So it's been almost a year, and I've finally posted the next chapter. It's a miracle. And it's all thanks to rayzorbudgie. This is for you.

Chapter 5:

Dusk to Dawn

"And so we put the toy snake in the basket, and when she looked in it, she fricken screamed! Dude you just had to be there!"

Ivo and the others laughed as Paul was telling his story. After he was done, Paul asked what they did in English class. While Bobby informed him, Ivo looked at his watch, and realized he was going to be late to class. Even though his friends were still talking, his next class was on the other side of campus, and he had to start walking earlier than the other guys. Ivo turned around and said bye to them as he walked to Chemistry class.

Ivo's life has changed dramatically during the preceding years. Ever since he started high school, he has made many friends, and has been happier overall. Maybe it's because people are more mature in high school, or maybe it's because he has finally broken out of his shell. Whatever the reason, Ivo's life couldn't be any better, except for the fact that his love for Naomi was still unrequited. They were still good friends, but it's hard to stay friends with someone you love, especially when you've been enduring it for a couple of years like Ivo. But overall, sophomore year in high school has been going well for Ivo, and that's all that matters to him.

After 3rd and 4th period, Ivo went to his usual eating spot for lunch. His group sat behind the library against the wall, with a tree in front of them on the grass providing them shade. Ivo, Bobby, Paul, Naomi, and Kristen (Naomi's friend) all sat there together. A bunch of noisy freshmen were playing hacky sack on the grass several yards in front of them, and caused Paul to start conversation like he always does at every lunch. "Hey, do you guys remember when we were like that?"

"Not really," replied Bobby as he took a bit of his sandwich. Paul turned towards everybody, "Oh come on! Don't you guys remember when we were loud and annoying like that?"

"Um, I think that was just you Paul," replied Ivo while giving a little chuckle. Paul was always the real talker in the group, and loved attention. He was quite funny sometimes too. Paul's face was filled with outrage. He began to argue that they were lying when Naomi finally broke in and asked him, "Can I have a piece of your sandwich?"

Paul calmed down and laughed at himself. He handed her the sandwich, which she took from him while grazing his hand during the process. Ivo felt a little jealous.

After school, Ivo began his walk home like he always like he always does, when he heard his name being called. "Ivo, wait up!"

He turned around to see Naomi running toward him. She was dressed out in yellow running shorts, and a red shirt; the colors of their school. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and the beads of sweat rolling down her face glistened in the sun. It was almost as if all the sunlight in the world was radiating from her. She walked up to him with a smile, and Ivo knew right then that there was something more beautiful then any piece of technology.

"Hey Ivo, can I ask you something?" Naomi said as she approached him. "Um, yeah, of course!" Ivo replied. Anticipation was rising, Ivo was getting butterflies in my stomach. Is she going to tell me she likes me? Did I put too much emphasis when I said of course? What am I supposed to do??

"Well, I kind of like Bobby, and I was wondering if you could ask him if he likes me back. Do you think you can help me?" Ivo's mind went completely blank. He replied with an empty stare. "Um, Ivo?"

"Yeah, sure, o-of course. That's what friends are for right?" Ivo gave a weak smile. Naomi smiled back. "Thanks Ivo, you're always there for me when I need you. See you later!" She waved at him as she walked away. Ivo stood there, appalled at what just happened, confused about what just happened, angry about what just happened, and was not sure what to do after what just happened.

He walked home. He was pissed at Naomi. He wanted to tackle Bobby and punch and kick him as many times as he could. Everything was turning upside down and inside out. How could she do that? At one moment she elevated me to the height of the sky where I was floating with the clouds, and then she flung me down into the impressible earth. Why?? Why?!

He arrived to an empty house, fuming through the hallway, salty tears running down his face. He threw himself on the bed, and buried his face in the pillow. He finally knew the bittersweet taste of rejection. He got up to get some water, and noticed himself in the mirror. The sight made him cry even harder. His glossy eyes, red with emotion, his quivering lips, and the picture of him sobbing uncontrollably was just too much to handle. He turned away, and threw himself on his bed once more.

An hour later, his eyes were dry with tears, and he was finally able to sit himself straight. He sat down at his desk doing his math homework, and was trying to avoid thoughts about Naomi, even though it was seemingly impossible. Eventually he was just trying to do things that would distract him from Naomi. He tried reading, but it failed. He tried listening to music, but his thoughts drowned out the noise. He tried to work on his new invention, the I-2, but he just stared blankly at the machine as thoughts emanated from his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about her, and he couldn't stop feeling depressed and lonely.

...

The next day went by slowly for Ivo. Nothing really made him happy anymore. Now that Naomi was out of the picture, there was nothing left for him. He walked down the corridors to his next class, slowly dragging his feet. None of Paul's jokes made him laugh, and eventually Paul punched him in the arm to see if he'd react.

Ivo just couldn't take it, so he swerved towards him and pinned him against the wall. All of the students walking by glanced at them, hoping a fight would break out. Paul was terrified, since he's never seen Ivo act like this before. Ivo was still pinning him firmly against the wall, and his face was angry. But suddenly, his eyebrows relaxed, and his hands slowly let go of Paul's shoulders. Ivo's mouth dropped open, surprised at what he just did. "I... I'm sorry." His face was sorry and confused, and he ran off to the bathroom to recollect himself.

He hoped no one would be in there, and luckily there wasn't. He went over to the sink and splashed water on his face. He felt the cool liquid trickle down his hot skin. What has happened to me? What am I doing?

Naomi began to bounce around his head again, and he just couldn't take it. He firmly grabbed hold of his head and jerked it back. Suddenly, a guy walked into the bathroom. He looked at Ivo, arched his eyebrows, and then quickly looked away as he walked to one of the stalls. Ivo looked back at the sink, splashed some more water on his face, and ran out to his next class.

Ivo packed his stuff into his backpack as the lunch bell rang. He swung it over his shoulder and walked out the door. He went to his locker, turned the dials of the lock, and opened it up to grab a brown paper bag filled with food. He set his backpack down, put in two of his textbooks, slammed the locker, and swung the backpack over his shoulder again. As he was walking, someone shouted, "Hey Ivo!" from behind him. He turned around to see Naomi running towards him waving her arm in the air.

She slowed down as she came close, and stopped next to him waving her hand at his face. "Hey Ivo, did you ever ask Bobby about me?" Anticipating an answer, Naomi stood there staring at Ivo's eyes. "Um, well, no," he responded blankly.

She smiled. "I know," she said. Ivo looked at her confused. "What?"

She laughed. "No, I asked him this morning and... well.. he said he didn't like me." Naomi stared off into the distance, avoiding Ivo's eyes. Ivo's stomach felt lighter all of a sudden. "Well, I'm sorry," even though he wasn't.

She smiled weakly, trying to pretend it was nothing. "Oh it's okay, I guess it's just how life is. Maybe he wasn't meant for me you know?"

You bet he wasn't, Ivo thought to himself. He was smiling now, since Naomi was back in the picture. "Well let's go meet the rest of the gang," Ivo said. Naomi chuckled as they walked to lunch together.

Everything was normal again. Ivo could look at Bobby and not feel envious. He could laugh at Paul's jokes and joke around with him as well. Most importantly, he could talk to Naomi without feeling teary and sad.

...

A couple weeks have passed, and Ivo is sitting in his AP Euro class. The bell rings, and Mr. Benn walks through the door and closes it behind him. "Okay class, guess what you're doing today?"

"Notes!" Paul cheered. The class laughed, and Mr. Benn shook his head. "Actually, we won't."

The class cheered. Paul stood up from his seat and gave out a big "Whoo hoo!"

"Paul?" Mr. Benn looked at him with his hands in his pockets. "Yes, Mr. Benn?" Paul acting obediently.

"Sit down." Murmurs of laughter came from several people in the classroom. Mr. Benn walked to the front of the class surveying everyone. "Instead of doing notes, we're gonna start on a project!"

Sounds of disappointment followed, with the exception of Paul's "Whoo hoo!"

"Well I'm glad you're excited Paul, because it is exciting!" The class groaned again. "So for the project, you will have a partner and together you will write a story that is related to the European history we've learned so far. It can be about a peasant in England, a soldier in the Spanish Armada, you name it. However, you must use at least 20 vocabulary words from this list. Andrew, will you pass these out?"

Andrew stood up, grabbed the papers from Mr. Benn's hand, and started passing them out desk by desk. As he passed them out, Mr. Benn began talking again, "So you will get to choose your partner, and after Andrew passes them out, you can get up and choose. This project will be due at the end of the week. It must be typed, preferably 12 font double spaced. This is all on the list Andrew's handing out right now."

When Andrew was done, Mr. Benn let everybody out of their seat to choose a partner. Ivo wanted to be with Naomi, but he was worried that it would imply that he likes her, and he doesn't want her to know.

He got up, and saw that Naomi was approaching him. "Have you got a partner yet Ivo?"

"Um, no, I-" Ivo was interrupted as Paul ran from behind him and hugged him. "Back off Naomi, this baby's mine!" Ivo and Naomi laughed as Paul was feeling his hands up Ivo's chest. "Okay okay, that's a little too far," Ivo defended as he got out of Paul's hold.

Ivo looked back at Naomi. "So are we gonna be partners?" What did I just say?

Naomi smiled. "Yep let's do it! High five!" Naomi and Ivo threw their hands at each other, but missed. They laughed at themselves.

"What?! You're ditching me for Naomi?!" Paul acting furious, let out a roar. The class stared at him, and then everybody laughed.

Ivo and Naomi looked back at each other. "So do you want to go to York's Place after school, so we can talk about the project there?" Naomi asked.

"Um, sure, I actually haven't had burger from there in a while," he answered. He smiled, and Naomi smiled too.

...

Ivo and Naomi were sitting at a booth in York's Place. Ivo was chowing down a cheeseburger and fries, while Naomi sat there slurping a smoothie, after trying to convince Ivo that she wasn't hungry at all.

"Mmmmm... I haven't had a burger this good in a while!" Ivo licked his lips and wiped the napkin on his face. Naomi giggled. "You got something right here," Naomi said pointing at a spot on her cheek.

Ivo wiped the napkin on his cheek. "Is it gone?" Naomi grabbed a napkin and reached her hand across the table. "I'll do it."

She wiped off the mess and crumpled the napkin up. Ivo gave a nervous smile. Waiters were walking around cleaning tables, TV's hanging from the ceiling were blaring the breaking news. None of this however, was distracting Ivo. It was as if him and Naomi were in their own little world, a small forcefield that couldn't be penetrated.

They set their trays on the trash can and walked out, with the sun beaming down on them. "This was good, we got a lot done," said Ivo.

"Yeah we did." Suddenly Ivo found himself facing Naomi, with their eyes interlocked in a trance so amazing, he didn't know what to do. "We should do this again next time."

"Yeah, we should." They were still staring at each other, but they turned their heads away and blushed. Ivo was the first to look back, and nervously asked, "Do you want me to walk you home?"

Naomi looked up, smiling as her eyes fixed into his again. "That'd be nice."

They walked along the busy street, with the sun shining overhead, an aurora of golden light glistening through the air, and Ivo looked at Naomi and how she reflected it.

So I'll try to write more frequently from now on. Emphasis on TRY.