Joe’s cheek tingled and sent those warm feelings down straight to his heart, which was beating quickly now. He couldn’t move, it was a mixture of shock, nervousness and… love? My body’s lips stayed on his cheek for a few moments and then left it and whispered “Joe,” into his ear. Then I burried my head in his chest, with my hands on it as well. My head was right at Joe’s heart.
“I’m sorry…” My body said, muffled in Joe’s clothes. I was crying. My body and my mind. Joe put his arms around my body. His eyes had closed somewhere between the kiss and the crying. I felt his skin prickle as his cheek touched my hair. A tear fell down his face, leaving a hard streak of saltiness. It stood out on his skin, but the feeling of me stood out even more.
Sadly, he knew I did not have quite the same feelings for him. My feelings were strong for him, but not strong enough. It was a different kind of love I had for Joe. And he knew it.
“Dream of me, Emma.”
I was in my bedroom when I opened my eyes. I could feel tears on my cheeks and I brushed them away.


School again.
It feels like a waste of time, I knew we weren’t doing anything today again, just being back from break and all. I already knew all my teachers and I read ahead quite a bit. I’m just going to get the homework.
I got to school and realized I forgot my book again. Thankfully, Jane was already there when I got there.
“You’re kind of late.” She had her arms crossed as she sat at the table.
“Yeah, I had a weird dream.”
“Oh? I had a weird dream last night too, but I forgot it. But I do remember once when I dreamed that I was in school and I went through all my classes and saw all my friends and when I woke up, I thought it was the day after the next day. I thought the dream was a real day! And I went through the day thinking it was the next day and only at the end of the day I realized it was the wrong day! Last weekend I forgot what day it was too, I went through each period writing down the wrong date and thinking all the assignments were due in a week when they were really due the next day, and…”
My mind blocked her out. I started thinking about Joe. And what he said.
‘will you pick well too?’ What did he mean by that? Kwa picked well, what will I have to pick that’s the same as Kwa picking? Kwa picked me as soul reaper. Am I supposed to pick someone for this job too? I don’t think I could bear putting this job onto another. Is that what Joe meant?
The table rattled. Then I heard the noise, Max was here! He slammed his hands on the table and shouted, “How are you doing, Emma and Jane? Did you do all your homework? Did you have a good sleep? Did you have fun? Really? Ok, bye!” Everyone in the quad was staring, confused. They all heard him, of course, and were still not used to him. Soon they resumed their talking and I resumed thinking about Joe’s words. Then I noticed Jane was silent and staring at Max and Max was staring at me.
“What?” I asked simply.
“Did you do your homework, Emma?”
“I didn’t have any…”
“There was homework that wasn’t assigned by a teacher wasn’t there?”
“Huh?”
Max rolled his eyes and took out a pencil and paper, shoving it in my face just like yesterday.
“Oh yeah….” What should I do? Oh, I know! I can show him what I wrote in creative writing! “Hold on a second.” I dug through my backpack and gave the journal to Max to read.
“not what?”
“Hmm?”
“You wrote, ‘it seemed like he was the one who killed me and not-‘”
“Oh, I stopped writing there cause… I realized my friend didn’t kill me and it was really someone else. Or something.. I don’t quite know.”
“That’s it?”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s all you’re bothered about?”
Jane interrupted our talking, “What are you guys talking about? And why are you talking so much? I want to talk!!!”
Max smirked, and yelled, “Gosh, Jane! Why are you so quiet? Start interrupting us already! We’ve been waiting for you for 15 minutes to say something!”
“But I-“
“Come on, Jane! Speak louder! I can’t hear you!”
“I’m try-“
“Can’t you talk already? You’re barely whispering!”
“You keep-“
“Jane! If you’re goingto say something, at least say so we can hear!”
“Max!” Jane stood up and shouted at him, and then became self aware of everyone staring at her and sat down.
Max crossed his arms and smiled, “Please continue, Jand.” He said in a quiet voice. He glanced at me accusingly as Jane spoke. His expression said he would ask again later.
I didn’t want him to ask again later. What if he figures out what happened? He’s risking his life by doing this!”