-Chapter 7: Not a Care-

[warning: the following may be triggering to some people. Proceed with caution]

-Cassie-

"What do they think of me? Do they like me? Are they just using me for personal benefits?!" The sound of the bell interrupted my thoughts.

"Well, I guess it's time for class," Zeke said. "Want me to walk you to wherever it is you're going?" He asked as he turned towards me.

"N-no, that's ok you don't have to. I wouldn't want you to be late." I say politely.

"You sure?" He says in a less dead tone. "I don't care if I'm late anyway."

"Yeah, I'm sure Zeke, and I'm actually going back to the office," I say in the best fake happy tone I can muster.

"Oh, ok, see you around." He said, giving me a wave.

I wave back and begin to make my way back to the office.

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"Damn this school and its endless fucking hallways," I mutter to myself.

As I'm walking past one of the many stairwells, I hear a sound from the top. I turn to see the boy Kris and Jessie we're talking to. He seemed pissed.

"Hey!" He shouted at me.

I didn't have time to move before he grabbed me and pinned me against the wall.

"Listen here, you ugly bitch, those three are my friends! You have no right to be with them! And what the hell are you wearing!?" He snapped as he noticed what I was wearing. "I can't tell if you're a slut or just really want attention." He hissed.

I couldn't speak. I was frozen.

He threw me to the ground, and angrily walked away. I feel tears start to form in my eyes.

"What...just happened?" I think.

After a couple of seconds regaining my composure, I wobbly get up and practically run the rest of the way to the office.

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I take a deep breath in and out before I step into Principal May's office.

"Ah, Cassandra. Please, have a seat." Mr. May greeted me the moment I shut the door.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, and my encounter in the hall with Rafe didn't make things any better. I sit in the chair he motioned toward and gave him a small smile.

"So, Miss Fletcher." He chirped. How was the tour?"

I swear he's too cheery for his own good.

"I-It was o-ok?" I say as more of a question than a sentence. "Jessie was nice."

"Well, that's god to hear." Mr. May said.

He's trying too hard to be kind. I stare off into nothing and nowhere as he starts to ramble about some shit I could care less about.

"So Miss Fletcher, are you going to finish the day with us, or are you gonna go home early?" I hear Mr. May ask.

I look up to face him.

"I-I think I'll go h-ho-home," I struggle to say.

"Ok, and do you have a ride?" He asked.

"I can walk," I say, getting out of the chair. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have a good rest of your day." I hear Mr. May say as I shut the door behind me.

The walk was excruciating. I got lost twice and took a wrong turn, but somehow I found my house.

House. Not home.

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-Zeke-

Math class. Aka the worst form of human torture known to humankind. We never learned anything in here anyway, plus it was the last class of the day. I put my head down and tried to take a nap as the teacher, Mr. Reeves, walked in, holding a stack of paper.

"Ok, class," Mr. Reeves began. "In a few weeks, we are going on a field trip."

My head shot up. It was the first field trip announced for the year, so, of course, when he said that, everyone got excited.

Mr. Reeves continued, "We will be going to the USS Constitution."

The rest of the class groaned while I listened, though I didn't make it obvious. What can I say? I like history. Plus, I had yet to explore the city.

"The trip will be February 20th," He said as he passed out the forms. "So get the forms turned in by then."

Once he finished passing the papers out, he started with his lesson, which was my queue to take a nap.

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"Finally, schools out." I thought when I heard the bell. God, that bell is the best and worst thing to hear at this damn place.

As I walked out of the room, I saw Kris standing nearby. When she saw me, she walked over.

"Hiya Red." She said with a wave. "Did you get the field trip form?"

"Ya, I did," I say.

"Of all the things they could choose, they chose a damn boat." Kris ranted.

"Hey! I'm actually fine with that. I use to spend time on one back in Cali," I say.

"Oh yeah," Kris said. "The Queen Mary."

"The one and only," I smirk.

Kris glanced over my shoulder. "Hey, Jess!" She called.

"Hey, Kris." She said.

She then turned to me.

"Sup dickwad," I say before she's able to speak.

"Hi, asshat." She snapped back.

"What's with the papers for?" Kris asked while pointing to the small stack of papers Jessie was holding.

"Oh, these?" She motioned to the papers. "These are for Cassie's parents to sign."

"Oh, ok," Kris said.

"Now, if you both will excuse me, I have a delivery to make." She said in an exaggerated tone before walking off.

"See ya!" Kris said. "C'mon Zeke. We got homework to do."

"Yaaay, " I say very sarcastically.

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-Cassie-

I wake up to knocking at my front door.

"Does a Cassandra live here?" A voice said.

"That voice sounds familiar." I think to myself.

I reluctantly open the door to find Jessie standing there with a stack of papers.

"Hi, Jess..." I greet. "How do you know where I live?"

"Easy, the form your parents filled out to enroll you at Phoenix has a spot that has you write your address down," Jess said.

"Oh, right, I forgot about that." I have no idea what she's talking about.

"It's ok, oh, and by the way, these are syllabuses for your parents to sign. I thought I might bring them to you but, you're technically not supposed to start school until tomorrow, but I thought, oh what the hell?" She rambled.

"Um..thanks Jess," I say with uncertainty.

"It's no problem, really Cas. I just hope you have a good year here." She chirped cheerfully.

I watch her leave before slowly closing the door.

I set the papers she gave me onto the table before going back to my room and locking the door.