Chapter 2

The second day of school, Jade managed to find her locker with no trouble at all. Having been busy getting acquainted with the school and Hilary's friends, she hadn't had time to clear out her locker after school. The first thing she did that morning was tidy up her locker. She was busy taping her schedule to the door of the locker when a familiar and friendly voice spoke up.

"Need a hand?"

Startled, she glanced up sharply and her eyes were met by warm blue ones. "You!"

The handsome red-haired boy who had helped her out yesterday was leaning on the locker next to hers, a wary smile on his lips. "Me." he deadpanned. "Have a name, you know. The name's Tala."

She stood up and smiled. "My name's Jade."

"Pretty name for a pretty girl." he said.

She felt herself blushed. "I'm not that..." she shook her head, surprised by the effect he had on her. "Thank you for your compliment."

"Don't thank me." he said. "It's the truth."

More heat swept to her cheeks. Tala smiled warmly at her as she closed her locker and lifted her bag over her shoulder.

"So you wanna check out the school?" he asked.

"I kinda did that yesterday." she said. "With Hilary."

"Ah, Hilary." he shook his head in an amused way.

She looked at him. "You know Hilary?"

"Everyone does." he said. "I'm just surprised she didn't tell you about me."

"I...um...didn't mention to her about you." she mumbled. Her cheeks were turning scarlet pink.

"How come?" he pondered. "Are you shy about me?"

"I...I don't know...I guess I was..." she was fumbling over her words when she heard him chuckle under his breath. Surprised, she looked up at him. "What?"

Tala's eyes held a teasing glint. "I was just teasing you."

Her cheeks burned and she hid her embarrassment by whacking his arm. "Tala!"

They come up to the announcement board in the middle of the hallway. Jade studied the posters pinned up on the board, wondering which activity she should join. Most of the time, she would spend her free time helping the disable children in a special kindergarten for disabled kids. She wondered absently if her new school had a special club for such a purpose.

"Ah." Tala exclaimed. "The annual school play."

She looked up to study the poster he was looking at. She wondered how she could have not seen it in the first place for the thing was big. The background of the poster was black and a red rose stood out in a corner of it. The title of the play was 'Romeo and Juliet', one of Shakespeare's well-known stories. She was very familiar with it having read the story more than a hundred times.

"Hm...how interesting..." he muttered. "Modern day Romeo and Juliet."

"Are you going to try out?" she asked looking at him expectedly.

"Me?" he shook his head. "No. Like I told you yesterday, I can't dance and usually all this school plays have a lot of ballroom dancing."

"I could teach you." she offered.

Tala smiled. "Thanks for the offer but I'm afraid I'll have to turn it down. What about you? Are you going to try out?"

She looked startled for a moment. "I...I don't know. Maybe I will."

He studied the poster for a moment. "Try-outs are two weeks from today. If you ask me, I think you'll make the perfect Juliet."

She blushed. "Thank you. But I don't think I can act well enough for the part."

"Nonsense." he waved away her words. "You should try-out. Now, I wonder who will fit the Romeo part."

For some reason, the image of a certain cold blue-haired boy came to mind and she wondered whether he would try-out. According to Mariam, Kai was good in just about everything and with his good-looks; he would most certainly fit the part. Whoa, hold that thought, she told herself. She reminded herself how unfriendly he was to her yesterday.

"Hello? Earth to Jade." Tala waved a hand in front of her.

She blinked. "What?"

"You zoned out on me." he said with a frown. "What's up?"

Jade stared at him, thinking that he should surely know Kai. With a sigh, she told him about her encounter with the Ice Prince and when she finished, he smiled warily and shook his head.

"That Kai." he said. "Always giving everybody the cold shoulder. It would take an ice pick to get through to him."

Have you ever talked to him?" she asked curiously.

"Of course." he said. "As a matter a fact, I'm the only person he ever says a word or two to."

Surprise was written all over her face so plain he could see it. "How...how can he be so lonely?"

Tala shrugged. "It's his choice."

"Isn't it hard? For him?"

He shook his head. "It's easy once you get used to it. And trust me; Kai's been like that since we were kids."

She tilted her head. "How come?"

Tala's face changed slightly as if he just realized he said something he shouldn't have. "It's who he chooses to be and I can't do anything about that."

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as they started walking again. "There's a saying that 'No man is a continent'."

Tala chuckled. "Well, Jade. You have just seen living proof that saying is wrong."

Jade opened her mouth to argue further but the bell interrupted her. It rang loud in her ears and she winced. Almost immediately, the slow leisurely pace in the hallways sped up as students hurried to classes.

Tala turned to her. "Got to go. I'll see you around after school?"

"I guess so." she said. She watched as Tala hurried off and she too headed for her class.

At a corner, she passed a group of girls standing against their lockers. They were pretty girls and their presences almost made Jade feel self-conscious of the way she dressed. They wore mini-skirts and tank tops. Jade had chosen a simple blue cardigan and a matching long skirt that reached her knees.

She was almost passed them when a tall leggy blonde said a loud voice. "That outfit is so last century."

Jade felt all eyes turned to the object of their scorn mainly her but she didn't stop to face them. For one thing she was already late for class and they weren't worth her time and energy. Another thing was she was used to such teasing.

Fortunately she arrived in class a minute before Miss Sharon did and catching a grin from Hilary for her close call on her second day of school, she settled in her seat. Kai sat in his seat, looking bored as if school was of no concern to him at all. He wore a black shirt with a jacket over it, a pair of black baggy pants and a white scarf around his neck. After Miss Sharon took down their attendance, she instructed them to open their Literature books.

"Today we'll be learning about Macbeth..."

The last period of the day found Jade sitting in Biology class, taking down notes on flatworms. The teacher, Mr. Newington was short and bald. He had a habit of peering suspiciously at any student who was doing anything other than pay attention in his class. And he was incredibly boring. Even Jade who loved Biology had to stiffen a yawn threatening to come out several times. To keep her mind off her sleepiness, she drew a picture of a raccoon soon followed by another raccoon and a bunch of baby raccoons. She thought it looked kinda cute.

"I certainly hope that whatever you're doing, Miss Summers, has something to do with my class."

She froze and looked up meekly at the man standing up-front with his eyes fixed on her. All eyes were on her and from the corner of her eye, she could see Hilary trying to suppress a giggle. Her cheeks burned. Today seems to be a day of embarrassment for her.

"Well, Miss Summers?" Mr. Newington raised an eyebrow at her.

Well what?, she wondered as she stood up slowly, trying to recall what he had said. Nothing came to mind. "Um..."

"Certainly Miss Summers you could know the answer to what is the flatworm's usual eating diet if you had been listening." Mr. Newington said. He went on, though his eyes were on her. "Is there anyone else who would like to...lend Miss Summers a hand?"

At moments like this, Jade wished she could sink into the floor. Of all times she had to drift off...

"Maybe she isn't sure which flatworms you're talking about."

The voice came from her left and she turned to see who it was that had rescued her. To her stunned surprise, it was Kai. He leaned back in his chair, his crimson eyes fixed on the teacher with a penetrating gaze. His voice was calm, smooth and it revealed no emotion whatsoever. "If you mean turbellarians, they're free-living. But if you mean the other flatworms, they're parasites.-."

His explanation was interrupted by the bell.

"Saved by the bell." Hilary said with a relieved sigh.

Jade couldn't share her comment. She was still staring at Kai, unable to believe what he had done for her.

"Not so fast." Mr. Newington said as everybody rosed to leave. With a groan, they sat back down. "Write an essay on flatworm's dietary and style of living. I expect to see it on my desk by next Monday. Class dismissed."

Jade gathered her things quickly and turned to thank Kai for helping her but he was already out the door. She followed but stopped in the hallway wondering which way he went when she spotted a familiar white scarf trailing after its owner as he turned at a corner. She started in that direction.

"Jade!" Hilary grabbed her arm and pulled her in the opposite direction. "Boy, were you lucky. Second day of school and you already have Mr. Newington on your case. Come on. Mariah and Mariam are waiting for us in the cafeteria."

Jade resisted her pull. Hilary glanced at her, surprised and released her arm. Jade raced to find an excuse to get away and go after Kai.

"I...have something to settle in the office." she lied. "I'll meet you later."

Before Hilary could say anything, she rushed off turning down the corridor she had seen the bluenette go down. He was no where in sight.

She sighed wearily. What's the point? Obviously there was no way she could talk to him. He probably just did what he did to annoy the teacher. She turned to catch up with Hilary.

Green. Green like the forest, he thought as he strolled down the empty hallway. That was the color of the new girl's eyes whom he had saved in Biology class. He had seen the spark of surprise in her eyes when she looked at him. He saw then her eyes were nearly dark green.

A small smile touched his lips. Does she already know of my reputation? Must be. Since she befriended Hilary.

"I knew you would be here." a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

He stopped just outside the doors and looked at the boy who spoke to him. Tala straightened from his leaning position against wall and ran a hand through his fiery red hair.

"The basketball team is looking for you again. I told them you were heading down to the field." the red-head said.

"Thanks." Kai muttered and started walking again.

Tala caught up with him, easily matching Kai's long strides. "So someone was quite the hero back there."

Kai glanced at him sharply. "How did you know?"

"I was walking past the class when I saw you stand up for that new girl." Tala smirked.

"I did it just to annoy Mr. Newington."

His friend shook his head. "That's what you think."

Kai made no reply. Tala paused before he asked his next question.

"So are you going to try-out for the school play?"

"Need I answer that?" Kai asked dryly.

"You know she's going to try-out." Tala added thoughtfully.

Kai grunted. "I don't know who you are talking about."

"I think you do."

"Don't you have somewhere else to be, Tala?"

"Actually I do unfortunately. I'll see you around." Tala started walking off in a different direction before he looked over his shoulder and called to the bluenette. "You know the play? Its title? It's Romeo and Juliet!"

Kai stared after him, wondering why on earth would he care. He continued walking. "Romeo and Juliet..." he muttered softly under his breath.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name that could smell as sweet.

He let out a bitter laugh. What indeed...