The Hidden Sun

Chapter II

In my rush to get out of the house, I had grabbed my bag by habit, so I ran to my locker to drop everything off. I know it was a stupid risk, but I didn't want to bring my bag with me on the field trip.

I was halfway to the gym when the bell rang. I was also halfway dead for being late. I started sprinting down the hallway, hoping to make it before they closed the doors.

Just as I rounded the corner, the doors were swinging shut.

"No!" I yelled as I picked up my pace. "Stop the doors!"

And exactly when I thought that I was doomed, an arm reached out to stop the doors from closing. In the next moment, a head popped out and looked down the hall towards me. I was only a couple of yards from the gym now, so I halted to a stop. But me being me, I ended up tripping over my own feet and falling to the ground. My face, which was already as red as a tomato, turned even redder when I realized that the same arm from earlier was in front of me, ready to help me up.

"You okay there?" he asked. I just nodded, too embarrassed to even make eye contact. I quickly brushed off my jeans and looked up to thank the stranger.

"Thanks," I almost whispered, finally looking up. What I saw shocked me. There standing in front of me was the same man who has been in my nightmares for the past month. The same one who always tried to give me a message that I could never hear. The same one who always had some kind of magical power. It can just be a coincidence, right?

He just chuckled at my awkwardness. "No problem. Are you trying to get into the gym?"

"Um, yeah," I replied. My face was on fire again. Why was he here? Have I met him before? Is he even a student? My mind told me it was impossible, but my heart told me differently. This was the spitting image of him. From the emerald eyes to the deep beautiful brown hair.

I thought of my own boring brown eyes and light hazel hair and felt self conscious.

"Well, we should get in there," he said while breaking me out of my spell.

"Oh, yeah. Okay." I turned around and started walking to the open door of the gym without even looking back. Why did I have to be so awkward?

As I reached the door, my english teacher, Mrs. Cain, stopped me from walking in.

"Why are you late, young lady?" I stopped in my tracks and took a deep breath. She had really scared me.

"I almost hit a deer and that made me late. I'm sorry." She just stared at me skeptically for a moment. I was scared, everyone knew that Mrs. Cain has a bad temper.

"Fine, but you have to sit next to Mr. Adams." I just looked at her confused.

"Who's Mr. Adams?" I asked dumbfounded. At that moment I felt a presence behind me and the familiar sound of deep voice.

"That would be me." I turned around and saw the stranger from just a few minutes ago. Was he even old enough to be a teacher? He looked around 23 at the most.

"I'm the new athletic's assistant," he said as if answering my unspoken question.

"Oh."

"Well go sit down," Mrs. Cain's harsh voice said. I had forgotten that she was even there. "I told her that she has to sit next to you as punishment for being late," she said to Mr. Adams. It didn't escape me that she said it in a much sweeter tone of voice.

"Shall we?" he asked. I just ignored him and followed him to his seat in the bleachers.

The assembly had already started and Mr. Knight, the principal, was talking about how we had to be smart today on the trails.