Okay, it's really awkward bringing a guy you barely know to school. With all your friends…so awkward.

So this morning I got up and turned on my iPhone, forgetting that there was someone else in the room next to me. I ran into Jack on my way into the bathroom. Thankfully, I was already in my uniform.

I said "sorry" and let him take the first turn in the bathroom (I was used to sharing, I used to share with my brother till he moved to the attic). Jack came out looking a bit more awake, and he headed for the kitchen.

I put on my contacts and make-up. Now, I only wear make-up to impress a guy. If I haven't made it clear-yes, I have a crush on our exchange student. But I'm like his student guide, I told myself, I have to look good. I lie to myself a lot. But not here. Here, I'm perfectly honest.

Anyway, so I went into the kitchen and got Jack a Kudo bar, and one for me. Jiro came down and threw an orange at me, which I dodged.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"Your music was too loud, so I broke your iPhone," he replied.

"Give it back," I replied, reaching into his pocket and taking back my iPhone. He was laughing. "It's not funny. Nothing's funny this early."

"Where are your parents?" Jack asked me.

"Mom left an hour ago," I replied. "And Dad doesn't get up for another hour. You ready?"

"Yes," he replied.

We left in my car. I'm an okay driver, and he fell asleep on the way there. I laughed and woke him up when we got there.

"You seem extra-tired. Did you have trouble sleeping?" I asked.

"I was up late…" he replied, yawning. "I'm not used to being up so early."

"And I bet you still have jet-lag too," I smiled.

Nothing much happened after that. We went into the building, got his schedule, and went to class. I sat with him in every class, even though it made my friends a bit irritated.

"Uh...Why are you sitting with me?" he asked the first time I sat down.

"Well," I replied. "We're friends. And friends sit together. Also, you don't know anyone here, so you have no one to sit with. I can't stand it when someone sits alone. It makes me sad."

Let me make this clear. I told him we were friends because that's all we are. It makes no difference what I want, it's what this kid needs right now, which is a friend. So that's what I'll be.

Anyway, so school was lame, Mr. Dalton telling us we were incompetent. Jack asked me later if he was really allowed to talk like that, and I replied, "He always does."

I did notice Jack eyeing my gloves. I want to tell him why I wear them, really, but I can't. Maybe one day I will…

Later today we came home and I watched Charmed. I freaked out because one of my favorite songs was in one of the episodes. That made me so happy.

Jack seemed sad-ish, so I asked him what was wrong.

"I guess…I'm homesick…" he replied. His eyes were very sad.

I didn't think about what exactly I was doing, I just hugged him. I hug people when they're sad, ask any of my friends.

Immediately my vision went black, and I could feel, really feel. I felt a pain that wasn't my own; it was entirely Jack's.. I broke away quickly.

"I'm sorry…I just thought that I could…" I trailed off quickly, then left him there. I left because for some reason, when I'm sad, I drain people a little bit without touching them. I didn't want to hurt him anymore then he was already hurting.

Now I debate: what was the pain? It felt like…regret, sorrow. But there was a spark, a spark of…joy. I don't know where it came from.

Aaaaah! He's here now, wants to talk to me. Be back.

xxx

Jack knocked on Kuri's door. She answered, in her nightgown.

"What is it?" she said, letting him in.

"I…need to know something," he replied, sitting on her bed.

She closed the door.

"Huh?" She said, looking confused. "What about?"

"Did you…feel what I was feeling…somehow?"

"I'll only tell you if you promise to tell me why you felt that way."

"Okay. I promise."

Jack looked at her. This must be the secret, the one she didn't want him to know about.

"The reason why I wear gloves isn't a fashion statement. I wear them to protect everyone. It has something to do with communication I think. If my hands touch you, I can read emotions. When I'm happy, sometimes I can heal things. And hugs…I can hear thoughts or read emotions. And that's not all..."

That must be why the Moon chose her! Jack thought. She's an empath!

Kuri pulled off the gloves and revealed blue scaled hands. "The thoughts and feelings have been getting stronger; sometimes coming when I'm not touching anyone. And with it, the changes to my body."

"But last night…I shocked you!"

"Yes, that's never happened before. And I heard a thought that was deeper in your mind…I think I must have been hearing things."

"Yes."

She must have heard my inner voice, he thought. That's what North used to call it. The inner Guardian voice we all have.

"Well, I have to go to bed now. You should too. You don't want to be tired tomorrow like you were today. Besides, being tired makes you sadder."

"Really?"

"Yeah…Goodnight, Jack Jack."

Jack did a double take and chuckled at the nickname.

"Goodnight, Kuri."

Jack went to his room.

He lay on his bed, staring at his hands, agonized.

Did I—did my power—hurt her? How could I hurt the person I was sent to protect?!

But I couldn't have shocked her, because I felt it too! What if...those scales—if she has some sorta fish thing going on...maybe...eels? Electric eels?

Jack rolled over.

Well, as long as I didn't hurt her…

xxx

I remembered this morning that I had forgotten to ask Jack why he had been so sad last night. I asked him this morning in the car.

"Why were you so sad last night?" I asked. "You never told me, and you promised you would."

"I'm sorry," he said. "I forgot."

"So?" I prompted. "Why were you so sad?"

"I…was supposed to do something...and I failed…" he said softly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" I said, parking the car at the school.

I was silent for a moment.

"Look, Jack," I said. "I felt what you were feeling last night. So I guess what I'm trying to say is…I know how bad you feel and I just wish somehow I could cheer you up."

At that point, Reiko, one of my best friends, knocked on my window.

"Hey!" she exclaimed.

I opened the door, and Jack opened his.

"What were you two talking about?" Reiko asked me.

"Nothing, Reiko," I said warily. I wasn't about to tell someone Jack's problems. Not even my best friend.

After that, not much happened. We had school, which was lame. Then I came home and felt really tired.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked me. We were sitting on the couch watching Charmed.

"I won't get sick," I said stubbornly. "I have a party and Fright Fest this weekend. It's Halloween for goodness sake!"

"Didn't you say something to Mana about bad luck or something?"

"October is my worst month. Last year it landed me in the hospital."

His eyes got big at that comment. I didn't mean to tell him that; it just slipped out.

"It's like this," I continued. "Ever since last October, I've had bad luck every October. All October, bad things happen to me. Me and Mana call it the October Curse."

"Oh…I'm sorry," he replied.

"Well, it's kind of a joke anyway," I laughed a little. "Everything's a joke with us."

"Yeah, you guys laugh a lot."

"We're loud too, I guess." I smiled, thinking about my friends. Suddenly I thought of something. "Oh! You must be missing your friends, I'm sorry."

"Oh…it's okay," Jack replied. He laughed a little. "They aren't anything like your friends."

I coughed. He looked concerned. "You'd better get some rest."

"No, no," I replied. "I can't go to bed till eight. I'll have nightmares. Or be in a bad mood. Too much sleep is bad for you. I have to get exactly eight hours. Any less or more, and I'm in a bad mood. I don't know why."

"O…kay," replied Jack.