Chapter Two

As I set off on another surge of argument about how easy it would be to learn Japanese, the final bell rang. Releif at last! I got up and followed Kiel and Griant out of the classroom, making a bee-line for my locker.

It wasn't as if I ever used it; my locker was nearly empty, containing none of my own items. It was a sort of habit I had developed: going to my locker after every class. Sort of like brushing my teeth. It just happened.

While I stood in front of my mini torture chamber, Kiel had somehow positioned himself behind me. With a shout of "Die, bitch" he laced his fingers around my neck. needless to say, I jumped several feet in the air and screamed loud enough to wake up person left in the hall turned to stare at me; including a few teachers. Kiel broke out in hysterical laughter, nearly falling to the floor as a result of his gleeful tremors. His fingerless-black-gloved hands flew to his throat as he made a spectacle of my actions, screaming and dancing about (blowing everything way out of proportion, as usual). As he continued to mimic me, I swung my foot at him to attempt to knock him over. I failed horribly, as he dancied out of the way.

"Comming?" Flea's voice was deep and hoarse, a result of the cold she was nearly over. Kiel was, per usual, going over to her house after school. As I glanced up from scowling at Kiel, I realized the comment was directed at me. "Hobbit?"

"Er... I don't know..." I didn't exactly want to go over there. It wasn't all that enjoyable to watch her run off to salivate all over my would-be soul mate. I'd just end up downstairs anyway. In the kitchen, eating Pizza Pops and watching TV. Alone.

Unless, of course, Colin was over there. Colin was Kiel's best friend, and he was my sort-of friend, too. I couldn't exactly say he was Flea's friend; they only really saw eachother when Flea came up for air. Whenever I was over there, though, Colin and I could always come up with something to do (not someone, so get your mind out of the gutter).

I followed Flea and Griant out the school doors, walking beside Kiel. Ok, so I did like him. Alot. But so what? So did Flea. As I started down the sidewalk with our little group, I notice a familiar neon-orange object. It was Colin's neon-orange bike, along with Colin. I pivoted on my heel and looked at Flea. "I'm comming to your house." As long as Colin was there, Flea's house was safe tread.

And for some odd reason, he was grinning at me.