"You need time alone?" Lyra asked, chewing on her sleeve.
"That might be nice..." I answered, trying to hold a smile, but I don't think she bought it.
"Alright, see you in math." She started to leave, still chewing on her sleeves. She disappeared around one of the school corners; no doubt she'd be eavesdropping on people.
I too turned and left, but towards the tiny forest that lined along the school yard, I always knew I could go there to think.
"What the hell am I going to do? They called my step father! Now I really can't go home, I'll get beaten all night and morning for this." I shivered, looking down at my arms. They were scarred from countless belt whippings, wall shoving and punches.
I stared at the palms of my hands, two white scars travelled down the soft pale skin, I'm glad they were well hidden because they looked just like any other line on a palm.
I don't remember much about the day I got them, the only thing I'm sure of is that my Mom's still with that asshole. I shook my head, and looked up. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a blue Toyota Prius pull up in the school parking lot, the horn honking loudly.
"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!" I broke into a run and hid deep among the trees.
I slammed my fists into the nearest tree trunk and grimaced, at least I relieved some stress, built up anger and some tears. "What am I gonna do!?" I moaned, leaning into the tree with a sigh.
"Hey, hey, hey, what did the poor tree ever do to you?" A voice said, and I looked up to see a dark figure on one of the tree branches opposite me. I pushed myself off the tree and turned to face the- uh, boy?
"Who in the hell are you?" I stepped forward, analyzing this rather cute guy who just happened to be in the same part of the forest as me and at the same time. How odd.
"Let's just say... I'm a friend." His words flowed out of his mouth like soft velvet. For some reason I felt calmer.
"Okay... Friend, can I know your name?" I leaned on the tree, waiting for his answer.
"Not quite yet, love." He grabbed my hand and pulled me close to his thin body it smelt like dirt, and yet like flowers too.
"Hey, what are you doing!?" I looked at him, accusation flaring up in my tone.
"Hush." He takes a step back, still holding me close though, and if anything, his grip got tighter.
Suddenly, his embrace loosened and we were standing in the back entry into the school. I felt dumbstruck.
"What? B-but I thought we were... How did we get to...?" I stuttered, confusedly.
He just laughed and then leaned forward and pecked my forehead lightly.
"Wha..?" I managed to squeak out.
"See ya soon..." He grinned, "Kaylee."
I widened my eyes, blinked and he had vanished. Well that was weird... I put my hand up, touching the spot on my forehead where he had kissed me, wondering why he didn't tell me who he was. This, I gotta tell Lyra.
I took one last glance at the school yard before turning and opening the door to hell. Uh, I mean school and then I start towards the math room. I sighed, math with Mr. Nable... He's always asking us riddles and telling us bad jokes; Like really bad jokes, like she was only a whiskey-maker, but he loved her still.
I see Lyra turn the corner, and caught up to her. Her bluish-green eyes brightened up. "Hey Kaylee" She smiled at me I knew she was about to ask how I was feeling.
"Heyo." I answer and she looked at me funny.
"You okay?" See, I told you she'd say that.
"Yes actually, and I need to tell you something." I said, looking around.
"What?" She asked, curiosity brightening her already bright eyes.
"I'll tell you in a bit." I said, noting how many people were looking at us, probably because of Lyra's hair.
"All right then." She smiles, pushing a strand of her super wavy, super long and super black hair behind her ear.
"Hello Laylee, Kyra" Mr. Nable says in his usual joking voice.
"Ey." We both answer in unison, walking past him and slumping into our usual seats at the back of the room.
Math is my best subject, surprisingly. I'm not good at angles, but I'm great at the Pythagorean Theorem, it's my strong suit.
"Okay let's start off our questions with Kaylee!" He points at me.
"Huh?" I looked up from my random doodles, most of them of birds with long necks.
"What is the Pythagorean Theorem?" Mr. Nable asked, his eyebrows rising to see if I was paying attention.
"a2 + b2 = c2" I replied instantly, then remembered, "Then square root for C."
"Very good!" He beamed at me; I could've sworn Lyra rolled her eyes.
Raven suddenly burst into the room, gasping for breath. "Sorry I'm late, I was at LC." She handed Mr. Nable the late slip and rushed over to me and Lyra, collapsing into her seat.
"You were more than late, you were missing." Lyra laughed, nudging raven with her elbow. We start laughing, but something was different.
"Hang on, where's Safdeisha?" I looked at Raven questioningly.
"Wait, what?" Raven whipped her head around, her grey eyes wide and her black hair flying round wildly. "She was right behind me!" She uses her hands in a wide gesture.
The door opens and Mr. Nable sighs and turns around to look at who had walked in. "Hey, uh, sorry I'm late and stuff. Mr. Morrison was yelling at me for no reason... Again." Safdeisha throws her late slip onto his desk and takes her seat at the other end of the table next to Raven.
"Why was he yelling at you for no reason?" Mr. Nable asked curiously.
"That would be because he is an asshole." Safdeisha blurts out, causing Raven, Lyra and I to start laughing hysterically. Raven didn't seem to notice when she elbowed her goat book off the table, I would've said something but a boy picked it up.
"You dropped your book Raven." He said, passing it to her.
"Oh thanks." She made to grab it from him, but he'd already seen the cover.
"What the hell, you're reading a book about goats?" He laughed, and then I remembered who he was, one of those popular jocks who hated us.
"What a freak!" His friend laughed.
"Why don't you all shut the hell up?" I snapped with a snarl on my face.
"Kaylee, please calm down." Lyra whispered into my ear, then remarked to us, "Hang on, is it getting hotter in here or what?" She looks at me.
"It's just you. And what I wanted to tell you earlier was that when I was wandering around the school at lunch was that I met this guy, tree boy..."
"Tree boy?" The three asked me almost exactly in unison.
"Wow stereo, and yes, tree boy. He just showed up randomly when I was walking." I breathe deeply.
"Weird." Lyra and Raven look at each other.
"Is he cute?" Safdeisha asked with a huge smile.
"Yes, yes he is." I grinned, remembering his slightly crooked smile, that's when the bell rang. We jumped to our feet and packed our bags, walking quickly to the door.
"Oh great religions class with Mrs. Sphine, just purrfect, it's Christmas come early." I grumbled.
"More like scrooge reborn." Lyra muttered under her breath.
We all laughed, Lyra somehow always managed to hit the punch line correctly... Well, most of the time.
We walked down the many halls, then up a few stair cases to get to the third floor, where the evil teacher of evilness was waiting for us.
"You are all late." She said, her nose turning upright in proper mannerly disgust, we followed her with our heads drooped in mock shame.