The group sat nervously.  Alamea fidgeted.  I stared at the clock.  Jasmine pulled out her sewing project, a low-necked blouse with a collar and cuffs and placket, designed to meet all the requirements of the dress code and yet be cool.  The racket of the tiny sewing machine distracted me from my concerns, but I couldn't help almost chewing my lip to pieces.

The door flew open and Callen burst in, angry.  She stormed over to her bunk and lay down, facing the wall.  It was clear she was in no mood for talking, and no one pressed her.  The door stayed open.  Jasmine didn't look up from her sewing.  Alamea and I looked at each other.  Kataira and Eli in unison pulled their hair around to the right side of their neck, lifted a lock, and chewed it moodily.  Callen lay without moving on her bunk.

Lily entered quietly.  She shut the door and sat down.  I moved over and sat on Callen's bunk, rubbing her back.  Lily said softly, "Jasmine."

Jasmine didn't look up from her sewing.

"Jasmine."

Jasmine finished edgestitching her placket and snapped off the machine.  "Please," she said.

Lily looked into her eyes and seemed to understand.  They walked out of the room together.

Alamea fidgeted.  I stared at the clock, still rubbing Callen's back.  Callen still lay without moving.  Kataira and Eli silently started thumb wrestilng.  Jasmine and Lily came back into the room.  Jasmine clicked her machine on again.  Lily sat on her bunk and drew her knees up to her chest.

It was clear that Jacob had broken Jasmine's heart.  She was trying not to show it, partly from pride, and partly from a great inner strength, but none could have missed the way her face had lit up when she spoke of Jacob.  Her eyes sparkled and her voice rang.  Jacob had also seemed to enjoy her prescence; I couldn't tell for sure, but I didn't know him so well.  My heart went out to Jasmine.  I reached my other hand over and lightly rubbed Jasmine's back as well.

And yes, I happily enter Princess P's pact thingy!  Yay The Jasmine Story!  Oh yeah, what are we calling this?  It should have a name... how about The (school name here, I don't remember it) Adventure ?

Spammy says aemu.  A emu?  Bad indefinite articly, Spammy!  That should be "an emu"!

Whoops sorry.  Slight contradiction there.  I keep ZB's, it's better if Callen does say something.

Hmmmmmm. How about "The Genku-Suh Adventure and Romance"?  It's really so far been more a romance than an adventure.  If they saved the school or something, that would be an adventure!!!!  Of course they could do that too!

I race along the crowded hallways.  Which way to the mail room?  I slow down and pull out my List of Directions to Frequented Places.  It says: "To the mail room.  From central hallway: find girls' room, put back to it, turn right and count eight doors up the right.  From bedroom..."

I look up and down the hall.  Oh look, it says "Mail Room" right there!  I go in.

My keys are around my neck.  Room, money safe, mail.  Turn to the right and click!  A letter from Amari, goody!  I pull it out and lock the box.  I go running back down the hall, my blue and green plaid pleated skirt flying out behind me, a huge grin on my face.  I knew she'd write!

I practically run into a boy and girl walking hand in hand.  Actually, I do run into them, namely him.  I don't know either one, say "Sorry" and start putting things back into my backpack.  

The boy, though, looks shocked.

"Did I hurt you?" I ask him, since he's got his mouth hanging open.

"No... no, you just look like... like..."

I finish repacking and stand up.  "Who?  Jasmine?"

He nods.

"That's what everyone says."

"Is she all right?"

"I think so, isn't she?  You know her?"

He nods again.  His hand goes, somewhat hesitantly, to his pocket.  "Look, would you mind... just telling her... just giving her this - "

The girl  looks a bit mad.  "Jacob, we'll be late for class!  Really, I thought..."

The boy takes a deep breath.  "Yeah.  Yeah.  Sorry, Elizabeth.  I just... well, see you around!" he adds to me as the girl practically drags him down the hall and in through a door.

I stand looking after them for a minute, then shake my head and run off.  I wonder, should I tell Jas anything?  I will.  Oooh, maybe if I do, they'll be boyfriend and girlfriend!  Just like in the books, like star-crossed lovers!  Cool!  Plus if Jas likes him, it'll totally annoy her!

I run into my room and toss the envelope on my bunk, say hi to my roommate Sadie, and dash out.  Now where is she?  On the back of my List of Directions to Frequented Places it has my schedule and hers.  I look.  Right now she's in the stables, doing Responsibility Training or whatever it is.  I'm free this period, so I go to find her. 

There she is.  She's feeding her ostrich Polly. As Polly dips her beak into her water and her food, I tap her on the shoulder.  Jas, that is, not Polly.  Do ostriches even have shoulders?

"JAS!"

She turns. "Mary-Lee."  She looks sad, I wonder why?  Maybe she's sad because Jacob's already got a girlfriend, so she can't be his!  Hee hee!

I face her and look her square on.  "I met a guy named Jacob who started to tell me to tell you something and then started to tell me to give you somethingbut his girlfriend wouldn't let him and they left."  I'm grinning.

She stares at me, a mixture of hope and sadness and anger and fear and happiness on her face.  Her eyes fill with tears, she bites her lip, and runs away.  I look after her, wondering why, ready to ask if she liiiikes him?, but she's out of sight.  I guess she does!

I know I'm free this period, but I go and visit Minerva anyway.  Her water is running low.  I give her some more and stroke her on her feathered head.  Jasmine and Jacob.  Jasmine and Jacob.  Hee hee!  Here's something to write about to Amari!