Chapter 6

POV: Caleb

I got paired with Victoria. I remembered that I hadn’t sought her out since that history lesson. I had seen her in some of my classes but she seemed very reserved. The only person I had seen her interact with was the Asian girl who was always dressed in funky clothes. In my defense, a lot of things had happened since that Friday.

Brianna (who I quickly realized was the most popular girl in school) sort of took me under her wing. She introduced me to her group of friends, most of whom were athletes and cheerleaders. They all seemed really nice. We even hung out that weekend. I wasn’t blind though. I knew that Brianna was interested in me. I could see myself dating her but not just yet.

The next week, principal Gilligan had gotten the coach to let me try out for the team even though try outs were already over and I got in. I was McKinley High School’s new linebacker. I had started getting comfortable there. I had formed a little community.

I was standing next to Brianna when my name was called out. She pouted prettily and held my arm. “I hoped we’d be paired together. I guess I'll see you after class. Try not to miss me too much.” I didn’t say a word and went to where Victoria was seated. She was staring intensely at the frog.

“Victoria, right?” I asked as I sat down.

She looked at me with a surprised look on her face but didn’t say a word. I was starting to doubt that she heard me.

“Victoria? Victoria Johnson?” I repeated. That seemed to knock her out of the trance she was in. 

“Yes but my friends call me Tori. Not that you and I are friends, I don't even know you. For all I know you are a serial killer or even worse, someone that kicks puppies. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insinuate that you are a serial killer. I’m sure you’re a nice guy. Of course, there is no way I would actually know whether or not you are nice because, as I said, you are a stranger so…Yes, I am her. Victoria. And you are Caleb Stallone. If you don’t mind, I’m going to shut up now.”

I blinked. Twice. She had talked so fast, I swear, I hadn’t seen her take a single breath. I’m surprised I didn’t miss anything. Her cheeks turned almost as red as her hair. I knew she was embarrassed. I honestly found it all very amusing.

“I think I’ll go with Tori if that’s okay with you. I promise that I am not a serial killer. It’s nice to meet you,” I said as I extended my hand out to her.

“That’s exactly what a serial killer would say. I don’t think that Jeffry Dahmer went around announcing, ‘hey everyone, I like to kill people but fret not. You can trust me!” she said as she shook my hand. Her palms were really soft. I almost didn’t want to let go.

“And how would you know? For all I know, you’re the serial killer. Quiet girl, kind of a loner who seems to know a lot about how a serial killer’s psyche works. You kinda fit the bill.” I thought I taken it too far when she gasped and clutched her chest dramatically but the humorous glimmer in her eyes gave her away.

“How dare you sir! If I was a serial killer, and I’m not saying I am, shouldn’t you be trying not to offend me? We wouldn’t want you to wind up on my list, now would we?” she asked. 

“So there is a list? Interesting.”

“Of course there is. There always a list.”

“Will you tell me what names you’ve crossed off your list? I promise I won’t tell soul.” This had to be the most bizarre conversation I had ever had. 

“Alright, but only if you promise you’ll help me bury the next body. Being a serial killer is fun and all but digging shallow graves is brutal on my manicure. It would be mighty sweet of you if you helped out. I promise I’ll even take you off my list for being nice and helpful. I don’t think I can stand yet another chipped nail,” she said trying (but failing) to maintain a serious expression on my face. I burst into laughter. This girl was weird.

“Silence!”  Mrs Kingsley said looking pointedly in our direction. Some other kids also turned around to see what was so funny. Tori shrunk in her seat. She really hated attention. She cleared her throat and gestured to the frog. She picked the scalpel and handed it to me. When I didn’t take it from her she said, “Unless you’re interested in seeing what I had for lunch, I’m not touching that thing.”

She looked very serious so I took it from here. I was just about to make the first cut when she said, “Wait! We should name him and say a few words.”

What?

“This poor frog didn’t ask for this. It probably has a wife/ husband and kids out there who are worried sick. We ought to at least give it a name. I like Hillary since it’s a unisex name and we don’t know its gender. Is that okay with you?”

I nodded. “Okay, would you like to say a few words for Hillary the frog or should I?” At this point I was trying really hard not to laugh. Was she serious? I declined and asked her to go ahead.

“We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of Hillary the frog,” she started. I couldn’t believe that she was actually doing it. “Though we didn’t know him while he was alive, I’m sure that he was a fine frog. I’d like to thank him for giving up his life so that we could learn biology and anatomy and stuff. You were a noble frog Hillary and I really hope that the rest of your family isn’t in this classroom getting dissected right now coz that would suck. Rest in peace.” She finished her little speech with a somber expression on her face. She turned to me and said, “You can cut now. The floor is yours, good sir.” She even took a little bow for dramatic effect.

She was funny. The rest of the lesson was spent trying to identify the different parts of the frog’s anatomy. The entire time she cracked jokes and said the most bizarre things. She didn’t have a filter and said anything that came into her mind. Her long, full curly hair kept getting in the way.

I wondered why she didn’t just tie it back but I had noticed that she used it to hide herself. When she blushed or was embarrassed by something she said, which happened a lot, she would let it fall over her face which I thought was a shame. She was beautiful.  It was a subtle beauty that didn’t strike you right away but when it did, it left you breathless.

Her eyes were so blue you could swim in them. She had a light dusting of freckles across her nose like her own private constellation and a slight dimple on her cheek. Whenever I said something that made her smile, I felt an unbelievable rush. As the lesson went by, I could tell that she was growing more and more relaxed around me.

She even stopped apologizing for her many sarcastic remarks. It was hands down the best biology lesson ever. That was the most I'd had in a long time. Who knew that one could enjoy slicing up a slimy frog that much. The lesson came to an end and she stood up and packed up her things. She went to hand in the worksheet that she had been filling and I waited for her to come back.

“ Caleb, are you coming?” Brianna asked as she stood by the door.

“In a minute. You go ahead, I’ll catch up with you,” I said. She had a puzzled expression on her face but didn’t say anything. “Okay but don’t take too long.” She turned and left the class with the rest of the students.

Victoria came back to our table and looked genuinely surprised to see me there. “I thought you had left already. What’s up?” she asked as she picked up her things. We started walking towards the door.

“Nothing. I just thought I’d walk with you for a while.” She stopped in her tracks and eyed me suspiciously. 

“Why?” she asked.

“Do I need a reason?” She didn’t answer and I took that as my cue to continue. “Anyway, I had fun today. Maybe I’ll see you around?” I asked.

“That’s unlikely but sure.” 

I was about to ask her why when her friend called out her name. “It was nice to meet you Caleb. Bye!” she said and went to catch up with her friend. I watched her for a bit as she walked. I needed to talk to her again. She was easily the most interesting person I had come across since moving here. I liked her.

“Victoria Johnson. Hmmm,” I said to myself as I went after Brianna.