I sip my tea again and continue, “Saul, th…there is something different here, and I don’t know what it is but I can feel it…..” he looks at me strangely as he takes a seat near my bed, “…and the weirdest thing of all is that I’m not afraid. Like, before when girls would try to befriend me and boys tried to talk with me, even if it was to ask a question, it was very easy to ignore them and walk away so as to not get any attention to myself, just like I had always planned,” I look up at him and see his disapproving face go down, “But today,…” he looks up, “I talked to a girl, in Spanish, and it felt like she was my best friend, as if I had known her all of my life…” still looking at him I see his face turn to a happy face.

“Maybe, if it isn’t too bold, Miss Levine,” he proceeded carefully, “this move will turn out to be the best thing to happen to us since we left your aunt and uncle. Here you will be able to have what they never permitted you to have, and the one thing you continue to believe is unnecessary because of how they had you in their solemn grip. Maybe accepting this girl’s friendship will finally open your eyes to what you have been missing” he says smilingly.

I sigh and roll my eyes, but in a joking matter, and think sarcastically ‘Augh I’m surprised he didn’t say true friendship… or something. Who needs that…’ knowing that all he wants is the best for me.

He had always wanted the best for me. As he picks up the tray and leaves, I fondly remember how he had saved my life. A father figure, truly worthy of the name, father. He was the one who supported me when I had tried to get away from my aunt and uncle, not caring of the consequences.

I look down at my cup, and as the cup’s liquid swirls I am put in a daze and the images of some names come into my head, I can’t see them clearly, but I can hear voices like they are yelling for each other. Soon my head is filled with this unsettling feeling again and I close my eyes to drown it out, but it isn’t working, I begin to panic and look around for my medicine. Shaking my head and unable to see clearly I think to myself, ‘Twice in one day, ever since it’s started it has never been this bad.’ Then Saul comes in  and asks if I want more tea. All of a sudden the commotion stops, and I stop and look at him. Not wanting to worry him I quickly say yes and he walks over to re-fill my cup. As he does he asks “So, Miss Levine do you have any homework?”

I say no, and he looks at me questioningly. I look up at him and say, “Actually, that’s one thing that I wanted to talk to you about. Today was a really strange day, not only about the girl I talked to, but there’s more.” He looks at me a bit surprised and takes a seat near me like before. “I also met a boy…” I see his face intrigued and my face begins to tingle, “and I was also atta…” Clash! Before I am able to tell him the rest of my day we both turn towards the door in the direction of the sound outside. He excuses himself to check it out and before I try to even get up, he says “Please Miss Levine, I will take care of it.”

Looking back to this day, I can’t help but think and wonder what would had happened if I had gotten up with him? Maybe I could have helped him, maybe I could have done something….

But no, that was not my fate. On that day I lost the man who I loved as a father. The man who after he lost everything was there for me. Who refused to give up on me, and gave me hope to continue on. He helped me to move forward and have trust in myself. Constantly told me that I was special, and that great things would come my way.

I always thought that in a way he was full of shit, telling me lies to make me feel better, but now…. wherever he is…. I know he was right. This was the first day of the rest of my life, and it had some of the worst memories that I often wish had never happened, it was the worst day that could have ever happened to me up to that point, and it took me forever to realize it. Often I would think that if I had just realized sooner, or had called him on his cell phone, that maybe things would have been different, but no. That day I lost Saul. That night he left my room to check that noise and never came back.

 

As I walk I think about the funny idea that Jorge was somehow a hero with magical powers, and that because he had saved me before, he could have saved me again. I conclude that people like that don’t exist and that Jorge couldn’t have been the one to save me. So, if not Jorge then who?

A flashback of the orange guy comes to mind. ‘It couldn’t be him… could it? I mean technically he did save me. Maybe he’s someone who would be able to help because he’s strong and could put up a fight against a monster like Bullfrog?’

At this point I have been walking really slow, not only because of my leg but because I was in deep thought. I notice that the sun has begun to go down, I quicken my pace and I see a bus stop coming up and decide to check the times. Since there is one coming soon, I decide to sit again and wait. When I sit, I feel that my leg feels very relieved. It’s throbbing. Maybe this time I wont have a choice but to wait regardless of how long the bus takes. I need to give my leg a rest.

15 minutes pass and it is now 4:30pm, I begin to count time, ‘Let’s see, I got out of school at 2:15pm, and it is now 4:30pm. That means that in 1 hour and 15 minutes, I have only managed to walk half-way between my home… and school!?’

The bus was supposed to arrive at 4:25pm, it’s only 5 minutes late but I feel this desperation that I just can’t shake. I look around and the people seem normal. I don’t understand why I am getting this anxious over the bus being late. I feel my stomach in knots and I’m beginning to get a headache. I feel queezy, a mixture of nauseous and dizzy, but its not me. It’s like someone is causing this inside of me. I know what’s coming next.

It always happens next. As I try to use my breathing exercises to calm down, everyone, including myself, turns to the left in reaction to the noise of a car zooming down. It is going really fast and swerving between cars trying to get away or get to a place. The car passes by and almost in slow motion I see the driver. And the driver sees me. Quickly I feel relieved, and realize who it is. ‘I can’t believe that it’s him!’

He busts out a u-turn quite elegantly like he is known to be and parks the car facing traffic on the side of the street were I am. Relieved I try to get up, but I feel faint. Probably the reason he came dashing to look for me. I extend my hand and he catches it, wraps his arm around my back to give me balance and helps me into the car. I smile at him and weakly ask, “what took you so long?”

He smiles and says, “I hadn’t realized that you had forgotten your medicine Miss Levine.”

He closes the door and gets in the car, inside I see a tray with my medicine and a cup of water. I take my medicine and drink the water. My nerves immediately calm down I lean back and the car goes. I close my eyes and my  mind goes draws a blank on the events that happened today. I still manage to make a mental note that I have to tell Saul all about it. The sway of the car lulls me to sleep.

When I wake up, my eyes flutter. I am in my home, in my room laying down feeling much better. I sit up and I feel sore, like if with every move my body is ripping. I feel it most in my leg, and on my back. A little disoriented, I call for Saul. He comes in with a tray and tea and responds “Yes miss Levine?”

Groggily I ask “what day is it?” He replies, “It is 6:30 pm, the day of your first day of school, Miss Levine.”

I reach for the tea and take a sip, “Thank you Saul, what happened…?”

“Well Miss Levine, as far as I can tell by the wounds you have sustained, you were attacked by an animal, you fell unto your right hip and your left foot got hit by some type of a vehicle” he replies.

As he speaks the memories begin to come back, I put my tea cup down unto the tea plate and look up at him. His eyes full of frustrated sadness, I know what he is thinking. It’s what I was thinking too. I decide to wait, before I tell him my reasons for why we have to leave. It is a conversation that will happen when we are both ready to deal with moving again. I decide to lighten up the mood, “Well better than the first day of school last year,…” I look at him rather serious and he looks at me. Then I quite seriously raise an eyebrow and we both laugh.

 

 

I half laugh and smile at her, but as I look at her, and then connect with her eyes, I feel her face remain serious and I feel my heart flop. I stay looking at her eyes and then manage to look away and think ‘this can’t be happening.’

She very seriously replies “Yes, it is.”

I stare at her and I get that tingle down my spine, and I tell myself ‘this stuff only happens in stories, this stuff only happens in stories….’

She then laughs, and says ” you must have really had a long day if you believed me, it’s a joke…” She stops laughing when she notices that I’m not.

I look at her half relieved and half annoyed, “No, but they are really related because they have many similarities. I would argue that they seem to be referring to the same people, almost makes me believe that it actually did happened.”

Looking at the clock now, I have about a minute left, so I pick up my things and rather than continue the conversation to be polite I say, “Well, thank you for all your help.”

And I proceed to walk out. She gets up and says “Oh, yea no problem. I hope to see you again,…. under better circumstances!”

‘Nice save’ I think and I wave bye. I beat most of the crowd out of campus. Rather than go home on the school bus, I had already planned on taking the city bus, so I proceed to go to the bus stop. I check the times and the bus is running late. I take a seat and let out a huge sigh. I stretch and think to myself ‘what a long day.’ After 10 minutes the people around me get anxious and begin to complain about the bus’ tardiness. Getting annoyed myself at the people who are getting annoyed, I get up and make up my mind to just walk home.

I take out my mp3 player and listen to some music as I walk home. ‘I cant believe how this day went. It was all so crazy. There were ups and downs, and the worst part is… should I be more relieved or more scared than what I am right now after everything that happened.’

I am walking in such deep thought, then I realize that I’m looking at gravel instead of sidewalk. I continue to take another step while at the same time looking up and turning to the left and I see a car heading my way! I close my eyes and hear the honking noise so close! Immediately I think ‘I’m done for and brace myself for impact.’

But then I feel a strong…hand? Pull me back, the car manages to hit my foot as it was in the air as I was pulled back. I realize later that it didn’t hurt, but the sound it made against the car frightens me and forced out a scream from me. My eyes still closed I wait to fall to the ground because I can’t walk backwards to catch myself. But then I feel myself lean against a body that is holding me up, literally holding me up because not even my feet are touching the floor. As I am slowly put down, I regain my balance I think to myself ‘if I continue to hurt my legs I wont be able to attend the competition anymore.’

I turn around and take off my earphones to thank my savior but when I do, there is no one there. I take a few steps in the direction were there may be some hiding spots but I see nothing. There is no one. ‘Who would help me and then just run off?’ I look around to see if anyone saw the incident and there is no one around. No one on the street, no cars driving by. It’s like if for one moment I was all alone in the world. My nerves act up and I walk back to the corner where I almost got hit and as I turn I see people.

I feel relieved and think ‘Who helped me? Why didn’t I sense that someone was walking right behind me?’ As I lean against the wall and try to calm myself I bring my hand up to my mouth. ‘I’ve always had a good sense of my surrounding. The last time,… it was Bullfrog…. When I actually felt someone watching me earlier today, it was Bullfrog… and when I didn’t sense anything,… that’s when I heard that music and I was, healed. Who would protect me? Why would anyone want to protect me?’

I get off the wall, begin to walk and put my earphones back in. ‘The only person who had been helpful to me, was Jorge…. maybe Jorge saved me again? Maybe he has healing powers and healed me.’ I let out a huge “Pssshhht! HA! Maybe it makes sense since he did say he wanted to get to know me! Hahahaha, but…through notes? Like what is that all about!? Hahahah…”

‘Maybe he’s just really, really shy? Even so, if  he saved me again, he would have stayed and waited to see if I was ok.’

 

 

 

 

I begin to unfold it, when I notice that the nurse is leaning closer and closer. I suppose the curiosity was getting to her. I look up at her, and she looks down to me. She realizes what she is doing and says “Oops, I’m sorry.”

I respond ” It’s ok.” She walks away and I unfold the letter.

Hello, Magenta L.

I figured out your name when I had to look for your id. Sorry I didn’t help you when you fell, you rolled out of nowhere, I wasn’t even sure how you managed to fall.

*Stops reading the letter, blushes and thinks ‘Oh damn, I must have given the impression of being a total klutz’ face-palms herself. Continues to read.

I am really infatuated by you and I have an odd request, I would like to get to know you…However I can’t directly. So I spoke to the nurse and she agreed to be our little bird so that we may talk to each other via notes.

Hope to hear from you soon, Jorge B.

PS. (Yes I finally found out your name, since I had to get your id from your backpack to give to the nurse)

I fold the paper back and just sit there in shock. No boy had ever given me a note that said he liked me. No boy had ever really payed attention to me. And now, all of this was happening to me. Love. Well the possibility of love. He was cute and it’s true that I felt my heart yearn to leap for him. But I don’t know him. It’s my first day I know nothing of the clicks or of where I belong. I haven’t even met all of my teachers yet.

Then I stop, catching myself. Wait so, I’m thinking of staying here? after everything that happened? Just for that boy?

I look up at the clock and realize the time. It’s 30 minutes before the end of the last class of the day. I turn myself to get off the bed, look around for my things, spot them and get out of bed. I stand and wobble, balance myself out, and begin to walk as normally as possible. I make it through the hall and I don’t see the nurse. I continue to walk and hear a “Woah, what are you doing?”

I turn to my side and see the nurse. I reply, “I’m going back to class since I’m awake now. I can still make the last 30 minutes”. Checking the clock on the wall.

She walks towards me and says “Look I know you had a long day, the bruises I examined show it. And if that boy had anything to do with them then I advise you to stay away from him”, she says to me worriedly.

“No! No, it’s not like that at all. Today is my first day of school and I met him this morning. He has been helping me out all day today” I reply.

She says “Well, that would explain why I couldn’t find you in our system. We actually had about 10 students who all started today, its the damnedest thing actually.”

I look at her, a bit surprisingly since she cursed, and a bit confused as to why she would tell me this information. Then she continues “So, you might as well just stay here and rest. There really is no point of you going back to class with that leg and then have to come back this way to go home.”

I ask her, “Is that really ok? Shouldn’t you be more strict and send me anyway?” She replies with “Meh, anyways follow me”.

She leads me to her office and takes a seat, and offers me a seat as well. I sit down and look around. I see many certificates, pictures, and posters. Then I look at her and she is already looking at me. Her eyes make me nervous.

I ask her ” So, Nurse…. I’m sorry I didn’t quite get your name. Do I just call you nurse?”

Whatever deep thought she was in she snaps out of it and looks at me, smiles and says “Nurse Sherry, My full name is Sherrin, but my friends call me Sherry. Like cherry, but with a sh sound rather than a ch sound”.

I look at her with a face that looks like I’m saying seriously and say “Ok, so nurse Sherry. Ummmm, what do you do for fun outside of working here?”

“Huh, no one’s ever asked me that before…. hmmm let me think” she says. At first I wait with anticipation and then after a minute or two I sit back and wait.

Then she yells “I got it!” I prop up. “When I’m not here I like to learn as much as I can about old legends.”

“Oh really? That sounds really interesting. What’s the most interesting legend you have come across?” I ask.

“Oh there are so many, but I would narrow it down to two legends.”

“Why two?” I ask.

“Because they both deal with you Magenta” she replies.

It’s my mom setting up the table! Before I get a chance to run to her and hug her, I hear “Yum, smells delicious! You outdid yourself dear”.

I turn to that voice and it’s my dad! Holding my baby brother. I begin to cry and my parents ask “What’s wrong honey?”

I mutter through my tears “I missed you all so much”.

They both look at each other and chuckle and my brother coos. My mom replies “Oh, honey you were only outside for 5 minutes” she smiles her sweet smile and continues “Did you find all the fire wood you need for the bonfire so that we can make s’mores?”

Instinctively I say yes, and then I begin to remember more. “Actually mom, can we do it in the fire pit inside? All of the sticks are kinda wet” I ask, and dad replies “that actually sounds much better hun, that way the house is warm for my cousin and his wife”.

For a moment I feel relieved and I smile and eat. Then the lights flicker and a storm hits outside. I look out the window and see a lightning strike a tree nearby. Fascinated by it I get my coat and go outside. It’s raining, but not pouring. As I make my way to the fire, I feel as if it is calling out to me, so I run to the fire and when I get there I am mesmerized by it. It’s as if it wants me to touch it. I reach out my hand and it’s almost as if I can hold it in my hand. A little heartbeat.

Then I hear my father calling for me. I turn around and face towards the cabin and lighting hits it. I see fire and smoke coming from the direction of the cabin. I walk to the cabin. Then I hear mom scream at dad to go get the baby. Then I start to run to the cabin and i see through the open front door that she goes to get the fire extinguisher but it’s stuck. I begin to run and yell mommy! Daddy! Another bolt hits and the cabin blows. The force of the explosion pushes me back and I fall. I open my eyes and all I see are chars.

I call out for mom. No answer.

I call out for dad. No answer.

I call out for my brother. No baby noises. I look around flames are still up.

Then I hear a voice calling my name. I turn around and yell “Mom?”

It’s not my mom. It’s my aunt and uncle. I blank out and then there are ambulances and helicopters. I remember my uncle talking to the police. My aunt talking to a medic. I am just sitting there and in that chaos I hear, “nuuuuaaaaa” very faintly.

I look up and try to see where that noise is coming from. I get up and walk around. Then my aunt comes to me and asks ” Is everything ok?”

“I heard Damian, aunty”. I keep looking around and then my uncle comes over. He says something to my aunt. Then he asks me “What are you doing?”

“I heard Damian, uncle”. I look up at them. They look at each other. Then look back down at me.

“I’m sorry Magenta. But you couldn’t have heard your brother. Or your mother. Or your dad. They are all gone”. I begin to whimper and say “but I heard him, I did”.

“Don’t start crying over spilled milk Magenta, they are in a better place now. Be happy that they get to be in heaven” Aunty says. I obey. I had always obeyed and they treated me so…

With tears in my eyes, I close them and then wake up in a bed, the walls a pale blue. I sit up and I see a tear fall unto my skirt. I wipe away my tears and think to myself. It’s been so long since I had that dream. I bring my knees in to my chest even though it hurts. I hold myself. I sit there and think in disbelief that it has 10 years since the death of my family. I take a deep breath and think they left me alone with those people, i snap out of it and tell myself that I am no longer with them, I wont let this get me down, I need to be happy for them. I look around and that’s when it hits me that the guy isn’t anywhere.

Then I hear “Glad to see that you are up”.

I turn my head and I see the nurse. “What happened?” I ask.

“Well, I sent the young man who carried you back to his classroom. He insisted that he stay here until you woke up, but seeing how asleep you were and in what condition you were in i wasn’t sure when that would be. Oh! and before he left, he told me to give this to you”. She hands me a letter. Blushingly  I take it.

I thought about how he helped me the first time and of how now, I felt disappointed. He didn’t have to help me, but because of how nice he was…, I guess I expected to much. Struggling, I was able to stand and I debated on whether I should go to the nurses office… across campus… or just stay here to be discovered by a supervisor so that they could help me. While I waited to make up my mind I thought about the crazy day I was having. What did I do in a past life to merit so much pain and awkwardness on this first day of school for me?

After waiting a few minutes, all the students were now in class, I decided to try. After trying to walk and only managing to limp, I stopped to massage my thigh. After straightening myself out I felt an arm around my back and another scooping me up. Immediately my mind raced to the monster and that guy who saved me, so I instinctively went to punch whoever it was in the face, but he let go of my legs held me close, my feet dangling over the ground and stopped my punch. I couldn’t believe it, it was him!

At first he just held my right sprained wrist in his hand and held me up with his other arm. I look at him confused, and then I notice our situation and try to use my free arm to push him away and then struggle to push my right arm as well. Which turned out to be a bad idea and I let out a meek “augh”.

He lets me go, and using my leg that doesn’t hurt I hold my balance and I just look at him. He faces me and then looks away. I hop to meet his gaze and blushingly he looks at me. I feel my heart almost melt. I begin to feel a warm sensation and quickly snap out of it as his eyes remind me that he let me fall. I look down-left towards the ground and limp towards my things. I can feel him looking at me and then realizing what I am doing he darts towards my things and says “let me help you”.

I look at him with confused squinted eyes and respond “I appreciate your help this morning, and your lack of help with the stairs, but I don’t need your help”.

I grab my stuff and attempt to put my backpack on. He grabs it at mid-swing and holds it. He smoothly says “I wasn’t asking”.

He swipes my backpack down, and lunges it over his shoulder. He steps in close and I lean back. My strong leg in front and the weak one in the back I think ‘oh shit’, as I loose my balance. He maneuvers his arms around me and just as quickly scoops me up bridal style and says “I’m taking you to the nurses office”.

As he begins to walk with me in his arms, a very weak wind blows through and the few leaves that remain on the dried up trees fall. I look up at him and I see his hair flow. I grab my skirt to hold it down. I take a deep breath to calm myself from this crazy day and I smell him. I look around and there aren’t a lot of people out and about. The thought crosses my mind that maybe he doesn’t want to be noticed either. Looking at him I think maybe that’s why when I reached out for help he stopped himself. I turn my head forwards in the direction we are heading and I see our reflection on the doors of a hallway we need to cross to get to the other side of campus. We look… perfect. The image changes a bit and all of a sudden I’m in a white dress and he is in a tux. Shocked and embarrassed that this thought came into my mind out of no where, I turn back to align my head with my body and close my eyes.

I can hear his heartbeat, I can smell him, I feel his arms wrapping me. It’s too much comfort in one blow that slowly I fall asleep!

I open my eyes but I’m not in school anymore, the thought of being in school makes no sense. I’m in the forest, I have seen this forest before. I walk thru some trees and I find a cabin. My heart sinks. I know this cabin. I don’t want to go into that cabin. My heart hurts and I begin to tear up. Then like a miracle the sun comes up. I hear my name, “come here!”

I begin to walk towards the words. “Dinner is ready, come eat”.

 

 

I walked towards the Language building in this school, but noticed that everyone else was leisurely going about heading towards the cafeteria. I looked around and it dawns on me, its lunch time! After the whole escapade, time had passed and it was now lunch time. I looked at the bell schedule and sure enough 3rd period and 4th period were over!

How could this be? I walked towards the cafeteria, and not paying attention to where I was going, I bump into this very tall, athletic African-American girl. I quickly apologize and look at her face. She had the smoothest almost caramel colored complexion I had ever seen. Gawking at her I muttered “wow you are very pretty”.

She “tsh”s at me and turns back around and ignores me. Right away my attitude changes and I go around her and continue on my way. Finally in line for food, I start feeling proud of myself for not becoming too noticeable today. Then that thought quickly decimates, as i realize that I hadn’t been doing a good job at keeping a low profile. First, I bump into that boy; whose name I don’t know; then I almost befriend that blue girl, then I get attacked and I’m saved by a mysterious boy, and lastly, just now I bump into a beautiful black wavy haired girl.

I get to the front of the line and get my food, I go outside and sit in the middle of the quad perfectly visible in case anything happens, and perfectly invisible to everyone else who are just focusing on their group conversations.

I begin to munch on my cheeseburger and nearly gag. I look down and notice that the burger has pickles. I very modestly spit out the piece I bit and open my burger to take out the pickles. I take another bite and I just can’t bring myself to eat it. The taste of pickle is too much. So I drink my milk and eat my carrots with ranch. When I’m done I get up to walk around and listen to different conversations. Since I am still a nobody, no one should pay too much attention to me walking around and eavesdropping.

“So she did do it?!” girl 1.

“Totes did! I cant believe how big of a slut she is!” girl 2

“Well heres hoping she gets pregnant and you become home coming queen!” girl 3

The bell rings, I get up and the girls get startled. I guess they didn’t realize I was here. But as soon as they see that I’m the new girl, their shocked faces turn to whatever faces and they get up and go. All I can think to myself is trivial, stupid and trivial. They worry about things that wont matter in the future. With my map in hand I make way to history class. I look around and there are some fun-loving people here at the school. People playing sports like soccer, girls already forming study groups and exchanging numbers. It feels like everyone has someplace were they fit in and are welcomed. But not me.

As I begin to ascend the stairs I hear a commotion and as I continue to climb, someone yells “watch out!”

I turn around and I see a soccer ball coming towards me. I maneuver myself quickly and do a high round kick to kick the ball back to the boys playing soccer. Once again eyes are on me. I make a full turn to continue my path up the stairs, only to slip on someone’s uneaten cheeseburger. As my right foot slides to the left, my body unable to balance itself begins to fall to the right. This time there is no one to catch me. I hit my hip on the edge of the stair I was on and as I’m about to roll down the 5 stairs that I climbed I am stopped by some legs. Now on my back facing up, with my shirt twisted and my skirt raised to expose my bruised outer thigh, I look up and I can’t believe my freaken luck. It’s the guy from this morning, the one who i bumped into. Without moving, for fear of me rolling down, he bent over a little, our eyes met and asked “are you ok?”

Gruntingly I responded ” yes I’m ok” and extended my hand so that he could help me get up. And for a split second it looked as if he was going to reach down to grab it, but then he stepped over me and continued to go up the stairs. Once he moved the only leg holding me up, with a shocked face I looked down at the stairs and rolled down. I rotated 2 times and hit the floor landing on my bruised side. I couldn’t help but groan in pain, and using the momentum I sat up. I held my thigh and as he turned to continue upstairs he looked at me and I looked at him.