-Chapter 9: A Troublemakers Troubles-

-Kris-

"Don't...call me that," Zeke said with malice in his voice.

"What?" Jessie joked. "Don't like your nickname?"

"No." Zeke snapped. "I don't. Please stop."

"Jess, nows not the time." I step in.

"What?" Jessie asked, confused. "I was just having some fun."

"Well, I don't think Red is the one to have fun with," I suggest.

"That's what she said." Jessie giggled.

"Oh, for fuck sake." Zeke facepalmed. I saw a small smile crack for a moment.

I look at my watch.

"Oh, fuck, we gotta go!" I shout before grabbing onto Zeke's arm and pulling him along.

He reluctantly let me and Jess followed behind, poking jokes at him all the way.

——————

"Lighten up, hotshot." Jess snickered.

Zeke said nothing and walked into the school building. I was starting to worry about him. His mood hadn't changed since he moved here.

"What's the matter, Krissy?" Jess asked. "You have worry all over your face."

"I-I think you should lay off the jokes for a bit," I say. I felt my heart speed up a bit. "At least with Zeke."

"Why?" She raised her eyebrow. "Don't tell me they actually get to him."

I look away from her.

"Just watch what you say," I say before turning to follow Zeke's path.

Just then, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Kris, wait," Jessie said.

I turn to face her.

"I'm sorry if I hurt him." She says sincerely. "I know he's had a tough couple months ever since his friend died, along with you. I'll try to tone it down."

I smile and give her a big hug. "Thanks, Jessie."

Just then, the bell rang, and into the school, we went.

------------

-Cassie-

"A-113." I read the room number on the wall.

This is where I needed to be. God, I hope nobody talks to me.

"Why, good morning!" The way too enthusiastic teacher says to me the moment my footsteps through the door. "Ms. Cassandra Rose Fletcher, I presume?"

I shudder at the sound of my full name. I hate it. The sound of it makes me gag. It reminds me of things I'm not so proud of. Slowly I turn to her and nod before walking to the back of the room and sitting at the desk closest to the door. I put my head down and silently waited for the day to start.

After a few minutes of nothing but quiet, I hear the classroom door open and close. I look up to see that Zeke boy from earlier.

"Good morning Mr. Ezekiel Slater." The teacher beamed.

Oh shit. Of all classes why'd, he had to be in mine?

I hear him scoff and walked my way. He seemed not to notice me until he was standing in front of the desk I was at. He looked down, rolled his eyes, and sat at the desk next to me and pulled out a notebook that seemed too pink for something a guy would own.

"For one, don't ever call me Ezekiel." He said, turning a page. I guess he caught me staring. "And second, is there something you need?"

He sounded annoyed, so I shook my head and looked away.

"You're not bothering me if that's what you're thinking." He said, still reading whatever was in that notebook. "That was a legit question."

I shook my head again, avoiding eye contact.

He shrugged and turned another page.

I put my head down just as the bell rang, signaling the start of class.

---------------

"Cassandra!" I hear the teacher yell.

I look up towards her.

"Sleeping is NOT permitted in my classroom! See me after school for detention." The teacher orders.

What happened to the bubbly teacher that greeted me? And what?! I wasn't even sleeping! The class couldn't have been in session for more than five minutes.

"That's bull." I hear a voice say.

"What was that, Slater?" The teacher asked.

"How come she gets detention for sleeping when so many others get away with nothing?" He asked.

"Don't get smart with me, young man!" The teacher snapped.

Zeke shrugged.

Afterward, the teacher went back to teaching us about whatever she taught.

I saw Zeke shrugged before looking over at Kristina.

"Red, don't you dare." I heard her whisper yell.

Then Zeke pushed everything off his desk and onto the floor without warning.

"That's it!" The teacher yelled. Mr. Slater, see me after school for detention."

"Gladly." He said coldly. He looked back at me with a look I couldn't figure out.

"Way to be a hero, Red." I hear Kris mutter.

"I'm anything but a hero."  Zeke scoffed.

"Y-you didn't have to do that," I say in a whisper.

He turned in his seat to look at me. I felt myself flinch.

"This teacher is notorious for having favorites," Zeke said.

"I-I thought you were new this year," I remark.

"Yeah, but Kris isn't." He shrugs.

"Is there something you want to tell to the class, Mr. Slater?" The teacher snapped.

"Nope." He says sarcastically.

"Then be quiet." The teacher barked.

And that's literally what Zeke did. He said and did nothing all period, up until the bell rang to the teacher's dismay.

———————————-

-Kris-

"Well, that's one way to start a new school year," Jess said. "How do you get detention in the first week?

Zeke shrugged. He seemed agitated.

He got so quiet after the teacher told him off.

Jess laughed. "Did his 'famous' scowl make an appearance?"

Without warning, Zeke threw his tray onto the ground and walked away, his hands balled into a fist.

"Well, shit, what'd I do?" She said, caught off guard.

I stood up to go after him. "Nothing. I'm going to throw my trash out. I'll be right back."

Jess got up as well.

"Was it something I said?" She asked worriedly.

"N-no," I reply. "He's a just...on edge? You should stay here, though."

"I swear Kris. There's some sorta bond between you two that I don't understand," Jess remarked.

I sigh. Was I really going to tell her this?

"Remember my online friend I told you about? Celestia?" I ask. "The one who died?"

"Yeah. What about her?" Jess asked, confused.

I thought about whether I should go on. All Jess knew was that Celeste died but didn't know why or how. I decided to tell her.

"She was Zeke's best friend, and he was there when she died," I explain. "He saw her die."

"Is that why he's so cold and gloomy all the time?" Jess said with shock. Her eyes were wide.

I nod. "That's why he barely has the motivation to do anything, and I have to drag him into doing stuff. I-it's not really my story to tell, though. Please don't say anything!" I beg her.

"I-I won't," Jess said. "I'll watch my jokes also."

"Thanks," I say simply, before running to find Zeke.

———————

It didn't take long before I found him sitting by their next class with his eyes closed. For once, he looked like his mind was at ease.

"You ok, Red?" I ask, sitting down beside him.

He shrugged and said nothing.

I rest my head on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"You know I'm here for you, right?" I ask in a whisper.

He nods.

"I just want to go home," Zeke said softly.

"I know," I say softly. 

My heart broke for him. He tries so hard to put up a facade that continues to shatter around him.

———————

-Zeke-

I walk into the detention room to find nobody but Cassie, who was sitting as far back as she could, and the teacher who was standing at the front of the room, staring at me down. I went and sat at the desk next to Cassie, just to piss the teacher off more.

"In this room, you will not talk. You will not move from the seat you are in, and you are to do work only for the amount of time you have been given." The teacher barked. "Do you understand?"

"Sure, let's go with that," I say sarcastically.

I guess the teacher didn't like that, so she came up and got in my face.

"Do we have a problem, Mr. Slater?" She hissed.

"We're gonna have a problem if you don't move." I bark back.

The teacher scoffed at me and sat back at her desk.

I reach into my bag and pull out a sketchbook and begin to doodle. It's just something I do when I'm bored, and after a few minutes, I finish my drawing, an ocean liner. I noticed that Cassie was eyeing my paper out of the corner of my eye. I guess that she, like me, is bored. To this day, I don't know why I did what I did, but I ripped out the page and slid it over to her.

She turned away like she knew she got caught staring.

"It's fine. You can have it," I whisper.

She shook her head and pushed it back.

I shrug and start another drawing.

————————

"You may leave now." The teacher said.

I stand up and nudge Cassie, who had fallen asleep.

I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder and pick up my first drawing, fold it, and gave it to the girl at the desk beside me. Once again, she tried to give it back, but I walked away before she could get a word out.

————

I took a long way home today. I don't feel like talking to my sister, or anyone for that matter. As I stand in front of my house, I contemplate going through the front door or climbing through my window. I reluctantly chose the front door because I'm lazy.

"Why were you out so late?" I heard the one voice I didn't want to hear—my sisters.

"I was studying with Kris," I reply without looking at her. "I'm going to bed."

"Oh, ok then." She said, her voice sounding hurt.

As I walk down the hall towards my room, I hear my phone buzz a couple of times.

—————

Kris

K: keep ur window open; im coming to get you

Z: why

K: we are going to a party!

Z: we?

K: yes, asshole

K: we

K: get ready

Z: no

K: yes, the fuck you are

Z: I can't change your mind, can I?

K: nope! :)

Z: Cya in a bit then

K: Cya! It'll be fun, I promise

Z: doubt that, but ok

———————-