I squinted in the noon sun as I stepped outside. Math class had turned out to be a pop quiz. While Athena was still inside writing, I had finished early, and had decided to spend the lunch hour outside to take advantage of the nice weather.
I wasn't the only one doing so. Most of the girls were sunbathing, in nothing but skirts or shorts, and the boys were enjoying the view, though most of them were watching the cheerleading squad as they jogged around the school. I thought about joining with the sunbathers, but changed my mind when I saw my brother and Karyn sitting on the wall, beside that tree with the painted branch. I hadn't talked to Karyn in a while.
They didn't hear me as I walked up; the two of them were caught up in a quiet but intense conversation. Jon was tossing some rock from hand to hand. He was also, despite trying to be discrete, quite obviously staring at Karyn's chest. I shook my head. I had to admit, Karyn had an impressive rack, but Jon was acting like he'd never seen her topless before.
Before I could say hi to Karyn, one of the cheerlearders sped past me and, lightning quick, snatched the rock from Jon's hands. "What's this?" Sarah McMillan asked, laughing.
"Hey, give it back," Jon demanded, trying and failing to snatch the rock back.
"Why? It's just some rock..."
"Yeah, but it's my rock. C'mon, Sarah, give it back!" With a look of frightened concern, Karyn slipped off the wall and flanked Sarah,
"C'mon, Sarah, give it back," Sarah mocked, imitating my brother's voice. But it was clear that she wouldn't keep it away from both Jon and Karyn, so she held the stone out for Jon. "Sheesh, I wish you two wouldn't bother me when I steal your stuff," she said sarcastically.
Jon and Karyn both stiffened, and exchanged a brief look of horror before sprinting down the path in opposite directions.
"Huh. Pushovers." Sarah began idly tossing the rock from hand to hand, in much the same way Jon had before. Turning around, she spotted me. "Oh, it's you. Your brother's a bit of a freak, you know that?"
A small part of me wanted to stand up for my older brother, to demand his stone back, even if it was just some worthless rock. But the larger part of me shushed that inner voice. I had never before done anything to attract Sarah's attention, or that of any other bully, and I wasn't going to start now. "You're right. He was acting a bit weird today."
"Hah! You're alright, kid, you know that?" Sarah said in a condescending tone. "I wish..."
