It began in a dark place surround by weeping trees. I noticed no light at first, just the fog creeping along the forest floor.
I moved forward, following the poorly pathed path before me. As I moved on, I began to see the light of the sun appear through the small gaps between trees. I grew closer to an opening as I neared the end of my path. I held my breath in anticipation.
Through the light I stepped, seeing a meadow with lush green grass that sprawled across many hills before me.
Astounding.
I moved forward, leaving the forest behind. I was entranced by the sheer amount of beauty Before my eyes.
The soft but present wind ruffled each flower, sending the sweet natural perfume in the air. Bees flew here or there on petals, and in the distance, a fawn danced and trotted amongst the field.
I closed my eyes briefly, taking a deep inhale of flowers and enjoying the feeling of the wind on my skin and through my hair.
"This peace, let it never end," I said to myself.
As I prepared to move further into the meadow, a loud snap sounded from behind me. I whirled around quickly looking toward the forest trying to locate the source of the noise.
As I started my nerves rising, I began to feel sick. The forest grew darker; the trees looked bigger.
"Am I seeing things?
Then suddenly the snap sounded again, this time louder. The sound was followed quickly by a tremendous boom. I realized whatever was causing this sound a tree fell. I turned away from the forest, sprinting forward into the meadow trying to escape the noise, this feeling.
I began to see the sky begin to cloud over ahead of me, the wind picking up like that of a small hurricane.
The feeling of despair began to sink in as I pushed further into the meadow. My heart racing, my skin being sliced by the now harsh winds.
I lost my footing, slamming into the ground my vision blurred and I faded into darkness.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP
I jolted awake, gasping for air.
It took a moment before I realized where I was, seeing the pictures of my family and friends along the wall instead of being surrounded by trees.
"It was all a dream" I sighed, turning off my alarm I laid back onto my pillow, I cringed feeling the sweat from the cotton on my scalp. I closed my eyes, steadying my heart and taking a deep breath.
"Shit, I'm late!"
I moved quickly in my bed, throwing the large comforter back. My small dog grumbled and shifted deeper in the sheets.
Sure, I was late for my first college class of the semester, but I wasn't going to go to school smelling funky, and I didn't want to go with a head full of my curly wet mop. After my shower, I threw on a pair of skinny jeans, Sperry shoes, and my favorite dark green v neck shirt. I slipped my bracket on my wrist, grabbed my purse and light backpack and headed out the door. Moving into my banged-up car, I pulled out and sped down the road. It wasn't like me to be late; in fact, I hated when others were late. At each stoplight, I looked at myself in the rear-view window.
My light violet eyes set against brown skin and beautiful black curly hair was always an eye turner, with my freckles that dotted the bridge of my button nose and cheeks I was frequently asked to be a model. Not for my body of course, which stood five foot three, with too much hip and too much bust. No, it was for my face or "eccentric look" scouts called it.
I released the breath that I didn't know I was holding as I neared the college. Pulling into the parking lot, I finally neared my school and pulled into student parking. After walking/jogging to class and barely making it, the professor didn't lock me out.
I sat in my first period intro to university – a course for a freshman – and I zoned out. My next class started in 30 minutes so that I could take my time. The campus was beautiful, well in this country nothing wasn't appealing. Here is mushaira city, though some parts may be rough around the edges I liked it.
I enjoyed seeing the different flowers and culture around me, so different from where I grew up. As I walked to my next class, a group of women stood around my classroom door, crowding it and not allowing room for people to pass.
Sure I could have been friendly and said: "Excuse me, please move." But from the looks, they gave to other people and myself it was time for my hospitality to be pushed aside. I shoved past them all, only putting two of the women off balance. The taller, leader of the pack I assumed glared strongly in my direction, "Watch it, foreigner !"She whipped her straight brown hair and looked straightened her tight skirt.
I wasn't even entirely in the room yet, seeing as most of the women only moved forward as I pushed through. I felt like a sardine, all these damn women to close to me. I became more frustrated and wondered who or what those women were staring at. It didn't take long for me to notice who it was. A young man, a few years older than me perhaps with striking red hair and large green eyes sat in his chair, wearing a tucked in the shirt that was solid white into dark blue jeans, and white tennis.
I looked at his profile; it seemed to me nothing remotely special, well except for his red hair which looked more like fire than anything. I didn't notice it until later
"I can't believe the prince of Maui high is at our school" one of the women behind me gushed
"I know, maybe since we aren't in high school anymore he will date us!" another one stated
"Or maybe you all will get the hell out of the way so I can get to my desk!" I indicated with irritation . with a fake grin on my face.
All the women around me turned at once sending death glares at me. I couldn't care less as I pushed past all these stupid fangirls. I sighed passing by his chair seeing him glance up at me with a small knowing smile. I instantly felt the death glares from the women strengthen, only encouraging them more to hate me. I moved quickly to an empty desk in the back of the room. As the room settled and all students sat at their desired spots, I looked around the room noticing a giant wall of windows to my left showing the school parking lot and many buildings. The sun was bright, the sky was a beautiful hue, and I instantly felt my anger and frustration leave me.
"All right everyone takes your seats; let's begin." A stout, rounded woman walked into class with a very bright and bubbly personality. She smiled at everyone while she placed her teaching on her desk.
"Today we will be talking about biology and how it can affect the human body, now I will be assigning everyone to a class partner for the rest of the semester. You are to sit at the same table as your partner every day, as you will be working very closely."
The woman dug her fat fingers into her purse and pulled out a white sheet of paper, stained slightly with coffee. "I will be assessing how everyone interacts in the coming days. If I see you are compatible, I will pair you together. Think of it as my biology experiment."
She quirked, most of the girls in the room giggled and made questers at the red-haired man. I rolled my eyes and tried to determine who I would talk to the most, to make sure I was placed with the person I wanted.
Defiantly not a brown-haired bimbo, not the jock who keeps staring at everyone's chest... Hmmm, not the dork who keeps eating his nails. hmmmmm...
I surveyed everyone around the room, and I decided to choose the goth-like girl next to me, she didn't look that weird or annoying, and she didn't mind me sitting next to her, so I considered that a plus. As the class went on and finally ended, I gathered my things and approached the goth girl.
"Hey, my name is Amelia; what's your name?" I asked with as much happy enthusiasm as I could she stared at my face for what felt like hours. "uhhhh."
"not interested." She stood and turned on her heel walking out of class.
"what the hell just happened. "I said to myself as I stared at the spot she stood.
I looked up and noticed the brown-haired bimbo smirking; her name I found out was Aiyana. She stood close to the red-haired male, Shuichi who I also found looking at what transpired between goth girl and me. I glared at both of them and stuffed my items in my bag.
I brushed past them and out into the hall and eventually out into the courtyard. This day so far has been a mixture of extreme anxiety and embarrassment. I just wanted it to be over. As I moved slowly to the parking lot back to my car, my phone rang.
Keiko Calling…
"Hey, girl what's up?" I said to the only friend who I made in this town during my study aboard semesters in high school.
"nothing really, just trying to find Yusuke as always."
I rolled my eyes at this; this poor girl was always trying her hardest to make him have more responsibility.
She continued, "I also wanted to know what you were doing after school today, a group of us are getting together for dinner. "
I thought to myself who would be there and if I wanted to go, to be honest with myself, I didn't know much of Keiko friends. I knew her of course, Yusuke because he was there off and on during my study abroad semesters.
As far as everyone else I knew of Kuwabara but not his sister and all the other people he gushed about. Every time something weird happened, I would always bail. But as I wanted to begin making more friends and a good impression I had to step out of my comfort zone.
"uh, sure what time and where at?" I climbed into my car and started its rickety engine. The other students, mostly male laughing at me.
"Great! We are meeting at this temple. Call me and ill guide you there. I'll be at your apartment by six tonight. "
"Great thanks, Keiko." I hung up and drove home.
After napping for three hours and going through my hygiene regimen, I was ready for this dinner party. I considered the mirror and inspected myself, I left my curly hair down around me but parted it, so it opened my right side of my face, I changed into a red blouse that had a swooping deep, showing cleavage but not too crazy. I slipped on my favorite pair of skinny jeans and slipped on my brown boots. I was ready.
The door knocked twice, grabbing my purse. I looked in the mirror once more " good as it's going to get" I mumbled, " Bye, I won't be gone long." I ruffled my dogs head as I left, going out the door.
Keiko and I decided to take the local transportation to this temple. I grumbled as we were shoved about on the subway, once that I was over and according to her the temple was just around the corner.
" great I'm starving!" I walked quickly only coming to an abrupt stop "what. The. Hell. " before me was our destination, but to get there we had to climb a thousand steps.
I paled "Keiko, what the hell is this."
"Oh, I forgot to mention, it's just beyond these steps." she stammered slightly before smiling and walking up the stairs.
I wonder if she would notice if I turned around.
I looked behind me and noticed a small man stood underneath a tree, his hair was spikey, and he was wearing all black.
nope, hell no, not dealing with that
"Keiko wait up!" I jogged up the stairs after her toward the temple.
