When We Spirits Awaken

Chapter 7: Too Long A Day

I headed up the steps to the school doors. As I walked I looked down to make sure my foot landed on each step properly, the fear of tripping raced through my mind.

When I finally made it up the steps I let out a sigh of relief and headed into the washroom. Putting my book bag on the counter I looked at myself and straightened my shirt.

Emily had insisted I dress up a bit today, so I wore a flowing white blouse and a pair of black jeans that hugged my legs and, along with the black, three inch heels, complimented them. I left my hair down, allowing it's dark brown to create some contrast and add colour to my otherwise grey-scale attire. 

Content with my appearence, I headed toward my locker and, wouldn't you know it, I bumped into Kaleb. 

I laughed. "Can't we ever just say hello?"

He smiled. "Hey, I'm the one you keep hitting, remember?"

I blushed. "Oh, right."

As quickly as we had started joking, Kaleb suddenly became serious. "What happened last night? I was worried."

As pathetic as it sounded, my heart jumped at the thought of him worrying about me. Now how would I answer him?

We started to walk to our lockers together, still in silence.

"I'm sorry," he said suddenly.

"For what?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. 'I shouldn't have intruded on your life."

I smiled at him. "You weren't. It's just..." It was just what? Why couldn't I talk to him? I wanted to, but I just couldn't. How could I ever explain to him?

"Don't worry about it, okay? If you need to talk, I'm here," he said, a genuine smile on his face.

Why was it so easy for him to be nice to me? Even worse, why was it so easy for me to like it? I stopped myself then, realizing what I was doing. 

"I've got to go," I said, heading back down the hall as quickly as I could.

"Lillyana! What's going on?" I heard him call after me, but I could not turn to look at him. If I did I would go back.

 I ran down the hall, picking up speed with every new thought that came to my mind. I ran through the doors and down the steps, but I did not stop. Each breath was fire ripping through my lungs and my heart became a war drum, but my body insisted on running further.

Finally, my legs gave out on me and I collapsed to the ground. Only realizing now that I was in the woods, I crawled up to a large tree and leaned against it, hugging my knees to my chest.

Why had I let it come to this? I should have pulled away from Kaleb the moment I met him. Why did I give in to this world?

I wanted to live the life of a normal sixteen-year-old girl, but I knew that could never happen. Now, in this false sense of security I created for myself, I had unknowingly let someone in.

I was well aware that classes would have started, but I could not bring myself to go back. Instead I let my mind wander within itself, searching out thoughts and deciphering them. Conclusions, truths and epiphanies all swirled, connecting themselves to one another and making individual thoughts all come together as one.

I lifted my head suddenly, frowning at the large, black form in front of me. "How did you know?"

Shade sat beside me and barked a light laugh as I began to stroke his fur. "I am meant to protect you, I can only do so if I can sense when something is wrong."