Rose:-
"I wish Rose was never taken by the Huntsclan!" Echoed through my head as my alarm clock went off for another boring school day. I groaned and hit it, knocking it flying and it tore from the plug socket. Silencing the infernal device.
I rolled onto my back and did my morning review. My name is Rose Smith. I live with my mom and dad and twin sister Lily in New York. I have attended Richmond High School for three weeks and I'm the subject of pretty much everyone's crushes (unfortunately).
My 'morning review' consisted of that and whatever I had been dreaming about. I'd had this weird dream last night and the night before. I was some wacko ninja who hunted down magical creatures who's boyfriend was a guy who could transform into a dragon. Confusing. Anyway, I was being pulled into the air by my birthmark in my left wrist. Which was oddly enough, a dragon. It was glowing green and I knew that if I got high enough, I'd die. I was resigned to it. Then my boyfriend would scream 'I wish Rose was never taken by the Huntsclan!' And I'd be engulfed by a green light and the dream would end. It was VERY confusing.
The most confusing bit is who my dream 'boyfriend' is. He's a the keeper for the Richmond High Soccer team and our meeting involved me knocking his groceries out of his hands. I was certain I had seen him before but I was uncertain where.
I'd somehow forgotten that I'd done an induction year at Fillmore Middle School on Dad's request. And it was where I had met Jake.
Yet a nagging feeling in my chest said otherwise.
I sighed, completely stumped and rolled out of bed and started to get ready for school.
About an hour later, at 7 o clock, I was dressed in a white t-shirt and a purple skirt and my contact lenses were in.. I walked over to a small desk in my room and picked up a pile of books that had Friday stuck on top of it on a post it note. Clutching them to my chest I walked out of my room and across our apartment to the kitchen.
I found my twin sister Lily, sipping a mug of coffee at the breakfast table when I walked in. Reading a gossip magazine.
Lily was wearing black jeans and a red vest top.
"Hey sis." I said, dumping my books on the table and grabbing some bread,
"Hey!" She replied, giving me a warm smile as I popped the toast in the toaster, "Sleep well?"
I shrugged, "Ish..." She understood and returned to her magazine. The toaster pinged as dad walked in.
"Morning girls!" He said happily. He wore a white shirt and black trousers. He had spiked chocolate brown hair and streaks of grey in the sides which he was running a comb through,
"Morning daddy!" Me and Lily said together as I buttered my toast and Lily finished her coffee, "How are we this fine morning."
"Good thanks dad." Lily said, getting up and putting her mug in the sink,
"I'm ok thank you." I said smiling.
"Good." He said, walking over to the kettle and boiling it. I went and sat at the breakfast table. As I chomped on my toast my mind continued to wonder to the black haired boy who was in my dreams and my reality.
Dad dropped us off at school an hour and a half later and myself and Lily met up with some of our friends. We stood in a group and chatted until a voice shouted at us.
"Wow, one side! Coming through!" Said a female voice, we turned to look and fastly approaching was an African girl wearing a hoodie with a panda's head in the centre and blue jeans on a skateboard. Closely followed by a tall guy in a green hat with a blue long sleeved top with a green alien on it and green army bottoms. Also on a skateboard. We parted and they skated through.
We were just reforming our group when a third skater approached, he had spiky black hair, he wore a red jacket with blue trousers. Everyone moved aside except for me. I was in his way. I just realised this just as it was too late to move and I braced for impact.
But I was never hit.
He kicked his board high in the air and it soared over my head, he then did a forward roll in between my open legs and caught his board on the other side. He ran, chucking his board down and skated after the pair as they went to the stairs.
I looked over at him and my eyes narrowed. He was the boy from my dream. I needed to talk to him. I made an excuse to leave and walked into school...
Jake:-
When I saw Rose the first time. I assumed that I'd break down in tears there and then. I was so wrong. Seeing her face so happy and innocent just made me even happier knowing my wish came true and she was happy and had what she'd always wanted. Her family back.
I'd decided that I'd leave her be. If she came to me THEN I'd talk to her. But in the mean time, I'm staying well away.
I barely crashed into her outside and it was a really close shave. I didn't even know I could do what I'd just done and I probably wouldn't be able to do it again. I caught up with Trixie and Spud and we all got off our boards and walked into school. We ditched our boards in our lockers and stood around talking outside homeroom.
"So Jakey..." Trixie started nervously. Her voice hushed, "Are you gonna. You know..."
"Go round 2 with Rose." Spud finished, equally as quiet. Looking up and down the rapidly filling corridor.
"I dunno guys." I said honestly. Starting to relive some of the good times between me and her, "I dunno."
"It's been 3 weeks dude. Make a move." Trixie said.
"Speaking of our favourite ninja she-witch." Spud said and I followed his gaze to Rose who was walking up the corridor, clutching a pile of books to her chest. Her long gold hair streaming down her back. She wore a white t-shirt and a purple skirt. Her eyes searched the corridor and locked on me. Something flashed in them. Recognition.
If I hadn't seen been talking to her for the past few weeks and re-getting to know her and known she didn't remember a thing, I'd have thought she still knew who I was. No such luck. I sighed and Trix and Spud looked at me worriedly. I gave them a smile showing them I was ok.
She walked over and stood by us.
"Hey Jake!" She said, her voice music to my ears, "Nice moves out there."
"Thanks. It was a spur of the moment thing." I said, smiling. We then settled into a silence. Then Trixie walked off, I was just about to look when I saw Spud roll his eyes.
"Hey Kyle!" She trilled. I groaned,
"Really?!" I moaned, "It's too early for this!"
"You're telling me!" Spud agreed.
"To early for what?" Rose asked, looking confused and looking at each of us in turn.
"Wait and see..." I said and she nodded and waited patiently. After 5 minutes, Kyle walked away and Trixie walked back over. She sighed,
"Kyle Wilkins." She sighed, "Oooh, one day. I'm telling you! One day!"
She began humming in contentment and I walked over to Rose,
"It was worse yesterday." I whispered in her ear.
"Oooh Kyle's fine! Like-" she began but me and Spud cut in,
"Like lemon lime in the summertime!" We groaned,
"Yeah, yeah ok. Can you cork it now?!" Spud said. And she zipped her lips, humming again.
"Morning class." A voice came from behind us and Sun Park stood behind us.
"Morning Mrs Park." I said.
"Morning Jake, can we have a word please? Inside?" She asked. I nodded and we walked into the classroom.
She sat in her chair and I perched on the edge of a desk. From the way she looked this wasn't a mother and son conversation,
"So, it appears your wish worked." Sun said,
"Yeah, it did." I said, confused.
"Your grandfather told me to give you a talk about the abuse of power so here it is..."
After hearing those words I felt a sense of dread. Here we go.
"I'm extremely proud of you." She said calmly,
"Say what?!" I exclaimed, stupefied.
"You saved Rose's life. You acted completely selflessly and I'm proud of that. Your 'grandfather wants to see you at the shop though. Well done Jake. Now sit down, the bells about to go." And sure enough, the bell went. She went into full teacher mode and the rest of the students filed in.
I contemplated not going. He wasn't REALLY my grandfather but is still had a job there. Sooo...
I walked to the back of class and took a seat. Trixie sat in front and Spud sat to left. The only other available desk nearby. I smiled and the two looked at me puzzled.
"I'll tell you later." I said and they shrugged and we began the lesson.
Rose:-
He sat at the back and my curiosity seemed to grow as homeroom continued. I sat at the front with Brad to my left shamelessly flirting. As normal, I ignored him and kept my eyes locked on the boy in red. He was telling the freckled boy and the black girl something and was animatedly moving his arms. His eyes were flashing and I could honestly say he looked pretty good looking like that. How could I have forgotten a boy like that?!
The bell went and I scanned my timetable. Mythology, Rottwood, perfect. NOT! How he had got away with ditching being a Middle School principal to being a highschool Mythology teacher I will never know.
Weaving through the crowd I walked into class and looked around. Rottwood wasn't in yet and all but two seats where taken. One was next to Brad, who was winking and patting the chair expectantly I rolled my eyes and looked at the only other empty seat. My heart seemed to back flip inside my chest. The only other chair was next to him. Next to Jake.
He was leaning over to his right where his two friends sat in the top right hand corner, just in front of the teachers desk. I took a breath and walked over to them. Passing 3 desks that had 2 people sitting at each. I walked along and stood by the desk, I cleared my throat softly and Jake turned around immediately and gave me a warm smile,
"Is this seat taken?" I asked, he pulled the chair out and tapped it,
"It can be..." He said with a crafty half smile. I giggled involuntary, he was quite cute. I slipped into the chair and placed my pile of books in my corner of the desk. Jake was chatting with his friends again and I desperately tried to keep my eyes from wandering to him.
Thankfully, Rottwood finally barged into the room. I breathed a sigh of relief,
"Morning hoodlums!" He said in his heavy Germanic accent, "Today we shall prepare for a 3 page essay on Dragons."
I groaned as did most of the class. I involuntarily turned to my right and saw Jake and his buddy's leaning back in their chairs smiling. They seemed pleased. Rottwood glared at them and wrinkled his nose at Jake.
"Which of course..." He began, "Mr Long knows all about!" He said, spitting out the words 'Mr Long' as if it left a foul taste in his mouth.
"Why, yes I do sir." He said, smirking. I looked over at him. Rottwood and Jakes eyes were locked and a war seemed to be waging silently between the pair.
"And, HOW did you get to be so educated on such a topic?" Rottwood asked, looking down triumphantly at his student,
"I have the worlds GREATEST teacher sir." Jake replied sarcastically. I saw Rottwood's face turn redder than a ripe tomato. He stuttered and flustered he yelled as the class began laugh. Myself included,
"ENOUGH!" He shouted and everyone quietened down, "Thank you. Now Mr Long, you will now do a 7 page essay on Dragons. Seeing as your astute knowledge on the subject can allow this to be done for Monday."
"Awww MAN!" He moaned and flicked open his book and slipped a pen out of his jacket pocket and began to write furiously. Whilst Rottwood began his lecture on Dragons.
I tried to pay attention, but I felt like I'd heard this all before. So instead I began to doodle. By halfway through the lesson I'd unconsciously drawn a scaled snake like dragon spiralling around my page. The dragon looked vaguely familiar for some odd reason. I shrugged it off and went back to staring at Jake from the corner of my eyes. His face was scrunched up in concentration as he scribbled word after word. Filling the page in no time.
Why is he so familiar?! I've seen him somewhere and it's not like just passing him in the corridor at Fillmore. It's something... More...
After 3 hours of mind melting torture, Rottwood released us for lunch and we couldn't leave the room fast enough. I walked behind Jake and his friends as we made for the lunch hall, I picked up on some of their conversation.
"So, when did you stop doing the essay?" The African girl asked,
"I was finished 2 hours in. Why do you ask?" He replied,
"Me and Trixie saw the switching of books. Diary boy." The tall hatted boy said,
"Spud! It's not a diary!" Jake said, "It's an account of EVERYTHING that's happened since, you know..." He said, trailing off and the girl Trixie and boy Spud nodded,
"Where are you up to?" Trixie said, her voice hushed, I still found it easy to pick up their words,
"The Grand Equinox hunt." He sighed, and his shoulders seemed to droop. What was this' Grand Equinox hunt'? It sounded so familiar but yet again. I couldn't place it.
We walked into the lunch hall and I saw my sister hanging with the girls from this morning, Stacey, Janet and Harley. Stacey and Janet are cheerleaders and wore the uniform of a frilly white skirt and a white top. But Stacy had straw coloured blond hair tied in a ponytail by a red bobble. Then Janet had shoulder length black hair and a strangely hooked nose. Harley wore a red sweater and black jeans, she had waist length fiery ginger hair. I slipped into a seat next to her and Lily slid a tray over to me. Laden with a slice of pizza, a plate of green jello and a cup of cola. School food.
"Thanks sis." She nodded in my direction and continued to stare at the lunch line. I followed her gaze and saw she was staring at someone in it. Jake!
"Hey girls?" They all turned to look at me, "Who's that?" Janet asked, pointing at Jake. Coming from another state was new aroung here too,
"OMG! How can you NOT know who he is. He's like the cutest guy in school!" Lily said,
"His names Jake Long. I'm pretty sure Jake's short for something though." Harley said, her eyes drifting.
"The kids he hangs out with are Trixie and Arthur. But Arthur likes to be called Spud. I dunno. He's a creep either way." Stacey said shuddering.
"Anyway..." Harley said, trying to keep us on subject, "The three of them have been state skateboarding champions of the state a couple of times each and Jake was the DJ at one of the dances. You know the one I'm talking about right? The one you went to with Brad?"
I rolled my eyes and groaned, remembering that well. It was where my resentment towards the jock had began. He had left me for another guys date. I'd ended up having an amazing time though because I'd danced with the guy who'd had his date stolen by Brad. He'd told me he wanted to dance with the most beautiful girl in the room and looked at me. I'd never felt so special.
"Hey, didn't you dance with Jake at that one?" Harley asked,
I flashed back,
FLASHBACK:-
I sat alone at a table. Jake was DJ-ing and Brad had just ran off with his date. A gorgeous girl in a sparkly red dress and waist length black hair. He'd told me before he ran off that I was hot but Jasmine (Jakes date) was smoking. His exact words. I sighed and took a sip of water.
I saw Jake making his way across the dance floor. His friend in the blue dress with the handbag had taken control of the DJ booth, and the hits just kept on coming, she was pretty good. He took a seat next to me and I talked to him,
"Brad said he only asked me here so he could dance with the prettiest girl in the room." I said and sighed, "I guess he got his wish." I stared down at my shoes,
"Come on," Jake said, I looked over and he was smiling and holding out his hand, "I want to dance with the prettiest girl in the room."
FLASHBACK over
"Um, yeah. I think so." I said, knowing for certain now that I did. How could I forget THAT.
"OMG, Jake is the sweetest thing." Harley exclaimed, I laughed.
I looked over at Lily, she'd been really quiet. She hadn't been able to go to the dance. She'd been grounded.
"Hey sis. What's up?" I asked. She blushed and myself, Harley, Janet and Stacey stared awaiting an answer,
"I think I'm crushing." She said, "Big time."
Something inside me switched and I felt a bubble of anger rise within me. I was biting back something but I couldn't think of what it was. Stacey broke the silence that descended,
"Well join the que of the disappointed. Because we ALL know he's already made up his mind." She said and we went back to lunch. I held it off of my face but I had a deep disappointment inside of me. Who had he decided on. Maybe it was the girl in the hoodie. Trixie? Looking at them I sincerely doubted it.
As I pondered, I noticed the trio that was Jake, Trixie and Spud get up from their table and ditch their trays and walk out.
"Hey, where do you think they're going?" I asked, before spooning the last of my lunch into my mouth.
"We've got a free period. They're probably going to the skate park down the street." Janet answered. Then she and Stacey rose.
"Gotta go, cheer leading practice and they skipped out. Then Harley rose,
"Library. Got the chemistry test to study for." She then left. I gulped down my cola and got up.
"Later sis." I called as I left, clutching my books.
I began to walk to the library but I saw Jake grabbing his skateboard from his locker and running down the hall with it.
"Hmmm..." I pondered. The chemistry test was next week, "I can miss ONE study session."
I ran after the trio, to see the skate boarding the girls had bragged about.