In a blindfolded world, what would it be like to see?

Everything started when I was 12.

When I turned 12 I could no longer hang out like a normal kid.

I could no longer hug my parents or friends without being afraid of 'seeing' something.

I could no longer pretend I was normal like everyone else.

Because the thing is I'm different.

No-one can hide anything from me.

I am able to know all with just one touch.

My name is Lillian Miller.

I can see the past.

Chapter 1 – She's different alright!

Another new school because someone got to close. This someone was Alison, my former best friend. When she found out about my secret she freaked out and told me to never come near her again or she'd tell everyone about me.

So naturally my family and I moved away. Well we didn't just move away, we practically disappeared from the face of the earth. We moved to Alaska for three years and just before I turned 15 my parents decided that 'Alison situation' would be settled enough for us to move back in with civilisation. So here I am in Australia, starting grade 10 at Chrome High.

As I'm walking from the car park, across the front lawn, I'm lonelier than ever. All around me are people in groups that were probably formed years ago, socialising, embracing each other, showing affection towards others and basically doing things that I can no longer do. That I haven't done for years.

Shaking off my depressing thoughts I take out my timetable and map and try to figure out where my homeroom, 10B, is. I took me a good 5 minutes to find it but I found it none the less. As I enter the homeroom all eyes turn to look at 'the new girl' who is obviously me and I freeze up. After living among barely any people, a lot of people staring and laughing at you will do that.

"Lillian, I presume?"

I stiffly turn to look at man in his 40's smiling encouragingly at me. Not trusting my shaky voice, I nod and take a seat at the back of the room. I pull out my mp3 and listen to some music to pass the time.

Half-way through my favourite song, I hear insanely annoying giggling coming from the other side of the room. As I look up to see who is making that annoying sound I almost burst out laughing. In the corner there are these two athletic looking guys who are completely surrounded by girls. The girls look like the type that thinks a bikini is everyday wear and that having a boy around you is essential.

As if sensing my stare, the male with brown hair looks up and catches me. Soon enough they all turn to look at me, some to look, most to stare and glare. As I'd rather not be intently stared at I drop my gaze but not before sneaking in another look at the brown haired male. He looked well built and was probably one of those guys who is on the rugby team and trains every week. He probably has a six pack too. His brown tousled hair only make his green emerald eyes stand out more. He was definitely handsome but I'd never have a chance with him anyway because as soon as I looked to his left my self esteem dropped majorly. His arm was wrapped around a skinny, fair skinned, tall girl around my age. She had long black hair that was pulled up in two ponytails and was well proportioned in every aspect.

If you compared her to me, she'd be the beauty and I'd be the footpath she walked on. I'm short with just below the shoulder brown hair and freaky green eyes that turn slightly blue whenever I 'see'. Even if I was as beautiful as her I'd still have my 'gift' and let's face it who would want to have to deal with something like that?

I can tell that they are still staring at me but I don't want to look up just in case they come over and accidently touch me. If they touched me they'd know I'm different, that I'm a freak with weird eyes and knowledge of their past.

Before I could fall into total denial, the bell rang and I got out of there as fast as I could.

xxxx

So far I haven't seen the brown hair hottie or his arm model since this morning and it's now lunch time. My day has been running smoothly so far as I haven't 'seen' anything or had to touch anyone directly, skin to skin. That's how my 'gift' works, when I touch another person, whatever is on their mind is what I see from their past. I've haven't figured out how to control this 'gift' of mine and I'm not sure if it can even be controlled; only time will tell I guess.

Since it's dangerous for me to sit near other people I wander over and onto the oval where there are some tall, climbable trees. Mum always says I'm like a monkey because I love to climb trees and be up high, away from other people. It's because it's a place that I can be me and not have to worry about any finding out about my 'gift'. In a few swift motions I'm sitting about mid way up the tree and eating my lunch.

SNAP

What was that? I look down and realise that I am no longer alone. In fact, below me is brown haired hottie and his arm model.

"Come on Xavier, You know you want me!"

"Beth, just because we grew up with each other and our parents are forcing us together, that doesn't mean I want you!"

A long silence falls over the two below. I feel like I'm spying on them so I quietly get down. As I'm making my way down my foot knocks off a piece of bark which ends up hitting Beth on the head. She turns to look up and screams; "WHAT THE HELL" so loud that I lose my grip and start to fall. I keep expecting to feel myself hit the ground but instead I'm pulled into a vision.

I'm standing in a park watching a little boy with brown hair climb a large tree. Just as he is about to climb back down he slips and I rush forward to catch him but he fazes through my hands and hits the ground. The boy starts to cradle his left arm and a couple rushes over, his parents I'm guessing, and they pick him up and rush him to their car and speed away.

The vision starts to fade away and I realise that I've had my eyes closed the whole time. I slowly open them, only to what to close them again and hide. The little boy from the vision was Xavier. When I feel the arms around my waist squeeze, I realise that Xavier must have caught me as I fell out of the tree. Oh god, I'm still in his arms! I quickly jump out of his arms and stare at my feet, just in case my eyes are still slightly blue after my vision.

"Ahem! What the hell were you doing up in that tree? Spying on us? You interrupted something important you know! Hey look at someone when they're talking to you!"

Suddenly a hand grabs my chin and forces my face upwards. I shudder from Beth's touch, expecting a vision but luckily she's wearing gloves. I can see that Beth's eyes are full of fury and she keeps glancing at Xavier. I shift my eyes slightly to the right to see Xavier's expression but all I can see is a blank face. How eyes however are a different story, full of relief and.. is that need? Oh gosh, he must be madly into Beth. Beth and Xavier's stares are starting to make me anxious so I whisper a quick 'thank you' to Xavier and then turn around and run away.

"Lili!"

I'm so tempted to turn back around at his call but my mind tells me to keep running.

"Xavier, leave her. After all you've got me!"

"I don't want you!"

"Who do you want then? Her, Lillian?"

I could hear Beth say my name with such venom that I sped up even more.

"The weird new girl? What's with you Xavier? Ever since homeroom you've been distracted and haven't looked at me once!

Beth's practically screaming by this point and Xavier's muteness isn't helping the situation at all.

"Humph! Since you won't answer me, I'm leaving"

Just before I'm completely out of earshot, Xavier decides to speak up.

"It's because I knowshe's different, I just know it".

I skid to a halt; surely it's just my mind playing tricks on me. Xavier is into Beth, not someone like me who he doesn't know. Today is taking its toll on me is all, yeah must be. Right? I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I turn around to check and all I can see is two green eyes staring intently in my general direction. Our eyes meet and I know I've got to get out of here, so I run and I don't look back.