The Day it Began

(They all kept nagging me about it so I finally did it… and the outcome was as expected…) Jin Lane silently cried to himself while leaning against the metal railing on the roof of the science wing. He was near the front of the school where he could see the beautiful, orange, Texas sunset that painted the sky in a gradient going to a dark purple. Dark grey storm clouds were moving in slowly from the east hiding the beautiful sight.

He was a seventeen year old junior in high school wearing a white t-shirt, a lightweight, dark-blue windbreaker and black jeans. His grey backpack with black highlights slumped against the railing. He silently cried to himself, reminiscing about what had happened earlier that day.

***

BEEEEEPP!!! The startling dismissal bell rang as Jin and a few of his friends left their fourth period class on the second floor. They started walking down the red locker-filled hallway to the commons, an area where lots of students gathered between classes to hangout and talk.

"Hey Jin! Maybe it's about time you made your move!" Nate, his redheaded bud from elementary school said as he poked him with his elbow.

Nate stood at six feet five inches and had freckles scattered across his face. He was a somewhat muscular guy and a dominant center that played for the school's varsity basketball team. He was wearing a black t-shirt that made his pale skin stick out even more with blue jeans and a silver necklace with a cross that he had always worn since he was a kid. He had on his blue athletic backpack full of class notes and basketball notes over his shoulder.

"He's probably right… you need to put yourself out there more..." said George, an equally giant friend of Jins.

Jin had met George in his middle school library where he was secretly skipping class to read the newest manga that had come out. He was a few inches taller than Jin who himself was five feet, ten inches, had long, grey hair, black eyes and was regarded one of the most naturally gifted students academically, holding a spot as one of the top ten students at school. He was wearing a green and white striped shirt, beige cargo shorts and was reading a small book. He had his backpack full of manga and books hanging awkwardly off his right shoulder as he walked forwards.

"I DON'T WANNA HEAR THAT FROM YOU!" Jin fired back, "YOU SHUT-IN ANIME FREAK!!"

"Don't forget manga." Mohammad chimed in.

Mohammad was another one of Jin's pals from elementary school. He had brown hair that was styled upwards and to his right with some gel and was a few inches shorter than Jin but had the presence of a man the size of Nate. He had the aura of a playboy and would often get asked out at least once a week, despite having a girlfriend. He was wearing dark blue pants, a pink flowered shirt and a shiny, silver watch. On his back was a light brown, leathered backpack with shiny zippers and metal studded highlights scattered across.

"But this freak has something that you don't… a girlfriend!" He snickered.

"He's not complimenting you..." Nate murmured to George.

"I'm gonna hurt you!" Jin clenched a tight fist.

"I'd like to see you try!" George taunted.

Jin took a step forward aggressively before deflating and hunching over. "He's right..." He said sadly.

They continued walking down the hallway, making fun of Jin and bickering back and forth until they reached the crowded, zigzagged stairwell. They continued walking down it, struggling to stay together in the large crowd of students navigating up and down it until they reached the final steps, when they were finally able to group up.

"Well, be depressed no longer!" Nate said as he patted Jin's back, pointing to a girl that was standing in the middle of the commons.

The commons was a large, open area in the middle of the school similar to a courtyard, without the grass and greens but instead tiles and a large school logo, a tiger, painted in the middle. The high ceiling sat above the second floor, which was open to the commons, allowing students to lean against the wooden railing and look down on the large clumps of students talking to one another. Four large pillars stood just below the openings of the second floor, each decorated with a red and white bench and a trash can on the other side. Along each wall were two hallways that lead to different wings and parts of the school through which students would flood out of and get sucked into.

Jin gulped hard as they came down the stairs. His eyes had found the girl he had a crush on since last year, Chandler Morrison, a cheerleader in the same grade as him. She was wearing jeans shorts with a loose, red blouse that had its front tucked in highlighting the golden belt she was wearing. Her white backpack was on the ground, leaning against her equally white shoes. She had long brown hair and deep blue eyes, but what made Jin's heart flutter to no end was her gentle, and brightening smile. They had met in english class last year when they sat next to each other, and after talking with her everyday he had started to like her.

"Yo Jin, why do you look so pale?" Ana, asked while leaning towards Jin, as they reached the floor of the commons.

Ana was a fairly athletic, black haired and black eyed girl that was two inches shorter than Jin and in the same year as the four of them. She was wearing blue jeans and a simple white t-shirt on top with her hair pulled back with a grey scrunchy and was one of the people that Jin respected and held in high regard. She had a black backpack that was identical to Jin's on her back, full of textbooks and completed assignments. Back since elementary school Ana would get bullied for being a bookworm and for the large glasses she would wear, but after middle school she had changed her appearance and improved academically becoming the sixth rank student in their class. Regardless to say, the people who bullied her once now obsessed over her giving her as many crushes as Mohammad had people asking him out.

Jin shot up straight and instinctively pulled his right hand behind his head and rubbed it nervously. "Wha- Hahaha, no reason..." He trailed off as he took a sharp right.

Mohammad grabbed his arm and swung him around. "Oh, not so fast!" he said as he redirected him towards Chandler.

Before Jin could slow down Chandler made eye contact and smiled and waved to him. He silently cursed out Mohammad as he walked towards her. His legs felt like they were made of gelatin as each step sent a shockwave running through his body.

"Hello Jin!" She said excitedly.

"Yo. Chandler..." Jin said stiffly. He noticed one of her feet were pointed at him while the other was in some direction to his left. Her shoulder's weren't facing him directly either.

"Um… could you meet me on the roof of the science building after school today?" He asked while struggling to keep his hands from fidgeting.

"Yea sure!" She said excitedly, "Can I know why?"

Jin turned around quickly. "There's something I want to ask you." Jin said as he looked over his shoulder and started walking back to his friends.