Evanescent

Twelve

I have another weird dream.

This time I am flying with metal wings in the sky. I fly over the school when I start to hear the sound of a helicopter and then more.

Suddenly, a shot fired. It hits my right wing and I start to fly lopsided. Then another shot to the other side, and another.

"I just wish I could escape, all the pressure. Why can't people just accept those around them as they are? Why is the world so attacking?"

It's the voice again. And this time it's too cloudy to tell if it's Tanner's but this time it sounds more like his.

The shots keep coming until I'm a foot of the ground. And then silence for a second before a last shot fires and I fall to the ground. But the grass shatters beneath my hands.

•••••

I wake up. Sweat runs along my hairline. Just a dream, just a silly dream.

I put on my favorite new outfit. A floral dress with ankle boots and a statement necklace.

Annie picks me up to go to school at the same time as always. And when we enter the school, she goes to her dance locker to put her bag up as usual.

I enter the school and everyone shoots glances at me. They're admiring my outfit. Kylee looks me up and down then looks at Hanna and laughs. I don't care, I love my dress.

Finally Grace runs up to me. "Nessa come here!" I run up to her and she points to the weekly student newspaper. Grace flips to the "couple of the week" section and points to a horrifying picture.

It's me. And Ash. At Zöe's. Holding hands as I look down and he looks into my eyes. This can't be happening. I read the paragraph underneath.

"Vanessa Brown has had such a welcome back this week. For the past few days she has been going to lunch with Tanner Daniels, the new boy from Ohio. Just as we thought we could label them a couple, we hear the exciting news that our favorite athlete, Asher Greggs, asked her out and she said yes! An anonymous picture was sent in of the two of them having a romantic moment at Zöe's Kitchen. Congrats you two!"

I shake my head. How do I tell them it's not true? How can I convince the whole grade? How do I convince Tanner?

"Grace, please listen, you know he's not my type!" I say.

"But the rest of the school doesn't know that, Nes. I love you but look at the picture! All the evidence says it's true!"

"You're right," I sigh,"I need to fix it. But first, Ash." She laughs and points him out in the crowd in the lunchroom of early kids.

I practically march over to him and tap him on the shoulder. That's a lie, I push him into the crowd of boys he was talking to. And he actually slips and falls to my surprise.

"What was that for?!" He yells before turning around and seeing my enraged face. "Oh yeah Nessa, looks like we're a couple now!" He says with a laugh covered by nerves.

"Why on Earth would you send that?! You little whimp! If you like me just say it to my face! Don't trick the whole freaking grade into thinking we're in love or something! You sick freak! I can't believe even you are mean enough to do this to me! I-"

"Vanessa freaking Brown! Chill out! It wasn't me okay? I swear I didn't do it!"

"Okay so now you're not even going to own up to it?!" I take a deep breath," that's okay."

"Really?"

"No, but I would be embarrassed too." I hear some of his friends let out an "ooh" of shame towards him as I walk away.

The bell rings and I walk to my locker, but Tanner is already there.