Descendants

Chapter 1-Julie

First of September. What a joyful day. I mean literally, I have been waiting for this day to arrival! I finally get to see my new school campus and that is very exciting. 'Ring, ring'. There goes my alarm clock. Just as usually. My internal alarm clock is always 5 minutes earlier than the ringing one. I am thrilled. In case you don't know, I study in Jupiter High. DO NOT LAUGH! Or else, I'll... I will... I don't know what I will do to you. I mean, I don't understand why people laugh at the name of my school. What's wrong studying with aliens in outer space? To start with, Jupiter High has been under renovation for the last three years and I am soooo curious why it takes so long to renew the school. The new school is going to be super grand. Let's just, you know, cross our fingers on that. New school, new start. I look at the floor length mirror next to my closet. A t-shirt with a headphone pattern on it and a pair of skinny low waist jeans with a tear on both knees. Hmm that's fine, I guess. Wait! What's that on my arm? I rub my eyes and stare at the tattoo on my left forearm, screaming for attention. Shoot! Where does that come from? Last time I remember, I don't drink. So this can't possibly be a tattoo that I have voluntarily made or made under a condition that I'm not sober. I run hands over the tattoo. It is 4 curved lines curving upward with one shorter than the other. If I see it with my head tilted, that shape is a near tear drop shape, but not exactly.
'Julie! Time to run! The bus will set off without you!' my mum cry.
Whatever that is, I have to deal with that later. So, I quickly I cover the tattoo with a bandage and smoothly slid the backpack and face my day.

'What was taking you so long?' ask Allison,
awaiting impatiently at the school entrance.
'I just...'
'Hey, Dephine.'
Allison start snickering with the other girl passing by. She is so easily distracted by other people at school. But to be fair, she is a good friend especially over the phone, she will listen to my complains and five reasonable and supportive comments. What can I say?
'So, Allison, think we should walk into the school?'
'Sure.'
Jupiter High School. Seriously, due to the renovation, I have never visited this campus before. This is campus number one, the original one. In the past years, we just borrow abandoned school campus through the government for our studying before this old thing is all brand new again.
'Do you feel the breeze?'
'Yes' I answer.
It's really weird that the first of September has a breeze. It's still summer. It should be so hot that I can't stop melting. Allison and I walk into the school. Just down the staircase of the entrance is the cafeteria. The cafeteria in sight is not what I have imagined back at my sweet dreams. There are two vending machines on the left (can't forget to mention how noisy and close to breaking down they are) , a food selling counter beside it and the rest are tables. Some round tables, some long ones and some that looks like bar table. The cafeteria is so small! I give it 20 steps and I can walk the side of it. Not to mention the lights. They are dim as hell! What's the difference of turning them off entirely? The answer is no, there isn't any difference.
'I thought that the school had a make over. If this place is already so call new, it is just pathetic.'
And I know just how right Allison is just this time. Walking right pass the cafeteria is the playground. This is an open space the size of two basketball court, which is exactly it's landuse. Facing the main building is a set of big steps. It's really strange. Last moment at the entrance, I felt so cold and now, the air is like just hanging mid-air. There is nothing, not even the breeze. The air is still. Too still when the twigs of the hideous tree is swaying. The tree is just to the left of the exit from the cafeteria to the playground. The tree just stretches in height, so as it's spooky branches, twisting in weird directions.
'Allison, do you feel funny? Like there is something wrong and you can't tell?'
'Totally, mate. Oh there's Neil!' 'Neil!'
Allison is always so 'sociable'.
'Hey, 'sup.'
Neil is a science student. He's cool but it always fascinates me that a cool guy like him isn't particularly proud or is a sort of bad boy.
As he is approaching, adrenaline starts spreading in me, but as well as a wave of calmness and cool sensation. What is that?
Just as I turn my head and am ready to leave for my locker, something on Neil catch my eye. He has a bandage on the same spot on his right arm.
'Omg you got hurt!' Allison yell. She put arm around Neil's and touches the bandage tenderly in circles. This is just.. Embarrassing! What is she thinking. Neil probably has a girlfriend? I mean hotties like him, sure it's not even a question. I try to keep a distance from them. That Neil, his presence makes me feel more.. Powerful. That's the word. Ok so maybe I have a crush on him? But that doesn't explain the tattoo! Yes. As I am in deep thought, the small patch of skin under the tattoo feels dangerously hot! I put hands on the bandage and I can almost feel the heat seeping through the fabric on my hand.
'Neil. Are you having a fever? I think your wound is infected. It's frying my hands.' Neil clears his throat uncomfortably,' I'm fine. See you later.' Before he turns his back completely to us, I see his eyes lingering on mine.