Bring Me Light [Editing]

Chapter 14 - Jackson

Walking into that classroom today - to put it lightly - was torture.

When I walked in, it was like everything around me was exactly the same, just with a different feeling. A different aura.

Usually when I arrive at the door, I'm greeted with a nice smell, a cheery, talkative class, and a smiling Elena. But today was different. Instead of a nice smell, we had a substitute teacher who really needed a lesson on how to use deodorant. Instead of a cheery, talkative class, everyone was talking in hushed whispers, trying not to get caught by the sub teacher. And instead of a warm smile from Elena, well, I didn't even get a glance. I walked past, took a seat, and in all that time, she didn't even budge. Elena was sitting like a stone brick in her chair, headphones on, and a sketchpad out on the table in front of her.

At one point the girl in front of Elena turned around to ask her something, but it was such a whisper that I couldn't make out what they were saying. Maybe Elena was quick to replace me with a new friend, I think to myself.

I put my books in my locker after first period, and sneak a glance over at Elena, who is a few lockers to my left. She's still got her headphones in, and is pulling out a chemistry book. Just when I'm about to find the courage to go and say something, another figure appears in my line of sight.

"Hey Jackson," a girl smiles. It's the same girl who was talking to Elena this last period.

"Hey uh-," I start, not quite remembering her name. The girl's smile falters a bit, but she regains her composure, and within no time, that same white-toothed smile is back up in my face.

"Sailor," she says. "Sailor McKay. I sit two seats in front of you in Homeroom.

"Yeah, uh, I'm so sorry Sailor, but I kind of have to get to class now," I mutter, looking past her shoulder at Elena, who has now slammed her locker shut and is walking away swiftly.

"You have time," Sailor coos twirling a piece of hair around her finger.

"I'm sorry Sailor," I repeat, smiling apologetically, "Could I catch you some other time?"

"Jack," Sailor pouts, putting a hand on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. I look at my shoulder briefly, shove her hand off, and scowl slightly at the nickname. By the time I look back, Elena is gone.

Sighing, I walk with a smiling Sailor down the hallway towards my next class.

Why her? I was just about to talk to Elena, to apologize, and Sailor Mc-Happy-Face is here to greet me.

At least its not a scowl...

Slowly, I regain a small amount of my kindness and talk a little bit more than nothing. Sailor is chatty, smiley and all around happy. My opposite. What you want Elena to be. I shook the feeling of sympathy I felt for Elena the first day I met her.

~Flashback~

I stared the girl in front of me. She had dark hair, dark clothes and by the looks of it, most likely a dark attitude. How sad. I thought. She had a pencil in her hand, slowly twirling as she read her book. She's just like me. No. She's just like the OLD me. I smiled. I would change myself for this girl. This girl who I knew for a fact needed a light in her life. And I will be that light.

~End of Flashback~

I finally noticed I had stopped in the middle of the hall when Sailor tapped on my shoulder.

"Are you okay?" She inquired, her head turned at a 45° angle.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine." I lied. No. No I'm not fine.

I'm not fine because Elena's not fine.

And Elena's not fine because I acted like shit.

All throughout my next period, all the noises of the world were drowned out, my head in my hands, my heart on my sleeve. I'm pretty sure that if the world exploded, I would still be sitting there, silently cursing my existence. Elena had become my light, my life, my everything. I had done so much for her.

I...

I-I love her.

Two me's battled inside my head. One was suggesting I apologize to Elena and walk her through her challenges and come out in the end as her one.

The other me said let her rot.

What did she do for you?

Nothing.

But what does she mean to you?

Everything.

When the bell rang, I still remained in my seat, head in my hands and my heart on my sleeve. The only thing I thought possible to wake me was Elena. But the thought of her did good enough.

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