Chapter 15

15

Days flew by and Jordan avoided the mirror like the plague. Busy with last minute shopping and her weekly chores, hanging out with friends and the like, before she knew it, it was the night before school started.

     Living in a small town was nice and since Jordan had grown up here, everybody knew pretty much everyone. Her school was a small one that housed about 500 9-12 graders. Jordan did well in school, and while not particularly friends with everyone, she was well liked by most.

As she prepared for bed that evening, Jordan’s mind strayed to the mirror. It wasn’t like the mirror hadn’t crept into her mind quite a lot over the last few weeks, it’s just that she had gotten pretty skilled at avoidance. Besides, the good thing is nothing bad had happened so nothing gained, nothing lost. Now as she crawled into bed, her mind seemed consumed with the mirror and she felt compelled to go to it. But she wouldn’t. She refused; and after wrestling with it in her mind, she finally forced her mind to her first day back tomorrow and fell into a fitful sleep.

The next morning came quicker than she would’ve liked, but Jordan sprang up and got ready without complaint. Deep down she knew it was all about the mirror. The quicker she got away from it, the less likely she’d be compelled to face it. And that’s how it had been last night- almost like the mirror had been beckoning her. Is that where this was headed? The more she used it, the more the mirror would assert itself on her? She really began to empathize for Spiderman and all superheroes all over again.

Stacey picked her up not long after and the two rode to school chattering and giggling about teachers and students. Small talk helped Jordan’s sense of avoidance and after a short ride, they pulled into the lot and strolled into school. The school itself was a square red-bricked building with an arch over the front double doors. Kids were all running around laughing or shouting their hellos to everyone and teachers stood impatiently at strategic positions around the lot and in front of the school.

Once inside, Stacey couldn’t help but notice a few kids here and there looking not so happy, a few were even crying. Geeze, coming back to school isn’t that bad, Jordan thought to herself. They checked into homeroom and no sooner had the bell rang when the Principal, Mr. Caulier, came over the intercom asking everyone to listen carefully to his news.

This was different, usually the secretary, Miss Wynn, did all the announcements, so to hear Mr. Caulier over the intercom made everyone kinda sit up and take notice. At first his intentions seemed vague- he droned on about driving and precautions until everyone started getting a bit restless. The restlessness didn’t last long, however, his next words sent a shockwave through the class, and undoubtedly the entire school.

“Students, it’s with great sadness that I have to report that Michael Johns was killed in a car accident late last night on his way home. Today, in the library, grief counselors will be available for those students who feel they need assistance. At this time, we’d like to have a moment of silence for our loss and for Mr. John’s family and friends who are left behind at this tragic time.”

Silence. No one moved and the silence seemed to hurt it was so quiet. Inside Jordan, however, there was a clamor going on. Dead? Michael dead? She knew Michael well and she had even gone to the prom with him last year. They were more friends than boyfriend/girlfriend, but knowing he was gone hurt just as bad. Then it hit her. The mirror, last night, how she had felt almost pulled to the mirror. Is that why? Could she have stopped this? Without even realizing it, Jordan jumped from her desk and ran from the classroom, followed closely by Stacey and their teacher.

“Jordan, wait!” Stacey yelled and the teacher stood in the doorway, wringing her hands.

Jordan ran to the bathroom and the teacher directed Stacey to follow. Jordan cried and chastised herself over and over until she felt hands on her shoulders and looked up to see Stacey standing there.

“I’m so sorry, Jordan,” Stacey whispered, rubbing her shoulders as she talked, trying to ease the tension and heartbreak as she talked.

“I-it’s my fault,” Jordan stammered. “I could’ve st-stopped this! Why didn’t I listen?” Hot tears spilled down her cheeks and Stacey brought her some toilet paper, a perplexed look on her face.

“Jordan, I know you are upset, but how could you have stopped this? How could you have known? You’re talking nonsense. There’s nothing any of us could’ve done. Come on, let’s go to the library and we can talk to one of the grief counselors.”

Jordan shrugged her off, “I don’t want to talk to a damn grief counselor, Stace! I know you don’t understand and I don’t expect you to, but this is my fault and I’ll never forgive myself!”

With that, Jordan stormed out of the bathroom with Stacey close behind. In the bathroom, the toilet flushed and the stall door slowly opened. Teresa stood there, a grim smile on her face, an eyebrow arched in curiosity and her mind began to whirl as to the mystery surrounding Jordan Whitfield. A mystery she intended to solve.