Chapter One
It's been a week since Alek and I had our fight. It's been a week since I died. It's been a week since Brian kissed me. It's been a week since that beautiful day.
Monday
Two days. It's only been two days, though it has felt like two years. Saturday was hell. I did nothing but lay in bed all day. My mom tried to help, bringing me food and asking if I needed anything. I just shook her off for the most part. Following those lonely twelve hours in bed was another lonely and long twelve hours of lying in bed. I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned. I got up and paced back and forth in my room. I was restless. After midnight, my nerves kicked in. Is Brian going to be ok? Where is Alek and Jasmine? I climbed through my small white window and up to the roof, hoping that Alek would be there. I really needed to see him. With everything that happened a few days ago, I could see why he didn't want to be around me. Hell, even I didn't want to be around me. For the rest of the night, I just sat on the cold, hard roof, legs pulled close to my chest, the cool San Francisco breeze blowing my blonde curly hair around me, alone. It was actually somewhat relaxing. I think that was one of the first times I have been relaxed in days. I can see why Alek likes to be up here alone sometimes. It's peaceful, quiet, and comforting. I looked around. No protecters? I thought Alek would have put someone in charge considering he wouldn't want to gaurd me after are little incident. Then it hit me. Alek was my protector. He took Jasmine's shifts so he could protect me. For once, he was all I could think about. Shouldn't I think about Brian after I just killed him? I let out a long sigh and stayed on the roof the rest of the night. The next day, it was basically the same routine, except I showered, changed clothing, and went downstairs. My Sunday was a long date with the couch and flat screen. By then, I think my mom got the point and left me alone, going off to do some business work and such. That night, I actually slept for a little bit. That is, until I woke up and went back onto the roof. I stayed there until I saw the sunrise. And now, here we are.
I told Amy that I wanted some alone time before school. Thank god I have such an understanding best friend. I walked to the coffee shop, picking up my daily cup of coffee. As I was walking to the door, I stopped. On one side of me was the table that Brian and I always sat at whenever we decided to eat inside. On the other side, was the entrance to Lana's store, the store where Brian punched Alek. The store where Alek didn't fight back. The store where Alek did anything and everything for me. God, why couldn't I stop thinking of him! With a last look at the exact spot where this little rendezvous happened, I quickly push open the glass door and start walking to school.
School was school. Nothing interesting really happened. The teachers taught lessons that no one cared about. They reminded us that state basketball was coming up considering it was the end of the quarter. No matter where it seems I go today, there is always something that reminded me of Alek. In this case, it was basketball. For the rest of class, I did nothing but sit there and daydream about him. Not daydream really, more like panic. We have the first four classes together and he wasn't in any of them. I had to investigate what was going on. Once the bell rang, signaling for lunch, I bolted up and sprinted out of the old, dusty yellow room out to my locker.
My bubble brunette of a best friend was already there. She smiled when she saw me, but it turned into a frown. Gee, thanks Amy.
"Um, I didn't know you decided to go all gothic on me today," she said as I opened my locker.
"It's not gothic, just, expressing my mood is all." It wasn't a total lie, and I didn't think I looked gothic at all. I was wearing a black and white Aztec off the shoulder shirt, dark washed grey denim jeans, and black flats. My hair was in a side braid that came around the back of my head and to the front. As for make-up, I kept it natural. Light and angel like. The only dark think was the black mascara. Thinking about my outfit, I don't understand why Amy would believe that I'm going gothic on her.
"Mmmhmm, sure. I have to go meet Paul in the cafeteria. He's saving us a seat with his geek squad friends that he would like us to meet. I'll see you there." She started running down the hallway, turning back to give a slight wave. My faint smile turned into a mean scowl. I slapped the palm of my hand to my forehead.
"Damn it!" I said. I completely spaced out and forgot to ask about Alek and Jasmine. Focus Chloe.
Turning back to my locker, I finished up with stuffing my worn books in the the old yellow locker. Couldn't this school replace anything? Closing the door, I slightly turned around before I was jerked and pushe up against the wall. After closing my eyes (it's a natural reaction), I peeked open my left one, seeing a muscular, tan, sweaty hand of a guy I was assuming. The other hand was on my injured hip. Opening my other eye and moving my head from the side, I could see that the face of whom I believe was one of Alek's jocko basketball buddies. His face got closer to mine, going for the side. In his low, husky, raspy voice, he whispered, "I wanna find out what scared Petrov off so easily. He isn't afraid of girls, so you must be special. Wanna help me with that?" His hand next to my head moved as he brushed away a strand of hair with his now very sweaty hand. I shivered in disgust and looked at him.
"Can you please let me go? I'm really hungry and-." I felt his hand dig right into my waist. More specifically, dig into where I was shot. The air was knocked out of my lungs. My heart was beating out of my chest. It seemed like with each beat, his grip would tighten. The pain was unbearable. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, holding back the flow of tears that were sure to come and keep the wail of help from peeping out of me. I can't believe how helpless I am right now.
"Listen to me." The jock said furiously. "You will show me what you did to him. And if you don't, I will-."
Suddenly, I could breathe again. I fell to the floor, gasping for air like I was just underwater for hours. My eyes were wide open, staring at the cold hard tile floor. As for my ears, they were listening to the action going on next to me. There was a loud BANG, followed by a moan of pain. I heard bones cracking and breaking. I closed my eyes, afraid that I would look at the wrong moment and see a displeasing sight. The beating of the jock stopped. Slowly opening my eyes and turning my head, I saw the jocko get off the ground, holding his bright blood red nose. Blood was covering his shirt and a nice bruise was forming on his upper cheekbone. I watched as he sprinted away like an abused puppy to the nurse. I grabbed my bag off the ground, slipping it on around me as I stood up. I took one step when a strong, warm hand was placed of my bare shoulder. Turning to face the attacker, the last thing I expected was to be looking in these gorgeous, deep chocolate brown eyes that were ever so familiar to me. I drew in a shaky breath at the exact same moment the attacker said in that British voice of his, "Are you alright, Chloe?"