Battle with the fishes

 The last thing I wanted to do on my summer vacation is go to a college orientation that isn’t going to start for another two months. But there I was Monday morning, first week of May getting ready while my mom shouting my name. “Chaitanya! Hurry up, you’re just going to college not a party.” I peeked my head out of my room and rolled my eyes at mom. “Im waiting outside in the car, finish up your fashion show fast.” 

Now there I was in front of my new college, totally freaking out over new people. I did not like putting on my normal mortal side where I’m surrounded with non half blood. Don’t get me wrong I do have good intentions towards human but they are very boring. Anyway, I had gotten into this college through my mom’s so called best friend. My mom thought I still wasn’t mature enough to grasp that he was her boyfriend.

Professor Aditya was walking towards us with a bright smile on his face.

“Good Morning Chaitanya, I hope you are prepared to have a blast today at the orientation.”

In my head- ‘Well I hope I don’t blow up this school like the before one.’

“He has been picking his clothes for over two hours this morning, he better be ready for this” Mom said taunting me. “Mom, UGH!” I got very flustered and so I walked away from the conversation. 

As they were chit chatting more about the college, I started noticing the exterior of it and the students entering. I dunked down real fast behind my mom without giving it a thought, I didn’t want her to see me and then die!!! I asked Prof. Aditya if there was any other entrance I could use, he pointed towards a side entrance. I rushed to the side entrance being careful as to not be seen by her, I heard my mom screaming “Call me once you’re done, love ya!” 

I saw two girls standing not far away from the door. I thought to myself ‘You don’t have to pay attention to bullies, keep walking.’

They looked very sketchy to me, both gave me a very weird feeling, something about them just didn’t add up. As I walked inside the college, someone tapped on my shoulder, “Something about is fishy.” 

Which is weird because one of my favourite shape shifting They laughed at me and suddenly stopped looking behind me. Prof. Aditya said, “Sakshi, Tanvi it’s good to see that you are bonding with the freshmen already.” Tanvi and Sakshi looked at each other and started giggling, “Yes, sir we want their college experience to go smoothly.” They replied back. 

Prof. Aditya and I dashed into the hallway, the girls laughing behind me.

Prof. Aditya clapped me on the back. “Listen, I know you’re nervous but we have a lot of students here with ADHD. The teachers know how to help you.”

I mean I know he was trying to help me but if I told him the truth about my disease he would just worry.

Then I looked down the hallway and I remembered I had another problem, the girl I’d seen at the entrance and as I was thinking about her.

 She saw me and her eyes widened.

“Where is the orientation happening?” I asked Professor.

“Auditorium, it’s that way.”

“Okay, bye”

“But Chaitanya I..”

I was already running towards the auditorium thinking I would lose her. 

There I was in the auditorium that was well lit up with “WELCOME FUTURE FRESHMEN” and a bunch of other slogans. As I was walking someone pulled me by my shoulder. 

It was her. “What are you doing here Chaitanya?” 

“And you’re um…”

“Kavya, you couldn’t get my name last time? Oh I guess you were too busy coming up with excuses for not able to give me my money.”

“I.…I…. don’t” I was struggling to even say a word.

“I am in so much trouble because of you.” She firmly said. 

“Those weren’t for me, the guy did not give me money so I”

“Hey! Not my problem buddy. You have to directly go to the dealers now. Which by the way are right in this college and they are not friendly.”

“Please! I don’t have any money” I told her what situation I’m in with my ADHD and she seemed to have gained sympathy for me even though I lied but she did not need to know that. Some guy behind us whispered, “You guys need to shut up, the girls are talking.”

“Hey guys”, a girl spoke into the microphone. It was the mean one, from the entrance. “I’m Sakshi and this is, like Tanvi.” Tanvi waved at us. 

Next to me, Kavya gasped very loudly like she just saw a ghost. A few kids looked over and looked at her in confusion, but Kavya kept staring at the girls thinking something. The girls didn’t seem to notice the little commotion. They started talking about all the great clubs we could get into during our freshman year. 

“You need to leave” Kavya told me. “Now.”

“Why?”

“If the girls see me with you, I’m dead too.”

Kavya started getting very anxious and got her way out of the crowd. 

I hesitated. Sakshi was explaining how all of us were going to split up in small groups for the tour of the college. Tanvi caught my eye and gave me a smirk, like she was waiting for me to make a decision. I didn’t know what to do, Professor Aditya was right down there with the rest of the teachers. He’d wonder what went wrong. But I followed Kavya  out of the room anyway. 

I found Kavya in the record room. She was hiding behind a cupboard.

“Get over here and keep it down.”

I felt pretty stupid hiding behind a cupboard. 

“Why are we hiding again?” I asked.

From what she told me I understood that, the girls are not as innocent as they look, they are very dangerous and have a history of abusing people that haven’t paid them back.”

Just then Sakshi and Tanvi stepped into the record room. The doors slammed shut behind them. 

“There y’all are, Kavya I believe it was your job to get the money for him and yet here you are being friends with him.” Sakshi interrupted Tanvi and said, “You know we like our money on time, kid I think it’s time for your orientation.”

Sakshi came towards me pointing a knife at me. I distracted her by throwing the ukulele across the room, it threw her off guard and I took the knife from her by hitting her with my elbow. Pulled an anime move, grabbed Kavya and opened the door to get out of the room. About 25 students with professor Aditya was present in the hallway outside the room, they were in shock since I was still holding the knife in my hand. 

“What HAPPENED?” 

I explained everything with obviously the up cycled goons interrupting.