Light [BEING REWRITTEN]

Chapter 2

After lunch, there was a small break before 6th hour. Jay sat on a tree stump, thinking. Jewel sat next to him, studying a slug that was slinking onto a leaf. Jewel suddenly thought of something.

"Hey, guess what?" She said, breaking the silence.

"What?" Jay asked.

"I heard from one of the people in first period say there was gonna be another new student tomorrow."

"Oh?" Was Jay's simple reply.

"Yeah. I also heard it's gonna be a guy."

Jay didn't reply for a while. So many things ran through his head.

"Cool." He finally said.

"Are you ok?" Jewel asked, looking over to him. His hair covered his eyes. He looked up, his eyes slightly glittering. Jewel couldn't figure out if it was worry or joy that sparkled there.

"Yeah. I'm good." The bell rang, and Jay stood up, putting his hands in his jacket pockets. Jewel stood too, and they walked into the Junior High building.

"What do you have 6th hour?" Jewel asked.

"Science."

"Ah, I have Math. Well, cya, Silver." Jewel said, feeling slightly awkward from the long silence. Jay nodded and headed to his locker, reaching for his Science book. There was a piece of paper there, and Jay picked it up. He decided to 'read' it later and grabbed his Science book.

As he headed to Science class, Jay heard Terrance whispering to someone. Jay heard his name in the conversation somewhere, but kept walking, his shoulders slightly sagging.

After Science, Jay had one of his elective classes, French. He walked through the hallway to the class, went in, and sat down. He could feel the tension in the classroom. Silently, he wondered what was happening.

"Bon après-midi (good afternoon), class. Please open your books to page soixante-dix (70)." Jay did so. As the lecture went on, Jay heard whispers from all over the classroom.

"I heard he has lice." One kid whispered.

"Have you heard about the new kid yet?" Another kid whispered.

"Calmer (quiet down)." Monsieur Tate said, his board pen clattering as he set it down. Jay ran his fingers across the pages of the books, reading what Monsieur Tate was teaching rather than seeing the board. Butterflies flew in his stomach as the kids around him still whispered about the new kid.

Soon enough, the bell rang and Jay gathered his things. He walked into the Reading classroom, which switched every week with Computers/Typing. Jay sat down and heard Jewel whistle softly from across the classroom. He turned in her direction and gave a small wave. A small smile curled his lips.

"Good afternoon, class." The teacher, Mrs. Burnings, greeted as she walked in.

"Good afternoon." The class murmured.

"Today is a reading day." Mrs. Burnings reminded the class. Reading day was a day where all the kids did was read. Some of the kids were bored by it, but Jay loved these days. He got his book and opened to the page he was last at, running his fingers over the ink.

Jewel, meanwhile, was doodling in her binder. She was an amazing drawer, and drew humans as if they were stick figures. She was drawing one of her favorite characters from a book she was reading.

After about an hour of silence, the bell rang. Some of the kids dashed out of the classroom, eager to get home. Jay just quietly gathered his things, wished Mrs. B a good night, and met Jewel at the door.