Nya yawned quietly as she sat at her desk, staring at the teacher as he vaguely taught his daily lesson. Usually, Nya was on top of her work and always found a way to ace a challenging class, but today, she couldn't bring herself to concentrate. Her mind felt like it was sinking, and it was all that she could think about.
She knew she should be paying attention. The finals and the May SAT's were coming up, and so was the end of her junior year. That was probably what the teacher was droning on about, and why even the people who usually fell asleep in the back of the class were straining to listen.
The final bell ringing loudly through the room startled Nya, making her jump. Quickly, she grabbed her things and dashed out of the room, feeling her heart race. For some reason, she had to get out of the school.
Her feet carried her quickly across the hallway, and nearly ran over the woman in front of her.
"Sorry, ma'am." Nya quickly apologized, looking down. The woman turned around, and when Nya saw who it was, she immediately relaxed. The two of them laughed.
"'Ma'am?' I do not look that old!"
"Oh well Dani, I do apologize!" Nya joked teasingly to her peer. "That extra weight you've gained must've gotten me confused with a forty-year old woman!"
"Oh, shut up!" Danielle responded, laughing and slapping Nya.
Danielle Becking is Nya's best friend, who she met when Nya had arrived on the Dark Island. Dani had been the only one who sat with Nya at lunch when Nya's other friends had left her. Now it was just the two of them.
The friends began to walk. "So…" Nya teased, nudging Dani. "I heard you had a date. Speak."
"Nya! Not in school."
"No one will hear."
Dani rolled her eyes to the back of her head, and sat down on a bench. "Fine," she said. "But only because I know you're gonna keep asking me."
"Yeah, yeah." Nya replied, waving off the comment. "Now spill."
Dani sighed. "Well he took me out to the park," she began. "And we threw a frisbee…"
"Boring!" Nya coughed, and Dani slapped her in the arm.
"Shut up! It was fun!" she said. "Then he took me for a walk, and we just talked. We saw the pond, and he paid the vendor so we could feed the fish."
Nya laughed. "I didn't peg your date as the type to feed fish."
"Well, he's changed since you last hung out with him." Dani replied. "I'm just saying, Jay is a real man."
Nya snorted. "Dani, you've only been dating Jay for less than a year. It's not like you know everything about him."
"And you do?"
Nya rolled her eyes, but was actually pondering it.
It had been almost two weeks since she'd last seen him at the fair. Even then, it was the most awkward encounter she'd had with him, and made her wonder if Dani was right.
Do I even know my friends anymore? Nya thought, a dropping feeling in her stomach. Are they even my friends?
Dani looked at her friend, watching her space out. "Nya? Earth to Nya." Dani enunciated. Nya looked up quickly. "There you are."
"Sorry," Nya muttered, standing up. "I feel really off today. I have to go."
"Where you rushing off to this time?" Dani asked. Nya went silent, and Dani looked at her.
"Another nightmare last night?" she guessed, and Nya nodded silently.
"I'm sorry, Dani." she said softly. "I just need some time alone. I'll come over to your house later."
Dani stared at her in the eye. "Nya, talk to me if there's anything that you need to get off your chest. Come see me. Okay?"
Nya nodded again, feeling horrible to blow off her friend. "I will Dani. Thanks."
"No problem, ma'am."
The woods were warm, but calm. The only noises were the occasional chirping of birds. Sunbeams filtered through the tree's leaves above, casting bright yellow light on the ground.
Nya walked slowly, taking her time. She knew these woods better than anybody, but it never ceased to amaze her how beautiful it was there. It was peaceful, and an escape from her life. Exactly what she needed.
The sound of a stick cracking in half brought back Nya's attention. Immediately, her instincts kicked in and her nerves heightened. All that ran through her mind were the images of Turans leaping behind her and grabbing her roughly.
Keep control Nya. she scolded herself. It's probably just an animal.
Footsteps echoed in her ears from behind her. Not hesitating, Nya turned around and jabbed her elbow into the attacker's stomach. Once she heard a thud, she got down quickly on her knees and began punching the figure below her.
Memories and flashbacks rushed through her as she hit. Memories from that mortifying moment when those monsters attempted to break down the door in the Mayor's mansion those years ago.
The pounding that amplified across the small room, the fear that spread between each and every one of them.
Then suddenly Nya realized what she had been punching. Hands blocked her blows, protecting the attacker's face.
When Nya dismounted the figure, she realized that her attacker wasn't an attacker at all.
It was Jay.
"Nya! Calm down!" he cried, still shielding his face. "It's me!"
"Jay." Nya breathed. "What are you doing here?"
Jay got up from the ground and adjusted his jaw. "Dani met with me after you left and told me to follow you. I saw you headed for the woods. Is everything alright?"
"Dani sent you?" Nya asked, rolling her eyes. "I'm not surprised."
Nya tried to walk away, and Jay grabbed her arm. Nya shivered.
It was the first time they'd made contact in two years.
"Nya." Jay said softly. "Is everything okay? Why did Dani send me?"
"It's fine, Jay." Nya replied, somewhat coldly. "Go home."
"Did you have another nightmare?" Jay asked, ignoring Nya's demands. Nya whirled around, her eyes narrowed.
"That's none of your business, Jay. Why do you care?" Nya asked, voice tight.
"Because it is my business." he replied. Jay looked at Nya in the eye. "Look, I know we haven't been on the best terms lately, but as a friend, I want to know what's going on. Why did Dani send me?"
"Because she's paranoid, Jay! You're dating the girl!" Nya yelled. "I just need some time alone! Please!"
"Nya, you've had time alone! A lot!" Jay yelled back. "Tell me what's going on!"
"I'm not telling you shit, Jay." Nya seethed. Jay backed off. "And for the record, we aren't friends. You've made that very clear the past couple of years."
"Nya…."Jay began, but Nya scoffed.
"Just leave me the hell alone, Jay." Nya told him coldly. "Go back to your girlfriend. Go back to the things you really care about, which I know is not me."
With that, Nya stalked off into the woods, with Jay watching her, unsure of what to do.
Anonymous7: THANKS! AND YES I AM PLANNING A SHIP, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN IF IT'S GONNA BE JAYA…YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE! ALSO, NYA AND DANI IS AROUND SEVENTEEN, JAY AND KAI PUSHING EIGHTEEN, AND COLE AT ELEVEN. THANKS FOR REVIEWING!
BedazzleDewdrops: LOL…THANKS!
WOW, NYA HAS A NEW BEST FRIEND, WHO'S DATING JAY? AND JAY IS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO NYA, BUT SHE WON'T GIVE HIM A CHANCE…WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED WITH THE DRAMA!
NEXT CHAPTER WILL GO BACK TO MIMI AND WU…WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON! STAY TUNED, AND PLEASE REVIEW!
-KTH1