Rules of a Rebel

Chapter 1: Don't Shake Hands

I ignore her and turn my attention to the kitten.

The pair of yellow eyes watch me as I approach the edge of the road. Then, all of a sudden, a black creature jumps out of the bushes. The kitten's face is around the size of my palm. Her - at least, I think it's a her - fur is matted with dirt and her legs are thin and scrawny. My heart goes to out the creature - she must be starving.

Melody, however, gasps in disgust. I guess the kitten's not as adorable as she wants it to be.

I go on my knees and motion for it to come forward. Maybe, if it's not too wild or suspicious of humans yet, I can convince it to come to me so I can give it some food, like fish. It's only a few feet away, but if I approach it might get frightened and scurry away.

"What are you doing?" Melody hisses. "Are you that desperate to have friends? Peyton, it probably has, like, flees or something - are you even listening to me?"

I edge closer, so that I'm nearly on the road, and reach a hand out, motioning the cat to come forwards.

Melody scoffs.

I'm about to respond when, amazingly, the kitten takes a step forwards. It's shaky and nervous, but she doesn't look away from my eyes. I suck in a deep breath and smile encouragingly, motioning with both hands now.

"Here kitty," I whisper. "Come here. I won't hurt you."

Come on, I think desperately, I didn't take a zoology class for nothing.

Then, slowly, the kitten starts wandering towards me. I manage to wait patiently as she stumbles towards our direction, coming onto the sidewalk, then to the road. Every now and then, she gets scared from a faint noise that I can't hear, but continues. I wait with bated breath.

Eventually, the kitten starts to become confident and starts walking towards me. I lean back on my heels, unable to repress my wide grin.

Halfway through, she pauses and hisses at me.

I still.

Melody stiffens besides me. "Now, you've done it - watch, it's probably going to attack us with its claws or something."

"The worst thing it can do is give you a paper cut, dumbass," I mutter quietly, not taking my eyes off her. She's not looking at me anymore, but to the side. And she won't stop hissing. Her black fur is at an edge. She's terrified, but of what?

Then, I hear it.

The faint roar of a car engine.

All of a sudden, a red Audi flies around the corner. And it shows no signs of stopping. Of course, it can't see the cat, since she's black and blends perfectly in the street. The headlights aren't turned on either. Quickly, I turn back to the kitten, who hasn't moved from her spot.

"Move!" I yell. "Move."

But the stupid creature freezes, hissing at the incoming car. Melody's shouting something in the distance, but I ignore her. I motion with both hands now, but the kitten refuses to listen. The car is less than twenty feet away.

Okay, I think, already on my knees. Time for Plan B.

Peyton's Rules on How to Stop a Moving Car

1) Run into the designated spot (preferably in the middle of the road) to catch the driver's attention.

2) Stretch out your arms and wave them around, just in case the supposed the driver is drunk, asleep, stupid or all of the above.

3) Yell, so they know what you want them to do. Phrases such 'help me' or 'stop' are recommended.

4) Wait.