One Winter Night (on Hold)

Chapter 3

Imagine being on stage in front of millions of people staring at you, whispering at you and just waiting for you to do something; anything actually, That was what I felt as I entered Steven’s High.

Word of Jessica’s death spread like wildfire and the fact that I saw it happen in some twisted way. I started to assume people thought I killed her, but why would I kill my best friend?

I kept my head down as I walked down the hall way, everyone got out of my way even Candy; she may not be the nicest person but she knows what it’s like to lose someone you love.

I slammed my books in my locker which was covered with pictures of me and Jessica. I shoved the books I needed in my bag and walked off to my first class which was Literature. I walked into class taking the seat at the end. If Jessica saw me now she would be beyond amazed, about the fact that I wasn’t sitting in front and taking notes.

The bell rang and Mr. Fred entered looking his usual self. Mr. Fred was a really good teacher he was in his early thirties he had light brown hair and blue eyes; he was also happily married and had a son who I used to babysit sometimes.

“Good Morning class, as most of you know Jessica is no longer with us, so let’s have a moment of silence in her memory” The class fell silent but I just kept my head down not wanting to face anyone in the eyes.

“So let’s begin, I had given you a task to read ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ so how many of you have well you know read it?” To my surprise everyone did, including me.

“Excellent, so tell me what did you like about the book?”

“Yes Alison”

“What I liked about the book was that it wasn’t like a fairytale it was as if I were a character of the book and I was given real emotions”

“Very good, ah yes Rob”

“The book itself was amazingly written, it had a different concept to it as well; I mean how many junior guys go out with senior girls?” The whole class gave a chorus of laughter and giggles.

“Very cheesy now aren’t we Rob?’ Yes Madeline what is your review about the book?” All heads turned to me as if holding their breath and waiting for me to speak.

“Well um I thought this book was based on reality around us, not everyone suffers it but the ones who do are like shuffled puzzles, they don’t know which one fits the other. It is easy to let go but it is difficult to put yourself back together and face reality, but when you do the world seems like a better place and I would like to quote this quote from the book ‘But because thing change. And friends leave. And life doesn't stop for anybody’”

 I looked back down at my notebook slightly embarrassed of what I just said but then I heard clapping a lot of clapping I looked up to see the whole room clapping for me.

“That was just marvelous Madeline! Just marvelous!”

I walked out of Literature and headed to math, today seemed to be a better day. It wasn’t the same without my best friend by my side but it was still better than usual. Yet again I took my seat at the back of the class. Math had never really been my favorite subject but I guess I had to live with it.

“I still hate math too” I looked around and this time I could see it, I wasn’t going crazy I could see Jessica. I screamed and everyone looked at me even Miss. Lena my math teacher.

“She’s here! Can’t you see her?!” I shrieked at them.

“Miss. Collin what are you blabbering about?”

“Can’t you see her?!”

“See who Miss. Collin?!”

“Jessica can’t you see her she was just here?!” everyone started whispering as if I were crazy, seeing my dead best friend.

“Miss. Collin I would like you to go to the principal’s office and give him this note” I got up from my seat, took the note and walked my way to the principal’s office.

It couldn’t have been, could it? Am I having a concussion? What is wrong with me? It could not have been her, it just couldn’t.

I made my way and sat in the waiting room as the principal must be busy with some other student or parents. Oh god will he call my parents? What will they do? Send me to a mad house?

The principal’s door opened and the one and only Sean walked out with dark bruise marks on his face along with some other guy. Sean has a reputation of getting into fights and loads of trouble; he was like the male version of Jessica. Black hair and green eyes.

“Miss. Collin come in” I walked into the principal’s office taking in my surroundings. It was a small brown room with a bunch of awards, pictures and cups.

“Have a seat Miss. Collin” I took a seat in one of his light brown chairs looking down at the note in my hand.

“Now what brings you here?”

“Miss. Lena sent me here to give you this note” He took the note from my head and read it. He sighed, took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead.

“Miss. Collin I know its hard losing someone close to you, but do you think imagining that they are still alive makes it easy to let go?”

“You think I’m making this up don’t you?” my temper rising to the surface.

“No I most certainly don’t, I think you don’t want to let go of your past”

“Sir imagine someone cutting open your skin with a knife, it’s a fresh wound. Every time you touch it hurts as hell, you can’t work, and you can’t sleep because the wound keeps hurting. You just don’t let it go so easily and you most certainly don’t say it was the past because that wound will leave a scar and it shows pain and suffering that is just not easy to put in your past” with that I stormed out of the principal’s office and headed out of school not wanting to go back into any other class.