• Prologue: The Dream
    Chapter 1
    Ch.2 Part 1
    Chapter 2 Part 2
    Chapter II: Part 3


    I REWOUND all of the awkward class periods that morning as I took my seat at the normal bench outside.

    “Yo!” Finally, Julie. After the morning I'd had, I needed a good conversation. “What's wrong,” she asked as she sat down next to me. Jeff was right behind her.

    “Nothing,” I sighed as I took out my lunch.
    “Cupcakes, Kida?” Jeff asked concerned. “Tell me that's not all you brought.”
    I shrugged coolly. “I had Twinkies this morning.”
    “God! How do you not gain any weight? I hate you so much.” Ju pouted as she took out her small salad.

    “First of all, I have a high metabolism. And second of all...no you don't,” I said with a smirk.

    Ju laughed and took a bite of salad. With a mouth full she asked, “So...what was with the long face?” She must've been talking about before she came and sat down.

    “That new kid...” was all I could say.
    “What about him?”
    “What do you think?” Jeff jumped in. “Anyone could tell that he's a complete jerk.” I was surprised to see Jeff so worked up. But then again, I wasn't. Jeff was like a brother to me. Well, more like I was like a sister to him. I’d always had more feelings for him than he did for me. That’s what I always assumed anyways.

    “Oh,” Julie said as she playfully pushed Jeff's shoulder. “You're just jealous that he took our lab partner.” I heard him choke a little on his food, and I laughed to myself.

    “I think you're right, Julie. Jeff's jealous.”
    “I am not—jealous,” he managed to get out between coughs. I smiled subtly.
    “Don't worry, Jeff. I can't stand Vincent.” By the look on Julie's face, I knew she wasn't convinced.

    “Right,” she said slowly and slightly raised her eyebrow.
    “I'm serious! He thinks he's so...cool. I just…I really can't stand guys like that.”

    “Mhm...then who are you looking for?”

    I jerked my head toward Julie. Without realizing it, I was looking all around the food court, but for whom? That was what she asked me. “No one,” I said defensively. Jeff turned around toward me wearing a curious expression. “Seriously! I wasn't looking for anyone! Can I not look around the food court without being accused of something stupid? Why would I be looking for Vincent?”

    A shadow fell over Jeff's face, and Julie snickered to herself as she took another bite of salad. “I never said you were looking for Vincent.” I hated that victorious smile she always wore after getting the best of me.

    “You implied...”
    Julie rolled her eyes, then smiled mischievously. Not a good sign. “So,” she began as she picked around in her bag. “It is your birthday.” Pulling out a small pink bag, she jumped off the bench and presented her gift to me. “Happy birthday!”

    I laughed while shaking my head and snatched the bag from her. “You shouldn't have,” I shouted jokingly. Jeff moved closer and leaned over my shoulder.

    “You can open mine next!”
    “Okay, okay,” I said without turning my head toward him. Otherwise our faces would be inches apart, and the thought made me blush. After removing the tissue paper from the bag, I reached in and pulled out a red satin scarf. It was absolutely beautiful: the texture, the color, everything about it. For a few moments I was completely speechless. “Julie, I—”

    “Say no more,” she interrupted with a giggle. I wanted to ask how she afforded such a scarf, but of course her family was rich. It wasn't a surprise that she managed to pick me out something expensive without giving it a second thought.

    I took the scarf and wrapped it around my neck. “Hm. I actually feel a bit glamorous,” I said with a laugh. Jeff sighed to himself and handed me his bag.
    “I don't think it can compare to Ju's gift, but—”

    “Of course it can,” I interrupted. Reaching into the bag, I pulled out a small frame with a picture of the three of us. I gasped and softly placed my hands around the frame. “Jeff, it's—”
    “It's the three of us at Cedar Point in ninth grade.” He laughed. “Remember how cool we felt that we were finally in high school?” I remembered all too well. The three of us decided to celebrate out entering high school by taking a trip to Cedar Point, Ohio. The picture was taken in front of the entrance to the theme park. That summer harbored some of my most cherished memories. The thought caused a few tears to conjugate behind my eyes.

    “Thank you so much,” I whispered. Jeff placed his arm snugly around my neck.
    “Don't mention it.” He kissed me lightly on the cheek, and my face suddenly felt hot.
    Julie looked at me curiously, and I playfully pushed Jeff away. “Hey, now. I liked the gift, but don't get too comfortable.”

    He laughed and went back to eating his lunch. “We should all go to Cedar Point again, like as a senior trip or something.”
    “That sounds awesome,” Ju crooned.

    Another trip to Cedar Point? The idea sounded amazing, but as soon as I thought about all the fun times we could have in the future, a horrible feeling formed in my gut. It was almost a sad feeling, like after planning for weeks to go to the beach, and it suddenly decides to storm. It was a foreboding feeling, and I didn't like it.

    Not one bit.



    NOT ONLY was Vincent in all of my morning classes, but he was in all of my afternoon classes as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he was in my last hour, either. I bent down and re-laced my track shoes, making sure they were nice and snug. Track was my favorite hour of the day. Any stress I felt from school and work was completely relieved once I started running.

    I looked around casually for any signs of Vincent. The anticipation actually confused me a bit. Did I want to see him? Even if I did I would never admit it.

    “Looking for someone?” I heard a familiar voice ask. Standing up, I rolled my eyes and placed my leg on the fence to stretch out my hamstring.
    “Nope,” I said straining to stretch my leg. Julie joined in beside me.

    “Really...”
    I sighed and switched legs. “I was just looking to see if Vincent was in track, too.” Innocent enough.

    “How come?” she asked curiously, but a bit smugly.
    I pursed my lips with frustration. “Because. He's in every one of my other classes, and I was just curious as to whether or not he was in this hour, too. Nothing scandalous at all.” What Julie didn't know was that the whole time we were stretching I was looking for any signs of Vincent. I decided that he wasn't going to come after we'd already finished stretching.

    “At least it's nice out today,” Julie added. “It's supposed to rain tomorrow, though.” The words went straight in one ear and out the other.
    It was time to run.

    I positioned myself in the sprint stance along the starting line, took a deep breath of cool air, and released. It really was the perfect day for a run. Although I wasn't sprinting, I was still keeping pace with some students who were.

    Right as I made my first lap around the track, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a boy sitting against the wall of the field house. I didn't have to look directly at him to know it was Vincent. I could make out the clothing and hair easily. Slowing down, I decided to take a small break.

    I reached down slowly and placed my palms on the ground, making sure that my legs were perfectly straight. Why was I stretching? In my mind I knew why, but I couldn't admit to myself that I wanted Vincent to notice me. Maybe he'd come over. But then again he'd only spoken to me once and that was during Physics.

    Standing back up, I reaching behind my back and pulled with my opposite arm. While stretching, my gaze lingered subtly over toward Vincent. That's when our eyes met for half a second, and my heart skipped a beat. He was looking at me.

    Act normal.
    Unfortunately I was never good at dealing with awkward situations.
    After looking over at him, I noticed that he was sitting right next to the water fountain. Coincidence? Maybe this was my perfect opportunity to talk to him. I casually stretched my leg one last time and walked over to the water fountain without acknowledging him. As I was taking a drink, I tried not to notice Vincent sitting there. Was he going to say anything? If he didn't then that was that. I wouldn't pursue anything. I finished my drink and started walking away...more slowly than usual.

    I groaned internally. He wasn't going to say a thing.
    “Hey,” I said wiping the sweat from my forehead. “Vincent, right?” So I wasn't ready to give up so easily.

    He looked up at me with a confused expression and a bit of reproach in his eyes. “I'm in every one of your classes. You should know by now.”

    “Again with the sarcasm?”
    Oops. I wasn't supposed to say that aloud. Vincent's head jerked toward me and for a moment I could've sworn there was a hint of amusement on his face. His lips nearly formed a smile for that split second. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't.

    That one moment of amusement quickly turned to annoyance. “Again?”
    “It was just a joke.” I laughed, trying to salvage any chance of a normal conversation there was.

    He jerked his chin toward the track. “Aren't you supposed to be running?”
    I sighed deeply and leaned against the wall next to him. “Well, I saw you all alone and thought I'd keep you company.” I looked perceptively at him to see how he'd react to the statement. Vincent was a terribly difficult person to read. His face was stone cold as usual, but there was something different about his eyes.

    A small glimmer of acceptance perhaps?
    He shrugged thoughtlessly. “That's awfully kind of you.”
    “Why aren't you running?”

    He stirred a little on the ground uncomfortably, and his face twisted with a bit of reluctance. “Well, it's a bit hot out today, don't you think?” I decided to ignore the satire in his tone.

    “What are you talking about? It's perfect. Come on. I'll run with you.” I put on the most sincere smile I could, and for a second, it actually looked like he was considering.

    “No.”
    Rejected.

    My jaw about dropped to the ground, and I was glad that Vincent wasn't looking at me. Or rather, he should be glad that he wasn't looking at me. Otherwise, I probably would've hit him right in the face. At least, that's what I was fantasizing about at that moment.

    “I mean,” he continued. “I would hate to show you up. That's all.”
    This guy never seized to amaze me. “Show me up? You do realize that I hold the state record for girls in all running events. Well except for the two mile, but long distance isn't really my style.”

    He arched his eyebrow and cocked his head to the side. “Well that's only because you haven't raced me yet.”
    “Arrogant jerk,” I mumbled under my breath.

    The corner of his lip curled up slightly and he chortled. “You should talk more quietly. Although it seems for you that would be almost impossible.”

    “Okay, you know what—”
    “I know many things.”
    I pursed my lips together and clenched my fist. Ignore him. Ignore him. I shook my head and continued.

    “Let's race. Right now. You choose the distance.” I started stretching to let him know that I was serious.
    Sighing carelessly, he brushed a piece of hair out of his face and glanced up at me from the corner of his eye. “I'm pretty sure I said I'm not running today.”

    “Oh come on! Don't be such a pansy,” I said as I squatted down next to him. He stirred a little uncomfortably and squinted at the sun.
    “I don't know. It's a bit...bright. I can't run with the sun in my eyes.” He looked over at me but must have noticed the awkward expression I was giving him because he quickly returned his gaze to the track.

    What a strange guy.
    With a defeated sigh, I sat down and leaned against the wall, making us only inches apart. I noticed from the corner of my eye his muscles tense. “Well...what about tomorrow? It's supposed to rain, but at least there won't be any sun.”

    With a face shockingly void of emotion, he stood up and brushed the dirt off his black pants. “Very well then.” He sounded as if he had just accepted a business proposal.

    “Very well then? But what if it rains?” I stood up almost simultaneously with him.
    “Then we race anyways.” He shrugged, eyes glinting with a sly humor. “You're not trying to back out are you? After all this big talk you were just throwing at me?”

    “Never,” I smiled, face painted with determination.
    “Okay then,” he said nonchalantly as he began to walk away.
    “Wait! Where are you going?”

    “See you tomorrow,” he said as he walked away. “And be there!”
    Oh, don't you worry, Vincent Balentein. I will.
    I smiled to myself wickedly. All I was missing was the evil laugh.


    Part 4 xD