Lilly In The Storm

Chapter Five

       I wake up to see that my alarm clock reads seven o'clock, a half hour until the alarm is going to go off. I slide out of bed to find Zero in the forest. My feet get wet with dew from the grass as I walk over to the small forest in my backyard. As I enter onto the trail, I feel pine needles poke at my toes and leaves crumble beneath my weight. I arrive at the little clearing where the swing and they shed reside. I put my ear against the cold, metal wall of the shed, I hear some heavy breathing, but none of the usually rustling around. I knock on the door and it opens. A groggy Zero appears in the entry way along with Dasher, his little beagle.

       He squints at me, his eyes blinded from the glare of the early morning sun that is still hindering close to the horizon. "Lilly? You're up early." He states while rubbing his eyes.

       I shrug. "It's only a half an hour early."

       "Yeah but you usually come in the afternoon." He points out.

       "Well I had time so I figured I'd visit." I stop, maybe he wants time for himself. I know that feeling. "Should I leave?"

       "No, it's okay. I have a surprise for you that you can take to school."

       My tired mood disappears and is replaced with excitement. "Really?! What is it?" I ask.

       He whistles then gestures my gaze toward a tree. A little girl randomly appears from behind it. My eyes widen with curiosity. She walks over to Zero then faces me. She is around my height and had brown, straight, long hair. In her hair, she wore a headband with a white bow on the top. She also had brown eyes. She wore a flowing floral dress along with some white strap on sandals with pink flowers on them. An interesting choice of clothing considering the time of year, but perhaps she is ghostly like Zero and is not affected by the temperature of the cool air.

       Zero looks at her then smiles. "This is Jezz, she is my friend. Now she is your friend."

       I make a quick waving motion with my hand, she waves back at me with a small, inviting smile crossing over her lips. I look back at Zero. "So, she's coming to school with me?"

       "Yep." He answers. "She's going to help you with your friends and teachers."

       I get a chill down my back as the exciting news settles in my mind. Having Jezz there to support me will make school much less scary. Plus, I even get to introduce her to all my other school friends. Everyone will love her, especially since she'll be the new kid in the class. Maybe more people will even talk to me if they know I'm the one who brought her to the school in the first place. The kids should be nice to Jezz, if not I'll have a word or two with them.

       As I walk back to the house with Jezz I hear shuffling from upstairs, Mom and Dad must have just woke up. Since they're preoccupied getting ready, I take it upon myself to pour my own bowl of cereal instead of bothering them with the simple task. Jezz watches as the milk falls swiftly over the colorful cereal. I pour until it is of acceptable height, right at the brim of the bowl. I pick my breakfast up from the counter then before I get to the dining room I see Mom coming into the kitchen.

       "Good morning Lilly." She says walking toward the coffee maker. She looks at my cereal and frowns a little. "Aw, sorry I wasn't up earlier I would have made you a nicer breakfast."

       "It's alright, no harm in simple things." I reply as I walk away into the dining room.

       Jezz and I are just getting settled at the table when she speaks. "I'm hungry." She says with a pout on her face.