Bright Eyes

Chapter 2

I woke up without a sound. My eyes just suddenly popped open, no mumbles or groans just a flash.I put socks on and slipped a plain white T-shirt over my head. I topped it off by slipping on a black and plaid jacket, black jeans and a grey beanie. 

I tip toed down stairs, seeking past my mom's door and into the kitchen. I grabbed a frozen waffle and popped in the toaster. I went to the washer room and slipped on my shoes. 

As my regular routine i did the dishes from last night and wiped the table. Mom appreciated it when i started doing it so i guess i just made it a habit. 

I took out my phone and deleted all the messages then put in my favorite song. I hooked in my earphones and slipped them on. I was sucked into a musical world of art and sound. I grabbed my waffle as it came out the toaster and walked outside.

I locked the door still bobbing my head to the music and got on my bike. The school wasn't far which is why mom even let me ride to school. I drove her car once and she was furious, since that's her ride to work and all.

Once i got to the school I put my phone into hiding and slipped my earphones back around my neck. I was early, like always. I went to the school library and grabbed the first fictional book i saw then sat down and read, listening to the notes of the artistic feeling in my veins.

When the bell rung i walked to my locker got out my notebook and a pencil then strode to my first class. Brandon sat in the seat next to mine and was studying hard.His face was buried in a science dictionary.

 "Possible pop quiz?" He nodded without looking up at me. "You missed the assembly about the new tardy bell." he said . "The new what?" The bell rung again which was unusual. "That." He finally looked up at me and grinned. "You ok? Sorry about what i said yesterday on your cell, wasn't thinking." He chuckled.

The class started with Mr. Willowswirth teaching about the genetic makeup of an asparagus. Last week it was tomatoes.He's not the best at getting from one subject to the other but he knows how to teach. I took lots of notes( mostly drawings of trees that are dying or a dragon). Just getting my mind off the world.

The next class was the same as the one before, same as the one after that and the one before that one.When the next class came I wanted to hide in the janitor's closet or the teachers lounge, but my dad told me before he left to deployment, "The only way you can fix a problem is by facing it head on." It may not be all that true but my dad's dead, so every memory i have of him I'll follow it. Except for the military of course, that's one choice he made I'm not going to follow. 

I walked into the room and of course Shelbi was sitting next to my seat, her on my left, Brandon on my right. I sat down and never looked in her direction. I noticed her always glancing to see if I was watching her, as if she was the center of my life. 

After class she came to my locker smiling. She's got a little bump in her belly, which made me more angry. She waited until I shut my locker door and looked dead at her.

"Hey Kason, I -uh- miss you." I wanted to scream in her face and push her against the wall. "Yah right." I scoffed. "No really, Dylan left me.... I thought he liked me and i thought he would stay since i'm-" she paused. "you know." I began to walk down the hall. 

My eyes watered but i fought it all in. "Kason!" she called. I spun around only inches from her face. "What else do you want from me? Let me guess you want me to go beat that jerk that left you, huh? and we'll be back just like that?! no! never again, You've ruined me....." 

She began to cry right there. I suddenly felt sympathetic. " Kason, I'm sorry, I thought....." Her tears just overcame her. I loosened a little and looked around nervously at the students who have paused to see the drama. The teachers just glanced and moved on. Brandon was probably already at his class, sticking his nose in a book. 

Someone tapped me on my shoulder and i slowly turned around. An African American senior with a smug look to him towered over me. One of the football players i assumed. "Is he messing with you Shelbi?" He asked. She looked up and her sniffles magically disappeared. "Dylan!"She ran and hugged him. So this is him, I thought.

Now a crowd watched what was going on, including teachers. Dylan wanted a fight. I just went to walk away but the crowd pushed me back into the circle they formed. No way out now. I turned around just as a fist slammed straight into my face.

I snapped. I grabbed his head and tackled him to the floor,swinging wildly at his face. He fought my off and i quickly stood up. A small stream of blood fled down his nose. Adrenaline pumped through me and i smiled.

The big oaf came at me again but i just ran backwards making him stumble. The crowd was going wild. Teachers were trying to break through to get to us. He caught me off guard and punched me in my gut, knocking the breath straight out of me. I gaped and lazily swung at him, missing.

I finally caught my breath and grabbed his neck pulled him down and slammed his face into my knee. He stumbled and fell once i let go. A teacher was able to get to me and grabbed me away. I tried to cut his grip from me, but teachers were built for this sort of thing.

I looked back at Dylan to see him swing full force into the side of my head and, lights out.