Jacks Secret Book

She had fallen in love with someone she barely knew. Not that she had the first idea of what love was supposed to feel like, but it perturbed her that she could not stop thinking about the scrap of paper from Jack's secret book. Every day after then, she would reiterate the words to herself as though they were directed right at her and would constantly try to catch glimpses of him when no one was looking, for there was a strange calm that came with it. Although it greatly scared her how a piece of writing could have such power over her, she loved how it made her feel. The tingling sensation and butterflies in her stomach which made her think she was sick, further perplexed her.   It is officially the worst day of her life. She sighs for the umpteenth Monday of her teenage school life. Well, she only had to endure it for one more year, she thought. In a year she will be free. Free to get out of town and say goodbye to everything that caused her frail heart so much pain.    She reached into her backpack for the second time that morning, fishing out what had become her mantra for the last few weeks. She bites her lips in guilt, thinking of how much trouble she would get into if Jack ever finds it with her. Her inner romance wins over as she reads; ‘That's it. I walked into a cafe and in the noise and crowd, we met. Under dying lights, I stood with my crown tilted and clothes wet. she would speak loud whispers. and in between her whispers, wicked dwarves would laugh. Her gaze fixed on me, I notice a strange calm.  But how is a space filled with angry mobs, wicked dwarves, and the sick become soundless”? "Emma!, Emma!" Mrs. Edgar yelled.  “Would you like to tell the class what's on that piece of paper? It appears to have your full attention.” Emma, who is already shocked and unsettled, looks around at her classmates who are laughing softly. She shrugs as she carefully folds the already deteriorating paper back into her backpack from whence she took it. As usual, she does not care what her “dumb” classmates think because at that moment, all she cares about is Jack's reaction, and, for the first time in forever, Jack looks at her, straight-faced and for a few seconds, seconds which felt like a lifetime for Emma, she whispers within herself. “Here comes the strange calm” “Ma’am”, Jack calls softly “Ma’am”. Jack calls again, trying to get Mrs. Edgar’s attention. “Mrs. Edgar!” Jack calls for the third time, which she then answers. “Yes, Jack?” He then asked; “May I use the bathroom?”.   Mrs. Edgar looks at him concernedly, then nods her head in approval at her “favorite” student, but not that she would ever admit it. Luckily for Emma, with the attention of the class already divided, the bell rings and everyone stands up except her as she tries to put her things in order.  “Presentation of your poems will be at 8 a.m tomorrow,” says Mrs. Edgar.  “Emma, sit”, she adds as Emma makes an attempt to leave. “Emma, your grades need to go up if you have any dreams of going to college”. At this point, neither of them said anything while they maintained eye contact for a brief second. Mrs. Edgar then adds again;  “I have been trying to get through to your parents but I always end up getting sent voicemail,” She says as her brows furrow in concern.   “I will get my grades up! Mrs. Edgar”, Emma signs impatiently as she cuts her off before she can complete the sentence.  Exhales! Mrs. Edgar looks at her suspiciously for a brief second, then says “Okay. But don’t forget, 8 am tomorrow ``.Emma looks at her nervously before Mrs. Edgar further adds “Do not worry, you will not be presenting like the others, but I still want it on my desk at 8 am tomorrow”. Emma then nods softly in agreement as she looks calmer but also a little concerned as she has no idea what and how to go about it.    Emma leaves the classroom and, while walking down the hallway, spots Jack fiddling with his phone by his locker. She notices a huge reddish acne on his right cheek and curiously wonders how it got there, before staring lustfully at his bright red lips, which further puts a cute smile on her face. She attempts a subtle strut like she sees models do on TV unconsciously, hoping Jack will notice her as she flips her hair towards him but, as usual, does not notice her existence. As she slowly starts to walk towards her locker, Jack closes his and then walks away with a straight face in the opposite direction.   Emma walks into the music room, sits on the chair, then begins to play the piano. Jack is resting adjacent to the room, with his back against the wall, listening to the beautiful soft sound of the piano. He takes out his book and pen, then begins to write. After a while, Emma stops playing and after noticing the music had stopped, Jack looks at what he had written. With a sad smile, he closes the book, cleans the drop of tear from his left cheek, then, after a few seconds, leaves the environment.  The school bell goes off and everyone starts to leave school. Emma, as she starts to put her things in order, becomes a little anxious. She wears her backpack and, with her face tilted down, starts to walk home.    Moments pass and she walks into her house and sees her dad on the couch asleep, a couple of bottles on the floor, and a pack of cigarettes on the table. Emma starts to put things in order in their little truck house and on hearing the loud cracks, her dad wakes up.   “Oh, Emma! When did you get in here”? As she tries to sign to her dad, who was not paying attention, John cuts her off, “Ugh! My head”!...  He takes a look at her for a brief second and then, with a half-fake smile, stands up, to get off her way as she cleans, taking with him the pack of half-empty cigarettes on the table and a beer bottle from the fridge. Emma began to cry without saying a word.  John, Emma’s dad, looks in the mirror in his room, gulps the entire contents of the bottle on a go, then begins to cry, asking God why He had to let his wife die, leaving him with a child who has not said a single word since the death of his wife 12 years ago. “Life sucks Maria, I loved you and I still love you till this day. You made a promise that we would go through this thing called life together, so why? Why Maria? I can’t go on. I’ve tried to love your daughter but I can’t!”  Emma overhears her dad's saying before he passes out on the bed. The already heartbroken Emma, with tears rolling down her cheeks, began to reminisce about the little time she had spent with her mother, which she barely remembers. However, how could she forget how Maria made her favorite banana cookies every Sunday, brushed her hair every morning before breakfast, and just how perfect her Wednesday waffles tasted. This pleasant memory of her mother is cut short as she blames herself for her mother’s death. John, Emma’s dad, on hearing the reason why his beloved first love died, also blames his daughter. Emma, although not affected, had not said a single word to anybody since that day. The doctors say it is not a medical problem as little Emma was not hurt and hopefully, one day, she’ll speak. Emma looks briefly at her phone and, realizing how late she is for her afternoon work shift, hurriedly zooms out of the house.   It’s 6:48 p.m., and the sun is setting perfectly over the Wrights’ residence. Jack is in his room, sitting on his bed with a million thoughts going through his head. He notices the music over at his neighbors playing a little too loud, he looks at the huge clock on the wall by the TV, then snaps out of it. He reaches underneath his bed, pulls out a big medium white box, opens it, and takes out a booster shot. As he is about to stick it in, his mom forces herself in. “Hey, Jack, it’s time for dinner.” “Oh s**t!, Mom!, I’ll be right there”, says Jack, while trying to hide the box back underneath the bed.  Jack's mom begins to look suspicious but is cut short when her husband calls. As her footsteps fade into the background, Jack lets out a loud exhale. “s**t, that was close”. So he said while adjusting the box before proceeding to take the shot.