Chapter One
Desiree
As we drove to the high school in Hinton, Alberta, I felt bored just thinking of the school day to come. I would hear another lecture that I'd probably already heard before and the school year had less than a month left of it, that's what I get for my uncle getting a great job offer. Even though we already had a lot of money because he was fantastic at his job being a professor, he still couldn't refuse the college in the city three hours away, we only moved so far because we preferred small towns.
It would be my families and my first day at a new school, people staring, startled by our beauty, pale skin, and striking features. These people, despite what they saw and their instincts towards us, would shy away from the danger, as their conscious told them so. We may look beautiful to them but we are predators and they were to be our pray. Even if my family drank animal blood, blood bank donations (though rarely) and possible human donors when we came across them.
When we parked our Mercedes, my brother and sister Dwayne and Taylor, Cousins Chase and Casey, friends Nate and Brooke and I all got out of the car. Just as I had thought, everyone was staring, but who wouldn't? We were the new kids and we looked different from everyone else. We had unusual eyes, and hair they looked to striking to be normal. Our complexions were so pale it was unreal. But at least our hearts were still beating. That would cause quite a commotion if someone was close enough to tell.
I started to walk towards the main office while the others followed after me. After we got our schedules we went our separate ways. My twin Dwayne I were in eleventh grade, while our little sister Taylor and her husband (though nobody knew that) Nate were in tenth. All the others were in twelfth grade. But of course we all pretended to still have to go to school, we would be too old if we were humans. But if we were still normal, some of us would be in the right grade.
When I got to my first hour class, French, I went to the teacher Mr. Brown, and introduced myself. After getting me my text book Mr. Brown told me to go sit by the boy in the middle of the row on the left side of the class room. It was easy to find him; he had one of the three empty seats in the classroom beside him. When I sat down next to him I noticed something funny about his sent. It faintly smelled of wolf or dog in some way. But he could have a pet and was recently playing with it. I mean everyone smelt different from the other. One person could smell like strawberries, because of shampoo, and the next person could smell like the woods because they had just gone for a walk. All people had smells, some good some bad. But it seemed to be coming off of him, like it was his natural sent, how odd. But he could be a… no, no, no that was impossible. So I sat next to him while I wondered these things.
"Hi, I'm Ace Mick." He suddenly pulled me out of thinking. That's when I really looked at him for the first time. He had questions in his deep, ocean blue eyes, but had a warm smile on his face. He was without a doubt gorgeous.
"Hi, I'm Desiree Peters." I shook his out stretched hand and gave him a friendly smile. I'm sure I had questions in my eyes as well, but I couldn't tell.
All during class I couldn't stop myself from looking at Ace. There was just something about the guy that seemed so different from everyone else, like he really could be a werewolf. I was trying to come up with an excuse for him smelling different; I just couldn't believe that there were actual werewolves out there. It seemed a little creepy how I was looking at him so intently. But while looking at him I noticed everything about him. How he'd move his chocolate brown hair away from his eyes after looking down at his paper. His deep ocean blue eyes, how they seemed to sparkle in certain positions of the light. His lightly tan skin, and perfectly straight nose. And I couldn't forget how his cheek bones looked under his muscular skin.
When French class was over Ace and I stood up at the same moment. Ace was quite tall, almost the same height as my cousin Chase, who was six two. "So where did you move from?"Ace walked by my side as we left class together.
"My family and I moved from Ontario." It was an honest answer, since we had to tell lies more times than not.
Ace asked me a few more questions as we headed to our next classes. Ace had gym, while I had English. When I got to class I sat next to Dwayne. I decided I should tell him about my suspicions about Ace, but not to tell him how I liked the way he looked a little too much. "Hey, Dwayne, one of the kids in my French class kind of smelled funny, kind of like wolf or even dog, but definitely something in the canine family. His name is Ace Mick." I whispered so low that no one would be able to hear but Dwayne.
"That's interesting, because I meet a girl named Ashley Mick, and she smelled funny to. But she was really nice. She even offered to show me around at lunch, do you mind?" He seemed kind of misty eyed, like he might be in love. "Oh, hey but did you see anything bad happening?" He seemed a little worried as he asked.
Dwayne was referring to the gift we have. Unfortunately, I could see bad things happening in the future, and he could see the good. He was lucky, because sometimes the visions were just to disturbing to even think about. "No, luckily I didn't. And I don't think I will, at least nothing having to do with them. I don't mind at all, you need to hang out with someone else besides Taylor, Nate and me." At least I hoped I wouldn't see anything bad about them.
Next I had Home Ec. This wasn't that bad, we were going to make muffins tomorrow. I didn't take a partner because there were an odd number of students. Plus all the girls were glaring at me and all the boys were checking me out a little too thoroughly. Next was lunch. I was hoping to run into Ace when I left class, so if I didn't I'd look for him myself.
I was lucky enough to actually run into him. I didn't really want to hunt him down; it's just that I wanted to spend some time with him. "Hey Des, want to eat with me?" we were headed towards the cafeteria.
"I'd love to. Is there anything good to eat?" I was being serious. I didn't want to eat something gross on my first day.
"Yeah, there is. Just stay away from anything that has fish in it. Because that stuff makes you seriously sick!" We both started to laugh as we got into the lunch line. It was nice to laugh for a change. Sometimes late at night, when I was trying to sleep, but couldn't, I'd think about the good old days. When I was actually a teenager, and had real friends and my mom and dad were alive.
"So, is there anything fun to do around here?" I was really curious, because I was hoping I could ask him out sometime. But not too soon, I didn't want to seem desperate.
"Well, not here, but in Jasper. It's about forty five minutes away. But we do have a recreation center, library, lots of sports, and a skate park." That seemed interesting.
"Cool. What did you get?" I had gotten a piece of pizza, and water. Half the things at the cafeteria didn't look edible, let alone look like what they were said to be.
"A hamburger, fries and water this kind of food here is usually the best." We sat down at a table in the back of the cafeteria. I could see my family at the other end, Dwayne wasn't, but everyone else was. It was fun to spend time with someone else besides my family. They all usually had at least one other friend outside the family, but I didn't. I liked to keep to myself a lot of the time, so that didn't always go great with people. I mean I got asked out a lot, but I always turned them down. They just wanted to show me off to the other guys, and make ex girlfriends jealous.
"So what do you have next?" Ace seemed like he was truly interested in knowing.
"I have computer's class. What about you?" I was hoping we would have the same class, but probably not.
"What do you know, I have that class to. Do you want to sit by me?" We were both picking at our lunches. I wasn't that hungry, but I ate most of it anyways.
"Sure that would be nice." I looked at the clock and the bell was about to ring, so I stood up and Ace did to. We walked over to the garbage and dumped our food in. We walked off towards our next class.
Ace got me caught up on all the work I hadn't been there for. Computers class was fun and easy, when we finished our work we could go on the internet for free time. Luckily, hardly anything was blocked, only the really bad stuff.
"I have math, science and then social studies, what do you have?" I was the one to ask this time. I really didn't want to ask him anymore or for him to ask me so hopefully we were done talking about it.
"I have the same classes next. It's getting kind of weird isn't it? I mean we have almost all the same classes. It's cool though, I like having someone to talk to besides my family." He seemed like he sincerely meant it.
"Yeah, it is weird, but I like it to. I'm the same way; I don't usually talk to anyone but my family. I just don't get along with everyone, I'm just happy I met you."It was true; I loved having someone to talk to. I normally never talked to other girls; they were always mad because all the boys liked me. But Ace was different from any other guy I had ever known. All the others would have been passing notes, flirting, or just doing stupid stuff to get my attention.
"So are any of the guys trying to get your attention yet? Because I think half the boys in the class are checking you out right now." And it was true. More than half the people (about ninety percent guys) were looking our way. But all the girls were looking at Ace. Unfortunately that made me more than a little jealous.
"Quite a few actually but I'm not interested in them at all, why are you asking? Because from where I'm sitting, almost all of the girls in here are looking at you and not at their boyfriends, how do you explain that?" I tried to emphasis they word them to make it obvious that I liked someone else.
"Easy, those girls want what they can't have. I'm not saying that about all girls, but they do. And I ask because I kept getting notes in class meant for you, and you don't want to know what they said about you. It's nothing bad, just that it's not appropriate for your eyes." I had almost forgotten the notes I got in the classes I didn't have with Ace.
"I'm sorry you had to see them. That's how it always is at every new school. I hate it, because those kinds of guys just can't take hint." I sighed because it was embarrassing for him to see it. Most of them weren't too discreet when they talked about 'What a hot body I had.' And other explicates I'd rather not even think about. Not the kind of thing you want people seeing.
"No problem. If you want I can talk to them and tell them to stop." I think he was flirting with me, how great.
"I would really appreciate that." Then the bell rang and we headed off to Math. That was my worst subject, but who really cared, I had learned so many ways to do it.
At the end of the day Ace was walking me to the car. The rest of them weren't there yet so we were in luck."Thanks for hanging out with me today. It must have been hard being with the new kid all day long."
"It wasn't that hard. Especially since you're so cute, but you probably get that all the time." I started to blush, which was very embarrassing.
"Thank you, but no I don't. I'll see you tomorrow then?" I was really curious. I wanted to spend all of my time here at school with him, or anywhere with Ace.
"Of course you will. I'll see you in French class. I sit by you of you forget, you might get distracted by all the other guys." he was great at teasing.
"I'll remember. Bye." I got into the passenger seat to wait for everyone. As I watched Ace walk away I saw Dwayne with some girl. She looked like Ace. But she had brown eyes more black hair, and she was around my height, maybe a little shorter. She must be Ashley.
"Hey Desiree, how was your day?" he seemed just a little too cheerful.
"Good. And I take it from the look on your face that you had a good day to." I started to laugh because he turned bright red, just like a tomato.
"Maybe I did. Oh, and today I'm driving if Chase asks." Dwayne was obsessed with driving. I'm sure if we let him he'd never get out of the car. Just then everyone else piled into the car. I don't know how, but we all seemed to fit into this little thing.
When we got home I went straight to my room. That's when I started to brush my hair. For some reason brushing my hair seemed to calm me down. That's when I noticed how much Dwayne and I really looked alike. We had the same midnight black hair, emerald green eyes, and full pink lips, pale white skin. You could obviously tell we were twins. The only thing was he was taller than me and he was a boy.
It was nice to have someone so close to talk to when you had problems and they really understood. Then Dwayne walked into my room without even knocking. But I was okay with it, but only Taylor and he could do that. "So what's Ace like? Because his sister Ashley is super sweet, she helped me out a lot today."
"Well obviously Ace is nice; he's the only one who's talked to me today. Well nicely anyway.
"That's good, Ashley's great to."That was a good sign. He didn't always know how to talk to girls.
"I'm happy you need to get some practice talking to girls."
"And you need the practice with boys after what happened with… never mind. You just seemed so dead there for awhile."
"I was dead for a long time, way too long." I was happy Dwayne had said this to me, I needed to know this.
All of a sudden, a vision came to me. I could see a couple in a car crashing because of a wrong turn in the road. There was blood everywhere; no one was coming out of the car. Then I noticed the baby's car seat in the back. It was pink with ruffles and stripes. I couldn't handle it. They were in the woods with no one around. Not even a house close by. The baby started to cry and I felt a little better, but the parents weren't moving. I couldn't even see their chests moving for intakes of breath. They were dead, and their baby was an orphan.
"Dwayne, something bad is about to happen. People were dead but their baby was alive. We have to help! Please come with me to stop it from happening!" I grabbed his hand and rushed down the stairs towards the garage.
We got to the woods and headed out to where I had seen them crash. I found the spot and waited. A deer had caused the accident; it had run right in front of the car. I could hear the car and see the deer. I darted across the street and grabbed the deer; I pinned it down on the ground, but didn't hurt it. The car passed and I let out a sigh of relief. I let the deer go and ran back to the car. "We did it!" I was so happy; I had saved the little baby from being an orphan, and saved two human lives in the process to.
"You did it not us." Dwayne was in front of the wheel, we were going way over the limit but he didn't care.
As soon as we got home I went straight to my room and feel asleep right away. That night I dreamed of Ace and me, we were at school all alone in the cafeteria. We were talking and holding hands. We seemed happy, and in love. This made me joyful, yet skeptical at the idea of him loving me. I loving him, yes, the other way around, no it just didn't seem possible. And yet I didn't think I could love him like that so quickly, but it seemed as though we were tied, our lives connected in some way.
The next day I took my own car to school. I wore my best casual outfit. Black converse shoes, skinny jeans, a dark blue and purple hoddie, and a black and white tank top. I was hoping I looked nice so I could impress Ace. I left before everyone else, hoping to get some more time to myself. It was nice not being around family as much. I listened to my favorite bands on the way to school. They seemed to calm me down a bit. I was worried that Nate and Chase would find out about Ace and bug me till I died. They loved to make fun of me at any chance they got.
When I got to school I went to my locker and got my books. As I walked into class I noticed that there were hardly any people. The teacher, some kids in the very back (asleep, by the looks of it) and to my surprise, Ace, it seemed weird that he was here. "Why are you here so early?"
"I should ask you the same question. But my sister likes to leave nice and early. She's all of a sudden obsessed with some guy named Dwayne. I think she likes him a little too much. So that's why I'm here so early." He looked tired. The bags under his eyes were deep purple, like he hadn't slept last night at all.
"Oh, well that Dwayne would be my twin brother. And I left early because I didn't want to be late to class and I needed some time by myself away from my family." I started to blush because I felt like he knew I was lying about wanting to not be late for class.
"Twin, that's interesting." Ace had a small smile on his face, like it was funny.
"What you don't believe I'm a twin? Go ask my family or even better look at Dwayne my brother." I sat down next to him and laughed, I think he thought I was mad at him. It was hilarious, just thinking about it made me want to roll on the ground and laugh hysterically.
"No I believe you; I just wouldn't have thought you were a twin. And if you were one I would have thought a sister, not a brother. Gosh you take everything so seriously!" For some reason he went to grab my hand. Then he let go like I was going to hit him for doing it.
"No I don't I was joking around. And why did you just grab my hand and then let go like I have some disease?" My cheeks were on fire. I was just teasing but I really wanted to know. His hand was nice and warm. It felt odd yet pleasant to hold someone's hand, even if was just for a second.
"Umm, because, because…. Well if I tell you you'll laugh and tell me you hate me." Ace seemed really nervous. Like he was hiding some secret that would cause horrible problems.
"No I won't I never would, and if you tell me I'll tell you why I turned into a tomato after you did it."
"Okay, I like you. And you probably have some boyfriend off in Ontario. I'm sorry." Ace was looking down at his intertwined fingers on the table.
"Well I like you to and no I don't have a boyfriend off in Ontario. But how about we work on our friendship first and then in a few weeks maybe we can see if we can, you know hang out in other ways."
"I'd like that, both of those ideas." Just then the bell rang and everyone filed in. Ace and I moved our chairs as close as they could go. It seemed like things were moving along to fast. But I had a feeling something bad would happen soon. Yet I wasn't sure, and I wouldn't know until I had a vision, if I had a vision, to be correct.
We didn't do much in French. We just went over words and phrases. A very boring class to me and Ace, so we just sat there writing on a piece o paper to each other. "When does the bell ring?" I whispered as quietly as I could.
"In ten minutes. Hey want to eat lunch with me again?" That's when Mr. Brown looked over at us. I'm guessing he could hear us. So I started saying the words along with the rest of the class.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" Then the bell rang. "Well I have English now, bye." We were walking down the hall together but we were at the part where we had to split up.
"See you." Then he left and started down the hall towards the gym. Dwayne came up behind me and grabbed my shoulders, trying to scare me but not succeeding.
"So that's Ace? He seems like an okay guy."
"Yes and I hear someone has a crush on you. But don't tell anyone I told you that!" I punched him in the arm then. We sat down in English class; we were reading some book that was ridiculous, I mean I love to read but this book was just weird.
"Yes! She likes me; I'm glad cause I like her. So what about you and Ace, did you say anything to him?" Luckily we sat in the back so the teacher didn't pay attention to us.
"Yes we did, we said we liked each other. But we're going to try to be friends for a few weeks then try something else." I picked up the book and pretended to follow along.
"Well you're my sister and if he tries anything I'll kill him, just so you know." He was kidding around but that made me furious at him. So I punch him as hard as I could in the thigh so the teacher wouldn't see. It made me laugh when he had to hold his breath to keep from swearing.