Land Of North

2

I didn’t dread going to school the next day. But I was nervous. Thomas’ disappearance had driven a wedge in my parents’ relationship , both had blamed the other for years. No one had believed my hysterical babbling, and Sam’s been slightly funny in the head ever since. Liana, was in one of the top-notch schools here, ever busy with her Youth Festival activities or Student Council Activities. She’d always been practical and stuck through with her story. The older one, the responsible and accomplished cousin, you couldn’t help but hate. I called her up several times but got only to the message box. She’d call back eventually. Or show up at my house with extra work for me to help with and her stupid motivational lectures.

 You can do more Tina. You need to use people. Why don’t you apply for an internship position? Why don’t you re-organise your closet?  Do you need my notes? I can’t give that one to you, the schools position may be hurt. We can’t lose Intel to other schools. Not that one either, my lecturer is too famous for you to know.

Sam. Sam might start crying or mix-up his sentences even more.

I buttoned up my knitted sweater with one hand as strong gusts of wind blew past me. I was on a bike, cycling to school. It was cool morning; the sun was just coming up. The school gate was right around the corner at the end of this pedestrian pathway. I ring the bell on my bike twice as I turned in, and saw him. He was there, dark jeans, a new brown backpack, a plain blue shirt; walking past the security guard, Ash with him. North was wearing glasses today. I got off the cycle, parked it at the bicycle stand and went to the morning assembly grounds, falling in step with Lisa, a girl I was close to.

“Dancing Horses?” She poked one of the printed horses on my sweater as we got to my class’ row. North met my eyes before looking straight ahead. “See you afterschool in the IT room?” Lisa continued and walked towards her class. Horses

I fell in line behind Cassie, tight-lipped. I didn’t pay attention to a word of the morning announcements.

Tuesday 21st May 2009

Journal (Tina)

Where did North come from? I would ask, if I weren’t so afraid of the delightful looking boy. Cassie, called him that. Delightful?  He’s charming, I’ll give him that.  He’s in my group with Eliot, and Ashley for a project work during the holidays. We are to film a short story following the professional procedures as closely as possible. The very love stuck Cassie is in it as well.

“His eyes, oh, are like emeralds.” No, they’re green, plenty of people have those.

“He talks so endearingly about creating a world with our limitless capacities.” Who say endearingly in this era?

“He carried our bags to the library for us and held the door! Even Ash has stopped being an ass around him.” Uninvited invasion of personal space and Ash was funny like that.

“He has an address what were you saying about his dubiousness. He stays with his uncle. Why are you being such a prick?” I am a what? Thomas is, is a toy. Liana, spends her whole life rubbing it in my face that, she’d lied and would get away with it. That she's always be that one worth being jelous of. My parents split up. Sam’s, Sam’s pathetic. This boy, all because of this boy.

But I couldn’t say any of it out.

As I unlocked my bike from the stand after photography class, he had the audacity to catch up with me and speak to me. “So, we’re in the same group in film studies.” He puts one poised hand on my bicycle seat before I can sit on it.

I look at him, annoyed. “What an observation.”

“You should be nicer you know,” What a pest. I look at his hand and look pointedly at my wrist watch. “I just met you North.”

He spreads both his arms, “In this endless universe, you know we’re bound to have met in another time.”

 Gag reflex, must hold in.

“Sure. See you tomorrow.” I cycle away, but not before he says something else, I can’t dismiss.

“Because, you miss someone, don’t you?”

When I glance behind me, there’s a sadistic smile on his face with the dimples. Hand in his biker jacket,  leaves and Ang Sana flowers rustling at his feet, as I cycle away.