated in loving memory of Dev. You'll always be my angel...
Fifth Period – Health
"...The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It weighs ten pounds and sheds about the same weight in dead skin cells each year..."
"This has to be the most boring video we've watched so far!" Kat whispered to Brianna, her friend, who was sitting at the desk to her right.
"At least it isn't as nasty. Some of those other ones were really bloody!" Brianna's comment was spoken with only half of her attention. She had her reading glasses on and Kat wondered if they did her any good. Brianna had her eyes glued to the screen and was taking notes.
"Tell me about it," Kat said and went back to watching the video. Her eyes wandered back and fourth between the two televisions trying to see if there was any difference in timing. She had to lean to see the TV on her left.
'I hate sitting by this pole! Why do they even have this here?! It's in the middle of the room for crying out loud!' A metal pole ran from the ceiling to the floor. It was covered in outlets but none of them were being used at the moment. It annoyed Kat to no end since it blocked her vision and made it hard to get through her isle of seats.
"...Ultraviolet lights are everywhere and Timothy cannot enjoy the pleasures of being outside unless he is wearing a special suit. This suit blocks out ninety-nine point nine percent of the sun's rays. Even when he is inside, Timothy is still at risk..."
The video droned on and went to show the boy's mother. She was explaining that they had to keep away from the windows and use special lights in their house so it wouldn't damage Timothy's skin.
Kat yawned and rested her chin on her hand. She glanced at Brianna and then checked the window to see if it was still raining. She cursed the cheap plastic blinds and wished someone would open them. Through the slats and areas where it had gotten caught on the window, she could see it was still pouring. The rumble of thunder could be heard and Kat wished she could see the lightning the other kids by the glass were whispering about.
She glanced briefly at the skeleton model then her eyes darted over to the life-sized replica of the heart.
"...This ultraviolet camera will show Timothy's mother just how harmful tanning salons are. The black parts of the picture show how many times her skin had to rely on melanin..."
'The entire picture is black. How disgusting!' Kat leaned over to whisper her comments to Brianna when the bell rang.
Kat scooped up her ice blue Jansport backpack and headed for the door.
Brianna called out to her, "Doing anything this weekend?"
"Not really..." Kat spoke while she thought about the question.
"Should we go over to your house to do the project?" Brianna asked.
"I've never been to yours, why don't we go there?"
"It's too messy! Besides, didn't you have yours just remodeled?"
"That was a few years-" Kat was cut off.
"You guys are already discussing where to go?! This project isn't due for another four months!" Chelsea smirked. 'Geeks.'
Kat's face reddened. 'I really hate her...' "You can never start too early. At least we'll finish it sooner," Kat defended but Chelsea was already half way down the hall. 'Stupid cow!'
"See you later Kat!" Brianna waved as she headed down the stairs with the flow of hundreds of other students.
Kat waved back and pulled open to door to her computer class. It was only three rooms away and Kat liked the fact that she could never be late to this class.
Sixth period – Computer Applications
"What is it with girls and mirrors?" Marco asked as he watched Kat.
Kat glanced at the guy sitting to her left. He was spinning slightly in his swivel chair and she could tell he was one of the people who could never sit still. "What is it with guys and cars?" Kat shot back.
Marco sucked in air and made a whistling sound to show that she had beaten him.
Kat rolled her golden eyes and checked her hair to make sure the black and white locks framing her face hadn't mixed together. She lifted a finger and touched the double teardrop tattoo under her right eye as if to remember how much it hurt when she got it. When Kat had finally put the mirror away Marco was talking to the Korean girl on his left.
The teacher began to call role and Kat checked her computer number. 'Twenty-three... Only been in this class a week and I still can't remember my own number.'
Marco turned back to Kat, "Is there anything we're supposed to be working on?"
"Yeah, you're supposed to be working on the blue worksheet and assignments five through six," she replied.
He sighed and folded his arms, "I need a cigarette."
"You smoke?" Kat asked, her attention shifting from the screen before her.
"You don't?"
"Nope."
"Ever drank?"
"Nope."
"Taken drugs?"
"Nope."
"Talked back to a teacher?"
"Yes." 'When I was in third grade. He doesn't need to know that though...'
'Now we're getting somewhere!' "Ok, have you ever had sex?"
"No!" Kat said a bit offended now. She was beginning to become annoyed and hoped he wouldn't ask anymore questions.
"Why not?" Marco asked curious.
'It's as if he's never met anyone clean before...' "My ex-boyfriend used to do it and he was in a car crash," Kat paused for emphasis. "Do you know why he was killed? He was drunk, on drugs and not wearing a seatbelt."
Marco instantly backed down, "I'm sorry..."
'No you're not and I'm so sick of hearing that!' "He died in December so he's the reason I don't do drugs," she explained.
"If he was still alive would you?" Marco asked as he tried to act cool by matching Kat's typing speed.
Kat watched as he spelled every word wrong. Her fingers paused and moved to the mouse, "Maybe."
It was obviously a lie (she would never do drugs) but she figured he didn't need to know that.
"Want to see something cool?" Marco asked.
The three troublemakers in the row behind them perked up and leaned forward.
Marco drew a white binder from his backpack and it looked normal at first glance. Colored sharpie squiggles decorated the front and back but when Marco reached behind the plastic layer, Kat got the feeling that something was wrong.
He drew a dried out three leaved plant and showed it to everyone who was watching.
'It's a pot leaf!' Kat thought as soon as she saw the serrated edges and tiny brown spots.
The other three guys in the back row took turns holding and sniffing the leaf, all the while approving Marco for his illegal plant.
When they were done looking, Marco slipped the plant back into his folder and proudly said, "I got this from when I used to grown them! It's old and it has leaves missing so I'm getting another one soon."
'Where does he get this stuff?! Why does he do it?' Kat watched as the teacher slipped a tape into the VCR completely oblivious as to what was going on.
The movie began to play and Kat watched half-heartedly. Her interest perked up when the movie showed a shot of the Nestle data center.
'Dad would be interested to see this! It was cool seeing the million dollar towers while I was there. I wonder why they placed it in... Arizona? Or was it Utah? I think it was Phoenix, Arizona... Could be wrong.'
The tape continued to play out until it reached a commercial proving that the teacher had recorded it.
A commercial about smoking began to play. Kat cringed when Marco coughed – almost as if on cue – to disturb Kat's conscience. It wasn't a sick cough and she could tell he wasn't having trouble breathing. It was a smoker's hack and it disgusted her to no end.
The rest of the movie Kat didn't catch since she was so busy trying to figure out what she should do. 'If I turn him in, I have a risk of getting caught but if I don't... he could end up just like Dev...'
The bell rang and Kat was only half aware of picking up her backpack and heading out the door.
Passing period – Class dismissed
"Hey Tanya, what would do if you knew someone who smoked?" Kat asked her best friend.
"I'd tell them to stop," she said simply.
"And if they won't?" Kat asked back.
Tanya rolled her eyes, "Not my problem."
Kat sighed and waved to her friend as they parted ways. She opened her locker, collected a few books and dropped others off. Then she began to head down the main hall of the school where the health and attendance office were. She stopped before she got there, and drew in a calming breath before entering the counseling offices.
She passed someone painting a tree on a nearby wall and headed for the desk where someone she didn't recognize hacked away.
"Excuse me, I need to see my councilor, Ms Minnor," Kat stated.
"Why do you need to see her?" the woman asked.
"I'd rather not say..." Kat replied.
The receptionist regarded her for a moment before pointing her in the right direction.
Kat found the door marked 'Minnor' and pushed down on the metal handle.
Two heads turned as soon as she entered, "I'm sorry! I should have knocked!"
Before Kat could run off with embracement her councilor stopped her, "Its ok, please come in. I was just talking to our new transfer student, Kenshin Himura. Now please sit down and tell me your problem."
Kat studied the red head, purple-eyed boy sitting the chair opposite her before asking, "This is completely confidential?"
"Of course!" Ms Minnor assured.
"And he won't tell anyone?" Kat asked while gesturing to the boy beside her.
"He doesn't even know anyone here," Minnor pointed out.
"Ok, I know someone with a drug problem..." Kat began. She paused when the red head seemed to finally notice that she was sitting next to him.
"That's highly illegal and it could get them into a lot of trouble," Ms. Minnor pointed out, prompting Kat to go on.
"I know," Kat said, "but he pulled out a pot leaf in the middle of class just to show off!"
"Give me his name and I'll see what I can do," Ms. Minnor said as she handed Kat a pen and paper.
"No one will know that it was me who turned him in?" Kat glanced at the new student again before scratching down Marco's name.
He stared back, his lavender eyes scanning her, before giving Ms Minnor a questioning look.
"Can you keep a secret?" Ms Minnor asked.
Kat's face scrunched up in confusion, "What?" When she saw that both the new student and Ms. Minnor were completely serious she replied, "Of course."
"Perhaps this isn't the best time to tell you this but Kenshin Himura is not a transfer student. Mr. Himura is a narcotics specialist working undercover," Ms. Minnor explained.
'I thought he looked a little too old to be a senior...' "What does this have to do with me?" Kat asked.
"Kenshin needs to blend in with the other students of this school. If he doesn't, his cover will be blown and all of his training and our money will go to waste. We need someone to be his 'friend' while he works undercover."
"You want me to be his friend?" Kat asked still a bit confused. 'What do I get out of this?'
"We can recommend you to the university of your choice..." Ms. Minnor smiled knowingly.
'Does this count as blackmail or bribe?!' Kat sat there a moment and gaped. She glanced at the red head next to her. He smiled warmly. 'What do I have to loose?' Kat grinned, "Sounds good to me!"
"Now, I'll need your name," Ms. Minnor said.
"Katsura Okamimure," Kat replied, "Is there anything I need to do? I don't need to sign anything?"
"No paperwork needed, I just need to have your word that you will not blow Mr. Himura's cover."
Kat gulped, "I won't..." She stood to leave.
"Take Kenshin with you!" Ms. Minnor yelled back as Kat walked out the door.
The red head appeared next to Kat and grinned, "Hello! My name is Kenshin Himura. I'm now a student at Crescenta Valley High School. Nice to meet you!"
Kat cocked an eyebrow. 'This is going to be very interesting...'
(A/N: Well, hope you liked chapter one! PLEASE REVIEW!!!)