Ascension by Christopher De Sousa

on one arm. Consumed with a hot flush of rage, Katherine rigorously ground her teeth from left to right. With eyes locked upon the young man as if he were her prey, she lurched forward and strode toward him.
    â€œHe really should try to distance himself from Sadie Cassell,” said Naomi, placing a comforting palm upon Katherine’s shoulder. “His problem is he’s too nice to tell her to leave him alone.”
    Katherine snarled at Sadie as this blonde young woman shot her an insincere grin. “Sure, that’s his problem.”
    â€œSadie, let go of my arm,” she heard the young man say, as he appeared to tug himself free. “You know I’m seeing somebody…”
    â€œJustin, I hope that somebody you are referring to is me,” she said.
    Justin mumbled with an awkward smile. “Hey Kat, I’ve been meaning to catch up with you before class.”
    As Justin slowly approached, Katherine glared back at Sadie. Sadie merely wrinkled her nose in response, and returned to the circle of girls while she brushed away her long locks of thick blonde hair. Katherine also couldn’t help but notice that all Sadie’s friends were staring at Justin as though they were somehow caught within a trance.
    â€œKatherine, you need to relax,” said Naomi. “There is no reason for you to be jealous.”
    â€œJealous” Katherine was swift to respond. “We’ve been only dating for a couple of months now, and here he is openly flirting with Sadie Cassell of all people.”
    She shifted her attention back to Justin. The young man was rubbing at his neck and gazing back at her as if he awaited an imminent scolding. She could also sense that Naomi too was now ogling him, attentive to his well-toned and muscular physique, and to his long and impressive mane of fair hair. Even this was enough to make her feel uncomfortable and insecure. For as soon as he’d arrived at Anabasis High, Justin seemed to have gathered an entire contingent of admirers. When looking at Sadie, Katherine saw a shapely blonde bombshell who would often court the drooled gawking of many an adolescent male. As for Naomi, she was a young and athletic oriental woman with the most smooth and silky skin. When compared with these two, Katherine couldn’t help but feel it was impossible for her to compete, let alone to trust that Justin would not cave and give in to temptation.
    â€œOnly after one day of try outs he made the guy’s first team. Let’s just say that Albert was not pleased with the news,” Naomi had said.
    â€œThat good huh?” she had questioned, less interested in Naomi’s information about his basket balling ability, and more so in her unwavering eye contract.
    â€œCouldn’t miss a shot, I reckon he’ll be starting as the team’s point guard come the beginning of the season.”
    â€œWell that explains why Albert has been giving me such a tough time of late,” said Katherine, her eyes narrowed. “All these songs and snide remarks… he’s just bitter that Justin has taken his position, and is using me to get back at him.”
    They soon heard the rumbling footsteps from a group of boys come up behind them. “Hey Albert, catch it.” Albert soared past, landing with a jarring clang up against a nearby locker and grasping at a football.
    â€œThat’s what I’m talking about,” Albert cheered, who in turn received a plethora of fist bumps and chest pumps from his teammates as they helped him to his feet.
    Albert trucked over to Katherine, brushing her aside, and wrapping his arm around Naomi’s shoulder. “Hey pretty lady, any further thoughts on Saturday night? What time do you reckon I should rock my chariot by your palace?”
    Katherine could sense herself starting to feel nauseous upon hearing such a masterfully cheesy line. For the life of her, she could not understand what Naomi saw in him. She