Jeannette
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I saw her storm out the front door of the school with her
backpack slung over one shoulder. She
hit the door so hard I heard it bang against the outside wall. Whoa, this girl was feisty. I ran after her. “Hey!
Hey wait up. Jeannette. It’s Jeannette right?” She stopped but didn't turn around. One hand was in a tight fist while the other
held on to the strap of her backpack. I
could see her take a deep breath like she was trying to fight down rage or
tears, I couldn't tell which. The breeze
blew her brown wavy hair and I could smell her vanilla shampoo. “Hey, I’m sure whatever it is that’s got you
so worked up, it’s not worth getting caught skipping class your first week of
school.” She slowly turned and looked at
me. Anger flashed in her dark brown
eyes. She took another deep breath. “Why does it matter to you if I get in
trouble or not?” I grinned at her. “It doesn't really. I’m a sucker for
a girl who likes a little trouble.” “Uh
huh. Well I’m sure that adorable smile
and bad boy charm works on all the other girls, but my B.S. limit has been
reached for the day. So, I’ll see
ya.” She turned and started walking,
completely unaware of how her southern accent affected me. “Wait, can I at least walk with you? I've got a free hour and I need to stretch my
legs.” She stopped and without turning
said, “Whatever.” “So, where’d you move
from?” “Texas.” “Nice.
How are you adjusting?” Out of
the corner of my eye I saw her mouth tighten.
After a few seconds I wasn't sure she was going to answer. “Well, considering I didn't know we were
moving until two days before it happened, my mom is acting all weird, my
step-dad is MIA and my only friend is my little brother, I’d say I’m just
peachy. I have no idea why I just told
you all of that.” Grinning, I said, “I
have that effect on people. And hey,
you can count me as a friend.” I looked
over at her as she rolled her eyes. “Oh
geez. Does that crap really work on the
girls around here?” Shaking her head
“and y’all question our intelligence.”
We had reached the end of school property and she turned toward the
wooded area bordering the football field.
She glanced over. “Are you just
going to follow me like some hall monitor on a power trip?” I chuckled.
She reminded me a little of another feisty girl with a sharp
tongue. “I’m no hall monitor. I don’t think they’d trust me to enforce the
“no running in the halls” rule. I just
thought I’d get a little fresh air and see what had you damaging school
property.” We came to a small cluster of
trees where she chucked her bag to the ground, sat down with her back against a
tree. She leaned her head back and
closed her eyes. Some of the tension
left her body as she took another deep breath.
I sat down next to her our knees touching. She opened one eye and looked at me. “You do know what personal space is right?
“ “Yes, but the presence of another warm
body can often ease a person’s anxiety.”
“Seriously, do girls really eat that up?
They must since you seem to have a line for everything.” Instead of answering her I leaned back with
my hands behind my head and looked up at the sunlight shifting through the
leaves. It was one of those days when
the weather seemed to make a conscience effort to be enjoyable. I found it interesting that I just wanted to
sit there and relax. I usually felt like
a lightning bolt was zipping through my veins.
Weird. “Are you going to tell me
why you stormed out of school?” She
sighed. “Algebra and the stupid algebra
teacher, whatever his name is. It’s not
like I don’t know how to do the problems.
We just learned a different way of doing them. I mean who cares what strategies you use as
long as you get the right answer.” I
could see her fists clench like she was trying to hold on to something. Or hold something inside. “Yah, I guess Landis
is a stickler for his way or no way.
You know I've forgotten my manners.
My name is Sykes.” She turned her
head but didn't open her eyes. “Oh I
know your name. I've heard it spoken by
almost every female in school, faculty included. Your reputation precedes you.” She smirked and turned her head back. “Hey, don’t fault me for being such a
friendly guy. Most people would consider
that a good thing.” “Well I’m not most
people. So if you want to go spread your
version of southern hospitality to those who appreciate it, you’re not required
to stay.” I looked over at her. The breeze picked up a strand of her
hair. I caught it and ran my thumb over
the soft wave. Before she opened her eyes
I let it go. “How long has your step-dad
been gone?” She stiffened. “I don’t
know. A couple of months I guess.” Shrugging she said, “It’s not like we were
that close. But it hurts my little
brother and mom.” I nodded. Then she opened her eyes and looked at
me. Her dark eyes standing out against
her pale skin sprinkled with freckles.
“She won’t give me a straight answer as to why she moved us here or why
he HAS to go to THIS school. We've never
had secrets. “ I could see the confusion
and hurt swirling like a storm inside her.
The wind blew a small leaf on to her arm. I brushed it off and as soon as my hand
touched her I felt that lightning bolt zap something inside of me. She jumped back, shocked. I breathed out, “What the hell?” She swallowed. “What the heck was that?” I stared at her. What was it about her that calmed me one
minute then electroshocked my heart the next?
“You’re not all human are you?”
She blanched. “What?! We shock each other with static electricity
or something and the first thing you jump to is I’m not all human?! Who asks that? I guess you've reached your nice guy
limit.” She picked up her backpack and
stormed off towards the school. After a
few yards she stopped and turned to look at me.
Shaking her head she turned back to the school and rounded the
corner. I had no idea what had just
happened, but for the first time in my life a girl had freaked me out.
Two Days Later:
It had been two days since I last talked to
Jeannette. Two days since she looked at
me with that disappointment in her eyes.
I couldn’t figure out why it bothered me so much. Or why I’ve been avoiding her. And yet I knew where she was every minute of
the day. What is wrong with me?! Remy even noticed I was distracted when I
almost set the chair on fire while I was playing with a plasma ball. I know she saw me staring at her in the
cafeteria. She must think I really am a
stalker. There’d be no doubt in her mind
if she knew I flashed over to her house last night just to see if her bedroom
light was on. Again…what the hell is
wrong with me?! I have NEVER noticed a girl’s finger polish
before so how is it that I know she painted hers hot pink with some kind of
glitter on top. They look like they’re
sugar coated and I’d love to see if they’re as sweet too. Holy crap!
I have got to get a grip.
“Sykes!” “What
dude? Geez, Rem you don’t have to yell
at me.”
“I’ve been trying to talk to you for three minutes. I guess I could have shaken the floor under
you. I’ll do that instead next
time. So what gives? You’ve been zoned out the last couple of
days.” Sighing I just shook my
head. “It’s that new chick,
Jeannette. There’s something about
her.” “Whoa, hold up. Did you just say you’re distracted by a
girl? A girl who’s name doesn’t start
with an L? A HUMAN girl?? I can’t wait
to hear this.” “Shut up Remy! I’m serious.
I’m not sure she’s entirely human.
What else would explain that shock I got when our fingers touched? Or why I can’t stop thinking about her? “Um,
well could it be partly because by some miracle she’s immune to your “mojo” as
you call it? Look, why don’t you try
talking to her again? Maybe it’ll help
you figure out why you’re acting like a space cadet too. “ I stared at him for a second. “Yah, I guess you’re right.” “I’m always right, bro. Always.”
Rolling my eyes, “I think you’ve mistaken right for cocky.”
The next morning I waited outside by the fence I know she
and her brother walk by on their way to school.
I could hear them laughing as they rounded the corner. She stopped for a second and arched her
eyebrow. He followed her gaze and
grinned. It’s like he knows something I
don’t. “Hey sis, I’m gonna run on
ahead. I’ve got a few questions I want
to ask my history teacher. I’ll, uh, see
you after school, k?” She glares at him,
“Fine, see ya.” He jogs passed me with a
smirk. I notice it’s very much like
hers. She just stands there watching
me. I can see the distrust in her dark
eyes. “Ok, what’s the deal? I know you don’t walk to school. So, that means you’re here to talk to
me.” “Well, aren’t you full of
yourself? It’s entirely possible I’m
doing my neighborhood watch shift.” I see
her try to fight a small smile. “I doubt
anyone would put you on neighborhood watch duty any more than they would make
you a hall monitor.” She still hasn’t
taken a step toward me. “So, can I walk
with you the rest of the way?” She
looks at me puzzled. “I promise I’ll
keep my B.S. to a minimum.” “Yah, I
wouldn’t want you to cause me to reach my limit before school starts.” I sigh with relief. She starts to walk and I fall in step with
her. “So, how’re things?” She glances at me and I can feel the tension
causing her to hesitate. “About the same
I guess. Like my mom says, “Same crap,
different day”. I haven’t damaged
anymore school property if that’s what you’re worried about.” The fall breeze starts to pick up and I see
her shiver. “Here, take my hoodie.” She stops and looks at me. “Why?”
The way she says it with that slow drawl full accusation tugs at
something inside of me. Something I’ll
have to examine later. I ignore the
question as I take her back pack from her shoulder and hold the hoodie out for
her to take. Much to my surprise she
takes it and for some reason it makes me want to fist pump the air. The royal blue color sets off her chocolate
hair and creamy skin. My breath
catches. After she puts on the hoodie
and pushes the too long sleeves up I hand over her back pack and we continue
on. I can’t remember the last time I
walked this slowly on purpose. “I’m
really sorry about the other day. I
didn’t mean to be such a jerk. And I
really didn’t want to make your day worse.”
She keeps walking but I can see her shoulders relax. “Um, thanks.
I get the feeling you don’t apologize for much so I’ll let you off the
hook…this time.” Chuckling and in my
best southern accent I tell her, “Why thank ya, ma’am.” She rolls hers and laughs. There goes that tugging sensation. I notice we’re getting closer to school and
I’m still no closer to figuring her out.
“Hey, do you want to get pizza with me sometime. Or something else if you don’t like
pizza.” She stops suddenly. “A couple of days ago you accused me of not
being human and now you want me to go get pizza with you? I’m not sure what you’re up to, but I have my
plate full. I don’t need to be the butt
of any practical jokes. Or charity
social calls for that matter.” I hold my
hands up in the universal signs of surrender.
“Hey, hey, hey. I promise I’m not
up to anything. I just thought it would
be nice for you to have a real friend, ok? “
She glares at me as she looks for any sign of insincerity. She must not find any as she starts walking
again she says “Ok. I guess I can get
pizza with you sometime. Can my brother
come?” I can easily sense the test she’s
just laid out. “Yah, sure. The more the merrier.” She smirks.
I grin at her. “Well, how about
Friday night? There’s no football game
or school stuff going on.” She looks
over at me and smiles. It’s a smile that
makes me feel like I’ve just been busted for something. “Ok. I’ll
have to check with my mom, but I think it should be fine.” The warning bell rings as we walk up the
front steps of the school. “Great! I’ll talk to you later. And hey, keep my hoodie for a while. It looks hot on you.” I take the last few steps in one bound as I
laugh at the daggers she shoots at me with her eyes. I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty
entertaining figuring out what sassy, Ms. Jeannette is all about. I sure as hell need to get a grip on whatever
it is tugging at my insides, too.
What I imagine Sykes looks like. Image from different internet sites. STOP droolin'!!
Click for synopsis
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