chapter 5

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We finished lunch before most people, so Jake and I went to the football field. Jessica stayed at the cafeteria; she said she was going to keep an eye on Peter. 
We didn’t talk much as we walked to the field. There was a big track around the football field; Jake said we needed to run three times this track just as a warm up!
Suddenly, a boy wearing a Leather jacket bumped into Jake (clearly on purpose). ‘Finally found another loser to hang out with you.’ He said and then walked away laughing. 
‘I hate that guy. His name is Brandon, an idiot from the football team. Sorry about that.’ Jake seemed a bit mad, but managed to smile; and even though I just met him, I knew I would never get sick of that perfect smile.    . 
‘It’s okay, I know that kind of stupid boys. One question though, I still didn’t meet your friends. I mean you can’t have stayed all this time alone here; you’re so nice to people.’ I said.
‘Ha, thanks, but remember I’m the strange guy who talks to imaginary friends. I had a friend here, but on April, he went to live in Australia. After that, I stayed some time alone. Luckily, you came to this school and even more luckily, you are as strange as I am.’
‘Yeah, we are two very strange people who met a girl who already died.’  I laughed.
‘The good thing is that no one here thinks you’re strange, they only think I’m strange. That will change if you continue to hang out with me, though.’ Jake paused ‘Well most don’t know about my existence and others hear I have imaginary friends.’ Jake said. ‘I also had a girlfriend but we broke up last year. She didn’t go to this school here.’
‘Really? Do you miss her?’ I asked without thinking.
‘Not really.’ He explained. ‘We’re still kind of friends but it just wasn’t working out.’
‘I always wanted to go to Australia; it is a very good country.’ I said, changing the subject. 
‘I want to go to London.’ Jake answered, looking at the sky. 
‘I’ve been there; it’s very cool place.’ I said.
‘You’re so lucky; I wish I could go to London.’ He sighed.

‘Yeah, but the stories are true, there are a million ghosts there. Everywhere you go there’s a ghost. Some who just died and other who died a thousand years ago, but still have unfinished business.’ I said.
‘I heard of that, England the country of ghosts. I don’t really care about the ghosts; I just want to visit the country.’
‘One day you’ll go there, you still have your whole life to save up money and go.’ I said smiling at him.
Jake smiled back and we kept walking. 
We talked some more. I told him about my old school, my friends, my family and then some ghost stories.
He told me about his friend that moved to Australia and some ghost stories, but he never mentioned his family. I didn’t ask. What if his father or mother were dead? I wouldn’t like to make him sad or uncomfortable by bringing it up.
The football field was very big. As we walked, he showed me the tennis court, the volleyball court and a mini forest the school had. Jake said we could go there next Monday. I like forests. What I do not like are the things you normally find in a forest; like bugs, spiders and even snakes. 
‘Okay, we can go to the forest, but first I’d like to know if there are lot of spiders or bugs in that forest? Because I’m not really a fan.’ I asked.
‘Don’t worry, there aren’t many insects. Just don’t go looking for them and you won’t see them.’ He answered.

The bell for my next class rang. I did not have this class with neither Peter (according to Jessica) nor Jake. Could it be that I had this class with the super-hot Lucas? 
Okay, today is definitely my lucky day! I was sitting next to Lucas again. Although, this time he didn’t talk to me. I noticed that he would glance at me sometimes and then whisper something to his friend. I really wanted to know what he was saying to his friend. However, I pretended not to notice. 
This class passed by slowly, not that I didn’t like Spanish, it’s just that I had already learned what she was teaching so I was a little bit bored.
    We were learning about food, I learned that in fifth grade.  I needed to ask Jake when they had started to learn Spanish. Not that I was any good at Spanish but what we were learning in High School right now, wasn’t really advanced. The Spanish teacher was the only one who had already started teaching something today. The rest of the classes we had today, were more like an introduction.  
    I had two more classes and then I could go home, but since it was the first day of school, we didn’t have the last two classes. Instead, the principal was going to give a speech on the auditorium. Jake said that she did that every first day of school. She was going to explain all the rules and talk about the upcoming events.
We sat somewhere in the middle of the auditorium. I saw Peter sitting in the last row on the corner, he looked so sad.
‘Look at Peter, he looks sadder than before. Why? Did something happen?’ I asked Jake.
‘Nothing happened, but I think I know the reason why he is so sad.’ Jake answered. ‘Jessica told me that they first met here in this auditorium. She said that she sat next to him and accidently fell asleep on his shoulder.’
‘Wow, that’s a funny and cute story. This whole situation is so sad and unfair.’ I said.
 ‘Yeah, like I always say: life sucks then you die.’ Jake said.
‘I always say that too; life can really be unfair sometimes.’ I said.
Life sucks. Life is also unfair and very hard, but today fortunately everything was going great. I just needed to solve Jessica’s problem. I just hoped Jake and I were going in the right direction.
The lights suddenly turned off and the principle appeared in the middle of the stage.
Jake was right, the presentation was boring but I survived. In fact, some parts were even kind of cool (the principal tried making some jokes). 
I didn’t pay much attention, though. I couldn’t stop thinking about Jessica and how she died so suddenly. Life can really change in minutes, even seconds. Everything you do, every step you take and every choice you make, leads to something and that leads to something else. It’s like every action is connected, and not just your actions, but other people’s too. It’s a butterfly effect. 
Time passed by so quickly that when the bell rang, I couldn’t believe it was over.

‘So, did you like it?’ Jake asked as we left the auditorium.
‘It’s okay, but I didn’t pay much attention.’ I answered.
‘Did you get the: Here in Laughlin high we try to make the students satisfied.’ Jake said imitating the principal.
‘Try to make everyone happy or just try to make them not leave this school?’ I laughed.
‘I think that’s the hidden reason, but let’s pretend we don’t know ok?’
‘Okay.’ I laughed again. ‘It’s our secret.’

As we left Jessica appeared.  She looked sad just like Peter. ‘He looks so sad in there. It breaks my heart to see him like this.’
‘I know. He looks very depressed.’ I answered. 
Peter passed by giving a little smile to try to hide his pain, but that didn’t work out well.
‘I’m going to follow him and see if he’s going to be alright.’ We barely had time to say bye, and Jessica was already after him. 
‘What she is doing isn’t really healthy.’ Jake said.
‘Yeah, I know.’ I took a deep breath. ‘But she looks worried not obsessed.’ 
‘Well, I hope that doesn’t change.’ 
‘Me too. Well I need to go now, bye Jake.’ I said.
‘I was already leaving the building when I saw that Jake was following me.
‘I’m going home too. I’m walking home. How about you?’ Jake asked.
‘Me too, I’m going this way.’ I pointed. ‘What about you?’
‘Just in the beginning then I turn left.’ Jake answered.
‘I turn right.’ I said.
As we walked, we continued talking. I realized I was unconsciously slowing my pace, so we would have more time to talk, but soon I turned right and he turned left. 

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