Jayfeathers Room of Lightning 2
Chapter 3: Zelia's Mistake
Your thoughts grow restless, you just want to leave
This life you were living that no one could see
To end your sadness, you end it yourself
Because no one heard you screaming for help
Now you're gone, stars laughed
Ice melts, bones snap
Sparks flew, bells rang
Death cried, souls sang
Kit was standing by the door, waiting patiently for her husband to button up his coat. Jayfeathers fingers fumbled with the small buttons, and he repeatedly tried to stuff them into the fabric instead of the holes.
"Do you want me to help you?" Kit asked gently for what seemed to be the thousandth time.
"I almost got it," Jayfeather grumbled, mashing the top button into the tan fabric. "Can't I just wear my other coat? I hate this one."
"Sparks spilled juice on it," Kit snapped. "Just leave the damn buttons if it's too difficult."
"Thank you," Jayfeather retorted sarcastically.
"Now let's go," Kit said, trying to calm her frustration. "We're already ten minutes late."
"I don't want to go to counseling today," Jayfeather grumbled. "I have chores to do."
"You have nothing to do and you know it," Kit replied as she walked out the door. "I think you were just planning to watch TV."
Jayfeather didn't reply, eyes narrowing in irritation.
(Page break)
Kit watched Jayfeather trying to drag Crowfeathers body, wishing she was able to help. She couldn't even move her fingers, and Kit had a suspicious thought that her brain had permanently erased how to move.
"I can't move him," Jayfeather whispered, letting go of the body. "He's too heavy."
"They'll be here soon," Kit mumbled, but it came out sounding like "Hyle ere on."
Jayfeather walked over to her, eyes brimming with tears. All Kit could do was force herself not to close her eyes.
"Say my name," Jayfeather said quietly.
"Ayeter."
A tear fell down Jayfeathers cheek. "You're going to be okay," his promise was filled with doubt. "Everything will be just fine."
"I love you," Kit said. It came out like "Ive oo."
"What?" Jayfeather asked, looking off into the distance as he spoke. He could hear the ambulance bells ringing closer and closer.
"Goodbye," Kit said. This time it came out clearly.
Then her eyes went black, and she felt herself fall over to the ground.
(Page break)
"Oh my god, my hair looks horrible," Eli groaned as she looked into the mirror. Her friend Mere rolled her eyes.
"It's fine, it always looks fine," she pointed out. "Now can you hurry up? We're going to be late for math."
Eli combed her fingers through her short brown hair one last time before grabbing her binder off the counter. "Okay. Let's go."
Mere turned to grab the door handle but stopped, as someone was already opening it to come inside the bathroom.
"Hey," Mere nodded to the girl, who smiled shyly and proceeded to wash her hands under the dirty faucet.
"I didn't see you in English," Mere said. "Skipping again?"
"Yeah," the girl tossed her long red hair over her shoulder. "I had more important things to do." Then she turned and looked Eli straight in the eye. "Hello, Eli."
"Hi, Zelia," Eli mumbled. Then she turned to Mere. "Are we going to go?"
"Yeah," Mere replied. "See you later, Zelia."
Zelia gave no indication that she had heard, and Mere and Eli walked out of the bathroom in silence. They waited until they were farther down the hall before Eli spoke again.
"I don't know why you're friends with her," Eli said disgustedly.
"We go through this conversation every time I talk to her," Mere grumbled.
"Well I just don't get it!" Eli cried. "You two are complete opposites, not to mention she's constantly high on something!"
"I know why she does drugs, trust me," Mere said. "I went over to her house once and holy jeez you should have seen her dad."
"What's wrong with her dad?" Eli asked.
"He hit her clean across the face when I was standing not even four feet away."
"Oh…"
"And it wasn't just a bitch slap," Mere explained. "It was a solid punch."
"That's awful," Eli said, her irritation towards Zelia ebbed away slightly.
"The worst thing is," Mere whispered as they walked in the door to their math room. "Her dad is a respected doctor. No one would believe he's cruel to his daughter."
"Is he like, a brain surgeon?" Eli asked as she took her seat. Thankfully the class was sitting around talking still, so one noticed she and Mere arrive late.
"No. He works at a mental institution, his name is Osl."
"Oh, okay," Eli said, voice monotone. She was losing interest in talking about Zelia and her first world problems. "I just don't like the way she got my brother into drugs."
"Isn't Sparks like, graduated?" Mere asked.
"Yeah he's eighteen years old. I don't know why he hangs out with girls the same age as me," Eli said crossly.
"Class can I have your attention?" the teacher, Mr. Colts called. The talking died down until it was completely silent. Mr. Colts waited a solid twenty seconds to speak even though the room was already dead silent.
"We have two new students, who just moved here over the weekend. Will Xavier and Millicent please stand up and wave hello?"
Eli turned her head to see two similar looking kids rise to their feet. The girl looked very uncomfortable, standing completely straight with her arms pressed awkwardly at her sides. She had long stick straight black hair, which was so shiny it looked almost greasy. The boy was quite opposite, waving to the class with such enthusiasm it nearly hurt to watch. Like his sister, he had jet black hair as well. It was quite long and flopped down towards his nose, but he didn't even seem to notice. His cheeks were rosy like a little kids, which highlighted his features. His facial structure was stunning, with his high cheekbones and big eyes. He reminded Eli of a young deer standing in the snow.
"Everyone make sure to make Xavier and Millicent welcome, for we are nice people, who do nice things," Mr. Colts smiled and abruptly dropped down to sit in his chair behind a wooden desk. "Now everyone turn to page 34 in your textbook and don't talk to me until you're done the assignment."
(Page break)
Zelia rubbed her hands together as she waited for her dad to pick her up. She was very cold, and she wished he would hurry. She heard laughing behind her, it was Eli and Mere. Mere turned to smile at her as she walked by, but Eli made a big show of not making eye contact. Zelia just rolled her eyes. A dark green car then pulled up into the schools parking lot, and Zelia could see her dads face peering out through the windshield. Zelia's insides went cold.
He looked angry again.
Zelia stuffed her freezing hands into her pockets and trudged through the snow to the car. When she opened the door, she could feel her father's ice cold gaze boring into her.
"I didn't see you last night," he pointed out as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"You were sleeping when I got home," Zelia explained.
"And when were you supposed to be home?" the dad hissed.
"One at the latest," Zelia whispered.
"When did you get in?"
"A few minutes before one."
"Stupid girl," the dad muttered demonically. "Get your shit together, Zelia. Stupid girl."
"I'm sorry," Zelia said quietly.
"I don't fucking care. Are you going to see that boy again tonight?"
"I was going to," Zelia replied. "Sparks doesn't work today so we'll probably meet up in the park."
"Are you ever going to introduce me?" the dad asked sarcastically.
"Sure," Zelia mumbled, with no intentions whatsoever of doing so.
"What's his name? Sparky?"
"Sparks," Zelia corrected.
"What the fuck kind of name is that?" the dad scoffed. "Who are his parents?"
"Their names are Jayfeather and Kit," Zelia replied, wishing he would stop talking.
She was not looking at her father's expression.
She did not see the look that crossed his face when she told him the name of Sparks's parents.
