Lady Achira

Chapter one

by Raleena

Bright sunshine was beaming through the thick blue drapes. The clock alarm went off ringing through the quiet room. Jordan opened his eyes a bit and glanced at the clock sleepily. It was only seven o’clock and on a Saturday. Jordan closed his eyes again in an attempt to go back to sleep. It wasn’t working. With a loud groan, he threw his blankets on the floor and sat up. With his eyes still closed he felt around on the night table for his alarm clock. With no success he opened his eyes and turned it off. With another loud groan he stood up and pulled on the pair of pants he’d worn the day before and began making his way down the stairs.

With no one else awake in the house, Jordan poured himself a bowl of cold cereal and ate it without adding the milk. When he was done, he went back upstairs and grabbed a towel. He walked down the warm hallway to the washroom and locked the door. He pulled off his pants and turned to the shower. He turned on the hot water and then let it run for a minute. At that moment he turned the tap for the cold water and adjusted it to his desired temperature, cool and refreshing but not too cold. He took off his boxers and got in.

The refreshing cold water beat down on him like a waterfall. Every single drop made him feel more and more awake. He grabbed the shampoo and squirted it into his hand. He poured half of it into his free hand and lifted them to his head. He gently massaged the shampoo into his wet brown hair and then washed it all out. He did the same with the conditioner. He grabbed his blue puff and poured some soap on it. As he lathered it up, he opened his mouth and swallowed some clean water. He wiped the scrub all over his body and then washed it off.

He got out of the shower and grabbed his towel. He wrapped it around his waist and grabbed his pants. He walked out of the washroom and into his bedroom. Jordan dug through his drawers to find the clothes he wanted to wear. The pair of beige cords and the brown sweater. When he found them, he threw them on the floor in front of him and grabbed a pair of socks and a clean pair of boxers and he got dressed. Then Jordan left the house after writing a quick note saying where he’d be. It said:

Dear Mom,
Sorry that I didn’t wait for you to get up this morning but I’m way too wired to stay inside. I’m going to see if Maranda is up yet. I’ll be back before dinner and I won’t go too far. We’ll probably hang around at the school because you know Maranda, she’s always training for her track meets. So I’ll see ya later!

Love your super son Jordan.

He walked down the quiet streets that were only populated by adults going to work and him. He headed down the familiar route to his best friend’s house. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a glimpse of long auburn hair. He turned his head to see a tall girl with blue eyes. She had soft facial features. She was slim and wearing a pair of flares with pink flowers on the bottom overtop of a triangular piece of blue material. She had a blue tank top with a pink flower in the middle. She hadn’t noticed him yet.

Jordan sank quietly into the brush beside the walkway and started stalking her. He followed her almost all the way back to his house and then, with his most raspy voice, he said her name.

“Maranda!” it was a very frightful voice and she seemed to show a little panic. Jordan smiled at it.“Maranda!” he said again only a bit louder and more raspy. A look of fear swept onto her face and she started walking faster. Jordan got out of the thick brush and walked in her shadow. Still silent, he crept a little closer and was right at her heels without any trace of her knowing about his presence. He breathed on her neck and she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Before she could finish her scream, Jordan cupped his hand over her mouth. “Shut up and stop screaming!” he exclaimed in his normal voice. Maranda seemed to relax fully. “It’s just me!” Jordan took his hand from her mouth and spun her around to see him. She was glaring.

“Don’t do that!” She yelled and went to turn away yet Jordan was too quick and he grabbed her arm. He held her with a strong grip and wouldn’t let her move away. “You’re such an idiot Jordan!” She yelled and tried to pull away.

Jordan put on his best innocent look and spun her around again. She wouldn’t look at his face so the look was wasted.”I’m sorry.”he said gently trying to get her to look at him. “I really didn’t mean to scare you that bad. A little jump sure but not a scream. I’m seriously really sorry.” Jordan said. She still refused to look up at him.

“You should know me better than that by now. I have been your best friend for like twelve years.” Maranda pointed out still not looking up. He let go of her arm.

“But I’m really sorry. I swear! I’ll never ever do it ever again and I’ll make it up to you. Will you please forgive me? I’ll do anything.” Jordan said putting on his serious face. Finally Maranda glanced up. “Oh c’mon! It was just a simple innocent joke! It’s not like I hurt anyone!”

“Ok, Jordan I forgive you.” Maranda said.

“Good.” Jordan replied and smiled. “So where’re we goin’?”

“I don’t know yet. Let’s just go this way.” suggested Maranda. She started walking the opposite way that Jordan was looking. Jordan turned around and he followed her.

“Ok. Let’s go this way.” He agreed. They walked for about a half hour passing row after row of differently painted and built houses. Each was a completely individualized home. Some were big and had fine lawns and decorations. Others were smaller and less exquisite but still nice and comfortable looking, like the ones that Jordan and Maranda lived in. There were also some that were very small and shabby, they were owned or rented by single adults or less fortunate families.

Somehow they’d ended up at the highschool at the other side of town. Jordan looked around at the freshly cut forest green grass and he sat down. Maranda sat beside him. He leaned back on his elbows and breathed in a huge quantity of fresh late spring air. He hit his shoes together producing a steady pulse. Maranda hit him lightly indicating that he should stop. When he didn’t, she got aggravated and hit him even harder.

“Ow!” He cried and rubbed his hurt arm. “Why’d you do that?” He whined. He continued rubbing his arm in circular motions trying to ease the pain.

“You wouldn’t stop banging your feet together and it was bugging me.” Maranda replied.

“Oh, sorry” Jordan said.

“It’s ok.” Maranda looked straight ahead at the cemented track.”Jordan, since we’re here, d’you think I could train a bit for track?”

“Oh, you and your training, always hafta be perfect and win all your races, can’t stand to lose . . . ”

“You have to train too, Jordan.” Maranda reminded.

“I know. I’ll train too.” sighed Jordan.

“Ok, let’s get going!” Maranda exclaimed. She took off down the hill. Jordan laughed and ran down the hill too. Maranda started running slowly down the track. Jordan fell in beside her at a steady pace. On their fourth lap, Jordan began to fall further and further behind because he was a sprinter and not a distance runner. Finally, Jordan gave up and sat down at the side of the track and watched while his friend ran strongly around the track at the same pace for a few more laps.

“Go Maranda!”

“Woo hoo!”voices behind them yelled, by the way the second voice cracked in the middle of the word Jordan had no doubt that it was Alex and Randy, the most popular guys at school, Jordan’s best male friends.

“Hey guys! What’s up?”Jordan asked as he ran up to them across the grass on the football field.

“Nothing much. We’re just bored out of our minds.” Alex replied.

“Why are you here with Maranda?” Randy asked.

“I don’t know. This morning I practically scared the life out of her and she still came. I thought she’d be mad at me for at least a few hours. I really did. Anyways we just kind of started walking and ended up here.” Jordan explained.

“Dude are you two like goin’ out?” Alex asked as a sly smile played on his mouth.

“No! We’re just friends! I swear!” Jordan insisted.

“Yeah, but you want to.” Randy stated.

“Of course I do! Who wouldn’t?” Jordan asked.

“Me.”Alex submitted.

“Why not?” Randy demanded.

“Because our guy Jordan likes the girl and we shouldn’t stab him in the back and take her for ourselves.” Alex replied

“Oh.”

“Thanks man.”

“Hey that’s what friends are for.” Alex said.

“Well I still like her.” Randy said, “But I won’t ask her out.”

“Ask who out?” The feminine voice of Maranda asked.

“No one!” All three exclaimed quickly.

“Oh well. Can I borrow a bottle of water?” Maranda asked changing the subject to one less uncomfortable one. She stared at the three blank faces. “C’mon one of you must have been smart enough to bring one.”

“Here’s mine,” offered Randy reluctantly.

“Thanks Randy.” said Maranda. She took the bottle and opened the top of it. She brought it up over her head and dumped it. “That was nice!”

Alex elbowed Jordan in the ribs and whispered so quietly that no one but he and Jordan could hear,”Ask her out man.”

“No!” Jordan exclaimed

“What?” Maranda and Randy asked together.

“Um . . . nothing.” Jordan said.

“Ok well me and Randy should be going just about now.” Alex said.

“Bye Alex.” Jordan said. Randy and Alex left the soft green fields to the northern side of the highschool. “Maranda, do you want to go get some hot chocolate?”

“Ok.”