Chapter 1

"Status report! Last night I finished Doom 3 and then watched all the Underworld series on Netflix! How cool is that!" Tucker goaded his impenetrable skill at staying awake on a school night and not even blinking once during class. I envied him on that, since at night, all I could do was watch my ceiling shift shapes as the car lights passed by our house. I envied him on having to spent all the weekend without parent supervision. Ah, what a life that would have been.

Tuck sighed as we trekked across the school hallways to our lockers. Obviously someone had a good time.

I put my locker combination and opened it only to remember that today I had a test that I had prepared only halfway. I pull out my books, "Man, I'm gonna get a D in Calculus today!" I rub the bridge of my nose with fingers to relieve some of the headache that had formed just thinking about the test.

"Sure you will...What test!?" Tucker exclaimed with wide eyes. Well at least I'm not alone on this trip to bad grades, Tuck's bad at this more than I am.

"Mr. Rotweilder's calculus test... You didn't study, did you?" I raise my eyebrow at him.

"I had more important things to do, Danny!" he throws his arms in the air in anguish.

"Like studying the anatomy of Kate Beckinsale?" My voice etched with sarcasm. Tucker might be my best friend but when I was frustrated, even my parents feared me.

He shoves me forward and I laugh under my breath. By now he's shaking in head, as if on the road to recovery from the shock I gave the poor guy. But slowly his muttering calm down and a shit-eating smirk replaces it. I roll my eyes, knowing what comes next.

"You'll help me cheat the test!"

"Nope, nada, nopety nopety nope!" I exclaim as we move forward, passing the nurses office and towards Mr. Lancer's class. I continue further, "If I let you cheat my test, you'll get an F! So, sorry buddy!"

Tucker stops moving and his eyes start skimming the crowd of seniors, he points at a scrawny kid with glasses and an Afro cut, Nathan.

"Whose that guy?"

"Nathan!"

He turns and makes his way towards Nathan, who is taking out his books from his locker, and slaps him on the back, "Nate, my man. How're ya?"

Nathan turns to look at me with wide eyes and then at Tucker.

Since middle school, me and Tucker had been in the unpopular crowd, but at the start of senior year, the girls were falling at our feet and the jocks were trying to invite us in the football team. But we turned it down. Being a geek and a social pariah isn't all that bad.

So when Tucker started talking to a bigger social pariah than us, well, the kid had to get starstruck. Partly because of our popularity and partly because we're friends with Valerie Grey, the supposed love of his life.

"Fine!" He grumbles as he clutches his books closer, as a shield between us. Seriously, the guy isn't all bad. But Tuck isn't a gruff jock that could do him some damage like some other jocks do.

Tucker starts his charm of persuasion, "So you sit in front of me in Calculus! Would me mind helping me in...you know... !" he stops and lets Nathan figure it out.

"No! I can't, sorry!" he raises his voice a bit. I know why exactly, he's in the Valedictorian competition. But one good graded test won't do Tuck any good, but he doesn't care about that.

I see Tuck scowl a little and I lean against one of the lockers and fold my arms on my chest. I have to see this!

"You know, a little birdie told me that you got it bad for Val!" at the mention of Val's name, Nathan turns red with embarrassment. Tuck got the bait in the bag.

"I could loan you her private cell number!" Oh no. Val will kill him. She's really annoyed by Nathan and his constant adoration towards her.

Nathan brightens up, "Really, you got a deal!"

I snort and move up and start towards my class. Well if Tucker wants to hammer nails in his coffin, then its his parade.

I feel the aftermath of a headache and rub my forehead with my free hand. The headache subside but then something strange happens. A gust of cold air fly towards me and I shiver. Yeesh, it was 95° just a few minutes ago. I keep on moving, I'm probably coming down with something. The cold doesn't go away and I can see my breath now.

This is weird.

I look around me and see that everyone is just walking on with their own business. Then why do I feel so cold.

My lips are turning blue and I try to rub my arms harder in effort of trying to gain some warmth. Something is not right, either with my head or with this hallway. I can feel eyes drilling into me and I just stay put in the middle of the hall. I look around me, desperate for something, anything that could tell me what's wrong.

But all I can see is thin air and my own labored breaths. I start choking and then coughing.

Then something, or rather someone, passes by me and the cold feeling subsides. I look back at the person whose shoulders were pressed into mine a few seconds ago. But the person is slowly getting lost in the crowd and all I can see is a mound of black hair.

A girl.

She keeps moving forward and I can still see her. I start moving towards her, hoping, pleading for any of this to make sense. I know that I shouldn't be following her, but I can't stop myself. It's like my whole will is possessed by her very being.

But then Tucker take a hold of my from the shoulders and shake me. I snap out of the trance, but take one last glance at the girl who had gotten a hold of me. And this time she turns, as if she could feel my eyes on her. And I feel like the world stopped and I get a spark of recognition. I know her. I know this girl from before.

Her grey eyes, almost violet, blink towards me. And then she's gone.

Tucker's head turns to look at what had gotten my attention and then back at me. He shakes his head at me and let's go of my shoulders. I sag at the nearby locker and release a shuddering breath.

Tuck looks concerned. I should be concerned as well. But all I can think about is that girl who put me in a trance. Her eyes, so hollow, so lifeless. But with a spark hidden in them, I could see it, even if no one could.

I run my hands on my face and see Tuck cautiously coming towards me, as if afraid of me.

"Danny, are you having hallucinations again!" This isn't the first time something weird happen to me. It had happened before, but I don't remember. All I can remember is that sad look in her eyes.

I shake my head at Tucker and turn towards my class. He doesn't follow me, knowing that I need some time alone.

But I know those eyes would be haunting my dreams.

New story, entirely my own plot. I'll try to update a bigger and better chapter soon, maybe tomorrow or some other day.

Love,

Red