Chapter 1
“Katherine dear, could you pass me the gravy?” Katherine’s mother said as they sat down at the table for breakfast. She passed her mother the dish with an annoyed expression seeing as how it was right next to her.
“Aren’t you going to eat anything, you know breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” her dad commented, she looked down at her plate and pushed it back, “I’m not hungry, anyway have to go to school. See y’all when I get home.” Katherine stood up and went to grab her book bag, then headed out the door.
Walking down the street, she heard footsteps fall in behind her. “Hey, did you finish that history homework last night?” asked Katie.
“Seriously? You didn’t finish it? We even had the answers on a seperate sheet of paper!” Katherine exclaimed in mock horror as she ravished through her bag looking for the right paper.
“You are a lifesaver.” Katie commented as the bus pulled up and they got in.
“So are we meeting the squad today after school?”
“Last I checked.” she mumbled as she copied the answers.
When they were dropped off at school, they went over to the normal spot for their mornings. Shiro and Hunk had already beat them there.
“Hey, what are y’all talking about?” Katherine asked seeing as how they were whispering and the two hardly ever spoke at a less-than shouting tone.
“Hey Pidge.” Shiro smiled as he looked up and saw Katie.
“Don’t call me that!” Katie said, but not before Katherine noticed the blush that crept into her cheeks when he said her nickname.
“Ok, back to my question, what were you all talking about?” Katherine stated a little annoyed.
Hunk looked a little sheepish when he answered, “Well uh.. We kinda invited someone new to come and hang with us this afternoon.” he said, rushing over his words.
“Oh, ok, well, looks like we have something to look forward to this afternoon.” “What’s his name?” Katherine asked, though she normally would have exploded at them, she might as well give this new guy a chance. Shiro took her into his group when she first arrived, why not do the same for someone else?
“Lance.” Shiro answered.
Katherine went to her first class of the day as the bell rung, but when she arrived, she noticed that they had someone new and that he was sitting in the seat right next to hers. Walking over, Katherine couldn’t help but notice that he was kinda cute. He had tan skin, dark hair and eyes with a mysterious glint in them. Once she sat down in her seat, he turned toward her.
“Hey! I’m Lance.” said the boy. He had stuck his hand out for her to shake.
Shaking his hand, Katherine introduced herself. The teacher walked in ending all conversation. Halfway through the class a note was put on her desk. Looking down she unfolded the note
‘So, Shiro and Hunk were talking about a kid named Keith he apparently has a choker fetish, do you know him?’ Katherine turns and looked at the new kid, he just shrugged. Getting herself a piece of paper she wrote back,
‘I sometimes go by Keith, you, however, can not call me that.’ Folding the note she slipped it to Lance.
After reading the note he nodded. Once class ended they all filed into the hallway, catching up to Katherine, Lance started to talk to her.
“So do you wear chokers a lot? Or is that just a today kinda thing?” he wondered.
A little annoyed, she answered, “I usually wear one nearly every day, this one is my favorite one though” She reached up and rubbed the color changing gem in the necklace.
“Right, so what am I to suspect when I go with everybody?”
“Nothing really, we just hang out.” she paused “Oh, and, don’t feel bad if Katie doesn’t really talk to you. She has to warm up to newcomers.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“Can I see your phone?”
“Sure.” Lance hands his phone to the girl.
Taking the phone, she adds her number to his contacts under the pseudonym ‘Nerd <3’ then hands the phone back, “There, now if you have any questions you can text me.”
Taking the phone, Lance smiled a little, “Thanks, hey what class do you have next?”
“Gym, you?”
“Chemistry”
“Oh, we have a smart person over here.” she teased.
“Whatever, at least I don’t have to run”
She waved goodbye to him as she walked to the gym, meeting up with Katie. Katherine walked over and plopped down next to her.
“Hey” she greeted the smaller female.
“Hello” Katie said in return, sounding exhausted.
“Are you ok? You sound a little out of it?” “I’m fine.” she said yawning, “Just a little tired is all.”
“Ok if you say so. Promise me that if something is bothering you, you’ll tell me?” Katherine asked concerned.
“Yes! Of course! You’re my best friend!” Katie promised, then asked “So did you meet our newest addition yet?”
“That Lance kid? He seems too popular to hang out with us. N-no offense! I just have an off feeling about him.” Katherine admitted.
“Yeah you’re right. Did Shiro tell you how they ended up inviting him tonight?” The petite girl asked.
“He didn’t tell me anything, I just found out from you.”
“ Oh...” Katie said, not wanting to be the bearer of the news.
“It’s just weird seeing as how we never take anyone new. Especially one who could make friends as easily as him.”
“Mhm” she smiled, nodding “I don’t like him. He seems sketchy. I swear if he hurts you, or anyone in our group, he’s going to have to deal with me.” Katie threatened.
“Please girl, you know I can take care of myself.”
“I know, but I’m still here to help”
“I appreciate that, really.” Katherine nodded and looked back at her torturous class, as they left to dress out, the shorter female spoke up.
“Have I ever told you how much I hate P.E. I mean, basically it’s just an excuse for guys to look at girls. If it was really used to help kids, the classes would be separate.” Katie rants.
“Yes, but the teachers just get a kick out of all of us suffering. Oh the torture!” Katie exasperates.
“Yeah…” Katherine laughs, “So what do you think they’re going to do to us today? Chainsaw? Oh how about the blowtorch!” She nudged Katie’s shoulder, as she began to zone out slightly. Frowning slightly, Katherine nudges her again.
“Kaitie? Hello?” Katherine waved a hand in front of her face.
“ Y-yeah sorry, I was just thinking. I really have a bad feeling about this Lance guy.” Katie admits.
“Yeah, I hear you, but you have to admit, he is kind of cute.” Katherine said with a sly smile on her face.
“Oh? I know that face.” teased Kaitie.
“What face?” Katherine asked innocently.
“The look says your falling for him.” she said pointedly.
“I am not falling for him! You know me! I’m too…” Katherine trailed off, “Besides it’s not like he would ever be interested in me.” Katherine explains to her.
“Don’t put yourself down! You’re not that bad, I mean, if you were, then why would I be friends with you?”
Before she could answer, the teacher started the endless torture by having us play hardcore dodgeout. Mr. G always explained it as “Dodgeball, but if you dodge the ball you are OUT!” Katherine and Katie were on the same team and although they talked while playing, Katherine couldn’t get their previous conversation out of her head. ‘Why would someone like Lance hang out with an awkward group such as hers, or how he could like someone like herself.’ Katherine gets lost in her thoughts and is hit by a ball, and as she walks to the sideline, her thoughts continue to race. ’Why would he choose her, there were so many other girls he could choose from in her school. ’ Suddenly she felt someone poke her in the side. Besider her Kaitie stood, staring at her with a questioning look in her eyes.
“Is everything ok Katherine?” she asked with a caring look.
“Huh? Oh yeah I was just thinking.” Katherine bit her lip. No need to tell Katie her thoughts, especially since they weren’t her cheeriest. Katie looked like she was about to protest, but the whistle of Mr. G interrupted her before she got the chance. ”Really I’m fine, Pidge.” Katherine added the last part so as to change the subject,
“You know only a few can call me that, Keith.” The both started to laugh at their silly nicknames. After that the game was over. They changed back into their regular outfits. When the bell rang they went their separate ways.
“See you at lunch.” Katherine yelled as she walked down the opposite side of the hallway. Katie just waved to me and went off to her next class.
As she was heading down the corridor, she felt her phone buzz with a text message. Pulling it out of my back pocket she looked at the screen.
‘Unknown Number: hey what class do you have next? Oh! BTW it’s Lance ;)’
Hastily, she replied ‘French, you?’ She put the phone away and walked through the doorway to her class. Just as her luck would have it, she just sat down when Lance appeared in the doorway she was just previously standing in. Spotting her, he sat and dropped his stuff in the desk next to her.
“Got you a present.” he said.
“Wh-what?” Katherine asked in a shocked voice
Grinning, he sat a bottle of Pepsi on her desk along with a twix bar. At lost for words, she took the twix bar and put it in her bag,” Thank you.”
“Anytime.” he said with a wink.
“Remember no food in my classroom, only drinks” said the teacher, Mrs. Michelle, eyeing Katherine.
Just as Mrs. Michelle had begun to write things on the board for the students to copy when Katherine felt her phone vibrate. Taking it out she read the message,
‘Lance: hey’
She looked over at Lance and and mothed ‘what the heck’.
He just smiled and mimicked texting, taking the hint she picked up her phone and replied.
‘‘Nerd <3’: seriously? you are right next to me and you had to text me!’
She hit send and then turned her attention back to the teacher, and started copying her notes. Her phone vibrated again, although this time it was from Shiro.
Opening the text she read,
‘Shiro: hey! Keith hope your not mad about me inviting someone new, I know how you and Pidge feel about him, but please try to be nice :).’
She felt a little hurt about the fact Shiro thought that she wouldn’t be nice to someone she didn’t know.
‘Keith: I’m not mad and I am being nice! Not to mention he’s in two of my classes so far, we’re all just fine :/ ’ hitting send she turned her phone off so that she could focus on what the teacher was saying.
