The Ponytail Stranger

obstacles

"Do you think..this will work?" Jay asked nervously, I grabbed his hands happily.
"Your idea will work. Its perfect. Just like you." I smiled softly and his face turned red, and he smiled back. To think I can marry him in the future makes me believe I could accomplish anything.
"So your mom and aunt are helping? Also I can't believe your mom was like us too..that's amazing. I really hope we can help everyone like us so nothing like what happened to her happens again. No one deserves what happened to her." I shook my head.
"Okay. Today is Monday so..we will escape Friday night." Jay decided.
"Alright, I can't wait to be able to openly hug you anytime I want." I smiled at him, his face turning even more red. He tackled me and I laughed.
"You so sweet! How did I get someone so perfect!?" Jay cried happily.
"I should be saying that. You are adorable." We sat up and I kissed his forehead.
"I will walk you to class, okay?" I asked him, he nodded happily. We stood up and used our Tabes to transport to the front of the school, as we did not want anyone to find our hill.
We walked up the steps to the school and I opened the door for him. He gave me a longing look, as if wishing we could've stayed on the hill longer.
"Its strange to think we won't be able to come back here without a fight after this week." I mumbled to Jay.
"Yeah..it'll be worth it though." He said with complete commitment. We walked through the halls and we finally arrived at his classroom. The schools in the walls were modeled after Japanese schools. No one knows anything of before the walls except what we are taught, which isn't alot compared to what Jay's mom found.
"See you next passing time." I said, he nodded at me and smiled. I walked over to my class, which was right next to his. I quietly entered the classroom and sat in my seat at the back of the room.
"You know..Aaron?" I turned to Damien, he didn't look too good. He was pretty messed up, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his skin had paled, he looked sick.
"Yeah?" I asked, I didn't like giving much attention to him.
"Trevor died. He died helping those girls out of the walls..I just dont understand why he cares so much about people like them.." Damien said sadly. He was lost without Trevor. I looked down, knowing I should have tried harder to keep Trevor out of this.
"Maybe they aren't as bad as the Amber tell us they are. If Trevor died for them, Trevor who cared alot about everyone, then maybe they were worth the effort. Worth the sacrifice." I sighed.
"But I'm not Trevor so who knows? All I know is that something isn't right about the rules..about the Amber." I shook my head. He raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I dont know. It just seems shady. If the outside world is really as bad as they say, why would anyone want to go out there?" I shrugged.
"Well-"
"Just some food for thought I guess." I cut him off as the teacher enters the room.

I had watched Damien a bit during class. I now see him as an opportunity to get a kick start on our plan. He had been very distracted all class, thinking about things elsewhere, and I think he was thinking about what I said.
I got up from my desk and opened the sliding door of the classroom. We had about 5 minutes between each subject to take a break. We stayed in the same classroom all day except for PE and other electives. I got to Jay's classroom and froze. A girl was hovering over his desk. I waited, only peeking out from behind the door slightly. She laughed and he slightly chuckled. She leaned in close to him. I felt my anger bubble up inside me. But then it turned into my heart sinking. He laughed at something she said. I decided to return to my classroom, seeing as he didn't need any company. I walked, my face steeled. I turned into my classroom and sat back down in my seat. Damien gave me a look.
"What?" I growled.
"You seem..upset. Also usually you stay out of the classroom until the end of break, but you were only out for a minute before you came back." He shrugged.
"Whatever. It doesnt matter." I turned towards the window, ignoring anything else he tried to say. The students flooded back into the classroom and subject 2 began.

I hadn't paid any attention during class. It was lunch now, I got up from my seat and walked down the hall to Jay's class, but stopped midway.
What if the girl is with him?
I brushed the thought away and waited at the door of his classroom for him to come out. He came out, but not alone.
"Hey, Aaron, this is a new student who just came today, her name is Hermia. Do you mind if she sits with us for lunch?" Jay asked, gesturing to the girl that followed him out. Her skin was light and her hair was blond, freckles speckled her face like stars in the sky.
"Nice to meet you Hermia, and yeah she can totally sit with us." I mustered up a forced smile. We walked out towards the doors to the tables outside. I opened the door for them and Jay smiled at me, Hermia thanked me. They had been talking, but I wasn't sure what they were talking about, I wasnt listening.
We sat down with our lunches already in hand. They were still talking, but I stayed distant. I ate silently and before I knew it my food was gone. I stood up and felt a hand grab my arm, I looked at Jay confused.
"Wait, I will go with you, I finished mine too." He smiled, and then turned to Hermia, "we will be right back." He stood up and grabbed the trash from his lunch and I grabbed mine. We walked to the trashcan and threw the trash in.
"Why didn't you come get me at break? Did I do something?" Jay asked anxiously.
"Of course you didn't. I guess I just got distracted." I shrugged.
"Why have you been so quiet?" He asked, his arm began to move up, but then dropped, remembering he couldn't touch me in public.
"I guess I dont have much to talk about today?" I shrugged again.
"Aaron-"
"Hey you guys okay? You have been over here for a while." Hermia interrupted, moving between us.
"We are fine. Let's sit back down." I said, she smiled, Jay looked at me but followed as I walked back to the table and sat down silently.
"Hey have you seen that show, good morning call? Its so great!" Hermia chatted excitedly.
"Oh yeah! I love that show! Uehara is so protective of Nao!" Jay said excitedly, he loved cheesey romances.
"Yeah, I wish I had a boyfriend." Hermia said dreamily.
"The show is seriously one of my favorites!" Jay smiled, his eyes lighting up. I look down at my hands, which I had resting on the lunch table.
"Yeah. Oh hey I just remembered, I don't have anything to do later today, so you want to hangout? We could go to that cafe down the street, I've heard its good." Hermia smiled.
Jay gasped, "Heard? Have you never been there? Cause they are seriously the best, I always get their Rose milk tea! We have to go!" Jay said sternly. He was serious about his tea.
"Sweet! I cant wait!" Hermia cheered. The bell rang loudly and Hermia jumped. We all stood up and walked to the door, I held it open for them again. But once they got inside I walked ahead of them silently. I passed Jay's classroom and did not wait for him to catch up. I just went straight into my classroom and sat down.