Part 2

“Cherry! Kenny!” My father’s voice was too loud. Groaning, I shoved my head under my
pillow. “Don’t make me come up there, kids.” He threatened.
“Dad, I’m sick.” I said, coughing and hacking.
“Unless you want to walk to school, you better get up and get ready young lady. I’m
leaving for work in half an hour.”
“But I’m sick!”
“No you’re not. Get your brother up while you’re at it.” Footsteps sounded at the bottom of
the stairs and I could hear my mom laughing. Groaning again, I got out of bed and headed for my
brother’s room.
“Kenny.” Almost tripping over a field hockey stick, I stumbled my way across his room to
his bed. “Kenny!!!!”
“What?” he said, looking up at me with half-closed eyes.
“Time to get up.”
“No.” He rolled over.
“Get your ass out of bed, Kenneth, or you have to walk to school.”
“I’m sick.”
“I already tried that.” Rolling over again, he looked up at me and smirked.
“It probably didn’t work cause you’re such a terrible liar.” I yanked on his arm and he fell
out of bed. “Ow!”
“I am not. Now get ready for school. You’re going if I have to tie you to the back of the
car.”
“Yah right.“ he mocked, getting to his feet and starting to strip off his pajamas.
“Hey!! Wait until I leave first! God!” I slapped my hand over my eyes and headed for my
bedroom. Pulling a pair of jeans from my closet, I dragged them up over my legs, hopping on one
foot, then the other. Gripping the hem of my shirt, I dragged it up and tossed it aside, reaching for
a bra. Kenny opened the door and barged in.
“Where’s my iPod?” Ignoring me, he walked to my desk and began shuffling everything
around.
“GET OUT!!!” I screamed, throwing a book at him which he managed to avoid. I dragged
on a black top and grabbed a hairbrush, raising it threateningly. He grabbed his iPod and ran out,
laughing as the hairbrush hit the wall. “Kenny, you’re going DOWN.” Grabbing my backpack, I
chased out after him.
~~~
“It really hurts.” He said again, coming close to a whine. I ignored him, staring out the
window. “Dad, she hit me really hard.”
“So hit her back next time.” My dad shrugged, turning a corner.
“Dad!” I glared at him.
“What?”
“You’re not supposed to take his side!”
“Yes he is.” Kenny argued from the back seat. Ignoring him again, I looked out the
window at the sky. It looked like it was going to rain. I liked rain.
“Kids, behave.”
“Look at it this way Dad. It’s your fault, because if you hadn’t forced us out here into the
car to go to school, we wouldn’t be here arguing.”
“You’re grades would also drop. And your mother and I would be very upset if that
happened.” The mild tone did nothing to hide the clear threat.
“Such a dictator.” Pouting, Kenny slid down farther in his seat. Pulling the car over to the
curb, Dad waited patiently while we got out.
“Don’t get into trouble Kenneth!” he called loudly. I smirked at my brother as he rolled his
eyes. “Cheryl, keep an eye on him please.”
“Sure Dad.” The car drove away, and we headed into the school. The crowded hallways
did nothing to help my headache. “I hate school.”
“Ditto.”
 “At least you’re tall.” I said grumpily. “You can’t get lost in the crowd, because you can
see over everyone’s head!”
“I’m not tall. You’re just a shrimp.” Grinning down at me, he ignored me punching his arm.
“I will grow!!” I vowed, pushing my way to my locker. Twirling the combination lock, I tried
pulling it open and failed. It was stuck. “Goddammit!” I took hold and began yanking.
“See you later sis.” With a wave, Kenny wandered off and I scowled at his back. He
hadn’t even offered to help. I yanked harder on my locker and it flew open suddenly, causing me
to stumble back and elbow the person behind me in the gut.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” I backed away and looked up. Andrew was grimacing at me
and Jackie was laughing beside him.
“Nice greeting Cherry.” He winced in pain. Jackie all but collapsed onto the floor, laughing
so hard. “I love you too babe.” He added sarcastically.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She kissed his cheek affectionately and threw her arms around me in a
huge hug with another laugh. “You have awesome aim Cherry. Hit him dead centre.”
“I really am sorry Andrew.”
“It’s ok. No problem. All will be forgiven if I get a hug.” I gave him one and grinned as I
stepped back to grab my math textbook from my locker. He slid an arm around Jackie’s waist
and, after I locked my locker, we headed for our first class. I saw Derek from down the hall and
quickly ducked behind Jackie.
“Cherry? What’s wrong?” I pointed him out. They looked over and saw him.
“I can go punch him if you want.” Andrew offered.
“No I’m good. Let’s just go to class and I’ll hide behind you two OK?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t want him to see you like this, do you?” Jackie smiled at
me. She looked scary when she smiled like that.
“The point of hiding is so he won’t see me period.”
“But-“
“Hey.” Mark crossed into my line of vision, his face about a foot away from mine. “Why
are we hiding?” He looked up and grinned at my shields. “Hey Jackie.”
“Hey.” she said, smiling. I noticed Andrew smiling too and, as we stood up, he held out
his hand for a high-five, which Mark gave.
“Hey Markers.”
“Hey Andrew.”
“Markers?” I looked at him. His hair, it turned out, was actually brown, so score one for
me. It stuck up today at odd angles and looked like he’d just woken up. Which, considering his
outfit (a horribly wrinkled t-shirt over a pair of ordinary jeans), was probably the case.
“Yup.”
“You know him Cherry. Somewhat.” Jackie rolled her eyes at me. I rolled mine right back
at her. “He’s in our Psychology class.”
“So obviously I should know him.” I retorted, mentally scanning the classroom.
“I sit in the far corner.” He grinned at me, reading my mind.
“Oh yah. Beside the girl who is always reading.” I remembered.
“Janet.”
“Yah, her. And in front of her is that guy who likes to stab himself with the pins from
Remembrance Day poppies and usually carries around that knife in his pocket.” I paused,
ignoring the weird stares I was getting from the guys. “He’s cool.”
“He is, actually.” Jackie agreed. Andrew and Mark turned to stare at her. She looked up
at them and shrugged. “What? He is.”
“He likes to argue with that girl beside him. They’re always arguing about her religion.” I
grinned at a memory. “Those are fun to listen to.”
“We’d better get to class guys.” Jackie said, checking her watch. “Bye Mark.”
“Later.” With a grin, he ruffled my hair and walked off.
“What was that for?” I called after him.
“They say its good luck to rub a red-haired persons head.”
“That’s bullshit!”
“Maybe, maybe not. See you later Cherry.” With a wave, he disappeared around a corner
and Jackie dragged me to class.