The Quiet One

Chapter Seventeen- Going Solo

Jacks laugh rang through my ears as I feel off the chair in surprise looking around trying to reorient myself. I pushed myself up onto my feet to see my brother and his friends gathered around the TV already losing interest in me, all to my relief. I looked directly over to Jack before hurrying upstairs without a word. His face went completely blank as he sat down next to my brother. I bolted up the stairs.

I sighed into the silence of my room. I didn't bother turning on the camera, I somehow just knew that they were not going to upstairs to bother me tonight. Jacks face kept replaying over and over again in my head, I swear he was the one who woke me up and his laughter... I shook my head and laid back onto my bed. It's his problem if he's bipolar or something, not mine.

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A bright light shone right into my eyes as I tried to go stay in my dreams, I am having nothing of this waking up.... As I was falling back asleep a gigantic panic as I realized that it was a school day. I frantically flipped my blankets off me, turning right to my alarm clock, which still was as broken as before. Why has no one gotten me out of bed yet? I went down the stairs and right into the kitchen where my mom stood still in her pajamas. For a few seconds, we just stared at each other in a mother-daughter sleep daze.

She seemed to be the one to break the confusion first, "My Dawn you're up early today." She smiled and went back to her coffee.

"But... I'm late aren't I?" I looked at her confused until I turned to the clock next to the coffee machine. I was awake full hour and a half earlier than I normally am, oh joy I see how this day is going to go.

I groaned and headed back to the stairs, then my mom interrupted me, "Dawn dear I would hope you're not going back to bed when I could use your help for breakfast." This prompted another groan on my behalf.

By the time the bus was at our door, I was well-fed, rested and dressed in a cute dress with my hair done half decently. I don't know how I feel about the whole being prepared for the day situation...

After Kats initial freak out of my well-preparedness for the day, we were able to finally make it through a normal school day that was until lunchtime. Ever since the day the girls have been forcing me not to eat lunch alone anymore, I could always fight Kat off, but it was much too much effort to fight off both Brandy as well as Angie. But of course, the reason I avoid the large hordes of people that crowd in the lunch room showed right in my face today. There was a rumor floating around and it was definitely a big one.

The girls and I were just minding our own business, all picking on me about how I was finally going to take the dance solo tonight at class when we could hear the table next to us mention a specific name; Jack. Our conversation only died at the end of Brandy who immediately stopped talking and started listening. I tried my best to pay attention elsewhere not wanting to be eavesdropping on the other table's conversation... that was until I heard the words, "He's dating that girl from the dance..."

I proceeded to choke on absolutely nothing as Angie tried to cover up her surprised by coughing into her napkin, while Kat tried to calm me and Brandy just seemed to freeze altogether. All of this chaos seemed to attract some attention from the neighboring table but we ignored them in our shock. This was definitely news since as far as I knew I was very and completely single and not dating any kind of bad boy. Who, for the record, doesn't date anyone. Only having flings or 'things' with certain girls.

Somehow I did make it through the day without seeing Jack. Not even once, which either means that I getting better at avoiding him or that he's no longer trying to find me. Which, you know is completely fine with me. I don't care at all...

I moved fast around the dance floor making sure to hit the direct beats that I missed the time before. I let my mind fly away and my feet take control of my body as I performed the solo for my teacher one last time before I could head home. The rest of the class had already left but here I was still here taking up the floor, and pushing these unwanted hurt feelings away. I was confused about where they were going from in the first place. Step over step and stop. I stayed in my position looking directly at my teacher holding onto the last bit of balance I still had left.

"Wonderful Kat! It still needs a lot of work but you've basically got the first half of the routine down!" Her eyes glowed as she smiled at me, this is exactly what she's wanted me to do for years. She's finally won the fight.

I walk out into the warm, well kind of, warm May weather. I can't believe that it's been more than a full month since Zack's birthday... I sigh as I head over to Zack's truck that he made me drive myself because he was too lazy to drive me out here myself. That shows a new extreme of his laziness, and no I don't have my license yet, he's just a class A idiot.

I turn on the truck lights and drive out of the empty plaza parking lot, hopefully, I don't get in trouble for being late from dance, and even bigger from driving myself here and back. Either way, I can just blame it on Zack and he can't say shit. I smiled at the thought and turned on the radio, enjoying a relaxing drive back home. That was until I saw a dark figure walking down the streets of my town. I moved the truck around him and watched out the back mirror, he looked up and gave a short wave to the truck. I quickly turned into my driveway and rushed into the house. Locking the door behind me, I shivered. Well, that was weird for sure.

I flipped over to face Kat and made a face of pure disgust. She rolled her eyes at me, "Stop being so dramatic. Finals are in a week and we need to study!"

I groaned I had more than enough studying for the day. We had just gotten back from dance practice and my solo was really coming along, I was now practicing with the whole group, and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would have been. I also hadn't seen that weird guy walking around town at late hours of the night anymore which really helped my nerves even though I still look for him every time I come through late at night. I wonder if Zack is in some kind of weird gang or drug dealing thing... scary stuff if he's making me drive his truck. Maybe I should talk to him about it...I heard Kat sigh. I smiled, she just about to give up...

"Okay, you know what? Screw this!" She dropped her book onto the desk and rubbed her eyes. As of late, she's been looking more and more stressed and it's beginning to make me nervous. She stopped and opened her eyes again with a determined look on her face, "You know what... we should go on an adventure..."