Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
That, and this queasy feeling of excitement, tempered with a minuscule feeling of impending...something. I felt those eyes again, but fought not to look around like a little lost lamb.
No need to call attention to myself by acting like a freak. I kept my head down as I made my way from the truck to the steps leading into the old red brick building that looked like something out of an-old-eighties after school special.
“Fresh meat.” The cry rang out and jolted me out of my reverie just seconds before a ball came flying past my face. I barely had time to flinch before realization dawned. I guess I was the fresh meat in question.
“Track you ass.” A blonde boy with baby fat cheeks trotted over to retrieve the ball which had landed not too far from where I stood, not quite sure of my next move.
“Hey sorry about that, I’m Mark Spade and that ass who almost brained you is Ian Track.”
The tall African American boy joined us with a cheeky grin on his face; oh this one was trouble. His smirk made you want to grin even as you knew you should be watching him closely, because the mischievous look in his eyes said he was up to no good.
“Hi, sorry about the balls to the face thing, no hard feelings huh.”
I took his outstretched hand and ignored his double entendre.
“Hi I’m Jazz.”
“We know, you’re Chief Tanning’s daughter, welcome to the dark side.”
Ian hung his tongue out and twitched his brow at me, in what I guessed was supposed to be a lascivious come on.
“Dude you’re an ass; so Jazz, you know anyone here? Cause if you don’t I’ll be more than happy to show you around.”
“Um, I, I’ll think about it Mark let me just get settled in and I’ll let you know.”
“Cool then, it’s a date.”
He tossed the ball from hand to hand as the two headed back in the direction from which they’d come.
I shrugged the strange encounter off as I made my way to the school doors. There were now even more kids watching me, as the theatrics had drawn their attention.
I did my usual hiding behind my hair thing with my head down, until I made it to the doors at the top of the steps.
Another strange sensation hit me as I reached out for the handles and the wind picked up a little behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, I checked the clouds for rain, and shrugging off the weird feeling, headed inside to what awaited me.
There was that prickling sensation under my skin again and the sense of something tickling the edges of my mind. It had been happening ever since I came here to this town.
That sense of foreboding mixed in with a knowing, that was a bit confusing. I had no real memory of this place; in fact the first few years of my life were a blank.
I had no recollections of anything or anyone before at least the age of four, and mom hadn’t kept any photos or mementos as far as I could tell.
It was only here lately that I even remembered anything about my dad outside of our random phone calls over the years. I keep getting flashes of him putting me to bed when I was very young, but it could be something I read or saw on TV, who knows.
I brushed off the strange feeling once again, and withdrawing the folded sheet of paper from the back pocket of my faded Levis, I read the directions to the counselor’s office and headed there first.
I avoided the few students that were already inside, even as I caught the questioning looks from many. With head down and breath held I made my way to my destination.
The halls smelt like any other high school and bore the same wear and tear marks.
I felt my first rush of excitement wash over me as my weird feelings drifted away and was replaced by one of great expectations.
New school, new opportunities, a new place to shine. I could feel it already, and knew somewhere deep inside, that I’d come home.
I can finally concentrate on my studies without the constant worry of having to bail mom out once more hanging over my head.
For the first time in my life I thought, I knew what it felt like to be a teenager, something I’d despaired of ever being.
It was here in these empty hallways that I allowed myself to breathe for the first time in what seemed like forever.
What would my life be like here, in a place where I can finally set down roots so to speak?
This will be the first school I didn’t fear being dragged out of from one day to the next. Maybe I could finally make some real friends for once. It was a good thought and with it came a sense of peace.