Moments Before

Ashton

The first day of school is always filled with hoards of students. As if more children show up on the first day of school than the rest of the year. Excitement thunders through the crowd making it even worse. I don't hate crowds for the reasons that most people do; that they don't like attention, or noise. I hate them because the odds that someone will touch my arm, or brush by me is increased. 

Logan, my best friend and designated bodyguard for the current moment is a great deterrent for people who get too close to me. He's also the only person who knows my secret. The only one who knows about my curse. Cole, one of our other friends comes into my line of sight ramming his long slender fingers into his  disheveled chocolate hair. It was clearly styled by his pillow and yet he's undeniably gorgeous. His football jersey rests around his chest, the red and yellow colours a startling contrast to his otherwise darker hawaiian features. His distressed blue jeans hang loosely off of his hips as he meets up with me and Logan.

Walking down the hallway the three of us stray from a stereotypical picture. Cole is a perfect picture of the golden boy from every teen movie I've ever seen. The football jersey that accentuates his muscles, bright green eyes and a smile that lights up the entire room. The kind of boy that would take the girl to the top of the ferris wheel at midnight. He's friends with just about everyone in school because he's irritatingly perfect. Smart, witty, friendly, funny and sporty; some days I almost hate him for his effortless flawlessness. 

Than there's Logan, a california surfer boy. Dirty blond hair that's still damp from his morning swim and in desperate need of a haircut. He's crazy tall all of the boys are but Logan is even taller than Cole who just hit 6'. Logan is now 6'4" and tends to accidentally tower over people with his tree limbs. His pistachio coloured eyes are inviting but people rarely approach him because of his intimidating height. 

Which leaves me. I'm short, especially in comparison to my friends who are giants impersonating people. I'm only 5'3"  and my bones are small and breakable. My dirty blond hair falls down past my shoulder blade but doesn't quite cover the tattoo on my shoulder. A celtic symbol for the tree of life. Underneath their shirts Logan, Cole and Max have one too. Mine is only exposed because of the scorching heat that forced me to remove my jacket so I'm hanging in a tank top. 

A creepy freshman eyes me uncomfortably causing me to scowl. Cole, ever the white knight drapes an arm around my shoulders and stares the scrawny kid down. I can't even enjoy the fear on the freshman face because I'm thrown into a vision. 

A man with Cole's striking green eyes lies in a hospital bed linked to several beeping machines. Grey hair replaces the brown locks that I'm accustomed to. His chest rises and falls slowly as a woman with similar grey hair clasps his hand in hers like a life line. A younger woman stands beside the bed with tears glistening in her eyes leans into the man standing next to her. A child stands on the same side of the bed as the woman calls out grandpa a few times over. The man in the bed struggles to inhale and his eyes flutter shut. Than a flatline and collective sob from the people gathered in the room. Mercifully I'm yanked back to reality where Cole, youthful as ever looks at me with regretful eyes.

"Ash... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean- I never- I didn't intend to- just that freshman... I'm sorry." He stumbles over the words and avoids eye contact. Not a great way to start the school year but it's almost reassuring. He won't die anytime soon. Besides seeing him at all causes my heart to squeeze and emotions swell. 

"It's okay Cole. It's fine." I brush it off as if it's nothing. Cole's shoulders relax but Logan's eyes fill with pity as he stares. He knows that I saw something. Though he doesn't know what it is I saw. Despite his best efforts I won't tell him how he, or anyone dies. 

Eventually Max completes our group. He's a baseball player and looks the part. Cocky and arrogant with broad shoulders and a cheeky grin. Long eyelashes frame his baby blue eyes, unlike the rest of our group's tan skin Max's is a little sunburnt. We walked down the hallways, occasionally stopping for Cole to chat with a friend, Max to get teased about being burnt. Than the bell, the bane of my existence sounded and we all dragged our feet to class. Max is only in a -1 level course for english while Logan, Cole and I are in advanced placement. Bidding our fourth piece goodbye we entered Ms. Bairing's classroom.