Chapter One
Jackson always had weird dreams; dreams that made absolutely made no sense. Like the time he dreamed he was Spongebob, doing the chicken dance in Wal-mart. Or when he was Pikachu in Blue's Clues. All of his dreams were pointless and stupid.
Except this one. In his dream, he saw a fluffy sort of rabbit, the fur coat a mixture of chocolate brown and stormy grey. It was at the edge of a deserted road, looking this way and thay way. When it was sure no cars were coming, it darted out of the tall grass and onto the tarnished road. Out of nowhere comes a car, hitting the rabbit and killing it.
Then the dream repeats itself. Over and over again, like a song stuck on replay. Everytime the rabbit attempts to cross the road, a car would come out of thin air and hit it. Nothing ever changed, save for the last time. This time, it wasn't a rabbit. It was a girl the age of seventeen. She was a short lass, with long wavy chocolate brown hair. Jackson never saw her face, only the back of her. She did the same as the rabbit. She crossed the road and was killed.
Jackson's eyes snapped open and he sat up, confused and disoriented. Where was he? He shook his head, clearing his blurred vision. Blood-red numbers flashed out at him, drawing his attention like a boat to a lifehouse. It was six in the morning.
Jackson groaned as reality sunk in. He was at his house. It was Monday. His first day of his senior year. Time to get ready. Jackson took a quick shower and shaved his lower face, cursing silently when he nicked his cheek. Ignoring the sting, Jackson brused his teeth and dried off, selecting a long-sleeved white shirt and a black pair of jeans to wear. After putting them on, he laced up his worn-in black military combat boots, loving the way his toes squished together. Jackson brushed his shaggy black hair, slipped on a silver ring, scowled at his reflection, and slammed the door when he exited his room. He almost felt like himself again. Almost.
"Hello honey! Would you like some pancakes?" His mother chirped, smiling at her son as he shuffled into the kitchen.
Jackson shook his head, opening the fridge and pouring himself a glass of milk. He sat on the edge of a table chair and took a tiny sip, hating how his mother watched him, her eyes full of pity.
"How about eggs? Waffles? We can grab you a donut on the way to school, from that Yum Yum shop, the one you and Am-" She caught herself quickly, her eyes widening in alarm. Jackson was gripping the glass of milk tightly, his knuckles turning a ghastly white.
"A number of friends went to." His father finished, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Yes. That." She stammered, shaking her head. Then she turned to the stove and stirred the eggs."How about sasauges? Oatmeal-"
"I'm not hungry." Jackson said in a hard voice, making his mother flinch slightly.
"Okay..." She nodded her head furiously, her cheeks a hot pink. She quickly exited the room.
"You don't need to be so harsh on her." His father said quietly, sitting across the table from his son. "She's just concerned about you. We all are."
"Don't be." Jackson growled. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not not. You haven't been the same since-"
Jackson stood up, slamming the glass of milk down violently. The liquid quaked inside the glassy container, splashing over the rim and onto the wooden surface of the table. "Good-bye." Jackson grabbed his backpack from the hall closet and ran outside, ignoring his father's calls. He quickly ran a few blocks, then slowed down, glad that he lived so close to the school.
Who were they, to say he wasn't the same? Did they honestly expect him to be all sunshine and rainbows after that day? Jackson laughed bitterly, walking up the street to his high school, ironically named Jacksonville High School. Such a hoot.
"Jackson?" He turned to see a blonde-haired, skinny girl with green eyes. Joeli. She was the school's most popular girl, and the head cheerleader. She had also been his best friend last year, back when he'd been a jock. Before the accident.
"Hi." He nodded to her polietly, noting the awkward way she stood, as if she was waiting for the chance to book it.
"How have you been?" She asked quietly, not meeting his eyes.
"Just dandy. You?" He said sarcasticly. Joeli swallowed and opened her mouth to respond, then shut it and walked away. Jackson cursed, furious with himself. Everyone was going to ask him that, because they're concerned. He needed to put on a poker face and lie, saying he's okay when he's most certainly not.
Jackson's jaw clenced tightly as he entered the school and walked down the entrance hall to the cafe. He could feel people staring at him, pointing him out, whispering about him. His jaw clenced tighter. He wasn't some freak on display, yet he was the hottest gossip of the month.
"Hastings, Jackson." Jackson told the E-H lady sitting at the table. She nodded and shifted through the box of flash cards in front of her.
"Here's your schedule and locker combination." She handed the papers to him, smiling shyly. Jackson snatched the papers and stormed away. He was so damn annoyed of the pity looks. Ignoring the whispers, he found his locker and roughly twirled the dial. 23-17-4. He pulled down and tugged the door handle. Nothing. He tried again. Nothing.
"You have to wiggle the handle a couple times." Jackson turned to see a girl with long auburn hair and impossibly beautiful green eyes.
Jackson did as she said, wiggling the door handle. It opened, and he shoved his backpack inside.
"You're welcome." The girl chuckled.
"Thanks." Jackson muttered, grabbing a notebook and closing the locker door.
"I'm Seph." She said lightly, offering a hand. When Jackson pointedly ignored it, she slowly lowered it and smiled awkwardly. "I'm a senior."
"Really?" Jackson asked, taken off guard. She was too small and young-looking to be a senior.
"Yep. I know, I'm short. That doesn't automatically make me a freshman. Just like your abnormal height of 6'3" doesn't make you a basketball player."
Jackson chuckled, suprising himself. "Actually, I used to be."
"Shut up." Seph grumbled, brushing her red curls off her shoulder. She was really pre-
"Bye." Jackson whirled around, intended on walking away before he thought and/or said something he really didn't want to say. Instead, he bumped into Zach, Jackson's ex-best friend.
"Did you have a good summer, Jacky?" Zach growled, pushing Jackson away from him.
"Fuck off, Zach." Jackson snarled, turning to leave. But Zach's next words made him freeze.
"It's all your fault, boy. If it wasn't for you and your shit driving, Amy would still be alive today. I told her I was better for her, anyone's better than you, but no, she wanted a scum ball like you. And now look where it got her." Zach sneered, his voice reeking of alcohol.
Jackson turned around slowly. He took one look at Zach's smirking face, taunting him. Daring him to fight back. Jackson socked him in the face, knocking him unconcious.
Spoiler! :
I also really didn't like how the story starts off on the first day of Senior year only because it's just about the most cliche thing ever and I've read countless books where that's happened. I also don't much like how angry Jackson is, and unprovoked too. It seems a little dramatic. Maybe if it was the anniversary of Amy's death, then yeah sure but just for a random day of school? Not very realistic. 
Gender:
Points: 4261
Reviews: 933