The Parallellists : Genesis

Chapter 1 - Being Jake Winslow

Jake Winslow wasn't your average boy. People thought he was imperfect, that there was something different about him. In truth, he was different.

Personally, Jake didn't know what made him different. Maybe it was because he was the only kid in the school with hair the color of fire; or that he had a birthmark in the shape of a word in a language not even the most accomplished linguist could fathom.

All the other kids in school called him "Freak" or "Witch boy". They would make fun of him, leave him out of practically everything and even abuse him by throwing rocks, spitballs and even basketballs at him. Jake felt all alone, well not exactly.

He wasn't entirely alone. The only friend he ever had was the most popular kid in the whole school, Ethan Wayland.

Ethan was very popular because his dad was the head of one of the richest companies in the entire United States, making him a very wealthy kid. But Ethan never really cared about the rich life he was born into, and chose to achieve his goals by himself instead of using his dad's money.

Ethan wasn't like those typical examples of popular quarterbacks who made fun of anyone who was different. He had many popular friends in school, but he preferred to hang out with Jake and always stood up to the kids that bullied him.

Jake appreciated Ethan's loyalty, but it made him feel like a coward. Ethan always helped him in tight spots and he never helped Ethan when he was in trouble. Ethan had so many friends and was a favorite of the teachers. Yet he chose to hang out with a nobody like Jake.

Jake was tired of being different, he wanted to be normal and popular and cool like Ethan. He craved a change.

And then one day, that change came.

Jake's school, Winston High, was a large building that sat just outside of Portland. To Jake it looked like hell. It was hell, if you counted that half the school were mentally unstable psychopaths and delinquents. Most people placed Jake in the delinquent category, because he got into trouble for his clumsiness a lot. The school was painted a murky grey color and had windows that looked an awful lot like the ones you'd see in a prison; there were bars on every single one of them. It was surrounded by a large wire spikes on the top in case any student tried to escape.

The only thing that was green in the school besides the grass was a huge oak tree. Jake and Ethan always sat under this tree at break. They had been sitting together there ever since they came to this school.

On a particular day, Jake and Ethan were sitting with their backs leaning against each other under the oak tree.

Ethan was talking about a new comic book his mom had given him for his birthday, but Jake wasn't really listening. His eyes were fixed on the sky, watching the birds flying over them.

Suddenly, he heard a car's horn honking. Jake looked at the school gate and noticed a large black car that had stopped outside the school. The back door opened and a girl stepped out onto the sidewalk.

She looked like she was of Southern Asian descent, with her tanned skin and doe eyes. She had long cinnamon colored hair that hung loose to her waist, framing her angelic like features and silver eyes. Her uniform was still neat and brand new that hugged her dainty figure tightly. She looked like a real angel.

She looked around until her eyes fell on Jake, whom she gave the slightest of nods before the school principal came out of the school to meet her.

"Whoa!" said Ethan, which made Jake jump. He had completely forgotten that Ethan was still there. "Who is that?"

"Why are you asking me?" snapped Jake. "You really think I'm supposed to know?"

Before Ethan could reply, the school bell rang. He and Jake jumped up with their bags and ran inside. As they rushed down the corridor, a boy twice the size of both Jake and Ethan suddenly stepped in front of them.