Tilting my head, I glanced around and went into my room, I shut the door and the sound was subdued, I felt peace that I had thought would never be found in the shoe box I now lived in.
Putting my head to the door, I took another long breath and, in my mind, pictured running through the field only a day and a half before that felt as if a dream from a long-ago slumber as I opened my eyes to the bland walls before me.
My lips curved into an unsure grimace mixed with thought, this was my canvas and I felt only a bulldozer could really take away its enclosing feeling.
Kicking off my shoes beside the door, I walked into the small little room and picked up the sheets that still lay disheveled on the floor, I sat down and let another sigh escape my lips that had I really been thinking about I would have tried to rein in.
I did have homework I should be working on but my first priority was making this room feel right or I knew I would go insane of staying here in a week and then where could I escape?
The atrium crossed my mind but even that felt like a distant cry compared to the time I would spend in this little squares confines.
Glancing around, my eyes swayed passed the box of photos on my desk, I turned to the side and looked to my bulletin board.
“At least I can start on something.” I said aloud.
I moved to my desk while my mind wandered as I realized that today’s classes were easier than they would be, they gave students time to unpack.
Taking off my bag and setting it on my chair I brought the box of photos to my bed and upon sitting down the bed complained in squeaks as I glared at it.
“Trust me, the feeling is mutual.” I said dryly, and suddenly I wondered what anyone else would think of me talking to objects.
My father had always smiled and laughed with me but I feared what someone would think if they knew I talked to my furniture, too.
Smiling Keten entered my mind and as I opened the box of my favorite photos, I wondered if he would find it stupid or not.
Looking back down to my task at hand, my lips curled up in a smile as I took in the first picture that lie atop them all, it was of me and my father as we stood before a large water fall. His smile was wide as he had his arm around my young shoulders and we stood where there was said to be a SkyJump village near the area.
Lifting the photo, I smiled, moving to the next, I was soon drowned in a menagerie of places and times held within the simple lines of a four by five paper frame. Glancing around, I started picking some of my favorites out of the bunch and one by one I pinned up an autumn forest of aspens that were a vibrant yellow, the next was of a field of flowers bending in a sea breeze.
Another held a storms billowing darkness above a small city as the contrast looked almost black and white.
Placing one by the other I soon was romanticizing my life before my eyes, the wonders I had seen were accumulated to a bulletin board that barely was the length of my outstretched arms, the rectangle now filled with color.
Sitting back from the images while a soft smile cradled my lips. The room I sat in was forgotten and the world felt locked within images and memories. I glanced to the small stained-glass window noting it was already the harsh purple hues of night on slot. I wistfully looked at the mess of pictures surrounding me. Picking up one particular picture of my father and me from only a day before, I placed it on the bulletin board in the center where I had left room for new pictures.
I wanted to know there was a place for pictures of my new life here at the school, yet I felt a pang of loneliness wash over me as I wanted to tell my father all that had happened. From my mistaking Alissa’s words for her knowing what I was to what I had learned and Keten who with a soft grin I knew would peak my father’s interest and be one of the first times he would interrupt me instead of listening with a soft smile.
Placing the photos. I loved back in the small shoe box, I nodded an agreement that I would buy paper tomorrow and check if he had sent a letter, it would still be too soon for him to have written. I resigned that maybe simply writing to him even before his letters came would ease my mind.
Putting the shoe box under the only open nook of my desk where my chair fit into I glanced over to see the lonely face of my guitars case waiting in the dying light.
With a slow grin I grabbed my camera and stood almost crouching to the floor with my back against the wall as I took the shot and the mumbling device printed out the picture in nearly a second, yet the image would take much longer to appear.
Leaving the camera and developing photo on the desk, I moved to my guitar and for the first time felt my emotions were balancing, though rouge soft tunes caught in my mind as I sat on my bed and opened the guitars case.
The moment the slender neck and body of the guitar was in view I smiled softly and eyed its bluish hue. From the moment my father had given it to me, it always reminded me of a lakes deep water. Hues too lovely to name save blue mixed with green into the deepest velvety color.
Bringing the guitar from the case I felt a cord slip under my grasp and softly echo out making my mind slow. All the nights with sore finger, and my father’s coaxing as he helped me, a thought entered my mind that maybe I had one friend I had brought with me.
Placing my right leg over my left I brought the guitar to rest on my thigh comfortably and with a loving glance I moved my left hand to the neck and rested my right along the guitar’s side. Taking a soft breath, I heard the tune of a medieval melody cross my mind but the plucking luster of a Skyjump song my father had taught me offered a solace my soul desperately needed.
My fingers found a starting place and without breath or thought they softly strummed the first note and then plucked a deeper chord only to start into a plucking gallop that made my spirit rise.
Swaying to the tune my lips held wider as I started the second chorus, the same as the first strumming, the first two strings then letting my finger sway and feel the thin strings pass by. I played the soft chord again, it was fantastically stealing of thought though it was simple.
“KNOCK, KNOCK”
My mind took a moment for my fingers to ease their stride as they had started the next lower part of the melody. I glanced around and felt my heart held between the guitar and the tune that still played on in my head. Had I really heard a…
“KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.”
Jumping off my bed I went for the door and still held my guitar as I came to it, another knock that sounded more like a pound ensued before my hand went to clasp a knob that was not there as my necklace glowed and the door opened inward.
I had to keep my lips from frowning and my eyes from widening as before me at the door stood Lucy!
How in all that was sane had she found my room?
“What’s your problem?” She asked and then put a finger to her lips as her hair swayed as if too sprayed to know what it was like to move in a normal fashion, “Considering you brought a musical instrument to a school where only in class you can have one seems like you’re a problem to me.” She said with a snob tilt of her head and her eyes, in a rigid unwelcoming way, glared at my guitar while her hand held in the air at her side.
My lips opened but I found no words as I glanced down at my guitar, I knew there was no way it could be heard out in the hall.
She pointed at my guitar with disgust and then looked to me with her dark purple lip stick glinting.
“One more noise and I’ll make sure you get your first dock in this school before your first three days Dewashion, toodles.” She said and in seconds turned and was walking to the door to the right of my room.
“It’s Deshion.” I shot back flatly as I held back a sudden anger that edged to the surface.
She turned and glared back at me with a stance that looked like a fashion model.
“Do I look like I care? No.” She said and for the first time something sparked in her eyes that reminded me of the Skyjump competition when she had scowled at me, “You’re out of your league and here when we have c
ompetitions for tests you’re going to learn how stupid you really are coming here and trying to compete with all this.” She motioned to the building around us and my lips held open as she glared at me and made a slitting motion to her throat before walking into her room.
I stood a full thirty seconds considering what to do before I pushed my magic door that fought me closed and turned around and glared at the wall to my left. How could I be next to her, out of thousands of rooms in La’ket I was next to that, that!
“She’s not worth it.” Was the words I said aloud that Alissa had told me, yet as I walked into my room I increasingly felt sober to the fact that I could not finish the melody I had started.
It was like I had finally felt it would all be simple and I could make it when Miss Priss had to come and not only stop my only comfort of playing but threaten me as if she was somehow better than me!
Glancing behind me at the wall, I frowned. First of all, I would show her who was stupid for coming here and I was sure it was not going to be me.
A bell rang announcing dinner as I had worked on my papers after my sour encounter, I wondered where I could play my guitar and the scarier question was when could I?
It still felt wrong as I glanced in the tiny bathroom mirror and saw my nose slightly red and my hair a mess of dirty blond. I pulled it back into a pony tail and then once more into a half bun with the ends flailing out.
“Quil, you are not going to even think about what that girl said and you are going to show her.” I nodded to my reflection and left my thoughts lingering in the air, though even as I left my room with my shoulder bag I glared at the Priss door.
I passed as if it was a shadow I could not let escape my view.
“HEY, QUIL!” a voice called, taking my thoughts.
Turning around quickly I caught sight of Alissa as she waved, a smile caught my lips and I waved back and started walking faster.
“Come on, Zac is saving us a table!” She called as I approached her, she started into a brisk canter, “Zac will already be yelling at us for making him wait!” She said and with a soft laugh I followed after her as we made our way through the obstacle course of students in the halls.
Alissa grabbed my arm as I nearly passed the cafeteria.
“Where are you going? The cafeteria is this way.” she pointed with a roll of her eyes and we both laughed as we passed a group of older boys wearing sports uniforms.
We raced down the hall and then I suddenly knew we were close to the cafeteria as a line stretched outside the doors with teens chatting away the time as they waited.
Alissa raced passed them and a few sour looks caught my attention as we neared the doors into the cafeteria. I moved my hand to point to the line when Alissa motioned again for me to follow.
“I said he’s saving a table!” She said and again grabbed for my arm as we rushed through the extensive line of teens while the smell of apple pie wafted around us.
Swerving down isles and past tables of people, a waving, sour-faced boy caught my attention as we came huffing and puffing to the table.
“What took you girls so long? Doing your make up or whatever you girls do.” Zac said, with a displeased bob of his head.
When his face came to me though he nodded and winked as Alissa looked up to him with an angry line on her lips. Before she could start speaking, she put up a hand before him, he nodded and slipped out and under her arm.
“Leave the lecture for later Lis, let’s try and get some food before it’s all gone!” Zac said and started us into a run for the middle of the raised room where the crowds swayed and moved.
Looking around, I was stunned to see the mass of students as they moved and talked. When I stopped, both Alissa and Zac grabbed my arms as they got swept into the moving mass.
Once I was moving with the flow and not about to be lost Zac handed both me and Alissa a plate. I called thank you but it was swallowed in the noise as Alissa leaned back to me and put a hand to the side of her lips.
“It’s okay, he doesn’t need a thank you with how he acted,” Alissa smiled and nodded to him, “His mother said I could slap him upside the head for her when he gets out of line.” She said with a nod and both of us giggled softly in the tumultuous noise.
Zac glanced back at us as Alissa and I got salads, by the time we were back to our table I felt exhausted as I slumped onto the springy bench.
“You would think we just fought a war to get this.” I said glancing to my salad and small piece of apple pie that felt much tinier than all the work I had done to get it.
Alissa nodded as she slid into the bench across from me and Zac plopped down beside her with a thud as she bounced slightly into the air.
Both Zac and I shared a soft laugh as Alissa’s cheeks tanned pink.
“Guys, knock it off.” She said biting her lip as she waved haphazardly at a group of boys passing.
Zac and I both glanced over to find the boy she had waved to, he waved back with a friendly nod, though his eyes said he did not know her as he turned back to his group.
“You’re going after Steven Cobsen?” Zac scoffed, as he dipped his French dip and took a large bite.
Alissa glared over at him and in the moment, it felt nice that even though I barely knew them, it felt like we were old friends.
“What’s wrong with him?” I questioned Zac, he rolled his eyes.
“He’s the schools best student and he has never been in trouble. For some reason girls go crazy for him.” Zac, said taking another bite like he was chewing the guys head off.
Alissa glared over at him,
“Just because he’s perfect it isn’t a bad thing.” She scolded, and Zac just brushed her words off as he was nearly done with his food while I had yet to take more than three bites.
He mimicked her words, batting his eyes as Alissa took a bite, looking off dreamily as I tried unsuccessfully to cover a snicker.
“So Quil, how do you know Keten?” Alissa asked looking up to me with probing interest again.
I was seconds away from taking another bite but just the mention of his name made an odd pit catch in my stomach that was both fluttering and undecided.
“I, well, he just helped me find a class after I forgot my schedule. Honest.” I said putting down my fork and rubbing the back of my head as my hair was held back and I felt slightly exposed.
Alissa grinned and she nodded as she took another bite of her salad.
“Sure but before that?” She asked, and I tilted my head as Zac was again looking at something on his glass phone with half an ear in the conversation.
“I’ve never met him before today.” I said with a quizzical glance to Alissa.
She seemed slightly surprised as her smile widened.
“Sure you haven’t...” She said with a piercingly knowing smile as Zac shook his head.
“Oh no, now you’ve done it.” Zac breathed.
I turned to him,
“Done what?” I asked confused.
He looked up and shook his head as if wishing I hadn’t spoken.
“That look means she thinks you’re hiding the truth, and now she’s going to work on making you spill your guts.” He said, all the while taking a bite of a handful of fries.
“Really, at dinner Zac?” She questioned and he simply ignored her.
Looking to Alissa, she waited for me to spill some kind of information, thankfully nothing to do with being a Skyjump.
“I swear, I only met him today, I had never seen him before.” I said, Alissa opened her mouth as Zac glanced up.
“Who had you never seen before today?” The voice was calm and collected.
Turning swiftly, we all looked to find Keten standing by my side of the table and a sharp grin on his face. In all my life I had never wanted to disappear more.
Somehow, I finally managed words,
“A boy. I mean the teacher, who teaches Math.” I said feeling my nerves jitter and my mind go stupid.
Keten’s eyes glinte
d softly as a hawk as if knowing all my secrets without words.
Trying to act cool, I took a soft breath and finished motioning to Alissa,
“Alissa thought we looked related.” I said, feeling my second reply was much cleaner than my first.
Keten nodded and he motioned to the spot on the bench beside me.
“Mind if I sit with you guys?” He asked.
Zac seemed as chill as Keten but Alissa nodded a bit too eagerly as she glanced my way and I sputtered out a, “Sure.” Casually, as I scooted further in.
While Keten sat down, Alissa shot me a glance that said she did not buy what I had said one bit, I had to do something or I knew I would never get her off my back.
“We’ve never met before, right?” I asked and the moment the words left my lips I wished I could drag them out of the air and burn them.
Keten glanced aside at me and his smile, yet again, made a fluttering cascade in my chest.
“Well, I’m pretty sure today counts but before then, I don’t think so.” He said, nodding and Alissa seemed crushed not to have something to pester me about.
Taking a bite of my salad and making my mouth chew, though my mind was crazy trying to not look stupid next to him he smiled and added,
“Though if I had I feel I would have remembered.” He voiced, calmly as we took another bite of his sandwich with just the slightest glance at me.
It made every bite of lettuce that I forced down my throat feel like rocks as I turned my face back to my food.
Alissa’s smile came back quickly and Zac, as if for once not listening looked up and nodded to Keten.
“Who are you rooting for? The Jackles or the…”
I left his words the moment I knew he was talking about sports, I tried again to eat though it felt labored and extremely hard with Keten so close. Glancing over at him he nodded and said something back about the team. Zac nodded and both knuckle bumped the others hand.
Alissa played with her salad now like a cat toying with a scampering mouse as she looked to Keten as he sat back.
Sky Jump Page 11