[hr][right][sup][b]Classroom[/b][/sup][/right]

Kat heard a noise penetrate the not-silence, one that wasn't just paper on desk, and a few thoughts flashed in fog- '[color=fdc68a][i]Well, that should get his attention,[/i][/color]' followed by, roughly transcribed, '[color=fdc68a][i]Oh fig did I[/i] hurt [i]him how did I screw up that badly it was just PAPER I'm an I-[/i][/color]'

He missed the shake but caught the dead frown. Keone wanted to leave well alone- who and what, Kat didn't know. Rebecca, Dulac. Keone himself. Something. [sub][b][color=222222]don't think too hard about it.[/color][/b][/sub]

Kat sat at his desk, watching the second hand plod and considering whether he should throw another paper ball just to-

[color=fdc68a][i]...I am not a spiteful person.[/i][/color]

Kat looked around with a quickening pulse as the bell finally decided to ring, awareness pulling at the edge of his stupor.
                                                                              [sup][b][color=222222]prisoners were released from their cell[/color][/b][/sup]
[colour=fdc68a][i]Why is everything so[/i] bad[i]?[/i][/colour]

[hr][right][sup][b]Hallway[/b][/sup][/right]

Chester was checking his phone with his back on someone's locker directly outside when Kat escaped Keone's vaguely incriminating hopelessness. The bell was still ringing. Chester didn't give much sign of noticing. "She's just round the corner."

[color=fdc68a]"Thanks. Did she say anything?"[/color]

"Yeah, she said that she's a bitch and doesn't need to explain her beef to anyone," said Chester, "they probably had a massive cat fight. I'm not talking to her again. Cafeteria?"

[color=fdc68a]"Yeah, sure,"[/color] said Kat. [color=fdc68a]"Just hold on, I'm going to ask Rebecca to join us. Maybe she'll have more luck."[/color] Rebecca, it was known, was one of the kids who hung out indoors even in the warm summer, in a niche between the maths room (nowhere) and admin (nowhere worth going).
                                                                                           [sup][b][color=222222]solitary confinement[/color][/b][/sup]
"Sure," said Chester, a little dubiously. Kat's widening vision scanned back to the thought of the basket, carrying less pennies than what it had cost at the corner store. The [i]gym equipment[/i] fundraiser got more than that. Why did the gym get more than that? Because Gordon hadn't stood up in front of the class? No one listened to Gordon.

Chester caught him staring into space and elbowed him. "Dude, she's not gonna f-" [i](needles scratching on the inside of Kat's skull)[/i] "-k you. Let's just go."

[color=fdc68a]"Dude, gro-"[/color] Blink, and a horrible idea. [color=fdc68a]"Nevermind. Seeya."[/color] And Chester said, "whatever dude."

Kat tallied seconds and guilt for the dismissal. Chester didn't come back for his barnacle. His dude. His [i]bro.[/i]

[color=fdc68a][i]What the fngunk is going on?[/i][/color] thought Kat, spinning round to tail Rebecca and knowing he'd be able to catch Dulac later if he had to, if he could- No, he wouldn't be asking Rebecca stupid questions. [color=fdc68a]"Hey, Rebecca- sorry for what happened. Do you want to try again somewhere else? You could set up a gofundme, or..."[/color]

...

[center][i]Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city... And some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on them, and refuse them burial.[/i]
[b]-Revelations 11:9[/b][/center]