(Ch.1)
I was walking mutely into school, music flowing through my ear buds and shutting out the world when someone grabbed my backpack and hauled me to a stop. I jerk backwards and tried to regain my footing. My earphones were yanked out of my ears by someone.
"Sara. Perfect" a person said.
The authority voice easily recognized as principle Miller. Smiling like he caught the winning fish. All my 3 ½ years of attending Emerson high, I've been really good at being invisible, but somehow the students and teachers notice my existence for the worst torture. Like the insulting gossip from the girls, harassing and ignorance from the boys, and unknown questions asked by teachers. I seriously despised everyday attending this place. I loathed my foster mom Claire for insisting we move here when she first got me as a toddler, instead of staying in the city. I was literally like a non-entity living in Silver Water Falls. A town like every dead town.
"I'd like for you to show Mr. Livean around." Principle Miller said, gesturing to the young man next to him, who wasn't paying attention and looked completely bored "It's his first day and he might have some questions and help. I would be most grateful if you would give him a lending hand" he gave me a sheet of paper and left inside his office. I groaned mentally and read the paper.
"Scott Livean?" I asked the guy. He finally turned to face me. Wow, he was incredibly handsome. Face features very rugged and smooth, deep jeweled blue eyes, square jaw, pale skin and blue black hair that fell over his forehead. He was lean with broad shoulders and toned muscles, you could see very well through his tight but loose black shirt. His physic was somehow more powerful than the football players, probably by the way he carried himself. His eyes quick but movements slow, animalistic. I saw the students passing, eyeing him with curious but feared expression.
"Well, it says here you have math first then history, then biology after. Mechanics is outside but easy to find. All these classes are in this area, but P.E. and English are upstairs" I began walking to his math, not mentioning the fact that he had P.E. and English with me. I didn't want to burden him with my presence; I knew he had to be annoyed that I was helping him. We went down the hall making a sharp turn to the left when someone's shoulder purposely bumped mine, extra hard. I faced the ever so popular Alice Deviel. Varsity cheerleader, swimsuit body and head full of luscious blonde hair. She's hated me since freshman year when I spilled paint on her miniskirt in Art. And I made a point of not saying sorry. She was rich and better looking than anyone in Silver Water Falls, and acted exactly like her twin brother, who I must say, is more psychotic than she.
"Better watch where you're going, vermin" she spat, anger behind her perfect make up "I'd hate to see you fall and bleed." If I was smart I would nod and keep my head down like every other girl, but Claire said I had a knack for never backing down. I tilt my head, meeting her eyes.
"Yeah, I guess I should. Because I know I'll find that person and ruin her perfect constructed nose job" I say calmly. Alice knew from experience that I would get my butt whooped by her, but still she quickly put her hand on her face, rage and embarrassment inside her features. I hear a muffled cough that sounded like a smothered laugh next to me. Alice takes notice of Scott and immediately changes to fake girly flirt.
"Hello there" she said, standing in front of him, chest pushed up "I'm Alice. And you must be new."
The flutter of her eyelashes made me gag, ugh the humanity. Scott had to be falling for it, every boy senior has. Alice and he would be like the romance novel cover. Alice holds her hand out, wanting him to kiss her knuckles for an introduction. I snort, Scott did not seem like the gentleman kind of person, to masculine and tough looking.
"Scott Livean" he said flatly, not meeting her touch.
"How quaint" she says, letting her hand fall, not the least bit faltered "I must show you around Emerson sometime, I know it must be awful to have Suicidal Sara bore you. I, on the other hand, have lots of time and talent to show you anything and everything" her lusty voice held expectation that no man in his right mind would refuse.
"That's alright. I think I'm good" Scott confirmed. She shrugged, trying to play off the rejection coolly, but I could see her shock and disappointment. Scott just earned my respect and utter loyalty. The bell rang and I pulled Scott with me to hurry to his class.
"Well that was interesting" Scott commented, side glancing at me.
"That's Alice for you. Crazy and beautiful" I tell, not meeting his eyes. It had me confused why he didn't accept her offer; even if he wasn't attracted to her (fat chance) he had to want to get rid of me. Even I didn't want to be his tour guide, this social contact made me nervous.
"She's not beautiful" he said honestly.
I gave him my best crazy person look "Are you anyhow on drugs?"
He laughed "there is more to beautiful than appearances."
"Could of fooled me" I say, stopping at his class and handing him his paper "I'm sure you can find someone else to help you to your next period" as he grabbed the paper, he seized my forearm as I turned to leave. Eyebrows pulled together.
"Why would I ask someone else? You're supposed to help me to all of them"
"Says who? Besides, you don't want me for help so.." I tried pulling my arm back but his grip was like iron.
His smile was sweet but menacing "Trust me, if I didn't want you, I'm positive I could of ditched you the first time we met and I would appreciate it if you could help me the rest of the day."
I set my jaw tightly shut, glaring at him" I'm not going to help you if you're going to ditch me later when you get bored."
He shook his head "I promise I wont. I really do need you" a hidden meaning was behind his words I bluntly ignored.
I sighed, frustrated "Ok, I guess. I'll see you here after class."
He smiled and my heart faltered at the sight. He could melt a girl in the spot with those pearly whites. He was nothing like a regular teenage boy. He held a dominating atmosphere and wicked glint in his face. And handsome, like someone a girl would dream up and fantasize about during the day.
My arm tingled where his skin met mine, a familiar touch I though happened when I was younger. I shook my head, shaking the nonsense way.
"Umm, Scott" I say, avoiding his gaze. He quickly realized he had ahold of me and dropped my hand like it caught fire.
"Sorry" he says. I walk to my first and continue my usual routine before Scott came and destroyed it.
Mr. Johnson didn't scold me for being late to biology. An email was being sent to all my teachers by principle Miller, saying I would be tardy for showing the new kid around. I hurried to get Scott after three periods, next I would have to be in class with him till. I buried the fact I was a little excited to be in a class with Scott. Not just because he was attracted, more to the reason he had something about him that made me curious. Not because he was new and something different, that would be Alice's reason for trying to hook up with him.
Mr. Johnson passed out newspaper articles to everyone. I picked mine up and read the highlighted paragraph:Slaughter and Mayhem; wild animal attacks at large.
"As you all know, there has been a crazed hysteria of attacks going on in this state" Mr. Johnson announced "people being killed and mutilated. They say it's too savage to be a person but to skillful to be an animal" he leans in against his desk, arms crossed, staring at us "So what else can it be?"
"Bigfoot?" someone offers, students giggle "A bear?"
"A mountain lion" Andy Berkyets puts in.
"Why does this even matter? We're studying the body system right now" one of the honor roll kids asks.
Mr. Johnson picks up the paper and reads out loud "the killings are considered random, with nothing linking the victims together. The gender, the race, the age group, and the stereo types all are different. However, one small piece has each one similar. The DNA strands of the victims were erratic, showing extra different chromosomes. Though none of the people killed were blood related, they had a special blood type that has speculators thinking the killer must be in the medical profession. But no evidence has popped up." Mr. Johnson looks at us, all quiet and probably confused like cattle.
"Doesn't that strike anyone as strange?" he asks "the innocent people were 100% different, yet a small matter of DNA made them the same. It's completely mind racking for viscous murdering's to have that in common." I could tell he desperately wanted us to see the significance in this new development but truth was none of us cared. Things in the world meant very little to teenagers. I was busy staring out the window, with my hand doodling. I hardly ever paid attention to school.
"Tomorrow we will be talking blood test and on Thursday I will give you an assignment to test a subjects DNA. I will give you a number and find volunteers to participate around school" Mr. Johnson announced before the bell rang. I strolled to the girls' locker room and changed for P.E.
When I finally got into the auditorium I saw people gawking at Scott. His dark hair was wet and face looked really peeved. He sat with my class on the bleachers but as far away as he could get. I waved to him but sat at the bottom, shuffling my iPods song list. I felt hard thumps vibrating through the wood like someone stomping down the bleachers. Then again, somebody yanked my earphones out with a jerk. I look next to me in the face of Scott. But instead of drooling over his handsome face like other girls, I simply glared.
"I hate it when people do that" I told. He smirked.
We sat quietly at first, me pretending to stare effortlessly around at small little things. But when I did turn back to him, he sat very still, studying my face. It was a warming feeling brought to my heart, a place that's been numb for a while. Our connection was broken by a loud noise towards the gym doors. We all looked to see senior football players entering, and in the lead was Nick Deviel. Alice's brother. His dirty blond hair was at shoulder length but today pulled back. His gorgeous face and natural tan made him the hunk of the school, that and because his V shaped torso and great balance of muscle. But luke warm yellow eyes were very strange. He strode in with other jocks,looking confident and overly devious.
"Know him?" Scott asked, as I averted my attention from his direction.
"That is ALice's brother" one of the freshamn near told Scott,over hearing his question "Makes her look like a garden snake compared to his vipor." the quivering fear was thick in the poor kids mouth as he spoke,But Scott appeared unimpressed, and turned to me for clarification.
I shrugged "He just a jerk who like to think he's the king of this unholy place" I tell 's eyes meet with mine, a shine deep inside his held me like a spot light. completly, unregretably handsome he was, something fertal layed beneath.
The Couches whishel blew and broke our trance like the classes began lining up in a rows for attendence.I took to my place between two girls and Scott walked to the end.
"Alright" Couch Platt yelled "we're gonna have ourselves a game of up first, then the ladies.I don't want complaints"