I know you 1

The sun so didn't match my mood that morning.

I yanked my curtains closed and tried to find warmth in my bed. It was late fall, and somebody had turned on the A.C. And, lucky me, that just so happened to be right above my bed. I'm cute and bubbly 99% of the time, and that I love being. But the other 1% I can be a real pain. That doesn't show up except for in the mornings before I go outside.

I can't say I make sense. But that's okay. Everybody has a right to be dead in the mornings, right? Right.

But on that day I was just a dead person. I had no energy and my eyes were bleary. Maybe it was because I had just gotten my spirit stolen the day before. I wondered if any of the others felt the same, or if I was just tired from all of that then from the amazing party.

Whatever the reason, I was just a bum. It didn't last long, though. I heard my door creak open softly as I snuggled in my sheets.

"Em?"

Jayden.

He was my boyfriend. And ever since we decided to be a couple, my life couldn't have been better. He was mysterious and quiet, yet kind, caring, and a loving leader. The blonde peered into my room and tapped the wall.

"You awake in here?" he asked.

"Hmp," I replied, thinking I love you, but please go away.

He took that as a yes and came inside. The boy sat on my bed edge and shook me gently. As a response, I threw a pillow at him.

"Oh, come on now, Emily," he protested, "it's nine o' clock. I'm ready to train with you."

"Go away," I mumbled, curling up even further.

"Fine," he huffed.

I thought I heard him walk out, but I knew him. He wasn't one to give up so easily. My warmth and sleep ended about a minute later when my covers were pulled off. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground looking into Jayden's blue-gray eyes. He'd pulled me and my covers off the bed.

"You creep!" I laughed, pushing him off.

"Live with it, Sleeping Beauty," he replied in a laugh.

I put my hand into his massive one, and like that I was on my feet. We two exited my room and headed into the kitchen.

"Ah, so the beast has risen," Mike grinned at me.

"Oh, shut up," I laughed, pushing him gently.

After eating a couple of pieces of toast and getting dressed, I followed Jayden outside. He was good at sword play, but I could match it. Our swords were a blur as we dueling for training. Suddenly, I was spun around. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, sword at my neck.

"Nice," he panted, "but you have to do better than that."

I got to my feet and rubbed my neck. He'd pressed down a little too hard, and now I felt sore. He noticed and asked to see it.

"Oh," he looked uncomfortable, "sorry, Emily. I didn't mean.."

"I'm okay," I assured him, "just a little bruise. Besides, I have had a lot worse things happen to me."

Just as I finished my last word, Mike came outside. He began to train with a dummy, and I felt bad. The others were already training, and he was the odd man out.

"I'm going to go train with Mike," I told Jay, "that okay?"

"Sure," Jayden shrugged, "I'll go train with Antonio and Wesley."

The three were childhood friends, so I didn't feel too guilty about leaving him. Mike smiled as I came up to him.

"Want to train?" I asked, offering him a sword.

"Sure," he shrugged, though I knew by his eyes he was much more eager to train with me.

He was really good. But when we went at a pressing match, I sent him into a bush.

"Mike!" I rushed over to him, guilty and worried, "are you okay?"

"Yeah," he held his arm where a bush had gotten it, "I'm okay."

But I saw the scratches and blood.

"Let me help you," I offered, trying to take his arm.

"No thanks, I'm fine," he protested.

"Mike!" I chased him inside. The boy didn't want help, but he was going to get it anyway.

I caught him and pulled him by his other arm to his seat. From there I tried to tend his wound with a bandage wrap.

"Ack!" he tried to pull away from the burning liquid.

"Hold still!" I struggled to finish pouring it.

But he jerked up, and it ended up in my face. I cried, trying to keep it out my eyes. I succeeded, but it stung the place where Jayden had bruised my neck. Gritting my teeth, I wrapped the bandage around his wound.

"Emily, are you okay?" he asked me, worried for me.

"Yeah," I spat out the stuff, "I've still had worse."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I stood up to change my shirt, "I'm fine."

As I headed for my room, I felt fuzzy. Mike was a sweetheart, but so was Jayden. Then why did I feel something new?