Thick Skin and A Jeweled Heart [2]
Taptaptap--
I tapped my pencil on the table out of frustration. It has been two days since my encounter with Jade and Meri in the music room. I thought we would go our separate ways after that. Jade would make new friends and I would never see her again. But I kept seeing her after school with Meri, walking towards the direction of the abandoned graveyard.
Cliché, I know. I tried to ignore them.
But my curiosity only peaked.
I sighed and closed my notebook. Those lyrics have to wait. I turned on my phone to check the time and heaved another sigh. I pushed my spinning chair away from the table and stopped myself at my window. I stared silently as one by one, the stars start to appear and twinkle in the midnight sky.
Monday came quickly. I ate my breakfast cereal in one big gulp before running out the front door. I checked the time on my watch and turn to face my house. I watched the door with fearful eyes, scared the handle will turn slowly and release the monster within. It didn't.
The bird's morning music reassures me as I let out a breath I didn't knew I held. I hesitantly faced back the way towards my school and ran as fast as I can.
Just in case it will get out. You can never be too careful.
I fidgeted in my seat and glanced at my watch every 5 minutes. "C'mon.." I urged the time to go faster but of course, it never happened.
The bell indicating the end of school rang. I already put all my things in my backpack. I want to be the first one to walk out the classroom but don't want Jade-- Who still takes the seat besides me. -- to get suspicious.
I started to get impatient when she finally zipped her bag and stood up. She looked at me suspiciously. "You know you don't have to wait for me."
"I'm not waiting for you!" I shouted in embarrassment. "Don't get the wrong idea." I muttered as I walk past her and out the door, not forgetting to bump into her shoulder. I can basically hear her eye rolling from here so I heat up. All flustered, I ran and waited at the school gates for Jade and Meri.
I'm a good deal earlier than everyone else so I got to watch as students start to file out from the school. I make sure to keep an eye out for them. I checked my watch again and as if right on cue, I spotted them walking and talking together.
I waited 'till they're a good distance ahead of me and followed them,
I hid behind bushes, trashcans, cars, anything really, just to not get spotted.
It went like that for a couple more minutes until we finally reached the graveyard. My confidence shrunk at the graveyard's eerie presence but I shook myself and hid behind a near bush, telling myself ghosts doesn''t exist.
I peeked through the leaves and thorns to try and see where they go next without being found.
They seemed unfazed by the tombstones standing, row after row. Meri walked on, purpose in her stride while Jade walked slowly, brushing her hand against the tombstones, sympathy in her eyes.
Jade stopped short when she touches a particular tombstone. She crouched and mouthed the name carved on it. Her eyebrows knit together and she bit her lip. "Oh Meri.." She started to say before Meri cut her off.
"Jade, we're gonna be late." Meri beckoned her towards the bushes that surrounds the graveyard.
Jade's hand lingered on the cold stone before walking towards her friend.
I leaned in closer, eager to see what they do next but I forgot that the bushes have thorns. One prickly thorn dug into my arm and I stifle a gasp with my other hand. I hissed as I tugged the horn from my arm. Blood trickled down my hand in a steady stream and I wiped it distractedly before returning my gaze to the girls.
Only, they weren't there. I stood up and spun around in place. Where did they go? I fast-walked towards the bush where I last saw them, at the very back of the graveyard. I saw flattened, dead grass on where they stood, but that was the only sign they were ever here. The grass surrounding it are undisturbed. I have no idea where they went.
They could't have climbed the bush, could they? I would hear them and the bush would be right on flat under their weight. I pondered to myself when I saw, with great surprise, the dead grass turning back into its original state. It doesn't look stepped on at all!
I heard voices behind the bush. Some that I know, and others unfamiliar.
I walked towards the bush and strained my ear to try and hear some more.
"M'lady." A boy said.
I heard Jade laugh softly. "No, Matt. Just no."
There was a moment of silence before Matt replied. "Jade! My mistake." Surprise was apparent in his voice. " Now, shall we get started?" Meri said. Another voice said something in reply but I couldn't hear. I leaned on the bush some more only to fall right through it and onto the other side.
I was confused at how painless that felt. In fact, I didn't feel anything at all. It was like I fell right through air. Groaning, I pushed myself up with my elbows. Looking up, I saw the girls. But they look... different. I gasped as Jade turns around to look at me.
Her eyes glowed a stunning gold.
"You.." I hesitantly avert my gaze from her eyes and saw Meri. She too looked different. Her eyes were the dull color of silver and her hair color shifted, as if metallic. She looked angry, a knife held tightly in her hands.
I tapped my pencil on the table out of frustration. It has been two days since my encounter with Jade and Meri in the music room. I thought we would go our separate ways after that. Jade would make new friends and I would never see her again. But I kept seeing her after school with Meri, walking towards the direction of the abandoned graveyard.
Cliché, I know. I tried to ignore them.
But my curiosity only peaked.
I sighed and closed my notebook. Those lyrics have to wait. I turned on my phone to check the time and heaved another sigh. I pushed my spinning chair away from the table and stopped myself at my window. I stared silently as one by one, the stars start to appear and twinkle in the midnight sky.
Monday came quickly. I ate my breakfast cereal in one big gulp before running out the front door. I checked the time on my watch and turn to face my house. I watched the door with fearful eyes, scared the handle will turn slowly and release the monster within. It didn't.
The bird's morning music reassures me as I let out a breath I didn't knew I held. I hesitantly faced back the way towards my school and ran as fast as I can.
Just in case it will get out. You can never be too careful.
I fidgeted in my seat and glanced at my watch every 5 minutes. "C'mon.." I urged the time to go faster but of course, it never happened.
The bell indicating the end of school rang. I already put all my things in my backpack. I want to be the first one to walk out the classroom but don't want Jade-- Who still takes the seat besides me. -- to get suspicious.
I started to get impatient when she finally zipped her bag and stood up. She looked at me suspiciously. "You know you don't have to wait for me."
"I'm not waiting for you!" I shouted in embarrassment. "Don't get the wrong idea." I muttered as I walk past her and out the door, not forgetting to bump into her shoulder. I can basically hear her eye rolling from here so I heat up. All flustered, I ran and waited at the school gates for Jade and Meri.
I'm a good deal earlier than everyone else so I got to watch as students start to file out from the school. I make sure to keep an eye out for them. I checked my watch again and as if right on cue, I spotted them walking and talking together.
I waited 'till they're a good distance ahead of me and followed them,
I hid behind bushes, trashcans, cars, anything really, just to not get spotted.
It went like that for a couple more minutes until we finally reached the graveyard. My confidence shrunk at the graveyard's eerie presence but I shook myself and hid behind a near bush, telling myself ghosts doesn''t exist.
I peeked through the leaves and thorns to try and see where they go next without being found.
They seemed unfazed by the tombstones standing, row after row. Meri walked on, purpose in her stride while Jade walked slowly, brushing her hand against the tombstones, sympathy in her eyes.
Jade stopped short when she touches a particular tombstone. She crouched and mouthed the name carved on it. Her eyebrows knit together and she bit her lip. "Oh Meri.." She started to say before Meri cut her off.
"Jade, we're gonna be late." Meri beckoned her towards the bushes that surrounds the graveyard.
Jade's hand lingered on the cold stone before walking towards her friend.
I leaned in closer, eager to see what they do next but I forgot that the bushes have thorns. One prickly thorn dug into my arm and I stifle a gasp with my other hand. I hissed as I tugged the horn from my arm. Blood trickled down my hand in a steady stream and I wiped it distractedly before returning my gaze to the girls.
Only, they weren't there. I stood up and spun around in place. Where did they go? I fast-walked towards the bush where I last saw them, at the very back of the graveyard. I saw flattened, dead grass on where they stood, but that was the only sign they were ever here. The grass surrounding it are undisturbed. I have no idea where they went.
They could't have climbed the bush, could they? I would hear them and the bush would be right on flat under their weight. I pondered to myself when I saw, with great surprise, the dead grass turning back into its original state. It doesn't look stepped on at all!
I heard voices behind the bush. Some that I know, and others unfamiliar.
I walked towards the bush and strained my ear to try and hear some more.
"M'lady." A boy said.
I heard Jade laugh softly. "No, Matt. Just no."
There was a moment of silence before Matt replied. "Jade! My mistake." Surprise was apparent in his voice. " Now, shall we get started?" Meri said. Another voice said something in reply but I couldn't hear. I leaned on the bush some more only to fall right through it and onto the other side.
I was confused at how painless that felt. In fact, I didn't feel anything at all. It was like I fell right through air. Groaning, I pushed myself up with my elbows. Looking up, I saw the girls. But they look... different. I gasped as Jade turns around to look at me.
Her eyes glowed a stunning gold.
"You.." I hesitantly avert my gaze from her eyes and saw Meri. She too looked different. Her eyes were the dull color of silver and her hair color shifted, as if metallic. She looked angry, a knife held tightly in her hands.
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