Chapter Four: Planning
Remember when I said it was going to be a great day? I lied, horribly. It all started this morning around breakfast time. I hadn't slept that well the night before, as all my dreams revolved around Jasper with the warning voice of Zane in the background telling me he was a murderer.
My eyes were red and puffy from the lack of sleep, and to finish the look--I had been graced with a nice pair of abnormally large, shadowed bags. Make up wouldn't help my current state, no matter how much I put on. Thankfully enough, my hair looked alright.
By the time I had made it downstairs for breakfast, Zane was already sitting in the living room watching morning cartoons. I rolled by eyes and threw a pillow at him to grab his attention. "How long have you been here?" I asked my hands on my hips.
He shrugged, and turned down the volume, "Maybe ten minutes?"
I sighed and snuck a banana from the top of the fridge, "Let's go." I smiled, grabbing my shoulder bag from under the stairs. He followed, leaving the TV on for my little sister, who was half asleep and curled up on the floor.
"You look tired this morning." He noted, taking my face in his hands so he could examine me.
"Oh...yeah," I smirked, "I, um, couldn't fall asleep last night."
He cocked a brow and grinned, "Worried about me and my big night tonight, aren't you?"
"Not really." I shrugged, and removed his hands from my face so I could get my shoes on.
"Liar," He chuckled and slipped his feet into a pair of tattered, old vans.
"I should really consider getting a pair of those." I mumbled to the ground as I unlaced mine.
"It makes things go faster." He agreed, and waited patiently for me by the door.
"Can you tie this one up for me?" I asked, sticking out my foot. He rolled his eyes, but did it anyways. "There we go." I smiled once he was finished, "Let's go amigos!" I shouted and pulled the door open. He laughed and followed, unlocking the car.
"Shotgun," I yelled and ran to my usual seat, jumping inside.
"Why do you even bother to call shotgun anymore?" He asked as he took his place on the driver's side, "My brother graduated two years ago. It's only me and you now. Besides, a smart car only seats two people and that seat," He pointed to where I was sitting, "Is reserved for you, and only you."
"Old habits die hard." I retorted.
"You're so weird." He shook his head and pulled out of the driveway, "It's a miracle that I still hang around with you." I snorted and stuck my tongue out at him. "That's what I mean!" He smiled, "Always acting like a three-year-old."
"I'm still considered a child you know, I'm not eighteen yet." I noted.
"Close enough."
"No! I have a whole year until then. That's a long time."
He rolled his eyes in response and turned on the radio, "I still love you, so that must count for something." I nodded, and began singing along.
The student parking lot was pretty much full, but we managed to squeeze into one of the smaller spaces near the back. "You seriously need to start getting up earlier." Zane whined, as he grabbed his bag from the trunk.
"It's not my fault my alarm clock is abnormally quiet." I shot back, waiting for him.
"Turn it up then," He suggested, and put his arm around my shoulders. My stomach did its usual flip-flop, but I managed not to blush.
"The volume button is broken." I grinned.
"Then set it ten minutes earlier."
"Can't, sorry."
"Why not?"
"It's programmed to only turn on at exactly seven thirty." I smiled, and watched his expression.
"You bloody, little liar," He shouted.
"If you have a complaint, write the company or something. It's out of my hands." I laughed. He sighed and dropped his arm from around my shoulders. "Or," I smiled, "You could always buy me a new alarm."
He glared at me, "Not going to happen. I spend enough money on gas, girly."
"Too bad," I shrugged, "I guess you'll just have to be my new alarm clock. Call me tomorrow morning when you get up." I suggested.
"I will, bright and early." He sniggered, and dodged my protesting punches. "See you later, Mags." He called, and fled down the hallway to this locker.
I shook my head and took my time getting to my own locker. While I walked I scanned the hallways for Jasper. Several girls were smiling; all of them whispering excitedly to one another. I could have guessed that Jasper would still be big news today. I hoped that he would talk to me in the classes we had together, and that I could convince him I wasn't the immature freak everyone thought I was.
As I rounded the corner and headed to the art department, I saw them, all six of them. They leaned against the lockers watching the students as they passed. They looked as though they didn't have a care in the world. I'm sure my mouth was gaping as I passed them, staring at their porcelain skin and honey coloured eyes. Everything about them sucked me in. I wanted to reach out so badly and stroke them, touch them, hold them.
"Good morning, Maggie." Called the smooth, ringing voice of the guy I (and several other girls) had fell head over heels for yesterday.
I sucked in a quick breath and waved nervously, "Hi Jasper." The other five faces (I could only guess they were family who had moved here with him), all turned to me, looking me up and down; examining me. I gulped and stuffed my hands into my pockets; feeling self conscious.
That's when I noticed her--the petite, slim body of the gorgeous dark haired pixie. Her hair was spiked perfectly; the darkness contrasting against her pale skin. Her eyes appraised me, almost bored into me with a sort of speculation I could only imagine was territorial. Her small hand was holding Jasper's. My heart fell. I smiled weakly before running off to my locker, which thankfully, was far, far away.
How could it be that the guy I was hoping to marry had already found someone? His sister? I gagged, and pulled open my locker angrily. Maybe they were just...close. Most families are, right? Wait. What am I talking about? They're not together. That's disgusting. I grabbed my textbooks furiously and stuffed them into my bag. But what it they are together? Zane had someone now. He wouldn't want me around all the time anymore. A sudden wave of loneliness swept over me. I closed my locker sadly and made my way to first period.
I slunk into class without even noticing the angry whispers of my teacher, cursing me for coming in late and disrupting the national anthem. I slumped down into my seat and stared furiously at the girl sitting across from me. She looked scared and began fidgeting with her pencil case. The class went by slowly and I found myself wishing I had been sick this morning, or had followed Zane to his locker, or maybe even taken a different route to my locker. Anything, just so I could have avoided Jasper and his mysterious family.
By the end of the period I had managed to make the poor girl across from me burst into tears after I insulted her artwork. Mrs. Michelson told me to sit in the lone desk at the back of the room and asked me to sketch out all my anger. When I was finished, it was honestly the best thing I had even draw in my life. I had gotten his features just right; his eyes the right shape and his jaw lines the perfect angle.
Mrs. Michelson's breath caught in her throat as she looked over it, an unwanted smile playing at the corner of her lips. She cleared her throat and scolded me for my attitude in class before collecting my work and dismissing me.
I glared back and her as I walked away, sending her death glares as she held my drawing of Jasper in her wrinkly, old lady hands. She wasn't worthy of such a masterpiece. I thought up a genius plan to get it back at lunchtime, but I would need Zane. My mind drifted towards our conversation this morning, and I sighed. He wouldn't want to, not anymore. Amy was his first priority now.
I avoided Calculus class like the plague, same with Science. I couldn't face Zane this morning. Not while I was mad about Amy, and angry about my encounter with Jasper.
Maybe this afternoon would be better after I let off some steam.
