Addicted

Chapter 17

I was opening my locker when everything decided that it wanted to fall out onto the floor.

"Great...just fucking great." I threw my hands up in the air and then knelt down to pick up my stuff.

Everyone kept walking past the girl in second hand clothes, the orphan in the foster care system, except for a pretty brown haired girl, with a sweet smile.Kat hadn't dyed her hair yet, back then.

 She stooped down to help me pick up my stuff without saying a word. I wasn't used to people helping me, or even being nice for that matter. I had learned that it was always easier to just be mean, or rude, and keep people at a distance. Never get close to anyone, never get hurt.

 I had been close to my parents. That was the beginning of it all. The house fire had taken their lives but not mine.

I had chosen that night to spend the night with my friend. I was 11 years old and it was my first sleepover.

 The investigators said that it was faulty wiring. The house was old. Said that it seemed like my dad had tried to save them both. Their bodies were found with his hand locked around her arms, like he was pulling her. I guess it just became too much and was out of control before they could get out.

I looked up at the dark haired girl, wondering what she was doing. Was this some sort of trick, where she would make fun of me, or put the stuff in my arms, just to knock it out again?

"I've got it." I replied, my 14 year old voice as hard as I could make it.

 She just met my gaze and smiled. "It's okay. I don't mind helping." She stood up with my books in her arms, and shoved them back into my locker, making sure that they stayed there, before turning back to me. "My name's Katrina," She said, "but everyone calls me Kat. What's your name?"

 I just looked at her for a moment, trying to figure out her motive. No one was nice to me, ever.

"Chloe," I replied, and shoved the remainder of my things back into my locker, and slamming the door.

 I didn't thank her, or say anything else to her. I just turned and walked away towards the lunch room.

 This was my first year in high school and I knew that I would have to be tough, be a bad ass, to keep others from pushing me around. That was over. I wouldn't let it happen again.

 I had dealt with pain these other kids couldn't imagine. I could deal with their immature attempt at bullying too.

We were only 2 weeks into the school year, and I had already been chastised for swearing at a teacher, and suspended for fighting. I busted Selena McIntosh's nose because she wanted to pick on my clothes.

 The foster family I was with only let me get clothes from the Goodwill. I was okay with that, really, if they would just let me pick them out myself.

The Goodwill had decent clothes, but this family only chose old style flowered blouses, and chino pants, with flat women's dress shoes. I have to admit, I looked really stupid, but it's all I had. I wasn't going to let anyone talk shit about me though. Better to let them know now, so that they just back off and go back to ignoring me, like everyone else.

 This Katrina girl jogged up beside me, and I couldn't believe it. Didn't she understand that I just wanted to be left alone?

 "Wanna sit together at lunch?" She asked, so bubbly that it actually made me want to hurl.

"Not really," I replied rudely. "Don't you have someone else to bother?"

 She laughed. The girl actually tilted her beautiful face up, and laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Not really. I'm new and it seems like you might be pretty fun to annoy so here I am."

 I looked at her in surprise, not expecting that answer. "Whatever." I replied.

 I didn't speak to her, but that didn't stop her. She started rattling off where she moved from (Canada), why she moved (her dad's business), and talking about the friends that she left behind.

"Of course, we still text and stuff, but it's just not the same." She followed me to table in the back of the lunch room and sat next to me. "So you wanna be my friend so that I have someone to actually hang out with?"

 I furrowed my brow and picked at what was supposed to be lasagna in my tray. "Why are you hanging out with me?" I asked, bluntly. "If you haven't noticed, it'll probably kill your social standing and no one else will ever speak to you."

 She shrugged, still holding that beautiful smile. "Don't care about that. Looks like you need a friend and I need a friend so here I am." She giggled again, and held out her pinky.

I looked at it, then back to her face. "What?"

"Pinky swear that whoever we might meet or talk too, we'll still be best friends with each other."

 Was this girl crazy? We just met...and I didn't do best friends. Everyone always left me, or betrayed me. Whatever. If it'll shut her up.

I hooked my pinky into hers.

 "Okay, now we recite it together 'no matter who else enters our lives, we will forever remain best friends forever.'" We recited it, holding each other's gazes.

I felt a little flutter in my chest, as I felt my lips curve up in a smile. Maybe it would work out this time. Maybe not.

 I would be careful and guarded, as usual, but maybe I could actually trust this girl. It would be nice to hang out with someone at least. I hadn't had any friends in a long time.

The only people that I talked to were my foster parents and their 17 year old son. He was a jerk, and they only wanted me for the check. At least I had food, a bed, and some sort of clothing even if it was dog ugly.

"Can I ask you a question?" Kat asked me.

 "You just did." I replied. I was a smart ass.