2 Chapter 1

It was just another day at school, until I got called into the office. My classmates already knew that my father died when I was in grade school and that in

middle school my mother died. What they didn't know was that my grandfather's health had been getting worse since my mother died, two years ago. So I stood up and

grabbed my stuff, because I already knew that I would not be returning to class. I looked at my teacher who nodded at me as I left the room. As I wandered down the

long corridor towards the principles office, I began to brace myself incase what I figured happened, was in fact the reason I had been called to the office.

I made a sharp turn at the corner of the walkway and opened the door to the office and walked straight back into the principles office, not even saying a word to the

secretary. And as I opened the door my heart sank, because there sat Laine, with ruined make-up from crying. And right then and there, I knew I had been right.

"Jade, please have a seat. I am afraid I have some bad news," the principle motioned for me to sit down in one of the big, plush arm chairs he had in his

office.

I did as he said and as I did, I saw him reach into the mini-fridge he kept hidden under his desk and saw him place some juice on the desk. I turned my gaze from

what he was doing and looked at Laine.

"Lainey please tell me what I am afraid happened has not happened. Please tell me Grandpa isnt-"

"I'm afraid so Jade."

I collapsed back into the chair, as I took in the information that my last living relative had passed away. I started shaking as the the principle handed me

a big cup of juice. I tried to drink it, because I knew that if i didn't I would pass out. I drank what I had to to make the shaking stop and then I started to cry.

Lainey stood up from her chair and wrapped me in her warm, comforting embrace, just like she always did when I was upset. I clung to her tightly, afraid that if I let

go she too, would end up dead and then I would be left all alone, without anybody at all.

"W...Where will you go now that grandfather is dead," I glanced up at her with tear filled eyes.

She looked at me slightly shocked.

"I'm not going anywhere your grandfather appointed me as your guardian incase anything happened to him. After all I was the one who took care of you

after your parents died. Your grandpa, may he rest in peace, also paid the house off completely so the only thing we have to worry about is food and that shouldn't

be too hard to do. The utilities were always overpaid so those won't have to be paid for a awhile."

I looked up at my dear Lainey and clung to her tighter, now more afraid than ever that something would happen to her. We sat like that for what felt like a lifetime,

however it was only five minutes, before the principle cleared his throat and drew our attention back to the matter at hand.

"Now, Mrs. Siren, considering the situation at hand, I am allowing you to have a week out of school so that you may figure out the arrangements you need to

make. Also know that if you need any help, you have the attention of the complete facilty to ask for anything. We understand how you must feel and our hearts go out

to you at this time. You have been through a lot at such a young age and you have our deepest regrets. You may go ahead and head home, if you wish and your week away

starts tomorrow, either way."

With that, he pulled open one of the drawers of his desk and pulled out a small box and handed it to me, along with two slips of paper and an unmarked bottle that had

clearly never been opened. I took the box and the papers while Lainey took the bottle and with that we grabbed my school bag and walked out of the office into the

hallway. Lainey wrapped her arm around my shoulder as we walked down the hall. I could feel the eyes of my peers staring at me as we walked down the hall and knew that

they were wandering what had happened and wanting to know why the "perfect" girl was leaving school early. I looked to the ground as their gazes began to bear down on

me as the bell rang to dismiss that period. Students pooled out of the classrooms, but didn't baracade the walkway. Some were pointing and whispering. I heard some

talk about how my makeup was ruined and that I had been crying. Some yelled out to me. Others just watched as I left the building. And the closer we got to the door,

the further away it felt we got with all the people staring at me.

Finally we got out the door, where my closest friends were waiting for me and ran up to me with open arms and encompased me in the warmth of their embrace. The

youngest of the group, Takashi, was the first to pull away to look at my face and speak.

"You don't have to tell us what happened we already know and we want you to know that we are here for you, Jade!"

I looked at Takashi in shock, as normally she was usually so soft spoken that her straightforwardness startled me. I could only nod and wonder how they knew about what

had happened. And then I found out, as my best friend from elementary school, Nana, spoke up next.

"Look, Jade, we all know that when you go through something like this that you never tell anybody until you are ready so when your mom passed away, we asked

Lainey to keep us in the loop incase the old man kicked the bucket so when she texted us and told us, we informed our teacher, in private obviously, and they let us

leave class so that we could come comfort you. And to make things even better, we already all talked to our parents and they said that we could all stay with you for

about a week, which means that when we get out of school, we are heading home and getting out stuff and coming over. And we won't take no for an answer."

Nana crossed her arms as she finished her speech. I sighed and then let out a soft laugh as I looked at my small collection of friends and for the first time noticed

how odd it must seem to the other students that we even spoke to one another. There was me, the obvious nerd, who was short with long silver blonde hair and emerald

eyes. Takashi, who had short ebony hair and eyes so grey they looked silver, was on the soccer team and the softball team. Nana, was the one who really stood out when

it came to our little group. She had naturally fire red hair, that she dyed bright purple. She was in the martial arts club and she was also in the music club. And I

looked at both of them and hugged them both tightly, tears spilling over once again.

"I really don't know what I would do without you girls," I said softly as I was starting to lose my voice.

We stood their hugging each other until Nana tapped on my shoulder and whispered into my ear, "Don't look now Jade but here comes Miro."

I straightened up and rubbed my face, trying to remove any trace of ruined makeup, and turned towards the school entrace to see Miro looking right at me. He had

clearly been on his way over to us until he saw that I had either noticed his presence or had been informed he was there. He looked at me and awkwardly waved at me,

before looking down and retreating back into the school. I blinked, still unsure of what just happened, and turned back to my little group. Lainey looked down at her

phone. It was almost time for the next class to start. Nana and Takashi hugged me tightly and ran off into the building, but not before placing a kiss on my cheeks,

like they always did when I needed them and would not see them for a few hours.

Lainey and I walked towards the parking lot of the school and she asked me if I was alright to drive my car back to the house. I told her I was fine to drive and that

I would meet her at the house. She nodded, reluctantly, and walked me to my little, white car before walking to her own. I unlocked the door and climbed inside, happy

to be in an area that always made me feel safe. I put my key in the ignition and started her up, fastening my seatbelt and pulling out of the parking lot. As I drove

back to the house, I could not help but take the way my grandfather showed me when I was a child. And as I took the path, I rolled down my window and let the sakura

petals blow into my car. When I reached the drive way, I grabbed my stuff, and the petals and walked into the house, which now looked to be way too big. I laid my bag

by the front door and took the box, the papers, and the petals into my bedroom and started preparing for when my friends would be coming over.