He is certainly being odd. I thought to myself. The way home was stuffed with teens, I walked home carefully so as to avoid being noticed. Jethro never walks home this way. I thought to myself. Watching the back of him in the throng, he was so tall he was impossible to ignore. His rabbit brown hair was brushed neatly and he wore a soft blue shirt that highlighted his broad shoulders nicely.

I'd had a crush on him for three years now. In seventh grade he would talk and joke with me and then, suddenly in eighth grade, he stopped. Only fleeting glances indicated that he might, maybe, still like me. Ninth grade he'd started dating Brianna and, ever since then, I'd been invisible. Just a pretty face in the crowd -- well I wasn't pretty. If anything I was plain in my opinion. I played with the ends of my black hair. It was so thick that I had to stop every time I hit a knot or tangle and try again -- which made me want to chop it all off sometimes. My dark eyes observed his every turn carefully, and then, he did something even more strange.

He walked straight into a meadow. It was part of a park by the more grassy suburb area of my street. I followed far behind and stayed hidden. At one point he turned, soft morning cloud blue eyes scanning his surroundings. I was enthralled by those brilliant blue eyes. I nearly gave myself away from behind a large bush by staring at them. He turned back around and continued on towards the center of the meadow.

I shimmied up into a tree with practiced skill; maybe I wasn't the fastest climber, but I was silent as a cat stalking its prey. I clung to a branch, watching his every step as he progressed further into the meadow. The tall willowy grass bent over in front of him as he walked through it.

The wind whistled through the trees from where I perched on a precarious branch.

I stared at the sky. I shifted positions in the tree I was in. I watched him from above. Jet had been acting weird lately. He'd been like this for a while. And I wanted to know what was going on. No, Stormy, it's technically not stalking, I told myself. I was going home after school and just happened to see him.I spotted a girl with brown curly hair that swept down her back and bright blue eyes that took in her surroundings like a falcon walking towards him from the other side of the field.

I sat there wondering what was going to happen next. She walked up to him. I could hear the conversation from where I was because I was downwind from them.

"You can't do that. You know that, right?" She said.

"I know, but it's hard. This time I can't help it." He murmured, and I could barely hear it.

"Don't say that! You know it's not okay!" She hissed. He turned his head away.

"Please, resist it. They'll hurt you." She whispered, stroking his face, my heart throbbed. He said nothing. Then whispered:

"I'll try,"

"Good, because you're my only brother." She said and hugged him. Then she vanished. I was shocked. Just poof -- gone, invisible!

He started to come towards where I was hiding. I realized that he might see me and I tried to get to the lower branches with more foliage so that I could hide in them better. I steadied myself on a shuddering branch, but then I slipped and fell rapidly through the air. I cried out for a second then my voice went silent from fear. I closed my eyes and thought about how much it would hurt when I landed on the ground -- probably breaking a million bones. But, instead, I suddenly felt arms wrapped around me. Someone had caught me. I opened my eyes. It was Jet.

"Uh, sorry to drop in unannounced. I just um...Like to climb trees and --" I started to explain.

"Did you listen to that whole conversation?" He asked interrupting me. I felt myself pale a bit.

"Kind of." I mumbled, I wasn't about to lie to him. He sighed.

"Promise not to tell anyone?" He asked. I swallowed nervously.

"Hold on. What's going on?" I found the words spilling out of my mouth before I could think. He winced and I instantly felt bad, he gently set me down. I felt even worse. It was nice having him hold me so close -- even for a second. I was such a jerk to ask that question. It's none of my business. I thought to myself.

"First, promise me you won't tell anyone." He asked.

"I promise." I agreed softly, still feeling guilty as his blue eyes watched me.

"Alright. I, well... It's hard to explain." He muttered.

"Just try." I told him.

"Okay, I guess. It's just hard because I haven't seen my sister for years. But when she came back, so did other responsibilities. My life really...isn't my own anymore." He whispered.

"I'm sorry. That sounds awful." I said. I found myself gently touching his arm, trying to comfort him. He didn't move. He turned his head away.

"You can't tell anyone." He repeated.

"I promised I wouldn't, didn't I?" I smiled comfortingly, he nodded and walked away. Leaving me with only one piece of the complicated puzzle that was Jethro.

I stood there for a moment. Then I saw all the opportunities I'd ever wanted dwindle before my eyes. I can't pass this up! I chased after him and stopped him.

"Wait! Hold on a second!" I called out, he slowed down and looked at me.

"What?" He asked.

"Could I get your number?" I found the words tumbling from my mouth before I could stop and think.

"Why?" He inquired.

"Because it's hard to keep a secret if I can't talk to anyone about it. If I talk to you about it, then it would help." I blurted out. He paused for a second, then shrugged.

"Sure." He mumbled. I handed him my phone and he handed me his, then we each typed in each other's numbers. I heard something land in the dirt. Jet dived down and grabbed it, but not before I saw a flash of gold. He pocketed the object then we handed the phones back and he dashed off again. Why was he in such a hurry? And what did he drop? I wondered.

I went home and walked downstairs to my room. It was cold as ice -- even in the spring and summer time. I often found drinks I would bring down there still ice cold the next morning after I went to bed it was so freezing.

I sat on my bed and stared at the screen of my phone. Should I call him? Text him? Or would that just seem creepy and desperate this soon after that? I mused. My mind started thinking of what he might possibly have dropped. Well, he clearly didn't want me to see it -- whatever it was. But it was also clearly gold -- or just some sort of metallic color? Or is it nothing and I'm just overthinking this? I thought to myself and yet still seemed to come up with nothing. Well, I came up with plenty of ideas. Most of them I thought were ludicrous though. I thought about it for days. Two days. Later I finally managed the courage. I dared to text him.

Me: What's up?

Jethro: Hi

Me: How's life?

Jethro: Just have some family and visitors over. Ever since my sister showed up it's been really hectic. We might even be moving to a different country.

Wait, what!? Why!? I found myself suddenly panicking. My mind whirled. Then I texted without thinking.

Me: I just got to know you!

Then I quickly deleted that text and sent another that said,

Me: How could you do that to the track team?

My phone buzzed and I peeked worriedly at the answer.

Jethro: I have to. You wouldn't understand. It's about duty to my family.

Me: Can u at least tell me what this "family duty" is? I swear I won't tell anyone! (not that I have anyone to tell)

I waited for what felt like an unbearably long time for the answer.

Jethro: I hate to do this, but I can't text you anymore.

When I went to text him back a notice popped up:

Message denied, please try again.

I felt absolutely dumped and pitiful, Why? Why did these things happen to me? To mark this dreadful occasion and to make myself feel better I went and got some chocolate and ice cream at the store. I started eating it while I was walking home. Then decided to draw out my emotions but it turns into a picture of Jet somehow and I gave up. Going to bed feeling lonely, and slightly better after my pity party. I finally get my crush to talk to me and that's what happens? I thought miserably as I went to sleep. We barely said 'hi'! I sighed and slowly fell asleep.

I woke up determined, high school seemed so ordinary now. It was no big deal, that didn't mean I necessarily liked it though, especially not Honors Math. Why did I have to take Honors? I sighed mentally. I decided that I needed to find Jet I was not going to let an opportunity -- the first I'd had in years mind you -- slip out of my hands. I'll just pretend I'm getting homework from all my classes before I go on Vacation. I thought to myself.

As it turned out I didn't even need an excuse, as soon as I got to school I saw a bunch of news reporters and camera men in a big group around the front of the school. I wondered what was going on, then my heart leapt when I saw Jethro looking panicked as he backed up into the school and the assistant principals and a crossing guard trying to keep them back. What is going on? I was completely confused. He finally was led inside the school.

I dashed to go to a side route. Now I really needed to know what was going on. I overheard words from the reporters, but not enough to string together a coherent explanation.

"Last one -- "

"Assassination -- "

" -- Hiding out in American Fork Utah."

I just kept going, running through the halls. I ran right into someone going the opposite direction. We both skidded to the floor, the stranger caught himself just before his body would have landed on top of me, but I landed flat on my back nearly hitting my head on the tile floors. Then I realized that he was no stranger at all...It was Jet.

"Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry! But I'm so glad I've found you! What's going on? I can help you get away from them if you need..." I trailed off out of breath. He moved to the side, then helped me get up without a word. He took a deep breath, rubbing his eyes in a stressed way.

"Stormy...Thanks, but just stay out of it." He sighed. "I don't want you getting hurt." He said softly, I couldn't tell if it was out of tenderness or just desperation to not get caught by the reporters after him. He turned to leave,

I stopped him and said, "Hey! Wait, I know a better way -- Follow me."

He followed me to Mrs. Allphin's room, Luckily no one was there. I opened the window and he went out onto the little section of roof that was there. I followed close behind.

"Now what?" He asked.

"We climb onto the main school roof." I pointed up obviously. We both climbed up onto the roof and were soon sitting looking out over everything. The sun still rising and though it was little it was helping to warm me to the core. For a while we were both quiet, then I spoke.

"Are you really in that much danger?" I asked.

"Yes, my life and my family's lives are all in danger, in some ways the move might make it worse. Or it could make it better." He replied, we both went silent again.

"Do you have like, magic powers or something?" As soon as I said it I felt dumb, but then again. I'd been known to have my brain turn to mush when I was around him. He laughed, an amazing sound that sent chills down my spine and rang through the air around us.

"No, it's just stuff we have access to now. New technology, it's pretty cool." He told me, suddenly he stiffened. Then he yelled,

"Brace yourself!" And shoved me off the side of the roof, so that I landed hard on the second tier of the school roof not far from Mrs. Alhin's window.

I heard a BANG! A cracking sound like gunfire and an eerie quiet.