Chapter 2

"Can I have your order, please?" the waitress of Burger Bar prompted. The 5 of us; Rachel, Stefan, Kayla, Kayla's boyfriend Keith, and I, gave the waitress our orders and she quickly left.

"So, Stefan," Kayla started, turning towards the handsome boy sitting beside me. "How do you like North Cross High so far?"

Stefan said, in his deep voice, "It's great. Everyone's been extremely nice to me, especially you guys." He grinned at each of us. I couldn't help but notice that his eyes lingered on mine for a few more seconds than the others. It made my insides melt, especially when he had only one dimpled cheek. So cute!

"Hey," Keith called. "You should probably think of joining the football team." Keith Highland, star football quarterback of North Cross High, was the most popular guy in the school and it wasn't surprising that Kayla was dating him because he was also quite handsome. With his sandy blond hair, blue eyes and perfect white teeth, Kayla and Keith were the most perfect couple in the school.

Stefan shook his head. "Football's not really my thing."

"The food has arrived!" Rachel announced dramatically. The waitress piled the food on the square table and we gladly dug in. The burgers at Burger Bar were delicious and incredibly unhealthy, but whatever. We ate and talked and had a lot of fun. I got to know Stefan a little bit better, and luckily, I didn't make a fool out of myself in front of him.

When it was time to go, Kayla and Keith went off first, probably for some snuggling quality time. Rachel got a ride from her mother but her mom was so uptight, she wouldn't let me carpool with them. Usually, I always got a ride from my mom, but she was working overtime today, so I was about to go off towards the bus stop when Stefan reached for me. "Where are you going?" he demanded.

"Home," I said, incredulous.

Stefan gripped my right hand and adjusted his messenger bag on his right shoulder. His hand was large and rough, and I felt strangely comfortable holding his hand. "I'll send you home."

I was about to argue when he suddenly ran, pulling me along. I ran with him and felt impossibly free, as though I wasn't the Dark Guardian Princess, as though my whole life wasn't a lie, as though my perfect life would never crash down on me, as though there would never be an end to the world, as though Stefan would hold my hand forever. Abruptly, he stopped. We weren't anywhere near my house and I was already panting. Stefan looked perfectly at ease.

"Why did you do that?" Still panting, I bent and held my knees, trying to catch my breath.

He made a face. "Do what?" He was chuckling to himself. My face must have looked pretty red right then. I pouted.

I ignored his delicious laugh. "Let's get a bus back." I stomped past him and he casually walked by my side.

Then, I felt my whole body go cold and then heat, like fire, rushed into me, followed by another sick cold fear. That cold fear struck me in the stomach. Then, fire came to release me of that pain. It was like being stuck in a hot-and-cold tornado. I felt my knees go weak as I landed on my hands and knees, trying to make sense of this feeling. The cold got to me again and then I saw a black figure, like a man, lash out at me. I curled into a ball as he attacked me, again and again, and I felt so hopeless, like I could die on the spot. Another feeling crawled up my back then, and that feeling was horrible, like I was being put into a cold refrigerator for 3 years, without coming out. I felt my eyes close, but I forced it to remain open. Something told me that if I let go and closed my eyes, I wouldn't feel the pain anymore, but I would never open my eyes ever again.

"Brittany!" My name sounded muffled. I wanted to shout out and make the whole world feel my pain, but I couldn't move. I was frozen there, in fear and in pain. My name was called out again, and something scratched at my face. A tear of pain leaked out of my eye. The black figure was still torturing me, forcing me to die. I didn't want to. I didn't want to die.

I thought of my beautiful mother, the one who cared for me for sixteen years. She wasn't the best mother in the world, but she was my mother, and nothing could ever change that. I remembered the time when I was five, I went back home from kindergarten without making a friend and I cried to her about it, but she assured me that she would always be my friend, my best friend. Maybe if I thought of her, of her smile, her warmth, the pain would be tolerable.

It was. Slowly, my mom's smile and warmth overpowered my pain and fear. And soon, I didn't feel a thing, but heard the figure screaming in pain. Hah. Take that! Now you know how I feel, fucker. Don't touch me ever again, you fucking bastard. My thoughts were vulgar, and the black figure got the message. He turned and fled, leaving me bleeding on the ground. And slowly, I let myself go. Let my eyes close. Nothing could harm me anymore, just for tonight, I was safe.

"Oh my god," I heard my mom exclaim. "Brittany! What in the world happened to you?" And then her mom instinct kicked in. "And what are you doing in a boy's arms?" I had to smile at that, but it came out like a grimace. Stefan was carrying me, bridal-style and had ran all the way to my house, with a bleeding me. How he knew the way was beyond me. My mom began to panic, like I knew she would. "What're you standing there, come in, put her on the couch," commanded my mother. Stefan looked at me and I shrugged. He followed my mom's orders and I immediately frowned when he let go of me. "Go get cleaned up!" she commanded again. Stefan jumped to follow her orders.

I giggled, then immediately clutched my chest in pain.

"Oh, Brittany, baby…" she began, looking worried and panicked at the same time. "What happened to you?" She touched my unscratched cheek.

"There was this man—" I started and bit my lip in pain. I couldn't go on. Talking hurt like hell.

Stefan, coming out of the bathroom, surprised me once again. "Kako," he spat the name of evil. My mother gasped. He turned to me. "You were dealing with Kako, Brittany."

"But, I—" I winced. My mom shushed me and turned to the phone to call for a doctor. I endured the pain and softly asked Stefan, "How did you know about Kako?"

He stroked my hair. The gesture was so simple, yet so intimate. Excitement coursed through me, even though I was badly injured. "It's pretty simple, actually," his green eyes flashed. "I'm a Dark Warrior."