Running On The Line

Chapter 3

                  

Chapter 3

Kimberly

I stepped off the bus. The sun hit me like a wave. Goodbye, air-conditioned home. Goodbye, waking up at noon. I groaned and adjusted my backpack on my shoulders. I had to squint my eyes to actually see. Lana and Jack ran ahead of me, both in opposite directions. "Hey! Come back here you two!"" I shouted but it was just too late. Lana collided with an older kid and as a result, was sent to the ground. I ran at her, making sure she was ok. The guy, who I could now see properly, was laughing his idiotic head off at the pouting five year old. He was chubby and acne covered his face. In result of the unfortunate acne, I decided to let his laughing slide. "Lana, are you ok?" She turned to me, dusted off her jeans and got up, chin held high. I grinned at my little sister. Jack, as I could now see, was poking a girl in his grade and pushing his friends around like always. At least he was good. Once I made sure Lana was all set, I could set out to find my best friends. Lost in my own thoughts, I hadn't realized Lana was arguing with the older guy. I was trying to focus on what he was saying. I pushed Lana behind me. "Is there a problem?" I demanded. You don't mess with my little siblings. Especially not Lana. "Ya. Your little sister? She threatened to tell my girlfriend I was cheating on her if I didn't give her five bucks for laughing at her." I had to fight back a laugh. How did she even know he was cheating on his girlfriend? And what decent guy would cheat on his girlfriend? None. i decided to hate him right then. Then I noticed the two photos of different girls in his pocket. The two very, um, revealing photos. I winced. Those poor girls. "Then I suggest you give her the money." He gaped at me. It's not like I walk around asking people for money. But this guy was cheating on his girlfriend and generally bothering me. He dug into his back pocket and gave me five dollars, which I handed to Lana. She smiled at me and put the money in her backpack.

"Ok, L, go to class. You are in wing A, class 10. I'll see you at 3:30." She nodded and ran off.  I grabbed my schedule out of my backpack and looked at it. Wing C, class 320. I really hoped I was in the same class as Jemma and Fitz. I started walking along the pavement, straight across to Wing C. I felt like I was melting. The sun was beating down on me, making me sweat before class even started. The campus was set in four wings. Wing A was the biggest, holding all the elementary school grades. Wing B, which was on the right of wing A, was filled with the first to grades of high school. Wing C, the last one, was right in the middle of it all. The entire campus was filled with students. The lunch station, which was behind wing A, was way too small for this year's influx of students. If we wanted a table, we would have to be quick. Many times, I've had to sit with my siblings and their friends because they had nowhere else to sit. I walked into Wing C and into my class, trying to hide from the people I didn't like. It wasn't often that I hated someone. But occasionally, someone will get me pissed off. And that's the end of it. Once you get on my bad side, it's hard to come back on my good one.

I walked into the classroom and was met with "KIMBERRRR!!!!" I turned my head, already smiling. "JEMMM!!!" She barreled into me and I had to back up a step so I wouldn't fall. I was so happy to see her, it was unreal. We hadn't seen each other in months because the city laws say no one out of family can enter your home and we never had time to meet out of our homes because she had soccer and I had photography lessons. I was smiling from ear to ear. Jemma let me go, grinning wildly. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail that cascaded down her back in slight waves. She was wearing brand new leather jeans and a red T-shirt that showed the shoulders.  The school bell rang and we all took our seats, already judging the rest of our class members from a distance. The boy in front of me I could easily recognize. His name was Sean but we all called him Satan. He was that kid that drove everyone insane. He was also one of our closest friends. Talking during exams and giving attitude to teachers was his thing. He had closely cut black hair and a strong jawline that basically made all the girls, including me sometimes, swoon. I had to admit, he was really, really good looking. His personality though... If I could take a magic potion and make him nicer it would be perfection. But you accept Sean for the way he is. Most of the time, with us, he isn't that bad anyway. We had been in the same classes since preschool and ended up being close friends when Dol and Jemma had dated, but that's another story. Jemma poked me in the shoulder and I looked up. The teacher was taking attendance. While he was talking, the announcements were playing. I was expecting the usual principal, droning on and on about safety and cell phones. This time was different.

Hello Students of Havenwood,

This summer your principal has... resigned. I am here full time to replace him. My name is Benjamin Kane but you may call me Sir. In the light of recent events, we have decided to close all court yards for the day. No one is allowed to leave this facility until the last period has ended and your teacher has brought you to your bus. Have a fun school day!

He said it so casually but I wasn't fooled. The other kids simply groaned, unhappy with the decision but not questioning the authorities. Jemma looked at me. I could read it in her eyes; she knew exactly what I was thinking. Something went wrong. And I was almost 100% certain that it had to do with the town line. I didn't know if I should ask anyone. Did I really want to start the school year by being sent to Sir whatever's office? No. Was my curiosity burning? Yes. No, I couldn't ask on the first day. I didn't want my teachers to hate me already. I bit my lip and listened to the names being called. "Jemma Fell?" She mumbled a yes and he moved on. "Kimberly Rose Emerson?" I raised my hand. "Kimberly is fine." He nodded. "Of course, Rose." He started laughing to himself and I rolled my eyes. That was THE joke with my name. That and: it's going down, I'm yelling Kimbeeeerrr! Apparently, that was from a famous song years ago. I was once serenaded by Jemma and Fitz with the ENTIRE song. It was a nightmare, and for weeks to come, that was my greeting at school. Satan turned to me. "Hi, Rose." I raised an eyebrow at him. "Hi, Satan. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He smirked at me and my heartbeat involuntarily sped up. "Me and the guys are going to sneak out at lunch, to the town line. Want to come?" I couldn't help the grin that slowly spread across my face. "Did Satan finally have a good idea?" I joked. He laughed and handed me a paper before turning back to the front of the classroom.

I could feel Jemma's eyes burning into me, trying to convince me not to go. It probably wasn't a good idea. I shouldn't be going to the town line with a bunch of guys who will probably be arrested 3 times before they turn 20. On the other hand, something had happened recently and I wanted to know what. Maybe there was evidence near the town line. I had no idea but I couldn't pass up the chance. If I didn't go today, the government would clean up their mess. Jemma leaned towards me. "Don't go, Kimberly." Well that was hypocritical. She was the one that convinced ME to run to the town line when we were 10. "Jemma, something is going on. I have to go or I'll miss my chance!" She sighed. I could tell she was deciding something. "Alright. But I am coming with you and so is Fitz." I nodded. Where was Fitz? I looked around the class but there was no sign of my red headed friend. He must be in another class. It was weird though. Ever since I was six, Fitz had been in my class.

"Sir?" My teacher, who was a short old man with a very evident blind spot on his head and a pair of circular glasses on his nose, peered at me. "Yes Miss... Emerson?" I smiled shyly. The entire class was looking at me. "Do you know which class Fitz Kilm is in?" The teacher visibly swallowed. I felt like the room just got 10 degrees colder and I knew something bad had happened. Jemma stiffened beside me and stopped writing in her notebook. I stood up on shaking legs and walked to his desk. Sean looked up at me sadly. What did he know that I didn't? What did the entire school know that I didn't? I reached his small, rectangular wooden desk and asked him again. "Fitz isn't enrolled here anymore. Fitz is..." He winced. "What?! What is Fitz?!" I was chilled to the bone. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Where was Fitz?! He was an A+ student in every subject! He never misbehaved. He didn't get expelled. Where was he? "He is dead, Miss."

I felt like the whole world stopped for hours, days. The teacher was staring at me and I was staring at the teacher. Jemma was by my side in a second, demanding to know how. "It is classified." I don't know why but my cheeks started lifting and soon I was smiling and laughing but there was no real joy in it. "You mean like the whole event on the town line?!" I said, still laughing hysterically. The teacher frowned at me and Jemma grabbed my arm to pull me back to my desk. I ripped my arm away and went back to sit down. I was shaking and the laughing had stopped. He was dead. Fitz. Fitz. Fitz. Fitz. Was. Dead.

D

E

A

D

As in, no longer alive. As in no longer breathing! I fought back the tears starting to pool in my eyes. Satan handed me the paper again, I must have dropped it. There was no question about it now. I was going to the town line. And I was crossing it. With or without Jemma.