If I can make it to Arduo

Chapter 3

That night I lay awake for hours, unable to stop my mind from running laps around my bed. To think that I might actually have a chance with that girl- it sent me to the moon. I rolled over to look at my bedside clock, four-thirty. Damn! I hadn't had a wink of sleep because of Renna... Renna! Her name! I know her name!! I pulled the blanket to my face and giggled like a little girl.

I couldn't believe I had made that save in the art room. Under my breath I mimicked a casanova tone, "I draw things I find beeeautifuuull!". Damn that was smooth! If I could be that good all the time I'd have every girl in town under my arm! But then... the thought of being with any girl without those sunshine eyes... nah, not for me. Besides, all the girls in this town loathed Chimes, everyone did, and it hurt me to think that anyone could be that hateful.

Chimes were just people. I knew that now that I had met one, known one. Before I'd met Renna, I thought the horns looked strange, maybe even alien. But on her.. those little twists behind her ears... they were cute! And maybe I should start looking at all Chimes that way, as people. Just people.

My brain slowly melted into colors. Leaving only that name. Renna.. My Renna... one day... And finally, at six-twenty-three in the morning, I drifted off to sleep.

Seven minutes later, my alarm woke me up. I rolled, groaning loudly, out of my bed and flopped onto the floor with a thud. The cold of the morning air outside my blanket cocoon was bracing, but my pillow still called my name like some drug I was having withdrawals from. I would've asked my mom to let me call in sick if it wasn't for the plan I had for the day. It was Friday, and my weekend was free. I wasn't much into religion, but I prayed to every god I could think of that she would say yes.

I dressed in my newest school uniform. Freshly ironed black slacks, blue dress shirt, and my favorite black tie. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and combed my hair. With every task completed I grew more nervous and more sure of myself at the same time. I slapped myself in the face twice and gave myself a pep talk in the mirror. Today was the day. No backing down! We weren't supposed to wear cologne at my school, but I sprayed some on anyway, grinning like an idiot in my tiny act of defiance. Today was more important than rules. Today was the day my life got interesting!

I shut the door to my bedroom quietly and hopped down the carpeted stairs. I stopped by the door to grab my packed lunch from the small table where I found it everyday without fail. As I leaned against the door to put my shoes on I found myself staring at the old photo of my older sister. She was smiling, wearing aviator sunglasses and full combat gear, a Remington M16 assault rifle slung over her shoulder and a mixture of dust and sand peppering her tied back hair. She had wanted to be a navy SEAL, but they wouldn't take women. She died the same year the photo was taken, an officer in the Army with enough medals to decorate a christmas tree. I smiled at the thought of how she'd broken the mold. My parents had wanted her to dance ballet, but her heart was set on serving the country.

I picked up the picture frame and dusted it off, "watch over me, Sis, if I'm lucky today I'll make you proud."

I glanced out the window and noticed the school bus approaching my stop. I set the picture back down on the table, "bye, Hanna." I said and scurried out the door.

The ride to school was annoying as always. The overcrowded bus smelled of cheap hairspray and body odor. There were never enough seats in the back so I had to sit in the front with the little kids who always wanted to pull my hair or shove their toys in my face. I wouldn't say anything about it, but it wasn't fun. I was one of the last stops on the route though, so I only had to endure it for a few minutes before stepping off the bus and into the fresh air.