I feel a pang of guilt for suspecting Dad of beating Toby. He couldn't hurt a fly. I realize his nervousness in the car is because he's switched my surveillance camera and jolt pads off. I got through the hazing on my own, so he wants to slowly introduce me to semi Independence. Mom will be furious if she knows I'm on my own.

But, Dad knows I've got Casey to watch out for me. She's determined to see Dale brought to justice, "Let's see him try and charm his way out of this one. The guy thinks his good looks can get him off anything.  How could he sit in front of us and make up those lies?" she says, as we walk back to school. I focus on the words 'make up.' I turn to Casey, "Do I need to re-touch my makeup?" She smiles, "I mean 'make up' as in pretend something, to get himself off the hook. But, now you mention it, you could do with a little touch up." I feel a little pang of happiness, it's nice to have someone other than Mom who can help fix me when I begin to look socially unacceptable.

I keep my makeup in my locker, "Come on Kirk, we'll find an empty room, I'll give you a little re-touch before classes begin," says Casey. You see, my natural skin color is blue/grey, purple in parts – not nice.

Half way down the hallway that leads to the locker area, Casey stops abruptly, "Kirk, do you notice something?" she asks. I look around, "No, I see nothing." 

"Exactly," says Casey.

"I don't understand you."

"Kirk, class hasn't started yet, this place should be buzzing with kids. Where is everybody?"

We walk into the locker area, it's empty. I open my locker and give my makeup to Casey. I do notice the quiet, but it doesn't concern me in the way it does Casey, "This is weird Kirk," she says, while dabbing my face with a little 'light tan' base, my fall color. Casey's fingers, gently dabbing at my face reminds me of life; I feel a little bit sad, which is kinda nice, because I remember full sadness hurts like hell.

As Casey taps the finishing touches to my face, the School Principle turns the corner. "At last, there you are," he says, I read a look of anxiety on his face. "Have you been looking for us sir?" asks Casey. He takes an intake of breath, "Yes, I have – and very soon the whole of the States will be looking for Kirk."

......

He invites us into his office, "Please, take a seat." Casey speaks first, "Sir, I'm feeling freaked, this days totally surreal. Are we in some kinda trouble?" He gives a small smile, "No Casey, yourself and Kirk have done nothing wrong. It's myself that's in trouble, and rightly so." I read a touch of sadness in his face, he continues, "I need to apologize to you two. I wasn't aware of the bullying in Arlington High." Casey reassures him, "No sir, you weren't to know, it's Dale and Jenna's fault, they're the ring leaders." He continues, "I saw Kirk's hazing video, it's unsettled me. As the principle of this school, I should never have allowed it to happen."

I'm hit with a sudden hunger pang, and Dad's turned off my jolts. Dangerous. 

The principle continues, "I should update you on Toby; unfortunately he slipped into a coma today, his condition is critical......" Casey jumps in, "Yeah, and that meat-head Dale did it, for sure sir!" she says, while taking out her ipad.

Yikes, Casey said MEAT – hungry.

The Principle continues, "Casey, please calm down; that's a very serious accusation to throw at anybody. And please don't refer to Dale as a meat-head..."

Aaah, he said MEAT, I tremble with hunger!

Casey taps play on her ipad, "Sir, you know He tried to blame Kirk for Toby's beating; so I can throw the accusation, especially when I have hard evidence." She points to the ipad, her finger hovers over pause, "Look here, just after the moment he makes Kirk eat the guts..."

Aaaaaaaaaah GUTS. I'm driven insane with HUNGER.

I stand bolt upright, the force of my ascent sends the chair flying across the room. It crashes into the wall and crumples like cardboard.

The shock I read on their faces, kick starts my ounce of rationale thought. I put my hand up, "Please – stop saying MEAT and GUTS." I read a look of empathy on the Principle's face, "I'm sorry Kirk, that's insensitive of us; those words obviously take you back to the trauma you suffered yesterday."

"Yes, that's right sir," I lie, and fetch another chair. 

Casey's  expression turns from shock to disbelief as she continues to stare at the ipad.  Eventually, she looks at the Principle, "Sir – the video's got almost a million views!"

The Principle explains, "Yes Casey, that's why I've closed the school, sent everybody home. Kirk's hazing has gone viral." He turns to me, "Kirk, what happened to you yesterday is becoming news; CNN have seen the video and will feature it as a lead item about High school bullying on tonight's news. I've refused to make any comment until I know all the facts; but, be prepared Kirk, as they  will want to interview you."

A little fear overrides my hunger. This is bad. Bad for my existence. The video is OK, you can't see my face. But if I'm on TV, people from my life back in New Jersey will recognize me, for sure. This might be the beginning of my end.

I reach out to Casey, "I can't go on TV Casey, please don't let them interview me," I say, with as much pleading as I can muster. 

Snippets of old familiar feelings flood my mind: anxiety, loneliness, and a hint of despair; I want Dad. I (Casey and the Principle too) need his protective presence.

Casey takes my hand, "Don't worry Kirk, I'll take care of you; you don't have to do anything you don't want to do." The Principle reassures me further, "Casey's right Kirk. Now, I suggest you both go home. I'm closing the School until further notice. I suspect we may have reporters and journalists around. It's best to stay at home until this storm passes."

......

I see calm blue sky through the large windows of the main school door. I don't understand the 'storm' that the Principle referred to, the weather is beautiful. As we get closer to the school exit, I see something unfamiliar outside, something which alarms Casey. As I reach to open the door, Casey yells, "Kirk, NO! Come back here, don't go outside." 

Large white trucks line the road at the bottom of the school. People stand in front of  them talking into cameras. Casey peeks out – "Shoot, shoot, shoot – CNN, FOX, SKY, ABC, all the freaking news channels are here," she says. I don't know what this means. Then she kind of explodes, with anger, "NO – the slime balls!" She turns to me, "Dale and Jenna are out there, looking all cute and innocent – giving interviews to the news people!" I don't understand why this bothers her so much.

My hunger creeps over my rationale, I shudder, drool, and  struggle to take my lusting eyes off Casey. She's distracted by the goings on outside and continues to babble with anger, "Dale's lapping up the attention, and Jenna's having her frigging hair done by a make up artist. This is pissing me off!" I shuffle towards her with hungry intent... 

...JOLT! Dad's back on surveillance – just in time.

......

Dad, Casey, and the Principle, smuggle me out the back entrance. They're such nice people.

......

At home, in my basement, I feed on a huge bucket full of dog food. Afterwards I join Mom and Dad upstairs. Mom's surprisingly calm as she switches on the TV.

Sure enough, I'm news: An Oregon High School is making headlines today after a video of a so called 'hazing' was posted on line. The unsettling footage shows a group of Sophomore, Junior and Senior boys mocking and abusing a Freshman. It's made all the more shocking when you consider the Freshman is known to have a learning disability amongst other behavioral problems. Also, in a separate incident, a promising young student remains critically ill after being beaten shortly after taking part in the Hazing. A spokesman for the school refused to comment, however our reporter managed to speak to one of the students involved in the hazing, Dale Wicks and his girlfriend, Jenna Wade, both students at Arlington High. Dale insists he's as much the victim as the freshman they call zomboy.

Mom is bowled over by Dale and Jenna's beauty. Dad is shocked by what they had to say, and  how convincingly they said it, "America's gonna fall in love with these two, we have to react to this. I'm calling Casey's folks," says Dad, with determination.

Dale and Jenna have placed all the blame on Casey – "She has a huge crush on the Freshman, she's preventing him from integrating into High School. Dale was just trying to make him one of the guys, make him fit in more, it's what high school guys do," said Jenna, with a bright sincere smile, that looked perfect on National TV.

Mom and Dad argue through the night.

They don't notice me leave the house in the early hours. I want to find Casey, my friend.