Phases
Chapter Two
The next morning, I woke up with an unsettling feeling.
I had dreamed of Jared… or, I think it was Jared. He seemed different, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The commotion going on downstairs broke my train of thought, my parents' loud voices echoing throughout the house. I instantly remembered that it was my turn to cook breakfast this morning, something I should have done—I craned my neck to glance at my alarm clock—half an hour ago.
Mom was going to kill me.
I rushed out of bed and into the bathroom, carrying out my usual morning routine—the dream, Jared, and everything else pushed to the furthest part of my mind.
A Week Later
First Period – English
.
"You'd think he'd be at school by now," Kenny whispered, careful not to catch Ms. Ayala's attention. It wasn't a mystery as to who the he was. "Looked perfectly fine to me, I bet you anything he's hanging with the wrong crowd. Even Paul's been missing."
A few days after my encounter with Jared and Sam in the woods, Paul had stopped showing up to class.
"I don't know, Kenny," I replied quietly, thinking back to the conversation I had all but eavesdropped on between Aileen Lim and Tara Soloman, two girls that were definitely friends of Jared's. "It doesn't make sense… and also, Tara said he might be having problems at home. His dad's been gone lately."
Kenny stared at me.
"Kim, Jared's dad has been gone for as long as anyone can remember."
"Oh," I said lamely, feeling my face flush.
"Besides," Kenny mumbled, quickly glancing down at his book as Ms. Ayala looked over. "The only thing Tara Soloman knows about Jared, is how to get into his pants." He glanced over at me and frowned, muttering a quick "sorry."
"It's fine," I whispered, picking at the corners of my notebook. "Doesn't make it any less true."
Jared Najera was known for a lot of things at the Reservation, but one thing was certain—he wasn't popular among the women because of his vibrant personality. The very thought slightly disgusted me, how he could just sleep around with no attachments, and yet girls still thrived on it. It was one of the things I could say that I disliked about him, not that he would care, but I was proud nonetheless. What I loved most about him, however, was how his skin was a beautiful shade of bronze, how his nose would crinkle in disgust when he heard something he didn't particularly like, how his hair was a perfect combination of charcoal and chocolate brown, how—dang.
I inwardly sighed, defeated.
If only I could bring myself to find more faults in him, it would make this "crush" thing more bearable.
"Don't worry, Kimsey," Kenny nudged, flashing me a smile. "One day some guy is going to sweep you off your feet, and you won't even remember who Jared Najera is."
I laughed, my mood lightening.
.
.
If only.
Third Period – Chemistry
.
Chemistry.
The only class I ever looked forward to on odd days—
Because I shared it with Jared.
Well, that wasn't entirely true. I was fortunate enough to have English AND Chemistry with him, but he disrupted the class the week before he suddenly stopped showing up, forcing Ms. Ayala to request his removal from her classroom. I almost forgot what class had been like with him here, but I wasn't going to complain.
At least I could concentrate now.
"We'll be learning about significant figures," Mr. Whitley announced, writing the words neatly on the whiteboard with his black expo marker. "Thomas—yes, you—has kindly volunteered to pass out the worksheets. They will be due at the end of the period as they are relatively easy to understand. Please raise your hand if you have any questions."
"Great," I muttered sarcastically.
I took an advanced course over the summer for Chemistry, but as luck would have it, my counselor refused to let me take Physics as it wasn't "normal for juniors to take a senior level science course". Writing my name at the top of the purple worksheet, I finished it in record time and had a little over half an hour to spare before class ended.
My eyes drifted towards the empty seat next to me, and my thoughts wandered.
It's been exactly six years since I first laid eyes on Jared Najera, an immediate attraction had formed upon seeing him in the sixth grade. He was short then, lanky even. His charm was noticeable then too, and he was still popular among the female population—a natural flirt and smooth talker from what I've heard. I've had the chance to witness it on various occasions, mainly because he had dated Aileen Lim last year and all three of us had had U.S History together.
They had dated for exactly six months.
Their break-up was unexpected, too.
Aileen was a natural athlete, one of the best hurdlers on our track team and though she wasn't a genius—she was still within the top 10 of our grade. Her hair was gorgeous, a beautiful color of blue-black, and she had a body that had all the girls seething with envy. To be frank, she was perfect. It was inevitable that two perfect beings would be attracted to one another.
It really made me doubt myself.
What are the chances that Jared Najera would notice me?
Nada, zip, none.
And suddenly, Kenny's earlier comment struck a chord within me.
.
"One day some guy is going to sweep you off your feet, and you won't even remember who Jared Najera is."
.
Highly unlikely, but a part of me hoped.
Maybe, if I just let myself live a life that wasn't revolved around Jared.
I'll eventually forget—his face, my feelings, and the butterflies that his smiles brought me.
Forget Juliet… maybe I can be a Romeo and find my own Rosaline.
.
I would be happy… no, I will be happier.
Time was all I needed, a lot of time.
But that was fine with me; I had the rest of my life.
.
.
I nodded to myself, satisfied.
The bell rung, signaling the end of class… along with my new resolve.
End of School
.
I hurried through the crowd of students in the hallway, maneuvering my way quickly towards the location of Kenny's locker. I was brimming with excitement, ready to reveal the good news to my best friend and at the sight of his head sticking out amongst the crowd—I sped up.
"Kim!" He shouted, waving his free hand in greeting, the other occupied by his textbooks.
"Kenny!" I yelled excitedly, ignoring the odd stares from my classmates. "I have good news! I'm officially going to—OOMF!"
Pain.
That was the first thing that registered in my head.
Along with a sickening crack that could only be my nose… or at least, I thought it was my nose.
My face hurt too much to really tell.
"KIM!" It was Kenny, his voice expressing shock… and anger?
.
Oh god, please don't cry, please don't cry, please don't—
Shoot.
.
I felt my eyes well up, tears forming at a rapid speed behind my eyelids, threatening to spill.
"Shit, this wasn't how I wanted to start things." It was a voice I couldn't recognize, the ringing in my ears was hard to hear over. I felt a burning hand gently guide me into a sitting position; I hadn't even realized that I had been knocked down flat on my back upon immediate impact. "Kim, are you okay? Kim? God, I'm so stupid!"
I heard a snort followed by a chuckle, then a loud yelp as if the offender had been hit—hard. "Shut the fuck up, Paul, this isn't funny. Are you oka—"
"Will you stop asking her that?" Definitely Kenny. "She's going to cry! Kim, if you can hear me just nod."
I nodded slowly, pain shooting throughout my face as I did, causing me to whimper. I felt someone groan in agony, then immediately growled in protest as Kenny gently laid his hands over mine. "Kimsey, I need you to move your hands away from your face. I need to see what's wrong, okay?"
I reluctantly complied, letting his soft hands pull my fingers away from my nose. My vision was still blurred by my tears, and my eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light. There were three figures standing before me, two tall shadows behind Kenny, whose brows were knitted in worry.
I managed to smile despite the pain, silently assuring him that I was okay.
He exhaled loudly through his nose. He was furious.
The other stranger must have seen my face, because I heard a sharp intake of breath.
"God, Kim. I'm so sorry!" He sounded so pained.
I winced, having been slightly jostled by his hurry to crouch down in front of me. "My nose," I managed to croak out, holding back my growing upset, "it hurts."
"I know," Kenny soothed, tucking a finger under my chin to slowly lift my head. "Your nose doesn't look broken, just a little—no, really bruised. Jeez Kim, you're purple all over."
That couldn't be right, I remember hearing a crack.
It was then that I felt a sharp pain in my wrist.
"Kenny," I gasped, suddenly too aware of the growing hurt. "Wrist, broken. Hurts so much."
The person that was standing broke out into a roar of laughter.
"Damn Jared, you managed to break her wrist too!"
I stiffened, my eyes shifting to the one other body that I had failed to notice next to Kenny.
I could recognize that face anywhere.
.
.
.
Yes, that was certainly Jared Najera.
Looking more miserable than I'd ever seen him in my life.
This is just too much, was my last thought before I saw nothing but black.
