Fear of Pain

Katiey’s Point of View.

WHERE THE HELL R U?
PARK. GO HOME!
NO! WHY SHOULD I!
BC I SAID SO!
BITE ME!

“Bitch” I mumble under my breath. “Probably ditched me for Zack. Again!”
“Katiey!”
“Damn!” another sigh and I turn. I smile innocently and play it cool. “How can I help you Mrs. Karp?
“Don’t play sweet. You have after school detention.”
“Comin’” I pick up my backpack and walk toward Mrs. Karp’s class. “What did I do this time?” I ask, not really caring.
“What didn’t you do?”
“I haven’t punched Jesse in a week!”
“Has it really been that long? Huh. Oh well, you never learn anyway.” I laugh. She sits in her chair and takes a sip of coffee. I put my stuff on the floor and sit. I put my hands on my knees and stare at the wall. After a few minutes, she looks at me and sighs. “Bring it out.” I smile, careful to hide my-
Tap-Tap-Tap! Somebody is at the door. “Come in!” Mrs. Karp says in a very tired voice. I pick up my phone and read the new text from Daelyn, ignoring the person who walks in.
JUST SHUT UP & STOP BEIN SUCH A BABY! NOW GO HOME!!
I sigh. Bossy bitch! I quickly type back:
CANT. DETENTIONN W/MRS.K-
“Katiey!”
“You said I could!” I put my phone down and look up. Bad idea!
“Katiey, this is Zodiac. He’s a new student. I’ll let you leave early if you give him a tour.” I was too dumbstruck to move.
“Um- yeah! Of course! I finally get out. It takes all the strength I have not to melt right then and there. He’s probably 6’3”, with blue-green eyes, and wavy brown hair. He looks like a god.
“Hi” he says with a perfect smile. He has the straightest, whitest teeth ever. All I can do is stare and smile. Mrs. Karp clears her throat. I look away from him to her.
“Sorry, Mrs. K.” I bend down and pick up my stuff. I look at my phone and hit ‘send.’ I walk past Zodiac and go into the hall. He follows.
“Katiey, right?” I start walking down the hall.
“Yeah. But K-A-T-I-E-Y, not C-A-T-I-E.” What the hell am I doing?
“Cool.” He walks along beside me.
“I guess. So…umm…Zodiac, like…”
“No, after the great warrior Zodiac he was a-“ he stops, pretending to cough. No way! He couldn’t, unless…
“So, do you have any sibling?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Kinda.”
“Kinda?”
“Yeah. We’re not related, but we’re not adopted.” Huh? Wait, like…?
“How does that work?”
“I don’t know. Its confusing.”
“Well, this is the lunch room.” I point to a large door on the opposite side of the hall.
“Cool.”
“The gym is down that hall and on the left.”
What does Mrs. Karp teach?”
“Huh? Oh, World History I and II.”
“What are you in?”
“II. Why?”
“What are you?” What? Who asks that? I hesitate.
“Sophomore? But I’m in all AP classes. What about you?”
“Oh, cool. So am I, but I’m only in AP biology.”
“Who do you have?” Please say Mr. S.
“Mr. …” he pulls out his schedule. “Mr. Sibilance?”
“Just call him Mr. S.” I smile. Yes! Stay cool; it’s only one class. “When do you have lunch?”
“Umm… after fourth. You?”
“Same. Can I see that?”
“Sure.” He hands me his hand written schedule:

1stst- Drama Mrs. Gornateli
2nd- AP Bio Mr. Sibilance
3rd- Studies Of Shakespeare Mr. Concurser
4th- Spanish IV Mrs. Davis
----------------------------Lunch------------------------------
5th- World History II Mrs. Karp
6th- Calculus Mr. Zignetta

On the bottom of the paper in really neat handwriting is a note.
Act normal.

“ I have Mrs. K. fourth and I leave my stuff there so I’ll see you then. And we have bio together. And… you’re in Studies Of Shakespeare?”
“Yeah.” He grabs the paper back quickly, giving me a paper cut. He doesn’t even notice. Good. “Why?”
“I…I take that.”
“Oh, ok”
“So, the drama room is right here.” I point to the door as we pass it, a drop of blood falling. Uh, oh “And you already know where Mrs. K. is. So lets go see Mr. S.”
“What ever you want.” Ok? I giggle and he looks at me with a satisfied grin. We head back to where most of the sophomore and junior classes are.
“Mr. S.?” I call out.
“Katiey?” a deep voice sounds down the hallway.
“Yes, sir!”
“Why are you still-. Never mind.” A man in his early forty’s comes out of a classroom holding a stack of papers.
“When are we doing frogs?” I ask, even though I already know. He chuckles.
“Miss. Zora, you know we don’t do frogs.”
“Yeah, I know. Just thought I’d ask.” Zodiac sneezes to my right.
“Oh, yeah! By the way, this is Zodiac. He’s new.”
“Hello, sir.” Zodiac says, bowing very politely, as if meeting the president.
“Well hello! You’re a strapping young man. Where ya’ comin’ from?”
“Small Island off West Africa.”
“You don’t look African.” I say with out thinking. “I mean…umm, sorry.”
“It’s alright.” Zodiac says in a strange voice.
“Don’t get many people from Africa in South OC, do we, Miss, Zora?” I shake my head. Africa? There’s no island off West Africa. And I should know! I’ve been. Well, there is one but its only for-.
“Well, happy to have met you Zodiac.”
“You too, Mr. Sib-“
“Call me Mr. S., its easier.” He winks at me. Zodiac just smiles and bows his head respectfully.
“See ya’ Mr. S.!” I say as we turn around and toward Mr. Concursur’s room.
“Where next?” Zodiac asks, catching up.
“Shakespeare.” I turn and smile. “Favorite class. Then off to Jeff’s.”
“Who?”
“Math. He’s my step dad.”
“You call him by his first name in class?”
“”No! Do you know how pissed my mom would get? Nope, I call him Mr. Zignetta like everybody else. I’m actually getting a “B” in that class. No special treatment for me, I guess.” I give a weak laugh. I walk into a room that looks more like a library. I hear Zodiac gasp. “Cool, huh?” he just nods, his mouth wide open. “Hey Mr. Conman. Got anything new?” A man with thinning hair looks up. He’s probably in his late thirty’s but is losing his hair and wears glasses.
“Not yet, Kat.” He looks over Zodiac, then back to me. “Who’s this?” he has questioning eyes as he looks over Zodiac again.
“New guy. Mr. Conman, Zodiac. Zodiac, Mr. C.”
“Zodiac who?” I shrug. Huh, weird, Mrs. K. never gave a last name.
“Zodiac Zidlovski.” He says. Zidlovski?!
“Interesting last name.” Conman says.
“He’s from West Africa” I say, assessing Zodiac more.
“Interesting.” Conman muses. “Very interesting. Well, if that is all then will see you tomorrow. Bye Kat…and, umm… Zodiac”
“Bye Conman.” I wave. “C’mon” I tap Zodiac with my elbow as I turn to leave.
“Why does he call you ‘Kat’?”
“My nick name is ‘Katiey-Kat’.” He nods.
“And why do you call him ‘Conman’?”
“You ask a lot of questions.” I look at him.
“Just a few.” He winks.
“It’s just a nick name we give him.
“Who’s ’We’?” He looks confused.
“Me and the other students! Jeez! Pay attention.”
“So, umm… where are you from?” he gives me a crooked smile when I glance at him.
“Lots of questions.” I mumble under my breath. “Right here in sunny So. Cal. baby!” Well, that’s where my family moved when Daelyn and I were just babies. He can deal with my answer though.
“Hmm…”
“What?” I look sideways at him. He stops in the middle of the hallway and faces me. “What?” I repeat. Not harshly, but in a way that makes him shiver slightly.
“You’re different Katiey Zora. I don’t know what it is about you, but I like it.”
“Thanks?” Holy crap! I could die happy now.
“Katiey?” Uh-oh!
“Hey hun.” My best friend comes up and hugs me. “Ryan, why are you here? You never get in trouble.” He’s cool, but I don’t like him like that. Plus he’s gay, literally.
“Helping with English.” Nerd!
“Cool. Well, ill text you later. Gotta go give the new kid a tour.” And that’s when Ryan notices Zodiac. Ryan looks at me and I give him a look I hope says ‘Back off, he’s mine’… I hope. Ryan gives a little humph and walks away.
“That was… weird.”
“Yeah.” I agree.
“Boyfriend?” he asks.
“Nope, don’t have one. Well, lets go see Jeff.”

After visiting Jeff, I get Zodiac’s number and head for home. Once I pass the park, my phone goes off.

THANKS FOR HELPING ME 2DAY :) UR A GREAT FRIEND! SEE U 2MORROW. !!ZODIAC KILLER!!

ANYTIME! NICE SIGNATURE LOL. WELL, SEE YOU IN BIOLOGY. NIGHT =)