Blade West: Book 1

Chapter 2: Friday the 13th

I've always been a fan of tattoos but not like this. This was completely involuntary, and this was painful. How the heck was supposed to get this thing off? What did this mean?

I had a thought – maybe I was STILL dreaming. Yeah. Must be. I pinched my skin, yelped, and closed my eyes (hoping this would be gone) ....and, of course, it wasn't.

I glided my fingers across the tattoo and my skin felt like normal; there was no swelling or a difference of skin texture where the tattoo was. Even though this tattoo just appeared on my chest, you would've thought I've had it there for years. The tattoo was part of my skin now. And even though it wasn't swelling, my chest was still burning.

I spent another 2-3 minutes investigating the foreign image and eventually gave up and started getting ready for school. I scrubbed some facewash on and hopped into the shower. I handled my business, got out, and started to fix my hair. I opened up the canister of gel, got a glob of it out, and slicked my hair back into its usual ponytail. I put my studs in each ear, brushed my teeth, and started to get dressed.

Today was Friday, specifically Friday the 13th (ironic with the morning I'd had), and on Fridays I could wear whatever I wanted to at school. Flinton High had your average dress code: white or black collared shirts, khakis or black pants, and whatever shoes. On Fridays though, that dress code was lifted so we could wear t-shirts and jeans to school. Some students went all out on Fridays – i.e. ripped jeans, explicit shirts, but I usually kept it simple. Today I'm throwing on some stone-washed skinny jeans, a green t-shirt with the word "Explore" across the chest area, and some brown Sperrys. I walked back into the bathroom to give myself a final check and happily approved. I grabbed my backpack, put my phone in my pocket, snapped on my watch, and headed downstairs. It was now 7:30.

As I was walking down the stairs, I started to rehearse my to-do list of the day.

· Stop by the guidance counselor's office to discuss colleges to apply to

· Turn in that math homework from last night

o Finish that math homework from last night

· Check in with some group members about a presentation we had coming up in one of my business classes.

Today would be...boring. At least. So, I thought.

I reached the gray marble island in the kitchen and the whiff of blueberry waffles almost made my knees buckle. My mom was in the kitchen multitasking breakfast again: waffles here, bacon there, eggs there, toast toasting over here. I've always admired how well she handled the kitchen, especially in a suit and the variety of heels she owned. She owned the largest law firm in the city. She carried herself professionally, always with a business suit and a matching pair of heels, and she had a mind that picked up on everything. Nothing ever got by her. Imagine growing up not getting away with anything.

"Morning mom!" I said with a bright smile as I took my seat on a bar stool. Without missing a beat nor turning her head, she said "Morning sweetie. Sleep well?" "I would've slept better if you hadn't been trying to fry us like you're frying that bacon." She sighed but still working. "Now you know how I am. I don't understand how you are always hot." "And I don't understand how you are always cold." She rolled her eyes and kept working.

Should I tell her about my dream? Should I show her the mark that mysteriously appeared?

Nah. No need to go down that road. If I did, she'd probably ask me 1,000 questions about everything.

Before long though, she placed a to-go box in front of me with my food in it.

"Have a good day! Don't forget to stop by the guidance counselor's office!" She kissed my cheek and I started on my walk to the bus stop. I put my headphones in, started jamming to some J-Pop, and started eating my food. I'm not here to make you hungry, but just know that those blueberry waffles were...wettening. That's the best way I can describe it. Magnificent.