The night janitor walked me to the door, like he always did every Friday night. I stepped out of the Workout room's entrance to feel the night's cool breeze against my heated skin. I turned to say good night and watched a rivulet of sweat slid down my shoulder and arm, I saw the usual tide of guys and girls come out of the Stadium from a late practice after a track meet. I ran the few minutes to my car; a 2005 lime green and pitch black Mustang, on the opposite side of the parking lot. Crossing in front of the giant group of jock-whores and assholes. One of the girls whose name I couldn't remember took it as a challenge, yelling for me to stop before I reached the piece of machinery. "Hey I bet you couldn't out run one of us!" I smirked and turned back to face the herd of people, put a burst of speed on and stopped right in front of the girl who bet me. "Stakes, track and racer?" I asked icily. She shook her head in what she thought was a threatening manner, it wasn't. "Jake, one lap from here to the street and back, a hundred bucks." I held out my hand for her to shake but it wasn't a female hand that gripped mine. It was male, obviously 'Jake's. I released his at once and smirked at him, not wanting to totally break his heart when I beat him. "You sure you want to do this? You can back out if you want, I'll understand that loud-mouth over here spoke too soon for you." He chuckled. "No, I'll do it, and don't think I'll go easy on you just 'cause you're a girl." I rolled my eyes and took a semi formal running stance, waiting for someone to yell 'go'. Then we were off, I chose to stay few paces behind but gaining momentum and speed as the track-runner ran to his hearts content.

That's one of the biggest differences between Track runners and Cross-country runners: Stamina. Followed closely by pacing, this came in handy here too. By the time we'd both reached the street and turned to head back he was trying to pull extra speed and energy out of his ass, while I was pulling ahead, without overexerting myself. I finished a good ten seconds before him, and barely had to catch my breath, Gotta love self-pacing. I put a hand out for him to shake but when his extended towards it, 'Loud-mouth' Or Courtney as I recalled someone yell at her as I won the race; swatted his hand away preventing me from apologizing to him for the humiliation he'd suffered on my behalf. "Well here, you won, take the money and go buy your self a nice spa trip or something maybe it'll help wash the freak-stench and Goth-look away." She shoved the bills into my hand and tried to wrench hers back before it came in contact with my skin. I gripped the fingers that were closest to mine, and laughed right along with her. "You know I got the Freak-be-gone treatment the other day and it didn't do anything. Damn, but after this little encounter with our hands I might as well spend it at the local teen's Clinic because God knows what kind of STD I might have now. But thanks for the helpful hint Court. You're the best. "Her eyes spit fire at me as I turned with clearly faked cheerfulness and waved good bye.

Her friends were still gasping as my 'Stang roared by, leaving the parking lot. I made a hundred bucks in ten minutes that night. One of the guys that had laughed when I insulted Courtney watched me as I pulled out of the parking lot and on to the road that lead to the bridge, I could have swore he winked at me and smiled but who knows. But that guy seemed so familiar, yet I couldn't place where I'd seen him or how I knew him. Obviously from school but, why I couldn't place his face was unnerving. Saturday was uneventful; I worked two shifts at the local kids' museum. Got paid, worked my volunteer/community service hours there as well. When I came home I saw my half of our chores list and did them all just because I was bored. Laundry, dishes, trash, cat litter, and straightened up to kitchen to fill my hours finally doing my homework after everything. When Isaiah came home from his job at the nearby drive-thru he made dinner, it was his turn tonight; we talked like usual about what had happened that day and we played Dance! Dance! Revolution! For about an hour when he was tired I bid him good night and went to seclude my self in my room. Then I read myself into my usual fitful slumber thinking of the next day's possible misadventures. Sunday night was the night I did things with my friends, usually not coming home until close to twelve. But tonight I was going home early to please Isaiah I had to; he got mad when I was out too late. I slept late waking at about noon got in an hour-long shower then left for Jon's at about two.

I silently cursed myself for telling Isaiah that he needed go out tonight. I went to the mall around two thirty and it was just now ten. Hanging out with Beryl and Jon, two of my best friends made me lose track of time. When I left Jon and beryl I noticed that someone was following me a few yards behind, enough to let someone think that it was coincidence but I know better I'd seen him in every single store I'd been. This person had followed me all the way home; I was scared. Isaiah who was very reluctant to leave me alone at night would get a kick out of the fact that the one night I convinced him not to wait up on me something bad happened. But against his better judgment he left me to fend for myself, he'd lay the biggest 'I told you so' ever on me if he found out I was in trouble. After my mother died and my rapist asshole of a Sperm-donor (Father) lost custody thank god! I was kind of cared after by Isaiah so much it was as if he wanted to wrap me in bubble wrap when he couldn't be around. As if I was that breakable, whatever, I'm not one of those creepy porcelain dolls.

I was almost forced to go into a foster home but Isaiah came to my rescue. He claimed to be my mother's best friend's son and a childhood friend of mine. He was a friend, but I'd met him only three years prior. I moved in last year, I'm allowed to live with him until I turned eighteen then the children services people would let me out on my own. I don't actually want to go. But anyway stupid unthinking me, made him go out too, instead of sitting at home as he usually did when I went out. I without anyway to protect myself, I would have my switchblade but, the mall I was at had metal detectors at all the entrances. It would have been taken, again. Last time it was taken I was in fifth grade, haha a switchblade in fifth grade haha a girl no less. And now I had some freaky dude following me. I had dead bolted the door, and leaned against it in relief, just as a thunderous knock reverberated through me. Jumping up instinctually, I looked through the eyehole to see a vaguely familiar face looking back at me. After a few seconds I recognized the face as a jock in the sophomore class, my class, Liam Thayne and the guy from the race Friday, that's how I knew him we had a couple classes together but I didn't recognize him in his track runners set. "Is this where Jael Virconous lives?" He spoke loudly through the door, when I asked what he wanted. I couldn't stop my heart from doing the old flip-flop.

Why the hell is he here? I know him… I liked him… "Yeah, hold on a sec…." I stated though the door as I removed the dead bolt I tried to force my heart to stop trying to jump out of my mouth. Is he the one who was following me from the mall? Nah, he probably just happened to be near here and know exactly which apartment I live in when only three people at school besides Isaiah and myself know where I live. I scolded myself internally. I'm not being stalked he probably just wants some thing from school it is Sunday night after all; this is what I said to myself at least. Trying to keep my cool. Opening the door I tried to hold my cat back. "What's up Liam? How's it going?" He walked in slowly acting as if he was scared of me. "Good, great actually; did I scare you? I tried to catch you at the mall but, you didn't see or hear me and I didn't remember your cell to call you and you sped the whole way here, although you probably thought I was after you, like I was gonna kill you or something. But I was the one following you, I didn't mean to scare you … if I did." he seemed as tense as was I. I shrugged and attempted to not take that the creepy way, how could I not think it was creepy.

I shut the door and let my cat down; he circled Liam, eyeing him with caution. "Sorry I had my IPod on and I wasn't paying much attention to people around me, my number is 632-5350 by the way." I rattled the number off not thinking anything of it and watched him put it in his Krazor from Verizon. At least if he did call, it wouldn't charge anything up; I love that everyone has Verizon. I've had some kind of Verizon phone since the sixth grade; right now that would be a Slate Gray Razor. In my opinion the best phone yet. But I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. His angular features, normal sized nose that was slightly pointed, and high cheekbones, slightly unkempt dark brown almost black hair and his, oh his green eyes that looked like the surface of a rough emerald, they begged to be noticed as intellectual. These all stood out against his body-type, which was lean but at the same time buff and kind of pale. They begged to be told no, just once. Not my ideal type, but I liked him none the less. My cat seemed to like him too, seeing as he was rubbing against Liam's legs now. I caught myself staring at him and I quickly started a conversation with him to divert my attention from his body. "Can I get you anything, Liam?" I walked into the kitchen, at the same time gesturing for him to sit in one of the many chairs in the living room. "Anything you have to drink would be fine."

I walked back in with a Mountain Dew®, and a Gatorade Rain® handed him the MD and sat down across from him on a swivel chair. There was a long lull in which we kind of stared at each other and drank the drinks. He had on a snug black short sleeve shirt and a lose Etnies™ zip-up hoodie, that was barely zipped, and pair those two things with the baggie jeans and skate shoes, once again Etnies™ and you get a hot lazy kind of look. But this guy was far from lazy, and so close to fiery hot, it hurt to be this close and yet so far away at the same time. I thought I was drooling so I wiped my face in a nonchalant way. "So, what did you want, might I ask?" I was bored, so I spoke. "I ran into Isaiah at that new teen club, I was going out when he was going in, he wanted me to make sure you were safe and I had to pick up a few things at the mall. I tried not to run into you, -he didn't want you to know I was there for him- to just make sure you were okay, but I was caught off guard by how much you've changed and how amazing you look. I never forgot that I was there for him, but I had to see you just as much as he wanted me to check up on you." He sounded ashamed but sincere, yet I wasn't buying it. "Liam I'm glad you came and I and well I just… … … I'm not amazing… I'm not even that pretty."

I had blurted out what I had tried to suppress since he started talking. The horrified look he wore on his face told me that he was genuinely shocked by what I had said. Just over a year ago I was two hundred and eighty pounds and extremely self-conscious of my looks and my personality weather I showed any of it or not, I was. I obviously hadn't grasped the fact that I was hot now, a very sleek one hundred twenty-five pounds; five foot seven, with dancer styled muscle structure from cardio and a brown belt in Tai Kwan Do, and obviously belly-dancing. "Jael. Don't put yourself down. You're very beautiful, and dangerous, I know you are; don't let anyone tell you any different, Okay? You may not have been 'Pretty' on the outside to some people but I saw it, your confidence, in yourself, in what you do, in everything about you, it rolled off you, it still does, even sweeter now, because people see why it comes off you. People have a better understanding of you now." I shook my head. "No, people see that I'm pretty and they don't know why I'm not popular until they realize I can speak in a civilized manor, not IM speak, or without saying 'Like' every three words. Or in classes I'll prove that I'm a total 'Über nerd' because I follow what is going on in my classes not worrying about what someone thinks of me or I can prove that I have an IQ of way over 20 unlike the girls at school. Not to mention that 'Über' wouldn't be in their vocabulary because it isn't English, it's in fact German."

He looked disapprovingly at me. That look was one I hated; I got it from everyone, it coming from him proved my point. "That doesn't matter to me and it shouldn't to everyone else. But we can't change that. So we'll just have to settle for the people that don't care. Don't worry about it Jael." Damnit why does he have to be basically perfect? "Liam, don't say that; I want to believe you; I do, but common sense tells me that you're -." Before I could even start my last word Liam's lips were on mine, not a 'make out' kiss not an 'I love you' kiss but more like an 'I don't know what I'm doing but, I like it' kiss. If that were true for him, it would make two of us. I broke off the prolonged touch of lips to lips since neither of us had even moved in at least a minute. "Lying." I finished my earlier sentence simply and out of breath. "Liam please don't…" He tried to hush me again but I just kept speaking. Seeing as I was standing now, I stepped a little further back knowing that I wasn't going to win this argument. "Don't make me regret doing this, please, it's been, well, I've never kissed anyone before and I don't think I could deal with this but, I…." I think he took my words the wrong way but after a few seconds he comprehended what I meant that I had never dated anyone seriously before. Unless you counted when you were seven and thought you were going out when the boy hit you.

And that I didn't want to screw up in my first real relationship. "Jael don't worry I won't let you screw up, not with me." He stated this as if he had read my questioning thoughts right from my mind, even using my wording but I asked jokingly "Am I that readable……… Or can you just read minds?" He chuckled for a split second but as I studied his green eyes, they darkened to almost black when I continued my joke of a question…Oops, wrong question. "Mind reading isn't real." he stated firmly sounding like he was trying to convince himself instead of me, I wouldn't bring that up again. Ever. That was scary seeing his face get that fierce that fast. Why had that upset him? During my internal monologue my facial expression changed, from interest to hurt all on its own. He must have seen because he began to apologize immediately. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to snap at you Jael. I just don't believe in that magic & mythical beings thing." I did my best to keep my face from falling the thirty stories it wanted to. I succeeded partly; it only fell ten. My favorite things to talk about are mythical creatures and magic, well mostly vampires. He saw my face again and immediately started apologizing for a second time for his outburst of hostility. "You believe in them don't you, Jael? Crap, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put people down who do, I don't is the only thing it was to mean. I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

I accepted this apology and watched his eyes brighten up again. I would have to save my questions about that for another time because just as I started to ask him, Isaiah walked in and ruined the moment. "Ah, Liam I see you did it, kept her safe, thanks. I'm going to bed." He slumped into his room and by the sound of it didn't bother changing before flopping onto his bed loudly. "You better not really be drunk Isaiah." I yelled into his room from where I sat and got a muffled no before I let it drop. "Sounds like you're more of a guardian than he is; I better get going before he goes all paternal on my ass." He kissed me before leaving, and once again it wasn't a make out kiss, just a brief meeting of the lips, and he was out the door without another word. "Liam…" I called out, but to no answer, how stupid was I? I had feebly hoped he would have said to call him or that he'd call me later. Something that gave me some reassurance that I hadn't dreamt up the whole thing from sleep deprivation and one too many 800mg Ibuprofen. Just as if I had said it out loud he called my cell phone and said, "I'll call you sometime." Obviously a joke because he had just called and he chuckled lightly. "Do you need a ride to school? I just got my license last month and…Jael?"

I hadn't taken a breath since the phone rang. Whew, air rushed in my lungs as I began to speak. "Uh … Isaiah usually takes me but I'm not so sure I want to drive with him tomorrow if he's really drunk." he waited as if thinking I was going to continue because I thought I was going to too. "That club is 17 and under; other than the owner that is. He's 27; there is no alcohol, but I'll take that as a yes, so six-fifty-fiveish? Okay?" A pause, I was holding my breath as he spoke and it took a minute. "Yeah that sounds great see you then, alright. Bye." I am riding with Liam Thayne, Track and Star. Not to mention an amazing artist, drawing, writing, composing music, anything. And perfect 5.0 G.P.A average headed one way towards an Honors' Diploma. Creative Writing is usually the only time I talk to him outside of asking for a pencil or pairings in other classes. In Creative Writing he actually wants to talk to me, we have a common ground; we both like to write stories and other forms of expression through writing or the spoken word which ever we feel I got off the phone with Liam I reared on Isaiah. "Why would you do that to me? I can't believe you Isaiah. How could you do that to me it scared me half to death, because the guy you sent to check up on me followed me home like a weird stalker guy! Not even." I drew out the word even to stress it. "To mention that he's an ex-crush of mine."

He sat up and simply said, "Would you rather have it be him or some real stalker type following you home? He wasn't supposed to even let you know he was checking on you for me. I didn't know you used to like him, how was I supposed to know?" His face planted in to his pillows as he started to ignore me. "You are unbelievable do you know that Isaiah? You give me a pain like no other, and isn't it the younger one who gives the pain to the older one? We've gotten it wrong again Isaiah because you've given me a pain." As I turned to walk I did one thing to piss him off. "Oh he's is giving me a ride to school tomorrow." And I walked out knowing his jaw would have hit the floor if the pillow and bed hadn't stopped it. The next morning I dressed in a tight blood red top that didn't start until past my collarbones and only spaghetti straps over my shoulders, I had to pull out my strapless bra just to wear it. I also had on a lace and spandex above-the-knee length skirt with lace up just-under-the-knee high heeled boots and black and red striped stockings; a major upgrade from my normal Tee-shirt, oversized hoodie, baggie jeans, combat boots and no makeup. I wore my brand new never-been-opened, berry-red eyeliner with mascara and glossy lip shine. I was HOT. The only wardrobe staple that hadn't changed for me was my necklace that held my grandmother's ring and my mother's skeleton key.