My name is Kayla Raes, I just turned seventeen. My hair is black, my eyes are icy blue, I'm kinda pale, stick thin. I wish I could say I was normal. I think I am normal. My parents, Alexandra and Isaac... Well... Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I love them both to death. But there are some things I could do without.

1 - My curfew, I have to be home before dark. Every. Freaking. Day.

2 - I can not go to parties unless they are during the day.

3 - I can't go out alone.

You get the idea. It's not like I live in a bad neighborhood. I live in New Hampshire, maybe twenty minutes walk from the beach.

I really don't know what my parents' problem is with me going out at night.

They don't know that I plan to. My friend Ally is having a party on the beach this weekend, and no way am I missing it.

"Kayla, are you coming or not?"

"Shut up Ally, my parents are light sleepers." I hissed, sliding out my window.

"Oh lighten up, this is gonna be fun."

I grinned, falling in step beside her.

"Who else is there?" I asked, ignoring the guilt that was nipping at my mind.

"Everyone from school pretty much. A couple people I don't know, apparently Liz invited them." I groaned

"Why did you have to invite her?" I asked. "She's an absolute nightmare."

She was, Lizzie Taylor, the self popular gossip queen, and tormentor of every other girl in school besides her three friends. The rest of us hated her.

"I had to, otherwise she'd have crashed." I sighed, knowing Ally was right. There wasn't one party Liz didn't hear about, if she wasn't invited, she and the rest of her little clique crashed it, and that was not something we wanted happening.

Once we got there, every trace of guilt I'd felt at sneaking out was gone. I danced with a couple guys there, whom I actually make better friends with than girls. At one point Ally had me come and sing with her and the rest of her band.

Did I mention her band before? I don't think I did. She, her two brothers, and her boyfriend have a band. They only do it for fun, and they play at the dances the school has sometimes. Not that I'd know from experience, I've never been to one of the dances thanks to my curfew.

Much later, maybe a little past midnight, I saw them, standing in the shadows. I figured they must have been the people Liz invited, considering I had no idea who they were.

Considering the fact that they knew Liz, I had absolutely no idea what possessed me to go over there. It should have created a giant 'stay away' sign. But it turned out completely the opposite.

"Hey," I said grinning

"Hi," One of them replied, his hair was electric green, and he was smiling so much it looked painful, albeit sincere, excitement clear in his face.

"Are you guys gonna join the party, you've been standing here over an hour." as I said this I realized I'd glimpsed them several times throughout the night.

"We don't exactly know anyone." The shorter of the two blonds said, his navy eyes watching me curiously.

"I'm Kayla Raes, there, now you know someone." I told him.

"Eric." He said smiling.

"Didn't Liz invite you?" I asked

"Yes," The brown haired one said quickly "She did. And I'm Kyle."

"Jesse." The green haired one chimed in, his voice holding a singsong edge.

The other blond, and the only one who hadn't spoken. Was watching me with an expression I couldn't place, his eyes sparkling excitedly, icy blue eyes. My eyes.

"David," he said softly.

"Miss Raes!" I heard my teacher shout

"What!" I muttered looking up. Inwardly cursing because I had fallen asleep in class. Again, that was the third time, today.

"Could you please pay attention."

"I'm sorry Sir." I said, thank god I hadn't fallen asleep three times here. I'd be in detention all month if I did. Not to mention grounded until I was forty for being out at night.

"You aren't used to staying out late are you." Ally asked me on our way home.

"Not till three in the morning I'm not." I sighed.

"So, I saw you with the guys Liz invited, what were they like?"

"Friendly enough, not at all like her. Not sure how they stand her." I said simply.

"Speaking of, she wasn't in school today." Ally told me, grinning.

"Yeah I know, I didn't see her last night either."

Ally shrugged "Maybe she's sick? Maybe she moved?"

"I wouldn't push our luck that far Al." I laughed

"See you tomorrow Kay!" She called from her doorway.

I waved, continuing to my own house.

"How was school?" My mom asked, she was sitting at the kitchen table, book in front of her nose.

"Good, Lizzie Taylor wasn't here today." My father would have frowned at me, but my mom always laughed when I was happy about Liz not being there.

She set the book down "Kayla,"

I looked up from the fridge, pulling out the koolaid pitcher. "Hmm?"

"I know you went out last night." I froze.

"I don't know what your talking about. Went out where?" I lied

"You went to the beach party your friend Ally had." I sighed

"I just wanted to go out for once, just once, I wanted to be like everyone else." I snapped "Why can't I go out after dark," I paused "And don't give me more of the 'We just want you to be safe' crap I've had enough of it." I added.

"Kayla Jordan Raes!" I winced at my full name, which was rarely used, only when they were very angry.

"I mean it, I'm sick of being stuck at home all night and not knowing why!"

She didn't say anything, she wouldn't. Furious I turned around, walking back out the door.

"So you finally snapped at her." Ally asked

"I want to know Ally, it's like their hiding something from me, some secret." I sighed

"Well, maybe your dad will say something. But you should go before my parents get home, or you'll be in even more trouble." I nodded.

"Thanks for listening Al." I said smiling

"No problem Kayla, bought time you told them what your thinking." I laughed, I swear if she could, Ally would make it so parents obeyed children, not vice versa.

I walked out, looking up at the sky, several stars were popping out. I sighed, I was in so much trouble. At least I wouldn't see my dad until tomorrow, I was almost always asleep before he got home.

Not paying attention to where I was going, I walked into something, or more accurately, someone.

"D-David?" I asked, my eyes meeting his own oddly similar ones.

"Hello Kayla." he said smiling.

"What are you doing here?" I asked

"Walking, needed a break from my brothers." He shrugged

"Brothers?" He couldn't possibly mean the other three.

"Eric, Kyle, and Jesse, yeah."

"You look nothing alike." I realized I was being kind of rude. I ignored it.

"We aren't related, we've just been together a long time."

"Oh," I paused "I'm sorry, I have to get home, I'm in enough trouble as it is, being out this late."

"It's barely eight."

"I'm supposed to be home before dark." I admitted.

"I'll walk you home."

I smiled "You don't have to-''

"I don't mind."

Several minutes passed in silence while we walked.

"Where are you from?" I asked suddenly.

"California."

I raised my eyebrows.

"I''m serious." He said "Southern California, I came here visiting an old friend."

We were at my door. "Um, I don't, think you should come in."

"I think it might help if I did."

"But my mom won't-"

"Trust me."

I opened the door.

"Kayla you better have-" My mother stopped. Frozen. Her eyes fixed on David.

He gave her a fleeting grin, and turned back out the door. Disappearing into the night.

She stared after him, having the sudden appearance of a statue, and so pale I was worried she might pass out. Her eyes, though blank at a glance, held deep worry, and something close to fear.