Chapter 354: The Commons

Thursday, February 2nd, Morning (Eastern Standard Time)

As typical, every morning, Sawyer and Keni walked into the school with LK in tow. This was their thing; it always made LK more comfortable to enter the school with them. Sawyer often looked back to see LK dressed in her typical outfit, right down to her work boots and Hello Kitty backpack.

Today Sawyer led her two closest friends into The Commons. Sawyer removed her sunglasses, Chastity Davis Specials, and put them into her backpack. Slowly, she took a seat at the table with Gareth and Dex. Keni took a seat at the table, as did LK.

"You're here early," Dex said.

"Mina caught all the lights today," Sawyer said.

"I bet you're excited by that," Dex said.

"Yay! More time here," Keni said.

"So, has anyone been following the news?" Gareth asked.

"What are you getting at, Gar?" Keni asked.

"The big story," Gareth said.

"Senior night tomorrow?" Sawyer asked.

"What's happening in Europe," Gareth said.

"Why are you going there?" Dex asked.

"Just wanted to be topical," Gareth said.

"Don't you know her brother is over there?" Dex said and pointed to Sawyer.

"Dex, it's alright," Sawyer said.

"Are you sure?" Dex asked.

"Yeah, Gar grew up with us, and I'm sure he's just as concerned as I am," Sawyer said.

"Okay," Dex said.

Alesha Gregg came over and joined them at the table. She looked around the table and nodded. "So, how's everyone's morning going?" Alesha asked.

"Not much," Keni said.

LK looked around and picked up the magazine she was reading. Alesha looked towards Dex and Gareth. "So, what are y'all talking about?" Alesha asked.

"Brainiac here asked about what is happening in Europe," Dex said and gestured to Gareth.

"Why is that a bad thing?" Alesha asked, "It's good for us to know what is going on in the world."

"I don't disagree, but there's more to it than that," Dex said.

"What are you getting at, Dex?" Alesha asked.

"Sawyer's brother is over there," Dex said.

"Thanks, Dex; why don't you paint it on the walls," Sawyer said.

"Dex, that wasn't your information to share," Keni said.

"She asked what we were talking about," Dex said.

Alesha looked to Sawyer, "Is he okay? Was he involved in what happened?" she asked.

"Honestly, I don't know; he's been out of contact for a few weeks, he would be talking to Izzy, and he couldn't tell us anything anyway," Sawyer said.

"Also, what he does tell Izzy is rather boring," Keni said.

Alesha nodded, "It's been crazy this week," she said.

"Yeah, well, they brought back a bunch of old players," Dex said.

"Yeah, who are some of these people?" Alesha asked.

"Just some old players," Gareth said.

"Mhmm," Dex said.

Wendy came to the table and sat next to Dex. The boyfriend and girlfriend kissed, and Wendy leaned against Dex. Finally, Wendy yawned.

"What's wrong, Babe?" Dex asked.

"I didn't sleep well last night," Wendy said.

"Was Cindy having night terrors, again?" Dex asked.

"No, thank God," Wendy said, "Maria's been worried about people poking around the last night."

"Why would someone being poking around your house?" Dex asked.

"I have no idea," Wendy said.

Sawyer shrugged, "Do you have something super-secret going on in one of your barns?" she asked.

Wendy shook her head, "No, we're just working on our own Stuart," she said.

"How is that coming along?" Dex asked.

"If you come over, you could tell," Wendy said.

"You know I don't drive yet," Dex said.

"Teasing," Wendy said.

"Funny," Dex said.

"Slow, the welding wire we need is expensive, and the parts hulk is not the best to use to repair the damage to ours," Wendy said.

"They're spying on you because you're building a weapon of mass destruction," Keni said.

"Keni, it's a de-milled range wreck from World War Two," Wendy said.

"You're scaring the Reptilians, and they don't like to be scared," Keni said.

"Whatever you say, Keni," Wendy said.

"Mark my words," Keni said.

"So, Marie is having kittens," Gareth said.

"Yeah," Wendy said, "It's even got Cindy worried she chatted my ear off for like two hours last night."

"Cindy talked that much?" Dex asked.

"Wait! Cindy can talk?" Gareth asked.

"Yeah, and she has a beautiful singing voice too," Wendy said.

Gareth and Dex looked over to another table in the Commons. Cindy Kilpatrick, Wendy's twin sister, sat with her back against the wall, ankles crossed, arms crossed her chest, head down and covered with her jacket's hood. The two boys looked at each other and then back to Cindy. They looked back at each other and shook their heads.

"Nah! I don't see it," Gareth said.

"Yeah, I agree," Dex said.

"Whatever, Cindy is a great singer," Wendy said.

"Not that we don't believe you but, well…" Gareth said.

"You don't believe me," Wendy accused.

"I didn't say that," Gareth said.

"But you're saying it," Wendy said.

"I'm…." Gareth said.

"Fuck it, I need a cigarette," Wendy said, stood up, and walked out of The Commons.

Dex stood up and shook his head, "Thanks a lot, Gar," Dex said and headed out towards where Wendy went.

"What did I do?" Gareth asked.

"My guess is just being male," Alesha said.

"Wendy is just a bitch," Keni said and looked at her fingernails.

"You questioned Wendy's belief in her sister's ability to sing based on her looks," Sawyer said, "You judged a book by its cover; you should know better, Gar."

"Oh yeah, Sawyer?" Gareth asked.

"You can't judge a book by its cover," Sawyer said.

"You can't judge a book by its cover, an English idiom in the form of a metaphorical phrase stating one should not judge something's value by appearance alone. The earliest reference is from 1860 in George Eliot's The Mill on the Foss in discussing Daniel Defoe's The History of the Devil," LK said, monotone and disconnected from her position at the table.

"Thank you, LK, you're not helping," Gareth said.

Both Sawyer and Keni leaned forward. Alesha was shocked by the speed the two girls went from claim to murder mode. It scared Alesha.

"Don't mess with LK," both Keni and Sawyer said in threatening voices. Alesha's blood ran cold with fear, and even LK picked her head up.

"Gar, you as much as anybody should know it," Sawyer said, her fingers clawing at the table surface.

"Sassy, did I do it again?" LK asked in the same inflection and tone.

Alesha saw Sawyer relax and straighten her fingers. Sawyer slowly turned to LK. Alesha watched Sawyer compose herself.

"Yes, LK, you did," Sawyer said.

"Sassy, am I in trouble?" LK asked.

"No," Sawyer said.

"I don't want to leave school," LK said.

"Neither do I," Sawyer said.

"Nor I," Keni said, snarling out of the side of her mouth. Keni still had death in her eyes to Gareth. Alesha wasn't sure what she's just witnessed.