40 Steps to Fate (26 Steps-FINALLY BACK!)

26 Steps

 

I ran, fast as I could.

The piano was right there, in front of me, and I lunged, barely avoiding a collapsing bookshelf. What was going on? I sat down, and I was playing a song...but what song? I couldn't even hear. The entire building was toppling down, but still nothing was happening. I felt something moving: it seemed like the entire scene was melting...but what in the world was going on?

I woke up suddenly, breathing hard. "What a nightmare," I whispered. I looked at the clock. Already 6:00, might as well getup. I crawled my way out, then quickly showered (Suave Men’s Professional, aw yeah, and Old Spice REDZONE). I ran out to the bus, then sat there waiting. I thought about my dream. Was it real, or just another gimmick of my life? I really didn’t like the situation I was in, especially because if I made any mistakes, Jamie could easily die in the surgery. I certainly didn’t want that. I’d just have to wait for the good to show up. Until then, I’d wait. And keep my swagger on.

 

“Hey!” a voice yelled. It was almost time for first period, but as usual, Jamie just drew right up next to me, and smiled. I pushed her to class, not in a hurry, but slowly, casually talking. I wanted things to seem as they originally were. “By the way,” I asked. “How was yesterday? Entertaining? Or scary?” Jamie gave me the “I will kill you” look, and I gave a sheepish grin. I dropped her off at homeroom, then I ran back to my class just as the bell rang.

The school has different air around me, especially respect. They feel like I am such a calm person for being able to just live with such a punch in the face. I didn’t, though. I felt more like I had been punched so much, I didn’t even feel it, so the pain wasn’t even there anymore. Ever since Jamie had walked into my life, my world was turned completely upside-down, and that was not an understatement. As class began, I began to consider one question.

 

“How will Jamie and I get through?” I whispered to myself.

 

 

Not a lot of things in the world are easy, especially when Megan asks you for a ride home, and you have no choice but to say no. It’s especially awkward, when just weeks ago, you were planning to ask her out.

Hey, Stephen,” I heard a musical voice whisper. I turned to see her standing in front of me, and the awkwardness began. “Can I have a ride home?” she asked. I opened my mouth, then closed it. I opened it again, but nothing came out. “It’s okay,” she said, hiding her feeling of hurt, and pushing past me to walk home. I knew she had a long walk home, but school policy says to live at least a mile away to have a ride. She was about 0.95 miles or something like that, if my memory didn’t fail me.

Jamie appeared out of nowhere, and said in a smiling voice, “Can I have a ride home?” her copy of Megan’s voice was horrible, but I smiled anyway. “Sure, but you know I won’t drag your wheelchair with,” I said. She shrugged. “Take the bus like you anyway,” She replied. I shrugged. Only a couple meters over a mile, not too far a ride. Good exercise too. I smiled. “Have fun then,” I said, and rode my bike home.

Friday was extremely awkward, especially because the party was that night. I passed a note to Jamie halfway through class that said, “Meet me in our reserve room, wherever it may be ;)” I saw her smile at me, then turned around, but got in trouble for not paying attention in class. I thought about a bunch of things though, before we met after school to play piano together. Playing duets with her was extremely fun, she never messed up, and we’d get all fancy with each other, and we’d have some small talk in between songs. Besides doing all that stuff? Kissing, perhaps, was the only other option. Nobody said no, so yeah, nothing bad happened. It was awkward though, eventually, just us two sitting there. We still enjoyed ourselves though, till the teachers kicked us out. Nothing seemed so strange then the bonding we had. She always was mysterious when I asked her questions, as if she was hiding something important. I felt slightly hurt from it because I wanted a relationship with integrity, but I let it slip anyway. She always was in a good mood, though, so it wasn’t the biggest deal. “While we’re at it, why do you always ignore my questions so often?” I asked. She looked at me and gave me a sad smile. “Maybe I’ll tell you someday…” she whispered. I looked at her thoughtful face. “Well?” I questioned, wanting an answer. She winked. “If you can figure out my favorite ice cream, maybe,” she replied, smiling. She always made everything so goofy.

“Very well,” I said. “Strawberry?” She smiled. “Wrong,” with a dramatic tone. I sighed. “You always have to leave it at that, don’t you?” I asked. She shrugged. “It’s life,” she whispered, and I felt some type of tone in her change…was there a regret she was hiding? Was there sorrow? Something in her voice told me she was sad. I let her leave quietly, but I already knew something at the end of that discussion was wrong. Then I saw Megan, turning the corner. I only got a glimpse of her before she disappeared, and leaving me wondering what in the world was going on.

 

 

I arrived to school with a panicked commotion. “What the heck happened?” I asked. I pushed through, and got to James. He looked at me with red eyes. “Aw man, Stephen, you’re here too…everything’s gone horribly wrong man, everything has gotten SO wrong,” He whispered. I shoved past him, realizing something was definitely bad. 

I pushed past everybody, then felt like fainting at the sight I saw.

Megan was dead.