onyx: poltergeist

nine

MARTIN

Ever since my first day in school I was definitely busier than I was when I arrived in Los Angeles from Amsterdam. I may have completed most of my unpacking and I'm slowly starting to settle down in my home away from home, but one thing seemed to come right after the other and now the first piece of so called "homework" I've been given is to research on a classic book novelist for Creative Writing class, which we eventually decided on Lewis Carroll. If only I have read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland earlier when I was younger.

Projects aside, school so far seemed to be pretty good. Since I joined my first class I've started warming up to Celine, who was willing to take time to show me around the school, much to my relief. She's cool, definitely someone I would see myself spending time with. Then there's her best friend Jayda, who was as cool as her best friend, albeit less jumpy and energetic. I don't see her around as often as I see Celine though, only in Creative Writing class and the daily lunch break along with Celine. But there's something to Jayda that always seemed to grab hold onto my concentration and was reluctant to let go, maybe it's her exotic looking amber eyes that looked absolutely mesme-

Martijn, hold up. Remember when you said appearances didn't matter?

I don't even know why I was starting to feel this way around Jayda. Come on, I first met her four days ago on Monday in class, I don't even know who she is, or what she likes. She's just another friend to me, but a friend with the benefit of looking great every single time she steps into the school com-

Admit it Marty, you like her. You like Jayda.

I shook my head, trying my best to get that inner voice out of my head. I don't believe in love at first sight, I can't just start liking a random good looking girl that I just met. Not to mention, no one calls me Marty that often anymore, besides Celine.

"You okay there Martin?" I heard Celine sound out from in front of me. We were seated in the middle of the cafeteria, Celine making do with a sub sandwich for lunch before the bell goes and she and I have to go for Chemistry. As usual, Jayda tagged along with us, which gets me slightly weak in the knees but I tried to hold myself up. Damn it Martijn, catching feelings for a girl.

"I'm good," I flashed a smile and nodded back, "just zoned out for a while."

"Well then," Jayda shot me a concerned look in her eyes and I repeatedly reminded myself not to melt in my seat, "but if you have anything on your mind feel free to share with us about it, we don't mind."

Yeah, if only you weren't on my mind in the first place.

"It's nothing," I frankly brushed her off, laughing a little, "I'm just tired. Jet lag."

"We should go, time's about to run out," Celine finished the last of her lunch and jumped up from her seat, "Don't want to be late for class."

"Yeah," Jayda nodded along, beckoning for me to get up, "let's go Martin."

I clumsily clambered out of my seat and shuffled along out of the cafeteria and down the hall. Jayda had her own class to rush to, so she had to take off down the hall in the opposite direction, much to my slight relief but also disappointment. Before I knew it I was left with just Celine, which I followed down the long, locker lined hallway, chatting about my life before the exchange programme happened.

"So how's Amsterdam like?" she probed curiously, "Do you miss your family from back home?"

"Amsterdam's amazing, and I'm starting to kinda miss them," I shrugged, stopping in front of a locker that Celine swiftly opened to take out a few things, "Thankfully I can still message them from time to time and tell them how I've been." Bless the free WiFi in my rental apartment.