MAX
A dream filled with trembling shadows engulfed my subconscious.
…run! Who I am isn't important, just trust me. You are in danger. If you get this message… run!
An empty voice echoed off the space in my mind, causing my head to ache. That's how it started.
Jane nudged me awake and I glanced around with a start. I must have fallen asleep on my desk.
"Thanks for joining us, Max." Ms. Hawkins sighed, scaring me to death.
I grinned innocently and glanced around the class room. Jane, my best friend, was sitting in the desk beside me and she was smiling at me. I smiled back and shivered, wishing I had brought my hoodie. The classrooms are always freezing.
The bell rang, also scaring me to death. I picked up my history book and walked with Jane to our lockers. I put my books up and grabbed my phone.
"Max?" Jane asked, breaking though my stupor.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Were you listening to me?" She questioned, crossing her arms.
"Uh, yeah." I replied.
She rolled her eyes at me.
"Dave invited us to his pool party, which is pretty cool considering we're freshman. Well really it's because of our brothers... but whatever. It's on Saturday." She informed me as she checked her phone.
"Oh, that's… great. I'm busy Saturday though." I mumbled.
"What? With what?" She exclaimed.
I racked my brain, trying to think of an excuse.
"I'm going to the library… with Ari." I blurted out.
"Max, you're a horrible liar. Ari is going to the party."
Crap. Being the same age as your brother seriously sucks. Well, Ari is my half brother but that just makes it worse. I flipped my phone open and texted him:
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IDIOT!
Hopefully that would get his attention.
"You'll change your mind Max," Jane grinned as the bell rang. "See you after school."
My last class is free period and Jane's is P.E. So I usually just leave school early, but today I grabbed my bag and trudged over to the lacrosse field. A whole herd of sweaty boys were running around doing their drills. I stood there with my arms crossed until Ari noticed and made his way over during the break.
"What?" He asked as he took off his helmet and chugged from a water bottle.
"You're going to Dave's pool party?" I asked him.
"Yeah. Problem?"
"Big problem. It's a pool party!" I emphasized hard on the pool part.
"All that means is there is going to be a pool. You don't have to go in the pool. You can just chill out or dance instead. Maybe if you got that giant stick out of your ass and socialized for once this wouldn't be a problem." He snapped back at me.
I narrowed my eyes at him then turned and walked away. I know when I've been beat. I sat on one of the benches and began on my homework. I decided to wait for Ari since I didn't want to walk home alone.
Personally, I think Ari is a brat, although he is kind of right about the whole pool thing. Okay, he's right. I'm off my high horse people! I'm just looking out for the two of us.
Last summer Ari realized that all he needed was messy hair and a little muscle to become a heart throb. He already had the blonde hair and tan from always, always being outside. Him landing a spot on the lacrosse's varsity team didn't help with his ego. He is really good though.
We're both extremely talented physically and I'm not talking looks. We're fast, strong, and nimble. Not to mention we both have perfect pilot's vision, if not better. If I wanted to I could join the track team and kick some serious booty but I decided not to. Because I'm…cautious.
I on the other hand have light brown eyes, light brown hair, light brown tan. I'm average and boring, which is a good thing I suppose. Okay, I'm being a bit modest. I'm above average, and I could probably be higher if I dressed in things besides tee shirts, jeans, and ponytails. The whole blonde-streaks-in-hair thing is annoying though. People always ask me if I get highlights and I always have to tell them they're natural.
"Max!" Someone called, making me jump.
I flipped around and sighed in relief when I saw it was just Ari.
"Jeez, you're so paranoid." He muttered.
I gave him one of my 'I'll kick your ass' looks and picked up my stuff.
"What time is it?" I asked him.
"Seven thirty. It took me forever to find you." He complained.
"What're you talking about? This bench is in view of the lacrosse field!"
He just rolled his eyes and we started walking home.
"You should really try out for the track team Max. It'll give you something to do." Ari said after a while.
"Wow? Ari being thoughtful?" I said sarcastically. "Thanks but no thanks."
"No, it's not that. You just make me look bad since you're so socially awkward." He said as if that justified something.
"Wow, thanks." I muttered as I punched him in the shoulder, hard.
"Ow." He complained.
Ari and I live together with our dad, Jeb, and Ari's mom, Kayla. Jeb and my Mom had a fling while Kayla and him were on a 'break'. Jeb had no idea that my Mom had gotten pregnant during their fling and he didn't know I existed until my Mom died of lung cancer when I was three. Jeb and Kayla took me in and I've been part of the family ever since. People act as if it was hard on me, but really I barely remember any of it. I was three.
That night I laid in bed and felt myself begin to doze off. I slipped into darkness.
…isn't important, just trust me. You are in danger. If you get this message please… for you… run! Who I am…
I jolted awake with the worst headache and went downstairs to get some water.
Saturday
"Thanks for the ride." I called to Jane's older brother, Zach.
"No problem!" He yelled back before driving further down the street to park.
Jane and I walked up to the front door and Dave's younger brother, Liam, opened it for us.
"Food and drinks are in the kitchen." He informed us as he ushered us inside.
The living room was dark and pulsing with loud music, people were also on the back porch or messing around in the pool.
"I'm going swimming!" Jane yelled to me over the music.
I nodded and watched her go then I began making my way past the swarms of people to an open couch. I sat down and glanced at the people dancing. This really isn't my crowd.
Jane had picked out my outfit and did my makeup and hair. I had to admit that I looked really good. My long brownish-blonde hair was straightened opposed to the messy ponytail I had planned on, I had a flowing flowered babydoll, jean shorts that showed off my long legs and my purple converse since I insisted on something relatively shoe-like.
Someone sat next to me, breaking me out of my trance. I glanced at them. It was a guy, upperclassman probably. He had shaggy blonde hair with the slightest hint of strawberry, he was a little on the pale side but it complemented his features, and he was tall! I'll just throw out there right now that Ari and I are very, very tall. So meeting a guy who isn't one of Ari's sports jock friends and who is relatively tall is a dream come true.
"Hey," He said warmly, giving me a once over. "Want a drink?"
I took the cup from him and swirled around the coke, at least that's what I thought it was.
"Thanks." I said.
"You don't seem as if you're enjoying yourself." He commented.
"Not quiet." I replied.
"Name is James."
"Max."
He smiled. "Do you go to Dave's school?" James asked me.
"Yeah, I'm a freshman." I told him.
"Yeah, me too."
"Honestly, I thought you were at least a sophomore." I spoke over the loud music.
"Same to you, since you're so tall." He said.
"I'm 5'8."
"6'2." He grinned.
"Say, want to dance?" James asked suddenly.
"Uhm, alright." I said as the song changed.
I took a quick chug of the coke and felt the back of my throat burn like it was on fire.
Rule One of the high school party guide:
Don't accept mysterious drinks from strangers. Especially male strangers.
"What's in this?" I asked James as I put the cup down.
"Coke and rum," He said simply. "It's good."
Go figure. Well, strangely I trusted him, although I probably shouldn't. I picked up the drink again and chugged it, feeling the warmth spread to my stomach. James' smile slowly spread across his face. That wasn't the best impulse ever, but hell, I'm an Aries.
"Let's dance." I said, grabbing his arm.