Claire's POV

Dear Sarah,

I'm still having the dreams. They're getting worse and worse every night. Sometimes I'm afraid they'll never go away. I'm glad I can talk to you about it though.

They always start the same. I'm lying on the cold forest floor, as if I had been sleeping there. It's so dark I can barely see a thing.

I still can't figure out why I'm there, but then I get the feeling that I'm not alone. I can't tell exactly whether or not I'm in danger but I know somebody's there. You know how you can feel someone's eyes on you? It's like that but… I sorta feel like I'm prey.

Then I turn around. I already know something's there but I need to know for sure. When I turn my head, I feel warm hands on me, all over me. The warmth spreads and it's comforting. I feel so safe until another presence shows. It's near me too… the danger. The warmth battles the ice that seems to thinly layer my entire body. My breaths become shallow until a pair of lips brushes up along my ear. That's when I stop breathing altogether.

And it whispers my name… over and over again. At that point, I realize I can use my hands. I feel around for these entities but I feel as if I'm not looking in the right place.

But I do… sort of I feel something warm, wet, pulsing. The smell of iron is so thick, Sarah. I can't tell what's real or what's dreamland. My eyes can make out the shape as I gasp in complete horror at the heart beating rapidly in my hand.

That's when I wake up.

It seems like one big cliché but that doesn't shake the images from my mind. Maybe I'm just doing this to myself. But why can't I stop having the same terrible nightmares every night?

I really do miss you, Sarah. I wish I could hear you tell me how ridiculous I sound. I can't wait to see you when you come home. In the meantime, I'm saving up to come visit you.

I love you, sis.

-Claire

I folded the letter hamburger-style and slid it in an envelope. After arguing with the lady at the post office yesterday about another letter sent back to me, I got a fresh sheet of stamps for when I write to Sarah. I know what you're thinking. But it isn't like that all the time. Sarah does write back, she does get my letters. Sometimes, though it'll take weeks or I don't get a reply at all. But I don't think about it too much. She doesn't mean anything by it.

I threw the sealed envelope now addressed to my sister in my purse. I knew I would regret that later when I'm trying to fish it back out at the post office. The clock radio on my nightstand read 7:30. I had to hurry if I wanted to mail this today. I grabbed my backpack and scurried for the stairs.

Nobody was in the house this morning. My aunt, Donna was a defense attorney for one of Boston's largest law firms. We lived in a neighboring suburb so sometimes she would leave the house really early. I loved Aunt Donna; she tries really hard following my mom's footsteps… except Aunt Donna was better.

I grabbed my keys sitting on the kitchen counter and made my way out the door, not another thought passing through my head about that.

Nick's POV

The sun was shinning at its highest this morning. It would slow me down, but not enough for anybody to notice. In the meantime, I had to get this damn car clean.

I came home, back to the old Latham House. I grew up there, died there. My roots are buried beneath the floorboards. Unfortunately, the landscaping had decreased in quality, which explains all the mud on my car. I picked it up before I came here. I couldn't draw too much attention to myself by buying one of those cars you see on calendars or showing up to high school without a car, on foot. Of course, running to school would be fast. But I wouldn't risk suspicion; not this time.

There was a small car wash by a drugstore and post office up in town. Not many cars passed by. Most of the kids were at school and I'm assuming everybody else has a job to be at. For now I could be at peace.

Naturally, with my luck, that couldn't possibly last. My breath hitched to a stop when the scent filled the air around me faster than a wildfire. I could say it was like nothing I've ever smelt before, but that was only true once. There aren't many AB negative blood types out there- only one percent of the population. I almost forgot how great the smell was, how irresistible…

No. Not now.

Maybe just a peek.

Luckily, I was wearing sunglasses to preserve some energy. I glanced over the room of the car, hose in hand, and I saw her. She was at the post office, in a hurry. That meant she was heading to school right? She'd be there. Her long hair was pulled back, revealing her beautiful neck, her beating pulse…

Shit! I squeezed the nozzle of the hose shut. I quickly tried to bend the rusted metal back to its original shape, but the water already backed up reacted too fast. The hose exploded from the sides, shooting water in all directions, including straight in my face. I switched the water off effortlessly, feeling humiliated without anyone around.

Except for her…

She was looking at me now, peering over as she got into her car. I pretended not to notice, still not breathing. One more whiff of that and we were both done for.

Claire's POV

"Claire!" Minnie squealed. I turned around to see my best friend shuffling top gun down the long hallway. It was normal to see Minnie so cheerful any day, but I know that shrill call. Minnie is a major contributor to gossip in this school. There was something she wanted to share with me.

"Hey," I chuckled turning the combination of my locker with ease. Minnie was leaning in close, like she didn't want anyone to hear. But all our friends will hear about it sooner or later.

"You are never going to believe this," Minnie said, emphasis on the "never".

"What am I never going to believe?" I asked, laughing.

"Just when you think junior year will be completely uneventful, we have been blessed by an angel from heaven."

"English please?" I smiled.

"Transfer student," Minnie slurred flirtatiously, "He came all the way from New York. Can you believe it?"

"No," I said neutrally. Minnie frowned.

"This is clearly a Rosemary thing," Minnie said, "Let's get to English."

"Guys!" Minnie and I looked over to see the one and only. Rosemary Benson, our other best friend gracefully gloated to us. If there's one thing about Rosemary, it's her stunning beauty. Her dark hair was pale skin tone made her look like Aphrodite and a supermodel combined. Even Minnie has a cute sexiness about her with her short bleach hair and big laughing eyes. Me? I was nothing special.

"Did you hear what I heard?" Minnie asked clearly excited Rosemary showed up right when she needed her. I wasn't a member of the rumor mill.

"Oh, you have no idea," Rosemary sang, "I overheard Wendi saying how she saw him at the car wash. He's completely gorgeous and completely single!"

"Car wash?" I interrupted, following weakly behind them as they walked down the hall with powerful strides.

"Yeah," Rosemary said, taking my hand to pull my up to them, "Why?" The new transfer was the guy at the car wash? The one who couldn't control a hose? Rosemary and Minnie wouldn't leave me alone if they knew I saw him too.

"No reason," I shrugged nonchalantly, "Thought they shut it down."

First class was English, my favorite. Our teacher, Miss Tolesco always gave us great novels to read together in class. A lot of people didn't like it that much but I looked forward to it everyday. The only thing negative about that class was Wendi Carson.

Let's be honest, high school is full of stereotypes. Wendi Carson is the biggest one of them all: captain of cheerleading, homecoming queen two years running (soon to be three), and of course let's not forget her history with football players and a variety of other jockstraps. Yes, she was indeed the queen of cliché.

"Hey, Rose," Wendi said. Rosemary was the only one of us Wendi actually acknowledged. It was just because Rosemary was a threat and Wendi had to keep her enemies close. Besides, Rosemary would be a problem for any attention hog.

"Hey," Rosemary greeted with a flip of her hair. The boy Wendi was sitting on, Matt Thomas, stared at Rosemary like she was the answer to all his problems. Wendi noticed and began kissing him, Rosemary not even paying attention. I took a seat behind Minnie and pulled out my copy of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" Miss Tolesco lent everybody in the class.

Small talk filled the room as I picked mindlessly at the binding of my book. I thought of Sarah that moment, remembering how she showed me the fascinating world of books as a little kid. She was a big reader herself, always telling me the stories that were too hard for me to read alone. I guess that's why I loved this class so much; because of what Sarah said. Every page revealed something new in the story, taking you away into another world, one better than this.

My train of thought was cut off by silence. Yes, the entire class stopped speaking, even moving. I looked around, completely confused. Then I looked to the front of room.

"Everyone take your seats," Miss Tolesco commanded with a voice that didn't belong to her. It was dark, raspy. My eyes traveled to what she held up in her hand.

It was the bloody, beating heat. I gasped in horror, clutching my desk tightly. I wanted to get up and run but I was frozen with pure fear. I shut my eyes and frantically began to chant, "Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up…"

"Claire," the voice sang from Miss Tolesco's mouth, "Please keep the noise down. I would just hate to give you detention." My eyes widened and I gave out a blood-curdling scream as Miss Tolesco bit into the heart with unnatural hunger.

Nick's POV

This school was confusing. For the first 10 minutes I was here, I became lost. But when I tried to ask somebody, anybody where I could find one stupid classroom, I would get the same reactions from everyone. Was in the wrong decade? Was I dressed weird?

Maybe I've already given myself away. I should just back out now, save myself the misery and save everyone else unexpected death or two. I had to accept that I would never be normal, no matter how much I wish I could be.

… I could smell her as soon as I walked in the damn building. It isn't strong like that. I was trying to scan it out. I wanted to find her. But I wouldn't find her until I found a simple classroom first. I had to figure one thing out at a time.

There was a short old woman, probably a librarian, scuffling down the hallway in an oversized cardigan sweater and glasses hanging off the tip of her nose. It was worth a shot.

"Excuse me, ma'am," I said politely. She stopped walking and faced me with a small smile, "I was wondering if could direct to me Miss Tolesco's classroom?"

"Oh my," she gasped, looking up at me in complete and utter shock. I was puzzled for a second, until I spotted her name tag.

"Adele," I whispered in surprise. I looked around the hall as the old woman paced her shaking hands on my shoulder, eyeballing me from head to toe.

"It really is you," she cried happily.

"Sssh," I tried to calm her. She seemed ecstatic, not afraid. I walked her slowly out of sight in case anyone happened to see us.

"Nicky," she laughed, "You're so… you look… magnificent." I smiled a little bit, remembering she was the one girl who could accept me the way I was. She helped me when I needed her the most.

"I don't have much time," I said, "I have to get to class." It was my turn to observe Adele. Such a strong powerful woman, now a small frail lady. I wish I could've taken her with me… if one could wish something so horrible.

"You haven't changed," she laughed, "The other, they all said you were dead… that I was crazy. But I was right."

"Adele," I sighed, "Please. You cannot say anything. I must look like a normal student, do you understand?" Adele nodded, still looking through me like she could see something from beyond here.

"Go," she said patting my arm, "Hurry. You'll be late. Take a right at the end of the hallway." I nodded and began walking to the class I finally found. But when Adele said next stopped me dead in my tracks."

"Keep Joseph out of trouble."

Deep breaths, I thought. Deep breaths. Don't think about it, don't get upset. My eyes traveled over my shoulder to see Adele tiptoeing in the opposite direction she was going when I first stopped her. I remembered then, she didn't know.

I had to find this class. I had one more minute until the bell rang. Like Adele instructed, I sauntered down to the end of the hallway and took a right. Sure enough, Miss Tolesco's name was hung on the open door. Well, here goes nothing. I held my breath and entered the class room with all the regret in my being.

The students were all packed in groups, talking quietly to one another about pointless hearsay. I approached the teacher's desk to see the stout woman writing on the chalkboard. When she felt my advance, she looked over her shoulder and smiled, "Hello," she said, "You must be our transfer."

"Yes," I smiled, "I'm sorry I was late. I had trouble finding your classroom."

"Oh, well don't worry," she said, "It'll get easier. I'm Miss Tolesco." She shook my hand warmly.

"Nick Lucas," I said.

"Well, Nick," she said, "Welcome. If you need anything please let me know. Actually…" Miss Tolesco bent over under her desk to yank a beat up book underneath a pile of superfluous items. She handed the novel to me, "We just started Dorian Gray. Hope you haven't read it yet."

"I haven't," I lied with a smile.

"Excellent," she said, returning the grin. Then she turned to the class, who had fallen silent by my entry. I kept my eyes down, unable to take the suspicious stares and the whispers. The longer I was here, the more I thought this was a bad idea.

"Nice," a girl whispered. My eyes snapped up to hers. She was tapping a pencil on her desk, looking at me like I was her next target. She really was an overall beautiful girl. I appreciate the confidence of course. But if any of these people knew… they wouldn't think the way they did now.

"Class," Miss Tolesco continued, "This is our new student, Nick Lucas. I expected everyone to make him feel welcome. Nick, you can take a seat behind… Miss McMahon?" She was aiming her stare to a desk behind a small blonde girl who turned around to see what the problem was.

"Claire," she said, too quiet for anyone else to hear. Everyone else was looking at the girl too, whispering and laughing. The blonde girl was shaking her now, "Claire."

"Ow," she snapped, her head poking up above her. Her eyes were sleepy, half closed. They looked like they did at the post office when she gazed at me across the street to the car wash. It was her… she was in my first class.

Claire.

Sure enough when I took in a breath, her scent entered the air and I smiled. Now that all the students had their attention turned to her, I hurriedly took the desk behind her.

"Sorry," she said to Miss Tolesco who was already scowling conspicuously.

"Miss McMahon, I hope you are not too tired to assist our new student, Mr. Lucas," the teacher added, crossing her arms.

"Oh," Claire faltered in surprise, turning around to look at me. I held up my hand in a small wave, her eyes looking into mine with genuine apology. She gave me the sweetest half smile I have ever seen and turned back to Miss Tolesco, giving her a thumbs-up. "Got it," she said.

"I hope so," Tolesco concluded, "Now, everybody turn to page one of your text so we may begin reading."

Claire's POV

Well, wasn't this just great! I now had everybody staring at me, including this now proven gorgeous transfer, all because I fell asleep in class. Not only that, but I had a nightmare in class. Could this day start off any worse? I laughed at myself lightly as the class followed along with the teacher who was reading over emotionally from Dorian Gray. I guess it could have. I could've woken up screaming or yell something embarrassing in mid-dream.

Although everyone was over the stunt I pulled this morning, it was still difficult to concentrate on the book. I remember writing in my letter to Sarah about how one can feel eyes on them, even if they can't see the eyes physically doing the staring. For some reason, that's how I felt now… just like I did in the dream; being hunted, the predator in for the kill. The thing was there was no predatory monster here. It was just me… it had to be.

"Mr. Lucas," Miss Tolesco said pleasantly, "Tell me… why do you think Dorian gave up his soul so willingly?" I could feel the whole class turn to face him, waiting for his answer. Even Minnie turned around, who met eyes with me first.

"Are you okay?" she whispered? I nodded facing forward. I didn't want to look at Nick Lucas, not after that. If Minnie didn't forget, neither did him.

"Temptation," he said surely, "It is easier to give in to temptation than to resist it, to turn away from it." Man, spoken like a true poet- or someone who should be a poet with a voice like that.

"Do you think he made the right decision?" Miss Tolesco questioned again, enjoying his well-thought answers. Everyone else in here, except for me most of the time, often answered questions in the form of one. Nobody was certain about anything in this class.

"I don't think so," he laughed (and what a laugh it was), "However, there are people out there who wish to believe otherwise. Some enjoy the temptation, whether their soul is destroyed for the purpose or not." Nothing but a bit of white noise followed his answer.

"Well," the teacher swallowed, "I can't argue with that. But tell me Mr. Lucas… do you believe the soul can heal?" It was silent for what seemed like forever until he cleared his throat.

"No," he said.