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1013 Words
I'm currently on the rooftop of the school building pacing back and forth. Normally those who try to avoid crowds come here during lunch break for solitude. I don't blame them. The place gives off a nice view of the city, its quiet and the air's cooler up here too. Not only is it a perfect place to unwind and take a nap, it has the perfect ambiance when you need to think.
Luckily, I have the whole roof for myself today.
Let's consider the situation first.
I'm sure I fell asleep last night. So there's a good chance this is all just a dream and my body's actually still in bed unconscious. But even if that were the case, why are my surroundings so vivid?
I've noticed ants crawling at the edge of the pole, the bird soaring in the sky and the cool breeze brushing pass my hair. I can also see faces. Everything's too clear for this to be considered a dream.
There's another way to find out though.
Grabbing a skin between my index finger and thumb, I tug and twist. Pain strikes almost immediately causing me to flinch from my own action and let go as a whimper seizes from my throat.
It hurts. So it's not a dream then.
I'm really inside a book where Jia's the female lead.
I let out a laugh, in pure disbelief of my situation. Questions after questions begin to fill my head. What went wrong? How did I end up here? Why am I here and how on earth do I go back?
Things like this shouldn't happen. It can't happen. Occurence should be justified with a reason and cause. But why can't I find one for this?
A clash behind alerts me of a new presence. When I turn around, someone's regaining their posture after knocking off a trash bin.
Red hair.
Arlo.
Those solemn eyes that were perfectly described in the book, flickers to meet mine. I don't know why but I'm suddenly feeling a surge of anxiety filling my bones. He narrows his eyebrows in a processing manner.
Then he smiles. If affects existed in this world, there'll probably be a halo floating at the top of his head.
"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."
I don't like the sound of this for some reason.
Confused, I tilt my head to the side. Why is he talking like we're close? It's just the two of us around. There's no one else here expect us. Unless of course he can see ghost and has chosen this time to greet them.
That smile on his face remains as he walks over to me. The closer he gets, the more I notice how tall he is. Although the book did mention that these boys were known to be the most good looking teens in the century, the description gives them no justice. I didn't expect Arlo to be this good looking now that I'm seeing him up close.
"You didn't forget did you?"
"What?"
At my words, he purses his lips. The smile on his face drops for a few moments, like he's contemplating a plan, before resurfacing again. His gaze drops down to my wrist and then back up to my eyes. "I'll remind you then. That watch. Return it."
A shiver runs down my spine. He's smiling but there's now a hostile aura surrounding him.
"I won't think twice and report this to the head principle if you don't cooperate with us. Stealing is against law. You know that right? If I'm being honest, the outcome won't be pleasing."
Now that he's mentioned it, I don't think I recognize this watch at all. I wore it out of haste this morning since we were running late. I always where a watch to school.
It's gold and heavy. The details are intricate. It looks expensive.
Hold on.
I think I'm beginning to get it. Jia became Jia from the book. Which means I'm probably that trouble maker 'Lottie', a character who appears only when it's time to make the female protagonist shine. She becomes jealous of her sister some time in the story and chooses to make her life horrible, leading to Arlo and the rest of the guys hating her.
Since the story revolves around Jia and the boys, there wasn't much I could see when it came to Lottie's perspective.
Like this for example. I didn't know she stole a watch.
I let out an exasperated sigh. My day couldn't get any worse now could it?
I don't want to get involved with them.
School life for Lottie becomes a mess after she was found responsible for her own sister's accident. What's worse is that she showed no resentment at all. Lottie's a rebellious teen who acts before she thinks. Her head exists in her butt. She has no sense of dignity and her lack of consideration leads her to do so many unacceptable, childish things.
I'd like to avoid that as much as possible.
I unclasp the watch and extend it towards him.
Lottie wouldn't have given in so easily. Since this was the only way the boys would seek out for her.
Flashes of her appearance in the book and the attitude she portrayed was enough to conclude her as predictable. She's desperate and annoying and will do anything to get what she wants.
I'm not Lottie though.
I don't care about this watch and wether I'm acknowledged by other people or not.
"Well, that was easy." Arlo murmurs after taking the watch from my hand.
"That's it?"
"Hmm?"
"If I stolen anything else, I rather you tell me now."
I don't want to have a conversation with someone who's bound to make my life hard. Although there's no saying how long I'll be here, it's better to prevent unwanted situations soon.
There it is again. A smile that causes his eyes to shape into two moon crescents. He brings the watch beside his head. "This will be fine for now."
For now?
- Writer
