Chapter 2: Chance Encounter.
14 years later.
“No, the night sky isn't pitch black or any shade of black at all!” said a lean boy with a wavering pitch to his voice. He was clad in a pristine white shirt, a beige cardigan and a mauve tie with Mortain Secondary School's crest just below the knot. He was strapped to his seat beside the driver.
“Oh, if that's the case then why is it that I see pitch black whenever I look into the night sky?” the driver asked on the tail end of a giddish chortle as she navigated through the mass of cars on the road. She wore her navy two piece suit with much grace
The boy gave a proud smile, “That's because you're human, mom. We're trichromats who're able to see colours with shorter wavele—”
“—Okay okay. My old brain simply can't keep up with yours when it comes to this random extensive knowledge,” she cut him off. She really needed her mind to be clear of all trivial things if she was to survive work that day.
Her finger flicked the indicator lever and she turned into a driveway whose gate opened automatically once they were within range. The grey coupé turned left and alligned itself in their usual parking spot and the driver switched the engine off. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and then exhaled slowly before adjusting the rearview mirror and looking at her son, “Dwayne, mommy's got to visit all of the business branches around the country which means I'll be home a little later than usual. So I can't pick you up afterschool today.”
Dwayne simply nodded in understanding, “Its alright mom, I'll just take the bus home and text you when I arrive.”
A sigh of relief left her lips as she wrapped her son in a tight embrace, “I can't thank you enough my sweet baby boy~!”
“Mom, you're hurting me!” Dwayne protested as his ribs were ground by his mother's affection.
“Oops, my bad!” She broke the embrace and retrieved a thick wad of rolled money from her blazer pocket and handed it to her son, “This should cover you for both lunch breaks, bus fare and anything else you may pick up on the way home.”
Dwayne politely accepted the money but noticed how hard it was to pocket and then comically narrowed his eyes at his mother, “No normal parent gives their child this much money unless they're planning to abandon them.”
“Well of course your mother isn't normal silly,” she replied with a giggle before placing her fist over her heart and looking up with pride, “She's Sophie Daniels after all!”
After a round of laughter from both of them, Dwayne finally opened the car door, pecked his mother's cheek and dismounted the car, “See you later alligator.”
Sophie smiled and blew him a kiss before he closed the door, “Hope to see your smile in a while crocodile.”
Dwayne entered the school gates and causally ambled past numerous groups of students, avoiding any unnecessary eye contact as it would lead to conversation. He radiated this aloof aura, had both hands planted in his pockets with a neutral countenance on his face and continued this way until he reached his locker. Quickly his hand turned the knob and it clicked open after inserting his passcode.
Okay, so we have life orientation and maths in the morning, he thought to himself as he fingered through the stack of books in his locker.
“Ey Doll Face,” called a gruff voice from amongst a small crowd of students in the hallway, “Incoming Plain Jane at three o’clock!”
A sigh left Dwayne's lips as he lazily turned to see what he was being told to look at, For the umpteenth time, my name is D—gah!
At that same moment, a locker door swung open and knocked him square in the face. Great deals of pain stung his nose and backside as he fell onto the cold, polished concrete floor. There was much laughter at his expense as he cupped his nose. The locker door closed immediately and the owner gasped at the sight of what she had just done.
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed and quickly crouched beside Dwayne, offering him a hand to get up, “I'm so sorry!”
Being amiable by nature, Dwayne took her hand and allowed the girl to help him up. He hastily dusted himself off whilst studying his feet with a subtle annoyance.
“I'm so sorry,” she apologized in a blameless tone of voice as her concerned eyes stared at what was visible of Dwayne's nose, “Are you hurt? You're not mad, are you?”
The hope in her voice was palpable as she did not wish to incur Dwayne's anger. He shook his head slightly, “Hey hey hey, relax yourself. . .I'm not mad, but I am hurt.”
He sniffled and felt a sharp pain travel up his nostrils, “Ack! Damn, is it bleeding?”
He hooked the tip of his nose and pulled it back with his index finger for the girl to observe. She squinted her pastel brown eyes and saw no signs of bleeding, “Nope, not even a bit.”
“Oh, okay then. No harm done means no hard feelings,” Dwayne said with a smile that eased her conscience.
“What a relief,” she said with her own sweet smile, “Oh! By the way, I'm still unfamiliar with the school so would it be too much trouble to ask where class 8A is?”
“Sure, no problem,” Dwayne said and stroked his chin, “Hmmm.”
“Okay, do you go straight down the hallway on my left, take a right turn near the junior notice board an—” he stopped as realisation struck “—wait a minute, 8A is my registration class. What do you need from there?”
The girl was thrown off by Dwayne's sudden pause but suddenly remembered herself that she had forgotten something, “Ah, my apologies, where are my manners?”
“My name is Jennifer Diabellein, the foreign transfer student from Georgina High,” she pinched the ends of her pleated black skirt, crossed her legs and dipped into a small curtsey, “Its my pleasure to meet you.”
Dwayne recalled the previous day's last lesson when his educator mentioned something about Georgina High that he had been too preoccupied to hear in detail, “Oh, uhm. . .quite the exotic name you've got there. I'm Dwayne Daniels and pleased to meet you too, Jennifer.”
“My last name isn't so exotic once you learn Latin,” she said with a small, miserable smile after turning to shut her locker door, “Alright then, would you mind if we walked to class together?”
“Well, not necessarily. It you're okay with it then we can go,” Dwayne said and packed his two classwork books and textbooks for the first two lessons in his flimsy lilac backpack.
Feeling someone looking at her, Jennifer's pastel brown eyes glared past Dwayne's shoulder, directly at the person who had referred to her as a Plain Jane and he shrivelled on the spot before looking away.
“Lead the way Dwayne!” Jennifer announced and they bagan walking toward the class just as the bell rang.
A few moments passed as the class reluctantly settled down at the entrance of their teacher. The middle aged Mr Salmons was not much in terms of physicality, but had much to flaunt mentally. He spotted a chequered white shirt and a plain pink tie and hitched to his waist by a snake hide belt were his charcoal trousers. Beside him stood a visibly nervous Jennifer.
Dwayne sat at the very centre of the class with an empty desk on either side of him. His backpack occupied the desk on his right, and his stacked hands balanced his head as he rested it on the desk be was seated at. His green eyes were fixated on Jennifer, as if trying to soothe her nerves.
“Okay class, before I greet you all today, I would like to introduce you to our newest member whom I trust you will treat as you do each other,” he paused as his arm outstretched to pat Jennifer's shoulder whilst allowing his words to sink in, “Please, young lady, give them a brief ad-lib about yourself as a person and what you aspire to be in the near future.”
With just over two dozen different pairs of eyes riveted on her, Jennifer could not help but panic. Her legs shook as her heart raced and her palms were moist with sweat as she rubbed them against the sides of her skirt, “Hi, uh, my name is Jennifer Diabellein from Georgina High. I recently moved to Granth City from outside the country and I, I, I—”
Mr Salmons whispered soothingly into her ear with his mellow voice, “Breathe Jennifer, and relax.”
She nodded slightly and regulated her heartbeat with slow, deep breaths and twirled a tuft of her hair between her thumb and index finger, “I hope that you will all welcome me warmly into your company, I intend for us to work hard this year and strive for nothing short of greatness! We will be the exemplary force to show those below us that it is possible t—”
—Beeeeep! The intercom buzzed and interrupted the flow of Jennifer's speech. Some glowing faces seemed to dip in disappointment at the distrubance, “Jennjfer Diabellein, report to the front office immediately please.”
Mr Salmons gave her a pat on the back, “That is a speech I'd like to hear some other time without any distrubances, don't you agree class?”
Numerous students murmured their agreement which brought a smile to Jennifer's face, “Now off you go dear, they are probably going to give you your timetable and textbooks.”
Jennifer's eyes darted quickly around the class, briefly met Dwayne's and saw his distant, day dreaming face. She smile to herself and left the room in a light jog. Mr Salmons addressed the rest of the class on aspirations and having goals to work toward. He then took roll of everyone present just as the bell rung for first lesson.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone