platypus 3333
liquidsnake 66
http://www.evasource.net

---
Avenel
---

Friday 1

The girl was small and slender, her long auburn hair flowing freely
down her back. She stepped onto the patchwork of stones that made up
the ground outside Avenel High and looked around. The school, and its
surroundings, appeared to have been designed by a remarkably stupid
architect; windowed walkways connected the various tall buildings at
odd and often steep angles, forming an overall structure that lacked
any apparent reason or underlying logic. The landscape was dotted with
various ugly trees and plants.

"Hey," someone said; the girl turned to regard the tall, thick man
strolling several yards behind her. He had a dense, wild mat of gray
hair and reddish brown eyes behind a round pair of wire-frame glasses.

"Yeah?"

"You have a tag on your back," he told her, walking past.

"What?"

"On your back," he repeated. He waved back to her. "And, you know,
you're late for class now."

"So are you," she retorted, desperately fumbling about her back.

"Tenure," he said, opening the door. It slowly swung shut behind him
as he entered the building.

---

Auge sat in the back row; he leaned against the window next to him and
stared through it, a blank and bored expression on his face. He idly
scratched his head, running his fingers through spiky light blond
hair, and deeply considered closing his eyes. On the other side of the
room the door swung open with a sharp squeak to admit the teacher, a
large man everyone called either Mr. Wolf or, alternatively, simply
Wolf. Auge didn't budge, keeping his gaze on the greenish yellow lawn
beyond the glass.

Wolf never brought any papers with him to class. He smiled, revealing
sharp, even teeth. "We have a new student today," he said, not
bothering to wait for silence. The man nodded towards the door,
beckoning for the newcomer to enter. "Your name?"

All conversation in the room stopped as the girl walked into the room;
Auge's sleepy gaze continued to focus on some point beyond the glass.
She coughed, shifting uncomfortably as the class stared at her. "Yeah,
my name is Sen."

"Great," Wolf said dully, scratching his forehead. "Anyone have any
questions?"

A boy in front raised his hand. "Where do you come from?"

"Um, I don't- I mean, I come from the Bay," she said, glancing
longingly at the door. "The town there."

"It's all town there," Wolf noted, moving to sit down at his computer.
He took a sip of cold, ancient coffee from the mug next to the
keyboard and grimaced.

"Yeah, that's right," she said. "It is."

"Why'd you move?" A black haired girl asked; she sat in the back,
three seats away from the window where Auge had finally fallen asleep.

"I didn't like it much."

"How come?"

"I don't know," she admitted.

"Fair enough," Wolf said, checking his stocks. "Hold on." He scanned
the room patiently until he located an empty seat. "You can sit in the
back- next to that blonde guy. His name is Auge."

Sen shuffled to the seat as quickly as she could and hung her purse on
the backrest of the desk. She sat down, resting her arm against the
smooth laminated wood, and looked at him. "Hey."

Auge neglected to respond, continuing to face the window.

"Uh." After several minutes staring at him she realized he was asleep.

"Poke him," a voice behind her said; turning around, Sen saw the black
haired girl smiling at her.

"What?"

"With a pencil." She jabbed her pen at the air. "Like that."

"Oh," Sen said. Turning back, she did so.

Auge blinked. "What?" He turned and looked at her.

"I said hey," she said.

"Who're you?"

She blinked. "What?"

"You don't know who you are?"

"Didn't you- I mean, we just went through that whole thing-"

"I've lost interest," he said, turning back to his window. Sen looked
at Auge confusedly, noting his slouched, lazy posture.

"Sen, you can follow Auge for today- he can show you around the
school," Wolf called from the front, keeping his eyes on the monitor.

---

"Avenel is the name given to the suburban area, extensive enough to be
considered a town, surrounding the impressively large city of
Clearview. Containing a population of small but steadily increasing
size, Avenel's prime virtue lies in its proximity to the city, a major
population center and a global leader in technology and commerce," the
black haired girl read, squinting at the sheaf of papers in her hand.
"That's it- I think I'm done."

All twenty three students in the class stared at her blankly for
several minutes.

"That was horrible," Auge finally noted, breaking the eerie silence.
His head remained turned towards the window, watching several
squirrels run about the grass.

"I fucking got it from a book," she said. "It can't be."

Mr. Wolf slowly removed his glasses and rubbed his forehead. "Thank
you, Casey, for that beautifully plagiarized report. You can go sit
down."

"It takes a real fuck up to make factual information suck," Auge
observed.

"Shut up."

"No, congratulations." Auge mockingly applauded her, but gave up
shortly after.

"You try reading that crap," she said, tossing them towards him as she
walked back to her desk.

"Right." He dumped the pile behind his desk.

"Okay people, this is taking way too long- just give me the gist of
it." Mr. Wolf looked at his watch and sighed. "Next."

Sen propped her head up on her hand and stared at Auge; or, more
accurately, the back of his head as he again turned his attention
towards the window. "What the hell was that about?"

"What?"

"The- that thing just now."

"Right." Auge stretched his arms and proceeded to rest his head on
them, clearly attempting to sleep. Sen watched him for a few more
seconds, then turned around to listen to the next student's report.

---

Auge walked out of class slowly, his thin, muscular build hunched over
in a lazy slouch. Sen pushed through the crowded mass of people in the
hallway to walk at his side, glancing at him periodically. After
several minutes Auge paused, staring quizzically down at her with his
bluish green eyes. "Where're you going?"

"Uh, wherever you are," she replied.

"Why?"

"Cause. Mr. Wolf told me to?"

"What for?"

"Because I'm new," she said.

"Whatever. Go away," he told her.

"I'd get lost."

"Clearly your problem," he said, turning back. She continued to follow
him.

"Where're you going?"

"Bathroom."

"Now?"

"I'm sure you've already well familiarized yourself with the
intricacies of a men's bathroom," Auge told her. "But you'll find
people probably pay less here." He shoved open the door to the men's
bathroom and walked in, letting it swing shut in her face.

"Well, fuck you too," Sen shouted at it. Receiving no response, she
sighed, leaning against the painted brickwork of the wall.

---

"This is the cafeteria," Auge said dryly, leading her into a large,
crowded room; roughly square shaped, it was filled with noisy people
and long, poorly assembled tables.

Sen fumbled around in her purse for the lunch card that had been
provided with her uniform. "I can see that." Securing the card, she
slung her bag back over her shoulder.

"Good. Why are you still following me?"

"Uh. Mr. Wolf said to. I don't know anybody here so-"

"I don't need a fucking encyclopedia." Auge studied the long line that
had formed while he had meandered around the hallways trying to lose
Sen.

"How's the food here?" Sen asked as she wandered to the back of the
ever-increasing line.

"Uh. sure." Auge walked in the other direction and made his way to the
front. His hand disappeared inside the mob of people and came out
carrying several bags of chips and a can of soda. He walked away.

"Hey. wait up!" Sen looked around hesitantly and ran to the empty
table that Auge had planted himself at. "How did you get that so fast?
What about this lunch card?"

"Get what?" He appraised one bag, shaking it carefully, then shrugged
to himself and pulled it open with a pop.

"The food."

"Oh."

"Well?"

"Huh?" Auge downed a few chips and washed it down with a swig of
Mountain Dew. "I'm not a walking Idiot's Guide to the damn school."

"Uh." Sen scratched her head. "Yeah, whatever." She sighed and sat
down next to him, leaning against the laminated surface of the table.

Auge crumpled the emptied bag and opened another. He took another gulp
of his drink. "Why are you still looking at me?"

"Um- uh, well.." Sen eyed the chips hungrily and looked back up, a
pleading expression in her eyes.

He ignored her, continuing to eat his lunch.

Sen cleared her throat and looked at the chips again. "Mind if I-"

"Yeah."

"Huh?" She blinked.

"Here, toss these out... the garbage behind you," he said, already
done. Sen reluctantly gathered the trash and disposed of it. She
turned around and saw Auge already halfway back across the room.

"Hey- hey, wait! Where the hell are you going?!" She watched as he
disappeared into a small crowd of people by the entrance. "Fuck you!"
Sen looked back at the line again; it was even longer now. She sighed
and pulled a stick of gum out of her purse, violently shoving it in
her mouth.

"Chew it, don't mutilate it."

"Huh?" Sen turned again and looked up to find a thin girl with pale
white skin and jet-black hair standing at the opposite side of the
table; she recognized her immediately as the one who sat next to her
in class.

"You're the new girl, right? Sai?" She brushed back several strands of
hair and grinned; her relaxed dark eyes were warm and friendly, though
they gave Sen the impression their owner was either tired or on some
kind of drug. "I'm Casey."

"Uh, Sen."

"Sen, yea. I kinda remember." Casey pulled a chair out from under the
table and sat down. "What's that in your hand?"

Sen looked down blankly. "A lunch card?"

"What the fuck is that?"

The two of them paused as the bell suddenly rang; lunch was over.

"Nothing," Sen said, tossing it to the ground. Although her stomach
still growled, she smiled.

---

The end of the day came surprisingly quickly; the hallways immediately
began to flood with numerous students eager to end their weekly misery
and get laid over the weekend. Sen slid through the masses of people
quickly, eagerly pushing the doors open to feel the sunshine on her
face. It felt comfortably warm and inviting, exactly how she liked it.
Sen passed under several poorly placed arches before the main entrance
and began her moderate walk home; two blocks north, then 3 blocks
west, and stop at 2304 MerryWood Drive. She paused momentarily as the
wind tousled her hair and glanced at the street as students drove
happily by. Although Avenel High would sleep for the next two days,
somehow Sen knew that having finally completed five days of torture
would keep everyone else awake.

"Sen! Hey!" cried a voice behind her.

"Huh?" Sen turned slightly and watched as a green convertible pulled
up to the curb. It was Casey.

"A couple of us are going to this place down the street- you know, to
hang out or whatever. You want to come?"

"Uh, well- I have stuff to do."

"Come on, your buddy Auge will be there," Casey replied slyly.

"Yeah?"

"Oh, now you want to come?"

"Fuck you." Sen laughed and pulled open the passenger side door.
Sliding in, she glanced at Casey through her large auburn eyes and
grinned.

---

"Auge, what'd you get on that Wolf test?"

"What test," Auge said blankly, sipping at a glass of root beer.
Several other Avenel High students at the table chuckled. The diner
was fairly small and the food only mediocre; regardless, it was a
decent place to hang out, its owners fully willing to let customers
loiter around long after they were finished. "I'm sure Casey can
explain it to me, though."

"Fuck you," she cheerfully replied; she and Sen sat together at the
next table down. Auge finished his drink with a loud slurp. "Maybe if
you weren't such an illiterate dumbass."

He shrugged. "Better than a licensed head machine." Auge walked past
Casey's table on his way towards the exit. "Slut training," he
observed, glancing idly at Sen.

"Sen," Casey said, "Auge couldn't even get any if he paid. Ignore
him."

Auge raised an eyebrow and shuffled past them. "Whatever. Give my
condolences to the next dick you suck Casey, it probably paid too
much." Without further comment, Auge walked out the door, his hands in
his pockets.

"Why is that kid such a prick?" Sen asked. She pushed back her hair
and placed an elbow on the table, leaning forward lazily. "I've been
following him all day and he doesn't even know my goddamn name."

"Some people call it ADD," Casey replied dryly. "I call it 'I think
I'm the shit' syndrome- the kid is just like that." She pulled a
cigarette out of her purse and nonchalantly lit it. "Want one?"

"No thanks," Sen answered. The smoke drifted lazily around the booth.
She held back a cough and took a sip of her drink.

"But, you know, about Auge- you don't find that a lot around here."
Casey took another long puff and looked Sen in the eyes. "He's an
interesting guy." She turned away and let more smoke drift from her
lips. "But that's just what most people think anyway. I'd never fuck
him..." Smiling to herself, Casey extinguished her cigarette and got
out of the booth.

"Yeah, thanks for the tip." Sen followed her lead and got out. She
fixed her skirt with relative ease, smoothing it down, and picked up
her backpack.

"You need a ride?"

She glanced out through the window and thought for a moment. "I live
like a block from here. Don't worry about it."

"Sure." Casey put on her sunglasses and walked away, giving the other
a girl a small goodbye wave. "See you around."

---

The walk home was a bit longer and a bit colder than Sen had expected;
it was relatively dark by the time she finally arrived at her house.
She slipped her key into the door and pushed it open with a noisy
creak, shutting it behind her as she entered. Sen fumbled around in
the darkness before finding the light switch; hitting it, she flooded
the room with light and looked around. The house, only moderately
furnished after the move, still felt unfamiliar to her; it would be a
while before she could feel completely comfortable in it.

"Mom, I'm home!" Receiving no response, Sen made her way up the stairs
and entered her room. It was just as empty as the rest of the house,
excluding the several posters pinned to the wall and various piles of
clothing scattered on the floor. In the middle of the room was her
bed, covered with white sheets and a moderate stack of stuffed
animals. She tossed her bag into a corner and proceeded to take off
her clothes, intending to take a long and relaxing shower. Just as she
made her way to the bathroom, the doorbell rang.

"Fuck," she muttered; she wore nothing save a large white towel
wrapped around her body. She stood still at the top of the stairs for
several seconds, debating whether or not to put on any clothes.
Deciding her mother had probably just returned from work, Sen walked
down and unlocked the door, pulling it open.

It was Auge. She stared at him in surprise as he paid her no attention
whatsoever, busying himself staring at the plants on the porch.
Dangling from his hand was a large basket of fruit. "Uh," she finally
said.

He blinked and looked up at her. "Why don't you have any clothes on?"

"What?" Sen glanced down at herself and blushed in embarrassment. She
slunk back behind the doorway in a futile attempt to conceal herself.
"Uh... never mind that. Why are you here?"

He shrugged. "My mom. She wants me to give you this thing- fruit or
whatever." He tossed the fruit basket at her, forcing her to dart
forward and grab it. "Have fun." Auge turned and began to slouch away.

Sen stared down at the basket, then back at him. "Wait... you live
next door?"

He paused and turned back. "Uh, yeah. Do I know you?"

"What?" She blinked in surprise. "I'm in your class."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Auge stared at Sen with a look
of sincere confusion. He scratched his head. "What class?"

"I've been following you around... like all day," Sen said, gesturing
in the direction of the school. "You know, over there?"

"Oh."

"Whatever." Sen sighed and pulled the towel tighter around her body
with her free hand. "So I know someone around here- that's cool."

"Fantastic," Auge said dryly, turning away; he started back towards
his house.

She opened her mouth to comment, but stopped herself and instead
peered down at the fruit basket again. It was filled with dried
apricot and various other snacks.

"By the way."

"Huh?" Sen looked up and saw Auge looking back at her from the middle
of the lawn.

"Your name is Sen, right?"

"Yeah," she said.

"Right... welcome to the neighborhood." The sprinklers turned on with
a whir just as Auge crossed over to his own lawn.

"What the fuck am I suppose to do with dried apricot?"

"The hell I know."

"Yeah, thanks!" Sen closed the door and turned, placing the basket on
a nearby table. She stood there for several seconds, contemplating
what had just occurred; she poked at the plastic wrap of the basket
out of curiosity. "At least he knows my name," she finally muttered,
walking back up to the bathroom.




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