Survival Of The Fittest

Ian was a little surprised by the Cathalie's speech. Mitch asking what parents were wasn't too surprising, Ian had come to expect such things from the boy, but when Cathalie made her speech about parents, and people not wanting them, Ian couldn't help but almost feel sorry for the girl, no, the pair.

Ian just looked at her and said, "Ok...we'll walk then." Ian looked at Sofie and gave her a big smile that he always gives her when he wants her to be happy, then he turned back to Cathalie and said, "You know, you don't need parents to be happy." Ian wasn't exactly sure what he meant when he said that, but from what he knew of the odd pair of Cathalie and Mitch, they didn't socialize to much, maybe what they needed was some friends. People who accepted them. Ian wouldn't force himseld to be friends with these people, but maybe after eating with them today, he could learn to think differently of them, and see them as friends.

[[I'm just going to move on Sofie on elsewhere so the topic doesn't get held up if I don't manage to get back on in these next few days due to my tests.]]

Sofie had to admit he felt a pang of remose as Cathalie and Mitch spoke between one another about their lack of parents, and how no one would care either way if they went out somewhere or not. A glance toward Ian, and noting the smile on his face, she almost unable to help the smile that crossed her lips. And as she opened her mouth to speak of stepping out to call her parents, she found the words not coming out as something latched onto her arm which had been hanging at her side, turning and finding one of her fellow teammates on the swim team at her side.

"Ashley?"

"You coming Sofie?" She questioned, taking a slight glance at the clock as she did.

"Coming where?"

"To practice of course, Coach told us we had an important practice today because the meet is this weekend."

A flash of confustion spread across Sofie's face, before she sighed. "That's right." She muttered lightly, taking a glance toward Ian, frowning sadly. "I'm sorry, I completely forgot about our practice... I won't be able to go today, I'm sorry again. Maybe you can come by the pool later, or call me maybe? I need to talk to you anyway."

That said she allowed herself to be pulled away by the other girl, giving a curt nod and smile at the other two. "You enjoy yoursleves." She mused lightly, before turning and moved out of the class in thanks a majority to Ashley's pushing.

((Continued in: Something's Getting in the Way...))

Ian nodded with a bit of sadness when Sofie had to go, she was the orginal person he was supposed to hang with anyways. He looked at her and said, "Alright if your practice is still going on I'll stop by the pool, or I'll call you if it's late." He watched his friend leave then he turned around to Mitch and Cathalie and said, "So we're going to walk there then I guess."

Quickly walking over to his desk and making sure everything was in his bookbag, he zipped it up and threw the straps over both of his shoulders and he walked back to Cathalie and Mitch and said, "Shall we go?" He gave them both a warm smile, trying to show that he wasn't doing this out of kindness, but because he actually wanted to.

Unbenownst to the small group that was still occupying the classroom of Mrs. Rowena after the bell had rang, a tall, slender figure had now occupied the doorway of the classroom, casting a rather voluptuous silouette across the floor of the classroom.  The slim, curvaceous form leaning against the doorway should have been familiar to just about everyone at Bathurst High School.  The professionally highlighted, long mocha brown hair... the piercing emerald green eyes... the full and pouty lips... the bronzed skin... even the perfectly manicured nails and pedicured toes, they were all signature of only one student, the daughter of Senator Grayston.

A sly smile contorted the unusually beautiful features of Miss Ali Grayston as she noted the small group of students still occupying homeroom after the day had ended.  She had come back after documents Mrs. Rowena was put in charge of for their upcoming school formal, but, unfortunately, the soft-spoken woman was nowhere to be found at present.  A small pout formed on the girl's lips as she searched the classroom in vain for the teacher, only to see that indeed, she had left the classroom and gone elsewhere.

Taking notice of the hispanic boy standing with two others, a smile once again returned to Ali's face.  She blatantly ignored the duo that accompanied Ian Rico as she approached him from behind.  From what she knew of Ian he was shy, rather reserved, rather close to one, Sofie de Wilde... in other words, Ian Rico was quite the little challenge, and as disinterested as Ali Grayston was in younger boys, she thrived on competition and absolutely adored challenges.  As she slinked up behind the dark complected boy, her hand fell across his shoulder in an attempt to get his attention, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapping loosely around it.

"Well hi there," the brown-haired vixen mused, her face alighting in a smile as she got Ian's attention.

This was typical of Ali Grayston, and anyone who knew the Senator's daughter could tell you of that fact.  Ali enjoyed a challenge, and Ali also enjoyed male company, at times a bit too much.  It had gotten many a nasty rumor spread around the school about her, although whether or not they were true remained to be seen.  For the most part, people tended to grovel at Ali's feet.  They say looks can't buy you everything, but Ali would be the first to tell you that her stunning looks had gotten her just about everything she could ever want in life... not that she didn't have her fair share of work to do in order to keep them in tact.

Ali's eyes slowly traced her fellow classmate up and down as she mentally sized up the prospect.  He wasn't bad looking by any means.  Dark skin, dark hair, no apparent acne, well-built.  She passed by him occassionally in the hallway, and she'd overheard students talking about him on occassion.  A martial artist, they claimed.  He never seemed very outspoken, she had always seen him with people like Sofie de Wilde and Lavender Heart.  Ian Rico was definitely a challenge, and that fact alone excited Ali.

However, out of the corner of her eye, Ali could see the atrocity of a duo standing near Ian, and she rolled her typically mesmerizing green eyes in frustration.  Mitch Gunther and Cathalie Meguro.  Could it get much worse?  Mitch was a strange little individual, often wandering pointlessly around their homeroom class doing some ignorant rant or another about ridiculous matters.  He looked and acted more like he belonged in a special education class room than in a real classroom with real students.

And Cathalie Meguro was no better.  Another special needs student, Ali supposed.  She was strange, always bossing the retarded one, Mitch, around.  The girl had an atrocious fashion sense, always dressed in black leather and the like and, quite frankly, Ali thought she looked like she belonged on a BSDM pornography site or something to that extent.  Sighing in an annoyed manner, she cast sidelong glance at the duo, then back to the boy she had currently placed her attention upon.

"Friends of yours?" she mused sweetly, her voice suddenly turning nasty as the next word was spit from her mouth, "Pity."

Casting another glance at Mitch and Cathalie, as though sizing up the duo, her face twisted into an expression of pure disgust, as though she were looking at some filthy foreign object.  The look, however, was oblivious to Ian from his current vantage point and the way Ali was standing.  However, it was conveyed in a manner that would be more than clear to both Mitch and Cathalie.  Quickly turning back to Ian, the angelic smile once again graced Ali's lips as she looked the boy over once again.  Not a bad catch at all, shame he came with such... icky... baggage.

"Ian, that's so sweet!  It's great that you offer to spend time with the... you know, special kids," the brunette stated in an excruciatingly sweet voice.

All at once the brunette's attention turned back to the duo standing in front of her, casting them what could almost be considered a sympathetic glance on her own part.  Quite frankly, she thought the two standing in front of her were scum off the bottom of Seth Mattlock's shoe who needed nothing more than to head on home and take a nice, long bath to wash away their own filth.  However, these... people... were obviously two that Ian had a genuine interest in being nice to... for whatever reason.  Grimacing slightly at the thought, the sickeningly sweet look once again plastered itself onto Ali's face.  Well, she had wanted a challenge.

"You know, you don't need parents to be happy."

Turning away from Mitch, Cathalie turned back towards the one named Ian as he uttered those words, looking at him with an oddly calm expression on her face as she looked him up and down, plainly surprised by his suddenly insightful words.  

Judging the boy from face value, he seemed sincere enough, not that Cathalie could ever know for sure, having lived with liars left and right throughout her childhood.  At first meeting, she had learned to be cautious of those who tried to be friendly, this Ian-boy being no different.  After all, just what ulterior motive he had to gain from being friends with her and Mitch? This what had Cathalie had been wondering since the moment Ian had gotten friendly with them.

Maybe, he just pitied them, something which didn’t impress Cathalie at all.  It was pitiful enough being an orphan, she didn’t need the sympathy of strangers.  Then again, perhaps it wasn’t pity that motivated this boy to try and make friends with them.  Maybe it was something else….but for all her experience and jadedness with the world, Cathalie couldn’t quite place it.

At Ian’s question, Cathalie only replied huffily, her hands placed on her hips expressing a somewhat closed and arrogant demeanor.  “Jeez, I don’t know what to think of you.  Are you just trying to be nice, or are you being kind to us for real? You’re not trying to trick us, are you?”

The gnarled figure of Mitch, who had taken to crouching at Cathalie’s ankles, looked up at his dark-eyed companion with cloudy eyes of his own, bearing that ever curious expression.  “Trick? Like a card trick?” He giggled suddenly upon inquiring this, falling back against the linoleum.  Looking slightly disgusted, Cathalie was about to make a retort when she suddenly froze in place, her hackles raising slightly, as though a hostile presence was approaching.  Stiffly, she turned her head towards the newcomer that had approached ever brazenly.

Ali Greyston, one of the prestigious social ‘elites’ of the school, being the Senator’s pampered little daughter, and quite the glamourous beauty at that.  But of course, Cathalie should have known.  Gritting her teeth and regarding coldly the well-endowed form of Ali Greyston as she made her way gracefully into the room.  As she neared Ian, Cathalie raised her eyebrow in a slight twitch, feeling rather sickened by the presence of Ali Greyston.

Why sickening, of all things? Just the way she wandered playfully about Ian, looking him over as though he were some open exhibition…that flirtatious manner, the coquettish way in which she attempted to draw his attention… Cathalie’s stomach could never help but turn just at the mere sight of her.  Of course her irritation could only melt completely into anger and infuriation as Ali Greyston regarded her and Mitch with a cold look of contempt of her own.  

And as always, this girl was no different from most the other students Cathalie had to deal with on a daily basis, looking at the two young orphans as though they were something utterly repulsive and disgusting.  Except this one, confident and self assured as she was, didn’t bother to hide her disgust, making her contempt clear with remarks spiteful enough to make Cathalie’s face burn with shame and anger.  

Just as Cathalie was about to spit out an angry remark on her own, her anger suddenly evaporated into slight surprise, as the voice of Mitch suddenly rang out, clear as a bell out of morning air.  

“RED CARD! Somebody stop this child molester!”

Cathalie swirled around to see the scrawny form of Mitch standing upright, his green-eyes wide and attentive in contrast with their usually sleepy and carefree nature.  His bandaged arm was lifted to point an accusing finger towards the older girl.  And the next thing she knew, before Cathalie could stop him, Mitch had already sprung off the pads of his bare, callused feet, vaulting clear above the cracked linoleum in a full-force leap onto Ali.  

And at this point, Cathalie finally realized what was coming next…having known Mitch for the better half of her life, she knew exactly what to expect.  She had half a mind to stop him, before the damage was done.  But in the split second that followed Mitch’s vault towards Ali, Cathalie shrugged to herself, deciding to refrain from interfering for the time being.  After all, what was the point? She might as well take this as a source of amusement.

“I’ll save you, Ian! It’s O-KAY!” Mitch yelled as he tackled Ali with a force and momentum strong enough to knock her over.  Grabbing at the nearest limb, which happened to be her left arm, he opened his mouth wide and clamped it over her wrist, sinking his teeth into the bronzed flesh of her arm.

Ian kept looking at Mitch and Cathalie, when Cathalie asked Ian if he was just trying to be nice, or if he was being kind to them for real. She asked if he was trying to trick them. Ian didn't fully understand why this strange duo was so protective of each other, and why Cathalie wasn't trusting, but Ian didn't let him bother him. He just smiled and said, "Look, friends look out for each other right? I was hoping we could be friends."

Ian was going to say more, until Ali Grayston entered the classroom. Ian didn't see her enter, but he felt her hand wrap around his shoulder and her mis-leading voice say, "Well hi there." Turning around Ian looked at the girl. Daughter of the senator she was truly one of the most popular, powerful kids in the school. She ruled with her looks, and rumor had it that she was a bit of a....slut.

Ian didn't notice Ali as she sized up Cathalie and Mitch. Ali was an interesting girl, varsity cheerleader, she had a homecoming nomination. Ian didn't doubt that she would be homecoming queen, especially if the rumors were true, and she gave it up to get the votes.

"Friends of yours?" "Pity."

Those words didn't exactly make Ian the happiest, especially the way she said pity. If there was one thing Ian didn't like about the social elite like Ali, it was their complete disregard for other's not deemed "cool" like them. Ian wondered why she was treating him like she was, for he was definately not one of the popular kids, and hanging out with Mitch and Cathalie sure wasn't helping his situation.

Problem was though, Ian enjoyed hanging out with Mitch and Cathalie, they seemed like nice people, and Ian didn't take too kindly when someone would put down his friends.

"Ian, that's so sweet! It's great that you offer to spend time with the... you know, special kids"

Ian just looked at Ali, as she smiled at him, her almost angelic face looking at him, and Ian would admit, Ali was gorgeous, but only on the outside. He really wasn't one to judge people, but from what he's seen and heard, Ali was not the greatest person around, but very few of the social elite were.

That is when Mitch shouted “RED CARD! Somebody stop this child molester!” and before Ian could react, the boy had leaped on top of Ali.

“I’ll save you, Ian! It’s O-KAY!”

Ian lightly smiled, Mitch was protecting him? Ian waited for Cathalie to hold back Mitch, but when she didn't Ian wasn't too surprised, especially with the way Ali was treating them. Ian just smiled at Mitch biting Ali's left arm. It was almost a friendly act of Mitch to be protecting Ian. Friendly.

As the voice of Mitch Gunther rang clear through the classroom in a rather rude remark about Ali, she once again cast her "special needs" classmate another annoyed look.  Red card?  What was this, Kindergarten?  People like Mitch and Cathalie, they were nuisances to society, and right now, they were certainly nuisances to Ali Grayston.  Running her delicate fingers through the glistening head of hair atop her head, she cast a look back to Ian Rico, completely unable to decipher why the boy would waste his time with such vile, wretched creatures.

She was wrenched back to reality instantly as Mitch Gunther shouted something inaudible to her at the top of his lungs and suddenly pounced toward the vivacious girl who had apparently defiled Ian Rico's inner circle.  Ali barely had time to think as the disgusting creature that had been kneeled at Cathalie's ankles like a dog pounced on her, knocking her to the floor.  She was completely taken aback by the bold course of action on Mitch's part, and found herself unable to fight back in retaliation.

As the boy's teeth latched down deep into the flesh of her wrist, Ali let out a pained and surprised shriek, and almost immediately, her dominant right hand came flying full-force from it's previously pinned position, slamming into the side of Mitch's face in an attempt to remove Cathalie's guard dog from her rather prone form.

"Wretch."

Coming off of the momentum of having slapped the boy across the face, she pushed the scrawny and lanky form of Mitch Gunther off of her, her pricey high-heeled sandals coming into contact with Mitch's shin in the fray.  That would certainly leave a mark... and the wiry little bastard deserved it after having BIT her.  Forcing herself to her feet and taking a somewhat reserved stance behind Ian, Ali's right hand instinctively held her left wrist in pain.

"Ugh," the repulsed sound left the cheerleader's lips as she stared unbelievingly at Mitch and Cathalie, all the while still nursing her bitten wrist, "I really hope that disgusting little creature doesn't have AIDS or something."

Running her hand up and down her bleeding wrist, Ali couldn't help but feel sickened at the sight of her own blood.  Just who did that... that THING think he was, anyway?  Nobody laid a hand on her, not if they knew what was good for them.  Casting a pouty glance back toward Ian, as though surprised and hurt that his so-called friend had attacked her, her lips formed the Ali Grayston signature "pout" as she continued to nurse her wounded hand.

"You should really put a muzzle on that," she mused.

Despite the cruel comment that had left her lips, the bewitching, almost saddened expression that had transfixed her features remained.  Inwardly, Ali Grayston was insulted.  Insulted that Ian Rico had had the nerve to practically shun her advances, insulted that those vile, wretched, filthy creatures were still near her, wasting her oxygen, insulted that Ian had done nothing to prevent the malicious attack on her by Cathalie's guarddog.

Her attention turned to Mitch and Cathalie as her formerly bewitching expression changed into an almost sinister looking glare.  The girl's hands found her way to her hips, and she stood there, standing at them with a look of utter revulsion having blazed across her delicate features.  Eyeing Mitch warily, she took a few steps forward to address the duo standing before her.

"I'll have you suspended for this, you know," she mused, no hint of remorse echoing in her words, "I don't think you understand who you're messing with.  My Daddy's a senator, don't you know that I can pull the strings to get whatever I want?  You people... I could make your lives a living hell.  Remember that."

Just as quickly as she had approached the dominatrix looking girl and her drooling mutt, Ali Grayston had backed away.  And just as quickly as her features had turned evil and sinister, they had melted back into the sugary-sweet look that generally stayed plastered to the brunette's features.  She once again turned to Ian, the ever-bewitching smile with which she had been endowed returning to her face, though this time Ali had no retort.  Shaking her head in aggravation, the brunette walked off toward the door, headed for the nurse's office, and then the principal's.

If that disgusting excuse for a human being had given her anything, so help her God, this would mean war.  As it was, Mitch Gunther had blatantly stepped on Ali Grayston's toes, and that was something you didn't do to the Senator's daughter.  She had friends, she had connections.  And quite frankly, Mitch Gunther had no idea what could be in store for him upon the horizon after the careless atrocity he had committed against the young woman.  Storming off in a rage, the girl slammed the door to Mrs. Rowena's room closed and headed down the hallway.  Well... she had wanted a challenge.

Cathalie couldn’t help but laugh aloud in a full-throated laughter, slapping her knee with one hand and cradling her aching stomach with the other as Mitch wrestled and fought with Ali over a mouthful of arm, sending the ordinarily self-assured and composed girl into a full-throated shriek of pain and utter surprise.  Never in all her life had Cathalie remembered laughing so hard, so much.  It was a rather refreshing feeling, being able to laugh when all of her life had been full pain and rage.  

Cathalie recovered just in time to see Mitch rolling off of Ali after receiving a slap to the face in retaliation for biting Ali.  His lower lip smeared with a small line of blood, Mitch stared at Ali, sitting flat-footed like a placid duck on the linoleum.  A dazed look was upon his face, now marked in red from the impact of Ali’s slap, and he looked only mildly daunted, as though he had not registered the fact that Ali had just hit him in the face.  

But all of that was interrupted as Mitch suddenly yelped in pain in unison with the impact of Ali’s foot against his shin.  As he whimpered and rolled further a ways off, clutching his shin in pain, Cathalie couldn’t help but growl in anger, tensing herself before Ali as the girl made note of the damage dealt.  Noting the blood on the older girl’s wrist, Cathalie couldn’t help but feel a sort of twisted satisfaction, seeing the slut get exactly what she deserved.  It was even more satisfying, knowing that Ian had ignored, if not outright rejected her advances.  At least Ian had more sense than most of the males his age.  He wasn’t shallow enough to fall for Ali’s old tricks.

A silence stretched out on part of Cathalie as the dark-eyed girl watched Ali Grayston retreating no sooner after spitting out a hate-filled threat of her own.  She continued to say nothing until the room was completely rid of her presence, then let out a sigh of relief and exasperation as she shook her head to relieve herself of her anger.

“I’d be more worried about Mitch getting AIDS from her,” Cathalie muttered to herself with a sort of twisted humour, a dark smile playing across her lips.  Inside, she worried more than ever, for Ali definitely had the nerve to carry out her threat for real, and report to the principal about what Mitch had done.  Seems like once again, Cathalie would have to step in and do all the explaining on Mitch’s behalf, something she was used to doing for all her years of knowing him.

And speaking of the wiry boy in question, Mitch had recovered from his bout of pain, and was now tending to the bruising mark on his lean shin.  He remained silent, as Mitch often did when he was sulking, as she massaged his wiry fingers over the mark and leaned his face over to lick it, as a dog or a cat might to clean its wounds.  Cathalie sighed as she watched him, knowing better than to disturb Mitch while he was in one of his more moody tangents, lest she suffer the same fate Ali had.  Instead, she looked towards Ian, shrugging at him a bit.

“I’m surprised you didn’t fall for her tricks,” she remarked, regarding him carefully.  Though her expression was unreadable, it seemed as though she had relaxed slightly compared to when they had first exchanged words.  The arrogance and caution in her tone had long since evaporated.  In fact, she was even smiling slightly to him.  “Guess you’re not too bad after all.”

Mitch’s head popped up between the two just as Cathalie was about to rest a friendly hand on Ian’s shoulder.

“Don’t disturb him further! The victim seems to be in utter shock,” Mitch observed aloud, exchanging glances between Cathalie and Ian.  “Surely the attack must have inflicted such emotional wounds on him.  We must treat this unique situation with utmost care.”

Cathalie raised her eyebrow at him as he began putting his face to the floor.

“A crime scene investigation must be made, first starting with a survey on the surrounding environment following the EMS system,” Mitch recited the thoughts in his head aloud as he sniffed about along the linoleum floor.  Satisfied, he stood up.  “All clear! The attacker seems to have fled the scene of the crime, therefore the area is to be deemed safe.”

At once he began regarding Ian with his grayish-green eyes, now uncharacteristically alert and wide-awake, contrast from the sleepy quality they held earlier.  Putting a comforting hand on Ian’s shoulder, Mitch asked him in a concerned tone that seemed to hold some authority.  “Everything is alright now.  Are you hurt? Do you want to report this to the police? Do you want to call your parents? Do you remember your name?”

He held up two fingers and waved it in front of Ian's eyes.  "How many do you see? Does your head hurt?"

Cathalie let out an incredulous sigh at Mitch’s attempt to play the heroic rescuer, though she was quite surprised at the way Mitch seemed to be opening up to Ian.  Normally Mitch avoided any sort of human interaction that involved reciprocation and response from the other person, unless it involved Cathalie.  Even more so than Cathalie, Mitch disliked other people in general, mistrusting them and avoiding them to the point of being almost anti-social, despite his curious nature towards others.  It was sort of strange…seeing Mitch become almost…friendly towards Ian.

She blinked and rubbed the back of her head awkwardly, looking with an apologetic, awkward glance towards Ian.  “I think he likes you.”

Ian was still in shock as Mitch tackled Ali to the ground. He watched as the short fight ensued, and as ubruptly as it started, it ended. Ian listened to Ali's comments, then her threats of getting her father and her connections involved. All Ian knew was that Ali came from a powerful family, and if she wanted to, she could probably get Mitch suspended.

Ian watched Ali as she left, and he let out a sigh. Of course he had noticed her advances on him, and it shocked him really, but he knew they weren't genuine. He knew her reputation, and Ian wanted nothing to do with her, so that is why he tried his best to ignore her.

Ian smiled at Cathalie's comment about being worried of Mitch getting AIDS from Ali. Ian looked at Mitch, to see if the boy was, ok, and was about to ask when Cathalie told Ian of her surprise that he didn't fall for Ali's advances. She even said, "Guess you’re not too bad after all."

Ian just smiled and tried to make a joke out of it, "You mean she was flirting with me? She needs a book or something on that." Ian was then surprised when Mitch started acting like a detective or someone you see on tv, referring to Ian as the victim.

Feeling Mitches hand on his shoulder, Ian looked at the boy as he started asking him questions.

"Everything is alright now. Are you hurt? Do you want to report this to the police? Do you want to call your parents? Do you remember your name?”

Ian then watched as Mitch raised two fingers and asked, "How many do you see? Does your head hurt?"

Ian smiled at the boy and said, "Don't worry, I feel fine, I'm ok thanks to you. If it wasn't for you I could have been in a lot worse shape." Ian played along, for it was the least he could do. The boy must have genuinely thought Ian was in danger, and ended up taking a small beating to protect him.

Ian just offered his hand to Mitch and said, "Thanks." Then he said to Cathalie's comment about Mitch liking him, "Well if your friend is starting to like me, does that mean you can trust me more and not question my motives next time I invite you both to grab a bite to eat with me?" Ian smiled at Cathalie and Mitch, and he found himself thinking about Sofie, wishing she was here, because he knew that she would have loved the situation that had just unfolded.

Walking up the hallway as the injured girl came barrelling out of the class, the thin teenager twisted, pulling various straps and chains back to prevent from tripping the obviously appearance-oriented girl and doubling upon her harm, as he noted the blood trickling down her arm from what looked like bite wounds.

"Great. Wild animals are permitted in class now?" He dropped his face into his hand, and sighed slightly, "Gilroy isn't looking as shabby now. If only I hadn't put my fist through that door. And my knee into that kid's stomach... and... oh hell, forget it."

He noticed a couple of people were staring at him in the hallway, and he narrowed his eyes.

'Right, less talking to self outloud. No need to make myself into a complete crazy on my frist day here.'

He waved his hands, trying to ward off the stares, "I'm alright, just a little lost, can you point me in the direction of Room... uh..." He shoved his hand into his pocket, pulling out a crushed pack of cigarettes, "hmm... that's not it..." he pushed it back into his pocket, and rummaged through another, pulling out a peice of folded paper, before fumbling it open, "AH! Room 133."

Some of the people just turned around and ignored him while another pointed at the sign above his head, "Right there, dumbass."

...Rowan's hand twitched in his pocket and he took a deep breath. 'No fights within your first hour here... Gotta make this one last.' He sighed, and then put on his best fake smile, "Thanks!"

He turned around, smouldering as he entered the class to see a pair standing, one looking more like he belonged in an asylum, than in a classroom, as well as a number of other students whispering between each other. He dropped the paper on the desk for the teacher, tugged his ponytail, pushing forward on the tie holding it up in order to ensure his hair was held tightly and wouldn't slip undone and cascade about his shoulders carelessly.

He, then, made his way back to a desk that he assumed was empty at the very back of the class, straightening and fiddling with the bands that ran his arms, as well as adjusting the leather straps on the long armband that ended around his hand, just before the fingers, and wrapped about his thumb, under his shirt sleeves.

He looked like he'd just came in from some crazy concert where he'd drank way too much, but really, he was just tired. He sat in the principal's office for an hour, listening to a 'our policies state' lecture.

'My policy is that I live how I want.' he had thought the entire time.

Finding the empty seat at the back, he pulled the chair out, and sat down, leaning back slightly and letting his boots rest ontop of the desk.

'Interesting year ahead of you, Rowan. Lesse how fast you get kicked out of here.'

Mitch did not seem all too convinced by Ian’s placid smile, nor of his reassurances that he was indeed fine after the ‘attack’ on that evil child molester’s part.  Though he did seem slightly flattered and happy with himself at Ian’s remark that he was safe thanks to Mitch himself, playing with the hand Ian offered for a moment and looking it over curiously before getting bored and letting go. Observing the calm and docile form of Ian with an oddly scrutinizing look in his misty eyes, Mitch announced in a tone of skepticism, “The victim seems to be rather disoriented and confused.  It would seem that he is not fully aware of the crime that has been inflicted on him.  Either that or he is in an extreme state of trauma and psychological petrification.  Surely the subject will need to go into therapy and counseling as a way of teaching him to move on from the ordeal and learn to love life again and all that therein-“

“Mitch, just shut up already,” Cathalie snapped at him, effectively interrupting his oral report on the crime scene.

“Yes, Cathalie,” he mumbled in a slightly moody tone, and slunk a ways off from his commanding companion to sulk.  As he turned away with a pout on his blood-covered lip, he abruptly turned a suddenly alert eye towards the newcomer that had just entered the room.  At least, this was what it seemed like from a distance.  If one looked closer still, one would notice that what Mitch was really staring at with a curious eye were the chains that adorned his clothing, their steely glint scattering the panel light left and right of him.

If there was one thing Mitch absolutely could not resist, it was his beloved shinies.

As Cathalie turned back to Ian, she sighed slightly, shrugging his shoulders as Mitch wandered off, seemingly to sulk at being chided by Cathalie in the middle of playing the crime scene investigator.  Casting an apologetic look towards Ian, she told him, “He watches too many CSI-type shows and reads too many books on forensics and that kinda thing.  Pretty weird, I know.”

Cathalie paused for a tense, suspicious moment as Ian brought up the subject of trust.  It was then that she began to ask herself inwardly.  Did she trust this boy? Could she, having just met him? He seemed like a nice person….then again, so did everyone else before they sent her packing to return to the orphanage she hated so much.  Then again…Mitch seemed to take well to this person, when rarely he ever took well to anyone at all besides Cathalie.  In any case…Cathalie wasn’t quite sure whether she could trust this person for sure.  But surprisingly, Cathalie felt as though she wanted to somehow.  Tired of all the mistrust, fear of betrayal, anger from grudges held from betrayals made long past…Cathalie just wanted to trust someone for once.

Not that she would let Ian in on this of course.  Smiling to him wryly, she told him with a cool tone in her voice, “It’s possible, but don’t hold me up to that.”  In a gentler voice, she told him with a warmer smile, “If Mitch likes you, then I’m okay with it.”

And speaking of Mitch, he had long since strayed away from the duo that had consisted of Ian and Cathalie, and had proceeded to make his way to the odd-looking stranger that had just entered the room, heavily adorned with chains, leather straps, tattoos, studs, rings, and the like.  Curiously peering up at him as he sat crouched like a dog on the floor, Mitch tilted his head to one side, plainly mesmerized by the shiny chains suspended from this unfamiliar fellow…

"Shiny..."

And without further warning, Mitch’s wiry hands shot out and latched onto the chains that had caught the light in his eye and fascinated him to no end.  Gripping multiple chains by the handfuls, be then attempted to rip them off of this stranger, thinking them loosely attached that he wouldn’t notice them being ripped off.  Unfortunately, this would not by the case as Mitch put all of his weight into pulling him off, likely dragging the poor stranger off the desk and along the floor as well.

Ian drew his hand back when Mitch only looked it over, obviously unsure what the gesture meant. Ian listened as Mitch quoted more crime scene investigation speeches and he listened. When Cathalie told him to shut up, Ian focused his attention on her. Ian then watched as Mitches attention turned towards the new kid who had just walked in. Looking the kid over, Ian noticed the chains and the like hanging off the kid.

Ian didn't have a problem with this, for he was never one to judge people, especially on how they dress. If that was true he wouldn't be talking to Cathalie at the current moment. Ian just focused his attention back on Cathalie and replied to her apology about Mitch watching too much CSI and reading too many forensic books. "You don't have to apologize, I found it a nice gesture. Hey, for all we know he could grow up to be the head of the CSI team or something.'

Ian smiled and then listened to Cathalie's reply about his statement on trust.

“It’s possible, but don’t hold me up to that.”

Ian just smiled and said, "Well I guess that will have to do." He then extended his hand, hoping that Cathalie would shake it, unlike Mitch. Ian didn't notice Mitch follow the new kid, nor did he notice Mitch start to pull on his chains, hard.

Rowan certainly wasn't paying much attention, he'd slipped his earphones in and had turned on some thrash metal to sooth his mind.

'Odd how thrash is soothing... nothing like the fast riffs, and the intense boosts that the bass drum makes when-'

And suddenly he was knocked from his reverie. Additionally, so was his desk, his chair and his pants were clearly falling down as well now. He also noted that something was beneathe his leg... something hard, that wasn't his chains. It was moving, attempting to get free.

His eyes lifted to look at the offending person who was now clearly trapped underneathe his leg, to look Mitch in the eyes. Of course, if looks could kill, Mitch wouldn't even had a corpse left over. This look could have destroyed entire planets.

He didn't move his leg, but slowly lifted his hands to the earphones, slipping them into the pocket and shutting off his MP3 player, before returning his gaze to Mitch's. He dropped his hands to his belt and began to stand up, pulling up his pants so that his boxers were no longer visible for everyone in the class, and then wrenched the chains from Mitch's grip.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He shot out at the kid on the floor, as he began working on the latches that held his chains on the side closest to Mitch, moving them over to the side opposite, in some, most likely vain, attempt to keep Mitch away from his chains.

"If you want some chains, go get a job and buy them yourself, you thief." He then looked up to see that it was the kid who'd been on the opposite side of the room, and called to the girl he'd been with in the first place.

"If your boyfriend can't keep his hands to himself, keep him on a leash..." He sighed, fixing his hair once again, and making sure all of his bands were still in place, and then finally checked his belt.

If he'd been in a more foul mood, Mitch would have clearly lost a few teeth, and nice marks in the side of his face, but Rowan was clearly not that mad today. That, or he didn't want to kick the kid with his spiked boots.

Either way, it meant Mitch had fewer injuries than on any other day, and that would probably be good for both parties.

Ian didn't expect what happened to happen. He didn't even have time to react, for at first all he saw was the new kid being knocked over by Mitches attempt to get the chains.

Ian watched as the kid stood up and gave a cold stare to Mitch, and Ian was half expecting the kid to strike Mitch, but he just yelled at the boy.

The new kid was yeling to Mitch about getting a job and calling him a thief. Then he yelled at Cathalie telling her to keep her boyfriend on a leash.

Ian stood up, expecting the angered kid to strike Mitch, but he didn't. Ian was a little relieved at that, because Ian was not one to be in fights, but Mitch did protect him from that Ali girl.

Ian quickly walked over to Mitch and offered his hand to help him up. Ian's eyes glanced over the new kid but they quickly stopped at Mitch. Ian just said, "Come on Mitch, let's get Cathalie and go, maybe we can get you that burger you wanted."

Ian then turned around and looked at Cathalie, gauging her reaction to the whole scene.

Cathalie laughed snidely at Ian’s comment as he mentioned how Mitch could be head of CSI or something of the sort.  “Yeah, if only he had the sanity and the attention-span.  I swear, the prat’s like ADHD personified…”  Hesitating only for a moment, she eyed Ian’s hand with a wary glance, then cautiously accepted it, though she gave it a warm and firm shake.  

Meanwhile, Mitch whimpered slightly as his precious chains were taken away from him, so forcefully by the boy who donned them, about to reach out to grab them yet again, though this time the other boy was quite at the ready, dodging his every grab and spitting out angry words towards him.  His voice has a sharp harshness that was enough to make Mitch flinch slightly, freezing in place as the boy shot him a look that sent him staggering backwards in fear.

“Uhh…I didn’t do it.  I swear,” he muttered, back away towards where Cathalie was.

By now, Cathalie had caught onto all the commotion, her attention averted from Ian onto the boy who had lashed out such harsh words towards Mitch…no doubt out of anger or exasperation.  Once again, this failed to surprise Cathalie, for all her experience being with someone like Mitch.

Here we go again…why am I always the one to pull his ass out of trouble? She thought as she sauntered over to where Rowan was.

She didn’t appreciate the fact that he was uttering such harsh words at the plainly frightened and confused Mitch, even less did she appreciate the comment he made towards her.  However, as she noted the leather and chains that he donned, she self-consciously remembered her own, though the way she dressed as more of a gothic-punk look.

Well at least he has good taste in dress, Cathalie thought off-handedly.

Mitch turned to see her approach, and immediately scuttled over to hide behind her legs, looking up at Rowan fearfully with a glare on his pale face.  “That guy yelled at me! I didn’t do anything, but he yelled at me anyways! He called me a thief! You’re not going to put me on a leash, are you? I don’t want to be on a-“

“Just shut the hell up, Mitch.”

“Yes, Cathalie…”

Satisfied with Mitch, she turned towards Rowan with a narrow-eyed look, already in a foul mood having encountered Ali and all her condescension and having to get Mitch out of trouble twice today already.  To say the least, she had seen better days, and better moods.  

“You didn’t have to scare him, you know?” she snapped at him with a slight look of contempt on her face.  “He, and I, have put up with enough of that kinda crap without you having to put some input into it.  Just give him a break already.”

As Mitch watched on fearfully behind Cathalie’s legs, his misty eyes turned upwards in surprise as Ian’s hand came into view yet again.  He blinked at it in confusion, playing with Ian’s fingers for a while before he finally got the message, and understood.  Gripping Ian’s hand with his own, he pulled himself upwards from the floor without much difficulty.  

Mitch began to lightly nibble on the back of the crook of his finger, tilting his head to the side as he gave Ian a curious look.  He mumbled words that were barely heard by anyone else, having fallen silent all of a sudden.  

“Thank you.”