Awake Part 3

~ Bryn ~

I find school hard. Good to see people again, but hard. No one figures out I brought the treats, for which I am grateful. Well, I am unsure about Brady. He keeps on looking at me, and then away again. Ethan strikes up a conversation before class ends; he recognizes my name and congratulates me for getting out of the hospital. Jenna shows little interest in me at all, and when she kisses Ethan swiftly as class ends, I feel as though my heart has snapped, but I know I have no right to envy her. Yet as homeroom ends, I walk out quickly before anyone can stop me.

Yet someone does. A hand catches my elbow in the hall and I turn, alarmed. It's Brady of all people! He looks just like Ethan, with even the same shaggy hair cut--except for the little he's let grow long in a braid down his back. His eyes and face have an intensity I have never seen on Ethan, either. But what he says surprises me because Brady just doesn't talk.

"Are you okay?" he asks seriously.

I can't believe he's taken such notice of me. He'd only met me once in the real world, right? Brady isn't the kind who really cares what anyone else is doing. At his words I want to start crying, though I'm not sure if it's from being upset or relief. My eyes fill with tears and I refuse to let them spill out. His brows draw together in a familiar sign of concern.

"Bryn?" he asks, as though he's known me for years. I blink, confused. He lets me go and shrugs. That's more like Brady. "You know, you aren't forgotten," he says, so quietly I'm not sure I really heard it, and then he's gone. I realize people are staring at me as they go by and I just want out of there. I nearly run to my next class, take my seat, and huddle there, praying no one will take notice.

"Bryn?" I hear my name again. Looking at the door I see my sister Beth. She's a freshman and she's sticking her head through the door to check on me. She catches my eye, smiles, and takes off again without another word.

"Was that Beth O'Herra?" someone asks. "She's so adorable!" says another. I smile. Beth is adorable; she's petite and sweet-faced and gentle. I love my little sister! Suddenly I feel like I can get through any day no matter how hard if Beth is looking out for me.

~ Jenna ~

To me, having a new girl in our homeroom is of little interest. Well, maybe vaguely interesting; Ethan explains to me that her mother runs the daycare he went to as a kid, and that she fell his first day there and went into a coma. Its good she's finally woken up, I guess.

It isn't until she races out of homeroom and Brady high-tails it after her that my attention is caught. Brady doesn't care about anybody. Even the girls who fawn over him as the "strong and silent type" only irk him. He never says anything to me and Ethan says he only understands him half the time. But Brady definitely seems interested in this Bryn.

I follow him into the hall, curious. He's caught her by the arm! I stare, mouth hanging open, as he talks to her too. But the hall is too noisy and I can't make out what he says. Finally, he shrugs and goes off. The girl looks like she's about to cry. Did Brady say something mean? He certainly is in trouble enough, because he fights and hangs out in out-of-bounds areas.

In my hand I hold a neatly wrapped little package of sweets I found on my desk this morning. No one seems to know who they're from. I vaguely wonder if Bryn left them there, but it seems like a non-issue. I nibble half-heartedly on the fudge; it's very yummy.

My thoughts stray back to the new girl. So much for my disinterest! This scene with Brady has made her much more of an entity. I kind of want to give her a make over. She's got a pretty face with gorgeous, large green eyes, and her hair is pretty. I love her cut, too. But her clothes...hopelessly baggy. She could be the most curvaceous girl at the school and no one would know it! She's like...a beauty in disguise or something. At least she isn't stuck with thick framed glasses or anything. She did seem painfully shy.

I sigh to myself. Maybe I'll offer to help her catch up during fifth hour, when we go back to our homeroom. But then again, she's probably smarter than me; most people are.

~ Bryn ~

When fifth hour rolls around, I'm calmer. Sharalee and Beth both came and sat with me during lunch. I guess I'm lucky I'm a sophomore; that way both of them are both at the school, since Shara is a senior and Beth a freshman. Shara reminds me over and over to not do anything risky so I don't start spitting up blood or get a seizure. I'm not used to the idea that those are risks yet. I haven't experienced it since I woke up--but I did promise to play it safe. So now I'm back in my desk. Ethan greets me with his usual grin and cheery hello, and even Jenna slips me a small smile. Brady catches my eye and then looks away as though he's been burned. I thought I knew him but I have no idea what he's thinking now.

Everyone's buzzing to find out about the fudge and cookies. I smile. I'm just glad they enjoyed them! My thank-you for past friendships was received well. I wonder if I'll have the courage to rekindle those friendships. Fifth hour is more a study hall than anything, so the teacher gives some instructions and then leaves us to it. I pull out my work for the day and get going.

"Psst," someone hisses. I turn to see Jenna leaning out of her desk, eyes twinkling and red curls falling everywhere. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jenna Cardiff." She sticks out one of her pale, slender hands.

I smile. It's hard to be shy around Jenna. "Good to meet you." My voice still comes out small. I don't think I know how to talk loud. But I feel like it's some joke we're carrying on; I shake her hand.

"I heard about the coma," Jenna continues kindly, her voice down so we don't draw others into the conversation. "I'm sorry, but I'm glad you're back now. Is it weird? Was it like aging ten years in the blink of an eye?"

I shake my head. "No...I was dreaming. Its more like this is a dream and that was real."

Jenna marvels at me, contemplating my answer as her long polished nails tap thoughtfully on her desk. Her makeup is applied to perfection as usual. I remember my dream-birthday and the way she'd made me somehow beautiful for the date that had never happened. This thought makes me think of Ethan; my head turns slightly, involuntarily, and then I blush.

Jenna notices. Her face darkens a little. "You don't have a crush on Ethan, do you?" she hisses, suddenly defensive. I don't know what to say. If I'd known Jenna and Ethan might have been interested in each other, I wouldn't have dated him in my dream life. Jenna must see the panic on my face, however, because she sits back in astonishment. "Oh my gosh, you do, don't you? Well, he's my boyfriend. You're welcome to like him from afar, but I've got claim, you hear?"

My face is burning. I wish I could melt away into nothing. I bury my face on my desk. She smirks a little and shrugs. "Whatever," she says. "Just so you know. Brady though...Brady you can have. You certainly got a reaction out of him. I didn't think anyone could do that, unless he gets mad and swings a punch."

Oh heavens above. I want class to end.