Chapter 7 part 1

Pixie juice? They gave me pixie juice?  I come up with all kinds of insults to scream at them. But of course only a giggles excape my lips. The world rocks like a ship tipping over. I reach down to the ground to find something that's not rocking. I don't make it. Brooke  catches my arm before I can protest.

A bright light shimmers. No not one, three lights burn brighter and brighter. It's the pixies. They're on... fire?  I try to look for Zailor, for some kind of fireball that would set them off. But then the light burns down as quickly as it came on. Replacing the small pixies into full grown women.  Literally breathtaking beautiful women.
All three of them run to me; lifting me into the air.

"No." I cry out.

But they don't stop. I close my eyes trying to steading myself, as they lift me onto a cloud where I flout upward and onward.

The next thing I know. I'm sitting in front of a mirror, waring a yellow and white dress. My hair is pulled back and curls frame my face. Delicate fingers intertwine with my hair, as the woman behinds me, tosses and teases the curls into a shape.  I gasp. It's a memory before...  I'm swimming through a memory before Macy's. I'm the same age, the same hight, even the same bright green eyes looking back at me.

I notice the dressing table I'm siting in front of, has wedding flowers resting on the side. A picture of me, holding the hand of a small girl rest on the other side. There's a necklace infront of the mirror, waiting to be placed around my neck. I want to reach out to it. Look at the flower that is laid inside of the stone. But I don't dare more. My thumbs fidget together as I rest my hands neatly in my lap.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" The woman fixing my hair says.

I can't see her face in the mirror. But, her long brown hair brushes against my neck as she reaches for small glass flowers. Somehow, she's managing getting the flowers to stay in my hair. Making them look like they grew there on their own. I smile at her through the mirror.

"Of course I am. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. His heart sings to mine."

I grap her hand and hold it close to my cheek.
"He is my nightingale, without a doubt."

Her thumb glides back and forth on my cheek as she thinks about what I just said. I hold my breath as my smile falls ever so slightly. I'm worried she'll say no. Or jump us to a place where I can't reach him.  My starlit eyes fall the longer she takes.

Finely, she leans down resting her head on my shoulder. Her eyes meet mine through the mirror. Her bright green eyes. My eyes.

"Very well." She says in a breath. "I can't really blame you, since I met my nightingale at your age."

My heart leaps with joy as she hugs me and returns to fixing my hair. "But don't expect to be running off. You're still my daughter."

"Lada dee lada" the voice sings from above me. "Lada dee"

"She dark." Naomi says and snaps me out of the memory. Naomi paces back and forth at the bottom of my feet. My head is resting on Aubrey lap as she combs through my hair softly. Aubrey is the one singing and without opening my eyes, I know exactly where each one of them is.

I'm not sure how long I was out for. It appears to be for a while. The pixies are still in their human form. Somehow I always knew they had two forms. My mind posses everything I know about pixies like a speeding bullet.

"She's not Dark." Grace says from the right of me. "I just gave her too much."

A pixie has two forms. Human and butterfly. Each pixie has an individual power. Calm, power, and forsite. Pixie travel in a pack. Take one out and all three will die. They're weakest in their human form. Weak, vonerable, flawed.

How do I know this? Why do I know this? Naomi's frustration that drips off each word she says, tells me one thing.

"No one that is light, reacts to pixie juice that way!" Naomi says with power dripping from her lips.  She's power, through and through.

"She has the star" Grace retorts. "She's not dark"

Grace gave me the pixie juice, which means she's calmness. That leaves Aubry with the gift of forsite.
Aubry fingers tickle down my cheeks. I still have my eyes closed, but, I feel her smile beam through. She knows I'm awake. Yet she says nothing.

"She said Jayden" Naomi argues. "She knows him and more importantly she wants him back."

She's got that right. I do want him back. I want to make sure he's safe, alive and most importantly, with me.

"That doesn't mean she's dark." Grace says.

Naomi returns to her pacing. The air from her "humm" feels cold by the time it touches my legs. "We should ask Mitch."

"No!" Brooke yells from a distance. "Mitch is not allowed back in this forest."

"But he knows Jayden. Maybe he knows her too." 

Brooke walks closer to me. "He's the one who brought Jayden here. He can't be trusted."

I don't realize I'm holding my breath. But every inch of me sparks. This Mitch knows Jayden. Maybe he know how I can get back to him.

"Yeah." Grace's voice pulls me back. "What were thinking?"

Naomi lets out another puff and folds her arms. "I don't know." She shacks her head. "But that creatures is not light"

Aubrey's fingers trace the lines on my face. My lips, my noise, my eye lids. "I agree with Grace." She says sweetly. "And I agree with Naomi."
Her fingers comb through hair. "She's not exactly light." 

Heat rushes up my body as Aubrey studies my face. "But, she hasn't come into any dark magic yet."

"See!" Naomi chimes

Brooke kneels down next to me. "That's means she may never find dark magic."

Both Aubrey and Brooke smile at each other.

"How did she get the star?" Naomi leans over me. "I bet that's not even hers."

Three things happen all at once. First, Brooke reaches for my star. Second, Aubrey starts to protest and third, I reach and grap Brooke's wrist. I couldn't stand it any more. I've heard enough, and there's no way I'm going to let them even touch my star.

I startle everyone except Aubrey of course. Naomi has her arrow out in heartbeat. Grace backs away on her bottom.

"Don't" I say carefully. "Don't even dare touch it."

I get up still holding Brooke's wrist. Brooke trys to help me up in a way. But I hesitate and glear at her until  she stops

"Don't touch my star. Don't touch me." I say as I toss Brooke her arm.

Chapter 6 part 5

Meet someone?  Did I hear that right? They have been waiting a long time?  How long and why? My voice come rushing out of me before I can stop myself.

"How long? And why do you think I was here before? Why would I..." I forget the last question before has its chance.

Brooke tilts her head as she studies me.
"You're very strange." She says as she walks over to the stream of water.  "You where here. Kissing a boy."

Kissing a boy? I took a moment as my mind worked through my memories. Jayden. I was here with Jayden. He was safe. I remember now. It was before he said "Hi beautiful" and melted my heart. I heard the water, felt the grass tickeling my legs. I even smelt the cherry blossoms. Why didn't we stay here, out of the reach of Zilor?

"Brooke? I say hesitantly. Can I even trust her? I'm not really sure what I'm going to ask her. But she doesn't seem to notice the worrisome tone in my voice.

The third tree wrestles around, and I'm reminded, someone else is here. If by chance they kicked Jayden and I out before. I don't really want to give then a reason to do it again. At least not without Jayden. Who knows? Maybe he's the reason why we weren't hurt in the process. When I jumped, or whatever, without him, I lost my memories. But that didn't happen with Jayden. My memories were fully intact when I left him and ran.

My heart sinks. I left him and ran. I left him behind.

That third tree is wrestling in wind that's not there. It roars as if that one tree alone is being tossed around in a storm. Horror runs through my bones, as I realize whoever or whatever that wants to meet me. Is in that tree.

I turn back to Brooke and open my mouth but nothing comes. she guesses my question for me.

“They’re in the tree.” She confirms and points over to the third tree. “There.”

What the heck? What could possibly make a tree roar like that and still not be able to see them? If I didn't know any better. I would say an invisible giant is shacking it. The tree cracks under the presser and branches break off. My stomach drops again at just the thought of them coming out to shack my hand. If they could do that to the tree, what could they do to me? 

“Grace, Aubrey, Naomi. Come out so…” Brooke stops and whispers in my ear.

“What do they call you?” –She’s right behind me. Like a supernatural ghost, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“Um… Jazlyn.” I breathe.

“So Um… Jazlyn can meet you.” Brooke’s voice is clear and calming. She must have notice my nerves screaming inside. She said my name perfectly to how I said it. But before I could correct her, a world-wind swirls around me. Tossing my hair like a wild hair dryer.

I grap my star and gard my face. I want to scream, but, the moment I think of it the wind suddenly stops. -a little too fast. I linger there with my hands covering my face for a moment, trying to catch my breath.  I have a feeling the minute I look up the tornado will swollow me. But the longer I linger there, the more ridiculous I feel.

The wind doesn't come back. Not even a small breeze creeps through my hair. I only hear delightful giggles from the other side of my hands. I lift my head as another giggle rings in my ears. My eyes rest on two large butterflies; or rater very small people with butterfly wings?  No. I think. Pixies. They're pixies.  Memories instantly try to find a moment with pixies, but, I can't find any. I have no idea how I know they're pixies. I just do.

The pixie on the right has beautiful midnight blue wings with tiny purple diamonds on the tips of each wing.  Specks of gold inline between each color. Her wings move so brisk that I don’t think my old eye would have been able to see the gold. But now, once again I’m shock to see everything so bold and bright. Her tiny blue shorts are shredding at the bottom and her top is ripped off her right shoulder. Her long black hair is pulled back into ponytail. 

She giggles a little at me, as she stands in mid-air. She covers her smile with her fingers. Then in a flash, she’s close to my face, making me go cross-eyed. I lean back a little to get a better view but she follows me, putting her hands on my nose and gazing into my eyes. My nerves smooth into a calm sleep-like feeling. I feel –happy, instantly happy. 

“This is Grace” Brooke speaks for her.

Grace smiles and flitters back to her place in the air. The other pixie's wings have different tones of pink. She looks much daintier than Grace. Her short brown hair looks like it never moves out of place. Her white dress flows in the wind of her wings and her head is tilted down as she looks up with a sheepish smile.

“That’s Aubrey.” Brooke says.

The pixies features sparkle in the sunlight. I can see nothing else but them. -They captured me, like so many things here do. I know I should feel confused or frustrated or at the very least bewildered by everything here. But whatever Grace did when she touched my noise, I feel nothing but joy. Pure Christmas morning blissful joy. I would stay here forever if they let me. My lips turn to a smile.  I can’t help myself. They’re too adorable for words. From their rugged, dainty clothes to their glorious wings. How could they move a tree? I decided in an instant, they couldn't. There too t precious for something like that.

“And that’s Naomi.” Brooke continued.

I know without a doubt, I'm not really in the position to say whats real or not real. But, I only see two pixies. Two adorable dancing butterflies that couldn't be more perfect if they tried. That is, I only see two until a shadow shimmers between them.  I turn around and find Naomi, fearce , strong and powerful .

She's floating just behind my left shoulder. Her wings are yellow with small flickers of greens. She wares a small green one-peace. Unlike Aubrey, her hair is wild and moves freely in the wind of her wings. I can’t see much of her, becouse, of the tinny large bow that covers her body.   An arrow rests high off her shoulder, pointed at me as she bites her lower lip.

“Don’t worry about Naomi.” Brooke chimes in. “She doesn’t trust anyone.”

“I get that.” I shrug my shoulders.
Naomi rolls her eyes at me, but doesn’t take her arrow down. In that moment, I see it. I see it in Naomi’s eyes, in her jagged muscles that hold to the arrow. The sure power that she holds fast too. That all three must all have. She could break me in two seconds, and smile doing it.

“You’re the North Star.” Grace swoops in between Naomi and I. “You have the North Star.” She flies in close to my necklace. “You must be the North Star.”

I lean back again as she buzzes  around me. Trying to keep as still as I can, so I don't startle Naomi.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the North Star.” My voice is more cheerful then I expect, but I'm grateful it finally is starting to work.

Grace bounces over to me and dance around me like a bee with a flower. She flitters though my hair, tickling my neck. She bobs over to my arms and touches my wrist, then to my hands, stomach, and legs.  With each touch of her little hands, I feel more and more of that blissful happiness. My headache smoothes out and every inch of my body begins to relax. So much that by the time Grace gets to my feet. I couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle of my own.

“That’s enough.” Brooke whispers.
I let out another snicker.

Aubrey pops over to my right ear. “You must be the North Star.” Her voice tickle inside my eardrum and I giggle.

I feel drunk. I’ve never been drunk before, but I’ve seen it. My old foster Mother would get drunk every Friday night with her friends. She always came home smelling of liquor, stumbling and laughing like a buffoon. I never understood why she did it, and now I don’t think I ever will. I hate being out of control of my own self. Yet here I am. Standing in a strange place, Zailor  on the brinks of killing me, Jayden hurt or possibly dead and Stephanie and Wade in possible  danger and I’m… laughing?

My head swirls, I put my head in my hands and let out a giggle. I try to stop myself from laughing with my hands.  But I can’t stop.

Brooke sighs, “I think you gave her too much.”

“Too much of what?” I laugh.
Brooke smiles as I peek between my fingers. All three of the creatures were staying a little away from me. -Looking at me in astonishment.  

“They gave you a little pixie juice.” Brooke answers.

Chapter 6 part 4

"The second time?" I mutter. My eyebrows burrow downward. I came here before? When?

"I did think you were going to bring someone with you. But then, poof you two were gone and only you came back.” She turns quickly and heads over to the trees near by.

My head clears as I remember everything. Zailor running after me, Jayden on the ground. Jayden's kiss. Images get stuck inside my mind. I wonder about Stephanie and Wade, would they worry about me?  Would they even care? Did anyone come out to see what happen? My mind doesn't stop. Flashes of memories shoot through my head, like photographs on a spinning wheel.

I remember the first night I’d been in a foster home. The kids faces as I walked through the door. I remember the clothes I wore last week and what I eat for lunch two weeks ago. The photos flash again like firecrackers.-Blasting inside my head. I remember everything that happened in the last five years. But my memory stops in the Macy’s department store. I want to know more. I want to know before Macy’s. My heart pounds as I push the photos further. But it only makes my head hurt and the harder I push the slower the memories come.

I relax and let the memories flash on their own. Stupid memories like the homework assignments that never got done, or the overcast sky of Seattle, flitter my mind.  Even if I can’t remember past Macy’s it's refreshing to remember anything at all.

I instantly know, I am not in Kennewick anymore. I don't even think I'm in Washington. Maybe not even earth. Wherever I am, I have never been here before. I know this because of wind that brushes past me. It feels foreign and comforting at the same time. A stranger and yet a controllable stranger.  I only have one question for the girl that lingers near.  Where am I?

“Where? Who?” My words stumble out of my lips as if forming a complete sentence is too difficult to say.

“You’re in my forest.” She answers perfectly.  “I’m Brooke, the East Star, and you."  She poses to grin. "You must be the North.” Brooke bends down to pick up some twigs off the ground. 

Her words bounce inside my head. I frown. I'm still having trouble keeping up. I want to ask her why she thinks I've been here before. But, getting that thought from my brain to my lips, is more than I can handle. 

“I wondered if the North Star would be a jumper.” Brooke continues  “How else would you have found  me? Although I did consider having to go find you. But my power is to protect and I didn’t see how I could possibly find someone with that."

Brooke’s voice slips away as I notice for the first time why she doesn’t make any noise. When she walks, the grass moves out of her way. She also doesn’t just walk. She glides across the grass like water. **She’s the East star? ** Thoms’s voice rings in. “Find the East star.” my mind flashes back to Brooke.

“I’m not… a… jumper.” my voice quivers.

“Really? What are you than?” Brooke squeals with delight. Her big eyes smile at me like a child.

“Nothing. I'm a girl.” just a plain human girl with no magic or abilities to figure out how to get outta here.

“Well, a girl must be very powerful if you can find me.” She bends down and sticks the twig strait into the grown. Then takes a step back to marvels at her work. 

Great. I think.  She’s insane. Of course, insane people tend to recognize their own. So I am crazy after all.

The wind blows again and dances with the treetops near by. Small little giggles dance with the wind. Almost as if the trees are laughing. But that can’t be, could it? I shift up onto my knees and stare down the treetops. But my perfect new eyes can’t see anyone in the trees, although my ears can hear them. Whispers and small voices. “The North Star. The North Star! You’re the North Star.” I’m not sure if the trees are whispering or someone, or something. For all I know of this land, it could be all three.

I stand up, my knees buckle a little, but I manage to keep standing, -with a little help from the rock. By the time I look back to Brooke, she’s standing next to a white tree with cherry blossoms. The twig she planted is gone, and replaced with a full grown tree.

Bewildered, I gaps, and questions fill my face.  How could this be? And why am I not running from it?

I watch her take two steps over to the right, bend down and plant another twig standing strait up into the ground. More giggles echo from the trees. But my eyes are fixed on Brooke. She doesn’t seem to notice the giggles as I do. She keeps her eyes on the twig she just planted and places two fingers on her lips. She smiles a little and kisses her fingers. Still leaning down, she touches the twig and stands back. The twig suddenly shoots up. – Growing taller and taller. Stretching into the sky like a bullet, creating an instant tree, with leaves and flowers. I think I even hear birds singing from the branches.

Brooke’s face is beaming as she looks over at me. But her eyes turn a concerned when she notices my face.

“Their pixies and I’m a nymph.” Her voice is so soft. If I wasn't watching her every move. I wouldn't have known it was her talking.

I must look more shocked then I think. Because she slowly walks over to me, with her arms out wide. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

My crazy self is in full force at the moment. My right hand wraps around my star and my other hand grabs the moss on the rock. Everything in my body freezes again. Everything but my eyes, which dart from the tree that Brooke just planted, to Brooke, to the invisible giggles from the forest.  My heart pounds as I take it all in.
Brook stops short and puts her hands on her hip.

“Honesty!  If I was going to hurt you, it would have been a lot easier to do when you were blind and had no memories. Besides, my forest is the safest place in Narmolyna. We have never been invaded by dark magic.” 

Narmolyna. My thoughts hone in on that word. Narmolyna.  That’s the word Thoms said, and Jayden…. Jayden said it too.

“What did you say?” I had to make sure I’m truly inside my crazy self. I know I already feel crazy, but I just want to make sure I really am.

“We haven’t been detected by dark magic?” Brooke questioned.

“No.. The Narm…?”

“Narmolyna? You’re in the safest place in all the land.” She twills around like a child. “We weren’t always safe, and a few monz ago we almost had a run-in.” Brooke took a breath in.  “So now they send spies.” She rolls her eyes.  “but we’ve still manage to stay away from them.”

“Right.” It’s all I could say. But my heart drops into the pit of my stomach. My head pounding like a steal train. The realization that I really am inside my crazy head haunts me.  Zailor most have caught me and instead of letting myself believe it. I escaped into my own head. It's the only possible conclusion.
I let go of the rock and hold my star with both hands.

“It’s alright your safe.” Brooke confirms.
The last thing I feel is safe.
“I'm in Narmolyna?” I whisper.

Surprise flashes across Brookes face. “Where else would we be?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t even look at her. The trees toss around and more giggles come from the flowers. I don’t feel like looking over at them. I already know I’m in some kind of comma or something. The only thing missing is Jayden… why isn’t Jayden in my comma? If I were safe from Zailor, wouldn’t Jayden naturally be here?  Wouldn’t I dream of some kind of love story, where his arms wrap around me forever? I know I just met him. But it seems much more than that. It seems like we’ve always been together. Like we were connected and torn apart. Why wouldn’t I dream of him?

“Brooke… Where’s Jayden?” I sound calmer than I feel.

Her eyes squint as she looks at me. She reaches over and twists her ring around her finger, the purple in her star, flickers on each turn.  Her head tilts down as the wind runs through her hair.

“Only you jumped.” Her voice is steady and careful. I realize. She's being careful on what she says to me.

I have nothing to give back to her to win her trust.  First of all, I'm not even sure I want it. But understanding her isn’t as simple as she makes it  out to be. Although my mind is clear, I’m still having trouble making sense of what she means.  Jumped? Jumped from where? When? Did she mean when I jumped into my head? Or jumped into the air only to hit my head?

She slowly tilts her head back to me. I feel the heat of her stare as she zooms in on my star, and a smile appears across her face. Somehow my star has won her over for me.

“But you made it. That’s all that counts.”

I'm starting to get frustrated with everything she says. I know, as soon as I asked about Jayden something went wrong. Either something is wrong with Jayden, or something is wrong with me asking about him. Either way, she no longer has the beaming bright childlike look in her eyes. But, the way she said "I made it", was cheerful as if it’s a time for celebrating. If this is real and Jayden is with Zailor, this isn’t a time to be cheerful. It’s a time to fight, scream or at the very least be afraid.

Then there are the giggles from the trees, babyish giggles. Like small children having a slumber party in the background. I can’t take it anymore. This place whether in my head or real, is just plain stupid. I take my eyes off of Brooke, so she won’t be able to see my irritation with everything. I stare into the tree where the giggles come from.

“Brooke” I breathe in to make sure my voice is steady. “How do I get back?” I watch the trees dance in the wind again. This should bring me peace, like it always has in the past. But it doesn’t.

“Get back?” Brooke questions.  “Why would you want to do that?”

My eyes focus on the third tree. Watching it twist and twirl. Brooke’s voice is clattering in the background.

“I’m not sure how jumpers jump. One minute you’re not there and next you’re falling from the sky.”

“I fell from the sky?” I trail off as the third tree starts to rustle around like a storm passing through it, but with no wind this time. Not even a small breeze went by, and yet the tree is going berserk.

“Do you mind if they meet you?” Brooke says. “They’ve been waiting so long.

Chapter 6 , part 3

Brooke says nothing. I hardly notice she's even there, but I feel her presence. She hovers above me, watching me whimper. She doesn’t offer any relief. I don't really expect her to, but come on! How can you create such agony, and not say or do anything?
I try to think of something horrible to yell at Brooke. But, my stupid brain won't think of anything useful.

Sparks shoot straight through my eyes to the center of my brain. I shriek in pain. I scrap at the foam that covers my eyes as hard and as fast as I can. But it doesn't seem to help or worsen the pain.  My head wrenches back as I scrap. Hitting  my head agents the rock, but, I keep scraping.

When the pain deepens, I hear a scream excape from my mouth. I hope, with everything I've got. That Brooke knows the pain she’s caused. That she can somehow feel it. But as soon as my breath leaves me, there's another sharp blade of lighting and the pain smooths. The foam over my eyes melts into water, leaving my eyes swishing around in the remaining water.

As the water runs down my cheeks I slowly open my eyes. I’m surprised they even work after such pain. But they not only work, they’re perfect, maybe a little too perfect. 

I see the fresh thick grass dazzling in the sunlight. A ladybug catches my eyes and rushes towards some small white trees with little white flowers. The flowers have a touch of coral in the pedals. My old eyes would have never been able to see the pink in the flowers. But now, they zero in on each cherry blossom.

Each one has a slightly different tone of pink. Another thing my old eyes wouldn’t have been able to see. The trees go on for miles, the colors white, pink and a touch of brown dance around together in a cherry blossom parade as far as I can see. -Which is surprisingly far.

A small river escapes over to the right of us. The water glides over rocks and nestles in a small bank.  The smell of lily overwhelms the air like cheap perfume. I take a breath and look around to the left of me.

There’s a small hill with all kinds of lilies. They blanket the hill so well, that I almost miss the hill interly. But my new eyes don’t let me miss anything. The rock I lean against, has a carpet of moss that almost blends the rock into the hill. If the lilies grew on rock, I don’t think even my new eye would have realized there was a rock there.

Brooke still stands above me. Her long blond soft curls rests near her picky face. Little white flowers weave in and out of her hair. Her dress looks like a fresh green leaf that was just picked off the tree. The leaf seems to attach to her body with vines and flowers. The grass covers her feet.- making her look like she’s planted into the grown like the cherry trees. On the vines that hold her dress together, there are little leaves that dance in the breeze that races across my body.

The only thing on her that isn’t from the earth is a ring on her right hand. A ring with a star. It sparkles of soft violet from the center. – It transfixes me.

My head is still swimming with questions when Brooke bends down. -breaking my trance from her ring.

“I’m guessing you don’t have one of these.” She holds up a long red leaf and with her soft sweet voice she says. “Here. Eat this.”

I'm not really understand her words, but I watch her in slow motion put the leaf inside my hand. The leaf feels like nothing I’ve ever felt before. At least nothing I can remember feeling. Which when I think about it, not much comes to my mind. Who am I?  I think for a moment, I feel the crease in my forehead beat upon my head. But nothing enters inside me brain. I don’t spend too much time on this question. I know it’s important, but the leaf inside my hand captures me. The delicate scales on the leaf is ruff and fluffy at the same time. My fingers float across the scales easily. 

“It will help you remember.” Brooke’s voice comes from the background of my head.

I wonder for a moment if the leaf is some kind of poison, but I don't really care. My mouth waters for it. Even longs for it. I slowly guide leaf to my noise and breathe it in. My head swirls with the smell of berries and lemons. I lick my lips. My eyes close as I breathe the sweet luscious leaf in again. My stomach moans in response and my lips quiver. I don’t even notice, when the leaf moves closer to my lips. My taste buds lite up with electrifying warmth.-Bliss, thrilling, velvet, warmth. The silky leaf slips down my throat as if it belongs there. It's finely home for the first time in years.

I sit glossy eyes looking at the grass. I feel a smile crease on my face and a small giggle escapes from my lips. I chuck it back and smile bigger. But then it happens. My brain instantly kicks into rapid force. Memories rush like a waterfall into my brain. Stephanie’s smile first comes. Then Jayden's kiss.  But, then it shoots to Zailor’s eyes piercing my brain like a laser. I gasp and turn around so fast I almost lose my balance. The rock is still behind me. I slowly lift my head above the rock. But the street, the school, the kids, everything, is gone.  I only see more cherry blossoms.

“What’s wrong?” Brooke’s voice comes from beside me.

I jump. -She moves like a freaken ninja.

I can’t make any words come out of my mouth to answer her. But, my star feels like a ten-pound weight daggling around my neck. I wrap my fingers around it with a sigh of relief.** It's still here. **

Brooke is standing beside
me, looking past the rock the same way I am. Well almost like me. Her body molds into the rock as if she’s apart of it.

“What is it?” She worries.

“Zailor.” I look at her, hoping she understands what I'm trying to say. I hope somehow her ring can talk to my necklace and there's some kind of connection that binds us together. That can tell her what I saw, how I feel and just how much in trouble we are.

Brooke takes a moment, stepping  backwards a little. She breathes in a deep breath as she rest her hand on the rock.

“No.” She says. “You’re the only one who jumped.”  She smiles with her big blue eyes. "At least the only one who came back the second time."