A/N: Well, here goes another chapter. This is actually going to be four chapters, and from first person since it will only go between two POVs.
Pearl is 18 here, and Luke is 20.
This chapter takes place before The Phantom Turnabout.
Well, here we go!
…
Chapter One – Her Special Someone
Pearl – 14 Months Ago
October
Senior year of high school was the hardest. It was the one where you had to work the hardest to make it into the college you wanted to go to. Not just making the grades, but college applications, loan applications, research on colleges and open houses…
Just watching my friends go through it was exhausting!
I was lucky to be a Fey. I couldn't always say that though. Many misfortunes befell my family, most of it caused internally.
But I can say, without a doubt, that when it came to college and school, I was lucky to be a Fey. I didn't have to worry about college applications because I wasn't going to college. I'm going to be staying in Kurain Village, training to become the best Spirit Medium I could be and training the other Acolytes.
These thoughts swirled around in my head every day for the past month since starting this year, and now that we were entering October, one of the busiest times for senior high-schoolers preparing, I was glad for my good-bad-fortune.
I wasn't the only one not concerned with this, though.
"Hey, Pearl!" a very familiar and welcome voice called off to my left as I walked out of the school building, making butterflies dance in my stomach. Even after seven years of living in America and puberty changing his voice, it still hadn't lost its accented edge. I turned to the him.
"Hey, Luke!" I called, jogging over to him. Luke Triton, Sophomore of Nodir University studying Archeology and Anthropology and the man who has been my closest friend through everything in my life since I was eleven (including one bad breakup and visiting my mother in jail one last time). He was currently leaning against his old, light blue car in front of the high school, waiting to give me a lift to the train station, as we've always done on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays since he graduated high school. I darted over and hugged him, hating but secretly delighting in the fact that he now stood a good five inches taller then me. He laughed and gave me a tight hug back.
"I bought someone I want you to meet," he said once we pulled away from the hug, his big, black eyes bright with happiness. "Don't worry though, this is the only time she'll come."
"She?" I asked. The butterflies in my stomach died, their wings shredded, as a girl stepped out of the passenger seat – my seat – and turned towards us. She had long ginger hair, pulled back in a simple ponytail that swept over her shoulder, and a cute, heart-shaped, pale face.
She was beautiful.
"Pearl, this is Jessica. Jess, this is my best friend, Pearl," Luke said. Jessica smiled warmly at me, stepping around the car and hugging me. I already knew where this was heading, and although I hugged her back, I wanted to punch her.
"Hi! Luke has told me so much about you. It's nice to finally meet you," she said in a sweet, kind voice. I forced my face muscles to work my mouth into a friendly smile.
"It's nice to meet you too," I said. "Although Luke hadn't mentioned you at all…"
"No surprise," she laughed. "We only did just start dating yesterday."
…
A Week Later
I slammed my locker closed, grumbling about school. For a week now, Luke has thrown Jessica into his schedule of alternating days. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were for hanging out with me, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday were for spending time with his parents, and Saturday was for working on long term projects.
Now he spent Monday with me, Wednesday with Jessica, and I got every other Friday (while Jessica got the other Fridays). That meant sometimes weeks, I only got to see him once a week, and I hated it! Maybe that was being selfish, but I wanted to see my best friend a little more then just a few hours…
I turns away from my locker and began walking, only for my arm to be jerked behind me.
"Ow!" I grunted, turning back. The flowy sleeve of my acolyte uniform was stuck in my locker. And of course it was my right hand, my dominant hand.
"Really!?" I frowned. As if I wasn't already in a bad mood.
I knew, from watching Mystic Maya, that yanking my arm free would only result in ripping the kimono sleeve, so instead, I twisted slightly, trying to reach the lock with my left hand.
"Hey, need some help?" a voice asked from behind. I looked over my shoulder to find a guy who was only about an inch taller then me, skinny, with messy, light brown hair and bright blue eyes partially hidden by glasses.
"Um, sure?" I said. The guy smiled slightly and reached forward, putting in the combination for my lock and opening it. I snatched my arm back and turned to face the guy, who grinned.
"The name's Sean. Sean Itall," he said. I frowned at him though.
"How did you know my locker combination?" I demanded. Sean looked confused for a moment.
"I saw you put it in once," he admitted. I frowned.
"Just once?"
"Well, I do have a photographic memory, heh," he admitted. I hesitated before relenting with a small smile.
"Well… thanks. Just don't go breaking into my locker," I said, playfully pointing at him. He laughed, holding his hands up defensivly.
"I won't. Scouts' Honor!" he said, placing his left hand on his chest and holding his right hand up with his index, middle, and ring finger up, the thumb and pinky curled.
"Your heart's on the other side of your chest," I said, putting a hand over my mouth in an attempt to smother my laughter. Sean, after a moment's of confusion, looked down.
"Oh, right," he said with a grin, switching hands before letting both drop. "So, you are…?"
"Oh!" I gasped, realizing I still hadn't introduced myself. "Pearl Fey."
"Nice to meet you," he said with a grin before looking at my clothes. "Are you a spirit medium?" he asked, almost like he couldn't contain the question anymore.
"Um… yes? Well, in-training," I amended.
"That's so cool!" he said with a huge grin. I looked at him for a moment before smiling. No one ever found spirit channeling cool. Unless they needed it. Or, well… Luke had found it cool…
I banished those thoughts away from my mind for now. Luke was probably in class with Jessica, having fun with Jessica. Why shouldn't I meet new people and have fun too, right?
…
One Month Later – November
Sean Itall was awesome. Most guys didn't like coming back to Kurain Village with me, but Sean loved it. He especially loved meeting Mystic Maya and my other cousins, Jade and Ruby. Our friendship grew closer and deeper until, one day, I noticed something.
"Hey Pearl!" Sean's bright voice found me at my locker one day, cutting through the chatter of the other student. A kaleidoscope of butterflies suddenly invaded my stomach, and my head felt light for a moment. I turned towards him with a huge grin.
And froze.
I liked Sean Itall. I liked the dorky boy with glasses, a photographic memory, a love for my lifestyle, and a bright sense of humor.
"You okay?" Sean asked once he reached me. I must have had a surprised look on my face for him to notice, but I quickly grinned at him.
"Yeah. What's up?" I asked, closing my locker. He reached forward and moved my trailing sleeve out of the way of the locker door so I wouldn't get caught, before taking my hand and turning me.
"Well, I was just wondering if… you know… you wanted to go out. Like, to the movies or something," he said.
"Sean… are you asking me out on a date?" I asked, surprised. Sean grinned sheepishly at me, dropping my hand.
"If you don't want to, I totally understand, I just thought—" he began, only to fall quiet when I put a hand over his mouth.
"Did I say that?" I asked. He shook his head, and I smiled. "I was just surprised, that's all. Of course I want to go out," I replied, dropping my hand. His grin nearly split his face in two as he hugged me.
"Yes!"
…
A/N: And the first chapter is done! A kaleidoscope is actually what you call a group of butterflies (thank you, Google).
Next chapter, coming soon!