Winters' Storm

James Dashton-JD

I wake up to my alarm clock buzzing the most annoying sound in my ear again. I slap the top to make it stop, but it keeps buzzing. I sit up and slap it harder but it still doesn't stop. I groan out loud and yank the cord till the entire clock turns off. Then I stand up in the dark to try and find the light switch. I run my fingers on the wall till I feel it and flip the way to bright lights on. I squint my eyes and start to scramble around to get ready for early jazz band and school.

Ten minutes later I'm walking out the door and hopping on my bike. The crisp fall air chill my ears briefly but it goes away since I'm used to it by now. I have been biking to school every morning since my mom's already at work at the restaurant and my dad's sleeping from working the night shift in the prison.

I peddle up the dirt driveway toward the gravel country road that lead to town. I turn and follow the gravel skidding and bumping as I go. Once the gravel ends I'm already in town heading straight for the school.

I drop my bike in the grass at the side of the High school and walk to the front doors. I look at the heavy oak doors that were big enough for a giant as I reach to pull them open. The hinges squeak as the door closes behind me. I walk up the halls making sharp turns at the halls I have to take to get to the band room. I open the door to the band room and walk in. The other kids are already there and playing for Mr. Garris, our music director. I pull out my Baritone saxophone and put it together. I find my seat and start to play when I hear a familiar spot.

Once Jazz band is over I head into the cafeteria for some breakfast. The lunch ladies serve some gross breakfast pizza but I take it and say thank you anyway. I eat my breakfast quickly and dump my tray quickly as the homeroom bell rings. I head up to Mrs. Nanson's room. I plop down in my seat and stick in my earbuds playing whatever music was on the pandora radio. I pulled out some homework ,that I forget to get done Monday to turn in today, and started working on it.

After a while I felt someone pull one of my earbuds out. I pull out the other one and look up to see Mrs. Nanson looking down at me with a stern look.

"The office called you. Go ahead and make your way up there." she said, then turned around and left me alone. I shoved my homework in a pile on the edge of my desk and started for the office with my earbuds hanging on my shoulders. I turn off my phone and shove my buds in my hoodie pocket as I walk into the gym. The school has the dumbest set up. It's almost like a maze. I turn one last time and walk into the office beside the front doors.

As I walk in I see a kid and his mom standing by the secratary's desk.

"James! This is Ms. Sky Winters. Her son, Storm Winters, shall be your partner till he kinda gets used to the halls, alright." she said with a pleasant smile. I look at the lady. Her hair is bleach white and her eyes are bright blue. She's wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a runner's jacket. She looks fairly thin and so does her kid, Storm, I guess. He has black hair that's short and shaggy. His eyes are a strong gray color and he's wearing some dark jeans with an all black hoodie similar to mine. As I look at it closer I notice it's even the same brand. With the tiny northface symbol on the right shoulder. I let out a forced smile.

"Kay, No problem." I say as I walk closer to the Winters. "I'm James Dashton, but you can call me JD." I say as I hold out my hand to shake Storm's. Storm looks at my hand, then at his mom then back to me. He hesitantly shakes after a moment. His skin is freezing and he quickly pulls away after one shake. I shrug off his awkwardness and go to shake his mother's hand. She shakes with a smile with the same freezing skin. Then she turns to Storm and puts her face close to his and starts to whisper. I try to ignore it, but she talks kind of loudly.

"You'll be alright here Storm. Get out if you..." she stopped short as she noticed me standing so close. I pretend to ignore her as she takes a step back from Storm. She gives him a deep glare till he talks. His voice is soft and calming like a gentle raindrop.

"Mom. Just go. I'm fine." he says as he leans his head down to stare at the ground. I raised my eyebrows slightly as his mom hesitated to leave. She's super protective I guess.

"Follow me and I'll show you how to get to Mrs. Nanson's Room." I say as I looked at his schedule in his hands. All his classes lined up to mine perfectly.

"Okay" he said. I guess he doesn't like talking either.