The Lilac Petals- on hold

Chapter 1

"Junior year is coming to a close. End of stuffed binders and stressful all-nighters- caffeine highs and stupid cliques- racy creepy teachers the school won't fire despite several complains (I'm looking at you, Mr. Hanson)--- "

No, what was I thinking, I couldn't put that in my English speech. I scribbled it out with my pen and sighed, why'd they have to choose me to end the year off? I was an awful writer- nothing ever flowed together.

My brother Kain knocked on my bedrooms overhead hang, pushing me out of my self-critics. I never understood how he managed to grow to 6'5, he was a giant compared to the rest of us.

"Ready to go kiddo?"

"Yeah, one sec," I gathered up the books I had sprawled across my desk- stuffing them into my already full bag.

"You're the most freshman, junior I've ever seen," Kain teased adjusting his own- flat backpack.

"Yeah, its cuz I actually try in school," I shot back following him out the door.

He just shook his head- a small smile danced across his face. Even though we tease each other constantly- we're pretty close. He's the only one at school who gets me- well besides my girlfriend Paige, but us being together was the reason no one got me.

We were known around the school- as the first lesbian couple. Stonewall Academy was strict about relationships until she went to the school board and voiced her complaint. I admired her from that day on- I would never have been able to get in front of a crowd that large, I can barely talk in front of a class of 30.

"Hey wait up for me while I grabbed breakfast," I ran to the kitchen where my mom was preparing lunch for her and my father. I grabbed a muffin and two green apples from the basket on the island.

"Bye mom, bye dad, love you- see you after school." It was there day off- they both work long grueling hours at the hospital only to get one day off- and they can't even spend it with us.

I ran out the front door, Kain was already at the corner, talking to Paige.

"Hey! I said wait up!"

"Not my fault you're slow Jules."

I tried to run over to them, but my feet betrayed me. I tripped over the pesky crack in the sidewalk that always seemed to move under my feet. I landed on my palms, bloodying them both up quite nicely. Paige dropped her backpack and ran over to me.

She grabbed my wrists and surveyed my palms. "Let's clean you up before we go."

She led me back into my house and into our guest bathroom. I ran my hands under the cold tap water, while she talked to my parents- telling them what happened. They loved her- I mean who wouldn't, shes absolutely amazing, I got lucky.

Paige came back into the bathroom and grabbed the large bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide we kept in the medicine cabinet. She took a bit of toilet paper and dabbed the soaking solution on my hands. It stung but I trusted her, so I only winced slightly.

She took out a roll of gauze from under the sink.

"Wh- I didn't even know we had that!"

She smiled, "I put it here last time I came over- I know how clumsy you are."

I blushed- it was an amazing feeling knowing someone cares for you that much. She was the only one who could call me clumsy and not send me into a fit of rage.

"I love you-" She started

"To the moon and back." I finished glancing into her pale green eyes.

I picked up my bag as we left the house-Kain was right, it is huge.

I checked my phone- 7:30 none of us have ever been to school this late.

Kain was still at the stop sign- this time talking to Myrissa. She was in morning book club with me, but you would never know from her outward appearance. She sported expensive name brands- her parents' way of flaunting their wealth. She was... nice, a little strange but nice. And I happened to know that Kain had a major crush on her.

Paige and I walked slowly, trying not to interrupt their conversation. Myrissa
flounced away before we got there.

Paige teased him on our walk to school. I was lost in thought.

"Jules, Jules, JULIA MARIE!" Paige yelled waving a hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, what?"
"We were talking about your English end of term paper... How's it going?"

"It's going," I said giving her a half smile.

She knew how much I didn't want to write it- even went up to Mrs. Atkins and asked if she could write it instead. Atkins denied and went on to rant about how Paige does everything and that she should give other students a chance sometimes. It really cut into her.

We continued in silence on our usual path- basking in the warm May sunlight.

Kain suddenly broke our silence, "I need to go home," He split off in the other direction.

I went to follow him but Paige stopped me, "Julia think about your perfect attendance- if you turn back now you'll be late."

"He's my brother," I said turning around and following him as quickly as I could despite my backpack.

He was crouched at the edge of the curb staring at the ground. I crouched next to him. A short lilac tree grew- neither of us had ever seen it despite always walking this same path every day.

I reached out and traced my hand along one of the sprouts. The flower withered away at my touch the petals falling to the ground. I gasped and looked at Kain. We were both confused- flowers couldn't die that quickly.

That's when they rang out. Six distinct shots rang out to our left. They were far away but close at the same time. My mind raced to Paige. I dropped my bag and sprinted the neighborhood in her direction- the direction of the shots. She was around where we departed, running in my direction- fear painted across her face.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her back with me. Glad she was safe but scared for what would follow. Three police vehicles rushed passed us- the sirens blaring.

We stopped by Kain. "What's happening?" He asked snapping out of his mood shift. "Kain I don't know how, but I think you just saved us from being shot."