Maybe Another Day
by Joana Rodriguez
a.k.a Lady Dragon



Chapter 1


The rest of the morning passed by in a blur, a very slow and monotonous blur. But at long last the only true highlight of my day came at last, lunch. The time of day when I was allowed to leave campus and grab a sandwich, bag of chips, and a soda at Blake’s Deli. There are several fast food joints situated around the high school, many of which are very popular with the student body. Blake’s was luckily not one of them.

No one wanted to go grab a ham on rye with mayo, olives, bell peppers, three kinds of cheeses, a bag of chips, and a soda for under three dollars; not when they could spend at least five dollars on some greasy smelly fast food and sit around chatting with their cliques, being seen by everyone.

Who needed pizza, burgers and Italian when I had the quite solitude of the deli? Of course being who I am and all nothing peaceful could ever last very long.

While sitting there reading and eating my lunch the bell above the door jangled, heralding the arrival of new customers. I didn’t even glance up; I wasn’t exactly expecting anybody I knew to come in. I didn’t even hear the newcomers place their orders, no I first became aware of them when one of them came to stand by my table, throwing their shadow over my book and forcing me to look up.

“Top of the morning to you, the name is Rinna. Mind if I have a seat?”

Before I could respond the girl had already made herself comfortable in the seat across from me.

Dark onyx orbs stared back at my own grey ones as I studied the interloper seated before me. Dark hair hung down past the girl’s shoulders in a righteous spill of curls that was obviously natural and not the expensive salon created imitation kind that so many girls seemed to be sporting as of late. Her dark eyes and hair gave her naturally pale skin a translucent touch that helped to set her rose kissed mouth out in a startling contrast. The small and dainty nose, coupled with the fair skin and cupid like lips would give a person the impression of a sweet and innocent girl that is until said person got a good look at her eyes.

There was a set to her eyes, a sort of mischievous glint that let the person know they were dealing with the big bad wolf, and not little red riding hood. As she titled her head to the side allowing the lights of the deli to play over her face I caught a hint of silver shining in her eyes momentarily before it disappeared into the darkness that were her eyes.

Her presence made my skin crawl. Just who did this girl think she was, coming and sitting down at my table as if we were the best of friends? I have no friends, and I don’t particularly want any either come to think of it.

“I don’t recall inviting you to sit here.” I said looking at the vacant booths and tables pointedly.

“You didn’t, but I chose to sit here anyway. Consider yourself honored.”

My eyes narrowed at the smugness in this Rinna’s words. A slight shuffling noise drew my attention to two other boys who had obviously come into the deli with this Rinna person. Both boys stood awkwardly shooting nervous glances at me then at Rinna.

Both were tall and built in a way that screamed linebacker. One of them, a blonde, stood taller than the other, tough admittedly not by much. He was dressed in a pair blue jeans that had definitely seen better days, and a faded and worn black White Zombie t-shirt. Brown eyes blinked at me from beneath protruding eyebrows, giving the boy the appearance of a rat.

The other, a brunette, was not very pleasing to the eyes either. He to was dressed in a pair of blue jeans, though his admittedly looked as if some poor mother other there had taken the time to freshly iron them that morning. The long sleeved t-shirt he sported was also freshly pressed and spotless. Who takes the time to iron t-shirts?

Under the mild scrutiny I gave them, the two began to fidget nervously again. Pathetic and weak were words that sprang to my mind immediately.

“Your friends appear to be waiting for you to join them at their table.” I said then picked up my forgotten book and continued reading, pointedly ignoring the girl. Most people would have taken the hint and left then, not Rinna.

“Well you really are a ray of sunshine aren’t you? No matter, I suppose that’s why everyone fears and steers clear of Alaric Schatten.”

With a flick of her wrist she motioned the two boys over to the table and kicked two chairs in their direction. What was this girl’s problem, could she not see I wanted to be left alone?

“So since I’ve never seen you on campus before this year, and you are in my class I assume it’s safe to say you’re one of the Glenn transfers.”

I continued reading as if I had not heard her words, and the fidgeting boys became even more uncomfortable.

“Rinna, I think we should just leave him alone.” Rat boy interjected.

“Yeah, let’s go sit at another table! We could sit over by the window-”

“So Alaric, tell me, why are you so afraid of talking to a sweet girl like myself?” Both boys held their collective breath and began edging away from the table. Did they really think I would hit a girl?

It was apparent the girl would not leave till I had spoken to her. “I am hardly intimidated by the likes of you, merely irritated.” At first it appeared as though my words had no effect on her, then suddenly a brilliant smile lit across her face.

“That’s good to hear. I irritate all my friends eventually. Just ask Gil and Robert here.”

Gil and Robert though were no longer here to ask though; both had risen and fled the deli in a mad dash for safety.

“Well gee, I knew they were a little bit yellow but this is below even them.” Rinna commented amusedly, not at all caring that her two friends had abandoned her to her fate. “So Alaric, wanna be friends? If you say no I’ll just keep annoying you till you cave of course.”

For the first time in years I found myself smiling in genuine humor. The girl was different from any person I had ever met, but what was surprising was that this fearless, confident, and stubborn girl wanted to be my friend.

“I think I’ll save myself the future headaches and accept your truce of friendship.”

“Oh you won’t be saving yourself any headaches” Rinna replied with a wink, “In fact I suggest you head on out and buy a bottle right now.”



* * * * * * * *



I found myself walking back to campus after lunch with Rinna firmly attached to my arm. In a way I suppose we looked a bit like a couple, a gothic couple actually. With Rinna decked out in tight black leather pants, platform combat boots, a black turtle-neck and her dark eyes hidden behind a pair of Ozzy Osborne’s trademark sunglasses; and myself in black jeans, black steel toed boots, a black sleeveless shirt and my ever present trench coat. To say we didn’t exactly blend in with the typical crowd surrounding us decked out in pastels was the understatement of the millennia. Neither of us particularly gave a damn though; we ignored the comments and stares, both of us just glad to have found someone like ourselves.

Gil and Robert, it turned out weren’t really friends of Rinna, rather as she put it ‘lackeys hoping to convince the populace that they were unique and important’. My day was already looking up, my first friend and a laugh in God knows when. Maybe my life isn’t as pathetic as I thought it was.

“So what’s you’re next class?” Rinna asked dragging me along through the hordes of people flooding the halls.

“U.S History. Yours?”

“Principles of Art.”

Somehow Rinna didn’t strike me as the type interested in a boring class where all one did was sit around and read about dead artists, and listen to teachers ramble on about styles and techniques.

“What?” She asked seemingly reading my mind. “Its not like there are a variety of elective classes I can take. Besides I suck at drawing and stuff, I’m lucky I can draw stick figures.”

I raised an eyebrow at this, but chose not to comment. I had the feeling that Rinna could accomplish anything she set her mind to.

“Ya know, Gestalterisch is playing tonight, their lead singer is a selfish stuck up annoying prick, but the music’s really good.”

“Gestalterisch, is that the band’s name?”

“Yup, I think it’s Dutch or something.”

“German actually, means artistic creativity. To call someone that implies that they have great talent and are superior to the rest.”

“Pft! No wonder the prick named his band that then.” Rinna huffed, tossing her head indignantly. “Only that pompous ass would have the arrogance to come up with that name!”

I didn’t know who this Gestalterisch was, or who the lead singer was but I was interested suddenly on whom they were and what they could have done to spark Rinna into coming up with so many colorful adjectives for them.

“So you’ll come and see them with me? It’ll be fun, I promise. Plus, you wouldn’t want to abandon your friend here and risk her getting mugged or something right?”

I frowned down at the grinning face before me.

“Frankly, I’d be more worried about the unfortunate schmuck who tried to mug you.”

That elicited an indignant huff from Rinna, her smile turning into a frown. Just when I thought I might have offended her, she burst out laughing loudly.

“So you do have a sense of humor! And here I was afraid I’d have to train you into cracking the occasional poor joke.”

I rolled my eyes at her rather predictable response. I’d only known this girl for the space of an hour and already I felt like I’d know her my entire life, odd.

“I don’t really like noisy and crowded places, why don’t you go with someone else; I’m sure they’d be more fun than me.”

“Nu-uh, nothing doing Alaric, you are going to come with me and have fun if I have to drag you out of your house by your hair!” Her smiling face grew somber for a few minutes before she continued on. “Besides you’re the only person who’d probably go with me.”

I frowned then, not quite sure whether she was joking or not. Why would someone not want to go with Rinna? She was funny and entertaining and maybe just a little crazy as well. Immediately a mental picture of Gil and Robert abandoning her in the deli when it looked as if a fight might have broken out flashed in my mind. Okay so maybe some people were intimidated by my presence, or at least the image I presented, but surely I couldn’t scare the likes of two teenagers built like football linebackers with a look.

Maybe Rinna and I were more alike than I originally guessed. At the thought my heart ached. What could she possibly have done to be treated like a freak? Answer, probably nothing. The girl before me looked to proud to admit she didn’t have any real friends, and come to think of it maybe that’s why she was determined to befriend me. To have one real friend, I couldn’t blame the girl; I could only empathize with her. Outcasts like us really should stick together.

“I guess I could maybe be persuaded to attend, for a few minutes anyway.”

Sunglasses were immediately perched on her head as dark eyes bore into mine, looking for confirmation of what their owner had heard.

“You mean it, you’ll come with me?”

At my nod she actually yipped and jumped up and down in the hall.

“Awesome I’ll be by your house to pick you up at seven o’clock.” She said, already turning and hurrying down the hall to her class.

“Hey, wait you don’t even know where I live!” I called after her retreating back.

The only response I got was a wink and a wave as she continued on. Great I had just agreed to attend a social function with the craziest girl I had ever met, who didn’t know where I lived and apparently she was the one driving. Maybe she wasn’t the crazy one after all.

End Chapter 1

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So what say everyone? I know it dosn't seem like much but I swear the plot dragons will kick it into over time.

Just some mild foot notes.
Gestalterisch is German for 'artistic creativity'

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