The Power of Imagination

The Power of Imagination Part 2

With a triumphant "psssht" the bus gains speed, on the journey to Orion Community Schools. School, it's not exactly something people look forward to usually. This is very much apparent by the girl in the seat next to me as she is either asleep or on her phone...both somehow expressing annoyance. Then in front of me, a boy, a few years younger than I am, spends his time sighing and ranting about living the life of a student athlete...preferring to cut out the student part in favor of the athlete part. Then of course, there's me. I happen to really enjoy school...I was kind of disappointed to find out that high school wasn't the intellectual utopia I was expecting. I'm one of the nerds, no not the "cool" ones. I've never really fallen into a niche at school, from a young age I became an outcast. It's really not that bad, I've learned to accept it and have even come to enjoy it in a way. Honestly, it is kind of nice to not be under so much social pressure, I get to focus on my work and am largely not bothered. Not to say it doesn't get lonely. Don't get me wrong, I have friends, I have like...four close friends and quite a few new friends I am still learning about who I hope to one day count as close friends. I don't know how it is possible, but I am actually pretty picky when it comes to friends. There is Allen, Maple, Autumn, and the newest Maddie. Allen has been my best friend for as long as I can remember, he is actually the quietest of our little introvert group. I wouldn't be surprised if there were people he has met that believe his is a mute. He does however have a knack for interesting and deep questions...usually in the medium of "Would You Rather." He is quite slender in shape, but has a frame for muscular potential. With his metabolism he can pretty much eat as much of what ever he wants...it's not fair...but he doesn't eat much and hardly ever anything at lunch although he always gets a lunch. Maple is a more recent close friend, starting really after we got into high school. She is your stereotypical book-worm, whenever she suspects there might be time to read she brings a book. She is also a very diligent student as you may have suspected, I have yet to see her miss an assignment's due date. She is also very quiet, but if you get her talking about things she enjoys she'll liven right up. You'll know her by her long black hair and affinity for somber colored jackets. Autumn is an old friend of mine, from very early elementary, that since high school has reconnected. She is an artist who specializes in horses especially. She knows everything about horses and will talk at length about them if you ask. You'll know her as the one that is always drawing when the teacher is talking, yet still is one of the top of the class. Now Maddie, the newest and the one I most connect with, quickly became one of the best friends I have ever had and as of recently has the title of my first girlfriend. She dresses practically the exact same as me: jacket, jeans, graphic t-shirt, and tennis shoes. It's not a unique style, but still I feel like it means something...anyway we also have similar tastes in movies, TV shows, books, writing, and practically everything. Oh talking to her is such a breath of fresh air! Finally, someone who understands me! We talk for hours and hours each day and night...about everything. She is the most intelligent person in the room, yet chooses to keep quiet about it. Math, my strong-suit, may not be her strong-suit but English, not my strong-suit, certainly is. Finally, an intellectual opposite and equal! She has the same imagination as me, I thought I was the only one. You'll know her as the blonde girl twirling her hair in the back of the class room. 

The bus comes to a stop, the brakes whining from overuse. The door flies open. My heart jumps. Adrenaline spikes. Pulse quickens. Everything tenses. All my senses activate into hyper-awareness. "PING PONG PUM"...the stairs metal stairs rattle...everything slows as my soul rises still in anticipation. From the front leather seat's horizon, golden blonde hair rises steadily. I hastily grab my ancient book-bag by the tearing handle and stand in the bus isle, waiting for the her to come. Like a gentleman holding the door or getting a chair for his lady, I stand with my seat open. At the front of the bus, my golden-haired, casually dressed girlfriend starts down the packed isle laden with children's knees. She scoots by, revealing her emerald green eyes to the morning sun. My heart always jumps when I see that, those eyes of an angel. 

She walks up to me, giving me a smile as she sits down in the seat. I follow, plopping myself down on the outside because she likes the inside. I smile brightly saying, "Hey there, MadWolf." She smiles back, straightening her posture in an attempt to be at my height, saying, "Hey there, JayBear." I chuckle to myself because that rhymed. I ask, "So, how are you this morning?" She drops her posture, leaning her head on my shoulder. I feel a wave of electricity flow through me, it's like warm flower petals are tickling my heart. She responds, "tired..." I wrap my arm around her, making her comfortable so she can sleep before school. She snuggles around my arm as I grab her hand and slowly her grip loosens signifying her drift into the world of dreams. I live for these moments, when it's just her and I and nothing else matters. I smile at her, letting her sleep, as I curse every bump and pothole we go over as it could wake her. 

I look out the window at the trees flying by, a certain magic rests in the sun tainted air; it hangs around the trees, surrounding the leaves and branches with a heavenly afterglow. A few stars are visible like Christmas lights left up late into spring and the Moon like a shepherd watching over us. A shadow looms. The branches roar and swing about as if the trees were sentient. Great, scaly wings flap out the windows. Those signature red, orange, azure, and silver scales encompass my view as his azure eye peers through the slightly opaque window. Summanus' bearded smile extends for the next few windows and a few of his pristine white teeth show through his happy expression. I wave at him and he winks at me, nodding at Maddie, and flies off fading into the sky above. The open field out my window transforms into the barren land known as Forsakenland. The land cracks as it is consumed by a darkness that spreads across it as if the plague. The green flames erupt from the land as if geysers, their sheer force rocks the bus. I tighten my grip around Maddie, trying to protect her. The titian beasts claw about the sky, leaping down and with their scythe-like claws they till the land with every stride. The bound faster and faster, like demented lions with manes comprised of the fires of oblivion and bodies like the mighty Cerberus of the underworld was merged with an armored serpent. With every huff their nostrils flare and release a onyx fog that slightly masks their unholy exteriors. Seven of them charge at the bus, every second they grow closer...I can almost smell them from here, the stench of burning flesh...I tense. My eyes scan my free arm...no armor or weapons. The pack leader nears, launching off the ground leaving an eruption of scorched earth in its wake. Its claws gnash at the bus, yet phase through the thin metal walls. I hug Maddie tight, using myself as a shield for her. The beast's eyes express extreme shock as they widen once it realizes what happened. Those savage rippers tear into my soul as a rush of cold washes from deep inside. I bury my head as close as I can to her head, searching for some comfort from that fright. 

After some time, I regain the courage to look up. Birds chirping. Trees flowing. Grass growing. Sky glowing. My heart calms down. I smile as Maddie's eyes slowly open from being asleep. I love that look, there is just something about her eyes when she wakes up. She smiles back and I hug her tight. She grabs onto my arm and pulls herself up into a sitting position, her eyes never leaving me, she asks, "Where are we?" I smirk and say, "Almost to school." She double-checks and gets a sorrowful expression on her face. She doesn't like all that much, but I hope I make it worth-while. Her eyes observe me as she gets a questioning expression, she asks, "Are you okay?" I smile and remember the beasts, saying, "Well I just saw a few things that kind of scared me. I think it may have been some kind of dream...maybe." She nudges me with her elbow, saying in a calming manner, "Well it's okay now, hey I'm here." I nudge her back, responding with, "Yeah, did you have any dreams?" She ponders for a moment before saying, "I don't think I dreamed. I was kind of woken up once though, only for a second." I look around the bus, not making eye contact to imply guilt, responding, "That may have been me when I was scared..." She rolls her eyes slightly and shakes her head, sarcastically stating, "Oh, really? I thought it was Santa who woke me." I smile and stroke my imaginary white beard speaking, "Ho Ho Ho no...you got me...I am Santa." She plays along...Oh I love that about her. She gets excited, proclaiming, "I knew it!" 

Soon we arrive at school, this heathenish place concealed in brown brick and broken dreams. It's alright though, I have people I want to see. Maddie and I wait for the rest to get off the bus and I follow her out. I've always kind of enjoyed school, but this year, finally I don't have to be alone to my thoughts. I wonder what today has in store for me.