ticking down

chapter 1

Why had my clock always been at zero. I never understood. Ever since preschool. It's always been the same. I never knew who else was like me.
These are supposed to say when you meet the person. Your soul mate. The one you have to be with forever. But... Mine never moved. My mom saud that it's probably just a mistake, no maybe I just don't have one... But not having a soul mate... That was the wurst thing that could happen.
Once I thought I saw a glimpse of Rickie's, and I thought it had zero too... But maybe it was my imagination. He works have been too good for me.
"Jane... " I look up from my desk my teacher starting back at me, my peers the same. "What's the answer?"

"Umm..." My face turns red. What class am I even in. "What's the question?"

My teacher glares at me with her cat eyes glasses on the tip of her nose. "Where is Geeanna?" She points to the board with her long ruler.

I stand and start walking from the back of the class to the front, when I feel a leg under mine. I trip falling face forward the heels of my hand hit the ground as I cry out. The class laughs as I look up to see who did it. Ronda. Course.

"Hey Zero. Watch your step aye." Ronda says smiling and glaring at me.

I feel arms picking me up as I try to weakly push myself up. I can tell it's a boy considering the bulky feeling. He helps me out of the room, my nose bleeding, hands in pain.

I turn and see Rickie. Why did he help me. He's way too good for a girl like me.

"You okay Zero? I saw you fall there," he takes out a tissue wiping the blood and tears from my face. "Ronda is mean to everyone. Don't take it personally."

"Says you... I mean she never does anything to you. Youre a great guy and on the football team and extremely cute..." I pause rethinking the words I said. "I mean! Um you really know how to help a girl out! Um..."

"Hey. Relax I like you too." I pause, starting at his beautiful eyes. Did he just say that. "Maybe we can go on a date sometime? Saturday maybe? I'll pick you up at 6?" I nod in shock. The person I fell in love with years ago, just said they liked me. To be honest I don't really know how I contained myself. I wanted to scream with excitement, but cry in nervousness.

He hugs me with warm arms and takes me to the nurse. Why would he like me? Im just.. A Zero.

* * *
When I get home I throw my stuff down on the bed, feeling the relief in my shoulders from carrying my bag. I unclip my bra and slide it off tossing it across the room, hoping I'll find it tomorrow.

I sit on my bed feeling the stop watch inbeded into my wrist. All the numbers at zero. Who else is like me? Do they just not want to say anything? How many purple are like this? Constant questions keep coming into my head.

What if I already met my soul mate. And they just need to realize it. I don't know if it even works that way. Why did we even have these things.

I start scratching at it feeling the smoothness under my finger tips. After feeling it for a while I start pushing firmly on the glass, then I hear a snap my finger sharp in pain my hand numb. What did I just do. I look down at my hands both of them bleeding. I cover the watch with a spare towel, and hold my finger running to the bathroom. I see ask the color drain from my face. What's happening? I call 911 and it seemed like seconds. I feel myself being picked up being placed on a rough hard bed. I see complete blackness with an odd occasional light in my eyes. Have I died? Or just not yet. Whats happening to me.