HAVEN BLACK - complete

REALIZATION

Chapter 10 - REALIZATION

I waited, but there was no reply.

Knocking again but harder then before, I shifted uneasily on my feet.

Peering through the side window, I couldn't see any movement.

After a short while, I started to feel rather awkward - My Mom is probably watching me from across the street... How embarrassing.

I glanced at my watch. "Shit, I have to go."

With my heart sunk deep into my chest with the dashed hope, I turned towards the street and briskly walked to school, trying to make up the lost time.

I really thought today was going to be different... better. Why hadn't Jill been home?

I was just in time through the school doors and into my first class before the bell rang. Miss Lewis was writing numbers on the black board as I managed to sneak in and take a seat at the front of the class.

"Nice of you to join us, Jacob," Miss Lewis said, still facing the black board, her messy tight curled brown hair facing the students.

"Morning Miss," I hastily replied, quietly.

Turning my head, I surveyed the class hoping to spot someone. Andy caught my attention and nodded at me – I nodded back and felt glad he was at school today, but I hadn't seen who I had been really hoping to see, Jill - knowing my luck, she's probably not in any of my classes anyway. Turning back to the front of the class, I was met with Miss Lewis's eyes staring firmly at me.

"Are we ready to start yet, Jacob"? she said raising her eyebrows impatiently, small lines formed around her eyes – a sign of her approaching forty years of age. Her hooked nose supported a pair of round brown glasses that made her brown eyes seem bigger, more menacing than they actually were.

"Sorry, yes, I'm ready," I replied awkwardly, a little embarrassed.

"Everyone, today we are going to learn calculus," Miss Lewis spoke autonomously, breaking her stare from me.

The class gave out a small sigh of dispirit.

"Please turn to page 313 of your 'Maths for freshman' text book. There will be a spot test at the end of the class so please pay attention. This test will go onto your records and is part of your final score, so I will reiterate - please pay attention."

I wondered if Jill was at school today...God I hope so. I can't wait to see her again – please God, please let her be at school today...I just want to see her stunning beauty even if it's just for the shortest of glances...

The last quarter of the maths lesson arrived all too soon.

"Alright people, books away," Miss Lewis said as she walked between the desks handing out a piece of paper with numbers strewn on it. "Spot test time, I hope you were all paying attention."

Nothing over the past hour had sunk in properly as I couldn't stop thinking about Jill.

"Thanks," I said looking at the equations on the spot test.

Shit...I don't remember doing these.

"You have fifteen minutes to complete the test!" Miss Lewis said with a raised voice.

Shit...shit...shit...

Looking at the test that sat on my desk, it suddenly occurred to me that all that really mattered was Jill.

The lunch bell rung and the students flocked to the cafeteria in droves. Andy and I had met each other in the line of fellow pupils waiting to have their servings of lunch.

Like animals in a pen being fed by the farmer.

"So Jacob, tell me," Andy said curiously.

"Tell you what? What are you talking about?" I replied rapidly, a look of bewilderment sprung up on my face.

"You're definitely guilty of being happier today, but Jacob...the question is why? You're never happy, in fact you're the saddest person I know...But I'm going to guess, I'd say it was a girl. Am I right? Huh? Huh? Am I right?"

"Whatever man!" I shot back struggling to suppress the corners of my mouth from rising into a big smile. Unable to continue eye contact with Andy, I stared at the floor, at the walls and the ceiling of the cafeteria, grasping to find another subject, anything, to talk about.

"Come on man, what's her name? Who is she?" Andy persisted.

Resuming eye contact with Andy, I folded, indulging in this little secret of mine.

"Okay fine. Her name is Jill and I met her yesterday, in the principal's office."

"Whoa, hold on, you were in the principal's office?" A stunned expression fell on Andy's face. "And what, you met her there?"

"Had you been in science class yesterday you would have known what happened, but you bailed on me."

"I was sick bro," Andy replied, fake coughing into his fist.

"I went to detention because Mr. Henry thought I was disruptive when all I did was let out a sigh..." I emphasized poking Andy in his bony shoulder "... because you weren't there."

"I've lost you man..." Andy said taking a step back "But, anyways, tell me about your new and only, ever, girlfriend." Andy teased.

"Andy, I'm going to sound like a mental case, and it's embarrassing to try to explain, and you're not going to understand, hell I don't understand myself..." I trailed off.

Grabbing my shoulders, Andy lowered himself to my height.

"Its okay man, I'm here for you..." he said, his voice now sounding serious with a hint of sarcasm hiding behind it.

I felt a sudden stabbing poke in my back. Turning around, I was startled to see a female student staring at me with hungry, angry eyes.

"Can you guys hurry up and get your lunch? I'm really hungry – otherwise get out of the line," The girl said overly bitchy, resting her left hand on her hip.

"Sorry Sophia," Andy replied artificially, turning to collect his lunch tray and walking off; I followed close behind and we sat down at a round black table in the shady corner of the cafeteria that was in an area that was disjointed from the rest of the tables, away from the other students. I stared out through the full length windows that covered one entire wall of the cafeteria; the midday light flooded through the huge panes, illuminating the room in a natural light. 100 yards from window, large trees from the end of the forest that bordered the school stood tall and proud; Between the large trunks of these trees, shadows consumed the space between them making them appear eerily dark against the otherwise sunny day.

It's always night time in the forest.

Andy poked his fork into the macaroni disappointingly, "So what were you were saying before that bitch interrupted us...?"

"It was the weirdest thing, I swear to you...when I walked into Mrs. Aiken's office I saw a girl sitting in front of the principal's desk. She's a new student – Jill, her name is Jill," I rambled on. "And when I looked at her, the room sort of expanded out into blackness. I could see her still sitting in the chair, not moving. And there was a beam of light that was shining through her. It sounds really crazy and dumb...And no Andy, I'm not tripping on anything..." I let out a long breath and took a sip of my juice, looking eagerly at my friend for his reaction.

Andy took a deep breath.

"Let me think," he paused, his fingers stroked his chin as he stared out into the woods.

Turning his head back and clicking his fingers, he looked at me with excitement erupting in his eyes.

"I know what this is Jake, it's simple... You're in love."