Alrighty I am slowly getting back into the rhythm of writing. XD So I do hope you enjoy another Chapter to Living Day. All reviews are read and very appreciated!
Screams fill the air as she ran from the man. His gun was blasting through the air nearly hitting her as she turned the corner. His barking laugh echoed behind her as she heard an ending scream of a fellow student. She wanted to go back and help…but that would just be the end of her. Why was this happening? What did they ever do to them? She fell against the wall unable to run anymore…silence filled the air as she sucked in the metallic smelling air. Only her breath was to be heard as she held herself up on her shaky legs. She needed to hide…but where would she go? Where was he? Where was Jackson? Why…no! Pain shot through her head as she screamed in agony.
"Well lookie here…I found you…" The male voice said as he cocked his gun one last time.
Clair shot up from her bed with her hair matted to her face. "Clair! Clair!" Annie shouted trying to calm the panicked Clair. "It was just a dream! Its okay…shhh."
She grabbed a hold of her as Clair finally calmed down enough to let the young girl hold her in a hug. Never in her life has she ever had such a vivid dream…it was like she was really there. She felt herself shiver as her friend was threatening to call the Head Mistress if she didn't start talking soon. Clair looked at her for a second letting her words flow over her as her friend got up to leave. Grabbing her hand Clair shook her head saying slowly, "I am alright."
She could tell on her friends face that she was not convinced but sat back down with a hand on Clair's leg. "So what had you scared?" She asked softly as Clair played with her covers not really wanting to talk about the dream she just had.
"I don't really remember…" She whispered out as her friend raised an eye brow.
"Sure…but if you don't want to talk about it right now, that's fine…, you know where to find me when you do." She said in a sleepy voice heading back to her bed after patting Clair on the arm.
Twenty minutes passed as Clair watched her red headed friend fall back to sleep. Clair didn't even notice that she was still sitting up when her friend's snores reached her ears. She pulled her knees to her chest as the dream replayed in her mind…the cold embrace of not having anyone to the warm sent filling the air around her. She quickly jumped breathing heavily noticing she drifted off to a light slumber. Lucky for Clair her friend was still asleep so taking peace from that she silently got out of her bed placing on a robe to take a walk. A night time stroll outside should be a great way to clear her nose of that metallic smell that never truly went away.
Finally reaching the door to the school yard she took a breath of fresh air all fear of being caught after hours seem like a distance fear…even though it is more real than her dream, but still the coolness of the air cleared the smell right out. She walked out to the fields where they practice most of their sports and she decided to take a break to rest and watch the sun rise over the lake near the M dorms.
"I guess I should write you up for detention Miss. Steller…but most of the time when a person takes a very early morning walk it is to clear their head." A soft male voice sounded making her jump nearly out of her skin. Taking a step back she looked at the seat she just left as the man in front of her was smiling kindly at her.
"So…what is your excuse?" He asked taking a seat still watching the girl in front of him.
She honestly didn't know what to say…this was Jackson's father. She never been alone with him and to make it worst she never met him until the very first day of class. So trusting him with a dream that still was eating on the back of her mind was going to be hard.
"I-I…I am sorry Dr. Jekyll." She said as he tilted his head to the side.
"I know when something is bothering someone…it might be hard for me to read the people I am close to…but strangers or sort of strangers…are a little easier." He said patting the bench next to him. "Care for an ear to listen to your troubles?"
Sighing and not really seeing a way out of this situation she sat down still looking at her knees. Not wanting to break the silence that has grown in between them he started to chuckle a bit making her look at him for the first time since he found her.
The smile was warm, almost fatherly as he watched the sun rise. She could see the many years of stress wearing on the man's face as black lined the bottoms of his eyes. Growing curious on why he had such a smile watching the sun rise, "What is so funny?" She asked looking in the distance hoping to see the thing he was laughing at.
He shrugged looking at her, "Just thinking about the past and future." He answered going back to the sun that was almost fully up now. School will be starting soon.
"How is that funny?" She wondered.
"I have lived a few years…so there were times, not all, but sometimes that were funny and of course because of the moments in the past I know there will be funny moments in my future." He explained as she bit her lip.
"I guess it makes sense." She answered playing with her finger thinking over what he said before it dawned that he was wondering the school yards as well.
"Why are you not in bed?" She asked not really thinking before blushing and going back to her finger, "You-you don't have to answer that."
He chuckled not offended by her question as he stated, "I couldn't sleep...that's how I know something was bothering you…the cool morning air is a great way of clearing many unwanted thoughts or voices."
She bit her lip a little harder as she finally gave in not really hearing all of what he said, "I had a nightmare…" Clair finally stated as he moved to look at her a little better.
"That's normal for humans to have nightmares…care to talk about it?" He asked hoping to make her feel more comfortable.
Shifting a little but saying in a quiet voice, "It was a vivid dream…it was like I was really there…i felt nothing, but the smell…" she trailed off as tears started to fall.
Holding herself she continued as Dr. Jekyll stayed listening, "he chased me then…"
He placed a hand on her shoulder making her jump a little, "you don't have to finish it, I believe I understand what happened."
Taking a deep breath he leaned back scratching his chin, "Have you been watching a lot of scary movies?"
Clair blinked a couple of times trying to think back remembering she watched two with her friend the night before, "Yeah, but it has never bothered me before. Why would it now?"
Chuckling Dr. Jekyll got up stretching, "You might not think it affects you, but in your sub conscious it does." He told her as he started to walk away.
"It was a nice talk Miss. Steller, but I would suggest getting to back to your dorm to clean up for the day, first hour will be starting soon."
She watched him disappear as she looked back at towards the fully rose sun for a few moments longer before following the Doctor's led and headed back up to the school.
Few hours later:
Clair was sitting next to a focused Jackson in science; she looked at her paper with a yawn not wanting to do anything more than sleep. Closing her eyes for a moment she hears a loud bang making her fall out of her seat.
"Miss Steller…no sleeping in class." Dr Jekyll said grinning at the surprised look on her face.
"I apologize sir, it won't happen again," she said softly as Jackson helped her up.
Dr. Jekyll walked away as Jackson turned to Clair, "If I saw you sleeping I would have woke you up."
She yawned again picking up her pencil, "I know you would have."
He studied her for a second, "are you okay?"
"Just a bit tried I didn't sleep well last night." She faced him with a smile as he rolled his eyes. He looked up to see his father talking to a new normie student.
"Are you okay?" She asked taking in Jackson's worried gaze.
"Hm? Oh yeah I am fine, it is just strange to see my father at school still." He mumbled going back to his work as she looked back at the student.
"Hey nerd!" One of the N dorm students whispered to Jackson. Jackson looked at Clair from the corner of his eye as she leaned back. "Hey listen I got something to say to you."
"And what would be worth my time?" Jackson asked the boy as he glared for a second before putting a smug smile back on his face.
"You see that other nerd down there?" He nodded towards the round glasses, "I heard he was one of the top students in the science department from his old school so you might want to watch your back."
Jackson snorted rolling his eyes, "Oh I accept the challenge, because people like you have been a waste of my time."
The normie student glared at Jackson for a second, but before he could say anything Heath pushed the student out of the seat, "and that was for putting gum in my shoe during gym!"'
"Heath!" Jackson shouted jumping up causing not only the rest of the class room to turn and look but Dr. Jekyll as well.
"Heath…" he said in a dark tone as Heath turned to face his uncle.
"I am sick of him doing stupid small things jus-"
"Heath that is enough!" Dr. Jekyll said rising his hand causing the elemental to close his mouth, but still breathing heavily. "If you have problems with people to take it where?"
"To the teachers…" Heath stated miserably,
"And if that doesn't work then where to do you take it?"
"To your ass," the student that Heath pushed down in a hushed tone making Dr. Jekyll raise an eyebrow and Jackson to scoot away.
"What was that Mr. Kindle?"
"I said you are an amazing teacher." He lied through his teeth hoping to get brownie points with this teacher like he has with all the rest.
Dr. Jekyll smiled looking at Heath, "I will see you after class Heath, and for you Mr. Kindle will be spending an evening with me writing sentences on how to behave and how to treat others."
"Wha-but I have practi-"
"You will show up for detention tonight whether you like it not." Dr. Jekyll stated very clearly as he turned to go back helping the student he just left.
Jeremy Kindle's face was red with rage as Heath laughed at him making Jackson pull him back in between Jackson and Clair. "Now is not the time to test my father's patience with you."
"Like it matters he will more and likely go all Hyde on me after class." Heath growled pulling away from him, "just let me do what I want okay?"
Jackson just sighed as Heath went back over to Manny still poking fun at Jeremy who looked ready to attack Heath at any given moment.
"Your cousin doesn't think things through does he?" Clair asked as she saw Dr. Jekyll eying his nephew with a strange tint to his blue eyes.
"Yeah…I know he doesn't, but if he wants my father to beat sense into him then I will let him go."
Clair stared at Jackson in shock, "he really wouldn't hit him?"
"Only if he really needs it, trust me my uncle has had a couple swings at us both when we were children, it also doesn't help when a ten year old and a eleven year old steal his car, only to wreck it into a tree going about ten miles per hour. Left a nasty dent not only in the car."
Clair tilted her head trying her best not laugh, "whose idea was that?"
Jackson shrugged, "Mine, only because I wanted to scare Heath so I tricked him into the car and drove it into a tree."
"Oh my god Jackson! That was so mean!" She squeaked out making Jackson chuckle.
"I wasn't the nicest person when I was growing up."
"And still isn't," Deuce chimed in setting it work down making Jackson glare playfully at him.
"Fine I guess I am not a nice person anymore I will no longer be helping you with science."
Deuce's eyes widen at the thought of doing his homework alone, "Oh dude did I mention you are my best friend."
Jackson just laughed as Clair fake coughed, "Kiss ass."
Deuce just shrugs, "as long as it keeps me my study nerd."
"Calling me a nerd doesn't help your situation." Jackson stated as Clair giggled.
"I have a feeling a lot more ass kissing is going to be happening after that statement."
Deuce just glare at his friend knowing full well Jackson would be there to help him in a heartbeat with his work, but it was still aggravating to know he was not winning this conversation. So he shrugged, "well if it fits it fits."
Shaking his head Jackson went back to his paper as Clair agreed with Deuce by giving him a small high five. The bull rang singling them all to leave for free hour. Jackson saw Heath bit his lip as Dr. Jekyll stood in front of the room, good news from the stance he was still him. Not really caring what happened next Jackson followed Deuce and Clair outside to a large oak tree for some fresh air.
"That new kid doesn't seem all that impressive." Deuce said looking over at him who tripped getting a couple of people to laugh at him.
"He is even nerdier then I am," Jackson said pulling out a snack and handing it to both Deuce and Clair.
"And that is saying something." Clair stated taking a bite of apple pushing he long black hair out of her eyes.
"Hey…do you mind if I join you?" A small voice asked from behind them.
Jackson turned to see the young girl smiling shyly at them, "Frankie hey of course you can."
He moved over making room for Frankie as Deuce greeted her. "Oh by the way Clair this is a good friend of mine Frankie."
Clair over looked the black hair multi-eye colored girl making her feel a small burning in her stomach, "hello my names Clair." She said a little coldly making Jackson give her a strange look.
"Oh it is so nice to finally meet you!" She said happily now feeling completely comfortable.
Jackson smiled sheepishly at Clair who just gave him a look, "you have told her about me?"
"Just a little." He mumbled out blushing a bit.
At that moment Deuce's phone went off causing the slowly growing feel of awkwardness was growing, "Its Cleo I got to run guys, see yah."
Clair watched him go as Frankie was talking to Jackson about something they must have done during the break. Clair felt that burning again when she flipped her hair and giggled at the small things he did. Soon like any overly nice person would do they started to slowly bring Clair into the conversation. The basic nothing to suck in a person then keep their attention on you. Yeah Clair was slowly stating to not like Frankie. Everything she did or say seem to get under her skin…Clair wasn't sure what it was, but it better end soon.