"Psst, Kat, did you get number five?"

"Yes."

"What's the answer?"

"Figure it out yourself."

Kody pouted for a moment, then turned dejectedly back to his assignment. "Stupid microorganisms," he muttered to himself. "Who needs to know about organelles and stuff anyway?"

Katarina tried not to laugh. "Why did you take this class if you were just going to complain about it?"

He shrugged. "Needed the science credit to graduate. Don’t like stupid people."

"Like you have any room to talk."

"Oh, shush."

Kat rolled her eyes and went back to her biology worksheet. It had been a little over two weeks since Kody had moved into Raresyde country, and he had essentially been following Kat around like a lost puppy the whole time. She wasn’t sure if he was even trying to make friends. Granted, Kody wasn't the most likeable person on the planet--in fact, he could be downright annoying sometimes, either with his oh-so-witty commentary about everything, or his consistent whining about teachers, homework, and so on. However, it wasn't like he was incapable of being social—he had convinced her to speak to him; that had to count for something.

When the bell rang, the AP Bio students unseated themselves and ran for the door. Kat and Kody made a beeline for the cafeteria.

"I. Am. Starving," Kody commented on the way.

"Typical," Kat replied.

He stuck his tongue out at her, but then shrugged. "Sometimes." She rolled her eyes, but he just continued talking. "Think they've got any kind of meat today? I'm feeling carnivorous."

"If you mean real meat, not likely," Kat replied. "Some sort of synthetic meat substitute, maybe."

Kody grimaced. "That sounds appetizing."

"If you like rubber turkey and God-knows-what rib sandwiches, sure."

He groaned. "Maaaaaan. Why is school food always the worst?"

"Who knows. Probably a cost-cutting measure," Kat said. "It was decent for a year or two after they built the new cafeteria, then pretty much went back to the same old Raresyde garbage, complete with radioactive gravy."

"Radioactive gravy?"

Kat nodded. "It's unnaturally bright yellow-green. Possibly glowing. We're all waiting for someone to walk out of lunch sporting a third arm."

"Oh, that's pleasant."

"It's true."

"If you say so. But, radioactive or not, I still want food," Kody said definitively, dashing off towards the lunch line. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Sure," Kat called, “Try the canned pudding! It’s exactly as good at it sounds!”

She then began walking to the table, having packed her own lunch today.

"So, who was that guy?"

Katarina jumped, glasses nearly falling off her face, and spun around. Aria Mycals--her best friend since kindergarten--was standing behind her, watching Kody disappear into the lunch line. "Aria! Don't scare me like that!"

Aria smiled innocently at her. "I'll think about it. So really, who was that kid you were talking to? You finally get a boyfriend?"

"Wha--?! No!" Katarina exclaimed. "He's just a classmate. New kid. That's all."

"Mmhmm, what's his name?" Aria inquired.

"You didn't hear a word I just said."

"Nope."

Kat sighed. "His name's Kody. And again, he is just a classmate," she said firmly. “What are you even doing here? This isn’t your lunch period.”

"Mm," Aria hummed, sounding disappointed. "And here I thought maybe you'd finally started acting like a normal teenager. Anyway, I had a cheer thing this morning and we finished up early, so I stopped by to visit before class."

"Shut up. I'm eighteen; I'll act like an adult thank you very much."

"Pff, boring," Aria said, waving her off. "You're missing out big time."

Kat rolled her eyes. "Speaking of not acting like an adult, how's Jeremy?"

"Currently, not speaking to me because...well, I'm not exactly sure what he's mad about," Aria replied, sighing. "Whatever it is, he'll be over it by tomorrow, I'm sure."

"I will never understand why you keep dating that kid," Kat said. "He's moodier than any girl I've ever met."

Aria shrugged. "I have high hopes for him, I suppose. 'Sides, he's cute."

Kat shook her head. "If you say so. But, if you don't mind, I'm going to eat while I have time. You know how quickly lunch periods go."

"Yeah, I really don't understand why they can't just make them the same length as a normal class," Aria commented, looking at the lengthy lunch line.

"Especially since it takes fifteen minutes just to get the food," Kat added. "Anyway, I'll see you later. Are we still going to the movies this weekend?"

Aria nodded. "Of course! I've been dying to see that new one with Zac Efron," she replied, grinning.

Kat laughed and rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. I'll see you later," she said, turning and walking into the cafeteria.

"Bye!" Aria called. "And have fun with your new, uh, classmate!" she added, making air quotes with her fingers.

Kat sighed, shook her head, and continued walking away. In one ear and out the other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You were not kidding about the radioactive gravy," Kody said, grimacing at his tray as he dropped it on the table, causing some of the mucus-like yellow substance that covered most of the food to splash onto the faux wood surface.

"Did you really think I was?" Kat asked in response, jotting another answer down on her calculus homework in between bites of a cookie.

"No, but I was hoping you were at least exaggerating," Kody replied glumly. "I'm really not sure I want to eat this."

Katarina simply shrugged. "Your call. No one's died from it yet...at least not that I’ve heard about."

"Thanks, that's good to know," he said sarcastically, then began tentatively poking his plastic fork into the food.

"...What are you doing?" Kat asked after several minutes of this.

"Making sure it's safe. If nothing jumps out at me after all this poking, then I think it might be edible.”

Kat had opened her mouth to respond when a commotion arose in the back of the cafeteria. Sitting up a bit to see, she groaned. "You've got to be kidding me. Is he really at it again?"

"Who? What's going on?" Kody asked, stopping his poking and also looking up to see what the fuss was about.

"Mitchell Kang. School bully, or...something like that," Kat replied irritably. "He's always starting fights and stuff. How have you not noticed?"

Kody shrugged. "Never paid attention, I guess." He stood up, looking over the crowd of students sitting at lunch tables, most of whom were also watching the altercation unfold in the back of the room. "Is he the little dude with the purple mohawk-lookin' hairdo?"

"That'd be Mitch," Kat replied with a sigh, having turned back to her homework. "What's he doing?"

Kody squinted, trying to see. "I dunno, pushing someone around. Looks like a younger kid. Underclassman, probably."

"Sounds about right," Kat said.

Kody continued to observe the exchange, and the small crowd that was building around it. "I’m gonna go watch,” he said. “A fight might be good for a laugh.”

Kat rolled her eyes. “Whatever, if you like that stuff.”

Kody ignored her, sliding out of his seat and making his way to the scene in the rear of the cafeteria.

"I thought I told you to move," Mitchell was saying, face inches away from the younger student he was tormenting.

"I'm trying," the boy shot back. "You keep getting in the way."

"Really now?" Mitch sneered. "But you should be able to get around me, shouldn’t you?" He leaned in a bit closer to his victim's face, grinning viciously as he quietly spoke. "You little rabbits are supposed to be fast, right? Agile?"

The underclassman glared straight back at him. "Little? Like you've got any room to talk about size, kitten," he spat, forcing the last word through gritted teeth.

Mitchell visibly tensed, face contorting into a sort of snarl. "Say that again,” he hissed. “I'll rip your goddamn face off."

"Mitchell!"

Both boys jumped, turning to stare up into mustached face of their principal, Mr. Richards. "That's quite enough, Mr. Kang," the tall, bald man said wearily. "Either have a seat at a table and leave Marten here alone, or you can have a seat in my office. Again," he informed Mitch.

Mitchell looked at Mr. Richards, then shot one more glare at the underclassman, Marten. "Watch your back, bunny-boy," he hissed before turning on his heel and stomping away.

Marten rolled his eyes. "Tch. Cats," he muttered under his breath.

Mr. Richards watched Mitch go, folding his arms. "Dear Lord. I haven't had this much of a troublemaker since Charlie Taverns back around '04. Only, Charlie wasn't quite as much of a bully, I suppose..." he mumbled to himself. Then he sighed and turned to Marten. "Are you alright, Mr. Silver?"

Marten nodded. "Yes, sir. I’m fine."

"Good. Have a seat, please," the principal told him. "And don't hesitate to tell me if you run into any more trouble," he added. "Wouldn't want our young genius--or any of our students, for that matter--being bullied.”

"Thank you, Mr. Richards," Marten said with another nod, then turned and walked away.

Argument over, the crowd of students dispersed, disappointed by the lack of a fist fight. Kody wandered back to his table. "Rabbits and cats..." he mumbled to himself. "Now just what do you suppose that was about?"