November 17

A New Divide

Thursday

I’ll just make one quick note to all reviewers. I’m really really really really sorry that all that took so long. I’ve been so busy and then I didn’t feel like writing over winter break. And then…my internet died and then randomly started working late yesterday evening. I love you all and I just wanted to make this one quick so I could get this show on the road. Cheers!

Also-I’ve decided to include the day of the week in my chapters so that you kiddies wont get too cornfused

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My alarm clock buzzed loudly at 6 a.m. I slapped it off my night stand and sat up, remembering that I’d never undressed the night before. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater and took my usual morning shower. Today was the day of the chorus concert. A knot of nervousness was slowly tightening in my stomach and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to eat breakfast. I glanced around to make sure all the lights were off in the other rooms. As always, I checked my guitar in the poster room. My eyes happened to fall on my Stone Henge poster. My crazed thoughts from last night returned to me. Seth Outland stared back at me, his eyes almost accusing. I bolted, barely remembering my book bag and car keys. What was I going to do? All I could do at the moment was pray for Ireland to still be sick. I asked myself what a rational, logical person would do.

The chances really are slim that a world famous celebrity would attend a tiny high school in the middle of North Dakota. Why would he do it anyway?

That was all I could make of it, and it was enough to convince me that there were plenty of black haired Irish boys in the world. And Will’s eyes were blue.

I only vaguely remembered driving to school and pulling into my parking space.

The school was warm and welcoming and, as usual, I was one of the first students to arrive. I immediately went to the office to get my make up work.

“Hello Miss Mercer? Could I please have my make up work?” The secretary looked up from what she’d been reading.

“Of course, Nora. Would you like the O’Malley boy’s too? He wasn’t here yesterday and he probably doesn’t know to come to the office to get it.”

I felt myself stiffen slightly.

“Sure.”

Miss Mercer took two packets of papers from a tray and handed them to me. I thanked her and left. I sifted through the papers that were mine, letting my feet guide me. Of course I was startled when I ran into someone. And just my luck. It was Irish himself.

“Good morning, Nora. Thanks for bringing over my make up work on Tuesday.”

“It-it was no problem. I have yours for yesterday too.” I handed it over to him. He began looking through it. I examined him while he wasn’t looking. His nose was a little pink from being out in the cold and his scarf was still around his neck. He was beautiful. He couldn’t be a rock star. There was no way, just no way…

“The chorus concert is this evening, isn’t it?” He asked, breaking into my thoughts.

“Oh, don’t even remind me. I couldn’t even eat breakfast I’m so nervous.”

“You, nervous? You’ll be fine, Nora, I’m sure.” His smile was reassuring.

“Thank you, that means a lot.” There was a bit of an awkward silence. All I could do was stare at the floor.

“Soo…you’ve met my step brother…”

“Yeah…I was kind of scared of him at first. He was inspecting me when I brought over your make up work.”

He laughed.

“I’m sure he didn’t do it intentionally. Albert is great. I couldn’t ask for a better place to live.”

“Not to pry or anything, but I thought he was your actual brother, I mean…blood relation. Uncle Charles mentioned it after he saw you again. He said that you flew in on the same flight.”

“Not at all.” He started walking. “Mind if we walk and talk?” He sounded a little on edge.

“What’s the matter?”

“There’s a whole crowd of groupies coming up behind us right now. I’d like to live to see my graduation day.” I felt myself stiffen. Groupies.

SHUT UP, HEAD! For the last time! You were completely drunk last night!

I mentally screamed at myself, before remembering that I wasn't drunk last night.

"Sure." I muttered, realizing that I hadn't responded. Will lengthened his stride and I had to jog to keep up with him.

"I was living with my mother, but she couldn't really take care of my anymore. I decided that I wanted to move in with my step brother, Albert. And here I am today. End of story."

"I'm sorry to hear about your mother."

"Don't worry about it, Nora. I'm glad that I came here. I get to experience a world of new things that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else."

I about choked after that one. I instantly thought of the concert. I have got to stop thinking about these things. I am going crazy.

"Could I see that for a second?" I asked Will, noticing a book he was carrying in his hand.

"Be my guest." I took the book and promptly hit myself in the forehead with it.

"What are you doing?"

"Thanks for the book. I was trying to snap myself out of my nervousness. Cya later Will!" And I ran like a little girl.

I had another blury day, filled with confussion and vague memories of a photography project. I decided to eat lunch for a change and went to wait in line. I noted the two giggly under classmen in front of me. They were looking at a magazine. I glanced over their shoulders at it.

"10 Tips to Stop Obsessing Over Him, the Past, and other Menial !"

"Hey, mind if I take a look at that?"

"Um...not at all." The blonde one handed over the magazine and I read it avidly.

"Thank you." I said, handing it back to her.

"No problem, my name is Michelle, by the way." She added kindly.

"It's nice to meet you Michelle."

"Are you new here?"

"Uh...no...I've always attended here. I'm a senior this year..."

"Oh...really sorry. I mean..."

"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty quite normally."

"Michelle, let's go sit down. The line isn't moving."

"You go ahead, Jordan."

"But..."

"You can find the table. Make sure there are two more seats left."

"Two?"

"Well, I'm talking to my friend here. She might want to sit with us."

Michelle returned her attention to me, seeming not to notice the enmity in Jordan's glares aimed at me.

"That was very kind of you. You don't even know my name."

"Well, you seemed like a cool kid, so I thought, what the heck? What not tell my cool new friend about our wonderful lunch table?"

"I'm a cool kid?" I giggled.

"That's my way of saying you're all right." She shrugged gracefully. We made our way through the line and I followed her obediently to her table.

"Hey everyone! This is Nora. Nora, meet Mark, Jonothan, Rachel, Edward, you've already met Jordan, Noah, Jenny, and Christine."

"Hello all." I could feel my cheeks heating up slightly. They all mummbled some salutation and went back to what they were doing. Michelle sat next to me and I sat beside the boy who I thought was Edward. He looked extremely bored and wasn't eating anything. I dug into my salad after murmuring a blessing and removed the cherry tomatoes.

"Are you going to eat those?" Edward asked, motioning toward my discarded tomatoes.

"No."

"Can I have them?" I pushed them toward the edge of my tray and he picked one up and ate it.

"I think it's rotten." He said swallowing.

"That's a night thought."

"I thought so too."

I made a face into my salad and continued eating.

"What time is it?"

"Beahsh be." I responded through a bite of lettuce.

"You don't have a watch?"

"No...why does it matter?" I asked curiously, peering at him. He was watching me intently from under his long blond hair that was falling into his eyes.

"I see you around sometimes, Nora, and I've always wanted to talk to you."

"Huh?"

"I'm pretty shy, you know so I normally don't say much. My friends probably think I'm mute."

"You don't seem that quite to me."

"That's only because I'm on a roll and I'm rambling."

"I see..." I muttered, standing up.

"Nice talking to you." Again, I fled like a little girl.

I stomped on my own foot at my stupidity. I had to go to chorus now and there was no way I could miss it. I couldn't skip class. I've never skipped a class in my life. How sad is that? I dutifully went to chorus, attempting to push one dark haired boy from my head and focus on what was ahead of me.