Crush

Crush Day 1 (of 500 a day Challenge, Blue)

Crush

Danielle Lee Zwissler

Chapter One

Jace was running late-again. He grabbed his book bag off the newel post and nearly slid down to the end of the staircase. He stopped just before the bottom.

"Jace, are you," his mom yelled, and then she noticed him, "coming?"

Jace grinned. Twin dimples lit his features with that signature look of his. "Yes, I'm here, Mom. Don't worry, I'll leave now. We have any apples?"

Jace's mom rolled her eyes. "Yes, and you better eat fast. I can't have you late three days in a row. The principal called yesterday as you already know."

Jace groaned. "Yes." Jace was habitually late. It wasn't his mother's fault, and really it wasn't his either. He couldn't sleep at night.

"Okay, give me a kiss."

Jace leaned in and kissed his mom on the cheek. "Love you, Ma. Gotta run. See you after?"

His mom frowned. "No, I have to work late. There's lasagna in the fridge, heat it up for 3 in the microwave."

Jace nodded as he headed for the door. "Will do. Be careful."

"Always," she called back as the door shut.

Fremont High was a five minute drive from the house. Jace was a junior there, in addition to taking a few courses at the community college down the road. He was accepted into a student program at the end of the last school year, combined with a work study. He hopped into his Cobalt Blue Chevy Trailblazer and headed to what was now his third tardy in a row. He knew, without a doubt, that the principal would be standing at the front doors waiting on him.

Jace sighed, last night's dream or nightmare, kept him awake for the rest of the night and long into the morning. It was of his father's death once again. He saw his face, the lights and then the sound of a car horn. He didn't think he would ever get the image of his dad out of his mind, the image of him being killed right in front of him, of his body being mangled and of his head torn from his body and tossed into the road like garbage. Jace could remember his eyes, and the way they stared back at him. It was his eyes, the same ones that reflected in the mirror each morning. Jace shook his head and tried to focus on the road. He stopped, pulled his car into a parking space and cut the engine. When he looked up from the steering wheel, Principal Landon was walking toward him.

Shit.

Jace opened the door and stepped out, grabbing his backpack and flinging it to his one shoulder.

"Again, Jace?" came the aggravated tone.

"I'm really sorry. I..."

"We're going to have to call the State if this continues. Continuous..."

"I know. It's just..." Jace didn't want to tell her, he didn't want to tell anyone, but he also didn't want his mom to get in trouble.

"It's my Dad."

Principal Landon's face changed from aggravation into concern. "What's wrong?"

"I keep seeing him. At night, in my head, in my dreams. I keep seeing his eyes. I look into the mirror, I can see..."