Click, and then Mr. Radioman: Beep, beep, beep~ Good morning Deldin Bay! The warm weather is slowly passing, starting off this morning to another cool seventy degrees. It will be warm, due strong sun in the evening and cloudless skies, little breeze all day. Before winter kicks in, government approves high construction in the lacking areas of Deldin forcing residents of the eas-

Shutting off the alarm, Dart begins his day.

Chapter 3

Part 1

Carry My Books

I had a dream. For your information, that is completely out of the odd. I don't own a bed, just a mattress, without the frame, causing me to be sleep deprived the whole day; rough nights and no dreams. But for some reason, last night was different. I barely remember it now, but I knew I was… happy. If you were wondering, the apartment I live in it's probably the size of an average living room. A one bedroom, one bathroom place. No carpets, either cement in the bathroom or wooden planks everywhere else. I take the room, while my dad sleeps on the moth eaten couch by the front door. The so-called kitchen right next to him. It's not much, but this is where I grew up; there's heat, water and deadline electricity shorts. Basically, I can only have the lights on for an hour a day. It's all I need.

Done prepping, I jog down the stairs, only to find my dad awake. He looks up from the newspaper, a stack of envelopes beside him. "Going to school?" The sound of his voice hits me like a knife: raspy and deep.

I nod skipping the water and heading straight for the door. There's not much people out yet, I realized. I did leave early. Once I get into town, minding my own business, I get to the end of the block turning the corner. But only to run into a screaming girl. Knocking me down the girl flips over me and tumbles off to the side. It hurt landing on the cement, but I barely made a sound. As for the girl… she sat up whining and whimpering.

"Agh, owwie..." Rubbing her arm, she glances up to see who she ran over. It was a little funny since I could tell she was beyond shocked. Staring at me to make sure her eyes weren't messing with her and then the long awaited gasp, "Y-y-you're…" Spit it out lady. "Y-you're the quiet kid at school!" Hm, I think I know this kid. Blonde hair dyed orange at the tips, violet circle lenses and a blue scarf. Whatever, this ain't worth my time. Getting up and pulling over my bag I start walking to school again. Hearing the runner yell, "Hey wait! I might as well take a break from running and walk with you. Doesn't that sounds fun?" She grins and catches up to me, leveling my pace. "You're Dart, right?" I ignore the girl picking up my walking. Only to find her following me. She says, with a sigh, "Yeah, that's you. I think the only time you ever talked was… oh! When you and Pandora were fighting the other day!" I stay quiet and she continues. "Anyways, my name name is Phosphora. It's nice to finally meet you for real." Ah, that's who she is. Phosphora runs track and cross country, getting medals and trophies for Deldinian Middle. I ignore her, not caring. Again she talks, "You don't talk much huh…" Just as I thought Phosphora would leave, she says one last thing as we walk on school campus. "It's alright, that means you're a really good listener!" And before I could stop myself, my head shifts over to meet her smiling face. "I knew you were listening!"

I walk faster, Phosphora raising a hand and calling out, "Wait up!"

:O :O :O

I know she's staring at me, probably wants to kill me. The school day was nearly done, lunch coming up after this class. I somehow made it through the day without yelling at Pandora. She's beginning to get on my nerves, telling me what to do all the time. We both sit at the back of the class, me closest to the window and Pandora taking the seat next to me. "Am I really that good looking?" I say lowly, enough for her to hear. She makes the 'humpf' noise and turns around. I sigh, "Must be-" Pandora throws a paper ball at me.

"Ahem." The teacher with crossed arms looks over the class. Right to me and Pandora. She smirks sticking her tongue out and I tilt my head slightly raising a hand at the level of my neck. "Would you two mind explaining what I just said? . . . Were you two listening? How 'bout you Mr. Icarus? For seven straight years you said nothing and participated not once in class. There's no more freeb-"

"Actually… I do mind, old man." Pandora spat cutting off the teacher. "Dart wouldn't waste a breath talking to people like you."

Gasps strike the crowd at the sides, the teach not so happy. Shaking his head and stepping towards her, "Of course, Pandora Amazon. The second day and you've already have… what? A detention in each class and two - give or take - organizing suspensions?" It was true. Panda wasn't kidding when she said everyone should know her by the end of the week. Never coming early and always trash talking teachers. I also heard Panda sabotaged the teacher's lounge after she overheard them talking about her. Just opening my locker or taking a drink, I hear the adults scolding the girl in the halls. Sometimes I just… I, wait. Why do I even care? I glance over to the teacher leaning in on her, too close for my taste. His tie falling down touching her desk and his old face looking straight at her.

"Step off man," Disgusted, Pandora spits on his face. Ooh, not good.

You should also know… I'm half wolf. Or, I wish, heh. When I give the effort to actually pay attention to something, I give my complete focus. The second the spit ball came flying to his face, I stand up prepping for what happens next. The screeching of the chair running on the floor. It would end up either two walks: one, he'd yell at her and back off or two, he'd be so mad he'd touch her. Number two. As Panda backs up for the hit and shutting her blue eyes, I use that space to stand in between. Taking the slap. Okay, I know a slap sounds, kinda stupid but dang, it hurt. Not one of those cat-fight slaps, this man was angry - a full out whack across the face. Gritting my teeth, my head titled, I find my reflection off the window. Even though it's hazy, I could see my stained cheek sharing the color of my eyes. It was like doing that rubber band let-go thing all over the side of my face.

The sound of the hit jump-scared the students. Watching what happened, a sea of "Dart!" and "Ah!" came over and the teacher finally stepped back, looking at his red hand then cleaning his face. He's so fired. I drop to sit on Panda's chair glaring at him as Pandora rests her elbows on my shoulders. Her smirking face right above my emotionless one. "You're so fired." She snickers. "Why don't you do us all a favor, and take a step out." He looks to the students, Phosphora still shocked in the crowd. "Class dismissed."

:O :O :O

Don't get the wrong idea here. I know what you're thinking, "Oh, Dart saved Panda!" He totally has the hits (yes hits, no one says hots anymore. And its appropriate for the situation here. Just sayin') for her. Hell no, nasty teachers are just on my list to kill. Heh, I kid, I'm just at a complete lost like you. I don't know why I did it.

As the teacher fled, the class took a second to realize what just happened. And hey, ya know there's a rule: if the teacher isn't in the classroom for over fifteen minutes, you. Can. Leave. No joke, no choke. It was me and the kid alone in the class. I didn't get up, so Panda just sat in my seat.

She broke the silence, "You are so emo." I give her the look. Are you freaking kidding me right now? Raising her hands like a cop got her, she adds "Hey, now. If you don't like pain, why'd you do it?" I look away for a moment before hopping off the seat. Stuffing my hands into the pockets of my sweats and taking my leave to the door. My feet stop when she calls my name, "Dart. Carry my books." I was about to talk back, but seeing it was pointless, I just ignored it. "Hey! Come on, you're not carrying anything."

"If you're not gonna pay attention to class why bring stuff?" I meant to keep that in my mind, it just slipped. Why do I talk to this girl? Lazily and monotoned I add, "You got two arms."

"And so he speaks." Panda raises her hands, 'praising the goddess'. "Carry my books and walk with me. Got it?"

Don't ask me why. Do not even mention it, but... here I am walking with the books and the girl. The bell rings and the kids come flooding out to the halls, rushing to get in line for the food. But of course, here comes me and Panda, so they stop and whisper. Getting through that mess, we head over to the lockers. Panda writing her combo on the inner part of my arm then glancing up to meet my eyes.

For Pete's sake, "I'm not gonna tell any-"

"No, your face." She pokes the slapped cheek and the slight sting reminds me about the event. It stung but I didn't show it, but for some goshdarn reason Panda pushes the pen further into my skin increasing the pain. I shut an eye and grit my teeth. "So, you're not a robot. You can actually feel, huh. "Less'go." She walks off. And before I put the books in, I uncap the expo marker and write on the inside locker: Dart hates you.

:O :O :O

Lunch time and everyone is outside eating at their group tables. Passing that, I walk out of school campus. Pandora just about to ignite a food fight. When I expect screams and shouts to break out, I don't hear them. Instead, a ruffling of a paper bag and a girl walking next to me. Pandora Amazon.

"Where the heck you goin'?"

Where do you think? "Lunch." I say, looking forward. Meeting the cross light, I see it all clear and walk over. Pulling Panda along since she stopped midway checking her lunch bag and pulling out a juice pouch. "Where are you going?"

She shrugs, "Wherever."

End