Here's the next chapter. This story is COWRITTEN and BETA by Melreincan. We Own NOTHING, expect the plot. I OWN Rose and the song in this chapter BELONGS to Melreincam. This story is going to flip between Rose and Jackson on each chapter, just to let people know. We hope you enjoy.
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Cody Jackson flipped another page of his book absentmindedly, the spine of the book creaking quietly. However, the words had become all blurred as another image formed in his mind. The image was fuzzy, but he couldn't get it way from his mind nor could he focus the image either.
"Jackson, you're going to be late," a high pitched female voice called though the bedroom door.
Jackson rolled his eyes, stuffing the book in his backpack. Standing up, he caught sight of his knife on the dresser. Picking it up, he placed it in his jean pocket, the handle about ready to break off.
"Have to have Jay fix it this afternoon," he mentally noted, pulling his hand out of his pocket.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he opened the bedroom door, only to be met by a chorus of two small voices. Two angelic faces were smiling up at him, batting short eyelashes and dancing around excitedly.
"Jackson, we're going to the zoo, going to the zoo," the sisters sang out of pitch.
"Really?" he asked, staring down at them.
"Yes" the girls giggled in unison.
"Well get ready then" Jackson command.
He already liked them. He had moved in about a week ago to the new home after the temporary parents had "issues with him". They just hadn't been ready for a strong willed teenager. His new guardians weren't bad they had left him alone to settle in pretty much. He dashed downstairs, fixed some toast and carried with them as he walked to the pit of boredom known as Hartwell.
The day passed uneventfully for Jackson, he knew the material well despite being 'behind' because the school year was already underway. He decided to settle under a tree with a new book, something for English, hoping the rich brats wouldn't bother a nerd. Last thing he wanted was attention. Obviously he was wrong as an Asian girl stumbled her way up to him. She was rambling nervously, but she seemed friendly enough so he brushed her off gently. He couldn't concentrate on anything today, not even reading as he couldn't get that feeling to clear from his mind. The same way he felt before his word had turned upside down.
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Her hands shook as he placed her small fingers on her first guitar. Jackson smiled softly, his own hands folding over hers, placing her fingers on the right strings.
"There you go, Rose," the ten year old beamed down at his eight year old sister.
Glancing up at brother, her fingers slipped from the correct position. Rose whimpered, her bottom lip trembling, two single tears rolling down her cheek. Jackson slid the guitar from beneath her as he hugged her tenderly.
"It's ok, Rose, look I'll play you something, how about that?" Jackson asked, picking her up and laying her down on the queen size bed, they shared. Whipping away her tears, but sniffling softly, she nodded, her face growing red. Jackson ruffled her hair, a faint smile creeping onto his lips as he moved back over to the guitar. Rose chuckled as Jackson positioned himself to play a guitar almost too big him, but he was able to play like an angel.
Glancing over at her, he asked, "What song should I play?"
She shrugged, crossing her legs, leaning closer to catch every sound. Jackson thought for a moment before smiling. Slowly, he placed his fingers on the first couple of notes, his other hand beginning to strum the cords. As the music started, Rose's eyes grew with excitement as she recognized the tone of their song. Jackson smiled, but didn't look at her, afraid it would break his concentration. Closing his eyes, he began to sing, his voice fitting perfectly in time to the music.
You're
reflected in all things.
You share the beauty of your name.
You
are warm like the sun.
You are gentle like the rain.
You are
the only one.
You are perfect.
Facing the good and bad
together.
I will never be alone.
For I will see you in all
things.
You are a part of everyday.
You make my world a
better place.
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Just then the bell rang out, breaking into his thoughts. Blinking, he watched the rest of the students filing into the school building. Sighing, he folded the corner of the page, before slipping the book into his backpack. Rubbing his eyes, he stood up shaking away the memory of him and his sister.
"It doesn't matter anyway," he kept repeating to himself. Yet no matter how hard he tired, he couldn't shake away those memories. Sliding into an empty seat in History, he began writing in his notebook, the song lyrics creeping onto the blank page. He felt his knife digging into his leg, but he ignored the pain, trying to pay attention, but his mind was completely away from the civil war.
"Jackson, what was the plan for the North's strategy to win the war?" the teacher asked, looking directly at him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he shrugged, lowering his gaze down onto his notebook. The teacher crossed his arms across his chest, his bushy brown eyebrows lowered in a frown. The rest of the class stared between the new student and the teacher, almost with bated breath. Jackson glanced around, his facial expression unreadable and hard, but inside he felt his heart sink as the teacher slowly moved towards him. Without even thinking, he slid his textbook halfway over his notebook, but the teacher didn't smile.
Taking a deep exhausted breath, the teacher asked, "Can I see your notes?"
Jackson didn't respond; just proceed to move the textbook off the notebook. He flipped back a page to actual notes, hoping that whatever he had written hadn't been too embarrassing. He knew resisting would only draw unwanted attention. He handed the note book over and waited for it to be inspected.
"Not so fast," his teacher replied. "I want to see today's notes." He flipped to the first page and smirked, "Love notes already Mr. Jackson, no wonder so many schools have had problems with you."
Jackson made a noncommittal sound in response as the sheet was torn for his notebook and ripped in two. The teacher casually tossed the rest of the notebook in the trash and continued, "Now then, Can someone else tell us the North's strategy."
Class continued on for everyone else except Jackson. His mind will still preoccupied. He got up when the bell and shoved the textbook in his bag. He didn't bother to get the notebook. It didn't matter anyway.
Halfway down the hall, he heard someone calling his name. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the Asian girl, Melissa, waving over towards him, a large smile on her face. He paused shortly, waiting her to catch up, but then continued walking towards the courtyard before heading home.
"Jackson, I was wondering if you had heard about the big trip?" Melissa asked, adjusting her books in her arms.
Jackson glanced sideways at her, but didn't say anything. When he didn't respond, Melissa kept on rambling on. "It's an eco- camping trip to Palau."
Jackson raised his eyebrows at her, muttering, "That sounds like some kind of take out."
Melissa laughed softly, but shook her head, her hair falling in front of her face. She went onto explain that it was an island somewhere near Guam.
"Isn't that awesome?" she asked, another large grin placed on her face.
Jackson stared blankly at her, nodding shortly, but added quietly, "it's also expensive."
Melissa seemed to miss the emphasize on the word "expensive," continuing to speak as though there wasn't any problem. He had to resist rolling his eyes at her as she talked about the amount of money for the trip. Listening to her, he felt his heart skip a beat, but then he admitted quietly, "Unless it costs nothing, I'm not going anywhere."
Melissa opened her mouth to reply, but then stopped as his words sank in. Lowering her gaze an inch, she muttered, "Oh."
Glancing up at him, she added softly, "Well, at least think about it, please."
"Thanks, but I'm pretty sure I'm only going to get to Palau is in my dreams," he said, crossing the courtyard without looking back.
Sighing deeply, he glanced around at all the cliques and rich spoiled kids surrounding him. "Does God just want to make my life like hell?" he asked himself. Lately everyone seemed to want something that was impossible from him. He was never going to fit in at Hartwell, he wasn't going to get all of his work done all the time, and he certainly wasn't going to Palau. Hell he had a better chance of finding his sister. Sighing, he shook his head and trudged 'home'.
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