Chapter 3: Study Hall/ Rick Tether

First period was okay, he doesn't have that class. Second through fourth were alright. At lunch, I dodged him by eating in the gym. But now, in Study Hall, I'm in deep shit. According to the new student list, Pip has Hall same period as I do. I sit in the back of the room and pray not to be noticeable. Pip walks into the room. I set my bag on the desk in front of my face. Don't see me, don't see me, don't see me, please, don't see me! I hear a desk screeching over to me. It's Rick Tether. I blanch. He looks positively evil. Horny, giddy and just plain evil all at the same time.

"Have the hots fer the new kid, hey Kimberly?"

I feel like strangling him! I glare at him, but it isn't working. He smirks.

"So you're a normal girl after all. You were blushing in the bus."

His hand is roving dangerously close my ass. I close my eyes and ready my hand. I will grab his wrist, twist it (hopefully breaking it, Mister Quarterback), and strike him in the bend of his elbow. A maneuver I learned from the drunk I call mother, hey, at least she's good for something. Wait for it... Wait for it... Now! I go for his wrist. Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I freeze. Pip. Rick's hand is now flat on my ass, rubbing me contently.

"Hi, Kim. You forgot to show me around. Afternoon, Rick. What're you guys talkin' 'bout?"

Rick was about to say something, but I cut him off,

"Rick is too busy trying to make a fool of me by rubbing my ass. He's not talking, I'm about to hurt him."

Pip looks at Rick sternly,

"That's no way to treat a lady, Rick."

Rick snorts.

"She's no lady!"

That was loud enough for the rest of the people in class to look over. What do I do, you may think. I rip his hand off my ass and give it a painful twist (thanks mother), and he yelps in pain. Seriously, he yelps. Like, like a little puppy. He jumps up, holding his wrist. Pip looks down at me. I look down at the floor, my face feels warm again. Now I know what blushing feels like. Rick yells a string of swear words, screaming how much of a bitch I am and how football season is about to start. Like I give a shit. My jacket slips off of my right shoulder, but I quickly push it back up. Pip gives me a weird look. He walks around me and sits down in Rick's vacated seat. He looks into my eyes and says in a low confidential whisper,

"You are the one I'm looking for. You are the other Key."

I just stare into his eyes.

"...W-what...?"