Novic

And that is how I remember it, almost like a dream it shouldn't have been real. I roll over to the side of my bed, and kick start my day. I have lost sleep thinking every day, that moment, of him.

Novic. I pull on a strapless dress, and pin my hair up just the way John liked it. Novic was my curse, a creature unlikely to remain on this Earth, which so happens to be mine now. I pull John into a hug and try to kiss his lips, as he droops in my arms, sleepless in our bed; eyes half shut. He stutters in his sleep, before he drifts back into a deep slumber. I shove him back over, leaving for the door. As the floors scream with delight trying to wake my John, I could have sworn the walls were talking. I begin immensely bargaining, hushing these creaks in the floors. I take a quick glance behind myself, seeing if John had waken and watch me from the door.

Meeting down to the end of the hallway, a parcicular scent that always brought me back home, air the kitchen.

"Novic, I thought I smellt something." As i refer to him as this particalr smell. This hooded creature had peek from the corner of the wall hiding his face in the emptiness of his hood.

"You had a dream of me," The voice posses by Novic, dramatically change innocently into juvenile tonality.

"Always had," i say to him. I've never seen his face, even when i was a child; always as a child Novic left me without answers. I scan the kitchen, the porcelain counter tops, new wooden cabnets; John's father carved for our wedding gift and the long island center in our kitchen. I reach for Novic in surprise, "how did I get here?" It was like a story, a cinderella story. The poor girl meets her Prince Charming and lives in an apartment, still surprised she got this far.

"You lied." Novic's voice shift from a young child to an elderly man with a broken accent. I jerk my hand back, then deny. I stretch over the counter top for the handle of the coffee pot,

"I want coffee," I begin to pour me a cup of black coffee. When the cup reaches my lips a warm sensation vibrates like a bass to the sea, making ripples through the distance; it made ripples in my fingers. The warm sensation heats my tips and i slam the cup down onto the counter. Furious with Novic, i confront him.

"I just want to drink without you messing with me," i blew calmly on my tips, then pick the cup back up to my lips. Novic's hand rise with a stiff position, i grasp the cup strongly in my palms as i feel Novic chants to himself mentaly and an urge came over me to release the handle. The cup finally slips through my fingers compacting into my fridge.

"Damn it Novic, you are going to wake John." Heat compresses against my waist, following chills up my spine leading to my lips as they trumble. Fingers tips tingle at my waist and I jump in surprise to face my John. His red scuffy bangs hover his oval eyes, as his eyes show ambition and amusement as he looks me fearless in the eyes. John locked his arms around my waist as i do the same around his neck; one peck to the lips and a smile peaked from my lips as my cheeks blush to his soft touch. I shut my eyes in belief and lean for another.

After cleaning up after Novic's inccident, i tell John i thought i saw a spider and i was startled. I exaggerate on the story of the spider. I tell him along the lines, the spider fell from off the rack; where our pots and pans hung from under the lighting, and it dissapeared under the fridge.

His contagious upbringing was starting to get on my nerves, I listen clearly to Novic's voice, as he mutters through my ear; "you are a horrible liar, I raised you right." Novic's pearly canines reflects off the ceiling lights like a diamond with his bewitched laugh as he continues to murmer in my ear. I heed to Novic's remarks, and shake my head with such fierce objection.

"Honey I'm going to stay late at the office, so don't leave a plate out for me," John says to me. John forks over at me as he's bent; his knees stiffling in his chest for when he was scanning beneath the fridge. "Did you hear me?" he tries to see if I apprehend him. So I nod and turn to grab another glass from the cabnet.

"I heard," I say. I feel a rumble come about my stomach; crying like little puppies hungry for their mothers milk. I feel around my tummy, while being reminded of the cradle. "So John when are we going to talk about that cradle, it's been months and i waited." I rechecked myself, "And i've waited patiently." He picks himself up by the hands and dust himself off, my heart skips a beat as he focuses his attention hard on me. John's eyebrows slant like a V down the middle of his forhead,

"Ive told you i didn't want a child."

"No, your exact words were give me time to think. So that didn't mean no, it meant maybe. Honey you can change your mind." I craddle my words carefully, not getting to excited yet not to disappointed and hope my pouting voice will make him come to his senses and say yes. But it only fustrates him more.

"Conversation done," he leaves me without hesitation. Soon after my John is running the water, I grab for the keys; pull my arms through lavender sleeves of my sweater to leave for work.

Enhaling the fresh new paint job from the janitor, he'd had paint my classroom a darker shade of peachy yellow. Patching up the old wiring and dents from last semester while the students was on spring break. The new teachers budget allowed me to buy myself a back table; taking up the wall in the back. I set an apple on each desk; all 12. Beginning my new semester class off with a good reputation. I line up at the door, greeting my new students, one by one as I receive a bottom hung over lip; almost the same one I tried using on John this morning. Dark brown, blue, green eyes trying to intimdate me as they brush pass me. Was mug faces the new trend?

After every seat is taken by the boys and girls, i start off with a greet.

"I hope you like green apples. Green is my favorite color." I groan awkwardly; clawing at my scalp; I exhaled a 'hmph' while my palms were feeling like Niagara Falls.

"You like my poster in the back?" I point in the direction behind their heads and read the bold print. 'No Fate, Just Yourself.' They dagger their bored eyes at me, as if they didnt know how to blink, or as if their eyes were being held open during torment of therapy shock. I thought i was starting off fine, so i try to comfort them a little more; some tactics. Talking loudly seems to make people less nervous, telling little about myself and maybe a game to get a feel of how I am.

"My name is Drew Red, but my ID says Drew Emily Red." I grab for my purse, when i finally get out my wallet, I snatch out a white card with my face on it and hold it up; motioning my body from left to right. "I look like i'm taking a mug shot." I snorkle to myself and try to keep it together. My hand pierces my lips, hiding a smile behind it. "I am from my hometown, obvisously. I cannot leave," I try tweaking my sarcastic laugh, trying to make it sound realer than it should. But i think they see pass it. "I went to Flesh and Blood Acdemy. And wanted to teach Eigth Grade History. This year will be very important for you as well, you all might be receiving your Guardians." I try sounding pleased by it, but just like i was 20 years ago i was never happy of a Guardian.

I try to popcorn with the students, but not one budge to stand; speak! For that matter. This is the first class i've ever seen say not one word. No words was said to other students, it was like a ghost town in my own classroom. I nibble away at the end of my toast signing in disbelief. My second semsters class has gone wrong, all wrong. I sit at my desk finishing my lunch before my third period-class- come back. A scent that always brought me back home, flurries through the air and onto my clothes. Starting a nausating smell.

"Novic?" I take a quick glance behind myself, towards the board. I try easing into the ghastly smell, almost falling into his presence. But the stench was to much to bare, i plunge my nose and walk towards the window, and opening the hatches. Wiggle at the handles till the window slides up and cool air rushes in. "Show yourself." I am furious now, times I did not want Novic around, he comes at the right moment to make it worse.

"You seem mad," his voice starts off cold, but then slowly works its way up to my own voice. I had that southern drawn of an accent, like that women did twenty years ago. The one who was there to give me Novic, the one with the pearl rocks on her ears. "Julie you mean?" Novic says to me. Sometimes I forget he can hear my thoughts, "we are like one." I suck my teeth in, and sit back down at my desk.

"My students will be here any second."

"You still have ten minutes to speak with me," he brushes pass the desk in the back. I stand with him, leaving my position. Having a distance; un-sure of what he wants from me. This wasn't the usual of Novic appearing durring work. I didn't want him interferring.

"Drew I know this act," my own demon knows me better than I knew itself. I push aside the whole visting during school hours and look towards our conversation. I sit at one of my students desk and look pass the dark cape look and try to find his eyes. But the only thing that appears human on him is his man like talons; hands, stubby fingers like a man but nails like a bird. Out strech forth of me, he suggests the door and before I know it. I'm quickly shutting the door behind Novic and I and quickly switching to lock. I come back to join him and cross my arms for this better be worth being secretly caught.

He slides a white rock into my palm, the rock glistening in my hand though it has not been through the light. It's size was quite large, for it was the size of a quarter. I weigh the rock in my both my hands, trying to see what more there was a difference in this rock and many more i've seen at Conie Island, i visited with John last year for our anniversry.

"It is a rock with gorgeous linning inside, very decorative. But I already have to many rocks from Conie Island." I lie.

"First off, you don't own a rock collection. Second, you were to busy vomitting over the railing to notice Conie Island till you got there, after; you were to busy nauses to notice John was flirting with other women." Novic vigoursly mentions John cheating behind my back. I hollor,

"No, he is not!" We just so happen to lose focus on the main subject, so I mention the rock. "Why do I care about this?" I twirl the rock round in my fingers, he shurgs in his black cape; which i'm surprise I could see him move his ligaments through.

"I do not know." He whispers. We bicker back and forth of how he wasted seven minutes on Conie Island and my John. I yell, but his temper is like a wild fire; starting with one thing and exadrating on something much bigger; blacketing the lie, till its all burnt down by the flames he creates.

"Leave me alone Novic, all you do is start trouble." I shake my head, as he's taunting a smirk towards me.

"You lied!"

"And you keep bringing it back up, I know I lied!" I begin to sob. I ball my hands up, to slowly calm myself. But he teases his way into my brain, whispering little chants in my ear-Little eyes sees what they hear- he chucks his heads towards the door, while twenty-four eyes starre at me. So I frown, because I was not sure what just happened. I look up from the children, the Principle and Secratary hovering over their heads.

"Let me explain," my heart pumps with fear, I was not the best lier.

"Office, now." He sends securty in, and they haul me away from my classroom.

　

Principle Zaylor sits me down in front of his desk and excuses everyone to leave; but it seems one did not catch the memo, Secratary Gillespie. I must have triggered some side of her that i have never see before, because she is displaying outward signs. I can tell she doesn't like me, it was kinda like a "gut" feeling.... Her beaty black eyes and crossed arms, she plays on like this is her bussiness, crossing eyes back and forth between the Principle and myself. Her cheeks sucks in, as if she sucking on a sour-head. She adjustes her lens and pierce me with anger.

Principle Zaylor has a cherry desk that seems almost superfluous, since there's little to no paperwork to be seen. A deep burgundy leather desk chair, that reclines to an almost obscene angle. There are only two small table lamps - one near the door atop a wicker table that clashes with the rest of the room's executive motif, and another on the cherry wood desk with a long brass pull-cord. The absence of overhead light casts shadows into the corners, spilling under the desk and over top the framed black-and-white pictures on the wall.

The deep purple curtains are drawn to one side, allowing the light from outside the second story window to paint the eastern wall. It highlights a lone filing cabinet, suspiciously locked and coated in dust.

　

"Principle this is her second time. It's uncalled for, I think someone else should take her place." Her heart must being feeling quite happy with itself, cause she's holding on very tightly to the center of her button up jacket. Relief puffs from out her mouth and I see she's happy with herself.

"Cocky much?" I blurt out, I squeezed my lips shut. Ms. Gillespie yells as if she's holding a siren up to her mouth.

"I've had it with her, she's disrespectful and doesn't deserve to host the National Anthem!" I thought hard on what she said, the National Anthem; my childhood was not a blur, but this part of my childhood was. I speak out as she's barking at the principle.

"What is the National Anthem?" Was it a speach; a little get together? She claps in excitement, yet laughs with a harsh cry for help,

"Explain this to this poor of an excuse of a teacher," the words bite at me with a sting of posion entering my heart as I was offended of my lack of knowledge of possibly the knew customs.

"Mrs. Red,"

"Ms, just Ms. Red."

"Ms. Red, it is one of our new customs informed by the government. They want children younger to start getting their guardian. Since you were one child who was able to open that warrobe they would like you to host the National Anthem." I think for second than lie,

"It was already open." Principle Zaylor slides the clip board from off the desk, and into his hands.

"Not informed by Mrs. Julie Loue. She said she was there when you struggled to open the door." he points at the clip board in his hand, and reads what suppously Julie wrote. "Drew Emily Red had asked me did I call her, when I did not. Then I told her that the warrobe would not open. But she coninuted to mess with it, till it finally did. First child i've seen; in the last seven years had open what our government couldn't." He lays it back down and shrugs; waiting for me to answer. I could not lie now, the proof was what Julie wrote and saw and there is an oath you take; saying you may not lie during the students-and no elder can lie either- exam. I brushed the lie off my shoulder and skip the unanswer question.

"So, what do I do for the National Anthem?" He signs, and I know that he realizes I'm dodging the whole recarnation inactment.

"Tell your story to calm the other students. Eat, dance, smile maybe introduce yourself to the parents and then we do the pre-early recarnation. It's just a party to ease their minds before they see what the world offers." I held in my tears and looked away before the torment of my recarnation got to me.

"How can you say that about little kids and opening their puiny little minds and thrusting humanoids as if they're a vaccine. These kids are only humans. So are we and..." Principle Zaylor cuts me off and sees im bursting into tears. I pull the sleeve over my fist, then wipe the remains that have not left my face.

"We do what we are told,"

"You do what your told." I stand up, tell him I will be hosting the National Anthem and walk out his office.