When we are born we get these necklaces, but they're weird because we only get half. I have half of the yin and yang symbol, everyone else I know has different symbols that are cut in half as well. Cassandra (Cassie) has a music note, Amanda (Amy) has a star, and Elizabeth (Lizzy) has a heart. I have no idea what these necklaces are for, whenever I ask my parents they won't tell me. All they ever say is "You'll figure it out." What is that supposed to mean?!
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"Sweetie, go to bed." Dang it my mom must have seen my lamp on from under my door. "Ok," I sigh in response. It feels as if I had just shut my eyes when the next thing I know I'm being shook awake. "Wake up hon, you're going to be late for school." "Moooom you did this yesterday morning," I groan while I groggily sit up. "Well, it's the only thing that works these days. Now get up and get ready for school." I slowly get out of bed when she turns back towards me, "If you miss your bus again then you're walking. I have an appointment," she says before leaving. Great. I scrambled to my feet, throwing open my closet, I throw on whatever my hands touch first. I run outside only to gasp as I realize that I forgot my Alto Saxophone and Flute. Dropping everything I run back inside, grabbing my sax and flute. As I run back out I trip on the rug, catching myself quickly and walking the rest of the way to the door. When I get to the bus stop I'm too late. "Walking. Again." I say frustrated.
I start my walk toward the school. Glancing around, I see someone. As I get closer, I realize he's probably lost. Looking both ways I quickly cross the street and head toward him. "Hey, are you lost?" He spins around, the books in his arms scattering. He turns red "Shit sorry." He scrambles to pick them all up, I set down my stuff and help him. I stack his books, my hand brushing his. He had chestnut brown hair that slightly curled beneath the gray beanie he was wearing. When he looked at me his eyes were the color of emeralds, his pale smooth skin and light spray of freckles making them pop behind the frame of dark eyelashes. "Where are you headed?" "I thought this was the bus stop," he admits sheepishly. "It is but we missed it. I'm heading to school, you can join me if you want." He smiles gratefully, "That would be great, thanks." I turn to grab my stuff, "Let me help you with that." He grabs my saxophone case's handle and my hand lands on top of his. A bolt of electricity jumps from his skin to mine. The intensity of the feeling shocks me, I immediately let go. He takes his hand off the handle as well, shoving it into his pocket. I open my mouth to comment but immediately close it, shaking my head I decide to forget about what had just happened.
When we're about halfway there I decide to introduce myself. "By the way, my name's Jessica. Yours?" "Shane." I smile at him. We finally get to school and I take him to get his schedule. "Oh, look! Your first period is with me in Mr. DomRick's class. He's really nice but once you get on his bad side, there's no going back," I say jokingly. "Umm, cool," he rubs the back of his neck in a nervous gesture.
"You sure like to talk a lot," he says in his smooth voice, making me trip. Thankfully he's quick, putting his arm out to catch me. But at the last second remembering the last time we came into contact he snapped his arm back. I fall to the ground hitting the hard floor of the school. "Shit! I'm really sorry about that I don't-" "No it's totally fine." I wince as I get up, rubbing the back of my head. I force a smile at him, "See, fit as a fiddle." Still not looking convinced, Shane reaches out a hand but quickly drops it. Shoving it into his pocket he looks down. I walk ahead, Shane slowly trailing behind. "Jessica-" "Here we are," I say before he can get another word in. We step in and I take my seat while Shane goes and talks to the teacher. I hear Mr. DomRick softly say "Just take a seat anywhere." Suddenly he takes the seat right beside me. Still seeming nervous to be near me.
I look up startled, before I say anything Mr. Domrick starts the lecture. The rest of the day I don't get time to talk to Shane. Only a little here and there during passing period to help him find his next class. I help him with his locker and during lunch I introduce him to all my besties. Cassie and Amy seem to think he's okay, Lizzy just ignores him for some reason, and Shane seems to return the gesture. Making it awkward when I'm talking to Shane and Liz interrupts him and acts like he wasn't talking and vice versa. I make a mental note to talk to her later and figure out what is going on. The rest of the day goes by in a blur.
Finally the last bell rings and I groan while I stand up, stretching my muscles. I quickly gather my things and run to my locker, wanting to beat Lizzy to her locker like I always do. I kneel on the floor as I open it, shoving everything I need into my backpack. Shutting my locker, I quickly spin around while standing up, nearly running the person behind me over. I gasp in surprise and, out of pure luck, I find myself wrapped in Shane's arm once again to keep me from falling, this time he actually catches me. I let out a nervous giggle, waiting for the shock again. It never comes, and he seems as relieved as I am. "I hope this type of thing doesn't become habit," I say laughing lightly. He smiles a heartbreaking smile down at me, "Well then I guess you should stop falling for me," I smile and swat his arm standing up on my own. He takes away his arm but I can still feel the exact place where he touched me. "Ready to go?" I look at him puzzled, "What do you mean?" He rubs the back of his neck again, in that nervous habit of his.
"Well, I was hoping to walk home with you, because. Well- I- I still don't completely know my way around here," he says in a rush, his face turning as red as a tomato. "But you don't have to if you don't want to. It's cool." He starts to turn away, "Wait," I say loudly while grabbing his arm. With that touch that really warm shock came back. I pull back immediately once again, I smile with embarrassment as passersby stare. I slowly rub my hand, hoping the tingling feeling will go away. "I'll walk you, just don't scare me like that again." He returns my smile. "No problem." I watch as he puts his hand back into his pocket once again.
It wasn't until we were in the band room to pick up my instruments that I realize I left Lizzy behind. I start freaking out, dropping all my stuff while telling Shane to wait for me. I run down the hall toward her locker across the school. When I get there she's leaning against her locker texting on her phone, looking frustrated. As I get closer I see she's texting Hannah, one of her other friends. "Omg, I am so sorry Lizzy. I started talking to Shane and I just walked by without thinking-" She waves her hand in a dismissive gesture, "It's all cool. I figured, and I was hoping you would remember me before you started to walk home without me." She smiles at me, it seems tence but I shrug it off. I walk with her to the band room talking about classes and people in our grade. She's seems withdrawn and I have a bad feeling something had happened but I didn't want to probe.
We finally get to the band room but the door is shut and Shane is outside with my stuff surrounding him, along with Lizzy's saxophone case. "Wait, how did you know which one was Lizzy's?" I ask him, puzzled. He shrugs, "Band teacher helped me find it." He glances at Lizzy but quickly looks away, "Thanks," Lizzy says tersely. She yanks up her case and looks at me, the expression on her face scares me. It's completely blank, devoid of all emotion. "Are you walking with him?" I nod slowly, wondering what kind of reaction my answer will cause. She smiles cruelly and I flinch, "Okay then," she looks at Shane, "Nice seeing you again." Her smile gets worse, "Shane," she says mockingly before walking off at a fast clip. I watch her walk away and look at Shane. He's paled considerably and is avoiding eye contact. "Ummm, let's get going." He quickly scoops up his backpack and starts walking down the hall. Completely confused I rush to get my stuff together and follow him.
We're about halfway back to the bus stop where we first met before I couldn't contain myself anymore. "So, what's with you and Lizzy?" His face tightens, almost as though he were in pain. "It's nothing," he smiles a little down at me, "Don't worry about it." I frown, still confused. It definitely wasn't nothing. Something was going on, and I was going to find out what.
