The Strange One

2-The Notebook Never Lies

(Jacqueline's POV)

"And Jacqueline's body suddenly morphed! Her shoulders grew broader, and-" I sigh. It's not going to work...

I tap the eraser side of my pencil on the pages of my notebook as my mind starts to wander. I start to wonder who Hairo really is. Not that he's suspicious or anything. I just wanna know. I write into my notebook: Kineshi Hairo. Words flood onto the pages.

"Name: Kineshi Hairo. Sex: Male. Age: 16. Gender: Male. Sexuality..." Wait, what?

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The first bell rings right as I enter the classroom. I hurry to my seat and put my stuff away. I'm extremely cautious with my bag because my notebook's in there. It'd be very problematic if I lost it. I just don't trust anyone else with it. I look at my neighbor. He just manages to look away fast enough to avoid eye contact with me. Of course, I noticed. He ain't slick. I give him a friendly smile, at least trying to break out of my shell. He doesn't respond. Oh well. He's not the one I want to talk to today, anyways.

Once class ends, Hairo approaches Saiki, quickly. He must like him. I start to pack up, then wait by the door for Hairo. I'll just ask if he wants to go out for some coffee or something. I watch Hairo and Saiki, still waiting for them. Whatever they're talking about must be important since it's been going on for so long. Hairo really clings to Saiki. Maybe he actually likes him like that. Not that I'd care.

Suddenly, I get an idea. I pull out my notebook and start writing in it. "Kineshi Hairo finally finishes his conversation with Saiki and starts to leave class. He's stopped by Jacqueline Veere." Just that happens. He looks at me, his brown eyes meeting mine. I'm almost too nervous to speak, but I'm the one who stopped him.

"Did you want to talk to me, Jacqueline?"

"You can call me Jacque. And, um... Think you can meet me somewhere later today? I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course! We could meet up at the gym and get a good workout in!"

"How about cafe, then gym? I want to actually talk to you."

"Sure! Does 3:00 sound good?"

"Of course!"

(Saiki's POV)

Jacqueline is a strange breed. She has that notebook, something like the death note, but it controls people and no one die if their name is written in the book. However, if she writes my name into the notebook, she'd find out about my ESP and that'd be very problematic. But I do have to keep an eye on her, just in case she turns to the dark side. So, I'm going to follow them to figure out what she says to him. Just because she thinks it doesn't mean that she's going to do it. She seems to second guess herself a lot.

If she's trying to get a date with Hairo, she has no luck. I mean, it's quite obvious he isn't into girls. No one's noticed, but he's the only other guy who isn't charmed by Teruhashi and I know he can't hear her thoughts, so that's clearly not why. Of course, I'll give her a pass if she doesn't know her effect on men, but he cares more about physical strength and motivation than girls. If anything, he'd be trying to get her to work out with him, not go out with him. And even so, Teruhashi isn't that kind of girl, anyways.

As they leave school, I lag just a few feet behind them, not in a stalker looking way. I acted like I was just walking in the same direction. They go to a pretty small shop that sells some pretty good coffee jelly. I'll have some while I'm there, listening in on their conversation.

They sit down in a booth. I sit in a booth behind them. Jacqueline looks around, momentarily, to see if anyone is around, then pulls out the notebook. So she's actually going to tell him.

"What's that," Hairo asks.

"This is... I guess I'll say a magic notebook. If I write down an action, it happens. You might think I'm crazy, but I promise you it's true. Only, nothing happens immediately. It all happens naturally. Unless I say suddenly, at least."

"Is that all? I could use this book to get everyone motivated!" He reaches for the notebook.

"No!" Jacqueline pulls it away, quickly. "Er- I don't want anyone else to have this book... And I still have more to tell you..."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Well, I-If I write someone's name in it, I see everything about them. Even things they've never told anyone... And, uh... That's where you come in, Hairo..."

"Where?"

"Well, I wrote your name down in the notebook, and..."

"Wh-What did you see?"

"Y-" Alright, time to back out on this. No way I'm asking about what I saw in there. She shows him the notebook and points out a small piece of information. "You're really good at tennis. Um, my sister used to play back in America and I wanted to play, too, during High School, so I thought maybe you could teach me?"

Of course, the information the main character is avoiding is the fact that Hairo's gay, but that will come in at another time. How do I know? I'm a psychic, of course I know.

Why am I lying to you, I saw it in the book.

Hairo's eyes light up. "Of course! I would be thrilled to! We can start right now!"

Good grief. She's going to say no, they're going to the gym after this.

I can't go to the gym. I'm always too jealous of the men there to actually work out and end up leaving quickly. No way I'm showing Hairo that. Plus, I forgot my gym clothes. Dammit, I need something to get me out of this.

Her phone goes off. She checks it. "Oh! Right, I'm so sorry, I have homework to do. Can we start on Thursday, Hairo?"

"Why not tomorrow?"

"I, uh... Don't wanna talk about it..." She crosses her legs, a bit uncomfortably. "I have to go. See you tomorrow, Hairo!" She gets up and heads out, taking the notebook with her.

Well, my work here is done. Time to go. I pay for the mountain of coffee jelly I ate while listening to them and start to head out, hopefully unnoticed.

I find myself walking in the same direction as Jacqueline. Yes, this is a bit of a cheap ploy to get the big reveal out. Her thoughts start to flood into my head.

I almost showed Hairo my page. For context, I had written my name down in the notebook when I first got it for a paper I had to write in school. To keep it short, it told me everything about myself at the time, including that I prefer to be called Jackson, or just Jack.

Wait, what? Is she-

The notebook really goes all out with information. Really, I don't know what he'd do if it told him I'm trans. I want friends, not bullies, and I'm sure he wouldn't accept that.

I see... Jackson stops, suddenly. He turns around.

"Uh, hi, Saiki..." He seems a bit scared. "Why are you following me?"

Good grief.