What a Gem

Elsea

It wasn’t until I got closer to him that I realized he was dead. His name was Lindon James and he was my first love who also showed me I was living a lie.

One Year Earlier

I was woken up by my six-year-old sister Gem running into my room screaming “Happy last first day of high school”.

Gem ran out of my room before I was able to hit her with the pillow I threw. She was cute but wow she could be loud. She’s right though, I can’t believe this is my last year of high school. I’ve worked so hard to get here. I have perfect grades and nearly perfect attendance. I want to be a good role model for Gem and one of the many ways I do that is by working hard in school. I have to be many things and wear many hats for Gem. The main role I pride myself on is mother. I fell into it when our mother left, I was 8 and Gem was just born. It’s weird and unconventional, but it’s what had to be done. Dad had to work and I had to watch her. Because of our close age and the gossip and lies the town spun, I became very protective making sure Gem wouldn’t be caught in their web. I’m all she knows as a mother and I was so young she’s pretty much all I can remember.

I crawled out of bed and got ready for school. Because it was my last first day of high school I wanted to dress up a little. I wore my light jeans with a dark forest green blouse that matched my eyes. I take the time to put on mascara and a little bit of blush. When I’m pleased to see myself in the mirror I make my way downstairs. I spot Gem pouring herself cereal and Dad helping her with the milk. Mornings are our thing, it’s the only time we get to spend with him before he starts his 12-hour workday as a lawyer. I try to make things as easy as possible for him, which I know he appreciates because every morning I wake up to a thank you text from him.

I sit next to Gem and pour myself some Captain Crunch. “How are you feeling about school today?” Dad asks.

“I’m feeling pretty good about it. I’m going to meet up with Lou before the first period so we can compare our schedules.”

He laughs into his coffee because he knows that’s partially the truth. I also want to go early to set up my locker so everything can be just how I like it. I know he thinks I’m too organized, which is just a nice way to say controlling. I like it though because I know my organizational skills are what keeps this family together. If it weren’t for me, my dad would go to Gem’s swim class and Gem would be attending my pre-calculus 12 class while I was in court defending my dad’s client. Talk about a mess.

Lindon

“Dad, I have to go! You knew I was transferring to a different school today.”

“Yes son, but I still don’t think it’s a good idea. What if you don’t get back in time?”

I let out a deep long sigh, I know he’s worried. I’m probably the reason why he has a couple of new wrinkle lines, but I need to do this.

“I know my way around the forest and I know the rules. I’m just going to school then starting my new job. Then I’ll head right back home.”

He scratches the back of his neck before saying, “Lindon, I know what you’re thinking this could be, but you haven’t even met her. Not really.”

I kick an empty box and run my hands through my hair, “I trust how I feel and that’s enough of a reason to do this.”

I give him a quick hug and head out the door. There are only a couple of people outside at this time. The sun is just starting to peer over the forest line letting everyone know it’s almost time to get up. My house is only a 15 minute walk from one of the four ring entrances. There is one guard on each side of the entrance, surveilling. Not that people can even get in this fair, but I guess it’s for precaution.

I can see Jeremy standing on the corner before the entrance waiting for me. God, this can’t be good.

“Hey, what are you doing up so early?”

He gives me a deadpan look. I know why he’s here, he’s trying to talk me out of transferring to Mintune High.

“You know you’re my best mate, this is why I’m allowed to say what I’m about to say.”

He clears his throat, “You’re being stupid.”

I can’t help but laugh. We’ve been friends since I started hockey when I was 8. We were always on the same team and in the same classes. We did everything together. Everything but this.

“I’m going to see you all the time. I still live in the same town. We’ll still play hockey and go to the diner most nights. I’ll tell you everything that happens.”

He rolls his eyes and looks at the ground. I feel bad that I’m leaving him during our last year, but I have to do this before she moves away.

I playfully bump his shoulder with my fist and say, “I’ll see you tonight.”

I turn towards the entrance excited for what the day will bring, but also anxious because what I’m doing is also illegal.

People are not allowed to leave unless they are on a mission by the queen’s orders. I’m hoping the guards won’t bat an eye because I’ve been crossing this ring at varying times my whole life. Just gotta be cool. You’re not doing anything you haven’t done a thousand times before. My hand shakes a little, letting me know I just half lied to myself.

I pull out my phone a couple of feet from the guards and pretend I’m talking to Jeremy.

“Yeah man, I know I’ll be late but I have to grab this for my dad.”

I look up while I pass the guards and give them a slight nod. To really sell it I continue talking to myself.

“Just go find Beth, she’ll keep you busy till I’m back I bet.”

Who the hell is Beth?

I fake hang up the phone as I walk into the forest. Everyone knows you don’t get service in it anyway.

Elsea

As I walk into Mintune High the smell of sweaty boys and student stress invades my nostrils. I sure haven’t missed this smell, although it does provide a couple of sense memories that overrun my brain.

In grade 8 Lou and I would sit under our lockers watching Mr.Lungborn tell older students they weren’t permitted in our hallway. Lou was convinced she’d marry him. None of my totally sound reasons as to why that wouldn’t be allowed ever got through to her.

I’m pulled out of the past when Lou gives me a tight hug, “Happy first day of grade 12!”

I laugh and hug her back, “You and Gem must be reading the same book.”

Lou grins while saying, “Probably, she gets me to read to her every time I’m over.”

I grab her hand and squeeze it tight, “You are truly the bestest friend I could have ever asked for.”

The corners of her mouth turn up slightly before she shoves me lightly, “Okay no more mushing stuff. Please tell me we have all the same classes.”

She clasps her hands together and pulls them under her chin. She’s pouting and trying to give me the biggest puppy dog eyes. I pull out my schedule and take hers to compare. A twinge of disappointment forms in my gut.

“We only have two classes together.”

“What?” Lou asks while snatching our schedules. She stands there a moment before realizing that I’m right and we won’t be spending as much time as we thought together.

She scrunches up her nose and I know she’s worried for me. Lou and I have been friends forever and since Gem was born she started taking on the protector role for me. Once it became common knowledge that Ava left and I had a baby, it was like a dam broke and the jokes flooded in. Lou knows I can take care of myself and Gem, but I know it’s her way of showing me that I’m not alone. I try to not get Dad involved, he does so much for us already.

I straighten and take my schedule back, “I’ll be fine.”

Lou straightens too but adds a puffed chest to really sell it, “Of course you’ll be fine. It’s me who I’m worried about. Who am I going to talk about dreamy Lungborn with?”

I can’t help but let out a bark of a laugh. She gives me her very Lou smirk and we say our goodbyes and I head to my first class.

I walk up the stairs that lead me to another hallway with four classrooms connected to it. There are a bunch of kids hugging and asking each other how their summer has been. There's nothing like the first day of school buzz. Everyone is golden with new stories to relay. Squeals are piercing my eardrums to the left of me and guys are shoving each other to my right and I am a lonely buoy, floating in the middle of this class of fish.

Just as I turn the handle to history class I get the sense that somebody is watching me. I know no one is, but I can’t seem to stop myself from turning my head to scan the ocean of students. Of course, I can’t see anyone staring at me and I continue to push the door open. I’m met with some resistance so I give the door and little shove. It takes me a moment to realize I hit someone when I opened the door...hard. Hard enough to have made him stumble and send his books flying.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there.”

I rush over to help him pick up his books. It’s not till I pick up his third book that I realize he hasn’t picked up any. I look up and catch him staring. His eyes are wide and his mouth is slightly agape. I think he realizes that he’s been caught because his open mouth turns into a smooth seductive smile. He drops to his knees slowly helps me with his books and says with a smirk “Did you say goodness?”

My breath catches in my throat when our eyes meet. This god is kneeling in front of me looking at me like I told him something unbelievable, and maybe I did because I can’t remember anything before locking eyes with him. I have an instant need to learn everything about him. Who he is, where he came from, the day of our wedding and it’s all because of the smirk he gave me, that smirk could stop traffic. He has dark brown hair with light hazel eyes. His nose is a little crooked but his smile balances it out.

I realized I was staring and I could feel my face turn beet red. I quickly handed him his books before turning to my usual spot to cover my face. My head didn’t rise until I heard the teacher talking and that’s when I realized that the guy I hit was sitting right next to me...still smirking.

I got through the class without looking at him again, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t painfully aware of where he was and that he was looking at me the whole time. It was hard not to notice all the girls were shamelessly staring at him instead of paying attention to Mr.Drumferd. By the time I stand up and collect my things I’m the last one in the classroom…well almost last.

“Hey! Not that you asked when you hit me with the door or anything but my name is Lindon James and I’m clearly new here.”

I can’t help thinking to myself if he is giving me attitude or if he is flirting with me. With a rushed breath I say, “Hey I’m Elsea. I didn’t mean to hit you with the door and I did say goodness.”

He gave me another car pile-up smile in response and held the door for me. When I walked through he asked me what my next class was. It turns out that we have all but one class together. He is in Gym when I have a spare. Of course, we share the same schedule. I need to tell Lou.

As I sit in Science I can’t help but think why he decided to talk to me and why he keeps looking at me. I even went to the bathroom to see if I had anything stuck in my teeth or if my period came without me realizing it, but nothing was wrong. We’ve chatted about trivial things throughout the day. He’s from Greenhedge originally, loves to play hockey and read, lives with his dad, and his best friend’s name is Jeremy.

The last bell of the day rang and Lindon says bye while walking in the opposite direction. I said bye back but I don’t think he heard me. I’m left standing, staring at his back while I feel like something important happened today and I don’t know what.

Lindon

I turn around a corner to be out of Elsea’s eyeline and find a tree to hurl my lunch up. I met her. I actually met her. The moment I saw her everything clicked in place. All of the research I’ve done explains this feeling of unity. It was fussy when I’d see her as a ghost, but now that she’s in front of me, fully formed. There’s no denying it.

She’s even more beautiful in person. She’s perfect, her fiery red hair and her long but short slender body. The way her head tilts back when she laughs and her face gets red when she’s embarrassed. They’re all things I can’t believe I haven’t witnessed before. I’ve been seeing her since I was 8 and her expression never changed from the blank distant look she gave. It was like she was there, but not really. Not in a conscious way. I’d try and show Jermey her countless times and even my dad once, but both of them said no one was there. They thought I had an imaginary friend and so did I for a while. I stopped thinking that when I turned 14 she showed up in the meadow. People at 14 don’t have imaginary friends, plus I have a lot of friends. It’s not like I needed to make any up because I was lonely. I trusted my gut and it paid off because I found her today and she’s everything.

If I weren’t supposed to find her then we wouldn’t have nearly all the same classes. That is divine intervention or something. She literally took my breath away and I’ve been trying to play catchup all day. Even now my lungs are still not working at full force. While walking through Mintune I think back to everything I’ve learned about her trying to commit it to long-term memory. She was raised in Mintune and loves to read and draw, her best friend is a girl named Lou, and she lives with her dad and her sister who’s 6. She doesn’t know what she wants to do after graduation but she said she’ll most likely stay in this town. I couldn’t help but notice her eyebrows knit together when I asked this question. It was like I accidentally struck a cord, which is interesting because it’s a basic question in grade 12. I get asked on the daily back home.

I loved getting to know her but when she asked the same questions back I couldn’t help the knot forming in my stomach. I answered mostly truths and tried to redirect on questions I didn’t want to lie about. I just don’t know what she knows and what she doesn’t. I couldn’t just say “Hey I’m Lindon and I’m from an enchanted kingdom.” and gauge her response. That would have been the opposite of smooth.

I shake off the negative feelings and my grin returns as I walk through Mintune. I thought it was going to be weeks before I found Elsea. I like that name, Elsea. It feels right coming out of my mouth like I was made just to say her name.