My Jason

When J.D.'s best friend, Sophia, falls in love with a dangerous, quiet, and unexpected kid, J.D. can't help but notice he is GORGEOUS! Soon, J.D. learns that there is more to Jason then what meets the eye, and discovers there is something strange about he

 1. First Impressions

 

“I regarded the world as such a sad sight until I viewed it in black and white”, the worlds to DEAR VIENNA                          by Owl City played like the first words a deaf man heard after life enhancing surgery. Owl City had always

 been my ‘Happy’ band, as I liked to call them. No matter what my mood, they always lifted my spirits.

My name is Jennifer-Dylan Wander. I live in Salem, Oregon with my Dad and three brothers and sisters. Besides my family and my best friend Sophia, but I call her Soph, the most important thing to me is…music. I can’t sing, dance, or play an instrument but I know music. From about a mile a way I can hear what song is playing. My ipod has 16 gigabytes (oddly, still not enough), and no matter how much I loathe high school, it’s ‘going to help me in the future’, or so my father tells me.

When I arrived at school, for the first time since the beginning of summer, in my old but lovable little Honda, I saw Soph on the steps waiting for me just as she did everyday of the last year. I grabbed my ipod from the car charger, and laid it gently in my bag.

“What took you so long? You know what it doesn’t even matter, I gotta tell you something” Sophia said so quickly that if I hadn’t known her my entire life and gotten used to the over excitement I would have never understood. “You know Jason, well he has totally changed. In a hot way!!!”

Oh dear god, I thought to myself. Shes completely lost it. This was something Sophia did every year. She got a crush on some random guy who looked exactly the same he did the year before and claimed he was totally hot! I was certain this was just the same. The poor boy I thought to myself he is going to have to go through the entire school year with an obsessive girl clinging to his every movement. I thought about that and snickered to myself. Sophia shot me a strange look. I hoped she couldn’t tell what I was laughing about.

“Oh get a grip Soph, he probably looks exactly the same”

“No I’m serious J.D.!!!” Sophia pleaded, “He’s really hot, LOOK!!!!”

Just as I looked up I saw Jason Farley walk by. Sophia hadn’t been hallucinating. Jason was no longer 5 foot 4, with greasy brown hair and broken glasses. No, not at all. Now he stood, well over 6 feet, shaggy black hair, and bright, captivating blue eyes. He wore an old rowing shirt, with black skinny jeans and a chain clipped from one belt loop to another. A typical bad boy as storybooks would have called him. Dangerous, the fantasy of every girl… except mine.

“You’re right he has changed-”

“See I told you” Sophia said cutting me off.

“Let me finish” I said calmly, “He has changed, but he’s not hot”

“Oh come on, J.D.” Soph shouted at me “He’s gorgeous!!!”

As Jason walked by, he looked over at us. His violent, yet still gentle eyes met mine for a couple of seconds. I felt like there was in no way enough power in me too look away. Quickly he shook his head as if he hadn’t realized what he was doing and strode away at a faster pace than he had before.

“That was weird,” I said calmly

“Hmm?” Sophia asked her face exploding with happiness, but her eyes told me she was somewhere else. Clearly having some strange fantasy in the back of her mind.

I did not bother to check Sophia back into reality; she was obviously happy where ever she was. Instead I grabbed my Ipod from my bag and started to play Australia by The Shins.

I got my schedule. English first, History second, Science third, Art fourth, Math fifth, and P.E. last. I never had high expectations for anything school related, so nothing ever disappointed or excited me. I flung my bag over my shoulder and walked to English.

I was early. I still had ten minutes till class actually started, so I did what I always did, put on my ipod. One Foot In Front Of The Other by Bright Eyes. About two minutes into the song, Jason walked in the door. He sat at an empty table in front of me; he was also listening to his Ipod. I am very curious. The volume was low and the class was loud but I listened carefully, and when I heard the tune it was easy to know what song it was. The World At Large by Modest Mouse. It surprised me. I did not think many people liked Modest Mouse. The singer had a strange voice, which some people didn’t like, I didn’t think people got that the sound of his voice is what makes their music interesting.

The bell rang and I quickly yanked the headphones from my ears and put it in my bag. Mrs. Burn, saw me and gave me a stern look, when she turned away I couldn’t help but giggle. Jason did too.

Mrs. Burn told us about her class rules and expectations. I knew I could pass with ease, but the class would be boring. As soon as class ended I got up and started to fast walk, just glad to be out of there, but I wasn’t paying to much attention to my surroundings. I ran into a pole. I started to fall backward, but something caught me before my head crushed against the cement. I stumbled trying to balance myself; my head was throbbing from the metal pole. I opened my eyes, and turned around to see who helped me, but no one was there. No one was anywhere near me.

“Odd” I mumbled to myself. But I did not have time to really mull it over before Soph came screaming and waving her hand frantically.

“ I, (pant) heard you, (pant) had first period, (pant) with Jason” Sophia said trying to catch her breath.

“Yeah, and?”

“And…” Sophia said finally, her lungs slowly filling with air. I was afraid she was about to pass out. “I wanted to know what you said about me”

“Nothing. I didn’t talk to the guy”

“What?!?” Sophia said shocked. “I mean I know you don’t like him, but you honestly didn’t think about me????”

“No. Now hurry we are going to be late for history”

“Fine” Sophia agreed, and then she mumbled to herself for a bit.

The rest of the day was not that interesting. My teachers were neutral, classes were boring, and Soph was drooling. How pathetic I thought to myself.

love

I was smart, but clueless at the same time. I got A’s and understood school, but when it came to people and the real world I was slow. My clueless ness often made me forgetful, and mostly very clumsy. I was constantly getting scratched up or bruised. At first people were always so worried when I fell, but now people understood that it was natural, and it often made them laugh.

“Hi Jennifer!” josh said chasing after me. UUGGHH!!! How I despised that name! But josh was often oblivious to obvious factors, such as the fact that if I didn’t like him back by now, there was a good chance I never would. I honestly do not understand how it took a person over 5 years to take a hint.

“Hi Josh,” I said trying to help him see that if he red between the lines of everything I said he would read, Josh, stop bugging me!!! I DON’T LIKE YOU!!!! But no that was much to complicated for josh’s young mind.

“So, Jennifer… There is a party at Serena’s on Friday you wanna come?”

“What kind of party is it?”

“Dance”

Ah, dance. Something I had never been good at. Plus, if there was dancing that would mean music. No one had the same music tastes as me, nor was my music tastes good for dancing. I truly despised popular music. But how do I decline?

“Shoot! Sorry Josh! I have a thing in Portland with my dad Friday!” I lied, hoping he wouldn’t catch the smile I was trying so hard to hold back.

“That’s okay, maybe another time”

“Maybe” I replied hoping he would not take that as me saying yes to some date he was planning in the near future. I jumped into my Honda and drove off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Broken Down

 

I plugged my Ipod in, Marching Bands Of Manhattan by Death Cab For Cutie. I was only about half way home when my car started to make a very strange noise. I pulled over to the side of the road and climbed out. I looked at the car, afraid that this was the end for my old friend. But nothing seemed to be wrong. Then I checked the gas. Empty. How long had it been like that!!!!!!!! I thought to myself. It didn’t matter now. My car had no gas and I was nowhere near a gas station. Then the motorcycle came.

The motorcycle came to an abrupt halt next to me, the sudden stop sent wind blowing my hair behind me and my breath away from my mouth. The boy lifted the helmet off his head, shook his shagged black hair, eyed my car, and grimaced.

“Need a ride…?” Jason asked in his now deep husky voice.

“No, I’m fine” I said quickly, embarrassed by my look of distress.

“You might be fine, but I’m fairly certain your car needs gas”

I sighed “Yeah I guess you’re right, but my dad will kill me if he finds out I was on that” I said pointing to his shiny metal death trap.

He laughed, it was deep, and short. It felt very warm. “But he won’t be angry that you were too oblivious to fill up gas” he said sarcastically.

“True” I said finally Jason 2, me 0.

He handed me his helmet and I climbed onto the seat.

“Hold on” he said. I did as I was told and wrapped my arms around his waist. The warmth of his body felt like it was burning my skin, but the temperature evened out as the wind passed quickly by us. It was hard to breath but the suffocation didn’t bother me. I felt oddly safe. Jason started to hum something, the wind made it sound very soft, but with my greatest gift I was able to tell what it was.

“Decemberists?” I asked straight into his ear so that he could hear me over the gusts of wind.

“Yeah, Engine Driver… How did you know?” he shouted trying to compete with the wind.

“Music is my obsession, and oddly enough we seem to have the same taste. I heard you listening to The World At Large this morning”

“Stalker.” He said sarcasm filled his voice.

I rolled my eyes. He was funny. But still probably another druggy bad boy.

Finally we got to my house. “Er… thanks.” I said trying to sound grateful, but I was truly worried what my dad would think when he came home and my car was gone.

“No problem” he said genuinely.

I tossed him his helmet. He caught it with ease, if it had of been me that helmet would have had no chance of not hitting the ground, but maybe if I was lucky it wouldn’t break. I watched Jason disappear into the distance.

I gnawed on my bottom lip while I remembered the burning of his skin. I told myself I only thought of it because of my curiosity but truly, I liked remembering the feel of it. It was nice compared to the usually very rainy days.

 

My dad, being his usual worrywart self, asked me frantically what happen with my car. Hmmm… I wonder if I can use his worrying to my advantage?

“Well there was this car, with a strange man in it, and I thought he was following me. So, I accelerated and got away from him.” I said in my sweet innocent tone. “ Then my car ran out of gas. I’m sorry dad I shouldn’t have done it…”

“No, no, no. If you think someone is following you, you get out of there as fast as possible, okay?” My dad replied quickly, not wanting me to feel bad for it. “Tell me where your car is and I can go pick it up.”

“Alright…”

I wondered if my dad would ever realize when he was being lied to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Get Out Of My Personal Bubble!

 

“You did WHAT???!!!” Sophia shouted at me. “But he’s MINE!!!!

I couldn’t help but laugh at my clingy best friend. “Sheesh! My car broke down, what do you want?”

“For you to turn down his offer, call your dad, and tell him to pick you up!!!!”

“You want me to be grounded for two months so that you don’t have to be jealous?” Sophia opened her mouth as if to respond, but I cut her off, “THAT WAS A RETORICAL QUESTION!!!!!!”

“UUUGGGHHH!!! You’re unbelievable!!” Sophia shouted.

“Says the girl who would make her best friend grounded over a guy”. Yes! I had gotten her; she had absolutely no way to respond to that because she knew I was completely right.

Sophia mumbled something that sounded like ‘you still shouldn’t have accepted the offer’ I rolled my eyes. No matter how much I love Sophia her obsessions were always a bit too much for me.

 

I got to English class and saw Jason sitting in the same seat as yesterday. I don’t know how he did it, but he was able to sense it as I walked through the doorway. He turned and game me a very wide smile. Jason had sharp…very sharp, pearly white teeth. It was very welcoming and I couldn’t help but smile back. Then he turned away from me and went back to writing something on the paper in front of him.

I sat down in my seat and took out my homework from last night. I felt very embarrassed at my sloppy handwriting, but it was readable so whatever.

Julia was my usual partner for English, but she was out sick today. I was alone at my table. So, when we had to work with the person sitting next to us, I was at a loss. Mrs. Burn paired me up with the only other person who didn’t have a partner. Well, never had a partner, Jason.

But I did as I was told and sat next to him.

“Hi” I said trying to hide the embarrassment in my voice.

“Hey” Jason said smoothly. No stuttering, No stammering, no hint of questioning in his voice! UUUGGGHHH!!! Of course I looked like the weirdo here.

There was a long period of awkward silence, and I did not plan to be the one to break it.

“Uuummm…Do. You. Like. Your. Classes…?” Jason finally asked.

“Oh, uh, they’re fine…I guess.” I said glad for an end to the strange yet very familiar silence.

“Anything at all, remotely interesting?”

Yeah I wanted to say the way you grew a foot, died your hair, got a motorcycle, and now appear to be showing up a lot. But no. I couldn’t say that, I am tired of looking like the strange one. “Um… new year, new classes, new teachers.” New people, I wanted to add in. “Things change, but almost everything stays the same.” I wanted to emphasize the almost.

“I guess its just different names for the same thing”

“Death Cab For Cutie?”

“Yeah” he replied, giving one chuckle.

 

After school had ended, I went to go look for Sophia. She was in the office talking to the councilor Miss. Oberst.

“I’m sorry Ms. Chandler, but that not going to work.” Miss. Oberst said to Soph.

“Could you please check it again? First period, Mrs. Burn, Eng-” Sophia was about to say English when she noticed me standing next to her.

“Obsessed much?” I asked to Soph.

“Never mind Miss. Oberst.” Sophia said calmly, even though her face was turning bright red with embarrassment. “ I am just going to talk something over with my friend here.” Sophia turned to me.

We took a couple of steps away from the office counter before Sophia said anything.

“Will you drop out of your first period so I can take it?!?”

“What?!? No!!!!”

“Why not!!!”

It took me a moment to even answer that question for myself. Why didn’t I want to move? I knew it would make Sophia happy. I really did not have to ask myself because I knew the answer, Jason. But I could not admit that to Sophia… or to myself. So I lied.

“Because I like Mrs. Burn, she is a really nice teacher”

“Oh come on!!!!” Sophia shouted, “She’s awful!”

“No shes not!” I lied. “She’s really nice”

“Okay, well let’s say she is nice” Sophia asked hypothetically. “Just switch to another one her periods!”

“NO!!”

“Why not?!”

“Be-because I like all my other classes, and if I switch, at least one will get moved around” I tried to say this without letting her know that I was lying but it was getting awfully difficult.

“FINE!!! You know what?! Whatever!!!!!”

Its only because you want to get to know him… As a friend, I told myself there is nothing else going on!!! I kept repeating this over and over again in my mind. But my mind wanted to add on well he’s a friend… for now! But I did not let myself thing about that.

 

The next day I was very oblivious. My thoughts were focused somewhere else. But I really did not understand where. All I knew was since I was dreaming I fell a lot, but something happened every time I fell. I never got hurt. Like when I was in the cafeteria and I tripped over a backpack. Or when I was on my way to find Sophia during a passing period and I was running so fast I couldn’t stop when I was about to hit the open locker. Or even when I was running to my next class, afraid of being late, and I tripped over my own two feet. Something was always there so stop me before I hit, but when I looked for what it was. It was gone. Which of course sent me deeper into thought making me fall more often.  It was a never-ending circle. And I loved it.

I loved the feeling that someone was there to protect me and never hurt me. It gave me piece of mind. I thought about telling people, telling them about my newfound guardian, but I stopped myself. There was a good chance people would not believe me, and even if they did they would probably take it the wrong way. They would think there was someone stalking me even though I thought of it as someone watching over me.

I desperately wanted to know what or who is was. And yet, I didn’t. I was afraid that if I found out, it would leave, and I wouldn’t have my angel anymore.

So what I did was let it pass. I didn’t think of what it was; just how grateful I was that it was there. I passed through my day unscratched. Unbelievable, I know.

 

At lunch on Friday everyone obsessed over Serena’s party, even Sophia. Well actually it did not surprise me, Sophia was always up for a good party. Don’t get me wrong she is not a s**t or drinker or anything, she just likes to dance. She’s really not half bad, but I’m not that kind of person, which annoyed the hell out of Sophia.

“Please come!!” Sophia pleaded

“Sophia, how long have you known me exactly”

“I know, I know, but one party isn’t going to hurt. Plus, I am tired of always showing up alone”

“Here’s a crazy idea,” I said sarcastically. “How about a date?”

“ Well, I have a crush on Jason, but just incase you don’t remember… HE DOESN’T REALLY KNOW ME!!!!

I couldn’t help but laugh how mad Sophia was. “Did it ever occur to you that if you asked him out that could be your chance to get to know him?”

“I’m just going to take a random guess and say that no matter how much I beg you’re not coming with me.”

“Not if you were lying on your death bed and this was your last night to live,” I told her smoothly

Sophia sighed. I hoped she understood that this was not because I did not love her, because she had been my friend forever. This had to do with my hatred toward all things normal.

“I guess I already knew that, but hey there’s no harm in trying.” Yes she knew.

“Ha-ha. Well we should probably head to fifth period the bell rang three minutes ago!”

Math was boring, but hey it’s a step up from just god-awful. P.E. would have been fun, for someone who had more coordination. I hit three people in the head and made a dent in the wall. I was really never good at dodge ball. I was really never good a sports in general.

 

“Hello?” I asked the inside of our empty house. YES!!!

No one was home. No one was here to bug me about my annoyance. I ran up to my room, plugged my Ipod into its speakers, and blasted the music so that nothing in my head or the actual world made sense. Just me and my music, the way it had always been. I could hear nothing, except for when the roaring motorcycle sped quickly down my street. I jumped quickly off my bed and ran to the window, but whose ever motorcycle it was, was nowhere in site.

I shrugged, walked back to my bed, and lay there for a while, motionless. I let my Ipod play through many of my bands Muse, Shins, Bright Eyes, and more. I did not want to move, I felt content, almost joyful, to not have to do anything, it was a weekend and I could just lie there for hours on end. I did nothing but listen, and then my phone rang and I had to actually use my eyes. Sophia had sent me a text message:

Hey,

I skipped the party.

Coming to ur place. Be

there in five.

Oh NO!!!!!! UUGGHH!! Did she have to come now? When I finally had the house to myself, and was completely content. Oh well, what could I do now?

“Dear lord, kill me now” I mumbled to myself as the doorbell rang.

“Hey, so what’ve you been up to.”

“Just listening to some music. Why didn’t you go to the party.”

“Didn’t I already tell you this? I am tired of showing up alone, so I decided to just not show up at all.”

“Wait, does this mean you are going to skip every dance, and come here!?!”

“Until somebody asks me out to one, yeah!”

Man, I have to get her a date!! I don’t want her here all the time!!!!

“Are you sure about this, I mean you are truly an amazing dancer, and I am sure everyone will so sad that you didn’t come” I lied.

“Hey maybe then guys will find me all mysterious and ask me out!”

“Uumm… Well, you know how girls like mysterious guys” I said making things up as I went along. “Yeah well, guys are the opposite. Yeah, they like really public girls…”

“Well I have tried that for like, two years now. I need to try something else, so that’s why I’m here!”

Oh god!!!! She was never going to listen to me, was she?

“Well I have decided to go out every dance.” What was I saying!?!? “Yeah, uh, go out shopping or something.”

“Why?”

“My dad is worried that I don’t have enough fun…” It sounded more like a question than an answer. This was actually probably the exact opposite of what my dad was thinking. If there was anything he really wanted it would be me safe at home 24-7. “So I am going to just lie to him.”

“Oh, well, I can come with you! You know it will look more believable”

Would she please take my word and just shut up once in a while.

“No!!” I shouted, then Sophia gave me a strange look. “Uh… I mean, I am going to a bookstore. You wouldn’t have that much fun anyway…”

“But you just said you were going to go shopping…?”

“ I am!!” I said quickly. Was this making any sense to her? Probably not. I didn’t even understand what I was talking about. “I’m going shopping…at a book store… in Portland.”

“Okay…”

I did not want to listen to Sophia antagonize me, so I faked a phone call. I picked up my phone.

“Hello… Oh, hey dad… No… Now, really?… Alright, bye!” Then I hung up from the fake call, and turned to Soph. “That was my dad. He says he’s coming home now. He thinks I am doing my homework so, you have to get out of here.”

“Wait, I didn’t here the phone ring.”

“Oh, uh… vibrate.”

“Oh, alright. Call me later” Sophia got up, grabbed her coat and walked out the door. I quickly got up off my chair and ran to my room. I shut my door, turn my ipod back on, and went back into my same content position on my bed.

 

It was not until I woke up the next morning that I realized I had fallen asleep right then and there. I had a blanket on, my dad I guessed. I could hardly remember my dream, but I remember music. All my favorite songs, vivid colors, and that someone else was present, but I could not tell who it was.

I spent the weekend alone. In my room a lot of the time deep in thought. I loved to daydream. I daydream when I am alone, during class, when people are trying to have meaningful conversations with me. I feel like I can block everybody out and do things my own way. No rules to follow, people to make happy, just me, myself, and I (Well, actually at many points in time it is me, myself and music…but that’s beside the point). I can be in control, I can live my life the way I think I should. Many times my dream bubble is bursted, especially during the meaningful conversations. Apparently people think it’s rude. Strange, I know.

After the incident with Sophia I decided to turn my phone off. I wanted no interruptions, no bubble bursting. I bet Sophia will kick the crap out of me for that on Monday, but whatever. I was happy, just where I was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

 

“J.D.! Why was your phone off? I tried to call like 50 TIMES!!!!” Sophia yelled at me, but hey I wasn’t dead, just annoyed.

“Ummmm… I dropped it in the sink while I was doing dishes and ruined it.”

“Man, you are such a klutz!!!” Well it wasn’t like no one had ever told me that before.

“Yeah, I know. I didn’t get a new one ‘till just last night.”

“God, your dad is slow! Doesn’t he understand that we need our phones!”

When she said ‘we’ I hope she meant her and her imaginary best friend bob. I was not now, nor would I ever be attached to my phone!!

“Yeah, well, I can’t blame him too much on him. I mean, he works a lot.” I said feeling bad for my doctor dad.

“Well whatever…”

When I got to English I got a strange itching in my throat. I felt the need to cough, but I could do nothing. I waited a while and it went away. It was strange but I didn’t think anything of it.

Julia was out again today. So, Jason was my partner again.

“What’s your favorite part about Salem?” Jason said, just trying to make small talk I guess.

“Ummm… I guess I would say I love the rain. I hate sunny days. I mean I’m not trying to sound emo or anything, I just think the rain is nice. It makes it easier to fall asleep at night.”

“Weird. Normal people would probably say that they hate rain, that it is loud and makes it harder to fall asleep.”

“Well, one thing I can promise you, you will never see me and normal together.” Jason started to laugh. His laugh is very contagious so I had to join in. “Me and normal are like arch enemies, I absolutely HATE normal.”

Mrs. Burn heard us laughing. She quickly turned around to stare at us, but we stopped. Trying very hard to hold our breath. She glared at us for a while and then turned back to the board. Then, Jason and me just sat and laughed quietly to ourselves. Low enough that both of us could hear, but not Mrs. Burn. There was no way Sophia was going to here about this one.

I came out of English Sophia was waiting for me. Or was she waiting for Jason? Probably both. She wave violently at me, and when Jason slipped slyly out the door, she gave him a wink. He ignored her and just stared down at his toes while he walked. I chuckled to myself as Sophia lowered her head, in rejection? Embarrassment?

 

When I got home, my sister was waiting for me.

“Hey Malin. What’s up?” I asked my sister. She sat on the floor with a large poster in front of her, and many photos scattered near by.

“J.D., could you stand against that wall, I need to take a picture of you”

“Sure, but why?”

“I have a family tree project due in History and all your pictures are from when you were like six-years-old.”

I stood against the wall and my sister snapped a quick photo. Then I walked up to her poster to get a better look.

“Woah! That’s awesome. How long did you work on this?”

“Not long.” I could have guessed this answer. My sister had always been perfect, without even trying. Weather it was sports, school, art, or musical talent; she always seemed to out shine everybody else. It was annoying, but helpful when I didn’t understand things.

The family tree went as far out as my great, great grandfather. I didn’t have to many aunts, uncles, or cousins, so it was mostly just my dad, mom, and grandparents. My sisters beautiful cursive filled the poster making it even more perfect than humanly possible. Then again my sister was always to perfect to be human. Well next year when I am a senior, I can just use her family tree to help me do mine. Wow, that was really my bright side to this; that I could copy. Pa-thetic!

 

Julia had been out for five days in row now, I was wondering if she was deathly ill or something.

“Ms. Wander?” Mrs. Burn asked me.

“Yes.”

“I was just informed this morning that Julia has moved. So, your new, permanent seat will be next to Mr. Farley.”

“Okay…” I said as I picked up my bag and slowly slid out of my seat, carried them forward and dropped them next to Jason. His blue eyes wandered over to mine and caught them, not letting them move. He smiled showing me his sharp teeth again, I smiled back shyly and then he finally let go of my eyes and turned to Mrs. Burn.

“So here’s what we are going to do,” Mrs. Burn said as she turned on the overhead, showing us a painting. “Describe to me what you see in this painting.”

The painting was of a woman and her son, sitting by the ocean. So this so what I said:

1.    The sun is just about to set on the horizon

2.     Bother the boy and his mother had blond hair and green eyes

3.    It looked fairly dark. 7:00?

“Time’s up!” Mrs. Burn said. “Now, turn to the person next to you and tell them what you wrote down.”

I did as she said and told Jason the three short things I had written. Then it was his turn.

“Ummm… I put: 1. There is a small paint smug in the bottom right hand corner. 2. The mother’s red nail polish is coming slightly off on the index finger of her left hand. 3. At the very edge of the boys pupils there is a thing blue ring.”

How could he see this? I would have had to stare at that painting for hours, no days to notice those kinds of things.

“How did you notice that?” I asked staring straight down at the desk not looking into his eyes, afraid of getting lost by their overwhelming power.

“I-I…” He started to say but Mrs. Burn cut him off.

“Well we only have two minutes left. So, pack up your things and get ready to go.”

Jason sighed in relief. As if he was thankful for the interruption, but why? Aren’t most people happy to have amazing vision like his? Well if he was afraid to tell me about it, I would not bug him.

 

For the next week Jason was very quiet. He would say hi and then quickly turn his head to stare down at the desk. Could all this come because I just asked him how he could have such great eye site? No, there had to be another reason behind this. Either that or a desk was just much better looking, and more interesting than me. I hoped to god that wasn’t the case.

I tried to be equally quiet. Not to bother him or say something that would make him mad. So I sat there and stared blankly around the room, only talking when absolutely necessary. Just as he did.

Jake, a guy we sat next to during lunch on most days, was telling us how his parents were going out of town on Friday and wouldn’t be back until Sunday night. UGH! Another party!

“So you guys wanna come?” Jake asked Sophia and me.

“Yneoh.” Is what it ended up sounding like when Sophia tried to reply yeah and a tried to respond no.

“What happened to you’re ‘I am tired of showing up alone’ thing?” I asked Sophia sarcastically.

“You of all people should know that I would never actually follow through with that. I’m all bark no bite” Sophia tried to explain. “I love parties too much to ever give them up!”

Yes I thought to myself I do not have to worry about her hanging around me every party!!!

“ Oh well, I am going to go to the book store, like I said before to find something new to read.” Luckily I was not entirely lying to my friend. I was going out, not to a bookstore, but out. I decided to go to my spot. My spot was a place I found in the heart of the woods when I was about five.

I was on a hike with my dad, and I got lost. I was screaming, crying, and searching for my dad. Then I saw this stream. The woods were hard to move around because of the massive amounts of trees, but this one small area was a wide open plain. Just grass, flowers, and the rushing; beautiful stream. I stopped there for like three hours; completely forgetting about my psychotic father. He called in the cops. For a five-year-old I did not know how I thought of this, but when I heard someone coming to find me. I ran a different direction. I did not want anyone to find my little spot, and still today people don’t know about it. I go there once in while, look down at the stream and think about how easily it distracted me from how afraid I was.

“Oh alright. Well, I guess I will see you, Sophia Friday; and J.D., have fun at the bookstore…?” Jake told us.

“’Kay! Bye.” I called to Jake as the bell rang and we walked to our next class. Jake was a nice guy. Not as pushy as Soph. If you didn’t want to do something he just said okay.

 

As I drove off to my spot, I listened to a new song I just put on my Ipod; it’s called She Doesn’t Get It by The Format. I love how up beat it is, but the words can be so strange.

I imagined finally being alone. No phone, no dad, no parties. Just my stream and me. Well, and my Ipod.

When arrived at the forest, I grabbed my Ipod, got out, slammed the door to my silver Honda, and took one deep breath. It was nice. It felt clean. Much farther down in the parking lot, I saw only one other viechal but I paid it no mind. It’s probably taking the trail. I on the other hand was going off trail so we would never meet up.

I took a deep breath and walked into the forest. It took me about fifteen minutes to find it, because I got off track once and had to just walk aimlessly, but I made it. The rush of the stream was still as violent yet calming as it had always been and the flowers bloomed multiple colors. The grass was soft and inviting. I found a nice spot, laid myself down, and looked up. I saw dark grey clouds over head. Yay! I hope that means rain! It only took about five minutes for me to find out. It started to pour rain. One of the hardest rains I had ever seen, but soft enough not to be hail.

I stood up and skipped around the open plain. It was amazing. How the rain could be so cold, yet I felt so comforted, safe, and warm. I let the rain soak every part of my body as I danced. I couldn’t remember a time I had been so happy. Though, no matter how much fun I was having I was still a klutz. The rain made the ground very muddy, I slipped a little too close to the stream, but something caught me.

I hadn’t fallen in a while, amazingly; and I had forgotten all about my angel. I decided it was time I found out who or what my guardian was. I quickly rapped my hand around its wrist. It was soft, and warm. Then I realized I was not holding onto someone’s hand, this was a paw. I opened my eyes wide and saw something never would have guessed, a wolf. It stood on its hinge legs in front of me, its arm, or front leg wrapped around my waist holding me up. There were so many questions I wanted to ask: Who/What are you? How do you know me? Why have you been saving me? But all I said was…

“Thank you,” Then I realized that, that was all I needed to say. I didn’t need to know his motivations, but I needed him to know I was grateful.

I let go of his front leg, and he removed it from my waist, then he looked at me almost as if he was in shock and ran off. And I was alone again, but this time I knew I was not entirely. As soon as it left I smiled, how weird. Of all the things I could have guessed, a wolf. Actually, it was not weird to me at all. It almost made me trust this thing more. I was happy, almost anxious, like I could not wait to get hurt again.

When I was about to get into my car and drive off, I saw the veichal I saw before. I squinted my eyes to try and see it more easily, and I noticed that it only had two wheels. So it was either a bike or… a motorcycle.

 

“J.D.!!! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME JULIA DROPPED OUT!!!!” Sophia shouted at me through the phone while I was on my way home from my spot. I wasn’t paying much attention, I was just thinking about my amazing wolf angel, and strange two-wheeled veichal.

“What? Oh, that. Right. I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t think it was that important.”

“That important!?!?!” she repeated seeming shocked. “Don’t you realize, this means there is an open spot in you class!!!!!!!”

Then something hit me. I didn’t want Sophia in my English class, I might not know why, but I knew I didn’t. So I felt compelled to lie to her.

“Oh. Um. Actually, I didn’t tell you because there is a new guy coming in next week to take her place. Sorry.”

“Oh, well okay. Never mind. I will just have to find a different way I guess.”

“Yeah bummer. It would have been fun to have you there.”

“Sure” Sophia mumbled.

 

When I got to English, Jason was already there. I walked up to my seat next to him dropped down my bag and moved swiftly into my chair.

“Hey” I said to Jason though I was pretty sure it was clear to him that by the look on my face I was somewhere else. Some happier place.

“What are you so smiley about?” Jason asked as he chuckled at my ‘in space’ expression.

“Angels”

“Huh?”

“Long story” and he left it at that. I guess he did not feel the need to pry.

“Oh. Uh, by the way. Your friend?”

“Sophia…?”

“Yeah that’s her. She scares me.”

“Yeah she’s obsessed, but hey give her some slack, she can’t help but be captured.” Oh dear sweet mother of god!!! WHAT. DID. I. JUST. SAY?!

“Captured?”

“Uh, yeah…” I tried to say without sounding like an idiot. “You have really blue eyes, that’s all.”

“But what does that have to do with being ‘captured’”

“Well they’re really blue.”

“I don’t get it.”

Oh would he please just let this go.

“You have really pretty eyes! Okay? And when you look into them, you lose yourself, and it’s really hard to find yourself again!! All right? That’s what I meant by captured!!!” I practically shouted.

 Oh no!!! I thought to myself. It felt as if the entire class was staring at me. I slumped low in my chair as my face turned bright red. I pinched my nose. What have I done??

“Cool” Jason replied smoothly and then he smiled a very cocky half smile. Of course this just made him better looking.

I tried to keep my mind off of the embarrassment. So I thought about my wolf, and then I realized that every name I called it, I always made it possessive. I called it my guardian, my angel, my wolf. It could very well be saving thousands of peoples and I was just one of those many, but I didn’t want to think of that. Even if he actually wasn’t mine alone, I wanted to think of him that way, I wanted to think of him as my own personal hero. I felt like the three-year-old who doesn’t want to share her toys, but oh well, I was fine with whatever kept him mine.

I did not realize I was deep in thought until Jason said my name.

“J.D.? Hello…? You still here? J.D.?” Jason said waving my hand in front of my face. His deep and husky voice was like the greatest alarm clock I had ever heard, It shocked my heart and made it beat rapidly so I woke up from my daydream.

“What? Oh yeah! Sorry! Got a little lost there.” I said trying to check back into reality.

“What’s with you today? You’re all happy and you’re blanking all the time…”

“What? Is it so weird that I’m happy?” I asked sarcastically.

“Well… Yeah! Not that you’re usually depressed, but you’re usually very neutral and don’t have much to say.”

“Well, the rain yesterday, it just made me happy.”

“Well just be careful, the ground gets really muddy when it rains, and we don’t want you to fall again.” Just then, Jason’s eyes opened wide as if he wanted to take back everything he just said.

Again?

“How did you know I…” The bell rang. It felt like it was only two seconds later that he was out the door, and running for his next class.

Again?

That one word question played through my head over and over again. I had to know what he meant. I could not pay attention in any class. I didn’t talk to anyone at lunch. I just played the sentence in my head like a broken record. ‘…We don’t you to fall again.’ After the finally bell rang I grabbed my bag from my locker and went to the parking lot. There were only three motorcycles in the entire lot. Luckily they were all parked very close to each other. I decided I would wait, until he came out and went to his motorcycle. I would force him to talk to me, I would force him to explain.

It was only about five minutes before he came out.

“Jason!” I called across the parking lot.

Jason pretended as if he had not heard me. He stared at his shoes as he fast walked to his motorcycle. I was able to catch sight of which one was his. I sprinted over to it, beating him there.

“Explain!” was all I said as he reached the motorcycle.

“There’s nothing to explain.” He said shaking his head, never looking me in the eye.

“You know there is something to explain! What was up with your ‘again’?”

“Nothing, you just seem like a klutz and I don’t want you to hurt yourself!” Jason started to kick one leg over the seat, and throw on his helmet.

“I know there is more to it than that!!”

“That’s the thing, there isn’t!”

Jason threw up the kickstand and was about to press on the gas. I had to do something, and fast! So I did something even I would have never guessed I would do. I threw one leg over the seat and strapped my arms around his waist. And before he could realize I was even on, we were gone.

Just before we out of the parking lot, I turned my head around to watch as the school disappeared behind us, but instead, I caught eyes with Sophia. She had her teeth clenched together so tight even from where I was, I could tell she was mad. She shook her head slowly, then turned herself around, and ran.

Oh no… This time she would really kick my a*s.

“What the hell did you just do?!?!” Jason shouted as he realized I was hanging on.

“I want answers.”

“Then you’ve come to the wrong guy”

Jason made a sharp U-turn and accelerated.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Home!”

“But I don’t want to go home yet.”

“Well that sucks.”

“Yeah… for you! Turn around!”

“The hell I will!!! You’re not coming with me!”

“You can drive to my house, but you can’t force me to go home.”

“Would you SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME!!!”

“First you listen to me! I want to know what’s going on! Truthfully! And if you honestly can’t tell me I want a reason.”

“You want a reason, you want… a… REASON!!!” Jason said as if he could list a thousand legitimate reasons right then and there. “F**k…! I don’t have a reason!”

“HA!”

“Fine” Jason said shaking his head as if he knew this would be the worst decision he ever made. “ Just go inside and get a jacket, then comeback out and I’ll show you.”

“Ha! Not a chance! I’m not letting you drive off while I’m inside, your coming with me.”

“You’re stubborn, did you know that?” Jason said and then he chuckled.

“Its been stated a few times in the past. Now come on!!”

Jason got off his bike and put down his kickstand. And started to walk behind me.

About half way up the walkway, I stopped. My throat started to burn. The same it did that morning in English, only much worse. My knees unlocked and I fell to the floor, but Jason caught me. I would have put more thought into that aspect if I hadn’t been writhing in pain. I started to breathe very heavily and rubbed my neck with my hand.

Jason looked down at me and started to shake his head.

“No!!!”

Before I could ask what was wrong, he had me cradled in his arms as he fast walked to the door. I guessed the door was unlocked because then next thing I knew Jason was lying me down on my bed.

“Wh-Wh…” I would have asked what was going on but Jason cut me off.

“I WILL NOT let this happen to you!”

Great, something new to confuse me. By now I had realized there was something about Jason, something he didn’t want me to know about, something he did not want anyone to know about. I also knew that something was happening to me. Something he knew about and I didn’t. Weird, he knew there was something wrong with me before I even did!

“Of all the god damn things life could do, it chooses this!” Jason said, I didn’t know if he was speaking to me or to himself.

“I don’t suppose you will tell me what’s going on.” My voice was hoarse.

“Hell no.” He said and then he chuckled.

I sighed, “I kinda figured.”

Jason stroked the stray hair out of my face. My heart started to pound rapidly as it did many times I was around Jason, I hoped he couldn’t hear when he got this close.

“I promise, you will be okay.” Jason said

“Please don’t.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want you to feel bad for any broken promises.”

“Of course your betting against your own odds, and you don’t even know what’s wrong.”

“I’ve never had high expectations.”

“No, but you have a lot trust.”

“I guess. Anyway, my dad will be home soon, you should go.”

“You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll know if you need me.”

“Okay.”

“What? No demand for an explanation?”

“No.”

“Oh now she trusts me.”

“Bye Jason.” I said trying to force him out the door.

“See ya.”

And like that he was gone.

I felt like I couldn’t talk. My throat stung and my heart had not slowed. I went to my Ipod and put on Black Cat by Mayday Parade. I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Finally I decided to get something for my throat. I walked down to the kitchen and put on some tea. As I waited for the water to heat up in the kettle, I placed my hands on the sink and thought about how strange everything could turn in just a day. I chuckled once and just as I did I caught a glimpse of my own reflection in the window above the sink. I saw my teeth and jumped back. My teeth were very…white. Okay I thought to myself either I have been brushing very vigorously or this is just another addition to my already very bizarre day. I decided to just go with the second answer and leave it alone. My throat already burned like a fiery hell, I did not need a headache to become the icing on the cake that is my pain.

BEEP! My phone pinged, a new message. From Sophia:

I HATE U!!!!

You fat inconsiderate

man-stealing w***e!!!

I am never speaking

to you again!!!

Oh God!!! I had forgotten all about Sophia, so much for the no headaches. I knew no matter how long or heartfelt a text message I sent, she would still be mad at me. I would have to wait until tomorrow at school so I could talk to her in person. I rubbed my temples with my index fingers, I don’t like making Sophia mad, but this is beyond her. Just then a note slipped under the front door. I walked over, bent down, and picked it up.

Ignore her. She

is only mad because

she thinks we’re dating

or something.

Oh, so this is what he meant when he said ‘I will know if you need me’. He was just going to stand outside and stalk me. Lovely! Then the front door opened and my dad walked in. I crumpled the paper in my hands and stuffed it in the back pocket of my jeans.

“Hey dad.” I said in the best imitation of a normal voice I could do at the moment. It must have worked. Either that or my dad is truly oblivious to the things around him.

“Hey J.D., what have you done all day.”

Hmmmm… Lets see, I got a ride home on a motorcycle, I came home and I am sick with something I don’t even know about, and oh yeah there is a guy named Jason stalking our house right now!

“Nothing much, just a little homework.” I honestly thought this was one of the biggest lies I have ever told.

“Your classes must be really hard. Everyday I come home you tell me you have just been doing homework. I hope they aren’t piling things on you.” My dad said in a caring tone.

“No its just high school day it’s always been that way.” I tried to say. I actually hadn’t had any homework for the past three school days, which really came in handy when I started to hang out with Jason. I couldn’t be distracted by homework.

“Well, if you ever feel like it is becoming to much, just tell me and I can call your teacher or something.”

I loved my father for always trying to make life easier for me and my siblings but we usually never asked for his help, because none of us usually did anything we didn’t think we could handle on our own, but I was beginning to wonder if I would need help now? And if so, from who?

I couldn’t look my father in the eye. I looked down at my feet and tried not to let him here the cracking in my voice.

“Umm… dad I’m pretty tired I think I am going to hit the hay.”

“Now? But it’s only eight o’clock.”

“Yeah I know… I don’t think I got enough sleep last night so I should probably catch myself up. Good night dad. If you need me you can just knock, k?

“Okay, goodnight sweetie.”

I rushed up to my room and slammed the door without even meaning to. I immediately went to the window. I threw it open and stuck my head out. I took a deep breath.

“Good night Jason! You know you can go home now.” I smiled knowing he wouldn’t listen to me. I pulled my head back inside, but kept the window open.

I went into the bathroom and was again startled by my amazingly white teeth. I brushed by them and took a shower. The heated water reminded me of sitting on the back of Jason motorcycle, holding on not only for dear life, but holding on because it felt comfortable, having him so close, my arms around him. No matter how corny this might sound, it felt…right. Like that’s where I was meant to stay.

I turned the water off unwillingly and threw on my pajamas. Then I brushed through my hair and went back to my room. My bed was very warm. I was starting to forget about my burning throat. It was not going away, but my mind was slowly starting to get used to it.

It took a while for me to fall asleep, not much longer than usual, but a bit. Actually it wasn’t even my burning throat that made it harder, it was my excitement and my fear. Excitement to see Jason and maybe get an answer for my strange illness, but fear for finding out something I really did not want to hear and… having to talk to Sophia. How was I supposed to explain all this? No one was even explaining to me what was happening, how do I pass on news I don’t even know. Well, I guess to do that, you would have to lie. Frankly, I had been lying quite a lot, to a lot of people for reasons I cannot even remember.

I didn’t think Sophia would listen to me. She would probably be too pissed off and just walk away, calling me a name such as: Man stealer or w***e. But whatever. There was nothing I could do now. I would try to talk to her, try to explain things. If she decides not to listen, than it is no longer my fault. Then it is her just being stubborn.

 

When I got to school, I was disappointed, but not surprised, that Sophia was not sitting there waiting for me. I grabbed my bag and slowly & unwillingly climbed out of the car. This is going to be a long day!

In the hallways, I felt cold. I also felt like people were staring at me. How many people saw me ride off with Jason yesterday!! Sophia was walking just ahead of me. She had some books close to her chest and her head was hanging down. Wait, it didn’t look like she was sad at all!!! It looked like she was… acting!!!! Wow, some best friend!!! I knew not all these people saw me ride off with Jason, no; Sophia just had a REALLY big mouth!!!!!

Sophia was trying to turn this school against me. I knew exactly what she was capable of, and I knew exactly what she did: when Sophia saw me ride off with Jason, she got mad!!! Scary mad!! So, instead of getting sad and depressed she decided to get even. She probably went around the school acting all sad so people would ask her what’s wrong? And I bet she told them something like ‘Well I was kind of dating Jason, and J.D. just went and stole him from me’ or ‘I told J.D. over and over again about how I liked Jason, and now she just went off on his motorcycle making out with him’. Yes, those both sounded like a Soph thing to do. That would explain the many eyes staring and drop in temperature; everyone was giving me the cold shoulder!!!

I decided I would not give up without a fight; I sped up and caught up to Sophia. Then I grabbed onto her forearm and started to drag her along with me. I decided to pull a Jason, so before she could ask me any question, I cut her off. I pulled her past the hallways and into the bathroom, and then I decided to yell at her.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!!!!”?

“What ever do you mean?” Sophia said in an innocent voice. Then she gave me, what felt like a dark laugh.

“Cut the crap, I’m not dating Jason”

“Yeah, that’s why you rode off on his motorcycle, gripping onto him as if he was god.” Sophia said sarcastically. I was hoping she hadn’t noticed that. I hoped he hadn’t noticed that.

“Oh you saw that but you didn’t notice me yelling at him before that, or that he drives like he’s high. That’s why I even got on, he wouldn’t listen to me. That’s why I was gripping on so tight, I kind of value my life.”

“I don’t.” she mumbled. “How do I know you’re not just lying again?”

“When have I ever lied to you?” though I could think of about ten off the top of my head, not including this time.

“Umm… I don’t know. The new student in you English class maybe?” Sophia said sarcastically.

Oh GOD!!!! Life hates me doesn’t it!!

“Jason asked me to say that! Yeah, he finds you really creepy!” I was glad I did not have to totally lie in that sentence.

Sophia’s mouth opened wide, I could tell I seriously punched a nerve with that sentence, but she closed her mouth again, straightened herself up, and tried to act like that hadn’t hurt her one bit.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. Now does it! No one will listen to you anymore. You’re screwed.”

At first I did not disagree with that last sentence. No one would listen to me, and if they didn’t listen to me, what could I do. Then I remembered what this entire fight was about.

“Well, two can play at your game.” And before she could ask what that meant, I was gone, pulling another Jason.

The bell rang so I knew I would have to wait till lunch to put my plan into action, but it was worth the wait.

 

At lunch I didn’t waist anytime. I skipped buying any lunch and went straight to Jason’s table.

“Will you pretend to date me.” Was the first thing I asked as I slammed my bag onto the table.

“Okay.” Jason said without hesitation.

“Okay? Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“Oh, yeah! Why?”

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Sophia has decided to turn the school against me because she’s jealous, because she thinks we’re dating. So I decided if I can’t set her mind straight, I might as well torture her.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Jason replied. I chuckled at how easy he took everything.

“By the way, are you going to tell me what’s wrong with me.”

“Not until I can find a way to prevent it.”

“Great, so never.”

“Why do you always have to doubt me?”

“It’s not that I doubt you per say… more that I doubt my luck.”

“So strange, but since we’re on the subject, how long until you turn 18?”
          “Three months.”

“Great, so I only have three months.”

“Don’t you mean I only have three months.”

“Well, yes. But I have three months to figure out how to cure you.”

“Great so in three months I could be anywhere from dead to a tree.”

“And yet you seem completely unphased.”

“Well I figure I won’t be dead, because then you would probably have to be a doctor, plus it would be a normal diagnosis. And you, my friend, are far from normal.”

Just then I looked up and noticed Sophia stop in her tracks to stare at us in awe. Time to act! I thought to myself.

I pretended that Jason had said something very sweet and embarrassing so I blushed and turned away shyly. Jason did not have too turn around to know that Sophia was standing there, staring at us. My strange and ‘out of the blue’ blush was enough. He cupped my chin in his hand and lifted my head so that my eyes locked with his. Then he place his hand on my neck and stroked my cheek with his thumb. The warmth of his hand was like a fresh homemade soup to my burning throat. I was starting to worry! When was this disease end, and when would I ever be normal again! And then I realized, that was never going to happen. You can’t go back to what was never even there!!! This thought made me chuckle.

Sophia took a deep breath, and then she stuck her nose in the air and strutted past us.

“You’re not such a bad actor.” I complimented. Then Jason removed his hand from my neck and there was a sudden rush of cold blood to where it once was.

“You’re not too bad yourself, that blush made your face almost the same twenty-five shades of pink it usually is.”

“Shut up!!” I said sheepishly as I chuckled, and then I truly started to blush.
          “Yeah! just like that.” Jason said pointing out the pink that started to color my face.

Sophia sat at her table completely ignoring the people talking to her and staring at me from a distance. I couldn’t help but laugh. I was…happy. The entire school was against me and my best friend hated me, but it was like this was the way it had always been. Like I had never had any other friends besides Jason. The entire school thought I was a s**t, but since I knew I wasn’t, who the hell cares, right?

Jason seemed to be having a good time annoying Sophia, that’s a least what I thought since he was always hanging around me. And Sophia did seem annoyed, she would always make faces at me as she past by. Instead of making a face of disgust back at her, I would make googly eyes at Jason, who would send them right back.

Lately I had been getting rides home with Jason. I told him it was so I could watch Sophia’s face as we rode off, which was partially true. The other part that I left out was the fact that he was so warm. I liked the feeling of security.

“So am I giving you a ride home?” Jason asked. He probably already knew my answer, but I guessed it was just common curt icy.

“Yeah, that would be the reason my car isn’t here.” I said as we walked into the parking lot.

I was able to walk to school, it took about twenty minutes, and it was always just easier to take my car, but if it meant I was able to ride home with Jason, it was nothing.

I hopped on the back of the seat, and strapped my arms around him. The motorcycles engine roared to life and we we’re gone. I had gotten bored of Sophia’s same shocked expression, so I kept facing forward and rested my chin on top of Jason shoulder.

“Are you not going to watch Soph?” Jason asked.

“hmmm… No.”

“Ohhhh, so now you’re just riding to annoy me.”

“How’d you know?” I asked sarcastically and then whacked Jason up side the head, he didn’t budge, he just laughed at my very week attempt to cause him pain.

“You’re not very strong, incase you haven’t realized.”

“I’m not week!” I shot back. “You’re just a whole lot stronger than me in comparison.” I mumbled, and Jason laughed. Well, great I was glad my wimpiness did not cease to amused him, because frankly, it was just a huge annoyance to me.

“Jason, just incase you haven’t realized, this is not the direction to my house.” I said to Jason. Where did he think he was taking me?

“I know.” Jason said as if it was obvious to him, and then he rolled his eyes.

“Well, if you know this isn’t the way, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?!??!?!” I shouted.

“I don’t know.”

“Wow, well don’t I feel safe. We’ re not heading to my house and you have absolutely no idea where we’re going. So if my dad calls I tell him not to worry, my driver, a boy he has never met, is taking me to a place him and I both don’t know about. I’m sure that will just over load him with joy, I bet when I get home, he will throw me a party.” I babbled on sarcastically.

“You talk too much.” Jason said.

“Wow, such an intelligent and heartfelt response.” I replied still very sarcastically.

“Why do you worry about your dad so much, does he live your life for you.”

“No I just worry about my dad because he worries about me.”

“You want to elaborate.”

“My dad always thinks the worst when something goes wrong-”

“Ohhhh, so that’s where you get it from.” Jason said and I rolled my eyes at him.

“As I was saying, he always thinks we’ve been raped or murdered or something, and he goes into like anaphylactic shock. I just worry that he will worry.”

“Makes more sense.”

Jason was a very good driver. He never went to fast or slow, never pulled dangerous stunts, but sometimes I wondered if that was only because I was with him. His driving was stable enough that I was able to reach in my bag and pull out my Ipod. I stuck one headphone in his ear and the other in my own. I searched through for a good song, one arm still wrapped around Jason’s waist. I finally settled on I Miss You by Blink182. Although Blink182 was popular at some point, people for some strange reason chose to listen to hip hop/rap and Rn’B, so they are no longer as popular.

“Ahh, blink182. I miss them. They always had such awesome songs.”

“Yeah, well now we can listen to them without other people agreeing with us. Imagine how weird that would be.” I giggled. It was nice to always be the odd one out, normal felt like some alien plant that no one could describe. I loved my own little world of abnormality, population now two!

“How can you be so happy, when you’re so hated.” Jason asked

“What? Since when do people hate me?” I asked sarcastically.

“Oh, right, I forgot. You’re world does not allow other people.”

“Actually, we just got one new addition.” I said looking Jason in the eye and then laughing. He rolled his eyes.

“Oh, I think that will shrink back to just one in two months.”

Right I had forgotten only two months left till my eighteenth birthday.

“You honestly think that is you can’t find a cure for my mystery illness I will hate you.”

“One: it’s only a mystery to you. And two: yeah, I think you’ll hate me.”

“Can it really be that bad.”

“Oh yes! And worse!”

“I’ll be sure to remind myself not to kill you after it happens.”

“I bet you will forget about that.”

“Would you shut up! You’re dampening my mood.”

“Just warning you…”

“Well don’t. I am fine for now, so just focus on that.”

“Yeah! That’s the up side! You have about two months until something disastrous happens.” Jason said sarcastically.

“Exactly!!” I said trying to imitate his sarcasm.

“There is no way you will still say that when you’re eighteen.”

“STOP BRINGING IT UP!!!”

“Fine, but…”

“NO!!! No buts just shut it!”

“Sheesh!”

“Well, I’m sorry, but sometimes I really need you to listen.”

Jason tilted his head to one side trying to seem very innocent.

“When have I ever not listened?”

“Do you really want me to answer that question.” I said raising one eyebrow.

“No probably not.” He replied.

“That’s what I thought. Now can we please figure out a destination, because just wandering around is really getting on my nerves?”

“Ok, where do you want to go?”

“Well since we have been riding all day I have lost the need to go home. So, I want to just leave somewhere.”

“I’m not sure I know what you mean…”

“Just follow my directing and you’ll see.

I led Jason, telling him when to turn right and left. For the first time he was the one asking question and I was the one not giving any answers. Finally we were about half a mile from our destination, and then Jason said something I did not expect.

“I think I have been here before, don’t tell me the rest of the directions. I know where to go.”

Of course when I ended up knowing something that he didn’t, he knew it anyway. I shut up and let him lead himself; he did know where to go.

“How did you know about my spot?”

“Your spot? Do you own the forest?”

“No, but I am just taking a wild guess that you already know about my spot inside the forest.”

“Yeah” he mumbled to himself.

I sighed. “Well let’s just go.” I said climbing off his motorcycle.

“Alright.” Jason replied as he put down the kickstand.

As we walked into the woods I looked back at his motorcycle and had a flash of Déjà vu.

“Wait!” I shouted at Jason. Still staring at the motorcycle. “You-you were here before.”

“Yeah I’ve told you I know this place.”

“Not what I meant.” I said as if he should already know. “You were here the day I was, the day that I fe…”

I did not have time to finish my thought before Jason had scooped me up in his arms. It was so quick, everything flashed by, thousands of trees flashing by per second. It was only two minutes later that we were at my spot. I looked up at Jason in shock. I knew there was something strange and unusual about Jason, but I did not think it was inhuman.

“Yet you can’t tell me what my disease is.” I said sarcastically, but Jason’s face was still serious.

“J.D., you know you can trust me right?”

“Yes, and you can trust me, though, I was fairly certain this was established a while ago.” I said still trying to lighten up the mood, but I could see it was having no affect.

“Well, I guess I just like to state the obvious, But I really think… I should…tell you something.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“It has to do with me.”

“The fact that you’re inhuman? Yeah, I think I kind of found that out when the trees flew by at accelerated speeds.”

Finally Jason laughed a little, and I thought I could see the very corners of his mouth slowly lift into a soft smile.

“Well about the inhuman thing, what do you think… I mean… about me?”

“Umm… I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“I guess…I mean… what do you think I am?”

“Oh…That…Well… I don’t know!!!”

“Put the pieces together.”

“ WHAT PIECES!!!!!! WHEN EVER I TRY ASK A QUESTION, YOU RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!” I shouted. How was I supposed to know anything when no one ever tolled me!

“I mean things you can tell by just being observant…”

“Well there you go, I have never been observant!”

Jason chuckled. “Come on. You told me you were slow before, but this is unbelievable.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Think about it, my enhanced senses, my teeth, my overly heated temperature, my strength.”

“Ummm…A movie star on steroids.”

“Be serious.” He said as he smiled.

“Oh I forgot this is the point in time when I am not supposed to use normal logic.”

“Try again.”

“I don’t know… a dog.”

“Warmer.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Here, let me give you a hint.”

Jason wrapped one arm around my waist, and leaned me over the stream. The exact place and position the wolf held me the day I fell. The memory and present began to flash before me over and over again. Exactly the same, I should have realized long ago. Jason was never normal, Jason was never human for that matter, Jason was…

“Werewolf…”

Jason laughed at my sudden realization.

“Bingo…”

Jason settled me back on my feet. My knees unlocked and I started to fall to the ground, but he caught me. I looked at Jason up and down, shaking my head. I was shaking my head because I knew I should have thought of this before, I had never realized the power of my own clueless ness, but Jason thought something else.

“I should have known it would freak you out… But let me just drive you home.” Jason said as he started to walk away, but I grabbed his wrist, stopping him. Since I knew I was not strong enough to pull him to face me. I stepped in front of him.

“Thank you.” I said locking my eyes with his.

“You’re… welcome?”

“I wasn’t shocked that you were a werewolf.” I said taking a step closer to him. “I was shocked that I hadn’t figured that out earlier.”

“Really? You were shocked? Because most peoples first guess isn’t mythical creature.” Jason said sarcastically.

“I know, but you really don’t group me in with most, do you?”

“True”

Jason wrapped his arms around my waist, and I did the same to him. We swung there for a second, and then Jason sighed.

“I can just never be bored with you around, can I?” Jason said as he laughed

“Oh dear god, lets hope not!” I said joining in his laughter.

He pulled away and placed one arm around my shoulders, and I kept one arm clenched tightly around his waist.

“Now about my disease…”

“Oh dear GOD!!” Jason replied rolling his eyes as we stalked back to his motorcycle.

 

It was easier to talk to Jason. I was not confused as often as before, still confused, but not as often. When he said things I didn’t understand, I blamed the werewolf thing and forgot about it. Jason seemed to be happy that I knew, well that’s what I hoped, I wanted him to know he could tell me anything, and I wouldn’t freak out. I wanted him to know that I was trust worthy. I was not another girl, I was NOT afraid. I was actually quite attracted, but I left that part out when talking to him.

We kept up with our fake dating around Sophia, but Sophia didn’t budge. She acted as if it didn’t bother her, but knowing Sophia all my life helped me know that she was faking it. I stopped caring about Sophia’s reactions and focused on getting my diagnosis.

“Why won’t you just tell me?” I asked trying to flutter my eyes and make a small pout.

“Awwww.” Jason said annoyed. “Please don’t pout, I’m powerless.”

I smile. “So you’ll tell me.”

“I’ll make you a deal.”

“I love a good deal. Fire it up!”

“First: Modest mouse?” Jason asked referring to my ‘fire it up’.

“Yes. NOW TELL ME!!!”

“Okay. I only have three weeks left to figure out how to cure you, and if I can’t find anything in a week… I will tell you what’s wrong with you.”

“YES!!!!!!” I shouted and the entire school shot me a strange glance.

“Calm down J.D.! I have conditions.”

“Of course, everybody has condition.” I mumbled sarcastically to myself, rolling my eyes.”

“Oh shut up! They’re not that bad.”

“Fine.”

“Okay, first: when I tell you, I understand if you hate me, but you have to listen to me, and do what I say.”

“Sounds…”I could not finish my sentence before my throat started to burn. I kicked in about once a week. Jason could always tell, no matter how much I tried not to show pain.

“Here. Soph’s coming anyway.” Then Sophia walked by with her nose in the air, only looking at us from the corner of her eye. Jason brushed the hair on my right shoulder behind my neck, leaned forward and kissed my aching throat. His lips were burning, which made me feel better, but I don’t think it was just my throat that was feeling better.

Sophia could not help but react to the seductive act. She dropped her tray and stared at us. Everything that had been on her tray landed with a HUGE thud! Sophia didn’t move, she stared at me softly shaking her head. Every student in the cafeteria turned to see what had happen. Then they all glared at Sophia. I could tell some of them were thinking awww, poor girl. She has to watch her crush date her best friend! While others though B***h! When will she just get over Jason. I was beginning to think the same thing. Some people were even just thinking Yay! Something new to distract me from my boring life!

When Sophia realized people were staring she turned and fast walked away as if nothing had happened. Everybody turned slowly back to their tables, and gradually the talking went back to normal. I watched Sophia, and when she realized no one was staring anymore she began to run to the bathroom.

“Over react.” I mumbled to Jason.

“I know! I mean I knew she liked me, but the obsession is creeping me out! Can’t she see we are fake madly in love here!” Jason said sarcastically and laughed. I joined him, but my throat still burned so I grabbed him hand, placed it on my neck and took another deep breath.

“It’s getting worse.” Jason said and his face was serious again.

“Yeah.” I said and I sighed. “But look on the bright side, just one week until I get to find out.”

“One: that’s if I don’t find the cure and two: THAT’S NOT A BRIGHT SIDE!!!”

“Well, I am not even sure I want you to find a cure and it is a bright side, to me.”

“Wait, what do you mean ‘I’m not sure I want you to find a cure’”

“Well I mean what if I don’t want the cure. Like a pregnant mother unwilling to give up a child that will kill her, a man wanting to die and does not want to be saved from his disease.”

“Well are you pregnant? No. Do you want to kill yourself? Dear god I hope not.” Jason said sarcastically

“Great, so now I can rule pregnant off my list of unrealistic diagnosis’s.”

“Why would you even put it on?”

“Well Jason, I am with you so I guess anything strange is possible.” I shot back knowing my insult was not that good.

“But…pregnant. I mean the thought of you being fat and mad scares the hell out of me!”

“Well I’m sorry YOU brought it up,” I shouted.

“I brought this up? You think I brought this up? Are you insane? You were the one that said ‘like a pregnant mother’”

And from there it went on into a long fight, and of course ending the fact that I was right. I was bad at singing, dancing, playing instruments (maybe not acting), but oooooh could I argue.

 

At night, Jason stayed near the house. Even though I knew my angel was him, he still kept me safe. It was nice. Many times when I felt I just couldn’t go to sleep, I stuck my head out the window and called his name, he would come up to my room and play cards or something with me until I got tired then he waited until I was asleep to go back to running around the outside of the house.

My burning got worse, which meant my heart beat more rapidly. Whenever my throat hurt, I always had Jason around. I liked it better when Sophia was around because then his help always involved something like the time he kissed my neck. Which not only freaked Sophia out, but also sent my heart rate flying. It was nice, and his smile was never far behind. His white teeth no longer shocked me the way they used to, now that I knew where they came from, they were just an added bonus to his already gorgeous face. I was afraid I would start dueling and Jason would laugh.

I decided I would find out more about him, so at lunch I started to ask him questions.

“So what’s you’re family like?” I asked.

Jason spit out his water, and started practically choking.

“My…Family?” Jason replied as he looked for a napkin.

“Yes, your family. What’s wrong with you?” I asked laughing at his moment of weakness.

“Ummm…we just…don’t get along.” Jason said shaking his head and never looking me in the eye.

“Oh. I’m sorry to here that… What did you do?”

“Oh of course it’s all my fault.”

“Yes, now tell me.”

“Well you see the way I dress, my motorcycle. They just… don’t approve.”

“Oh well that makes sense. But I have always wondered, I mean, you don’t have a really ‘bad boy’ personality. You’re really nice. So why do you dress the way you do?”

“I don’t know it just came with the werewolf thing.”

“So this happens to all werewolf’s?”

“Dear god I hope not.” Jason mumbled to himself, but I could still hear. “No I don’t think so, mostly just me.”

“Well why did you chose to.”

“I don’t know, I thought being a werewolf would make you dangerous, so I dress like this so people would be warned to ‘stay away’, I was afraid people might get to close and get hurt.”

“Oh” was all I could say.

“But then it turns out, I’m not that dangerous, but the look just stuck. It attracted a lot of girls, like your friend Sophia.”

I laughed at him. “Okay, I get it.”

“And you know you don’t have to be afraid of me?”

“Awww… Really. I kind of like the ‘bad boy’ dangerous thing you got going on.” I said sarcastically.

“What ever makes you happy.” Jason said. Then he lead forward, kissed my cheek and walked away as the bell rang. I looked up, but Sophia was nowhere in sight.

I blushed, lowered my head, and walked smiling and happy all the way to my next class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.E. Knockout

 

It was easy to stay away from Sophia during school. We only had one class together, P.E. It wasn’t hard to stay away from each other there either though. We just didn’t run together, were never partners, and played on different teams. Occasionally we would send each other loving faces of disgusted, just to let our teacher know we were the best of friends.

“Alright class, listen up.” Mrs. Hunter shouted as she called the class over. “I am only going to say this once, so get your fingers out of your nose and look at me.”

Mrs. Hunter had never been the nicest teacher, but if you stayed on her good side, there was a chance she might not kill you.

“Today we are going to play wall ball. Now, I know some of you are dumber than the rest of them and are going to mess up right away, so lets start out with something simple, shall we. Okay, I will assign you a partner, and with that partner you will stand on one of these squares, facing the wall, and hit the ball against the wall, so that when it comes back, your partner can do the same.” Mrs. Hunter explained it to us as if we were four.

“Now, here are your partners.” She called looking at her clipboard. I was almost always paired with Shona because her last name was Willow and mine was Wander. I was never worried about being paired with Sophia because her last name was chandler. “Andrews and Axington, Bergeson and Berters,  Chandler and Wander, Dynamo and Diltrous…”

The list went on, but my mind focused on those three words Chandler and Wander. How stupid can a P.E. teacher be! Was it that hard to tell that we were avoiding each other, by our obvious faces of hate! Oh, I would get Mrs. Hunter for this…

“Mrs. Hunter I really don’t think that’s…” Sophia and I both said at the same time cutting Mrs. Hunter off on her list of partner.

“No ladies! I do not have time for you to complain about your partner so go find a square, and start the game.”

“But…”

“NO BUTS!!!! Just go!”

We did as we were told… unwillingly, and found a square. Sophia didn’t look me in the eye, and talked in an angry tone.

“You wanna serve or should I?” Sophia said holding out the ball.

“Umm… you can.” I said my tone normal and not caring about what she thought.

“Alright.” She said raising an eyebrow and shaking her head once, as if I had just made a decision I would truly regret.

Sure enough, she threw the ball in the air, and once it was close enough, she smacked it with all her will power. The ball went flying. There was a huge WACK as the ball met the wall and sent it bouncing back, straight toward me.

The only thing I can remember after that, was the sudden rush of blood to my head, and Many feet rushing to crowd around me, I guessed I was on the floor.

I remember waking up, I could here beeping, a steady rhythmic beat, it must be mine. That meant…this was a hospital. I remember the first word I could hear.

“B***h!” A deep husky voice filled with rage, there was only one person it could belong to… Jason.

“Hey, she shouldn’t have been in the way.” A snobby voice said, and I could hear the smirk on their face, the voice was not familiar, because I had not heard it in a while, but I could take a good guess at whom it might be.

“I don’t want to hear your crap, Sophia.” I was right. “You were trying to hurt her. Just ‘cause you have an obsession with me doesn’t mean I have to be obsessed with you. I just happen to be in love with best friend. GET. OVER. IT!”

“Oh, so now you’re in love with her?”

“Yeah, I kind of like the fact that she doesn’t stalk me.” No, but he stalks me I wanted to add, but I couldn’t because at the moment I had not gained back the ability to speak.

“Whatever! Have fun, but you could have done better.” She said, obviously meaning herself.

“Maybe, but with her I am happy. I feel sorry for the fat dushbag that has to take you out.”

I had to congratulate him on that come back, so I forced my eyes to flutter open.

“Oh, she’s waking up, I will kick your a*s later.” Jason said still referring to Sophia.

Jason walked over and sat on my bedside. He stroked the hair out of my face and smiled.

“Do I want to know what happened?” I asked to Jason raising one eyebrow.

“Probably not.” Jason said and then he gave one short laugh.

“Thanks for yelling at Soph while I was unconscious.”

“My pleasure… Seriously.”

I laughed. “Just wondering, how long have I been unconscious?”

“Six hours.”

“Oh of course.” I said sarcastically.

“Just be glad your klutziness was not the cause of the injury this time.”

“Yeah, there’s the bright side.” I said still sarcastic, “My own clueless ness did not cause myself or someone else the injury… this time, but every other time…”

“Give it time, I am sure your discoordination will ease up in time.”

“I don’t! I think I am doomed to be a falling, incapable little human forever.”

“I am starting to get the feeling I am never going to be able to leave you, am I?”

“If you want me to live, then no… please, don’t respond to that”

Jason laughed and shook his head. “You doubt yourself too much, have a little confidence.”

“Confidence is for norms.” I said and I shrugged. “You know, Jason, you never told me the rest of you’re conditions.”

“Oh, right. I told you that I understand if you hate me but you have to listen to me.”

“Yes, and weren’t you just telling me to have more confidence.”

Jason just rolled his eyes and kept talking. “Second: please don’t pull anything stupid-”

“I really can’t promise you that, there is a good chance it will happen to me anyway, even if I don’t ask for it.”

“True. Anyway, third: I think you’re different from the rest.”

“I know I am different from the rest, that would explain why I am so not normal. Didn’t you already realize this, though, I mean, like, before you even talked to me.”

“That’s not who I mean by the rest.”

“WELL, WHO DO YOU MEAN!!”

But he didn’t answer, because Sophia came by. Actually, I don’t think he would have answered my question even if Sophia hadn’t come. He really likes to leave you hanging

“Hope you fell better.” Sophia said in a fake caring, snooty voice.

I was about to make a snarky comment right back, but Jason beat me with a better idea. He stroked hair away from my face again, and rubbed my cheek with his thumb, and then he leaned forward and kissed my forehead, and as his warm lips moved away there was a sharp, but expected chill that navigated down my back.

I looked back at Sophia with an evil half smile spread wide across my face, expecting to just see a grimace on Soph’s, but I didn’t, and my evil smile fell. There was no anger in her face; her mouth just formed a line, with the ends just pointing very, very slightly downward. If it hadn’t of been for her eyes, this would make a good poker face. But her eyes were soft, sad. They almost looked as if they’d given up, but as soon as she noticed me looking, she turned away, and as her face passed quickly through the sunlight, I thought I saw a single tear burn down her cheek. Had she always looked like this? Maybe I was hallucinating. A wave of guilt passed through me, afraid that I had hurt her, but I tried to shove it away. She did this to herself. She just assumed instead of asking me. She should have seen this coming… but what is there really is something going on… what if she’s right. I shook my head and stopped thinking about it, but the guilt stayed with me, beating like a second heart.

I think Jason may have seen the change in my face, but instead of the questioning eyebrow raise he would have normally given me, his faced changed and made him look scared, no he was never scared. Sad, worried? Did he see the panic and guilt that painted my face red with fear? Did he feel the second, pain pumping heart, slamming against my chest? I hoped not weakness was never a good look on anyone, but I guess vulnerability just came naturally to me.

I turned away from Jason and stared out the open window of the hospital room. I felt my eyes start to water, but I closed them tight and made sure nothing could escape. What is this! I screamed at myself do I really feel bad?! She was an awful person for what she did! What did she do? She turned the school against me! I stole her crush from her. I DIDN’T STEAL HIM!!! Why was a contradicting myself? I couldn’t help but imagine and angel and devil on each of my shoulders, but the question is… which word belongs to which imaginary figure?

“Get out.” I heard Jason practically snarl through his teeth at Sophia. I guess he was mad, but still the strange look of fear, worry, and sadness did not venture from his face.

Sophia turned to me, the angry face was back. She raised and eyebrow at me, I sat there quiet and motionless. In the end she just shrugged and left. What did she want me to say? Was she even asking anything of me? Why do I keep asking myself questions? Can’t I just leave my lost mind alone? I was silent, mentally and physically, but it didn’t last long, because Jason decided to break the silence.

“Did you see the anger in her face!!!! That was truly amazing. What a lovely fake couple we make.”

I sighed. “Yeah…” I mumble staring out the window, letting the corners of my mouth fall lower and lower.

“Please don’t give that.”

“Don’t give you what?”

“That sighing, ‘I am in my own world, sad, and I’m just gonna agree with everything you say’ yeah…”

This brought a smile to my face and a single chuckle, but if fell again. I just shrugged and turned my head back so that it was facing the window again.

“Please don’t do this to me. She was awful to you and you know it!” Jason said, his voice raising just a tad bit higher that usual.

“Don’t do what to you?”

“Never mind.” Jason said and he sighed. “Just please think a while, before you go becoming besties with her again. Infact take a really long time, even 2 or 3 years, maybe.”

I smiled even wider this time, but before they were able to fall again, Jason put his thumb and middle finger against the corners of my mouth, holding them up high. This made me laugh, and when he dropped his hand they stayed there.

“You’re a whole lot prettier when you smile, you know that.” I rolled my eyes at his attempt to keep me happy… at least I’m pretty sure it was just to keep me happy.

“Yeah, well, even if I did think I was pretty, I have never thought it would get me anywhere in this life.”

“You’d be surprised.” Jason mumbled and his head slowly turned around and he laughed softly. Probably just talking to himself, but I heard. I decided to change the subject.

“You know you only have half a week ‘till you have to tell me what’s wrong with me.” I said and I smiled.

“Again with the doubt!!!” Jason screamed.

I laughed again, being around him… I couldn’t help it.

“I have no doubt in you, but I do have low expectations… in everything.”

“And I’m the emo?”

“Yeah!”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Well, you better believe it, I know it seems it impossible that someone this clueless could exist, but…”

“I didn’t mean it as a bad thing.” Jason said smiling.

“Maybe not, but I did.”

Jason rolled his eyes, and then looked up.

“You’re dad is about to walk into this room in 5 seconds, so…”

“Go!!!”

Jason got up and ‘like that’ he out of sight.

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1…” I counted.

“What happened!?!? Are you aright?!?! Who did this to you?!?! Where’s you’re doctor, and why isn’t he helping you?!! You need immediate medical care!” Ah… good old dad.

“I was hit in the head during wall ball. I’m fine. Sophia, but it’s not her fault…” Why was I defending her? “I don’t need a doctor dad. I really am fine. Don’t worry.” Though I knew that wouldn’t help him.

“The bloody hell you are.” Since when did dad speak British?

“Please dad. Not now.” I said as I looked around the room, hoping no one was watching my father have a freak out attack. “Look, if you could just go get me some water?

“Anything, I will be back in a sec.” And he headed for the door.

“Wait!!! Take the back way, so no one sees…” Too late. He was already out the door. “You…”

I put my head in my hands and shook it back and fourth. I hope to god he doesn’t go knocking someone out trying to get to the cooler.

“Ahhh… now I understand…”

My head shot up, at the sudden voice. Only one thing… person… could be that quick.

“Oh sweet mother of god, Jason. Scare me half to death, why don’t you?”

“Wait… did you just admit… I was actually able to… you were actually afraid of something. Score!!!!!!!!!!” Jason yelled

I rolled my eyes. And shrugged. “So what? I just don’t like surprises.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“I am not even going to ask the reason.”

“It’s probably better that way.”

“Any who, what is it that you understand?”

“Your dad. I mean you told me he freaks out… but I mean he really freaks out!”

“That’s dad for ya.”

“It’s nice to know someone really cares about you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but aren’t most parents loving toward their child, just… because…”

Jason sighed. “You never know. I mean, you hear of parents… abusing their child, torturing them, maybe… even trying to kill them.”

I looked at him curiously, then I closed my eyes, shook my head, and then looked back into his eyes. “that’s! Why you’re the emo one.”

 

I sat in my room. Bored as hell, and doing my homework. Was I insane!! A Friday night! People are out, partying, watching a movie, doing something! But no. I sat and home and did homework! I have got ‘till Monday, and then I know what’s wrong with me. What do most people do to have fun? I asked my mind Well, people go out with their boyfriends, and girlfriends and do fun, and stupid things. Well, I don’t have a boyfriend, and (thanks to Sophia) I don’t have any friend’s besides Jason. Then I heard a ping from my computer. Sophia was sending me a message on Skype. She’s probably just going to complain. Or, she could want to become friends again, but… did I want that? I agreed to chat with her, despite my better judgement, and opened the letter:

 

Look! Stop it! Just, stop it, okay! I know you’re only fake dating Jason, and it’s stupid. If you back off of Jason, and let him be with the girl he’s meant to be with, I wont kill you!

 

Honestly, I didn’t want to stop fake dating Jason. I love everytime it feels real. I love it when he kissed my neck, or my forhead. I know I am attracted to Jason, and I am not afraid to admit it! Well, at least not to myself…

 

What makes you think we are not really dating?

 

I wrote, hoping it was something I could counter.

 

Because! He may kiss you’re forhead, rub your neck, and put his arm around you, but I have never seen him kiss you. I mean, really kiss. Not neck or forehead… mouth! Not one kiss that showed me ‘those two love each other’ or ‘or those two are meant to be together’. Try that!

 

She was right. I hated to admit it, but it was true. We never had kissed on the lips, and I think the fact that we’re faking it… enables us to do it. I was afraid that if I could kiss him on the lips, I would fall head over heels. Want him as more, and be crushed just as Sophia had. I was afraid, I would kiss him, and he would feel awakard being around me. I didn’t want that. Real dating or fake, I wanted him to stay, friend or boyfriend, it was what I wanted. I did not want to lose him.

I knew the smarter thing would have been to make some snappy come back at Sophia, but I couldn’t make myself do it, I couldn’t lie, even though I had done it a million times before.

I shut my computer, and quickly got up. I walked away from my desk, I knew it wasn’t following me (because, well, that’s impossible!), but I got a sense that it was. She was right, and her words played around in my head, mess about with everything else inside there.

 

“UUGGGHHH!!!” I cried as I fell backwards onto my bed.

I looked at the clock. 9:30. I might as well go to bed now. I thought to myself. At least that way, I could forget about Sophie. Plus the time will go by faster. Only 9 days left until my birthday,that’s 2 days until I know what’s wrong with me, 2 days left until I get to understand it all (well, most of it), 2 days…

The door to my bedroom flew open with such force, I thought is was going to break off it’s hinges. It slammed back against the wall, and you could hear the knob crush into it.

My mouth fell open, and hung there. I saw the dark skinny jeans, and the metal chain.

“Dear god, Jason. Are you trying to wreck my house?” I said raising one eyebrow.

Scilence.

I looked at him very questionably, and got up to go look at the damage. As I reached the door, I felt his hand wrap tightly, and feircly around my forearm. I quickly swung to face him. His eyes locked tight with his, but I didn’t know what mood his expression was showing me. I knew it wasn’t anger, well at least it didn’t look like he was mad at me. I still had my eyebrow raised.

“Not now.” He said quite and quickly. Then, still holding onto my forearm, he began to pull me away.

“Jason! What are y…”

“Shut it!!!!” He call back loudly.

He led me down the stairs, through the hall, and out the door.

“At least let me lock the door, I am already going to get enough trouble, if my dad comes home and I am not…”

“NO TIME!!”

I looked up as we walk to his motorcycle. He let go, just as he got on. And then look at me.

“Get on!” he said in a normal tone, but I felt like he was shouting it.

“Not until you tell me what’s going on!!!” I said and I folded my arms across my chest.

Jason took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. He closed his eyes, as his voice became soft, sweet, almost sad.

“Please… just get on.” And he opened his eyes and looked back at me, his eyes hopeful.

I sighed, and let my arms fall. I through my leg over the seat, and strapped my arms around his waist. He pushed down hard on the pedal and we accelerated away.

It was scilent. I knew he wasn’t going to tell me, well, at least he didn’t want to, and now I did feel that I could not just let it go.

“Please!?!” I begged.

He was still scilent, so I just kept talking. I knew he wouldn’t give into begging, or else, there would probably a lot of things I understood, so I decided to try guilt tripping him.

“Okay, so I guess, you lied… I guess you don’t trust me, and it was all just a tragic, tragic lie, that will leave me devastated for the rest of my life…”

“J.D.!”

“Aha! It speaks!”

“Yes, and it’s vicious. So shut it!”

“Ohhh. Feisty!” but he didn’t get my sarcamsim.

“J.D., I guess I will have to tell you this at some point… Remember I told you about my dad… and how we don’t really get along too well.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Well, there is more to it than you think.”

“Well there is always more to everything isn’t there.” I said still trying to bring the dead mood back to life.

Jason sighed. “He wants to kill me.” Well, it worked. Now we’ve got a zombie.

“Dear god… Why?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Well, just give me the big picture.”

“Easy. He’s a dragon, and I his own flesh and blood, am the enimy.”

“Ahhh…” I said finally understanding something. “You’re the werewolf.”

Everything started to make sense. This was why he was so vague when I asked him about is family. This is what he meant about, parents being so crule toward their children. This is why he was the emo one, but he wasn’t finished.

“That’s why, I have to take you now. I have got to take you to some place. A place where he can’t find you.”

“You mean ‘us’. You have to take us somewhere where he can’t find us.”

“I’m not the one who needs to be protected here.”

“I can take care of myself perfectly well, thank you very much.”

“Oh please.” Jason said and then he finally smile, but it faded quickly.

“Please smile. We can get through this.” I placed my head on his shoulder so I could look him in the eyes. “We will be fine.”

“Oh. So now you’re an optamist.” And he smile, and the smile stayed there perfectly molded to face, exactly where it belonged.

I couldn’t tell for how long but I just sort of stared into his eyes for a while. They were the perfect shade of blue, not the dark blue, like the ocean at 5 P.M., they were almost grey, and very close to the middle there was a golden ring. Then I realized that those were things it normally took me hours to notice, so I figured I must have been staring at him for a pretty long time. I quickly turned my head away and watched as the trees and seenery passed by at a high speed, but it didn’t feel so overwhelming as you would think it would have, I guess I had just gotten used to it.

We turned into a parking lot, right next to a forest. I knew this forest forwards and back. My favorite spot in this world.

“Our spot.” I said and then realized the wrong words had just completely fallen off my tounge, but it sounded right to say. Jason didn’t say anything, he just got off his bike. Hopefully he hadn’t heard me. Doubt it. I said to myself knowing that Jason heard everything, but I was kind of glad he ignored it.

“Yeah, I figured the forest would be a good place to hide. Trees, and all that. You, know they block  things… from arial view… cause my dad will probably be flying… and”

                “Oh, let’s just go!” I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the forest, I knew I wasn’t strong enough to pull him, but he      followed along.

               “You know this would go a lot faster if we just did it my way.”

Quickly   Jason picked me up off my feet, and sprinted

Reviews

[Tina Kline]

This is a really great story. I enjoyed it even though there isn't an ending. Here's what I think would be to make it an even better story. The story takes place in Salem, Oregon so I would suggest putting Salem in the story so the reader gets a feel for the city. Like using real street names for where she lives, use a real school, hospital or clinic where her dad lives. Just enough to make it feel a little like this story takes place in Salem. Salem isn't the biggest city in Oregon but its a city, the State Capital of Oregon.

If Jason changed so drastically how do people know who he is when they see him again? How does he explain his dramatic physical change? Why do people believe he really is still Jason?

Mention the weather once in a while to give a seasonal feel, perhaps say something about the leaves changing to get the feel it is fall, the beginning of school.
One part where JD jumps on the back of Jason's motorcycle she leaves her car behind but you don't say how she happens to have it the next day.

On the part where Jason and JD are on the motorcycle I don't think they would see each other rolling their eyes. It might be a bit too noisy for a long talk like they have.

Also, most people like the sound of rain, find it soothing and no problem going to sleep.

Where is her mother and brothers and sisters. One only shows up briefly in the story.

And this forest she goes to, where is that? How far away is it from the city?

Lastly, people who have been living all their lives might not ask each other for small talk what they like about living in a certain place. Small talk about the weather would be more likely since the weather can change from sunny to rainy sometimes in less than a day.

Telling us what the JD and her friend look like would be nice or giving their age. We know they are in high school and old enough to drive. It might be nice for readers to get an idea what they look like and their ages.

Answering these questions within the story I believe would make it much better. I think your story is very very good, so it could only get better. These are my opinions on things to change that would make it better.

Tina

[Waiting For That Emo]

Hello world!!!!