Crossed Worlds

Chapter 11: Mixed Emotions

"Jade, we've got something to tell you," Anna's voice sliced softly into Jade's daydream. With a voice so gentle, it couldn't cut through sharply, it was more like a knife sinking into a cake. That's why it didn't irritate her so much.

She was trying to catch up on some rest after a sleep deprived weekend. A Monday always ached, but especially when she was so exhausted.

"What is it?" She sat up from where she'd been laying on the grass, her head rested on Anna's legs.

"Well, me and Luke had the chance to have a little chat during our seeking on Saturday night, and we discovered that we both have found our feelings about Wild Ones having changed in the past week. How come you knew we both felt it and didn't tell us? I thought I was the only crazy one! Well, that you and I were the only crazy two," Anna laughed.

Jade beamed almost as brightly as the afternoon sunshine.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't think either of you wanted anyone else knowing your feelings. Anna, you swore me to secrecy! And Luke, you'd been in two minds up until a couple of days ago," she raised an eyebrow.

Her closest friends both nodded, knowing she was right.

"Well, now there's a little trio of us, what are we going to do? I want to do some research or something. See exactly why it doesn't sit right with us," Luke stated.

If only they knew Jade was going to be crossing over to the Wild One sector later that week and finding out some key information for herself. She sensed the time was coming for her to reveal to Luke and Anna that she'd been meeting with James, it just wasn't yet.

"Well, I should probably tell you that during my hiding on Saturday night, Hunter and I had a conversation of our own," Jade put on a purposeful mysterious tone.

"I knew it!" Luke cheered. "I knew he'd come around after the hand on heart truth thing."

"The hand on heart what now?" Anna frowned.

Jade laughed and explained Grandma Jo's now famous method of seeking your truth, and Anna being Anna got it completely and fell in love with the idea right there and then, saying, "That's going to help me make choices for the rest of my life."

"So, now me, you two and Hunter are all little rebels. What about Jack, Zoe and Lily?" Jade scratched her head.

"Lily isn't going to join a rebellion easily," Luke laughed at the idea.

However, it may not necessarily be true. Jade saw a new side to Lily at her sleepover, one that she would guess that not many others had seen ever. It was sensitive, afraid, and vulnerable. Lily, as everyone does, had layers. Perhaps underneath a fair few, was one that carried empathy for a species she had no real reason to hate.

"We can only hope," Jade said.

"Well, we better tell Hunter he can come and join the alternatives," Anna smiled. "But first, we have school to get back to. Lunch is almost over."

The day passed by quickly, as had the previous week, and before the gang knew it, it was time for their second Wild One Awareness meeting. This one would be stranger than ever, for in the past seven days so much had changed.

Anna, Luke and Jade had managed to get Hunter alone at the end of the school day, and he was relieved to be involved with the others on their now shared political views. Jade was rather bizarrely excited for the meeting, and finding out what crazy, ridiculous video they'd pull out next. She hoped it would reveal Jack's true feelings, as he still seemed unsure on where he stood.