There was a girl in my class, 30 March 2015

[PaulJones202718]

Ah. So. THIS is what drives Katia.....a need to distance herself from the bitter jerk she used to be. She's not a naive person after all; she's just seen what being like Linda cost her and wants to pull the other girl out of the hole she's dug herself.

[LadyObvious23]

Ah. That's actually pretty understandable. But sometimes it's hard to forget that feeling.

[SAGG]

Ah. So. THIS is what drives Katia.....a need to distance herself from the bitter jerk she used to be. She's not a naive person after all; she's just seen what being like Linda cost her and wants to pull the other girl out of the hole she's dug herself.

So, in essence, Katia was once a Linda? Now I find that hard to believe. What made Katia change to who she is now? Must have been quite a doozy...

[Sylvanaerie]

Ah. So. THIS is what drives Katia.....a need to distance herself from the bitter jerk she used to be. She's not a naive person after all; she's just seen what being like Linda cost her and wants to pull the other girl out of the hole she's dug herself.

So, in essence, Katia was once a Linda? Now I find that hard to believe. What made Katia change to who she is now? Must have been quite a doozy...

I find it hard to picture Katia as 'a Linda'. I can picture her as a shy, angry young woman who didn't want to be at an all girl's school. Perhaps she wasn't bitter so much as angry, young teen. Maybe even a little out of control for her parents?

Katia is probably my favorite character in the story. At times aggravating, at times funny and inspiring, she is certainly all the time entertaining and often surprising. With her, Starline has created a fascinating character. At times so painfully shy and awkward she makes my fillings hurt, at times strong willed and very much in control of her own destiny/path, she moves among the other players in the story and drives the plot as none have before. It was Katia who got Candi and Chris on their first 'date'--and Katia who swiped his profile on the app for Candi. It was Katia who was pivotal in Alex's alienation from Linda, leading to their inevitable break up, and ultimately Candi finally able to tell Alex to go soak his head--twice. As a plot device she's absolutely the most fun reading of any of the cast.

Vulnerable, sweet, funny, enthusiastic. I cannot imagine anyone having those traits being once a bitter pill of a person. Angry, yes, bitter, no.

[cursormortis]

I can imagine it. High-schoolers can be surly, self-obsessed little fuckers.

[Darasu]

I can't help thinking Katia would make a great magical girl.

[Attalus]

I can't help thinking Katia would make a great magical girl.

I'm sure that she would be great at it, but what, precisely, is a "magical girl?"

[ShadeTail]

I can imagine it. High-schoolers can be surly, self-obsessed little fuckers.

They certainly can. So can anyone else, as Linda shows.

[pixiewolfe]

I didn't read that it was Katia who was this girl, merely she learnt from watching others not to be like that. Her flashbacks don't suggest she was any more "self obsessed " then Candi was in the scarlett story arc.

[RDrd]

I think Linda is the most tragic character in this comic, honestly...

she's just seen what being like Linda cost her and wants to pull the other girl out of the hole she's dug herself.

I don't even think it's that. She just refuses to be pulled into bull### drama and gives people the benefit of the doubt (possibly too much). She's managed not to get hurt to badly, but honestly a lot of that is because she rolls with the punches very well. A lot of people would have been traumatized by what happened with Alex. She's barely let it bother her.

I don't see any indication that she's specifically trying to help Linda. She just knows they're going to be spending time together in class and doesn't want it to be awkward.

I didn't read that it was Katia who was this girl, merely she learnt from watching others not to be like that. Her flashbacks don't suggest she was any more "self obsessed " then Candi was in the scarlett story arc.

Agreed. I didn't get that that was Katia, but that realizing the girl was lashing out and wasn't actually trying to hurt Katia. It would explain why Katia can weather such negativity without taking it personally. I can see it either way, though.

[jazz1m]

I think Linda is the most tragic character in this comic, honestly...

she's just seen what being like Linda cost her and wants to pull the other girl out of the hole she's dug herself.

I don't even think it's that. She just refuses to be pulled into bull### drama and gives people the benefit of the doubt (possibly too much). She's managed not to get hurt to badly, but honestly a lot of that is because she rolls with the punches very well. A lot of people would have been traumatized by what happened with Alex. She's barely let it bother her.

I don't see any indication that she's specifically trying to help Linda. She just knows they're going to be spending time together in class and doesn't want it to be awkward.

I didn't read that it was Katia who was this girl, merely she learnt from watching others not to be like that. Her flashbacks don't suggest she was any more "self obsessed " then Candi was in the scarlett story arc.

Agreed. I didn't get that that was Katia, but that realizing the girl was lashing out and wasn't actually trying to hurt Katia. It would explain why Katia can weather such negativity without taking it personally. I can see it either way, though.

I agree with this. The wording is a bit confusing I guess because she talks about the friend who lashed out at everyone who tried to be nice to "I learned to stop thinking everyone was trying to hurt me." Which seems to reference back to her friend. I think she learned from watching and seeing this person lose friends and isolate herself not to act like that. It could also be the case that it's a bit of both. Maybe Katia, due to her shyness, pushed people away and assumed others were trying to hurt her, but maybe they were just trying to get her out of her shell. She then sees this girl who served as a reflection of herself and realized she didn't want to end up like that and changed.

[ShadeTail]

I didn't read that it was Katia who was this girl, merely she learnt from watching others not to be like that. Her flashbacks don't suggest she was any more "self obsessed " then Candi was in the scarlett story arc.

That's how I read it also, but the dialogue is vague enough that it really could go either way.

[Warrl]

I can't help thinking Katia would make a great magical girl.

Yeah, I think she'd get a kick out of Magical Flower Girl Cherry Blossom, aka Steve.

[UnstoppableTaboo]

Katia indeed was a great addition to the cast.

On that note, I still feel like she's such a 'new' character and yet... I just checked, and she came into the comic in 2010. We've had half a decade with Katia.

[RDrd]

Wow... 5 years. I was going to say "Candi has been going so long", but it's only been going on since 2004 so Katia's been with us for nearly half the strip's run. It really is weird, but it still feels like the Alex-Candi breakup is a much more recent arc but it was very early in the comic.

Part of it, I think, is that she still just acts new. It's honestly what Linda is getting at now- she still acts like the overenthusiastic, naive, bubbly newcomer who's just so pleased to make everyone's acquaintance. Which isn't a complaint, as I said- she impresses me. Honestly, I envy her ability. I'd be a much happier person if I could live life the way she does.


And, yes, Katia is a total Magical Girl. That is one heck of an indomitable spirit.