PART FOUR

Monday. Recess time. Marcia, Hui Ming, Emma and Dougie were seated at a round table near the window. It was an odd sight because Marcia was dressed like an emo punk girl, Hui Ming and Dougie were casually dressed and Emma looked like a hybrid of modern punk and Harajuku Street fashion. However, the 4 friends couldn't be bothered about it.

"So Emma, you've been MIA for the past few days. What exactly happened?" asked Dougie.

"Dunno. Well, I was healing some wounds at home. You don't wanna look at them cuz they're NASTY!" said Emma as she popped a sashimi sushi inside her mouth.

Dougie gave Hui Ming an odd stare and she simply smiled and held his hands while saying, "What she meant was she doesn't want to dwell about it."

"Ok baby," said Dougie as he kissed Hui Ming's cheek.

"Love is so wonderful," said Marcia as she smiled.

Emma stared at Marcia and said, "Well……I've never heard you saying such things. Are you REALLY in love?"

For a moment, everyone at the table was staring at Marcia. Dougie and Hui Ming wanted to know what Marcia would reply to Emma's question.

"Whoa, who is it?" asked Dougie.

Marcia replied in an uncomfortable tone, saying, "Well….some guy."

"Just say it!" Emma snapped.

"Someone from Bio class," said Hui Ming as she held onto Dougie's arm.

Dougie's eyes widened as he stared at Marcia. Then, he said, "Someone from James' gang?"

Emma rolled her eyes with disbelief and she said, "NO! I mean it's so obvious!"

"Let me guess…..Adam?" said Dougie.

"Finally you got it right!" said Hui Ming as she leaned against Dougie's arm.

"So Dougie! How was the basketball match that day?" said Marcia as she tried to change the subject.

Dougie frowned a bit and said, "It wasn't the best match but it was ok. The players of Antonia High were very good. They almost scared the hell outta us."

"Honestly I think you guys are great! I'm positive that you guys will win," said Hui Ming as she kissed Dougie's cheek.

Emma stared at Marcia. They felt like they should leave the couple alone. Emma blinked her right eye as a signal. Then, the two girls stood up and carried their tray and lunchbox.

"I think the both of us should go back to our lockers to retrieve our stuff before the next lesson stars," said Emma as she stared at the couple.

"See you both later!" said Marcia and they left, giggling as they walked towards the exit of the cafeteria.

Two hours later, the pupils were all dressed up in their sports outfit for P.E. class. Marcia was waiting outside of the girls' locker room for Emma, Cassie and Hui Ming.

"Come on come on. We can afford to be late like the last time," said Marcia softly to herself.

Marcia took her watch out of her pocket of her shorts and stared at the watch. They had approximately 15 minutes to get dressed and be at the running track.

The lonely teenager rolled her eyes and folded her arms. She felt like she shouldn't be too worried about being very punctual because they roughly have 15 minutes before the lesson begins.

She heard the door of the boys' locker room swung open and she saw James and Renji walking out, chatting and laughing like maniacs. The curious girl wondered why the two were always happy and laughing as if they never argued throughout their friendship.

"Hey emo girl!" said James as he waved at Marcia. She simply waved and replied, "Hello there chameleon!"

"He is the king of all strange stuff," said Renji as he pushed James aside.

"Put a sock in it Renji!" said another boy who just exited the boys' locker room. "You talk too much!"

"You sissy!" said James as he slapped Renji's back and the 3 of them ran off, leaving Marcia feeling weirder than ever.

Marcia opened the door of the girls' locker room and loudly said, "Come on you guys! James and the gang are already off to the field!"

"Coming!" Cassie replied and Marcia shut the door. Silence at the hallway again.

Suddenly the other door swung open and she saw Adam Gontier all dressed up in his new P.E. outfit. No matter what outfit he wore, he still looked like an awesome punk rock kid with an awesome rockstar attitude.

"Hey Marcia," said Adam smoothly. Somehow, Adam's voice startled Marcia and her eyes widened with shock.

She quickly stared at Adam and said, 'Hi Adam. You're looking good." Great! Way to go! That was the worst sentence EVER! Marcia thought.

Adam smiled as he ran his fingers through his hair, giving Marcia an impression that she was staring directly at a punk rock dude from a great rock band.

"You look good too in your P.E. clothes," said Adam as he stared at her.

Marcia could feel her heart beating fast again. She felt like she was drowning in Adam's dreamy dark brown eyes, feeling so helpless. She couldn't resist staring at him and admiring him. She wanted to know more about him. It was as if there was something mysterious yet interesting about him that made her attracted to him. She was determined to know what it was and she had to cook up a plan.

"See you later Marcia. I gotta go," said Adam with a huge grin and he left.

Seconds later, the other door swung open and her 3 friends were in sight. Emma's arm was around Cassie's shoulder and she said, "I heard that we're gonna run today. So let's lose our fats and try to run as fast as we can."

"Running?" Marcia asked.

"Yup," said Hui Ming.

The whole class whined when the two gym teachers explained that they were going to run in laps and do high jumps alternating with the boys. Hui Ming wasn't listening as she was too busy staring and smiling at Dougie. Marcia wasn't also paying attention as she kept on staring at Adam. How she ever wondered if she could just be next to him and listen to his storied and talk about their favourite bands.

10 minutes after warming up, the girls were running on the track and Marcia couldn't stop whining to Cassie, Hui Ming kept staring at Dougie and Emma was silent.

As they turned, Marcia found herself running next to Emma. "I hate high jumps! It really makes me sick like hell! Why do we have to do this?" said Marcia as she panted.

"Dunno," Emma replied. Marcia went on and on but Emma wasn't listening. She was buy gazing at a Japanese guy at the stands. He was dressed in black. Black slacks, black t-shirt and a black coloured cap. It was the senior whom she admired during the time she visited his doujinshi when the school had Arts & Crafts Open Day recently. She even admired the way he played his electric guitar and rapped on stage when he was playing with his band on that day itself. Emma was still with Jared at that time. Could this be the reason why she wasn't so in love with Jared?

Emma was out of focus from the running track that she accidentally bumped into a girl in front of her. It was a girl from the Accounts class, Anna. "Emma!" said Anna with disgust as she stared at Emma with an angry look on her face. The confused Chinese Caucasian mixture girl quickly apologized and simply jogged away from Anna.

"Emma! You weren't listening to me just now, were you?" asked Marcia as they walked off the running tracks.

"I was just rummaging 'bout some stuff through my mind," said Emma.

"What is it? Is it important?" Marcia asked.

Emma shook her head. She was still staring at the boy at the stands. He was carrying a box along with his friends next to him. They were talking and laughing. "Mike…..Kenji Shinoda," she muttered softly and walked away, leaving Marcia clueless.