Cool With A "K" PART 11 - CHAPTER 6

Scaring Mouse is so fun. As Mouse walked down the hall, she passed a picture that Leo had put on the wall yesterday. I stood behind the wall, my fishing line ready. 
As Mouse passed the picture, I tugged on my fishing line that was attached to the picture and it fell to the ground, face down*.
Mouse jumped back in surprise. "Oh my god!" She yelled and she spun on her heels and ran. After she was gone, Alice, Leo, Chris, and I all came out of our hiding places to laugh.
When school was almost over, Chris set up a fake but realistic owl.
At the end of the day, Mouse came outside and saw the owl*. She gasped and shut her eyes, continuing to walk. Mouse ran face first into a tree. Leo and I snickered from our hiding spot.
When Leo and Mouse got home, Leo motioned for me to do it. As Mouse entered her kitchen, the window shot open and I sent a remote control bat flying around the room.* Mouse screamed and grabbed a wooden rolling pin. She hit the 'bat' and it fell to the floor. 
Mouse slowly approached the 'dead bat' and she gasped as she saw a smashed ladybug* (that was actually fake as well).
Mouse ran to her room and once she was gone, Leo came to the window to greet Chris and I. "That was so awesome, you guys!" He said.
Chris laughed, "I know, right?"
I smiled, "Hey, let's go get Mouse and we can all go to the mall."
"Sure." Leo said, smiling back and sighing, staring into my eyes.
"I'll call Alice." Chris said.
We got Alice and Mouse and we went to the mall. We told Mouse about our plan and she scowled. "WHY?" She said angrily.
"You deserved it." Chris said cooly.
She forgave us.... four days later.






*Supposedly, if a picture falls down and lands face down by itself, someone will die.
*It's bad luck to see an owl in daylight.
*It is bad luck to have a bat in your house.
*It's bad luck to kill a ladybug.

Cool With A "K" PART 11 - CHAPTER 5

 In French, Leo was sitting behind me, Chris next to him, Jesse in front of Chris, Jesse next to me.
In exact unison, Leo and Chris leaned over. Leo smelled my hair, Chris smelled Jesse's hair and they both sighed dreamily.
Without turning around, I said, "Leo, what are you doing?"
"Nothing!" He said, probably blushing. I rolled my eyes, glancing at my lovestruck brother, who was sighing dreamily. Oh, Chris. You're so weird.


Chris was in the school library, his outfit complete with his ever so fashionable nerdy reading glasses. Daniel, the captain of the football team, and a few other football players approached Chris. Daniel was holding a dusty, moldy book, a stupid grin on his face. "Hey, Chris!" He said. Chris whirled around and tried to smile, "Oh, uh, hi Daniel."
Daniel shoved the book at him, causing dust to fly through the air, settling itself around Chris. Chris coughed.
"I thought of you when I read this. I think you might like it, it's about a gay nerd with asthma." Daniel laughed evilly, his gang laughing along.
Chris stared at Daniel in horror and he instantly started coughing and wheezing hard, falling to his knees.
Daniel and his gang started laughing heartlessly, enjoying their 'harmless' prank of giving Chris an asthma attack. Then again, they honestly didn't care if it was harmless or not.
Chris was on his knees, wheezing and trying to get out short, painful breaths. A crowd started to gather, people wondering what the commotion was.
Alice rushed over, making her way through the crowd, "Chris! Are you okay, Chris?" She gasped. 
Tears ran down Chris's cheeks as he struggled for breath, wheezing rapidly. Alice helped him to his feet, but he only fell back down. "Angela-" He tried to say, his voice gravely.
The majority of the crowd started laughing as Daniel stood up proudly. Alice couldn't believe it. How could people be so heartless? Chris was having an asthma attack right in front of them and they were laughing! 
Alice stood up and shouted at Daniel, "How could you do this to him?! How would you feel if he died?" Alice's eyes filled with tears and she tried to help Chris stand again.
"Ooohh! Look, his girlfriend is standing up for him, how sweet! Oops, did I say girlfriend?" One of the football players chimed in. They all laughed.
Alice screamed, "Help! Someone get some help!" Chris wheezed helplessly.
Leo came in to see what was going on. He saw Alice and Chris and ran to them. "Chris! Alice!" He joined Alice at Chris's side, "What's wrong?"
"He's having an asthma attack." Tears ran down Alice's cheeks as she said this.
"What do we do?" Leo asked. 
"Hook his arm over your shoulder." She said. They both did this and carried Chris to the nurse, the football team and the rest of the crowd laughing at them.


I rushed to the school nurse's office when I heard what happened. Alice and Leo were sitting on either side of Chris, Alice had one of his hands in hers. "It will be okay, Chris." She whispered soothingly in his ear, like she was talking to a baby.
The nurse explained to me what happened and I felt a feeling of pure hatred toward Daniel, now more than ever.
I went over to Chris, Alice, and Leo. Chris tried to sit up and I helped him. "Are you okay, Sweetie? I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help you. Don't worry, I'll get back at Daniel, I will."
Chris sighed, "It's okay, Ange. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" I asked and he nodded.
At the end of the day, we passed Daniel on the way to the bus and he grinned. I glared a soul-chilling glare at him, but it didn't seem to chill his soul. "Come on, Chris." I said to my brother, putting my arm around him and we walked to the bus.

Cool With A "K" PART 11 - CHAPTER 4

Leo was running through the hall as fast as he could when he passed Chris, who was calmly walking. "Dude!" Leo turned around, "What are you doing? You're gonna be late!"
"Oh, relax, Leo!" Chris said calmly.
Leo sighed, "How are you always so calm? Well, not always. I guess you can be pretty obnoxious sometimes, like when we were at camp and you wouldn't stop following me, or when Mouse put that cockroach on your head. Oh man, that was funny!"
Chris sighed, putting his arm around Leo's shoulders. "Oh, Leo. Just stop and smell the flowers sometime. If you rush through life, you could miss something important. You know?"
Leo eyed Chris stupidly, shrugging his arm off. "Um, no, I don't, you know 'cuz we're
inside and I don't see any flowers. But what I do know is that I'm late for class. See you,
Chris."
Leo broke into a run. Chris waved slightly, sighing to himself. "Leo, Leo, Leo. Will you 
ever learn?"


When Chris and I came home, Ger10 greeted us at the door. Chris picked him up, "Ooh, who's a sweet little kitty? Coming to the door to meet us!" I sneezed.
"Bless you, Angela." Chris said, but not in his usual polite tone, more like omg you sneezed. What if my precious cat gets contaminated with your filth? I was starting to seriously hate that cat.
At school the next day, Leo, Chris, me and even Alice had decided to do a little test. 
"Mouse Trap" Leo had called it.
"So, we set up various traps for Mouse and see how she reacts." Leo explained, "I'm 
guessing they'll be good reactions, judging by her reaction to Chris's cat. And, she gets mad, she doesn't cry like Chris."
Chris sighed. Alice said, "So, what kind of traps do you have in mind?"
Leo smiled evilly and we all edged closer to him, waiting for an answer. Leo explained 
his master plan. "Let's get to work." We all put our hands in the middle like they do in 
movies and said, "Mouse Trap!"
Right before lunch, Leo and Chris dragged a ladder in front of the lunchroom doors. Most kids just passed through like nothing had changed, but when Mouse got there she froze.
She stood in front of the door, her mind trying to work the situation out. Lunch food door blocked door blocked no food for Mouse no no food lunch door blocked no food Mouse 
ladder bad luck. 
Her brain just couldn't filter the information. No lunch? Was this even possible? This 
was one of the very few problems that Mouse couldn't seem to solve herself. What to 
do?
Mouse stood frozen, totally stumped, as Leo, Chris, Alice and I watched from behind a wall.
Mouse hesitated and started to walk away. We all gasped, in total shock. Mouse was 
about to walk away from lunch because of superstition! I couldn't believe it! None of us 
could.
I walked up to Mouse, "Hey, Mouse. Where are you going? Let's go get some lunch!" 
Mouse shook her head, "No!....... Ladder...."
Leo stepped in front of us, "Hey, look Mouse. This ladder is completely harmless." He gave the ladder a kick to show just how harmless it was. it tipped over, hitting one of the 
ceiling lights, causing the ladder to spontaneously burst into flames. Girls and guys 
screamed, running this way and that screeching, "FIRE!!! FIRE!!! HELP! HELP!"
Chris and Alice came up to watch the chaos with us. Alice slowly drew her hands up to her face, covering her mouth in shock. Chris put his arm around her comfortingly.
Mouse patted horrified Leo on the back, "Nice going, Slick."
Leo said weakly, "Well at least we can go in now."
Chris, Alice, Mouse, and I all glared at him and he shrugged. We went to lunch, leaving 
the chaos behind us.

Cool With A "K" PART 11 - CHAPTER 3

As I walked to my locker, Alice approached me. "Hey, Angela, message."

I closed my locker, "Shoot."

Alice nodded, "Um, do you know Harold? I'm sure you do...."

I smiled, "Uh, yeah. I know Harold. Una's what's-her-face's friend?"

Alice nodded again, "He wanted me to tell you," She said slowly. I nodded, gesturing for her to go on.

Alice looked me in the eyes, "He wanted me to tell you that he loves you."

My eyes widened, my jaw sagged slightly. Is this what it feels like to have your entire body to shut down at once? I couldn't believe it. Did Alice really just say that? 

"Excuse me?" I said shakily. 

Alice nodded, "He came up to me in the hall, his arm in a sling. My guess is that he and his friend Una got in a tangle again. He said to me, 'Alice, please tell Angela that I love her.'" 

I shook my head, "Why didn't he just say it himself?"

Alice chuckled a little, "Ange, boys are like that, too embarrassed to say it themselves."

I took this all in. "But I thought he was afraid of me. I mean, I was totally stalking him a few months ago!"

Alice studied my face for a second and I drew back. "Oh, um. Forget I said that. Quoting Chris." 

Alice nodded as if to say sure. "Well, Angela, I can tell that he really seems to care about you." 

I bit my lip. What had I ever done for this kid? I'll tell you what; I creeped him out at recess a few times, I asked Chris if he thought Harold was cute, I scared Harold more (unintentionally), I wondered if Harold had I girlfriend- wait, what? I thought about this. Should I be happy? What should I do? 

Alice looked at me, "Are you alright, Angela?"

I tried to clear up my thoughts, "Um, yes. I-I'm fine."

I thought about what Alice had said all day. I tried desperately to find Harold so I could talk to him myself, but I didn't see him anywhere in the school.

I sat on a bench at recess, ironically the same bench where Chris and I had once watched Harold, wondering. I stared into space, thinking. Chris came over to me, "Hey, Ange." I blinked and looked up at him, "Oh, hey Chris."

"May I join you?" He asked politely. I nodded.

Chris sat down, studying my face. "What are you thinking about?" He said.

I sighed. If there was anyone I could talk to, it was my brother. Chris understood me, 

didn't judge me. He knew me. So, I told him. "Harold."

Chris nodded curiously and I continued, "Alice said... that Harold gave her a message for me." I sighed again, "H-he told her to tell me that he loves me."

Chris smiled excitedly, "Really?" 

I hesitated and then I nodded. "I.... I just don't get it. Why would he have any reason to

like me? It's not like I ever did anything for him."

Chris put him arm around my shoulder, "Well, you see, Angela. Love is a confusing, 

beautiful thing. Sometimes you'll think someone feels one way and they feel the opposite. Sometimes you think you feel one way, and you feel the other."

I studied him, trying to understand what he was saying. "What are you getting to?" 

I asked.

Chris pursed his lips, "Well, it may seem unexpected for Harold to come out with this, but that doesn't mean it's not possible."

I sighed heavily, "Chris, I keep expecting you to jump up and start singing 'All You Need Is Love' by the Beatles."

Chris chuckled, "Well, I guess I tend to be good with these things." He said in his way of trying to sound modest.

"Thanks, Chris. Where ever would I be without you?" I said, sighing. "Hey, you haven't 

seen Harold by any chance, have you?"

Chris shook his head, "I haven't."

I thought for a moment. Should I be worried? Does it mean anything? Did he leave 

because of me? I didn't know what to think.

Cool With A "K" PART 11 - CHAPTER 2

I stomped through the hall in my towel, dripping wet, and knocked hard on Chris's door. No answer. "Chris, open up!" I yelled. No answer, still. I was not in a patient mood, therefore I flung open the door and stepped in, "Chris!" I yelled. He held up a finger, he was on the phone. I rolled my eyes, "Chriiiis!" I yelled again.

"Hold on one sec," Chris said into the phone, looking at me with his I-can't-believe-how-rude-you-are look. "Anglea, can't you see I'm on the phone with Alice?"

A sopping wet Ger10 wondered into the room. I picked him up and he yowled. "Don't hurt him, Ange!" Chris said loudly.

I held the wet cat up, "He jumped into the bathtub, while I was in it!" I shouted angrily. Chris stood up, "Hold on Alice. WHAT??????" He stared at wet Ger10 and then back at me. "Oh, Angie....." He said, "I can't believe you would LET THE CAT GET WET!!"

"What is wrong with you?" I said through clenched teeth, "You're defending the cat over me? I am WAY more important than that stupid cat! I wash bird crap out of your hair, I give you your asthma medicine when you forget, I make you yogurt!" 

Chris whimpered. "I'm sorry, Angie. I just... I felt the Ger10 needed defending. I mean, who wouldn't want to defend this guy?" 

I raised my hand and Chris pouted. "Hey, let's show Mouse your new cat." I said.

Chris nodded, "Okay." he said, quickly returning to the phone. "Oh, uh, sorry Alice. Gotta go." 

He ended the call and we left to go find Mouse and Leo.

I spotted them, "Hey, Mousey. Hi Leo." 

"Hey guys." Mouse said, "So, what's up?"

I smiled, "Chris wants to show you his new friend." I tried not to grimace as I said this. I stepped out of the way, revealing Chris and Ger10. 

Chris held Ger10 up to Mouse's face, smiling stupidly, "Isn't he adorable?" As always, the cat seemed to have its same cheeky smile. 

Now here was a reaction that I would never expect from Mouse. Ever. She jumped back and screamed, "Chris! Get that monster out of my face!!!!!"

Chris blinked, totally lost and then he pouted, making his innocent face. "What's wrong? Is the mousey afraid of the big mean kitty cat?" Leo and I giggled, Mouse wouldn't take her eyes off the cat. She seemed to be trying to avoid some invisible line of fire. Every time Mouse stepped back, Chris would edge forward. "What's wrong? He's just a pretty little kitty cat. What is there to be afraid of?" Chris said sweetly, a slight look of pleased evil in his blue-green eyes.

Mouse gulped and said very slowly and very quietly, "It's not just a cat, it's a... black cat." 

We all stopped to stare at her, "What?" Leo, Chris, and I all said at the same time as Ger10 simply stared questioningly at Mouse (Which is how I like it. I swear, if that cat starts talking, I am going to kill someone). 

Chris laughed out loud, "Wait, Mouse.... Are you superstitious?" He asked curiously.

Mouse shook her head violently, "No! T-that's ridiculous!.... I'm just cautious."

Now it was my turn to laugh, "Mouse, Mouse, Mouse. Out of all people, I thought that at least you would notice that that is exactly was Alice says every time you say that she's afraid of germs, which she most definitely is."

Mouse started sweating a bit, eyeing Ger10. Chris stepped towards her and pretended 

that he was going to throw the cat at her. Mouse flinched and gasped, "Chris!" She said as we started laughing.

I patted Mouse on the shoulder, "I'll see you later, Mousey." I said, Mouse scowling. 

"That's not funny!" She called after us. I waved good-bye.

Within seconds, a small grey bird, Ger10's bird, dive bombed, swooping down and yanking on Chris's hair with its feet as it passed. "OW!" Chris screeched. "What the-" The bird did it again, and again, and three more times. "ANGIE THAT BIRD IS AFTER ME!!" Chris screamed, breaking into a run, the bird right on his heels.

I sighed, "I guess Mouse isn't the only one who's paranoid here."

At home, Chris had duct taped all of the windows in his room (which mom would not approve of) and he had a water gun ready for any petite grey bird that threatened him.

Snickering at my cleverness, I pulled out one of Chris's Garbage CDs. I put it in my CD player and skipped to the chorus of I Think I'm Paranoid, blasting it at full volume. 

I heard Chris's shriek of surprise, "Angie!!!" 

I laughed, "Enough of the battle field protection, Chris! That bird isn't gonna kill you."

Chris came in, taking off his bike helmet. "You can never be sure, Angela."

Cool With A "K" PART 11 - CHAPTER 1

Watch the TV..... Watch, Angie.... WATCH!!!.... I'm watching, geez...... Hey, Angie, look!.... There was a panda flying at my face, suddenly it stopped right in front of me. Then, the panda started purring and rubbing against my face..... isn't he cute?? I heard Chris say.
"Whhaa....?" I groaned, opening my eyes. Chris was holding a black cat up to my face. Chris and the cat seemed to have matching stupid grins on their faces. I sneezed, "What?"
Chris giggled, "Do you like him? His name is Ger10. Or, at least that's what his collar said. 
I sat up, "Chris...." Chris quietly stared at me for a bit before he cracked, "Okay, I found him by the school building and their was this weird bird sitting on his head and as I was walking home from Math Club, this cat started following me. I turned around and told it to stay. It looked up at me and meowed a long mournful meow, the bird seemed to cry with it. Oh, it was so sad, Angie."
I rolled my eyes, I knew what was coming. Chris shifted from foot to foot, continuing his dramatic speech. "So, I picked him up and he started purring! Purring, Angela! So, I decided to take him home, y-you know, he was reaaaally skinny. And I told the bird to please get off of his head, you know, because you seemed to get mad the last four times a brought birds home.... But it wouldn't, so I politely removed it, setting it on a park bench. It just stared up at me for a minute and then made a very sad sound. I wasn't sure what to do and so I walked home. So, um...." Chris bit his lip, glancing up at me. "So.... Do you think I could keep him? Please?" My little brother is so predictable.
"No, Chris." I said hollowly, sneezing.
"Oh, please, Angie! Just look at him!" Chris held the cat up to my face again, it purred loudly. Wow, that cat was so weird. I mean, sure it was cute, but it made a weird face whenever it was right by my face. A pleasant one, but still creepy. It was as if it was giving me a weird cheeky smile, saying, Oh Angie, why won't you love me? "No, Chris." I said, sneezing again.
"But whhhyyy?" Chris moaned.
I sneezed for the third time, "Chris, I'm allergic to cats. And plus, having a cat won't help your asthma."
Chris sighed, "I know, but Ger10 needs a home! Just look at him-"
"Chris," I interrupted, "We are not keeping the cat. End of story."




"Which brand of cat litter is best?" Dad asked the guy at Petsmart. The guy held up a bag of litter. "This one."
Chris held Ger10 next to me, beaming like he had just won the lotto. Ger10 seemed to beam with him. That cat was so weird.
We bought a bunch of crap for the cat (food, dishes, a bed, litter, toys, in which Chris had gone totally overboard with, etc). My brother is so annoying, he acts like a four-year-old. I had to listen to him cooing the cat in the backseat. I half expected him to have the cat dressed like a baby within the next twenty minutes. The cat wouldn't mind this, I'm sure. I don't know what's up with Ger10 the cat, it's just, well..... weird.
As soon as we got out of the car, we saw a small shadow cross above the car, we all looked up. Soon, a small grey bird dive bombed and dropped a bomb on Chris. Yikes! Right in the face.
I giggled, trying hard not to laugh. Chris stood, in shock, for a bit. "ANGIE!" He hollered. Geez, that kid is going to live with Mom and Dad for the rest of his life, isn't he?...... and he'll probably expect me to stay with him. 
My maternal-sisterly instincts kicked in, "Oh, Chris, Honey! Are you okay?" 
Ger10 leapt out of Chris's arms and frantically started hopping at the bird, but not in a evil I'm-gonna-rip-you-to-shreds-usual-cat way, more friendly than that. 
I cocked my head to the side as the bird fluttered over to Ger10, settling happily on his head.
"Angie!" Chris screeched again. He opened his eyes and pointed a finger at the bird, shouting. "That's it! That's the bird! The bird that was on Ger10's head!"
"Enough, Chris. Let's go inside." Dad said. 
"It went to the bathroom on my face!" Chris hollered. I sighed, trying to be patient as pedestrians glanced as us curiously. I put my arm around him, taking out a tissue. "Come on, 
Buddy Boy, let's go inside so we can get you cleaned up."
Dad picked up Ger10, shooing the bird and we went inside.
Chris whimpered and hollered and cried as I tried desperately to wash the bird crap out of my brother's hair, which was proven to be more difficult than I had expected. This 
was especially hard because I was not a trained hair-de-poop-er and my brother 
happened to be a professional complainer.




This cat was going to cause trouble, I could feel it already.