“Yoohoo!” Yelled Kristy from across the table. “Are you even paying any attention to what I am saying?”

“Huh? What?” I muttered coming to with a start. “Sorry, what was that you said? I didn’t hear you.” Kristy let loose with an exasperated sigh.

“Obviously,” she grumbled. “What is with you these days? It’s like you’re not even here. You always seem to be off in La La Land or something. What’s the point in even trying to have a civilized conversation with you?...” Kristy’s voice seemed to run into a dull monotone as my mind wandered off again. I really didn’t mean to, and she was right. I had been unusually preoccupied lately. Even my teachers were remarking on my strange behavior.

“Hello! You’re spacing again!” Kristy’s voice interrupted my reverie once again. “I give up! There is absolutely no point in speaking to you!” With that last frustrated statement, Kristy grabbed her tray and headed towards the trash near the exit.

“Don’t worry about it Hayley. You know how Kristy gets,” said Alex with his usual infectious grin. If Alex ever did anything besides smile, I had never heard about it. However, he was usually right. Especially when it came to Kristy. If ever there was a person with a penchant for drama, she was it. She lived for drama, which probably explained why she was the star of our school’s productions. Actually, it was pretty strange that the three of us were even friends. We had Alex, our carefree, happy-go-lucky, always ready to give a smile guy. We had Kristy, our shining star of a drama queen, sparkly glamour girl. Then we had me, the plain jane, spacy, wallflower introvert. Somehow the three of us had met in the second grade and managed to hold together through all of life’s trials to where we were now, high school sophomores. I just didn’t...

Hey, anyone home in there?” I blinked and looked up to see Alex waiting impatiently. “It’s time to go. As in hurry up, the bell rang, we’re going to be late for class.” I wasn’t sure where the whole lunch period had gone, but obviously it had. I smiled my thanks to Alex and quickly grabbed all my stuff. As we left the cafeteria we headed to our separate classes. Alex to computer design, and me to the study of ancient swordsmanship.

As I walked into class I headed straight to my usual seat, in the very back corner of the class. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the class. It was actually one of my favorites. I just felt safer in a corner. Like I said before, I was a wallflower.

The final bell rang, and everybody pulled out their notebooks. It ran like clockwork every day. A short lecture followed by demonstrations. As I dug for my pencil I heard Mr. start talking about the counter attacks for the moves we had learned yesterday. Counter, where had I heard that word before? It was so familiar. Suddenly I was an inquisitive four year old again, sitting on my Grandma’s lap.

“Grandma, why do you have that funny charm on your necklace? I’ve never seen it before?” As I asked her I fingered the very charm I spoke of. It was a tiny circle edged in silver. The two sides were separated by a thin line almost like an S. One half was onyx of the purest black I’d ever seen, with a tiny circle of shimmering white. The other half was of an unfamiliar white stone that almost seemed to radiate light, the same as the spot on the other half. The only thing marring the purity was a small black dot. My grandma merely chuckled in that way that only grandmas can, at my wide-eyed curiosity.

“Well Hayley, this is a very special necklace indeed. It is a reminder of a very old story. Would you like to hear the story?”

“Oh please Grandma!” I pleaded. Grandma’s stories were always wonderful things full of magic and princesses from afar.

“Very well Hayley. However, if I tell you this story, you must listen very carefully.” With that final admonishment her eyes got that glazed over look as if she was looking at something off in the distance that only she could see, and her voice took on that sing song quality that only storyteller’s have.

“Once, a long, long time ago, in the very beginning there was a universe. That was it, nothing else. Just a big empty space. Then, one day an unnamed force began to create things for the universe. It started by making the very first opposites, dark and light. When it saw how well the first opposites worked out, it decided to make more. Soon, the universe was full of opposites. Every single thing had a counterpart somewhere. Once the universe was full the force left. No one knows what happened to it. Maybe a little bit of it was taken away and put into all of its creations until nothing was left, or maybe once its job was done here it moved on. Either way, I doubt anyone shall ever know. As it is, the force left this universe behind after filling it with opposites. When it left, there was a perfect harmony. Everything was balance out as it should be. Then, some of the opposites began fighting with their counterparts. The whole universe became a giant battlefield where a struggle for power was being fought. The only thing that kept the universe from complete destruction was a single pair. They refused to join in the struggle for power because they were happy just as they were. When they saw the destruction taking place all about them, they decided that something must be done. The two set out on a journey that would take many years. Throughout those years they faced many perils, but through it all they held together. The final result was the return of perfectly balanced harmony. The names of the two brave souls were Yin and Yang. In time, they became known as the guardians of balance. It was their firm belief that nothing could exist without its counterpart. Deep inside of dark there was a piece of light, and vice versa. If one succeeded in destroying the other, it too would die. As every single pair was essential to the continued existence of the universe, this could not be allowed to happen. However, in time all good things must come to an end. Although the essences of Yin and Yang could last forever, their bodies could not. When their bodies died, Yin and Yang fled to find new bodies. In the confusion they were separated. In order to maintain the harmony they had fought for, they had to reunite. Throughout the centuries Yin and Yang were reunited many times. Eventually, they came up with a symbol so that they would always be able to find one another. The symbol came to be known as the yin-yang, and the bearer as its guardian. Down to this day, the guardian of the yin-yang must search out their counterpart to assure that the balance will always stay in place. Together, the two will face many trials, but as long as they remember that there is a little piece of good in evil, and a little piece of themselves in each other, they will triumph.”

“Oh Grandma,” I said in wide eyed wonder while still fingering the necklace. “I wish I could be the guardian of the yin-yang. Can I wear the necklace? Please!”

“Not right now, Hayley honey. Someday, but not right now,” replied Grandma with a sad sort of smile.” Destiny is not something easily escaped.”