Timeless

Chapter Two

"In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart."

~Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank

Five years after Lucifer's and Avril's meeting in the dingy alley, the front yard of Wesley Christian Academy was scattered with children, some excited, others on the verge of tears. September first marked the first day of the new school year. It also marked the first day of the rest of Jael Barns' life.

The young girl clung to the pleated skirt of her tired looking mother, and she fought back the tears that stung her eyes. She hadn't wanted to go. She hadn't wanted to get up early and put on the itchy, starchy uniform. She hadn't wanted to attend the private Christian school. She hadn't wanted to grow up and leave her mother's side. It was difficult, and she was sleepy. It was too early, and the other children that inhabited the school ground were too loud and rambunctious.

Sara Barns knelt down on the grass and faced her daughter, offering her an exhausted smile. "Don't worry, honey," Sara assured the little girl, giving one of the mousy brown braids a gentle tug. "School will be fun. Delilah loves it," She told Jael, who in turn sniffled and looked at her shiny shoes; if she tried hard enough, she could see her own reflection in them. Sara sighed softly and lifted her daughter's chin, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, honey."

Jael's face crinkled and she threw her arms around her mother, hiding her face and crying quietly. "I don't want to go, Mommy," She offered in a delicate whimper. She hated change.

Sara sighed quietly and stroked her daughter's back. "We all do things we don't want to do, Jael, honey," She whispered, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a small breath. After a moment, she pulled back and looked at Jael for a moment. Her daughter's blue eyes were watery but the tears had ceased to fall. "You'll have fun, baby, now go on," Sara said, her voice wavering slightly as she dipped her head and pecked Jael's forehead once more, straightening up and heading off to the parking lot without another word.

Jael watched her mother leave, her small shoulders slumping slightly as she did. She was alone, and the crying had caused her head to ache. After a moment, she composed herself, wiping her eyes and nose on the sleeve of her stiff white shirt and made her way across the schoolyard with her small chin held high.

Jael found herself alone, too embarrassed to admit she was scared to her older sister, Delilah, and too shy to attempt and make friends with the other girls her age. She opted to sit on the bench, her black shoe clad feet dangling over the edge as she watched the other children play on the jungle gym before the morning bell.

"You look lonely," A quiet voice said a few minutes later, startling her from her thoughts.

Jael shifted her eyes and looked over to the owner of the voice and tilted her head. It was a boy her age with brown eyes and hair to match staring at her through a thick pair of crooked glasses.

She offered him a shy smile, shaking her feet and hitting her shoes together nervously. "I'm okay," Jael told him with a minuscule shrug, waving off her previous feeling of fear.

"Hi, Okay," The little boy replied with a mischievous grin, his overbite and crooked teeth adding to the affect of the wicked expression. "I'm Conner."

Jael shook her head and couldn't help but grin as she looked at her shoes momentarily. "You're weird," She commented softly, looking back up to meet his eyes once again. The boy was peculiar, she had to admit.

Connor shook his head, the crooked smile still in place. "No, I'm Connor, but nice try," He commented, raising his eyebrows and tilting his head to the side.