International Date Line

Chapter Two: Look at what you did to poor Phoebe!

Chapter Two: Look at what you did to poor Phoebe!

I can't believe how cute you are, Jessamine.

Those words... They came from a stranger indeed, how could I trust him? What should I reply to him? Thank you? I blankly stared at my phone for like, two minutes, and then I typed: Thank you, Finn Andersen, and pressed send.

Finn: You're welcome.

Me: Where'd you go a while ago at the Omegle? Why disconnect?

Finn: Sorry, short circuit. That's why it took me a moment to follow you here.

Me: Okay.

Finn: Is your name really Jessamine? I mean, it's like a flower name?

Me: Well yeah, basically, it's another name of Jasmine

Finn: Flower girl

Me: Mr. Andersen, I don't appreciate that.

Finn: Ms. Han, I don't appreciate surname calling either.

Ugh, Ms. Han? Nobody calls me by my surname. Well, it's my fault anyway, I started it.

Me: Sure thing, Mr. Dragon Boy.

Finn: Why the name?

Me: Your icon, duh.

Finn: Dragons are cool. Flowers are far from cool haha

Me: Dragons are deadly. Flowers are nice specimen.

Finn: And beautiful too, like you ;)

Me: Give me a break.

Finn: Break

Me: Oh come on!

Finn: Flower girl, you told me to give you a break, so I gave you a break.

I couldn't believe how hard this Finn made me laugh. At first, I was a bit pissed off but then I realized he was right. It was refreshing for someone to call me by a new name, because of all the years I had been living in this world, only my mother (sometimes my father) would acknowledge my flower name. I was thinking of a good reply but then, the door suddenly flew open. I quickly hid my phone under the pillow.

"What were you doing? Why aren't you in bed?" My step-mom glared at me. I could feel my body weaken.

"I was...about to sleep, mom." I faked a smile and turned the sheets. She examined my room for a while, turned off the lights and slammed the door. Whew. If she saw me using my phone, she'd confiscate it.

I quickly typed a reply. "Finn, gotta sleep. It's late. Good night."

Finn: It's only half past ten there at night perhaps? Because our time difference is 13 hours? 12 hours?

Me: Yeah but I still have school tomorrow. Good night, Finn.

Finn: Fine. Good night flower girl

He would never stop calling me flower girl huh? I locked my phone, placed it on my desk and slept soundly. Omegle wasn't that bad after all. I should get to know more about Finn, and should see what he looked like.

It was another school day. Just the same old routine wherein I was with Courtney all the time. Marc's sometimes with us and sometimes with his girlfriend, Chelsea. Marc's the tall, popular, basketball player, which shockingly was our best friend. He got medium built, square proportioned face with a wide jaw, and a faux hawk hairdo. After he grew stubble though, he became a heartthrob. I would tease Marc all the time with the girls having a crush on him. Sometimes I would say, “There’s your favorite girlfriend!” Even though the girl was obviously not his girlfriend.

Right now, it was Physics class, and I couldn't understand anything at all. Physics was really a difficult subject for me. Courtney then passed a letter to me from behind. Courtney was your typical I-love-to-shop-till-I have-no-money girl. Her black shiny hair was always tied in a pony tail. She wore big black frames that showed fashion more than being a nerd, and her lips and nose were both proportioned well, making Courtney more of a cute rather than pretty. It's pretty surprising though that no one tries to court her, maybe because she's too harsh on people sometimes.

I was happy though that I got Marc and Courtney with me. Having two genuine friends meant more than having hundreds of fake friends. Marc, Courtney and I would forever be the best trio of friends. When we were together, we would be unstoppable.

"Physics sucks."

I wrote,

"Yeah I know. That's why I need to listen."

Courtney passed the paper again to me.

"So what? Just google the lesson. Ugh. Anyways, how was Omegle?"

I was stunned at the moment. Ms. Alcantara was discussing about momentum and such and I suddenly couldn't concentrate. Should I tell Courtney about Finn? Maybe not.

"Omegle is such a bad website. Full of bots and horny people. Hate it."

Courtney replied,

"Sad, you need to meet more cute guys okay? c:"

This was really bothering me. Courtney and I are two different people. She's the type of person who loved fashion, girly things, and celebrities. I on the other hand, love books and studying, except for Physics perhaps. She had dreams of becoming a model. I, on the other hand, a lawyer. It was a surprise that the both of us clicked despite our differences. Sometimes it would dawn on to me maybe we were both losers that’s why we clicked, but Marc, the popular jock of our school was also close to us. Sometimes, friendships knew no boundaries. Why should we follow the cliquish labels? For all I knew, these cliquish labels were created by capitalists to sell more of their products catering to whatever clique you belong. Pink make-up for the popular girls, black make-up for the goths… You get my point.

I wanted to tell her how Omegle should not be a website for meeting cute guys. Pretty sure cute guys wouldn’t go to omegle if they were cute… right? Oh no, why did not I think of that last night when I hoped to see Finn’s face? Oh no.

I didn't return the paper back to Courtney anymore as I glued my eyes to Ms. Alcantara on her examples. I didn't want to fail. Seriously, grades mattered more than almost everything to me. Even though my realization was bothering me, I thought it was best not to think about it anymore.

Courtney poked me with her pen as I turned around, fake glaring at her. She realized she had gone too far, so she gave sheepish smile. I smiled back then turned around and listened.

At lunch break, Courtney and I walked together to the cafeteria. The two of us were discussing about how we hated Physics and how we would never delve into the science program once we go to college. After we ordered our lunches, the typical rice and meatballs with red sauce, I checked my phone as I sat down. I was surprised when there's a new message in Twitter.

Finn: Good morning, Flower Girl

I checked the time he sent this to me, 9 am. Right now it's 12 pm, I guessed if I send him a message, he won't reply since he might probably be asleep already in such an ungodly hour… or maybe my curfew was just too early.

Me: Good midnight, Dragon boy

"What's with your phone? You're just staring at it and doing nothing." Courtney pointed her plastic fork at me.

"Oh, nothing." I returned my phone to my pocket. Good thing I had this plan to have unlimited mobile data per month. "Eat. Stop pointing your fork. You’re gross."

Courtney eyed me suspiciously and shrugged. "Fine. I love the meatballs today, they are pretty intact."

Marc suddenly came and sat in front of me. He intensely gazed at the both of us at first, but his expression turned into sadness.

"What's with you?" I asked while chewing my meatball. What Courtney said was right, the meatballs today were pretty good.

"I don't even know if Chelsea still likes me." Marc slumped on the table and sighed. “I am such a loser.”

"Dump her then." Courtney told Marc, nonchalantly as she continued eating.

My mouth hung open with shock because of Courtney’s answer. How could she consider herself to be a friend of Marc if she was like this? "What's wrong with you Courtney?" I then looked at Marc with a sympathetic expression, "How do you know?"

Courtney shrugged and continued eating her food. Marc looked at me and said, "Well, for starters she doesn't want me to talk to you guys. Then, I can feel her becoming indifferent to me. She will keep on saying she’s busy and everything. I am always the one who’s putting more effort than her. I don’t feel like she likes me as much now."

"That's why you should dump her, Marc. She's just jealous that we're your best friends." Courtney stabbed a piece of the pork meatball.

One thing's for sure, Chelsea hated us. She belonged to the w***e group led by Phoebe. But I didn't care at all because I was too busy caring about my own grades. "Maybe you just need to confront her or something."

"I tried talking to her, she just kept on giving me the cold shoulders." Said Marc, worriedly.

Courtney then started arguing that Chelsea was a piece of crap and no man should ever date that b***h. When Marc was a bit pissed off because no matter how big a crap Chelsea was, she was still his girlfriend. I hoped Courtney realized how insensitive she was in talking because Marc was already down and she was making it worse. I did not want to bother with them anymore so I tried ignoring them by checking my phone. It was a surprise when I saw a new message again in Twitter. Maybe Finn was not asleep yet after all.

Finn: Lunch break, flower girl?

Me: Yes. And why aren't you asleep?

Finn: Can't sleep.

Me: Go to sleep. Good night.

Finn: Can't

Me: It's twelve already.

Finn: Telling me the time doesn't help in making me fall asleep

Me: Oh sure, why do I care about your sleeping habit anyway?

Finn: Because you like me

Me: Oh shut up.

Finn: Happy eating

Me: Happy sleeping.

He did not reply anymore afterwards.

I stared at my phone for a while but he did not reply anymore. I waited for ten minutes but no new message from him. Such sadness. Oh well. Why would I talk to someone so self-centered anyway? I liked him? I liked rotten cheese more than I liked him. I was glad he probably slept already, since our conversation ended.

"Are you done yet with your phone?" Courtney asked me while raising her eyebrows. Marc was gone, I did not even realize it.

"Where's Marc?" I used my eyes in searching for him everywhere. From the corners of the cafeteria to the entrance exit door, Marc was nowhere to be found. He could have said bye to me first, right?

"He was gone. He got pissed off with what I said. Haven't you listened? He even said bye to you but you literally ignored him. What's so special about your phone? You were not like that before." Courtney again eyed me suspiciously but gave up afterwards.

"Nothing." I returned my phone to my pocket.

"Let's go back to class."

As we went upstairs, we saw the mean girls. Phoebe was in the middle, with Chelsea and Christine beside her. I hated how my own school had a version of mean girls. Couldn’t we all be just friends? I had more things to worry about than to confront all of these girls. I pretended not to see them, but Phoebe surprised me by pulling my sleeves. Courtney was shocked and tried to hide behind me. This was one thing I disliked about Courtney; she's a coward best friend. Thanks for helping me by staying behind me, Courtney. Really helpful.

"What do you want?" I raised my eyebrows, trying to challenge them because all I wanted was a peaceful walking in the school but they had to come and ruin it.

"Well, well, Jessamine. Chelsea told me a while ago that you and your pesky little friend, Courtney, kept on telling Marc to dump her?"

I glared at Courtney for this. I would never do that. One thing's for sure, they loathed me more than they did to Courtney, which I never knew why.

 I rolled my eyes and snorted at Phoebe. "FYI, I couldn't care less whether they'd be together or not if it weren't Marc's my best friend."

A large blow then suddenly came from her palm directly to my cheek. Because of the forceful blow, I was out of balance and fell down. Courtney knelt beside me and kept on whispering if I was okay and we should just go instead of making everything worse. My pride wasn't that low to give up immediately. The mean girls started to laugh as I rubbed my cheek.

Without thinking, I forcefully pulled Phoebe's legs and then she suddenly fell down too on her butt, making a loud noise. Courtney was shocked with what I did so she kept on pulling me to get up. I knew what she was thinking; that Phoebe was the principal's daughter that's why I shouldn't beat her up or something or else I might face suspension or even getting kicked out. Chelsea and Christine stopped laughing together with Phoebe. I was starting to get up as Phoebe crawled towards me and pulled my hair. I yelped in pain, but I tackled her then we started to roll towards the hallway.

Marc suddenly saw me and helped Courtney pulled me away from Phoebe while Chelsea and Christine pulled Phoebe away. I was panting and then I controlled myself but Phoebe was still struggling from her friends' pull.

"You bastard!" Chelsea yelled at me. "Look at what you did to poor Phoebe!"

Just then, a disciplinarian came and shrieked like hell. "What just happened? Go to the discipline office, now!"

I looked at Courtney and Marc; both of them gave a sympathetic look to me, which meant they would go with me. At least I could count on them this time.

"Now!" The disciplinarian yelled again.

Courtney and I were seated on a short couch then Marc was standing, listening to Courtney's story telling. I was half anxious and half afraid of what would happen. Maybe I did regret hurting Phoebe after all even though a while ago I convinced myself that I would not.

"Miss Jessamine? Enter please." A short haired secretary sarcastically smiled at us and directed us to enter the principal's room. This was like a dentist visitation or something. First, because of the couch. Second, because of waiting. Third, because of the anxiety.

The principal was talking on a phone as I sat down, together with Courtney; while Marc was outside waiting for us.

Putting down her phone, the principal shook her head as she glared at the both of us. "You do realize this is a major offense? Jessamine, I have the impression that your grades are high, but I am so sorry to say that I need to deduct your conduct grade. You are going to college soon, and if you don't get your good moral, don't blame me. That attitude of yours should never be brought in college. What will your professors think of you? Our school’s name will be tarnished! Imagine, one of the brightest students in our school is actually a violent person!"

Courtney and I kept quiet. Conduct grades never scare the crap out of me. At the same time, I appreciated it that she called me one of the brightest students. Thanks Miss Principal b***h.

"Also, I need to call your mom this instant, Jessamine."

I felt a pang inside me. s**t. This should not be happening. My eyes widened and my mouth hung open. Deduct my grades however you want, but never ever call my stepmom. She was the epitome of a house devil.

Because of my panic, I tried to reason out. "Please, Mrs. See, it will never happen again. Besides, it was Phoe-"

Courtney stepped on my foot and I almost yelped in pain, but I realized what I was going to say was definitely not going to save myself. Sometimes I hated how people had the privilege to do anything they wanted.

"Please. I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't do it on purpose." I pulled out a really scared expression, hoping she would just let go of this one. I had never been into any sanction before, so why wouldn’t she give me a chance?

"I'm sorry, Jessamine. But this is a major offense and I need to inform your mother." She started flipping through her record and started dialing.

My whole body became shaky and I started biting my lip. Courtney gave me a "you'll be fine" look but it didn't help at all. I never told Courtney about my wicked step-mother, so she would never know how much I dreaded for this moment to happen. Why did not I think of this consequence a while ago? I wanted to slap Phoebe’s smug face over and over again.

"Hello? Is this the mother of Jessamine? I just want to tell you what your daughter did a while ago. Yes. Yes. Nice talking to you. Yes. Your daughter just started a fight with my daughter in the hallway."

My eyes widened even more. What did she just say? I started a fight? Well, f**k you madam principal. YOUR daughter was the one who started the fight, not me. How could you pin this on me? It was ridiculous. The justice system of our school was ridiculous. It was unfair how I was pinned on something I did not do.

There was a long pause, and the room’s silence was deafening. Courtney and I looked at each other for a long while then turned to Mrs. See when she spoke up again.

"Yes, Mrs. Han, I need you to come. Yes. Oh yes. Sure. Yes. No problem with that, no problem. Thank you." Mrs. See finally hung up the phone.

Yelling and scolding, here I come.

No phone and TV, here I come.

Wait... What if she'd check my phone and saw me talking to a stranger named Finn?

Mayday. Mayday!