The Otherside: Jay McClayn: This Is High School (Book 1)

Those four days flew by quickly, and before I knew it, it was Friday, my birthday. I woke up slowly and crawled out of bed, knowing he was still gone. I got ready for school and eventually made it down the stairs to see Alex and Harrison in the kitchen.

“Happy Birthday!” They both said when I walked in.

“Bah humbug!” I replied. There was clearly nothing happy about it. Jason is gone, we are mad at each other, but danget! I love the pain in the butt and I wanted him here. I don’t want the antidote to be my normal self again till I was ready to fight; I wanted him. Harrison opened the fridge, pulled out a blood packet and tossed it to me.

“Cheer up, hon. Things will get better.” he said as I caught the blood packet.

“I highly doubt it.” I replied and then poked a hole in the packet with my fangs and began drinking. Alex pulled out a small, white, rectangular box from his pocket.

“I got something for you.” he said as he held it out to me. I quickly finished up the blood packet and threw it away.

“You didn’t have to, really.” I said softly, I could hear the sadness in my own voice.

“No, I had to.” Alex replied with a devilish grin, as he took my arm and put the box in my hand. I shook my head and opened it. It was a beautiful pocket knife. It was silver with JAH, my initials, were carved into it. I took it out of the box with a smile.

“Thanks Alex.” I think he was trying to tell me I needed more protection. Harrison took the empty box and I put the knife in my pocket. I glanced at my watch and realized the time. “Alex, we need to get going to school.” I started heading towards the front door and Alex followed. “See you later tonight Harrison.” I called back as I grabbed my bag and walked out the door, not waiting for a response from him.

There was no talking between Alex and I the whole way to school. To be honest the whole day, like my days have been, flew by fast. The only thing different about today was that everyone was saying “Happy Birthday!” which is oh so annoying. After school Alex walked me home. When I walked in Harrison walked out of the kitchen with a white icing cake with light pink letters that said “Happy Birthday Jamie!”

I sighed. “You know you didn’t have to do anything.” I said.

“I know but you need to be happy and feel special on your birthday.” He replied as I looked down trying to figure out what to say next. I looked back up when he began talking again. “I know you are upset about Jason not being here, but he will be back before you know it.” I stood there blank for a moment not really wanting to hear that.

“Anyway,” I said changing the subject completely “Where did you learn to cook food so well. For an advisor in the castle, you cook very well.” Harrison could tell that was a touchy subject.

“I learned to cook on the internet and cookbooks. It’s pretty simple if you just follow the steps.”

Alex sighed and then spoke up. “Well I’m going to head out.” He said as he hugged me and then kissed my forehead. “We are still up for watching Anime together tomorrow, right?” He asked as he let go.

“Of course, see you tomorrow.” I replied.

“Later Jay.” He said as he walked out the door.

Harrison had set the cake down on the dining room table. “Jason gave me something to give you for your birthday.” Harrison said as he put his arm around my shoulder. I sighed “If you don’t want it you can give it back to him when he returns, but I know you won’t.” I gave him a questioning look, so he walked into the master bedroom and then he came back out with a silver dagger that straps to the thigh. It had my family’s emblem on it.

“H-how did he get that?” I exclaimed for some reason it looked familiar to me.

“Do you remember it?” Harrison asked. I could see the hope in his eyes, like he wanted me to remember.

“Not exactly, but it looks so familiar.” I said as I walked towards him and touched the dagger. Next thing I knew I was in a memory again.

My father and I were in the throne room. “Happy 8th Birthday Jay!” My father said with excitement. “I got you something my little princess, but you have to promise me that you will take extra care of it.”

I had a big smile on my face. “I promise father!” I said excited. He then walked over to a table next to his throne. It had a silver box that had our emblem on it. He opened it and pulled out my necklace and the dagger. I was so excited seeing them.

“Now you must take good care of these. The necklace and the dagger have been handed down for generations.” He placed the dagger in my hands and then started to put the necklace on me.

“I will take good care of them father.” When he was done clasping the necklace he kissed my forehead.

“Good, now go run along. I need to take care of some important business.” I gave him a quick hug and then ran away.

The memory ended with that. I then thought about it, I didn’t have the dagger when the attack happened. I opened my eyes and saw I was laying on the couch in the living room. I smelled the aroma of chicken soup. I noticed the dagger on the coffee table. I picked it up and strapped it to the outside of my jeans. I then walked into the kitchen.

“Harrison, where did he get this? I thought it was left in the castle.” Harrison turned around.

“It was. He snuck back into the castle and got for you because knew it was important to you.” I guess my eyes were red because while he was speaking he got into the fridge and pulled out a blood packet.

“Why would he risk his life for this dagger?” Harrison handed me the packet and I took it.

“Because he loves you.” He patted my head.

“Now drink up.” I opened it.

“I guess my eyes are red?” I said questioningly and then started drinking.

Harrison laughed at me. “No, I just know you haven’t had any blood since this morning and I know you don’t want to eat real food. We don’t want you to go blood lust crazy.” He said with a joke on the end.

I finished off the packet and threw it away. “Thanks.” I said ignoring his joke. “I-if you don’t mind, I think I’m going to go upstairs and chill.”

Harrison sighed after I said that. “Okay, but quick question for you first.” It felt a little bizarre that he had a question for me. Normally it is the other way around.

“I will try to answer it the best I can.” I replied.

“Did your dad call you Jay in that memory?” He asked a good question. I had to think back on that.

“He did, part of my name you gave me was my nickname?” I said questioningly.

“Yes, I just wanted to see if you knew that by now. I didn’t just make your name up out of nowhere.” He stated with a grin.

“Oh.” I didn’t know what to really say. “I’m going to head to my room now.” I said as I walked away. I didn’t understand the purpose of his question. Maybe he thought I realized it but was too afraid to ask. Then again he should know me better, I pretty much ask everything on my mind when I’m with him. So maybe he was wanting me to question the rest of the name he gave me? I pushed that puzzling thought out of my head when I got to my room. I walked in and shut the door behind me.