Chapter 7
…...
As the sun shone through an open window on purple beddings, with a room filled with 'Pappa Skull' merch, Claire was already wide awake as she couldn't sleep last night. She was up all night trying to piece together the mystery that was Jim Lake Jr. She knew he was hiding more than he led on, because she saw what he did the day before with Steve and his friends in the gym. She was avoiding him all day but after she saw him at the gate she wanted to apologize then, but Steve got in the way, so she followed. First she thought it was bullying and wanted to help but then she saw they were doing some sort of bet. When Steve threw the first ball unexpectedly, she thought Jim was hurt, but to everyone's surprise he was better than all of them combined. Even she was scared at the moment when she felt bloodlust from Jim but it quickly faded for some reason. And then there was the uncontrollable feelings she has towards him. One question kept coming up in her head, "Who is HE?"
"Claire Maria Nunez, if I have to call you down one more time you'll have to skip breakfast!"
"Oh Cheese, I zoned out" she jumped out of bed and quickly got her slippers on and dashed downstairs, "Sorry Mom, I… got lost in thought again"
"Was it about that boy you stayed late for yesterday?" Her mom dished out the eggs and bacon as she glanced over for an answer
"A boy?!" her father nearly choked on his eggs over the news
"No Dad it not like that, he's doing the play with me, so we just went over a few lines" then it hit her, they were suppose to do the kissing scene today. Pure shock ran over her face, so much so that her mother dropped little Enrique's food from the spoon.
"What's wrong, dear, you look like you just saw a ghost?"
"Oh it's nothing mom just remembered I have a quiz today, so I'd like to finish up my breakfast quickly and go to school so I can study" she quickly downed her food and ran upstairs to go bathe and dress up for school
Back at the Lake household
Jim was busy making breakfast and lunch when a knock came from the front door.
"I'll get it!" Barbara yelled from the stairs as she was desperately trying to insert her last earring
"You look great, Mom, what's the occasion?"
"Well…" as she opened the door Strickler was out front with a bouquet of flowers in hand
"You look amazing"
"Thanks, although we only have about an hour before I have to be on duty. Let me quickly grab my bag and we can go" Barbara dashed up the stairs to go get her bag as Strickler walked up to the kitchen where Jim was fixing lunch
"So, an early breakfast date?" Jim said as he flipped an omelet in the pan and quickly seasoned it afterwards
"Yes, we were suppose to go on a dinner date last night, but a colleague of mine was in a fight last night so I had to go make sure he was ok"
"Oh no. I hope his ok?"
"Just a few scrapes and bruises but he'll live"
"And his attacker? I hope he was caught?"
"Unfortunately he was not. He was too much for my colleague and escaped before he could be caught"
"These days the streets really are getting very dangerous"
"Yes, that's why I ask that you and young Tobias please be careful on your walks home"
"Yeah we will" Jim finished packing all three lunches before he sat one in front of Strickler, "please give this to my mom, I know she'll forget it"
"Don't worry Young Atlas, I'll do so"
"I wish you all the best on your date, Mr. Strickler" Jim ran up the stairs to go get ready for school
Strickler just sat there and wondered if Jim could be the one that had attacked Bular, but the profile Bular gave of the unknown knight couldn't possibly be Jim. Sure Bular was chasing him and after that he ran into the knight but that doesn't mean anything. The knight could have appeared when Jim running into the alleyway, but before Strickler could finish his thought, Barbara came down the stairs
"Sorry I took so long, had to find my phone, which was in my pocket the whole time" She nervously chuckled
"Don't worry I had Young Atlas to keep me company"
"Oh I see"
"Shall we get going" he offer her the lunch Jim gave him
"Oh thank you, I would have forgotten that"
Strickler held the door and as soon as Jim heard the car drive away, he got into the shower and got himself ready but while he was doing that, he got himself acquainted with the voice he kept hearing
"So, voice?! Hello?"
"Yes my King"
"What should I call you or should I just keep calling you 'Voice'?"
"My name is ALEX my King"
"Alex? That's a good name"
Jim got in the shower as he tried to figure out this new companion of his
"So you said you were an AI made by Krel in the previous timeline?"
"Yes, that is correct"
"So you can only advise me, not actual do anything to physically help me?"
"Yes, that is correct"
"Well that is… somewhat useful"
"What is your plan my King?"
"I will help Toby and Claire from the shadows and try to prevent the order from destroying the world"
"That might be more difficult than expected"
"Why?"
"You might come across some trouble that might warrant some assistance other than mine, my King"
"Yeah we'll burn that bridge when we get to it"
Jim got out and got himself ready for school. Just as he stepped out of the door, Toby came to a stop at the porch.
"Ready, Jimbo?"
"Ready as I'll ever be"
As the two got on their bikes to get to school, a shadow mephit quickly tried to scurry away in a tree but before it could a fire blast hit it till it evaporated
"Now, why would a shadow mephit be following the new trollhunter?" A black cat landed on the tree the mephit tried to escape on. "Guess Douxie was right to let me watch over these two"
As the boys got to school they just kept talking about the weird things that keep happening to them lately, but as they talked they accidentally bummed into Steve as he was talking to his friends
"Oh sorry"
"Yeah you better b…" as Steve saw it was Jim and Toby, he quickly froze up and looked at Jim, who was also confused by the sudden silence
"Something wrong Steve?" one of his friends asked
"It's nothing let's just get to class" they all just turned and walked away looking at Jim with angry faces
"Freak" One of the passing guys said as he tried to shoulder bump Jim, but just before he could make contact Jim shifted his shoulder back, causing the guy to fall to the ground
"Thomas!" His friends saw what happened but as they tried to charge, Steve stepped inn between
"What's wrong with you man?"
"I made a deal with him that we wouldn't bother him and his friends and Thomas fell on his own. Jim didn't have anything to do with it"
As the friends stared each other down, the tension kept building until the group of friends backed off and stormed off without Steve
"Thanks Steve" Toby said as he was surprised that Steve stood up for them
"I didn't do it for you, buttbreathe. I did it to honor our agreement" Steve looked at Jim before he too stormed off towards his class
'Well today is officially a weird day…" But just as he finished those words something sprung to mind, "OH NO"
"What's wrong, Tobes?"
"What day is it today, Jimbo?"
"It's Friday, why?"
"OH no, no, no" Toby walked towards his locker and pulled out a note book
"What wrong?"
"Today is the day" Toby said with a full face of fear
"Today is what day?"
"It's the day I die" Just then the bell rang and all the children started to move towards their first periods
"Wait Tobes what did you say"
"I'm going to die today" Toby started to move towards his class in a dazed state as Jim grabbed the book and looked at what was scribbled down. Jim looked as it said: 'Fight with Draal, Friday. Plan A Funeral!'
Jim ran after Toby as he was walking to class, "Hey Tobes, listen, you are not going to die. You can beat Draal"
"How am I going to do that? He was training for centuries to be the next trollhunter and you think I can beat him?"
"Yes I do, because you are a powerful warrior, and even if you don't see it, I know it. Now let's finish today's classes and go beat down Draal. Who knows maybe today is the day we become friends with him as well"
"You really thing so?"
"I know so. Now let's hurry we have Spanish with senior Ule and we are going to be late"
After a few classes, it was finally time to have gym. As the class was about to start Jim was on his way to the robes when coach suddenly called out "Jim Lake Jr.! Where are you?!"
"Over here sir"
"Mr. Strickler wanted to see you"
"Ok sir"
As Jim was on his way out he walked past Claire but just as he was about to great her she got shy again and looked in the other direction. Jim didn't think much of it and just told himself to talk to her later at rehearsal
A knock on the door sounded into Strickler's office, "Come in"
Jim entered and sat on the round chair he always sat on, "You called for me?"
"Yes young atlas, I had an important event I wanted you to attend tomorrow and I want to ask you in person before the school ended"
"Sure, I'd love that but I don't really want to be a third wheel to you and my mom's date"
"Oh no, you misunderstand, this is between you and me. I was thinking; I spend a lot of time with your mom…"
"A lot is an overstatement. She's mostly at the hospital, and I feel sorry for you about that"
"Don't worry I know your mother is a busy woman and I admire her a lot for her job. But I wanted to also spend some time with you, and get to know you outside of school?"
"Oh ok then, that would be great actually" Jim remembered that he and Strickler didn't spend enough time together in the other time as well, but they did go to a few bowling alley's then and Strickler mentioned he loved it a lot
"Ok so we can see each other tomorrow at…"
"How about at 9 at the bowling alley near the museum?"
"Yes that would be perfect"
"Great then it's settled then" Jim got up and greeted Strickler as he exited the office and Strickler followed as he locked the office door.
He walked over to his shelf and pushed a few books aside and inserted a golden key in it. It opened and inside was a room filled with weapons, ancient books and weird minerals. Strickler picked up a circular rock that had green crystals poking around it, looking like a stone-crystal wheel. This device was known as a fetch. A portal opened in the centre of the wheel and a small troll jumped out and sat on the table
"Hey what's up boss man? Who's the target?"
"It's the brother of one of the students at our school. I need you to infiltrate their family and tell me what you find out"
"Ok but why did you summon me here and not at the JANUS order. We do have a summon room for this reason, you know that right"
"Yeah I know you idiot. I called you here because I need to keep this undercover"
"Why?'
"Well the kid your replacing is the brother of a girl here and she is starting to make friends with some other individuals I need tabs on"
"I see. So it like indirect spying?"
"Yes"
"But who is it that you are really spying on?"
"The new Trollhunter"
"Wait! The new trollhunter is a teenage human boy!"
"Yes"
"Then why keep tabs on them secretly?"
"You will not understand"
"Try me. Or else the deal is off"
"Fine I have reason to suspect the new trollhunter is not as weak as we think and I need to find other weaknesses to exploit"
"I get it but that still doesn't explain the secrecy"
"That is all you need to know, so go and do your job or go back"
"I'll do it, no need to get zappy"
"Good, when the sun goes down I'll bring over a few goblins to steal the kid and hide him somewhere save in the dark lands and I'll let you know when to assume position. Now go"
"Ok boss man, see you tonight"
As the small troll went through the fetch again, Strickler put in a suit case and put few papers on it "Let's hope this will work" Strickler said as he exited the room and went to the office door
Back at the gym
"Come on Jimbo!" Toby shouted from the side lines as balls were flying across the court
"Out!" the coach yelled as he pointed at Jim
Jim walked off as one of the first to be eliminated. Steve's friends were shocked to see Jim move so… slowly, as to when he was dodging them yesterday in dodge ball as well
"See that?" Thomas, the guy from the morning, said as he pointed at Jim, "Yesterday was just a fluke. We can get him today, Steve"
"No, we lost and we have to leave him alone
"No you lost a bet with him, not us"
"You should leave Jim alone, I'm telling you"
"Why are you so scared of him?"
"I'm not scared of him, I… Just… I have to keep my end of the bet"
"You have to, not us. He humiliated us and I am not going to let that slide"
"What are you planning on doing?"
"Watch"
As he picked up a ball a throw it as hard as he could but before he could release, Steve pulled on his arm and the aim changed to…. Claire
"Claire!" Jim yelled as he saw the ball hurling towards an unsuspecting Claire. Time slowed down as it did the time Jim faced off against Arthur. Jim dashed as fast as he could not caring if his speed would scare the other kids but he was still too far because the ball was about to hit Claire. Jim tensed his leg muscles as he prepared to make a dive of the impossible; he dug his toes and balls of his feet into the wooden floor. As he pushed off with his right foot from the floor, a crack in floor could be heard for a split second before a huge burst of wind blew so hard that everybody had to instinctively close their eyes from the wind. And then as the gust settled all that remained was a broken floor board and a ball that mysteriously hit against the wall of the gym. Claire and Jim were on the floor. Claire was studded for a few seconds, not from the whiplash of the speed but from the position they were in. Jim was on top of her breathing heavily and starring at her with piercing blue eyes. For a second she contemplated on kissing him but quickly snapped back to reality
"Are you ok?" Jim asked still out of breathe as he got up and offer a hand
"Yea…Yeah I'm fine thanks. Wha… what happened?"
"A ball almost hit you"
"Oh Shi… Sorry Claire" Thomas apologized as he and Steve came running towards them
"Did you throw a ball at her?" Jim asked in a not-so-calm voice
"It was an accident" Steve said as he stood in between Jim and Thomas. Steve could see Jim was angry.
"Yeah, sorry Claire. Could you forgive me?"
"Sorry? You nearly gave her a black eye!" Jim was visibly piss but Steve still tried to keep the calm
"Like Steve said it was an accident, so back off, Lake"
Jim balled his fist but just as he was about to move Claire stood with Steve and stopped Jim
"Its fine no harm was done"
Then she walked off towards the door, but just as Jim was about to go after her he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Jimbo! Did you see that?"
"What?"
"The floor exploded. Some think it might be the pipes but me…" Toby leaned in to whisper "I think it might be the evil trolls who tried to assassinate us"
"I see" Jim looked at the crowd to see if he can find Claire, but she was already out the door
"Wait a second" Toby suddenly realized something "Weren't you next to me just before the explosion?"
"Huh? No I was already walking towards Claire before the explosion, and I happen to see a ball flying towards her"
"What? Is she ok?"
"Yeah I managed to save her but I still have to talk to her"
"Don't worry man; you'll see each other at the rehearsal today, right?"
"Yeah"
"What scene are you doing today?"
"I don't know actually. I'll have to find out when I get there"
"Wait; weren't you supposed to study your play?"
"Yeah I was but I became a little preoccupied, remember?!"
"Oh yeah sorry. It's my fault these things keep happening to us. Just because I picked up that amulet"
"Hey it's not your fault. You were given an awesome duty and I'm proud to stand by your side as we kick their butts. Now come on, I think gym just got cancelled for the week"
The two friends left as the rest the class still talked about the floor, "Alright, everyone back to class, gym is cancelled till this floor is fixed" the coach shouted to the rest of the class.
As the day went by nonchalantly with a few death stares from Thomas and his allies, the final class arrived.
"Alright class. What did the passage mean?" Miss Janeth asked a half dead class, all except Eli, were tired out from the long day and long the sweet release of the school bell
"I know Miss Janeth!" Eli eagerly jumped in his seat for attention
"Yes, Eli. Again" Just then the bell finally rang, "Remember class, we will be going through some of Shakespeare's most brilliant work tomorrow, so I expect you all to at lease read chapter 4 of the textbook. Class dismissed!" The class erupted out of their seats and most stormed the doors.
"I see you after rehearsal at the Market, Jimbo"
"You sure you'll be fine going there alone?"
"Don't worry, Jimbo. I have been training with the amulet and I can defend myself now at least, plus I'm the one who should be asking if you'll be ok"
"Why?"
"I heard about the type of scene you're rehearsing today"
"What scene?"
"What? You still haven't checked what you're doing today" Toby laughed as he saw Jim did not know. "You'll love it don't worry"
"Come on Tobes tell me" As they reached the bike rack and Toby got on his bike, Jim still pleaded for the info
"Ok-ok come here" Toby leaned in to whisper to Jim, "I heard it's a kissing scene"
Jim froze from shock as he heard the words 'kiss'. He and Claire had made out many times before, but suddenly he realized that this was going to be their first kiss. Well technically this timelines first kiss between them.
"Maybe that's why she has been avoiding me all day?" Jim murmured to himself
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing, just talking to myself"
"Yeah well anyway, I wish you luck my friend. Tell me how it goes. I have to go and practice a little before I die today. I never thought I'd die this way. Always thought I'd die heroically while saving someone's life"
Jim suddenly hugged Toby out of the blue after hearing him say those words
"Ok… Ugh Jimbo? I love the hug but it's kind of awkward on a bike. And uncomfortable"
"Oh sorry" Jim quickly let go and adjusted himself
"Ok thanks for the hug man I needed that to motivate me for my doom. See you" Toby waved as he paddled off towards the Market
"You're not going to die. I promise you all" Jim said as he watched Toby ride off.
As he stood there he quickly got nervous again, remembering he had to do a kissing scene. He had no problem with the line, because he could remember the lines from before and he couldn't forget the thing that brought him and Claire together in the first place.
He turned and walked towards the gym. As he entered, some of the maintenance staff was busy in the floor to see if there was a pipe that caused the explosion. The rehearsal students were on stage working on their positioning.
"Sorry I'm late"
"You're not late. We just decided to start early a bit to work out a few things" Eli said as he held up the script
"Oh ok. Is there anything I can help with?"
"Oh thanks we need to move a few props into place"
"Ok" Jim helped move the props and followed Eli's instructions before the play started
A few minutes went by and the play started but Claire still didn't arrive yet
"Miss Janeth? Is Claire not coming?" Jim asked as he noticed she was missing
"I do not know Mr. Lake"
"Can I go look for her?"
"Sure Mr. Lake. You seem to know your lines well, so I can give you some time to go look for her"
"Thank you, Miss Janeth"
Jim quickly went to go look for her around the school but didn't find her. He nearly gave up and thought she went home, but as he turned the corner of the lockers he bumped into someone.
Claire came around the corner just as he also turned the corner and they collided. Jim's momentum from his speedy search had pushed them both off balance so much so that they tumbled over. But just before they hit the ground Jim pulled Claire closer to him and shifted his body so that Claire would fall on top of him.
As they laid in another floor position, this time with Claire on top, they both just laid there for a second. Embracing each other. Claire laid with her head on his chest, unknowingly listening to his heart beat. For some reason it felt familiar and right, just like the rest of her feelings. Jim just laid there and enjoyed this feeling he had longed for. Claire slowly lifted her head as Jim raised his and the two stare each other.
"Ugh Hi" Claire said out of awkwardness
"Hi" Jim replied with a sweet smile "Are you ok?" Jim asked as the two slowly got up.
"Yeah thanks by the way. For now and for earlier in the gym"
"Oh yeah no problem. I hope you're not angry at me?" Jim asked as the two picked up Claire's books that fell out
"Angry? Why?"
"Well you looked angry when you left the gym"
"Oh that, sorry. I just had to wash my face a little after that"
Jim gave Claire the last books of her, "Then why did you skip the rehearsal"
Claire dropped the books again "Oh sorry I had to get a few books so I thought I'd skip this one and go get them" she nervously laughed
"Hey, it ok. I know the scene can be a bit awkward but if you don't want to do it now then we can do it another session"
"It's not the scene. I just have…" Claire realized she almost spilled the beans on herself with Jim
"Hey it's ok" Jim gave her the last book of the ones she dropped again, "You don't have to tell me"
"Thanks for being so understanding"
"Anytime"
"But can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah sure"
"Are you ok?"
"Huh? I don't follow"
"You have had a few anger outbursts and today I saw that again"
"Oh it's nothing"
"Oh ok then, but I could feel something come off of you, I could feel a sort of shadow over you when you were angry in the gym yesterday"
"Wait did you just say shadow?" Jim was surprised to hear she talked about shadows as she was a shadow wizard, "What else can you describe? Did you feel anything else?"
"No that's it"
"Oh… ok"
An awkward silence stood between them as the two just stood there
"You know there is still time. Maybe we can do the rehearsal today?" Claire asked as she tried to face her nervousness
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah"
"Ok let's go then"
As the two made off towards the gym, someone stared at them through a window as they walked off.
As the play went on, the final scene came where Jim laid on a table with a cardboard sword on his chest, and Claire about to say her line before the kiss, Jim's heart was racing. As Jim heard the lines he had been nervous about: "And with a kiss" he perked his lips and awaited the kiss
Claire had been contemplating this moment for few days and now she finally had the chance to kiss someone she could stop thinking about. As her lips approached his she bottled her nervousness and…
As their lips touch each other, Claire felt as if this wasn't the first time this happened but also like she doesn't it to be the last. Their lips parted and Claire continued her last act. The silence swept over the students and a single familiar voice filled with joy yelled, "Cut! Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Let's perform like this on the night of the show and I guarantee you all with be shower with a lot of praise. But until then we have to rehearse till the day before. So same time Monday people, enjoy your weekends." Miss Janeth dismissed the students and she and Eli discussed a few more change before they too had to leave
"That was…"
"Awkward, right? I'm sorry"
"No it was… Great" Jim tried to reassure Claire
"Claire!" a voice called from the gym doors, it was Darsy, "We're waiting for you!"
"Coming!" Claire quickly grabbed her bag and dash towards the doors but halfway she stopped and looked back to Jim who was staring at her. She waved a good bye to Jim as he stood there and waved back, than she continued on her dash.
"She's cute" a voice echoed from behind. Jim turned around to see who said that, and he was shock to see Himself. "Hey there stranger"
"TJ?" but just as he said those words, Eli called him over. As her looked away and looked back, he found that the being he saw was gone.
"What the hell was that?" Jim asked as he stood there looking at a red curtain in front of him.
TO BE CONTINUED!
…...
Hope you enjoyed. I'm trying to see if I can write romantic scenes and fight scenes; so I'd appreciate a few tips if you guys have any. See ya!
