Feelings

5: Pasts

The next day, the first thing I think of when waking up is Wren. I feel so excited to see her that I'm ready for school way earlier then usual. It's like having a crush makes me excited for school! That's never happened before, even with Zoe and Alex being at school. But now that I might like Wren, it's almost my entire reason for going to school. Since I'm ready so early, I might as well go to Southview early. I put in my earbuds and play "folklore" on shuffle. Epiphany starts playing. That's my favourite song from "folklore". Real slow and meditative sounding. But I only listen to music if I'm alone on the way to Southview. Only Zoe, Amélie and a few other girls are here in English. As I get closer to Zoe, I notice her writing in something that looks like a journal.

I try to peer over her shoulder to see. "What's that?"

Zoe jumps a bit in her seat. "Jae! You scared me!"

"Sorry. What are you writing?"

She quickly stuffs her journal into her bag. "Nothing. What are you doing here early?"

"I felt like it."

"Felt like it? I don't think so Jae, you aren't the kind to exactly want to go to school early."

"Too bad. Now I am."

Until class starts, we just talk about normal stuff. I look around for Wren but she doesn't show up. That's a bit disappointing.

Mr. Tran talks in a loud voice. "Today you'll keep on researching for your projects, but now start to think about how you will present your person to the class."

Zoe leans over. "What, what project?"

"You have to find a person that faced like, difficult stuff and then overcame it later on," I reply.

"Ooh! Do you wanna be partners?" She seems really eager to.

"Sorry, but I'm already with Wren. The new girl."

"Wren!?" Zoe exclaims.

That looked like an overreaction. "Whoa, do you have something against her?"

"Uhh... sorta. Doesn't everyone, though? With her being all cold and icy."

Whoa. How did Zoe know that Wren's normally cold even though she didn't meet her yet? Something's up. Zoe's glaring at something behind me. I turn to see what it is and to my excitement, Wren's here.

Mr. Tran calls her, "Wren! You're late again!"

"Mmph," mutters Wren. She smiles and waves when she sees me, making me go all excited again. I totally have a crush on Wren.

"You're way too giddy." Zoe says it in this angry and hateful voice that ticks me off.

"You have a problem?" I turn to face Zoe. "It's not like I always have to partner up with you. Try going with someone else for once."

Her face softens as her eyes go wide. Oh no. I snapped at her and now she's hurt. "Oh, I'm so-"

"Never mind." Zoe cuts me off and storms away. Dang it, I feel really guilty for getting angry at her. It's just that sometimes she can be a bit too clingy to me.

Wren scoffs, "What's her issue?"

She wouldn't get it. "Nothing, let's just work on the thing."

We decide on a poster and Wren's going to bring one of those tri-fold thingies. I look around and see Zoe who seems to have partnered up with Amélie. Amélie isn't too bad. I heard that she's incredibly smart. I also notice that Zoe's looking at us in a sad, lonely way. She catches me looking at her and she looks away angrily. As me and Wren keep working, the only thought other than how great Wren looks, is that I should definitely apologize to Zoe later.