CH3

CH3

 

                Two hours detention. Great. I sat in the room as a severe looking teacher explained the rules and other stuff. He then left the classroom warning about the fact he would check on us regularly.

                -Hullo, never saw you around what’s your name? A tall guy who looked every bit like a jock asked, turning around to face me.

                -Why do you care?

                -Cuz you’re cute, chill out girl!

I rolled my eyes. He started talking about himself. Annoying. Self-loving much huh? Could he not see I couldn’t care less that it was supposedly thanks to him the school had won the football game. No I don’t think you are any kind of attractive or that you look tough mister king of school.

                -Look in a few million years maybe I’ll start caring about what you are blabbering but right now I don’t, and before you ask, no you are not getting into my pants so drop it. I cut him off at some point before burying my head in my arms and pretending to sleep.

Damn, was it just me or had people started talking to me a lot more often? I was fine being ignored! I heard the guy turn back muttering something about me regretting it but thankfully his pride had been hurt sufficiently and he left me alone the rest of the detention. When it was over and I passed the school gate, I spotted him again with a crew of friends. He shot me a hard glare, laughable really.

I reached home quite lazily and relished that it was finally the week end. I sat in front of the television with a bowl of cereal and some chocolate, seeing they were playing Narnia, I snuggled comfortably and watched the movie.

 

                I was reading in a park nearby when someone interrupted me.

                -Oh, you’re reading Hunger Games! Isn’t this book awesome?

I glanced up to see a girl about my age with a large smile and big green eyes.

                -Yeah it’s alright. I replied.

She didn’t look the popular type, more like someone unfit for any categories, funny and a tad too bubbly to my liking.

                -Hmm, actually, do you mind if I sit here? All the other benches are taken… I won’t bother you, I’m here to read as well.

                -Ok… I answered cautiously, fearing an upcoming boring small talk.

However, the girl sat and automatically took out a book instead of starting any kind of conversation.

                -Is that Eragon? I asked slowly.

                -Yes, I wanted to reread the first one. I want to make a movie on it someday… like better than the one that was already made.

                -Ah yes, not the best adaptation.

                -Yeah pretty awful in my opinion. The end of the last book was also a huge disappointment to me.

                -I agree…

                -Yeah Murtagh and Nasuada should have ended together, what was the point of having all this unexpected romance if it was just to get this anticlimactic end!

Her indignation made me chuckle, comfortable silence took over and we both went back to our reading. She was the kind of people I didn’t mind, the kind that doesn’t try to know everything about your life and who talk when they have important things to say not just because they find silence unbearable.

                -Well I’m gonna be on my way! What was your name by the way?

                -Luce.

                -I’m Zoe, well bye! Maybe I’ll see you around some other time who knows!

She strolled happily away. I couldn’t help but to smile lightly, she reminded me of my music teacher somehow.

 

                It was getting dark. I walked slowly through the park, breathing the clear air and enjoying the solitude. I stopped in front of the pond, got rid of my shoes and stepped into the freezing water. The liquid iced my blood, it felt like needles poking my skin. I breathed slowly, getting used to the feeling and splashed my face with water. My cheek instantly reddened at the touch. I laughed. If anyone passed by they would think I’m utterly crazy, it was like mid-winter. Maybe I was. I got out of the water, smiling and walked back home �" mind finally washed from all the week’s troubles, for a short moment I felt peaceful.

 

                My alarm clock rang. Monday, thankfully boring classes were only in the morning and I had music in the afternoon. I smiled at the thought but it soon faded. I had English first meaning… stuck with Alexander again, ugh.

To my surprise he was quite when he sat next to me. Suspicious. Looking closely I saw the slight circles under his eyes, his pupils were slightly red from exhaustion. A few other students showed the same signs. Ah, hangover, kids, why drink if you are gonna wake up in this state, I couldn’t make a sense out of it. Well, if that meant he was gonna shut it, please do have parties every night!

                -God, Xander! You look wasted! A girl in front of us said with a wink that meant but failed to be seductive.

                -Yeah! Awesome party last night! He said, suddenly lighting up.

                -Ah, I wish I could have come!

                -Hey, I’m planning on doing one at my house next week! Wanna come?

                -I would love too! She squealed.

                -Luce! You are invited too of course! Alexander unnecessarily added.

                -Are you being serious? I said, looking at him blankly.

                -Yes, Xander, it’s nice of you but you know Luce isn’t into that kind of things…she is like…shy! She probably never had alcohol before…

I stopped listening to her blabbering, raised my eyebrows and interrupted her to say I would think about coming. It had the intended effect, the girl gawked and turned around outwardly pissed off by my response. I smirked.

                -Wait I have to give you my address! Alexander beamed.

Ah…I had forgotten that problem.

                -You know I’m not really planning on coming, I just wanted her to shut up.

                -Oh…but think about it! If you don’t she will be nagging that she told me so and all.

                -It’s a possibility but she might also be too drunk to notice my absence, I think that’s a lot more probable so I’m going to take the chance.

My classmate pouted the rest of the class, poor poor Xander, again I had avoided letting him save me from my ‘antisocialness’.

 

                Finally, morning was over. I strolled music class not wanting to be late. The best part about this class was that it was an option, few students took them, the school had somehow three different music teachers and my teacher having accepted my lack of interest in any interaction with other students, had arranged for me to be alone in her class.

                -Hello Luce! How was your week end, I bet you watched Narnia on TV.

                -Yes I did, my week end was good, I met a girl actually, we talked a bit about books.

                -You had social interactions! Good heaven, who are you and what have you done to Luce?

I glared at her but also smiled slightly.

                -I do talk to you…

                -Yes but I’m a half crazy old lady as you would call it.

                -Crazy and old? Yeah sounds like what I would say.

Taking a false outraged look, she threatened to kick me out. We laughed.

                -So any boyfriend yet? She asked.

                -No. Are you really going to ask me this question every single week?

                -I saw you talking to an handsome blond boy last time. She avoided the question.

                -Oh please, Alexander? He is such a drag! He is convinced I’m waiting for someone to offer his hand and break me free from my shell, and that this very person is him. It really amazes me how it can never cross his mind I enjoy being this way.

                -Ah I see, bad move on his part. Teenagers are not that interesting anyway.

                -I just can’t think like them.

                -Old people are much, much better!

                -Ha! Of course you would say that, but all teachers are not as understanding as you.

                -Fair enough. People are uninteresting, you should look at plants grow instead, much more entertaining. She said in a fake dramatic tone.

We continued our harmless bickering for a while before eventually getting some work done.

 

                I spotted him as I got through the school gate. The unmistakable tattoo on his neck was all I needed to know who he was. I suppressed my rising fear and showed a composed posture. He nodded to me. He knew who I was as well. I took a deep breath and followed him towards the forest near the school. Escape was futile, there was no point leading them to my house, they might not know where I lived yet. We penetrated deeper in the forest, until we were completely hidden from sight. He spun around to face me, snarling.

                -You sure are a young one, surprising Kami sent you on such a mission. He said slowly.

                -I have nothing to say to one of Rake’s dog. I spat back, which made him laugh.

                -Ha! Coming from one of Kami’s puppet.

                -I’m nothing like you, I didn’t choose to have a leash tied around my neck.

His smile spread into a cruel smirk. He attacked first and I barely managed to dodge. He aimed his feet at my head, I blocked and smashed my elbow on his knee. Yet I hadn’t managed to hurt him much for he had gotten loose from my grip. We faced each other, I could feel my blood rush at my temples in loud thumps. I spun around to hit his stomach but he out raced me and threw me hard on the ground. I landed on my back and felt air being drawn from my lungs. I got up quickly, before he could take advantage, trying to stop my coughing. He was on me again, landing blow after blow. I felt my anger rising. I dodged and took a step back forcing myself to empty my head from everything but the fight. The fight became clearer, I was finally getting a grip. I concentrated on dodging and acting weaker than I was earning a few blow but allowing me to evaluate my opponent more fully. Fast and well-trained of course. He preferred to fight with his arms and rarely attempted arm locks. Used to win and overly confident. Soon he would let me more openings sure of his upcoming victory. And then I started guessing it, all of it, the next moves he would try, how he would anticipate mine and the mistakes he would make. One last time I let him dominate me taking another few blows. He grabbed my arms, I smiled and flipped backward, my feet collided with his chin and he loosened his grip. I landed on my feet and spun around hitting his stomach. He took a few step back, dazed by how the fight had turned and charged attempting to kick my side. I was faster. I spun forward, lowering myself. His leg passed just above my head, I caught it while sliding my feet to tackle the other. He fell backward. I twisted the leg I was still holding hard to make him land on his stomach. Not letting go, I grabbed the other leg and folded them on his back. I lowered my knees onto them and laced my arms around his neck. His knees made a sickening cracking noise under my weight that made him grunt. I tightened my grip around his neck, he started choking violently. His face twisted in pain as he turned to different shade of red. I blocked any emotions threatening at the back of my mind.

                -Luce, what the hell!

I craned my neck up in alarm to discover Alexander staring at me, wide eyed.

                -S**t. I muttered.

I knew it was too late now. I released my grip on the man and kicked his face. He fell unconscious. Unconscious. Not dead. F**k. I grabbed Alexander's wrist and and ran away.