Prophecy (Book One, The Occult Trilogy)

-Chapter I-

I realized this was going to be another one of those days where I was forced to deal with them again. My 'friends'. I was pushed out onto the patio for lunch, forced out into the blistering heat when I noticed her. She was sitting at our table with her other friends, and I studied her expression as I slid into the seat next to my friend, Zain. She looked so alone and out of place, and for some reason I wanted to talk to her. I knew I would have to deal with this heat in order to do so.

I was nervous at first, scared because I thought she wouldn't recognize me. As I barked between Brian (who I call my "Gay Lover") and Zain, she talked to Tommy, only stopping her conversation to ask a few questions.

But the most important question was the one she asked me.

"Are you Jones Dalix?" I couldn't help but be surprised and little more nervous as she asked this with a confused expression on her face and a shy, yet stern tone in her voice.

I replied with an awkward smile, tapping my finger on the table. " Yeah, what's up?"

I felt embarrassed, mentally asking myself "how awkward can you be?!"

I had known her for years. Literally. Since third grade, right before I was adopted. She was a year older than me, and I even remember dating her as a young kid... Why we broke it off I couldn't remember.

"I thought so!" She smiles, and a pain of guilt makes me shiver. She had seemed so lonely just seconds ago, and now here she was, acting as though her mood had completely changed.

She was the prettiest girl I'd ever seen.

"I remember back in church... Back when we dated." She smiles, going to stand as a seemingly nervous pace sets in. I take in ever detail. Her tomboyish, grunge/metal-esque style, her short... Thick stature. But most importantly, her blue eyes and the way her pale fingers pushed back strands of her black hair.

I knew I was going to want this girl. Not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but definitely soon.

"Do you remember when we dated? God..." She chuckles, biting down on her nails as a sudden wave of nostalgia hit the both of us.

I fucking hated that place. The whole church was filled with judgemental hypocrites, and I didn't believe in God in the first place. Now that I think about it, what schizo with the right mind would? There are too many possibilities... And there's not enough faith or evidence in the world.

I lean down on the table more, using my elbows for support and trying to ignore the sweat dripping down my temples. My smile grows even more awkward. "Y-Yeah... Uh... Good times...?" I say, although it sounds like more of a question than a statement.

She smiles, and then-

"Salem, check this out!"

Salem looks over as her name is called, my stomach slightly twisting in agitation as our conversation is abruptly stopped. I remind myself to just brush it off, feeling myself twitch.

I kind of zone out as everyone goes on with their conversations. This was how it normally was. I stared into space with the occasional sentence-long conversation as the others go about their words, complaining about any and everything.

Blah blah blah, nobody cares.

Then I hear her speaking again, louder this time. "Hey... Uh... Brian." I look up, and she's partially bent over the table towards Brian. Right next to me. I could feel myself get a little nervous.

"Do you have a cigarette?" She asks softly. I glanced up at her, then looked over to Brian. He nods, getting into his backpack. "And a lighter?" She adds quickly, "I can bring it back to you after lunch."

He nods, sliding the cigarette and lighter out of his backpack after looking around and sliding it into her hand. "Just don't get caught. I'm not in the mood to get my ass chewed."

"I wouldn't throw you under the bus anyway..." she says, looking at Tommy and informing him of her plans before turning around and bumping into... The 6th hour teacher her and I just-so-happened to share.

I could tell from the look on Mrs. Piles' face that she had heard everything.

And I could tell from the look on Salem's face that her and I both knew she was going to get caught.