Page 45 of Driftwood Daffodil

“See, he gets it.” I said while scanning the crowd for the insult cougher.

He could be the vandal, in which case he was in desperate need of some spelling lessons.

“The only thing anyone around here gets, is that Gio Mancini hates you.” Memphis gave my shoulder a squeeze. “That’s not good Nova.”

“Thanks for the update.” As if I needed one. I was well aware of how Gio Mancini felt about me. Our hatred was mutual.

Memphis pulled me down the hall and muttered, “We need to do something about this.”

That was almost funny.

“What would you like to do, Memphis? Kiss his feet?” Asshole would probably like that. “Somehow I don’t think saying sorry my brother beat yours to death will help.”

Not to mention I didn’t want to. I was proud of what Kato did. He was protecting our sister. I only wish I’d been there to see it.

“I know you, Nova.”

No, he didn’t.

“Don’t poke the bear.”

Okay, maybe he did.

“Listen, you really need to make up your mind. Yesterday he was a wolf, today he’s a bear.” There was a vast difference between those two animals.

“It’s called a metaphor.”

“Well stick to one metaphor,” I can’t have all these animals running around in my head, on top of trying to correct people’s spelling. That was way more work than I cared to put in.

Memphis shot me a dirty look before continuing to lead me around a corner.

The entire time I walked with him I couldn’t help but wonder what he was attempting to do. Anytime someone would step in front of us, he would puff his chest out like he was getting ready to block an incoming attack.

Considering I was only five feet and could easily take him down, I wasn’t sure what he thought he would block. A ten year old? Rogue banana peel maybe?

I’d seen Memphis lose his footing in the wind. How we made it to my class without him tripping over something was beyond me. The trashcan I knocked over definitely should’ve got him. It was sickening how nimble he was.

Thankfully my annoying best friend didn’t insist on walking me right into class – he had his own to get to – and I was more than happy to be left alone. Until I opened the door and walked inside.

Guess who was in my first class?

When I said I couldn’t wait to see the look on Gio Mancini’s face, that didn’t mean I wanted it to be this early. My brain was barely awake let alone functional enough to deal with the murderous glare he was throwing my way. And the only available seat was in front of Atlee and right next to him.

Fantastic.

Maw Maw better appreciate these advanced calculus classes.

Ever have that moment when your walking somewhere and theme music starts playing in the back of your head? Well, that’s where I was. Except it wasn’t some mission impossible spy song. It was death bells that rang with every step I took.

Bong…

He’s going to kill you.

Bong…

And eat your heart.

Bong…

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