A pleasant meeting

The school is not that far, it will only take ten minutes if you walk it. The thing is that there are certain places that Van should avoid, gangs, are hanging out on some local streets that even scared the hell out of him if it weren’t the police patrolling stopped by.

“You’re new, here aren’t you?”

Van turned his attention to her.

“Yes, actually I and my brother moved here last week.”

“You need a lift?” Though her voice doesn’t imply pressure, her face tells so.

Van was about to refuse her offer but when he looked back at the gang who are staring at him, words won’t come out from his mouth.

“Hop in. It's free.” She reassures him.

She said as she opens the door.

“You know, you shouldn’t go out alone by yourself, especially taking this route, there were a lot of delinquents hanging around here.”

“Well, I much prefer scouting on myself.”

“An independent one, huh.” She sounds impressed. “Well, if that’s the case, it wouldn’t hurt if you take my advice.”

“What is it?”

“You should go home early,” He raised his brows with a confused look “Look, there are some cases of murder that has not been solved and frankly to say, you might be the next victim.” She said, darkly, her voice implicating seriousness.

“Why is that?”

“Mostly the target of the killer was teenagers.”

“Mostly?” Van questioned.

“Yeah, in the recent incidents, only teenagers are being attacked, the autopsy showed weird sketches of the victims.”

“And?”

“There's nothing much I can say, for now, cop business.” She sighed “Look, just listen to me, go early, lock the door and keep your window shut.”

“Duly noted.”

After a few minutes, the car stopped in front of the gate of the school. Van looks up to the metallic carve of the school as he steps out of the car.

'Maryvale Pendleton University'

***

When Van makes his way to the classroom, he noticed their eyes darting at him, maybe it’s because there aren’t people from big cities who usually come in a quite city like here. Van once looked again at the schedule he was holding and eventually he was able to pinpoint it.

Van entered the classroom, there were only two vacant seats the other one was near the window and the other is in front, Van would rather choose to sit close to the window. He always hated sitting in front.

The setup was like usual when he was around back his previous school, people have their gangs, some were not, others were busy gossiping.

He looked at the window, aimlessly when Van noticed the sudden silence. He turned around and saw the teacher, pounding the desk with his poker face. He straightened his posture, the very same reaction that his classmates did, the atmosphere is now serious coinciding with his approach, not until he smiles. He must’ve done that to intimidate his students or so he thought.

He begins by introducing his name, Waldon Spotsman. The whole time they didn’t discuss but only talks about their schedule, regulation, and other topics that bore him.

The class was about to end but a door suddenly opens and accidentally slams onto the other side. “I’m so sorry I’m late.” She humbly apologizes.

When Van laid my eyes on her he knew that she’s somehow familiar. Her hair is covering her face, but it is enough to recognize her blue eyes.

Mister Waldon looks at her and said, “Nah, don’t worry about it. We haven’t discussed yet. The formal discussion will start tomorrow, be sure don’t be late.”

“Yes, sir.”

“All right, class dismiss.” Mister Waldon announced and the others begin to go out.

When Van was about to stand up, he heard the girls at my back gossiping about her. “Can’t believe she has still the guts to show in here, not after the rumor.”

“Gosh, I guess she’s not aware of the gossip, about her being a bitch to Brandon.” The other one added.

He just shrugged it off, it's not like that's his business. After all, he does not want to create any kind of commotion that will put dirt on his clean record.

Bust full line greeted Van when he entered the canteen. He immediately picked up the tray and join the line. Van only picked the ones that he could only eat, hotdogs and egg, porridge with juice. He made his way to the reserved seat at the corner away from the loud ones. He quietly eats and minds his own business not until someone bothered his solitary backyard. “Is this seat reserved for anyone?” She politely asked.

“No.” He said without looking at her.

“Ok, I’m gonna sit in here if you’re fine?” She asked as if she noticed that Van is not that kind of welcoming person.

He simply said to make her ease, “Suit yourself, this is school property, so I wouldn’t mind.”

He does mind.

“Uhm alright.” She finally went quiet and eat.

He looked at her, luckily, she was reading a book - giving Van a time to examine her, she was wearing a pink sweater with a black skirt and three inches high heels, but he couldn’t see her face as her blonde hair covering. Unexpectedly, he was caught by her dazzling blue eyes, at that moment he froze and flinches when she smiles.

“Sorry, not sorry.” Van rattled saying it.

“You know, of all the people I met in this school, yours is the only one I’m not sure I have known. You just moved here to the city aren’t ya?”

“That is probably why.”

“So, where you come from? LA, Vancouver, New Orleans?”

“New York, Manhattan.” Van sharply responds.

“Oh.” He thought she would finally fell in silence, “Why moved in here? I’m quite sure it’s not because of the popularity of this school.”

"You don’t have to know.” He hisses.

“Aha, you must have done something back then didn’t ya?”

Instead of replying to her, he simply didn’t respond.

“Sorry.” She said with guilt in her voice.

“Nah, it's fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“Maybe, I should leave.” She said as she about to grab her bag.

“No!” He blurted out of nowhere “I mean, it’s alright, I think we have a bad start-” Van said and opened his hand, reaching to her “My name is Van.”

“I’m Kate.” She smiles and breathes in relief as they shake hands. “I’m so sorry if I’m so nosy. I just couldn’t help my mouth blurting so much.”

“Don’t worry, I think should be the one who should apologize, because you’re just trying to, y’ know nice… yep, maybe that’s it,”

With that his eyes locked onto her blue eyes, both chuckled.

“What am I doing? Why am I talking like someone who just entered puberty stage?”

“I kinda like you, Van.”

He simply stared at her that’s when Van finds the resemblance of her face, “Have we met somewhere before?”

“And now you’re doing a pick-up line? I am utterly not impressed.”

“Uh, no. I mean like, literally.”

“Uh yes, I was late early in the morning.”

“I mean, y’ know other places,”

Kate brushes her imaginary mustache, and snapped remembering “Aha, you’re the guy who’s staring at me in the café, right?” Van’s mouth opens, he couldn’t believe when he finally remembered her, “You’re the one who’s interested what’s under my skirt.”

“Wait-wait. I didn’t mean to; I was picking up the spoon and me accidentally Uhm.”

“Accidentally what?” Her expression changes into a serious one, and with her tone changes, Van couldn’t help but stutter.

“Saw your plain white…”

“Uh-huh.” She seems not to convince.

“I didn’t mean to alright. I admit that I admire you in that maid outfit but that’s just it, no kind of perversion mixed in thoughts.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Van said with his palm raising, promising.

“And I expect you never told this to anyone?”

“Never, I’m not that kind of guy.”

She smirks, and said with pressure in her tone, “You know what I hate the most is a pervert, and do you know what I do to perverts?”

“What?”

“I will concoct a plan that would bring shame to you and will haunt you for the rest of your life.”

He couldn’t help but nervously laugh. “Please tell me you’re not serious about this.”

She didn’t reply, her face is still serious for a few seconds, she responds.

“Well, I wouldn’t if you buy me something or go out somewhere with me.” She said with her eyes awkwardly looks away to his.

“Alright,” Van said.

“Alright.” She repeated.

Van looks at her with a confused look until she breaks down laughing.

“You are a mean person. I can’t believe it I easily fall on that trap.”

“Hahaha. I never thought you believe. You should’ve seen your face.” She giggles.

“You got me.”

Both chuckles, but Van’s eyes traveled at a certain distance to the man who’s wearing a red jersey with a bull printed on it.

“Haha-ha. Is that your boyfriend, back there?”

Kate turns her back.

“Don’t look at him,” Van told her.

“Nah, don’t mind that guy,”

“So, he’s not your…”

“No.”

“No, as in no-no?”

“No-no-no.”

“For a second thought there, I thought I might end up dead. So, what’s his deal anyway?”

Even until now, he could still feel his gaze stabbing him from a distance.

“I kinda dump him. The guy is a pervert. He claims that he’s a fuck boy, but obviously, he never fucks anyone in his entire life because no woman is interested in him.”

“Is that…so.”

“Yep. So, Friday night, seven p.m. at the café.”

She said picking up her bag and hurriedly leaves.

“What?”

“Be on time.”

When Van heads out in the canteen, the rejected one came closer to him. Van could tell his face that he’s not happy. “Hey, new guy. Doesn’t mean you look cool and flashy means you could just flirt with anyone,”

“I don’t see any bad reasons why I shouldn’t make my move on her,” he said with a pressure on his voice.

“You know what kind, if you want to survive, learned to know who to messed with and who’s not, you got that? So, take my advice and stay away from her.”

“Nah, I don’t think I will.”

“You’re seriously getting in my nerves.”

“She’s the one who came to me first, so why wouldn’t you be the one to tell her that? Wait a minute, you actually can’t do that of course, you got dumped, right?”

His furious eyes glaring at Van as he was about to punch but hold by Tim.

“Hey, Brandon. What d’ya think you’re doing with my friend here.” Tim said with confidence on his face.

“Yeah, what’re ya doing? You want to get suspended again?” Lester said with the other two guys behind him.

He looks at Van again but this time it seems that he calms down and pulled his arm back, walking away from them.

“Thanks, by the way.”

“No prob,” Lester said.

“If he bothers you again, just calls us right.” The nerdy guy said.

Tim however has something different thing on his mind.

“I see what you did there, Van.”

“What d’ya mean?” Van asked, with his eyebrow-raising in his confused face.

“You were hooking on a girl,” Lester said.

“What? No… nope, nope.” He denied.

“It’s more like the opposite; the girl is hooking on you,” Tim said with a mocking voice. “One more step for the worm finally wiggles and enters the cave.” He added.

“I think we’re gonna late for our next class.” The nerdy guy intercepted.

The gang finally left and for Van, he headed out for his next class.