I am Number Twelve

11

11

Well, it makes sense. The running, the small town, never having any real friends. But why would he flaunt his legacies and take part in running competitions? It seems a little strange. 

And how did he figure out I was Twelve? It's clear he is number Ten, now, but what made him guess Twelve? Maybe his Cepan kept pictures. Oh, and who were those creepy police officers?

Its final. I am dissecting the contents of my chest this afternoon.

Again, from asking myself far too many questions, I have a migraine. It's not until lunch time, when I walk to my locker, pop 2 aspirin and drink half a bottle of water I ask myself the 3 most important questions.

Why did Charlie tell me Jake would take care of me? Are the Zentolions staring to advance? And what does this mean in correspondence to the charm and the rest of the Garde?

Jake is a simple human. Sure, he may look strong, but he is nowhere near as strong as I am. Nowhere near as smart, cunning or as fast as I am. He also can't manipulate fire, hear or see as well as I can and he certainly won't develop any form of Legacy ever. Jake couldn't take care of me for 2 minutes in a Zentolion invasion, he's just human.

If those police were Zentolion, I have no idea what that would mean for Charlie. For Me. If they suspected Charlie, they could just as easily suspect me. It means they are here, in Grove Hill. Shit.

I only have a slightly above basic understanding of the charm, and Charlie and I have met and we know who each other is. Has the charm broken? I can only hope another member of the Garde is not in combat at this very moment. I hope it for their sake, for ours, we can't afford to lose another. We might as well all succumb to a full scale coronary.

I feel a tap on my shoulder, and its Helen and Jake, waiting for me to finish at the locker. The give me a fright, as scary as it is sublime.

'Hi guys, when did you meet?' I ask, a pang of jealousy hits me, shooting deep into my stomach.

'Uh, woodwork.' Helen says, while she flips her gorgeous hair.

'Cool. Ready?' I ask and close my locker at the same time. The slamming noise echoes through out the B-wing corridor.

'Yep!' She says cheerily. She glances at Jake, the kind of glance that just speaks 'we know something and she doesn't and I like it' and reeks of desperation and secret midnight gram crackers.

Jake doesn't notice. And of course he's too busy staring at me. But not my face. My legs. I shiver, a convoy of chills travelling by motorbikes up my spine.. 

We begin walking, and Helen says she's taking us to 'this perfect little cafe on Main'. Jake and I simultaneously ask 'Whats Main?', his brow furrows.

She just shakes her head and continues walking. She walks ahead, obviously a tad embarrassed about Jake. 

I look to the sky, perfect electric blue, like the ocean, or tangy blueberries. The invisible stars, Aquillia in it's shiny glory, unannounced to the rest of the world. I run my hands along the flowers growing on peoples front hedges and walls. Each one has a velvety touch and a heavenly scent, like each one is reaching out for a kiss. I look at Jake, he is synonymous with chocolate and and all things great, I have decided. His long legs take big strides.

'You've had a hair cut.' He says as more of a statement than a question. Lacking the true answer, and the will to tell the truth, I reply a simple 'Yes. Nice of you to notice.' and pair it with a corny smile. Like taking candy from a baby.

'I liked it better longer.' His deep, dreamy voice rings through my ears. It strikes me as odd. I've only known him a week, and within that time, he's already decided he likes my hair at a particular length.

'Thanks.' I smile. He seems genuine, so I decide to make my own compliment, and throw it back at him.

'I actually really like your tattoo. It's-' Helen cuts me off. 

'Tattoo? You never told me!' She stops walking and scans Jake's body.

'Huh. Don't see it.' She says wantingly. Jake turns his head, and flashes it.

She gasps 'That is totally cool! When'd you get it, huh?' 

'When I was 1 and a half.' 

I think both me and Helen are taken back, but she's the one that gasps.

'Oooh! Bad boy, are we?' She winks. When I met her yesterday, she never struck me as the desperate, blond type. 

Jake looks like he's about to throw up.

After Helen finishes obsessing over the tattoo, we carry on and by some miracle, we make it to the cafe (the one where me and Jake met) and back by the end of lunch.

+++

At the end of the day, I am again, back at my locker, headphones in, tapping my feet on the white vinyl. Self Esteem- The Offspring is quietly blasting out of them. I empty my books into the locker, then lock it. I swivel on the balls of my feet and crash right into Jake, who was walking towards me until I knocked the breath out of him. He now lies on the floor with furrowed brows. 

He goes to stand and I hold out my hand to help him up. I apply minimal strength, but still he comes flying off the ground. It was with ease, and he knows somethings up, I can tell by the confused look on his face.

He wipes the shock off his face and replaces it with a smirk. 'Strong, are we?' He says, mimicking Helen's voice this afternoon. I think I blush.

I must  admit, he is very good looking. Its really the first time I realise it, but he truly is, quite, quite attractive. Not 'movie star' attractive, but the raw, natural kind.

We walk down the front steps side by side, and we turn out the school gate, only to find Helen. 

'Oh! Jake! I was looking for you!' Am I really surprised? Of course she was. She isn't exactly the best choice for a friend.

'I was wondering if you would like to walk me home, then we could watch a movie together or something, sound good?' She's actually quite desperate.

'Well, uh, I'm actually walking Ze-' He starts, but she doesn't let him finish. 'Stop babbling, silly. Why did I even ask? Of course you want to! I'm just that cool.' She drones on. She winks at him, links her arm in his and starts walking.

Jake stays still, feet planted on the ground, as if they were glued there. 'No. I'm walking Zeda home.' He stays firm.

'Jake! Don't be silly, come on.' She says, getting agitated.

'No.' Jake keeps it simple.

She takes it a step further, gets up on tippy toes, puts one hand on his chest, one around the back of his head, and smashes her lips on his. Her eyes are closed, and Jakes are open, a look of disgust on his face as she stands there and mutilates his lips. He reaches for her head. I nearly die of embarrassment. It wasn't disgust I saw on his face, I mistook it for lust.

When I think hes going to wrap his hands around her, he grabs onto her hair and yanks her off of him. Dignity partially restored, I start to breathe again. She balls her fists in anger, and goes extremely red.

Jake takes me by surprise, and links his arm with mine. he turns us around and we walk away from her. As soon as we are out of sight, he grabs the collar of his jersey and wipes his mouth several times. After, he also used his sleeve. While he is doing this, I am laughing. He looks at me and says, 

'Well, She's a peice of work, isn't she?' He then smirks and breaks out laughing.

'No, more like a feminine version of Cloy- ah, Satan.' I nearly said Cloytolis Ra, the Zentolion Leader. I hope he doesn't pick up on it.

And soon we find ourselves outside out two houses. 

'Thanks for walking me home.' I smile, wave good bye and set off down my own driveway.

'Wait, while your'e gone, I hope you don't turn into a 'Helen' before school tomorrow. I'd really appreciate it' 

'I promise' I laugh. He smirks and walks down his drive way. 

I make sure he's compeltely out of sight before I smile to my self.