Wings

Shadows

~~"Some people seemed to get all sunshine, and some all shadow..." ~Louisa May Alcott~~

The next morning I actually manage to wake up with plenty of time to get ready before school started. I stood standing in front of the mirror, scrutinizing my reflection. My black hair was straight with little body to it except for my bangs which took some hairspray to make them swoop to the side just right. My once bright blue eyes were dark and sad, with a ring of darkness under them from the nightmares.

My face looked too pale compared to my black hair and I wondered if putting makeup on would help. However, I was sure that the color of the makeup would definitely not match the color of my light skin. Besides, I wasn't worried about my complexion or my appearance. I didn't have anyone to impress, not even Bush. If he didn't think I was attractive then it would just add to the list of reasons why we shouldn't be dating. A list that seemed to be growing more and more lately. It was weird, but I was actually hoping that list would grow even more. I wasn't comfortable dating Bush anymore.

I exhaled a large breath, allowing my cheeks to poof out as I did so. Knowing there was no helping my reflection I pulled my red hood over my head and started down the hallway with my book bag flung across my shoulder.

Last night I had informed Jack that he didn't need to drive me to school any longer. I knew it was out of his way and I assured him that the walk wasn't that long.

I was prepared and had thrown my boots on. They weren't made for the snow but they worked better in the wet mush than my tennis shoes.

Prepared for coldness, I opened the door and stepped outside, making my way carefully down the steps to reach the street. I took a left and then headed down the main roadway to get to the school.

My thoughts had drifted to yesterday's awkward time spent with Bush. I was contemplating how I could gently break it to him that we just weren't meant to be, when I felt the presence of someone else behind me.

I slowed down and turned around sharply. For a split second I had seen the outline of a person, but the figure had vanished before I could make a further description.

My heart pounded faster and I struggled to remember how to breathe. What was wrong with me? Why did I keep seeing this vanishing figure? What was it? Was I going crazy?

Reasoning that there was no way I was crazy, I turned back around and continued walking. It must have been the lighting or something; the way everything stood out against the snow. Which was too white, by the way; the snow was practically blinding if you stared at it for too long; that had to be what was messing with my vision.

I nodded to myself. Yes, that was it. Reasonable and logical.

The rest of the walk to school was spent trying to focus my thoughts on other matters, like the history test fifth hour. Normal things.

I made it to the school in decent timing, especially with the account of the snow slowing me down. I was glad to notice that my legs weren't sore. I was used to walking everywhere and had come accommodated to walking long distances. Chevrolet thought it was insane the way I walked. She hated any kind of exercise, though her body weight would suggest otherwise; she was as thin as a stick. I didn't look at it as exercise, though; more like escaping from reality. Walking allowed me to clear my thoughts and focus on the scenery.

As I walked through the front doors of the school, I noticed Bush was talking to Lay at her locker. Hurrying to my own locker, I could only hope that they weren't talking about me. The last thing I wanted to hear about during our violin practice tonight was how Bush felt neglected and thought I was avoiding him.