Click and then the scratchy voice of Mr. Radioman: Good morning Deldin Bay, today temperatures drop down to an even 60 degrees. But with hope the warm Southern winds will come up due to the sudden change in currents. This will be our last two months till winter. As for the news, job loss here in Deldin is increasing joining in with the number of homeless. Riots blame the government for spending nearly all profits on the construction sites, though no response from him yet. People say this is the wrong time fo-

Unlocking his phone, Dart drags himself out of bed.

Chapter 7

Part 1

You're Fine With Me

I got a wake up call from Panda. Again, don't get me wrong- saying that sounds like a sweet caring kinda thing to get from a girl right? Not from her. Believe me when I say this girl is a walking nightmare. It usually starts off with a simple "Hey." Or, "Mornin'." With a tired just got out of bed voice, then somehow it sets off with an argument that opens my eyes. After there's a moment of small talk or awkwardness and then a "See ya later." That follows. A perfectly simple waste of time that I find myself waiting for. Sometimes I lay in bed until I get that ring, it gets me going and pushes me to draw up the effort for school. I don't think you realized this but before my attendance wasn't the best thing in world. I rarely stayed for the whole time, and on many days I didn't even show up. Luckily they still enrolled me the next year and allowed me to take the transition exams. It was some really bad times back then. Like I said before, school gives me an excuse to leave my house. An excuse only. So my father won't give me problems on what I'm going to do with my life- well not like he would anyway. Talking to him is the last thing on my list. Living life I rather kill time walking around town then stuffing myself into desks and listening to some old man tell me what to do. It was until this year Pandora messed that up and forced me to go everyday. So this brings us to right now. Me swinging the door open and prepping up for the day.

I see the world differently then you, everyday is pretty much a rainy day for me. But here I am walking to school. I left a bit early today and saw Phosphora running, she of course noticed me too and we walked together to school. Everything seemed like a normal day... until I overheard a conversation while taking a drink.

"I heard she was a murderer at her old school."

I lifted up my head to see two girls talking by an open locker. They were a little distance away and didn't see me.

The other talked, "Really? Oh it does make sense, she's causing a lot of trouble here too right... What she doing in our school then?"

"I don't know but from what I hear, she's a real monster." Shutting the locker the two walked away saying one last thing before changing the subject. "We should be careful from now on, if we get too close- she'll probably do the same to us like those guys in her old school. It was all over the news!"

"Geez, it's so scary!"

I wonder who they were talking about. At the time I didn't put so much thought into it but again something strange came up. While I was walking back to class, a couple of guys brushed past me and asked if I was okay. Nothing happened to me so why would they ask? I ignored them and walked away but they caught up and mentioned to be careful. Careful of what?! I am seriously not in the mood for games. Whatever it is, someone better tell me. Well I got my answer soon enough after first hour. Me and Panda were walking together in the halls minding our own business when everything went dead silent. Even though it was crammed with nearly all of Deldinian Middle- no one talked. Just eyes staring at us and whispers that ruffled through the crowds. Thank the goddess' Panda didn't pay attention, she just kept walking and ran her motor mouth just like any other day. Soon enough we came across Phosphora who just looked as confused as me. Something was up and judging by the atmosphere- it wasn't going to be good.

"Are you even listening?" Pandora pulled on my sleeve. "Hey Dart I-" Taking her hand and pushing pass the horde of students, I pulled her into the next room avaliable. Which was the library. There was no one, a completely empty area- not even a librarian occupied the main desk. Shutting the door and turning around, I was welcomed with a punch. "What was that for?" I hear as I grit my teeth, rubbing the sting on my arm. Geez Panda I should be asking you the same thing. But she was still clueless, "I was in the middle of talking when you yanked the air outta my body and dragged me here! Seriously what's with you, you jerk!" She was furious over nothing. I don't even know why I try sometimes.

"You really didn't see it?" I question. How can she not notice the murmurs and stares back there?

Pandora walked further into the library shaking her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Look at me." I guide the edge of her jaw to face me. Ah but as expected another jab to the arm. Ouch.

Well I should know better, always give the girl some space after she yells. Especially if that girl is Pandora. I tail behind her as she passes rows and rows of book filled shelves. The place grown much from the last time I've been here, but it's a peaceful as ever. The high ceiling, tall wooden shelves and a nice sit down area at the center. Rarely anyone comes here and the section where me and Panda are at is so well hidden by the bookshelves that no one will be able to find us. Perfect. The sitting place is pretty much couches and pillows set up to look pretty. I personally think it's a great place to skip class and just take a nap- another fact: it's open before and after school hours, very convient. I give 'em props for that. Panda walks down a couple of steps to find a large coffee table with couches surrounding it. And hey they aren't those cheap junks that my dad bought for the apartment. I watch Panda take a seat on the one closest to the window wall. Basically a whole wall covered with glass panels, clear as water so it's easy to see what's on the other side. It's the back of the building so it isn't much- low brick fence with trees behind it and a road. Panda calls me over and I sit beside her, lounging so my head rests on her lap and my feet lay over the arm rest. I didn't have a great night sleep either so my tiredness level shot up the roof- feeling comfy on the couch. Before I can snooze out though, Pandora sighs and starts to talk playing with my hair while shes at it.

"Dart...?" She asks. My eyes are closed but I still listen, responding with- Hm? It takes a while for her to say something back but what she says totally throws me off, "Do you hate talking to me?" Why would I? Shifting a bit I eye Pandora trying to tell if she's joking. This girl is dead serious. I just give Panda the look and she continues, "Well I mean it's cause I somehow always find myself taking my anger out on you. You're an idiot for letting me though." She smirks at the end for a split second but returns to being serious. "A lot of people would have left me by now-"

I sigh closing my eyes again, "To be honest I don't really care and you shouldn't either. Okay you're not always a jerk so stop saying you are. Whatever it is I know you and you're not that bad of a kid so quit being stupid." Don't be mad but that's the best way I could have said it.

.

.

.

"GASP ICE CREAM TRUCK!" Completely changing the subject the girl jumps up from the couch (making me fall off and face plant on the ground) and presses her face against the glass. "OUM WNMMH LEHM GEH SMMN CSRMNM-"

Oh geez, really? "Panda get your face off the window." What am I going to do with you.

"Huh?" The turns around, but with her short attention span she goes right back to the treat like a dog. "It's gonna leave soooon! Come on Dart!" Grabbing my sleeves, the girl literally drags me out of the library. "PLEEAAASE!" Okay, okay geez Panda, I follow her as we hustle over. The familiar tune playing out loud and the clear skies makes it feel like summer again but right when the wind kicks in- it throws us all back into fall. Well that doesn't stop Pandora, she heads straight for the prize and studies the menu carfully. I shake my head when she asks if I wanted anything. I watch her lick away the strawberry scoop over vanilla drizzle in fudge and sprinkles with a face looking as if I'd puke. She notices it again pouts,"What's up with you? Here." Extending her arm out Pandora offers some of her ice cream.

Might as well get this over with, "I hate sweets." I mention quickly waiting for the laughter.

And here it comes, "Hahahaha! You got to be kidding right? Pfftt hahaha!" Banging on the table she glances up to see my expression then frowns. "... You're serious."

"Yup." Simply put.

The girl shakes her head, whaling her arms around. "Whoa, whoa, wait. Man you're missing out big time. If you hate sweets then... no ice cream, no candy, no chocolate- WHAT'S WITH YOU? How can you liiive?" I shrug as Pandora observes, I can tell she isn't convinced. Extending her ice cream once again she repeats, "I want to see it for myself." She smirks. No, no, no, I refuse. "Dart. The ice cream. It isn't that bad anyways, I won't leave you alone until you try it."

"I already did and I told you I don't like sw-" Pandora sticks the cone to my face and the taste registers to my brain. That devil of a girl. "Hmpf!" I cough and try to spit out he remaining dessert to the ground as I hear laughter.

:O :O :O

"All you wear revolves around- black, grey and red. It gets pretty repetitive and boring don't you think?" What? I sigh not showing a hint of interest in this stupid potential argument. After we washed up, both of us didn't feel like school so we stayed talking in the library. Anyways whatever Panda is blabbing on about, it's not worth it. "Seriously don't you have any other clothes?" I shake my head and Panda whines. Getting up the girl sits on floor facing me, and continues her rant. "Okay so how about blue?"

"No."

"Orange?"

"No."

"Green?"

"No."

"Yellow?"

"No."

Throwing her hands in the air, Pandora drops her back to lay on the floor. "FINE. How about white? It's boring but at least it's not black. "My silence catches her attention and a light bulb flashes above her. Standing up and pulling me off the couch she smirks saying, "I know! Let's go shopping!"

What?

End

Panda grins at me, "let's go man shopping!"