A/N: Well, here's the next chapter. Hope you like. I'll try to get the next chapter by the end of this weekend. And remember reviews!
Ch.3 Hmmm…That's weird
"Huh, I wonder where he is today," Melinda thought. She was anxiously sitting at her desk. She really wanted to prove to her family that he was an innocent to protect and maybe to prove to herself also. "God, I will never forgive Trish for planting that little seed of doubt about Jackson. Granted, he's a little quiet and shy around people but so am I. That doesn't make me evil. But he did try to steer any conversation about him toward something about us, and he rarely made eye contact during our lunch conversation. Plus, every time we looked over to him, he was trying to pull his sleeves down, like he was trying to hide something, like…No! I will not doubt that he's an innocent. And Trish's own spell will prove it."
All through her mental debate with herself, Melinda did not notice that class had already started, and that the subject of her musings was already sitting on her right. "Ms. Wyatt, could you please bring your mind back down from the clouds? It's only the second day, you're already zoning out in my class. It usually takes the normal student at least a week for that." The class started to chuckle at this. Melinda was quickly snapped back to reality, and now embarrassed with cheeks tinting with a slight blush.
"Um…sorry Mr. Martinez," Melinda apologizes.
"That's quite all right Ms. Wyatt. Now everybody clear your desk and prepare for the quiz," Mr. Martinez said. An unhappy class was now preparing for the quiz and clearing away their desk. Melinda took a quick look over to her right to take a look at Jackson. Melinda notices silently, "Huh, he's wearing another long-sleeve today. I know it's not that cold. In fact, it's kind of warm today. Maybe he is hiding something. Well, I'll check it out after the quiz. Don't want Mr. Martinez's attention again. This time he might think I was cheating."
The quiz continued for about 15 minutes before everyone heard, "Stop! Please make sure that your name is on the top of your paper and please pass them forward. Mr. Flin, if you could please collect the quizzes and put them on the top of my desk." Mr. Martinez turns to the blackboard and begins the day's lecture.
"Now's my chance," Melinda thinks to herself. She takes her glasses out of her purse and puts them on. First thing she notices is the sea of white halos, and she considers, "Well at least no hidden demons. Now to take a look at Jackson…" As she turns to her right, something totally shocks her, making her stare at Jackson. "This is not possible. He doesn't have an aura. No white, no black," Melinda thinks with amazement.
Through her glasses, she sees white to Jackson's left, right, front and back. But he was reflecting no aura at all for her to see. "Well this is weird and could be trouble. What am I going to do now? I was sure and still sure that he's an innocent, but this puts a twist on things." She keeps staring at him, deep in thought.
Jackson sneaks a glance to his left, and notices that Melinda was still staring at him. "Why is she doing this again? It is making me really uncomfortable. Oh, no! Maybe she can see the bruises. But I made sure I have everything covered. I'm wearing my long-sleeve and I have my hair down. God, I hope she doesn't find out. Why did I ever talk to her? Dad was right I should never make friends. But I've been so alone, and I just needed a friend. Well this has to stop before anything happens," Jackson argues with himself. He tries to pull down his sleeves further down and tries not to notice Melinda staring at him.
****
"Guys, it was so weird. Jackson was not showing any aura. It was like a blank spot on a radar," Melinda confides to her cousins, "But it doesn't prove he's evil, okay? Maybe something is protecting him from magical detection."
Trish responds, "Well it doesn't prove he's good either. Remember that story that our moms told about the witch hunters. They have that amulet that protects them from magic. Maybe it's something like that."
Melinda glares at Trish; "But Alex had a premonition about him so he can't be immune to all magic. Well…we're still not sure. So we still have to keep an eye out for him."
The others both agreed with her. The trio spots Jackson coming into the lunchroom. Melinda makes eye contact with him and waves him to come over to their table. Jackson quickly takes his eyes away and moves to an empty table instead. Melinda was concerned about this.
"Well, maybe he's shy," she tells the others and to reassure herself, "ummm, I'll just go over there real quick and see what's going on."
"Be careful Mel. And make sure he doesn't do anything weird. I know we're in a crowded room but you still don't know what powers he's got if he has any," Alex cautions.
Melinda turns to Alex and sees that he's not making any accusations or nagging. She only sees concern. "Okay. I'll be careful but I'm sure he's an innocent. Maybe I can get him over here again and you can see if you can get another premonition," assures Melinda.
Melinda walks over to Jackson's table and obviously having to a make a great effort to find the right excuses and words to get him to move over to their table. "Maybe he doesn't like us…Maybe he doesn't like me…Maybe he's evil…Maybe I should stop talking to myself," Melinda says to herself trying to sort out teenage emotions and doubt of Jackson's innocence. Finally getting to Jackson's quiet corner of the cafeteria, she was ready to use her plan to get him to the other table when she was interrupted before she could say anything.
"Please. Leave me alone," Jackson said quietly. He didn't look up from his food, but if he did, he would have seen the slightly hurt look on Melinda's face.
Melinda, not ready to give up, changes her attack plan. She sits down next to Jackson and says, "Hey, what's wrong? We Halliwells didn't scare you, did we?" She continues, "I know I kind of came on strong but I really do want to be your friend. I may not know what it feels like to be the new student in school but I just wanted to make sure you have friends here. I mean you are sitting here by yourself so why not sit with us. At least you won't be so alone." The word 'alone' strikes a chord with Jackson, and he looks up at Melinda.
"Man, it would be nice to have some friends for a change. It seems a long time since I had any. And I really do like her. But what if she finds out…" Jackson thinks. He ponders for answer for a moment, and finally, he nods his head in consent. He gives slight smile to Melinda. Melinda blushes at this and starts to look at that nice stain on the table, to prevent any more embarrassment.
After the awkward second, Melinda unconsciously grabs Jackson's arm and says, "Well come on let's back to the others." Melinda suddenly hears a gasp come from Jackson. Suddenly she thinks about how forward her gesture was and looks up to say, "Oh! I'm sorry. I'm kind of grabby today, aren't I…" She sees the bruises on his arm when her grab lifted a bit of his sleeve, "Hey, you're hurt. Did you bump into something again? Maybe you should go the nurse to take a look at your arm," Melinda says in concern.
"Umm…yeah…I just…uh…bumped into something…nothing to worry about," Jackson nervously replies. He tries to cover his arms again. "Let's just go to your cousins and forget about this, okay?" Jackson asks almost pleading.
Melinda not quite sure, replies, "Uh, yeah, let's go."
They get back to Alex and Trish. Alex stands up and extends his hand out and says, "Hey, welcome back." But Jackson avoids his hand and sits down next to Melinda. He wanted to avoid any more of them finding about him.
But Alex thinks, "Okay that's weird that he's avoiding hand contact. Maybe he knows that I have the power of premonition." Alex shrugs and makes it seem like it didn't bother him. "So, Jackson do you play any sports?"
Trish comments, "Ughh, please Jackson. Don't get him started…Alex is a big sports guy. Seeing him work out or play just makes me tired." Alex responded by throwing a piece of balled up paper napkin. Trish replies back by sticking her tongue back out.
Melinda leans over to Jackson, "Don't mind them," she says, "they're both very immature." Two balls of paper napkin then attack her. The three laugh at each other's antics.
"Hey, I don't mind. It's great that you three have close family relationship. All I have is my dad," and he adds silently to himself, "yeah, an always furious dad." The lunch continues with each three getting to know Jackson a little bit better. Jackson in return tries to open up a little bit more in the attempts of making friends. Even though he decides to open up a little bit more, he still avoids any questions dealing with family life. Alex and Trish warm to Jackson. Trish finally lets go some of her hidden hostilities toward him, and finally accepts that he might be an innocent that they need to protect.
****
The three teenaged witches were walking down the steps, heading to the jeep. Trish speaks up, "I've finally decided that Jackson is not a bad guy after all. I think that he's innocent that we need to look after. But I still believe when need to be careful. Something weird is going on with him…My spell should have worked on him."
Melinda replies, "Thanks for changing your mind about him. I have the feeling that he doesn't have a lot or any friends. I think it's good idea that were hanging out around him."
"Not to rain on anyone's parade but did you notice that he avoided any contact with me. I'm not saying that he knows about us but isn't that kind of unusual? I was only trying to give him a handshake," Alex comments.
"Well, I think he doesn't want us to see he's bruise. I accidentally lifted his shirtsleeve when we were at lunch and I saw the bruises. I think he just doesn't want us to know that he's a clumsy person," Melinda answers back. As they get to their vehicle, they see Jackson walking down the street alone.
"Hey, there's Jackson. Maybe we can give a lift home and see if he lives by the building you saw in your premonition," Melinda states.
"Or you just want to see where he lives," Trish replies.
"You two should really stop teasing me about this. Or I'll start airing both your dark little secrets to Dad," Melinda threatens in jest.
"Ohh…I'm soooo scared. You know two can play at this game," Trish says back.
Alex trying to intervene, "Girls, girls, ease up here. Let's just go and pick up Mel's boyfriend." Melinda glares at Alex and just gets in the car. Trish snickers at the Alex's comment.
They drive up to Jackson, and Melinda honks her horn and slows down to match Jackson's walking speed.
She rolls down her window and calls out to Jackson, "Hey, Jackson want a lift home? It's free of charge."
Jackson looks up and thinks about showing anybody where he lives and decides go with his new found friends, "Sure…thanks a lot." He gets in the jeep and sits next to Alex. "I live only two more streets down and to the right. You'll see an apartment complex, and that's where I live."
"I see that you've brought your economics book with you. Reading for Friday's quiz?" Melinda asks trying to strike up a conversation.
"Yeah, I really bombed today's quiz so I need to study up," Jackson replies.
"Well maybe you and me can get together before the first major test and have a study session," Melinda asks.
"Yeah that would be great. I would really like to spend some more time with you…I mean you know to study," Jackson trying to cover up his obvious crush on her. He thinks, "I really need to stop making it obvious that I like her. I don't even know if she likes me like that. Plus, I wouldn't want her to find out about my home life."
Melinda looks at her rear view mirror to take a look at Jackson. She noticed his slip up and thinks, "He does like me! Yes!" Unbeknownst to the two, the other occupants of the jeep were trying to hide their obvious amusement over the lack of social graces of the two.
Trish tries to feed the fire, "You know Melinda has been trying and dying to ask you out…" she pauses for a brief moment and continues, "to study with her." The two shocked faces of Jackson and Melinda at Trish's implication were too much for Alex and her that they burst out laughing.
After the laughing had stopped and the embarrassment cleared up, they noticed that they finally arrived at the apartment complex. Alex looks up the building and notices that it's the same one from his premonition.
"Well thanks for the ride you guys," Jackson steps out of the jeep and turns to Melinda, "And Melinda, I would really like it if we went out…um…I mean out to study sometime."
"Yeah I would like that too," Melinda replies. Inside, Melinda was jumping up and down with joy. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah see ya," Jackson replies. Taking his eyes off Melinda, he turns to the other two, "I'll see you two later."
Trish replies, "Thanks for noticing us too. I couldn't tell with you being blinded by Melinda's beauty over here." Jackson chuckles in embarrassment. "But, everything is forgiven. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah man, take care," Alex adds. They see Jackson head toward the revolving doors. Before he enters, they see him turn around and wave. The trio wave back.
Once Jackson is inside the building Melinda turns to her cousins and says, "Thanks a lot for that. It's hard enough that he's an innocent and I like him. You two go and decide to blurt out that I like him."
Alex points out, "Hey don't point fingers at me. It's all Trish's fault."
Trish turns around and says, "Traitor." The two start laughing at their childishness. Melinda only sighs and turns back to the wheel ready to leave. "Why did I get stuck with these two I'll never know," she tells herself.
Alex looks over the empty seat and sees that Jackson left his economics book. He leans over to pick it up and receives a premonition in return.
::Flash::
Jackson in an apartment crouching, trying to raise arms in defense. An older, bigger and angry man was abusing Jackson.
::Flash::
"Um…ladies, I think we have a problem," Alex states.