The Deceased

Chapter Two: A more unexpected meeting

My buggy rolls into the carpark, the big black, almost goth-looking gates close behind me after i flash my student ID.

Jane's Ute is waiting for me next to an open space. I drop my baby into first gear smoothly, parking next to her, watching as her frail figure drops down next to my door. She opens it as i've barely even pulled the handbrake.

"Shit,"" I tell her, "I could have ran you over. You never wait until I stop."

Jane only smiles, and i pass her my satchel, which she holds until i've popped the boot, my heavy case in my hand..

"Any concerts for me to attend?" She asks, passing my bag to me, "because i need you to keep a date free."

She grows silent and i wait for her to continue, locking up my car while she stands, so obviously failing at keeping the smile from her face.

"What?" I ask.

"I've got tickets to the Opera!" She erupts, "Friday night, two weeks from now, just after graduation."

Immediately, Im dumbfounded, not believing her until she digs in her Anime backpack and fishes out two cream-coloured tickets.

"Wait," I look up to her smile after assessing them. "The Phantom of the Opera?"

Too excited for words, she nods, the bells hanging from her ears jingling. "Do you love me?"

"How did you get these?" Passing them back to her as the wind blows my hair infront of my face.

Jane sweeps it away, "my Grandma is good friends with someone who is friends with Sarah Brightman."

Usually, i am the first one in our friendship pulling tickets out of my bag, but the fact that Jane is even showing interest in a concert is news to me.

"How do you know of Sarah Brightman?"

She shrugs alittle, her black curly hair swaying, "I thought i'd do my research. You were right about what you said yesterday, and music isn't really what i'm interested inn, but you come to my Art shows all the time, so i figured you would like this."

"I love this," is all i can manage.

My case strap weighs on my shoulder. I adjust it, my coat almost falling off as it slips. Jane hands me one ticket and helps me hold it up, and we start walking to the school.

All the way to our lockers the smile is plastered on my face. I put the ticket in one of my special pockets inside my bag, and punch in my lockers combo. 2503. My birthday.

It's not the hardest of combinations, but it's not like any one beside me would need to get into my locker. Going on the fifth year at this school, not once has there been reports on things being stolen, or lockers broken into, so it's pretty safe.

my case barely fits upwards in my lockers, so i tilt it, get my books, replace them with my bag, shut my locker, and turn to face Jane as she gets her sketch book out.

"How's Art going?" I ask, leaning back as she hands it to me. I've seen alot of her art before- sometimes she gives me a rough sketch of cars. That's one of her specialties, but lately i've seen her get into other, different things.

In her sketch book, i flip through multiple roses, bowls of fruit, and stick figures. It was almost humorous. Countless times i've seen her sell professional paintings, many she created from drawings of people, not stick figures.

"I want to try something different," she explains, taking it back and closing it, "I've drawn too much. I've just become bored."

"You'll find something," I assure her, "I can pose naked for you holding some fruit if you want."