The Thorned Rose 1-4 (revised... and in other ways made better)

1
I stood in front of my mirror. I noticed the lower left corner, as I always do. It's now sharp, jagged edge always sent a disturbing ping to my heart and through my veins. I parted my thin, black hair above my left eye. The objective of the style was to only show a small part of the left half of my face. I squeezed some mousse into my hands and lathered it in.
"Julena, we're going to be late, Mom called up. I brushed my teeth, grabbed my backpack and raced down the stairs.
"C'mon Mom, we're gonna be late, I told to her, kidding around. We got in the car and headed to school.
Mom glanced over at me, then back at the road. "You don't have to wear Mark's hand-me-downs, you know? I'll get you your own clothes.
"No, it's okay, Mom. I like his clothes, they're comfy, I insisted. She always wanted me to be her bright and pretty little girl. I'm surprised that I haven't already shattered that dream completely.
"Wouldn't you prefer a brighter color? See, I told you. I looked down at my brother's old worn dark gray sweater and black baggy pants with holes beginning to open at the knees.
"Nope. I like these.
"Your hands still cold? I stared down at the black gloves embracing my folded hands.
"Yes, Mother. They have been for 6 to 8 years.
"All right, all right. Well, have a great day, honey.
"Bye, Mom. I hopped out of the car and walked to the school entrance. I was quite happy about the pending first day of school.
"JULEN! a boy called. I walked toward him. Kelly, Kelvin really, waited by entrance ramp for me.
"Hey, Kel, I greeted.
"Yo, everybody, it's Julen, he began with speaking with rhythm. "Spelled with a J, said with a Y. Can I get a little noise fo' Julen? Julen! I laughed.
"Thanks, Kel.
"Anytime, baby.
"Not to be mean, but I'm not your baby.
"Yeah, he said, averting his eyes, "you and every other girl in this school.
"Hey, Kelly, what do you mean?
"Shauna broke up with me. This weekend.
"Aw, Kel, I sympathized. I went to him, and began to hug him, but then I remembered. I shrank away. It wasn't that I ever forgot, or needed reminder; just my love for my friends had stronger impulse than my fears. At least for today, I thought. I kept backing up until I reached the steps. I sat down and buried my head in my arms.
Kel's presence beside me warmed me. He sat closer than I usually allowed most people these days. "Julen, come here, his arm slid across my shoulders. I looked over at him. His straight brown hair was too short to cover his expression.
"I'm sorry, I said, and returned my face to the grave of my arms. Kel dropped his arm and returned it to his side.
"Anything you wanna talk about, Julen? I shook my head. "They're coming. Call in sick or tired?
"Sick.
"You got it, he said and returned to his feet. I could hear him greet everyone. "What's up with Julen? Tammy asked.
"She's not feeling too great, he explained. Kel looked back over to me and gave me a wink. Richie came over to me.
"What's wrong, kiddo? I smiled faintly.
"Probably just a cold. And lack of breakfast, I lied, except I really was hungry.
"Sure it's not that time of the month? Tammy asked, putting her arm around Richie's waist.
"Why do girls always have to ask that? Kel pleaded.
"Because we have to claim it. It's part of who we are, Tammy explained over enthusiastically. "And often, it is the case.
"Well, I think it sucks, I said, standing up. "But, no, it's not that time of the month.
"Here, take this, Kel offered, holding out a breakfast bar. "You need something in that tiny tummy of yours.
"Why, thank you, I said, ignoring the tiny-tummy remark. The bell sounded that alerted us to the unlocking of the doors. Kel and I went to first period, Richie and Tammy went to their spot behind the building to do who-knows-what (actually, we all knew what).
"Why do they even bother waking up early and coming here? There's gotta be another, more appropriate place to do, well, you know, Kel said.
"Not comfortable talking about making out, Kel? I teased.
"Well, I never have, so, yeah.
"Me neither.
"Oh, there's a shock! Kel teased back.
"What do you mean?
"Nothing. Forget it.
"Uh huh, sure, I said. We walked into class, the first ones. Mr. Klimpet, our art teacher was setting a few things up.
"Hello, he greeted. "Welcome to art. I'm Mr. Klimpet.

2
We took seats in the back of class. Then a boy waltzed in the room. His kind of long-for-a-boy, straight, brown hair lay combed down over his face, down to his nose. He threw his head to the left, so his gorgeous, yes, I said gorgeous, blue eyes could see.
"Who is that? I asked, leaning toward Kel.
He fidgeted with his imaginary glasses and squinted a bit. "Well, I believe - holy crap, that's Mason Pelt.
"No flipping way! I exclaimed in a whispering manner.
"Hey, Mason, Kel called.
"Uh, yeah? a deep voice somehow managed itself from this boy. Last year he was skin and bones, a complete nerd with a horrible sense of fashion. I guess puberty brought out the man in him. Whoo!
"Come on over. He grabbed his backpack and walked over. Is that facial hair I see? He took the seat next to me.
"Hey, Kel. How was your summer? he asked.
"It was pretty good. Did nothing but swim, tan, and stay up late. How about yours?
"I grew my hair out, he replied. We all laughed.
"Oh, by the way, I'm-
He interrupted me. "You're Julena Rose. It's nice to actually make your acquaintance, he said, nodding his head. "How was your summer? he asked.
"Just normal summer fun. Enjoying the lack of school. I didn't do anything too spectacular.
A bell rang and people started pouring through the classroom doors. Lots of "Hey, look at you, high fives, reuniting hugs, and a few people making out. This was an elective and it was freshman year. Only 20 percent of the people took this class because they had a real interest. Sadly, I was one of them.

3
Mason, Kel, and I had the first four classes together.
When we met up yet again in 5th period lunch, I asked, "So, Mason, while you were growing out your hair, were you studying the art of stalking?
We laughed. Richie and Tammy showed up during our lunch and sat with us as well.
"Richie, Tammy, this is Mason. Mason, Richie and Tammy. Kel did the introductions. Once Richie, Kel and Tammy engaged in a slight debate of a conversation, as they always do, I asked Mason about his interests.
"Well, I'm really into music. Bands like Dashboard Confessional and Armor For Sleep are definitely some of my favorites. Do you know either of those bands? he asked.
"Nope.
"Oh, well, that'll be your first mix CD. An introduction to emo music.
I giggled.
. "I also read a lot and write some. I've been working on a story for quite a while. I got the worst case of writers block last week. Absolutely no ideas came to mind, not even bad ones.
I nodded.
"What books do you read?
"Most anything, I suppose. I like, um, mystery and romance. Crazy, right?
"No way. Those are my favorite genres, plus anything that has to with vampires or werewolves.
"Vampires and werewolves? Pretty neat.
"Um, excuse me? chimed a high-pitched voice leaning over me. "This is our table. We got dibbs on it. I turned to see my cursed rival of 8 years with her tight preppy clothes and rolling hips glaring at me.
"And what would you like us to do about that, Cheryl? I asked, keeping my cool.
"Simple, she said, leaning closer to me, almost touching nose to nose. "Move! she roared.
"Why don't you just take a seat at a table where all the slime ball guys already are, so you don't put them through all the trouble of relocating? I asked as she waltzed around the table until she was standing behind Mason.
"Well, since I'm obviously looking for some guys to accompany me, she gave me a look, "why don't you come with me now, baby? No doubt referring to Mason, she stroked his cheek and smiled something fake and seductive. Leaning down next to his ear, she asked, "What do ya say?
Abruptly, and awkwardly, he turned around and stuck out a stiff hand. While unsheathing every tooth, he introduced, "I'm Mason Pelt. And you are?
Cheryl let out a small yelp and ran off.
He turned to me and laughed, but stopped short once he noticed my expression. "Hey, he cooed, reaching his hand across. It was a strange thing that happened then, when his hand rested upon mine, I did not flinch, nor reject the gesture. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. He grinned, as did I.

4
"What's this?
Mason retrieved his hand so quickly you couldn't even see his arm move, it was in one place, then the other.
"What's what? Mason asked Kel, our inquirer.
"I've got my eye on you two, he replied jokingly, giving me a wink.
"You better keep an eye on those two, Mason suggested. "What are they doing?! Kel and I busted out laughing.
"Oh, Mason, my apologies. I must've forgotten. Richie and Tammy just happen to be our romance instructors.
"Howdy, Richie said. "Good job, Julen. Not even all the way through the first day, and you've got yourself a boyfriend. Right on!
"No. No, we're not, Mason and I started denying.
"Then, what was that hand thing you guys just did? Tammy questioned. My cheeks warm and I looked down.
"That was just an act of comfort. We're not together or anything, Mason attempted to explain. Richie slid over next to Mason.
"Dude, he said, patting him on the back, "we're just kidding. All right?
"Oh, he remarked, and let escape a nervous laugh
"You're cool, kid. A little edgy, but we'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Welcome to our little, unofficial group. No rules. Just be you, and that's pretty sweet. Mason looked to me, and smiled. I don't ever recall seeing a smile as such.

While walking to the bus, I had the strange sense someone was following me. I turned to see if any one was, and no suspect was found. When I turned back, I fell into the arms of the one and only Mason.
"I can't believe it. One whole period without you, I don't know how I managed, I mused. He gave me a look. "I'm just fooling, and gave him a smile.
"So, what bus are you on? he asked, making conversation.
"Stall¦ I paused to check my hand, where my friend had written it for me, "13.
"Oh, my mom picks me up. I think I'm on stall 13 though, if I ever take the bus.
"You're so stalking me! In all of my classes, on my bus¦ I trailed off.
"Well, not all your classes. I tried for that, but they said it'd be too obvious. Do I detect sarcasm? Nice.
"They? I questioned, feigning suspicion. I furrowed my brow. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but only uncontrollable laughter exited. I joined him.
"Well, he said as we reached my bus, "this is your stop.
"Yep.
"So, um, bye, he said, offering a sweet and innocent, yet awkward, hand.
"Bye, I said, lightly gripping his hand.
As I turned to climb on my bus, I heard, "By the way, nice gloves. I smiled to myself and ventured on. Gee, that boy had a knack for making awkward situations.