The Childe (5 page)

The cafeteria was a mad house, so many noises and loud voices. Cat didn’t know how she would find her friends.

“Cat, over here!” Julie yelled sitting at a table with Matt and Amanda.

“Where’s Elle?” Cat asked, taking a seat. Julie pointed to the back of the lunch line, and Cat gave Elle a little wave. “How’s she holding up?”

“Okay, I guess,” Julie replied unconvincingly.

Elle scooted across the bench and let out a big sigh. “I don’t know how I’m going to survive high school! I’ve got the most awful Math teacher! He’s so mean and seems to know I’m shy and constantly picks on me because of it.”

“Don’t worry Elle,” Cat replied looking over Elle’s shoulder at a black and gold piece of paper tacked to a bulletin board. “I see something I know you’ll be perfect at”. Elle turned and was faced with a flyer for tryouts for the school mascot.

“Oh no, I can’t do that! I’ll make a fool of myself.” Her eyes were fearful.

“Don’t be silly, you’ll be wearing a panther costume and the crowd will love you,” Julie reassured her.

“I think it would be lame…what? Amanda, why did you hit me?” Matt asked, glaring at her.

“Matt thinks it’s a good idea too,” Amanda added looking at Elle and ignoring his glare.

“So that settles it. Tryouts are tomorrow after school and we’ll all come and cheer you on,” Cat announced. Her attention was drawn away as she caught the stares of the table across the lunch room. Isaac and his followers’ eyes were all focused on her. Cat shivered as Isaac flashed a menacing grin. She felt a flicker of fear. Dropping her eyes to her tray Cat took a deep breath. She lifted her head to confront them again, but the table was empty.

“Okay, this is the way I run my class! Hey listen up, you in the back row! Look at the rules on the board! Memorize them as they’ll disappear after today! Any infraction and you’ll be out of here! I’ll not repeat myself in this class, so you better get it the first time. I’m not your babysitter. I’m not your friend. Nor do I have to like you. And believe me I don’t. I’m here to teach you Algebra and that’s all. There are no excuses in this class. No going to the bathroom. No tardiness and absolutely no talking unless it’s to answer me. Am I understood?” Mr. Crawley asked, glaring at the whole class.

Cat nodded with the rest of the students.
Great!
She thought.
We’re stuck with this teacher, in this miserably dull room, for the whole year!

“Now, open your books and do the first lesson in the next thirty minutes. Then we’ll review.” The class sat like statues. “Well don’t just sit there, get to work!” Mr. Crawley demanded, sitting behind his desk and folding his arms across his large belly. Compared to her father, Cat thought he looked more like a slob, than a teacher. He was overweight, slightly balding, and heaven only knew who dressed him that morning. Some unknown stain was on the front of his jacket and his tie ran too short. If he was married, she felt sorry for his wife.

“Elle you’re absolutely right about Mr. Crawley, he’s awful. His personality needs a major overhaul!” Cat exclaimed on the ride home.

“I swear he hates me already. He must’ve called on me a thousand times today. And I hate being called ‘Hey You!’ I’ve got a name, why can’t he learn it?” Elle bemoaned.

“Don’t worry you’re not alone, I think he hates everyone equally. He’s an equal opportunity hater!” Cat replied.

That night Cat sat on the wrought iron bench outside her bedroom window reflecting on her first day of school. A large white falcon sitting in the Sitka Spruce across from Cat ruffled its feathers, startling her. Its glowing eyes seemed to be fixed on her as if she were its prey. Suddenly it spread its wings and took flight directly at her, but at the last moment it swooped toward the ground. She leapt up from the bench and peered over the railing, watching as it perched on the Victorian gas street lamp in front of her house.
What is it looking at
? She wondered. The bird let out a loud screeching noise which assaulted her ears. She watched as a dark figure bolted from behind the large tree, running through the neighbor’s yard. Still screeching, the bird took flight in the direction of the retreating figure.
What the heck was that? Was that bird trying to warn me? Get a grip Cat. First I have a scary as hell dream and now there’s a large bird that chases off dark figures. Next I bet I’ll start seeing werewolves and vampires. Thanks Robert Craven!
She thought.

Retreating into her room and closing the bay window, Cat climbed into bed. She tossed and turned finally falling asleep only to relive the nightmare from the night before. Gasping for air, Cat was ripped out of the dream. She shivered as cool beads of sweat ran down her back when she sat up. She tried to catch her breath. Her lungs burned as if she had run a marathon. Holding her head, she tried to ease the pressure of an oncoming headache, but to no avail. “That’s it, no more scary movies for me for a while,” she murmured, flopping back down on her bead, watching the clock as the minutes ticked away.

3

Miss Amaya, BFFs, Etc.

Sitting on the bleachers waiting for Coach Hutchins to arrive, Cat reassured Hannah for the third time that her swimsuit fit just fine. It amazed her how Hannah could have such a horrible brother and yet be so innocent.

“Now Class! I want every freshman to pair up with an upperclassman while I take roll!” Coach Hutchins announced as she entered the pool area. Everyone hesitated except for Kirsten, who tossed back her long light brown hair as she approached Cat.

“Hey you’re Tay Colvin’s little sister right?” Kirsten asked sweetly.

Cat nodded, thinking to herself,
Tay? That’s a new one
.

“Well I’m Kirsten Fuller! The queen of Astoria high’s swim team,” she said with a beauty pageant smile.

Why is she singling me out? I’m not the only freshman in here,
Cat wondered.

“You know I hold all the records on our team and I excel in all styles of course. I’ve been swimming since I was two. We have our own indoor pool at the mansion. You’ll have to stop by one day. It’s Olympic.

“What’s Olympic? The mansion?” Cat asked jokingly.

“No silly, the pool,” she replied thinking to herself,
gosh what a moron. Ok Kirsten, big picture, the end result will be well worth it. Taylor is well worth it.

“So Catherine, what do your friends call you?” she asked cheerfully.

“My friends call me Cat, but you can call me Catherine,” she replied as Hannah giggled beside them.

Kirsten glared at Hannah and then forced a smile at Cat. “Ok, Cat it is then. Of course you know my last name, Fuller. My daddy owns the shipping company at Port Astoria.” Cat smiled at Kirsten’s ramblings, dropping hints about how wealthy she was. “Hanging with me Cat will open so many doors for you. I know we’ll be BFF’s in no time,” Kirsten gushed.
Great, lucky me
, Cat thought.

Coach Hutchins spent most of the class having the upperclassmen demonstrate proper form for competitive swimming. The last twenty minutes of class, the students were split up into groups of four and were told they could swim one lap, doing the style of their choice. “I’ll make my decision about who’ll make the team by the end of the week,” Coach Hutchins declared.

Linked arm in arm, Cat and Kirsten stood waiting for their turn on the blocks. Cat groaned inwardly and rolled her eyes at Hannah who snickered at the sight of Cat and her new BFF. Jessica approached them to join their team but was shoed away by Kirsten. “Now Jess, you know you hate to swim next to me, now go.”

“But Kirsten,” Jessica moaned.

“No buts just go!”

Much to Cat’s surprise she left and joined another group.
Apparently, Miss Kirsten wields great power with her wealth
, she thought to herself. The whistle blew and Cat took her position on the blocks. The next whistle had her diving into the pool. Cat loved the water and swam like a fish. She saw the wall up ahead and stretched to reach it. Emerging from the water, Cat saw the shocked look on Kirsten’s face.

“Well Miss Fuller, it looks like you might have competition this year. Miss Colvin was barely a second behind you,” Coach Hutchins said standing in front of them.

“Well I’m a little off today. I didn’t think you were timing us,” Kirsten huffed, her face flushing with anger.

“Don’t think Miss Fuller, just do!” Coach Hutchins chuckled and then told everyone to hit the showers.

Cat’s wet hair bothered her all through lunch, making her wish she had brought a hair dryer. Even though she used a towel to dry it, water still dripped down the back of her shirt. She borrowed a rubber band from the collection around Amanda’s wrist and pulled it up in a ponytail.

“Hey Cat, you should wear your hair like that more often,” Matt grinned as he shoveled a fork full of pasta in his mouth.

“Why, does it look okay?” Cat asked smiling.

“Well it doesn’t look bad,” he replied.

“I’ll tell you what does look bad, your table manners Matthew! Are you even chewing your food? I bet Neanderthals had better manners than you!” Amanda stated, rolling her eyes. Ignoring her, Matt continued devouring his food.

“Hey guys! Guess what? Apparently I’ve got a new BFF,” Cat interjected as four sets of eyes focused on her. “Yeah, Miss Kirsten Fuller,” she said with a mischievous grin.

“The…Kirsten…Fuller? You mean the leader of the Trifecta?” Matt’s eyes grew wide, ignoring the food that fell from his fork.

“The Trifecta?” Julie asked.

“Yeah, you know, the three hottest sophomore girls in school? Also known as Kirsten, Jessica and Tonya?”

“Well Matt, aren’t you a wealth of information,” Amanda muttered sarcastically.

“Yes Matt, the daughter of your dad’s boss. I guess she feels I’m in her league or something,” Cat replied.

“Well you better hope her mom doesn’t find out. Your parents aren’t exactly in the same social class as they are. My dad can’t stand the woman,” Matt quipped.

“I think Kirsten’s up to something anyways, I just don’t know what. But, if I’m wrong, then I guess I’ll have a new BFF. Aren’t you guys jealous?” she asked, causing her friends to laugh. Their laughter carried across the room making Ryan turn his head. He realized it was the girl from the other morning. He continued staring, mesmerized by her obvious enjoyment.

“Hey Ryan, how’s practice going?” Amelia asked trying to bring his attention back to the table.

“Fine,” he replied quickly.

“That’s it? Fine?” she echoed.

“Yeah, fine,” he stated turning his focus back to Cat. Amelia glared at the back of his head. Being Isaac’s girlfriend gave her power over their group. It upset her that Ryan had never let her control him. He dressed differently than them and treated others at the school, not with disdain, but respect. She hated his innate niceness. She also hated the fact that he wasn’t attracted to her like the other guys were. Their adoration pleased her greatly. She thrived on attention, and when it came to boys, she had no problem getting what she wanted. Amelia watched as Hannah approached Cat’s table, smiled and then sat down.
How dare that little brat sit with them
?
Hannah should be Ryan’s sister! She’s infused with niceness just like he is. Well I’ll take care of that,
she thought.