Mark of Light

Chapter 1

“Ashlynn Brooks, what role do you plan on auditioning for this year?”  I cringed as I heard my name called from the back of my drama classroom.  

“Villager 4.”  I called sheepishly.  there were a few murmurs from the front couple of rows.  I could only imagine what they were thinking.  No one ever auditions for a villager.  but even if I did actually want a bigger part, I wouldn’t get it.  i’d screw up really badly, just like I always did.  

the teacher was silent for a few moments, giving me a chance to change my mind.  Of course, I stayed silent.  she shrugged her shoulders like a “whatever, one less crying girl to deal with when results are posted.”  

She moved on to other aspiring actors and actresses, so many sleeping beauty or prince charming wanna-be’s.  I returned to my notebook full of fragmented sentences, song lyrics and doodles.  I flipped to a fresh page and scrawled in the center- “If you close your eyes; does it almost feel like nothing’s changed at all?”  I began to sketch my mother’s face.  I stared at the drawing for a moment- something wasn’t right.  none of it was right.  I tore out the paper violently, turning several heads, crumpled it up, and tossed it at the trash can three feet away.  I missed by a mile, as per usual.

I filled the rest of the class up with writing fluffy fiction, fluffier than angora bunnies or even stay puft marshmallows.  the fluffiness could protect a dozen eggs from a hundred foot drop into a spiked trench.  I let everything the teacher said flow through my filter, saving important words and phrases in case she decided to call on me with a question.  Usually I was one to actually pay attention in class, but for some reason today I just couldn’t concentrate.  it was sort of like an anticipatory reflex.  

the hairs on the back of my neck gradually rose, like someone was watching me.  I gave a brief glance around, And found a usually empty chair holding someone.  I hadn’t seen the boy around school before.  he noticed me staring at him, and flashed a charming smile.  his hair was short and dark brown, swept up into spikes.  it matched his deep brown eyes, but contrasted sharply with his ivory skin.  he gave me one of those annoying single-nod things guys always do.  but for some reason I found it attractive…  attractive?  since when did I find anything attractive?  oh god, I had to get out of there now.  

i raised my hand high and straight to catch the teacher’s attention, then asked to go to the bathroom.  I calmly rushed out of the room, slowing down when I came to a water fountain.   I stopped and got a drink, but nearly did a spit take when there was the sound of a cleared throat behind me.  I spun around and wiped the water off my chin with my sweater sleeve.  

“Uhh, hey.”  I stammered, casually avoiding eye contact.  

“Hi.  I couldn’t help but notice how the color of your shirt matches your eyes.  I apologize for making you uncomfortable.”  He said smoothly.  Okay, I thought to myself, Who even says, let alone actually sees things like that?  “I’m sorry,”  he continued, taking a step forward and sticking out his hand.  “This must be weird.  I’m Korbin.”

I took his hand tentatively.  It was unusually cold.  What if this is like twilight?  Oh god please not that book.  any book but twilight.   “I’m Ashlynn.”  I said, quietly.  “So are you new?  I havent seen you around before.”  I asked, walking back towards the door of the classroom.  

“Yeah,” he never took his eyes off me, “I just transferred to the public system.  My parents thought it best for me to get to know more kids my own age.”  His eyes flicked down and all of a sudden he grabbed my hand.  I could’ve sworn my face was redder than a fire truck.  “This is really cool.  Did you draw this?”  He traced the design on the back of my hand with a finger.  I had forgot it was there.  

“Uh- um- yeah.”  I stuttered lamely.  It was just a circular pattern like I doodled in my notebook.  sometimes I like to trace one on my skin with gel pens.  This particular design was one of my better ones.  the lines dancing outward were small and intricate, with some twirls like celtic knots.  it all surrounded a symbol- one I had always drawn.  almost every design i made contained it somewhere.  I liked to think of it as my signature.

“Its beautiful.  do you have more of these?”  We reached the room, slunk in, and took our seats in the back.  I took my notebook and slid it across the floor to him.  after a few minutes it came back to me with a sticky note on the top.  

Think you could draw me something with this:     and a crude drawing of a black zig-zagged pattern.  I looked up and met his eyes, nodding.  He flashed me a grateful smile.  just as charming as the first one I’d seen.  

I practically ran out of the room as the bell rang.  

As I approached my locker I was attacked viciously from behind.  strong arms wrapped around me and nearly lifted me off my feet.  

“Dakota!”  I shrieked, clawing at his hands.  “Put me down. God, don't do that!”  

Laughing he set me down and I turned to face his familiar grin.  his backpack hung carelessly off one shoulder, his hair a bit shaggy and uncombed.  

Dakota had been my best friend since I had moved.  He was always loyal, no matter what happened.  when girls spread rumors about me, he was there to scare the shit out of them.  when I had gone through a... loss, a year ago, he had been with me every step of the way.  in a span of two short years we had become as close as friend’s who’d known each other forever.   even when I developed a huge crush on him a month after we met, he still hung around.  I had moved on and then I was forever thankful I hadn't scared him off.  

“Hey so,” he wrapped an arm around my shoulder, “I was thinking you and me and Natalie should have a little party tonight.  like last tuesday.  I’ll bring the Lord of The Rings?  You make the popcorn?”  

I unlocked my locker and got out my french II book.  

“Sounds like a plan.  Speaking of the ginger, where is-”

“I overheard you mentioning a specific soulless redhead, so I thought i’d deliver!”  A singsong voice from behind Dakota called out.  Natalie, the only other person who knew I existed, bounced up and flipped her orange hair over her shoulder.  I met her about a year ago at a school dance- which I had attended alone, because dakota was busy- and she had decided to make me her understudy.  she tried for months to help (and sometimes force) me out of my shell, but eventually realized it was pointless and instead adopted me as her shy friend.  she did the talking, the socializing, the getting us invited to events.  I did the tagging along and trying to help her not make a fool of herself.  which she happened to do quite often.

“Ash is having a party!  you’re invited.”  Dakota pulled her into a half hug.

“Naturally,”  she said.  “Who else is going?”  

“Me.  its less of a party I guess, and more of an intimate get-together with the three of us and the cast of the Lord of the Rings.”  To this, Natalie made a gagging sound and rolled her eyes.  

“Ugh, fine, I’ll come.  But only if I can have a plus-one.”  that last part caught my attention.  who else would Natalie bring?  as far as I knew, she didn’t have any other real friends, or at least ones that would enjoy Lord Of The Rings. But I guess i’d find out that night.  

“Sounds like a plan.  see you guys tonight.”  I announced and left to get ready to sit through an hour of le plus ennuyeux class of the day.