I gave a yawn as I poured through the various books on the table; I may need to study for tests but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy doing it, every time I look at a history book it feels like my eyes are going to roll back into my head to avoid it.
"Hey! Stay awake!" I felt Nelson grip my arm and shake bringing me back to my senses. Standing up I gave a full body stretch before slumping back into my seat and staring at the book in front of me.
"…I can't do this." I said shaking my head, "This is just too boring for me to actually pay attention to. I can't take it."
"Studying really is your Achilles heel isn't it?" Nelson said and I gave a low groan, "Well suck it up! If you don't pass that English test today then the wrestling team is going to be out their star player."
"You've been failing tests?" Samantha asked and I chuckled.
"Come on, you really expect me to be able to do well on tests? I'm the one that falls asleep in class." I replied.
"Yeah, the teachers REALLY get pissed at you for that stunt." Nelson said.
"Hey, I try my damndest to stay awake, I just can't help it."
"Do you ever pay attention?"
"I'm an action man! That's my thing!"
"Then you need a better thing." We all chuckled for a minute before returning to studying.
"So are you at least ready for the wrestling match?" Sam asked and I nodded with a big grin.
"You bet I am! Nothing gets my blood pumping faster than a good old fashioned match!"
"Heh, if that isn't true." Nelson added, "We're going up against Rangeview's wrestling team tomorrow so be careful; they've got some brutes on that team."
"I remember. Almost dislocated my arm against that one senior last year." Can't remember his name but I do remember he tried to brute force his way through me and knock me to the ground; didn't end well for him and I heard something snap in my hand, now I hear a click when I roll my wrist, "Nobody can beat Central as long as I'm here!"
"Yeah…but that won't happen if you don't study!" Nelson picked up a book before throwing it at me; catching it I took a seat next to Samantha and rested my head on my right hand as I read the passage about World War two.
"…You know…I wouldn't mind helping you out with this Gareth." Samantha said and I looked over at her.
"Really!? No joke!?" I asked enthusiastically and she giggled.
"Sure, if you fail then I wouldn't feel very good about it…so I'll read it to you."
"That's…not a bad idea; maybe he retains it better through word rather than text." Nelson said.
"That's my favorite kind of story." I replied.
"…Is that considered coincidental or oxymoronic?"
"I think it's a paradox." Sam offered.
"Are you guys insulting me?"
After the power study session we all headed to the history classroom for the big test; as I walked into the room I was surprised to see all eyes were on me, most of the boys were giving me cold glares while others were huddled and talking while exchanging cash. The girls were either rolling their eyes, looking smitten with me or doing the same money exchange move the boys were doing.
"Oh yeah-" Nelson said leaning in to whisper, "-there's a betting pool going on for whether or not you'll flunk the test. So don't lose, I need that money for what comes next."
"You bet on me?" I asked and he slapped my back.
"Don't sweat the small details. Now just pass that bet…I mean test." I chuckled before giving him a thumbs up.
"Should have taken double or nothing because I'm going to ace that test!"
"Yeah…just pass okay?" With those final words he walked over to his desk and sat down before handing a few bucks to one of the boys. As I walked over to my desk I looked to see Miss Fethia watching me with a glare; I've fallen asleep in her classes the most and I think she takes it kind of personally…well, time to prove her wrong…or right depending on what she's thinking. Taking a seat I waited for her to pass around the test and pulled out that blank journal again. I skimmed through the empty pages back and forth finding it a very strange journal to say the least; even with my very limited knowledge of journals this one was still very weird. The pages weren't very old but the condition of the cover and back as well as some of the pages having torn corners and burned areas showed this thing had gone through hell; made me wonder who owned this thing…and why it was in my bag. As I closed the book a piece of paper was placed on top of it and I looked up to see the teacher looking at me; as she moved on I put the book away and looked at the test paper…maybe that journal is older than I thought.
Once I finished up I was surprised to see I had finished before everyone else; when I put my pencil down I heard a few people scoff while others snickered and a few gasped, there were way too many opinions about me out there for me to be comfortable with. I placed the test face down and pulled the journal back out skimming through it again; I wasn't entirely sure why but this little book intrigued me to no end and made me want to keep looking at it…at least that's what my instincts were telling me. I poured through that book for anything I could see; even a pencil mark would have been a good sign at this point.
"Pencils down." I shot up from my book and looked to see the teacher coming around again and picking up the test papers; as she came over to me she looked at the book and back to me, "…That's a very old journal." She said.
"No, the pages are old but not very old, this thing has just been through hell." I replied.
"You've had it awhile then?"
"No, not even mine…but it is important. I know that much." She blinked before picking up my test and looking it over, "…Well done. A solid B paper."
"So I pass!?"
"Yes." As she said that I heard collective groans followed by one resounding cheer from my friend Nelson.
"Pay up suckers!"
As we walked home Nelson flipped through his cash with a grin on his face, seems a lot of people were against me on the test…nice to see one person didn't underestimate my abilities…well, temporary power study abilities anyway.
"Oh, easy money." He said putting it in his wallet.
"It seems rigged if you were helping out Gareth." Sam said walking on the other side of me.
"Hey, race horses are drugged so they bring in a larger bet at full strength, I call it an investment."
"So you underestimate me till the very end?" I asked.
"No, I know you've got what it takes, I've got your back on that at least. Even if you are a battle crazed freak." I laughed at his comment and as I looked back at him he had become a she; I saw a girl with black hair in a long pony tail and wearing a small green jacket with a white shirt and brown skirt, she wore simple sneakers and had a cold expression…but it felt friendly paired with a snide smile, and she had a katana strapped to her side. The second I blinked it turned back to Nelson and I stopped in my tracks for a moment in surprise; that…that was weird…
"Is something wrong Gareth?" Sam asked and I gave her a smile.
"Yeah…just my mind playing tricks on me is all." I replied continuing to walk.
"Well, now I've got the money for the match tomorrow." Nelson said, "Rangeview is getting a bit cocky so I'm sure they'd like to make a nice little wager against us for who's going to win."
"Really?"
"Yep, they think they have a winner this year so it'll be interesting to see what they pull out this time. They should know by now that no one is stronger than you." Damn right, they can't handle what I'm packing in both body and spirit.
"I'm sure you'll do great Gareth!" Sam said enthusiastically, "I'll be sure to cheer you on."
"Same here." Nelson added as we approached my house, "But I can't cheer for a sleepy guy all the time so get some rest for tomorrow."
"Alright, I'll see you guys tomorrow." I replied walking up the steps to my home. Stepping through the doors I found myself in front of my adopted family, "Hey mom, hi dad."
"Hello Gareth." They replied and I felt my smile widen to its full size, I loved this feeling.
As we sat down at the dinner table mom brought out the food and placed a plate down in front of me and dad before sitting down herself; as I reached for the food dad gave a small cough and pointed to mom who giggled and motioned for us to start.
"You can never wait can you?" Dad asked chuckling and I chuckled in response.
"He's a very eager boy. That's why he's such a good wrestler." Mom said and I gave her a thumbs up, "Speaking of, the match against Rangview is coming up tomorrow honey."
"Well then we'll have to come and see that." Dad said biting into the side of broccoli, "After all it's nice to see your wrestling matches. Your enthusiasm is contagious."
"That's my hook!" I replied and we all laughed, "…Hey quick question." I reached into my backpack and pulled out the empty journal, "Is this one of yours?" Mom reached for the book and flipped it open skimming through the pages before handing it to dad who did the same.
"…Well it's not mine." Mom said as dad handed it back.
"Or mine." Dad finished, "Where did you find it?"
"In my bag during lunch." I replied putting it away, "My instincts tell me it's really important though so I've been hanging onto it."
"Well it's probably someone at your schools. You should take it to lost and found tomorrow."
"Yeah probably." Looking back at my food I found my mind drifting to what tomorrow would be like. As far as I knew I was the best wrestler on the team and nobody seemed to mind that; the biggest problem was the other schools which all seemed to have a vendetta against me, I didn't mind though, that just meant they were willing to throw their best at me and I was more than happy to show them how intense my abilities were!
"You should probably get some practice in before the match." Dad offered, "If you want I can teach you a few moves that will show those idiots at other schools not to mess with a Spencer!"
"Don't worry dad, I'll show them plenty! They'll know exactly what Gareth Spencer can do!" With that confident assertion I stabbed into my steak and took a shark sized bite.
"That's my boy!"
"Oh, you men." Mom said with a giggle as we continued to enjoy dinner.
I leaped onto my bed and bounced twice before laying there motionless for a moment, a warm bed, hot meals, people who love me; even though it's been a year I'll never stop loving this feeling of home. I took a long stretch and looked over at my desk to see the book just lying there; I don't remember taking it out of my bag. I blinked and a pair of black fingerless gloves had suddenly appeared on top; I looked at it and took a slow blink, when I opened my eyes a green hair tie was on top of them…this isn't something I can blow off anymore. Getting up I moved over and opened the journal again seeing something was on the first page; different weapons were drawn with initials underneath each of them. A scythe with the initials L.T. under them, a battle axe with a simple G underneath it, a katana with the initials A.B. and a pair of longswords with the initials S.T. under them…wait…L.T.
"I know those initials." Flipping to the back of the book I saw the initials L.T. written on the back cover, "That's right, those are the same initials of the owner…but what are these others?" They seemed familiar but the weapons they were attached to ring like a bell in the back of my mind…ow…that hurts to focus on. Setting it down I moved over to the bed and lied down with a sigh; using my brain wasn't always my strongest skill and it's better to stop when your head starts to hurt. With a sigh I rolled over and let my mind empty as I drifted off to sleep. As I slept I saw visions of battles play through my head…the strangest part was that I was always there with three other people by my side…it felt right though.
When I woke up I looked out my bed side window to see the moon was still high in the sky illuminating the sky with stars; the stars were incredibly bright in the sky, I could even tell the constellations apart. Feeling a bit antsy I got up and slipped on the white hoodie, gloves and hair tie going with a wolf tail style as I grabbed the journal and stuffed it in my bag as I moved out the front door quietly and headed for the biggest hill I could find. Once I found my prime watch point for star gazing I headed up there and looked at every constellation I could find.
"…Big Dipper, Orion's Belt, Cygnus, Aquarius…hey look Lily, Lyra! And Soren, there's Ursa Major; Alice, Canis Major!" I stopped looking and shot up to look around me; nobody was with me but…it felt like someone should be…this feeling of loneliness…it feels weird…and yet right? Why?
I stayed there until the sun came up and followed the constellations until I found all of them and even a few I made up myself; like pedaling giraffe, dolphin jump, and running track disaster…hehe, I like that one the best. Getting up I looked at my phone to see it was almost time for school and rushed towards the school as fast as I could; as I rounded the corner to the front of school I suddenly slammed into something knocking both of us down.
"Oww…sorry, I was a little too excited." I apologized as I got up.
"Hehe…that's just like you isn't it?" I looked to see Samantha giggling at me and chuckled in response, "So are you ready for the…is that a wolf tail?"
"Huh? Yeah, I decided to try something else."
"It…it looks nice."
"…Thanks." For a moment I watched as she changed to a girl with dark red hair and half frame glasses; she wore the white hoodie I was currently wearing with a large scythe on her back and holding…the book! I blinked and she changed back to Samantha, "…So what do you want to do? I've got nothing to do until the wrestling match so I'm up for anything."
"Oh! Well…would you mind if we just spent some time in the library together? I was thinking we could read a few books together."
"…You know what? I'd like that. I've been feeling a bit unsure so maybe a bit of slow down time would do me good."
"Then let's go!" Samantha replied with a wide smile as she grabbed my hand and led me inside the school.
I sat down next to Sam as she opened up one of the fiction books on the shelf; she had pulled out Alice in Wonderland and began reading it as I felt a certain…calming feeling as she read the story of the girl falling down the rabbit hole.
"So she fell down the rabbit hole and continued to follow the rabbit despite the situation she was in?" I asked and Sam thought for a moment.
"It does seem strange that she didn't take in her situation. Maybe she thought the rabbit would be able to get her back home." Sam offered.
"Eh…maybe she just followed her gut instinct." Sam giggled at my idea.
"Not everyone uses the same methods you do."
"Still…you know I've been a bit unsure lately. I feel like my mind is playing tricks on me, my gut and my mind are a bit in a bind over this." I put my head down on the table and took a deep breath as my stomach did a small flip, "Not exactly good for the mind or the meal." Suddenly a felt someone run their fingers through my short hair.
"Don't worry Gareth. I'm sure whatever problems you're having will go away if you wait long enough."
"…Yeah…I'm sure you're right." I wasn't sure how long we had spent just sitting there as she comforted me but when I looked up at the clock it was almost the end of the school day. We had spent most of the day in the library and missed all of our classes…I must have fallen asleep…it doesn't feel like I did though; it's good the only stipulation was the test or I might be kicked off the match for missing all my classes, "It's almost time for the match!" I shot up from my seat making Sam jump slightly before standing up and closing the book.
"Then let's go show Rangview what we've got!"
"Damn right!" I replied feeling excited for the match as all my unsure feeling faded into the background.
Bursting through the gym doors I was shocked to see the seats were completely filled and the sound of chattering and talking could be heard echoing off the walls; in the distance I could see the Rangview wrestling team sitting on one side of the gym while my team sat nearby on my side of the gym.
"There you are!" I looked over to see Nelson giving me a very pissed look, "You were missing all day man! Where were you!?"
"In the library with Sam." I replied pointing to Sam who waved to him.
"All day!? I had to make an excuse that you had a ten hour flu and were riding out the last five hours of it!"
"How did you pull it off without a doctor's note?" Sam asked and he pulled one of the nurse's notes out of his pocket.
"Never underestimate my ability to get what I need. I owe the Nurse a sixty-forty cut of the money I make off this though."
"She let you bribe her?"
"Don't think it was that simple, cougars…demand a bit of flirting."
"Okay, that's too much information." Sam said stopping him, "As much fun as it would be to hear what happened, I think we get the idea."
"I'd like to hear it." I said making them give me a weird look, "…what?"
"Gareth! You finally showed up!" I looked over to see the coach of the team looking a bit more worried than usual, "We're in a bit of a bind champ!"
"What's up?" I asked and he pointed to the main ring where a kid was standing there stretching; he seemed pretty skinny for this weight class in wrestling, "What about him?"
"We weren't having any trouble until this kid showed up! He took down everyone!"
"…He's the smallest one of the group! How can we beat Mutant Pete but not this kid?!" Mutant Pete was a hulking monstrosity of a freshman…almost lost an arm to that kid.
"I don't know! It was weird! He didn't even wrestle! He caved in on his opponents and flipped them around so much nobody could even touch him!"
"It was really weird to watch." Nelson added, "Like watching a smaller animal open its jaws and engulf a larger animal in one fell swoop." Oh…that was an image…
"Fine, I'll cream the kid like corn!" I said cracking my knuckles as my pulse raced.
Once I was changed into my wrestling uniform I stepped back out and rushed into the ring with increased enthusiasm that boiled my blood to its core. I looked at the boy who seemed rather calm about the whole situation; he smiled at me and gave a wave which confused me and made my blood calm down weirdly enough.
"Hey, you must be the big hotshot who's been making our school look bad for a while. Names Kevin, just call me Kev though."
"Heh, pretty calm for such a 'scary' opponent."
"Scary?"
"You made my coach freak out. It was actually pretty funny." Kevin chuckled slightly.
"Yeah…sorry about that. He looked ready to eat his clipboard." I laughed at the thought of that.
"Oh man! I would have loved to see that!"
"Well, let's have a good match!" This kid was alright; he had moxie and a certain charm I couldn't quiet place.
"Then let's go!" I rushed at him and widen my arms to grab but he quickly dashed to the side out of reach; I swerved my body crashing into the mat but sliding just to the edge of the ring in time before standing up and jumping back to the center. I rushed at him staying on my feet and shot my hand out to grab him as he stepped back before grabbing my hand and trying to pull me forward; I crouched and pulled back trying to pull Kevin towards me as he did the same; this kid had fire...this was my kind of challenge, "You know Kev, for a small kid you've got some kind of strength to resist me!"
"Heh, glad I can impress." I smirked at his comment as I tightened my grip.
"Not enough though, I can still throw you around!" I swung my arms with all my strength and sent Kevin flying across the ring; he stuck his feet into the ground and came to a sliding halt as he chipped the edge of the ring as he stumbled before standing up straight, "Still standing? You're more resilient then I gave you credit for."
"I don't go down easy! Not when I give it my all!" In that moment Kevin changed into a boy with brown scruffy hair and wearing a black jacket and two longswords strapped to the back of his waist…oh man…you never steer me wrong do you gut? I guess compared to them…this place has no depth at all does it?
"I guess I should do the same…huh Soren?" Standing up straight I shot my hand out and gripped my hands as tight as I could as my battle axe Earthbreaker appeared in my hands, "I'm not ready to I'll see you soon buddy!" Raising it up I felt my pulse slow down to its calm pace and I smiled feeling even more confident then when my blood boils. With a thunderous swing I shattered the ground around me and fell into the darkness. I can't be distracted right now; my friends need me; we've all fought hard to stay as we are and I'll be damned if I'm going to leave them on their own even for a moment! I may not be a hero…but I'm going to fight my hardest regardless…because that's just who I am and what I want to do…not for glory or fame…but for those I care about…I will keep going until the end!