Chapter Theme Music: (Not Set)122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTlhCbCPY9
<09/27/2011 - 12:09 | Saffrin Middle School (Library), Austell, GA, USA>
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegaSJzc0E7
After a long waited grace period of mindless learning, lunch time came in no time. After cramming my food in just two bites, I scurried on to the library, logging on their many computers in my favorite seat so do the work.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZnPrynqY3
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHByZghk1d
I didn't learn much in the few minutes of effort I gave it. Basically, Wahsega is a 4H Camp. I never figured out what the 4H club was all about, other than it having to do with nature, outdoors, green earth, camping, etc., as a K-12 program. Wahsega is essentially in all aspects one large camping facility, with more than one cabin to hold students overnight. It's also supposedly filled with nature. That's all I got anyway. The only thing I had left to do now was ask around some more. But in my new usual routine of future planning, I typed everything into a personal note, reminders for reminders, and even a note to ask around more, so that I remember not to forget.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFcWG0iYvf
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBJC69kwT9
Okay, so this value completes that TDL... I guess that's it then. All I have to do now is ask Zero more about it when I get into Homech. Things are going alright for this, don't you agree?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXIfbe4yxv
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO28d5XCND6
...122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zpNyRTgak
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgipXkdDEby
Oh, right. I'm not supposed to hear any reply from Lumina. She phased out the connection two class periods ago... I glanced at my phone, only as a means to check the time, since I hate watches. Seems I have six minutes until the next class. For a thirty minute lunch, I did pretty good.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTe2NCwCAQ
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ncuOxyIj0
"Excuse me?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJEW2gYKF3
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6CoqEI0Xw
My head swiveled aside, desperate to find out who was addressing me since I couldn't stand to be caught off guard. It was a girl, two of them in fact. The inflection I heard in her voice was softer and higher pitch than I was used to, and they both looked just as young as two sixth grade girls. "Huh?" I still needed some time to think. I couldn't figure out why two random students were suddenly so interested in me... Nobody takes an interest in me.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQqOG3Ssq4
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpczM5P8PVH
The one closer to me sat arched in her seat with a blushing smile, gently waving her hand at me without moving her arm much. "Hi."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRytUnjwJn
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tD8wU8kPs
"Hey..." I awkwardly returned the gesture, uncertain what she wanted. When neither one of them immediately got into what they wanted from me, it felt twice as awkward as before, while I found myself in a situation I wasn't used to.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQlZraEuny
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPAyl3qLCN
Instead of saying anymore, the girl's other friend right behind her tilted her body slightly and spoke for her behalf. "Sorry. My friend wants to know what grade you are in."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNn1YYc0vH
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3DGv9NqnN
... Okay then... "I'm in eighth grade."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAShPmlUhRk
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsWfINKxTa
"Really?" The first one to talk to me bent her arms forward on her chair leaning her head in closer to me, with a stunned expression. "I never would have guessed."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryUgINpOWp
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFvjngin5q
"Yeah..." I don't know what to say to them. I don't even know what they want... Is this how I used to come off to others when I tried learning how to talk to them? Oh my god, the cringe! "Is there anything else I could help with?" They must want a favor, advice perhaps? They're staring right into my eyes like I've never seen any other human stare before.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvqBB0n7aR
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQByUtQncdL
"My name is Miracle." After giving me a name to identify her with, the sixth grader sheepishly smiled without saying much more, allowing me more time in remembering her face and interesting braided hair.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a2ATmvNvu
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzwXFDfi4o
Before either Miracle or I could say anymore to each other, Miracle's friend continued playing her role in this moment. "My friend Miracle was interested in getting your phone number?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAzZZCg0U3
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6LD6BU68R
"Don't just say that!" Miracle turned around with a half empty water bottle in her hand, using it to bonk the top of her friend's head.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3HWaU0HmM
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNHDgQZbqF
What the hell is going on? Did I fall asleep? These two can't be for real. Miracle and her friend are quite strange. I don't see why any of them need my phone number. Didn't we just meet?122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKlpoJcIb8
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ssG2jxoQA
"Oh, well..." Miracle struggled not to hesitate and stutter, and for a brief moment, she even failed at making direct eye contact. "We both thought you were a bit younger, so don't worry about it." Then, there it was; the one identifying cue that I had been missing.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FhRbGAQeA
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSmIcyFH4r
"Hey! If you won't do it, then I will." Even her friend got in on the action, revealing her intentions to go either way the wind blew.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LYI1XMvqm
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7Zb8hZKyW
As I sat here in silent shock, I could see the faintest blush in her cheeks while Miracle tried to talk us all out of the moment. Sad as it was that I didn't recognize what this was sooner, I finally came to my senses in the nick of time. You've gotta be kidding me! These two freshmen are hitting on me! The awkward introduction, the name, the smile, the phone number, all of it hinted to exactly what it looked like.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7mxvx0nj8
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFVVy2rvtA
I was a little too stunned to move or say anything for a moment. Yes, I am stunned that I of all people was attracting anybody's interest, aside from Lumina. It's not like I'm putrid ugly, but I know my looks are average at best; my past experiences paint the picture at least. Being on the receiving end of someone's crush just feels... It's so different. Of all things, Lumina isn't even here to flip out about the situation. I don't really know if she conquered her own jealousy trait, but I wouldn't want to find out right now.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4yeS09RR2
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPfxKKFl9n
I couldn't help but blush in return, for reasons a bit different than her. I thought this would never happen in a million years! Do people really think I'm more handsome than average, even if it's just a slight difference? It's kind of refreshing to hear—122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU62QgCKFu
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ica31oFNz
No! I sternly reminded myself, blasting all previous thoughts of Miracle and her friend away. I can't think like that! I already have someone important to me.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DOPPxPNJ8
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hnJoPhBJM
"Ehem!" I blurted now facing them, using my throat clearing as a means to attention for one time only. "I suppose you could call this a bit flattering, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhqTjIz1ji
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AotHLw4tu
Without much thought or reaction, the other girl patted Miracle on the back with the conclusion ready. "I knew it. He's too old for us."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5nhhbpPSt
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQCx0CuJZa
"Huh?" Too old? I guess, maybe? "Actually, the reason has to do with somebody else. Let's just say that I'm not on the open market right now. I'm with somebody else. So, I can't just willingly give out phone numbers to anybody."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVOZ5Zh1Ro
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KlOIoBJov
I hope I didn't sound too arrogant and stuck-up just now. I wasn't sure what other way I could tell them I'm not single... Actually, that probably would have done it. But I'm not so stuck-up that I'd turn a girl down simply because of her age. I mean, look at Lumina. She has thousands of extra years on me. I don't want these two girls growing up to think close age matters too much in a relationship.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZUu5La2aa
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaSfBqOHNm
"Okay," Miracle replied sunken in defeat. "But if you ever change your mind, I'll give you a chance for us to be ordinary friends. Maybe we can start off like that instead." Then, Miracle handed me a small card. It looked just like any other business card, but the only written text on the flash card was her phone number in ink.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIV6msRQde
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsYKkZwYwL
"Right..." Not wanting to look like an ass, I took the card diligently, started at it for a moment, and then pocketed the piece of thick paper. I didn't know what else to say to her that I hadn't already. Luckily, I was saved in that moment by the bell, tolling for the end of our lunch. Feeling weird, I forced myself to get up and prepare to leave without lurking around. "Alright. Gotta go."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuTWZbo9SX
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBebL3mRz4y
"Bye!" Even with me leaving, Miracle and her friend seemed cheerful, a little happy even.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z3awQnsyz
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ712tKO6Gn
With both of them out of my sights, I slowed my walking pace down immensely, just to process all that happened to me. As obvious as it was that I can't date other women. I felt kind of excited to have that happen, to be hit on by others. I don't know why, but I felt much better about myself then I did yesterday. I almost giggled as I strut down the hall to the next class, reaffirmed that I'm not as repulsive as I thought I was.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEqvyzKESf
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2FVlzxr7g
Still, I have to make up my mind about this thing; the card I'm now holding in my hands. I'll just rip up the card later. I have no choice. I can't use this to call Miracle; it would be a soft declaration that I actually have a thing for her. Even if my mind tries to go there, I can't pursue any other interest right now.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2ixcRhcZi
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjVNzkeFkI
At the same time, I'm starting to get cornered about this topic everywhere I go. Since I'm not looking for a girlfriend, that means other girls might start looking at me as a potential boyfriend, for those who know nothing about me at least. Most teenagers just walk around with their partners to their side, kissing each other in the halls to make their declarations well known.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoKPADpLLn
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLh7oxUzIn
My situation is a bit more complex. I can't physically show Lumina off, so people will automatically assume I'm single, unless they ask first. And yet, Lumina's presence and existence has to be a secret at the same time, at least from bad parties. I have to portray myself as seeing someone without actually detailing who that someone is; to let everyone know I'm not single, without giving away a shred of additional info. That's the role I have to play now; there can be no room for screw-ups. If I put myself into any awkward situation, Lumina is going to know about it. As much as I can hide some things from her, we are both telepaths. Keeping secrets from each other is next to impossible.
122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42gHXmjH2i
