Opposites Attract

Cat

I walked into the school seeing fear in everybody's eyes. They knew I was coming, but at the same time, they weren't expecting me. I walked the halls with confidence, but inside I felt fear.

What if some one finds out? I thought to myself No, they wouldn't. I scolded.

My combat boots left scuff marks on the floor and my black leather skirt swayed with every step. My black, feathered hair covered the scar on my neck. The shirt I wore was red with black rips down the front, and the long sleeves made it impossible to feel anything but heat. I blew my neon green streak out of my face, but it fell back into my eyes. I hoisted my leather backpack further up on my back. it felt like I was carrying cinder blocks, but it was just my 5 text books.

I found my way to the principal's office and barged through the door.

"Ah, Cat McCommin. So nice to see you again," Mr. Forge said, looking up from his newspaper.

Mr. Forge was a stout, chubby man with a goatee. his afro-style hair stayed promptly on his head while he got up to shake my hand.

"The pleasure is all mine," I said popping my bubble gum.

"So, I see you haven't met your tour guide yet. Let me give him a call," he said sitting back at his desk. He punched in a few numbers on his telephone and said, "Mr. Welshiemer, can you send Quinton to the principal's office? Okay, sure thing. No,o he is not in trouble, yes, he can play in the big game. I know you are the coach and I- okay then. Yeah..." He hung up the phone looking frazzled. He looked down and mumbled something under his breath. Then he remembered that I was stilling standing there, so he cleared his throat and said, "He should be here any minute. How about you tell me about yourself in the mean time."

I started to sweat. How much do I tell?

"Um, okay. My name is Cat, I am 18 years old, I play the drums, my brother and mom got murdered last year, um..." I started to think of more things to say without giving away anything. Just then, a tall, muscular boy nearly broke down the door.

"Hello, Mr. Forge. I am so, so, so sorry. I forgot I signed up to be Cat's tour guide! I was up late helping my sister figure out her homework, and it totally slipped my mind when I woke up!" He started to look uncomfortable when he saw me. Then he recovered his manners and said, "Hello, my name is Quinton Heartly. You must be Cat McCommin. So nice to finally meet you," he reached out to shake my hand, but I just brushed off the gesture.

"Heartly you say? my father knew a Marley Heartly." I said getting shaky.

"My father's name was Marley. he got killed three years ago," he said looking sad. I drew in a sharp breath.

It was his father! I thought to myself.

"Yeah, okay then, where's the ladies bathroom?" I asked quickly.

"Down the hall and to the right, it should be the first door on your left," he said looking puzzled at  how random my question was.

"Okay, thanks," I muttered as I raced down the hall. As I left, I heard Quinton say something to Mr. Forge, laughing a deep, hearty laugh.

~~~~~~~~

When I finally found the bathroom, I lock myself in a stall and started to cry.

"How can I do this? He is here, what if he found out? No, I've got to leave...But I cant, I promised mom..." my voice trailed off. I started to cry harder. "No," I scolded myself. "You can do this."

I unlocked the stall door and reapplied my mascara and blush. I retraced my steps and eventually found the principal's office. When I walked in, Quinton was staring at me.

Mr. Forge must have left. I thought

"Uh, hasn't anybody ever told you it's rude to stare?" I questioned harshly.

"Um, sorry, it's just that..." Quinton's voice trailed off and he stared at the ground nervously.

then I realized that my shirt was hanging down really low, so my grey bra was half visible. panic rose inside of me, but I kept it cool on the inside

"Oh, the safety pin that was holding it up must have came out" I bunched up the part of the shirt that was on my shoulder and tied a rubber band around it.

Quinton cleared his throat "May I look now?" he asked, his voice shaking

"Yeah whatever" I said striding over to Mr. Forge's desk and sitting in his chair.

"You really shouldn't sit in his chair, he will be back as soon as he his finished going to the bathroom" he stuttered still nervous after what happened

"Nah, me and my foster parents had dinner at his house the other night. we had bean tacos so I'd give us about 20-30 minuet break from Mr. Oh-So-Cheery" I said chuckling "Oh and, DON'T tell anybody about what happened here. got it?!" I said pointing my finger sternly at him.

"Y-y-yes ma'am" he stuttered. I laughed at his nervousness.

"Chill dude. I'm only kidding. I don't care if you tell one person or the whole school." I told him "Worse things have happened" I whispered to myself.

"Um, ok then. lets get started with the tour." he said getting up

"Whatever dude, what's your deal?" I asked not moving from Mr. Forge's chair.

"What do you mean?" he asked turning around

"Why are you so up-tight. where I come from, the boys would die to see girl's bras, then they would tell practically everyone they know. why aren't you?" I asked

"I don't know about the boys where you come from," he said turning around "but here, we don't do that stuff." he said staring me straight in the eyes

"Whoa, dude. don't have to go all 'parental nightmare' on me" I said pretending to get offended

"I'm sorry I didn't mean-" I cut him off

"DUDE! lighten up" I said then I gave him a mischievous look, "Oh, I get it. your one of those goody to shoes who is so perfect every girl is head over heels in love with you when they first meet you" I said pointing my finger questionably at him

"NO!" he said "I can be.... bad" he said gulping

"So everything else is true?"

"Maybe"

"Then prove you can be bad" I said

"Bring it on" he said giving me a 'dare me' face

"Ok, tell 2 people about what happened here today. 1 person you know, and 1 random person" I said giving him a look that said 'I win'. then he did something that shocked me

"Consider it done"