Chapter 2

Although I'm always up late, I can typically wake up and get to school on time every morning.

I got into some loose jeans and a black tee. I nibbled on some cereal, but let's face it - who eats breakfast anymore?

I slung my bag over one shoulder and opened the door just as my friend knocked.

"Hey Casey," I grabbed my board and locked the apartment door behind me.

"What up Ren?" He asked. Casey's toothy grin revealed his missing teeth from his hockey career.

"Ready?" I was referring to the trigonometry test we had today, a subject in which the "incredibly awesome" Casey Jones didn't really excel at.

"Eh, I forgot to study again." Casey shrugged as we took the stairs down to the first floor. "I still need to find a tutor."

"I'm not going through that again, Jones." I told him, just in case he was implying he needed me.

We opened the front doors into the cool New York City air.

Taxis honked and tires screeched somewhere down the street. I smiled, content.

Casey rolled around pedestrians on his roller blades while I followed on my skateboard.

The high school was only a few blocks away, so Casey and I got there in no time.

My school life is complex. People who don't know me think I'm just a skater who thinks he's all that and a soda pop, but my friends know that while I skate, I'm also in the arts program, including constant participation in drama, proficiency in art class, and playing the violin. People may get the wrong image of me, but I think that's okay. It's not like I'm super important or whatever.

I opened my locker and stowed my skateboard and some books for the afternoon while pulling out books for Lit and Trig, including a sketch book for art.

I turned around to find Casey watching a girl walk off.

"You into her?" I peered over his shoulder on my tiptoes, as he was a couple inches taller than I.

"That chick?" Casey looked at me like I was insane. "No way! That's 'Know It All Irma.' When I'm into her, I'll be a mathematician instead of a hockey player."

"Irma from Biology?" I wrinkle my nose. "She freaks me out. She knows everything, and she's always mixing chemicals in the back before class."

Casey shrugged. "C'mon, we better get going. If we're late to Lit, Mrs. Evinron will rip out our lungs with her bare hands."

###

I was on my way to my locker at the end of the day. A red headed girl was walking quickly with a stack of books clamped to her chest with one hand. The other hand held a phone to her ear.

"Yes, guys, I told you, I'm fine. Nothing's happened all week. I'll be at the lair in five - oh!" She saw me and gasped.

I hardly raised my hand to say a polite "hi" before she raced off to the school's library.

I caught a glimpse of her phone. It reminded me of the phone I found last night. It couldn't have been the same design...could it?

I raised an eyebrow thoughtfully and continued to my locker.

^*^