Quick Escape••/summerstorm

[ninjah]

Torn books. Check.
Disgusting desk. Check.
A teacher who completely sucks ass. Check.

Leaning back, I could hear the chair underneath me squeak and protest against my weight. If I leaned back any further, pretty sure the chair would snap right off the desk. That’s how it was with all the desks in the classroom, and over the last few months, the groans had become just a regular part of the day. Personally, I think that school just wouldn’t be the same without them. Hah. Whatever. We all know that the school was too cheap to give us some decent supplies to work with. My pencil’s in better shape than all the shit they gave us.

Glancing quickly about the classroom, I looked over all the other ‘living impaired’. There were so many of us crammed into this little room. I would say that the maximum of people being able to work comfortably would be about fifteen, but there had to be about twenty –five of us in here. Not everyone got a desk either. A few people sat by the windows, and there were a few more sitting on the ground. Just to get a desk, we had to get there early. I never thought there would come a time when I would come to class early. I used to be more of the type of come strolling in late, perhaps five minutes after the bell. Not anymore. Sadly.

Lacing my fingers together, I leaned back even more while resting me head in my hands. As I leaned, I stretched my legs out. Beside me, one of my classmates-Melody, decided it was her job to whisper to me to sit up straight and act like a ‘responsible student.’ She’s the type of girl that likes to protest to all of us who are dead. She believes that if we act respectful and deal without complaining, that eventually we would get treated better. Well, unfortunately for her, I could care less. The living are just ass holes. Every. Single. One. Of. Them.

“Isaiah, I said sit up straight,” Melody whispered to me like she was mother.

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “suck it. I’ll do what I w-.”

Thud. And the room goes up in laughter. Hopping to my feet, I dusted the dirt off my plaid shirt. Hell. I never noticed how bad the floor was. It severely needed a sweeping. After I finished adjusting my clothing, I took a look at the damage I did to the desk. Sure enough, the chair snapped off. Well…I didn’t know what to do with that. Grabbing it, I quickly tried to put it back in it place, but luckily the bell rang before the teacher could come up with a decent remark to say. Quickly, I let the chair go. Snacking my book bag off the floor, I was the first one out of the room.

[summerstorm]

"Alexandria Sampson, pay attention please!"

I looked up almost startled as I slouched in my seat, rustling a notebook closed in front of me. Nodding simply to the teacher, I ran a hand through my hair, biting my lip as thought ravaged through my mind like ants through a log. Hell, this was so sickening. And no, I wasn't talking about the boring lesson of how important vocabulary was.

Just down the hall was that class. The class where the so called 'Living impaired' were, or how some of my classmates put it 'Zombies.' I tend to find both terms offensive, but hell, if I said anything, they would be sure to think I was one.

You see, ever since teenagers started dying and coming back, people have been scared shitless. Being completely honest, I thought it was a ridiculous reaction to what was happening. I mean, in reality, have they ever hurt anyone? Not that I know of. My thoughts wandered endlessly, like a chain that never ended.

"Allie!"

One of my classmates whispered, there voice tinted with annoyance. The teacher, Mr. Ryan stared at me, clearly I had missed something. He made one quick motion that I had seen a lot of lately, and I gathered my books from my desk and began for the door, which he closed behind him. He droned on and on about the importance of whatever he had been teaching, before I interrupted him. I couldn't stand this anymore.

"Tell me something I don't know. "

I told him before turning around and walking down the hallway, books in hand. He tried to threaten me with calling my parents and so on, but really, that was nothing out of the ordinary. Honestly, there was no way I could concentrate in school at this point in time. Oh well.

As I rounded the corner, the bell rang, echoing through the halls harshly. I stared at the ground, not really paying attention, before I ran into someone, the books falling from my arms.

"Oh.. sorry. "

I fumbled as I bent down to pick them up, not really looking at the person I had ran into for embarrassment purposes.

[ninjah]

Within seconds, the hallway was filled. Some people hurried their way through the hallways and others took their sweet time, which was the way that I preferred to go. Ever since I died, I never really had the motivation to get going. Every night was the same, so there wasn’t anything to look forward to. Normally I would head to my dorm, play a few video games, maybe do some homework, and then I would go play some pool of skateboard a little bit. Truthfully, my life has become to repetitive, that I’ve become extremely bored. Before, when I was alive, there would at least be a little bit of excitement. Not anymore. Though, being dead did have its perks. Like, sometimes I like to go see the terrified looks of random people on the street…the ones that can tell I’m dead anyway.

Tossing my book bag over my shoulder, I barely took five steps before someone ran into me. One of those people that were hurrying to get out of here, that was for sure. Catching my footing with a quick extra step, I looked over my shoulder just in time to see all the books falling to the ground. Well, that sucks. I was just about to turn back around to continue my walking, but something stopped me. Normally, I could care less about ‘alive’ people. The majority of them hated us, so it was more of a hassle to try to deal with them than anything. Since I’ve never seen this girl in any of my classes before, I’m assuming that she’s alive.

With a sigh, I turned around and decided to be somewhat of a gentleman. Bending down, I picked up the girl’s books and then handed them to her. She seemed sorry enough for running into me. The only thing that she did was delay me from going to my dorm and playing some video games. Nothing to make a big deal out of.

“Not a big deal,” I said with a shrug, “believe me… I had worse.”

[summerstorm]

Not a big deal, He shrugged simply, believe me… I had worse.

I was still on my knee, trying to gather my books, then realizing he had picked up most of them. I took them as he handed them to me, standing back up and brushing myself off, anxiously running a hand through my hair.

"Thanks."

It was now that I finally looked at him, and confirmed that he was undead. Unlike some people that may have ran in terror, my composure didn't change, my trying calm like stance staying the same. As I got a closer look at him, I sort of recognized him. Technically, I had no real reason to go around the dorms, but my house was so lame and my family made my life hell when I was home, so often I just needed to get out, and often hung around or walked outside of the dorms.

"You live in the dorms, right? You look sort of familiar."

I fumbled with my books, holding them against my chest, trying to get a better grip. Just as I got a better hold on them, the cell phone in my pocket began to ring, and I gave the guy in front of me an apologetic glance. Pulling it from my pocket, I looked at the 'Caller ID' and ended the call. Shit. No way I was answering that. Quickly putting it back in my pocket, I adjusted the books in my arms.

[ninjah]

”Notta problem,” I answered, eyeing her carefully. By the look of her eyes, I could tell that she recognized me as being one of the undead, but still her was there standing in front of me. Normally, someone would’ve made an excuse and left by now. Raising an eyebrow, I was curious to know why she hadn’t run yet. Was she really that oblivious, even though I could swear that she knew what I was? Or did she not care? There were very few people that didn’t care and fought for the undead rights, so I highly doubted that she was one of them. Which made me wonder what she was doing there, standing in front of me, maybe she was dared. That actually happens quite a lot, and I swear the next time I have someone come up to me and ask me if I seriously do eat human flesh, well…I going to chase them and tell them that they’re my next dinner.

When her phone rang, I just shrugged. It didn’t really matter to me that she had to divert her attention from me to her phone. Believe me, there were so many times when that I’ve been ignored that this didn’t even faze me. She was probably now going to use this as her excuse to leave. In five seconds, I’ll be seeing the back of her as she walks away.

5…4…3…2-what? I blinked at her as she silenced the phone call and returned her phone to her pocket. Odd. Slowly, I felt a smile creep up on my face. Well, well…this might be an interesting day after all. Pulling the cap off my head, I ran my fingers through my hair, and I nodded my head to her question, “that I do, but I haven’t seen you up there…so I don’t know if I should ask the same question or not. Actually, I’ve never seen you in the halls before, either. You new? But then again, your kind tends to avoid me, so…I might’ve just not been paying attention.” Hm. Weird. The words came out as word vomit, and I was just rambling like crazy. Has it been that long since I actually talked to someone new?

[summerstorm]

I smiled simply as he rambled on only slightly, and really I didn't mind. My eyes touched on his light smile as he pulled off his cap, running a hand through his hair. People were pushing past me, and I slowly stepped aside to let them pass, thinking about his words carefully before answering. From the impression I got, he probably thought I was pretty strange for actually talking to him. I mean, everyone was absolutely ridiculous. No one talked to them, and if they did, it was about something stupid. I nodded as he talked about 'my kind' avoiding the undead, which was exactly what happened.

"I wouldn't say I'm new... exactly... but I don't spend much of my time here if you know what I mean. I don't actually live at the dorms either.. but y'know.. I need to get out sometimes."

I chose my words carefully, shifting my weight from foot to foot as the halls slowly started to die down a bit. Man, when it was time to get out of the school, it sure didn't take long for everyone to clear the halls.

In between classes, though, that was a different matter entirely.

The few people that were left were standing at their lockers, pulling things out before locking them and leaving, though some still lagged behind, talking to their friends and such things like that.

The annoying sound of my phone ringing broke through the thoughts going through my head, and I grimaced as I pulled it out of my pocket in annoyance. God dammit, sometimes I got so sick of this! With a quick touch of a button, the sound was silenced once again as I returned it to my pocket, a million thoughts going through my mind.

[ninjah]

Glancing about the hallway, I noticed that we were now pretty much the only people left. Sure, there were a few people here and there getting books out of their lockers, but they were soon on their way. A couple teachers walked by, but other than that, it was just me and this girl that I had no idea what her new was. Though, it felt natural that way. If I had to name of a few people who were still living and tell someone their names, well, I wouldn’t be able to do. I seriously don’t think I know really know any. There are the few popular ones that I catch the whispers of their names, then there are people who have their pictures and names on flyers, but other than that…nothing. I wouldn’t be able to help someone.

Eyeing her as she took out her phone, I couldn’t keep my curiosity bottled up. “Who do you keep ignoring?” I ask, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I was about to ask if she was ignoring them because she was talking to me and didn’t want the person on the phone to know, but I held my tongue. Apparently whoever it was though really wanted to get ahold of her, because they weren’t stopping the phone calls. “If you have people waiting for you to give you a ride home, you can go…you don’t need to stay here for me. I’m totally cool with it.” I told her, since that’s probably what it was. She didn’t want to seem rude, but really. He was used to it. It doesn’t even bother him anymore.

[summerstorm]

Who do you keep ignoring?

I shook my head with a bit of a sarcastic laugh, pushing my bangs of hair out of my face as I tried to figure out a way to answer that. I suppose a few keywords would do, but honestly, I didn't even want to mention it.

"Trust me, it needs more explaining than it's worth."

I gave another soft laugh, finally reaching into my pocket to turn my phone off. I knew very well who was calling. Either my mother or step father. The second call mostly pointed towards step dad, who, not to mention, was a total ass. After walking out on a teacher like that, I had expected him to call my parents, which then I had in turn expected a call from the step dad from hell. Okay... maybe he wasn't that bad...

Actually... yes, he was.

I finally reached into my pocket and turned off my phone. You'd think that by now that I had learned not to pick up the calls at approximately this time. I looked back up as he began to speak again, and shook my head with a shrug.

"Home is the last place I want to be. "

I told him, wondering why I was saying all of this to a complete stranger. But hey, it had been a while since I had an actual conversation with someone. Everyone pretty much stayed away from me, which was absolutely fine. Their thoughts towards the undead drove me absolutely crazy, and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual. f

[ninjah]

So, she doesn’t want to go home. Well, here and me both, but I’m no longer welcomed home. If I’m no longer welcomed home, I guess that would mean that I couldn’t really consider it home anymore. That would make this school my home, though I don’t want to think of this place as my home. It doesn’t feel like home, since I don’t feel welcomed in this place. Even though they allow the dead to go to school here, I feel like I’m intruding. People don’t want me here. Wait, correction, they don’t want us here. The whole dead lot. A lot of people would prefer us to disappear, and be actually dead…because that’s how nature is ‘suppose to be’. Well, maybe we’re giving a second chance for a reason. Hm? Since it’s only teenagers/children that are coming back to life, maybe it’s because adults already had a long enough chance.

I nodded in agreement, “You and me both.” Rocking back onto the back of my feet, I glancing around. What to do now. Hell, I might as well just introduce myself to the girl. “I’m Isaiah, by the way. If you cared to know.” It didn’t hurt at least trying to be nice and…and make friends? Haha, that’s kinda of funny, because I don’t make friends. I scare the people away. I make them run down the hall with a hello, or I make them look away with a smile. So, people like me aren’t meant to make friends…at least not with people that aren’t like us.

[summerstorm]

You and me both.

I listened as he nodded in agreement. Hm, so home wasn't a place that he wanted to be at the moment either. Fair enough. I guessed that his reason was because he was now undead, and maybe his parents didn't want him around, so even though I knew we had different reasons, it was still refreshing to have someone in a slightly similar situation as myself. I'm Isaiah, by the way, if you cared to know. I came back into reality from my thoughts, a soft but simple smile on my face as I fumbled with my books to get a free hand. When I had them balanced alright, I held my hand out to shake his.

"Isaiah. I'm Allie."

I repeated his name before introducing myself. The hall was pretty much entirely cleared by now, it felt so odd to see it empty. I never stuck around after school like this, and really, I had no reason to. There were some teachers that passed us, giving us odd looks before continuing to their destination, wherever that may be.

But I was happy for the excuse to stay for a little while; any excuse to go home was good enough for me. Home was definitely the last place I wanted to be, like I said. The thought of my step dad waiting for me with some crazy ass speech like always... I think I'll pass.

[ninjah]

As I stared at her hand stretched out forward for me to shake, I suddenly didn’t care about the differences between us. For a quick moment, it felt as if I was alive again just meeting someone new, that there wasn’t that thing holding us apart. With smile, I reached out and took a firm hold of her hand and shook it once. Letting her hand slip from mine, I pondered for a quick moment about what to do next. The conversation between us was already limited, and I wasn’t about it let it die already. I never realized until now how much I craved contact with people. I’ve only been to this school for about a week or two now, and even talking to the rest of the undead was slim.

“Hey,” I said as I repositioned my bag that hung on my shoulder, “Let’s chill. You don’t want to go home. I don’t want to sit around and do nothing. So, if you’re up for it.” I shrugged, leaving it open ended for her to make up her own decision if she would like to hang. Personally, I was kind of in a mood to skate around a bit…it wouldn’t hurt to ask, “You skate?”

[summerstorm]

HOW CAN I DECIDE WHAT'S RIGHT
WHEN YOUR CLOUDING UP MY MIND

I watched his smile as he reached out and took my hand with a firm grasp, shaking it lightly before letting it go. With an easy grin, I got a stronger grip on my books, as I listened to him speak again. I nodded, I was definitely up for it. Anything sounded better than being at home, and the thought of being able to hang out with someone other than my family was a relief. The fact that he was undead didn't matter to me, it only heightened my curiosity for him, although I wouldn't attack him with the questions that ran through my mind. Like I said, it was just a relief to have someone to talk to.

"That sounds good to me. I'll just grab the stuff from my locker."

I smiled, my voice soft and easy. Gesturing for him to follow if he wished, I walked a few lockers down to mine, quickly doing the combination before opening it to pull a few things out as I stuffed all my books back in. It wasn't until now that I really realized how much I missed this this type of interaction. It didn't matter that he was undead- to be honest, all the breathers had really begun to piss me off, even though I was one. You skate? His voice broke me from my thoughts, and I gave a soft laugh.

"Skateboard? I've done it a few times... not enough to really know what I'm doing, y'know? But we can go out and hang out at a skatepark if you want to skate."

I told him, because honestly I didn't really care where we went, just somewhere different than school or home. Once I had everything I needed, I pulled on my sweater before shutting my locker, adjusting my bag that hung on my shoulder.

[/center]

WORDS,, word count
TAGGED,, for who?
OUTFIT,, CLICK
MUSIC,, inspiration music
NOTES,, ohai
TEMPLATE,, by PANIC! ITS LAUZ of CAUTION