Where Do We Go From Here?

Fireworks

A/N: Gosh, it's been a while since I've last updated. It's just that I've been busy with school and all; I haven't got time to post a new part. Well, here you go. I hope it's not as sucky as the others. Thanks to the loyal people who are still reading up to this part. Thanks for the support! Don't forget to vote, fan and comment! (Well, if you want to that is.)

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My morning classes passed by in a blur as I remembered every inch of her face. She still looked the same to me -- a little maturity and the proportions of her body were sexy-fied (Hey! Don't blame me. Still a guy here). I still personally love her eyes, her hazel brown eyes. There's a uniqueness in them, around her irises is a faint shade of green making them look piercing and mean, all the same. Her natural wavy brown hair flowed down to her waist now, much longer than back then. When we were kids, she wouldn't even let her hair grow out of her Dora-the-explorer look. Funny, I know. I used to make fun of her because of it.

I walked to my locker that was already invaded by Jeremy; he was munching on something while he was pulling out his books. How he knew my locker code and why he wouldn't use his own damn locker, I don't know. He was always this mystery that you would let it stay that way.

 “And what do you think you’re doing, Mr. Smee?” I asked him in my Captain Hook voice. What? I love me some Hook. And his last name really is Smee. Jeremy Smee. He stopped altogether at the sound of my voice and slowly turned his head to me, his face stuffed with chocolate and his mouth oozing with Lays, eyes wide. Sometime I just wonder why I’m around this beast but then again reason just smacked me in the head. “Odd one aren’t you?” Resting my forearm against the cool metal of the locker as I tipped my head to the side in curiosity. Without chewing, he managed to swallow the crisps all at once. He didn’t even push it down with water. He took out a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed the chocolate splotched on his cheeks in a civilized manner. “Are you like done yet?” I questioned in a high-pitched voice making in sound like a girl’s, rolling my eyes and twirling my bangs.

He gave me a look of disgust. “Yeah, yeah. Just stop with the role playing. It’s weird and scary.”

“Like scary how?” Still using the blonde voice.

“BECAUSE! If I close my eyes and hear you talk like that, you would pass as a hot chick to me and that’s annoying. And I don’t want to be misunderstood.” He whined.

“It’s annoying?”

“YES! So stop it!” He yelled, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“Good.” I said with a chuckle. Pushing him aside and putting back my chemistry and math book inside, and grabbing my sketch book.

“It’s good to see that you’re back to your normal self.” He stated quietly.

“What? Was I any different in the past couple of days?” I questioned.

“Yea, you were always scowling. It was pretty disturbing.”

“What?” Was not!

“Are you deaf or just plain stupid?” He asked as he slammed my locker shut, almost annoyed. I smacked the back of his head. I knew that he wouldn’t get mad at me ‘cause I was the only person he would run to when something came up. I was his only friend. Not that I’m taking that as an advantage or something. “It was a whole different level of scowl. It was like you were about to explode in any moment. You were like a ticking bomb,” he explained.

I stared at him in realization. I had been in a bad mood lately. I didn’t know that people would notice. I was usually good at hiding about what I feel. Keeping them bottled up inside. Maybe this time was different? But why?   

“I didn’t like it.” He whispered, looking down. He looked like a little boy again. Like I was his parent about to leave him at a new school. He looked . . . scared? I felt a pang in me. I didn’t know that I was upsetting people. I didn’t know. It made me happy though. That someone was worried about me. It felt nice.

I brought my head to his head and patted it twice. When he looked up at me, I smiled. A silent way of saying ‘thank you’. He smiled back in return.  I let my hand fall down to my side and gripped my bag with my other hand.

“Now, let’s hurry off to class before we get late.” I said, fast walking my way through the hall on the way to art class. I knew that we were late. The bell, that signaled us that we were supposed to be at our next class, rang 10 minutes ago. We saw Ms. Looper round the corner towards our classroom and we ran at full speed, not wanting to be stuck at detention with Sir Snores-a-lot. We reached the door just in time that Ms. Looper shut the door behind us. She gave us a smirk and gestured with her eyes that we should take us seats.

I padded off to the back where my seat was by the window. I took my seat and so did Jeremy, who was on my right. We had the exact same classes except for math and chemistry though. Apparently, I was too “smart” for a junior so I had passed my junior math for a day and took my senior mathematics for the rest of the semester. As for my chemistry, Mrs. Horowitz transferred me to a class where I was . . . Well, let’s just say I didn’t fit in quite right. It was a class where chemistry and physics were merged and we were to pass something that would “rock the judges off their feet” at the end of the semester so we didn’t have to attend her classes anymore. And, fortunately, I already did mine so I didn’t have to go to that class anymore. Proud to say, that my work went to the College of Science where another students were to study my work. Thank you Horowitz!

I wouldn’t say that I’m a total nerd. I just like my numbers and how far can I go with all the impossible. I like a challenge. It gives me something to think about other than the problems at home. It’s quite a sweet escape.

I was brought back to reality when the door slammed. A girl had her hands to her knees and was breathing heavily, I couldn’t see pass her hair when she straightened herself.

“Excuse me child but are you in this class?” Ms. Looper asked her.

 She abruptly stopped and looked around the room, like a deer in the headlights. I still couldn’t see her face, her hair was in the way.  She looked back at Ms. Looper and slowly nodded, walking to her in a pace that a snail may appear to be faster. Pulling out a note from her pocket, she handed it to Ms. Looper.

Ms. Looper seemed to study it for awhile but then hid the note in one of her many folders. If I was to be correct, this was the first time that the classroom has ever been this quiet.

Readjusting her glasses from her nose, she cleared her throat and clapped her hands together. “Okay class, this is Ms. Williams and she will be joining our class until the end of this semester.” With a look in Williams’ direction, she added. “Child, please push away that hair of yours so that your classmates may see your face.”

With an awkward scratch at the back of her head, she obeyed. Lifting her free hand to push away the hair that was in her face, her brown wavy hair fell back around her face. My breathing stopped and I could feel the gaze of Jeremy beside me.

“Introduce, yourself child.” Ms. Looper instructed. Williams’ grimaced at her and gave her a “seriously” look. She sighed then gave out a lopsided-smile that seemed forced, but could pass as a smile, to the class.

“Hi, I’m Vanessa Williams.” She said with an awkward wave. I watched her in awe as Ms. Looper told her to go sit to the very moment she trekked to her seat and sat down, which was, coincidentally, in front of me.  I know I might give out an impression of a crazed stalker but I couldn’t help it.

I didn’t realize that my mouth was slightly agape not until I felt something thrown at the side of my head, making me press my lips in a firm line. I didn’t like being messed with, I was about to give the stud a piece of my mind but stopped short when I realize that it was only Jeremy. His eyes were a perfect circle and was mouthing something at me that I couldn’t comprehend. I shook my head and he grunted in response. How in the hell was I supposed to know what he was saying?! Speak up! He mouthed once again but slowly this time for me to catch his words.

It’s her.

Indeed, it is. But she can’t be. She looks like her. She walks and talks like her. It can’t be! It just can’t. Because Vanessa Williams died eleven years ago.