Disclaimer: Once again, any familiar characters, settings and plots do not belong to me.


Vivienne

It has been over a year since I discovered something significant about my parentage and myself, and up until now, I'm still not used to the mere thought of me being the sole daughter of an Immortal. I mean, come on! It definitely is the craziest idea. Seriously? An Immortal? The only Immortal I know is God, and I'm not even sure if His believers refer to Him as that. And although I still don't believe this information to be true fact, it has altered my life in such a major way already that I'm afraid to say that I'm scarred for life.

For one thing, my relationship with my mother has completely changed. My whole life, I've had a great relationship with her. I see her as my ultimate best friend and my confidante. She's the person whom I run to when I'm troubled, when I'm scared and when I'm happy. Basically, I spend a great amount of time, sharing the most momentous events of my life with her. However, when given the chance nowadays, I avoided her, since I found out that she's only my foster parent. That part of my life is down in the drain and I can't shake the feeling off that it's gone forever.

What's more, there's also the change that I'm aware of within me. I used to be a very confident person, always so sure of myself because I was always careful with everything I do and say. I also used to be so compassionate, trusting and understanding. These days, though, I've become a robot with mixed feelings towards certain people and things, programmed just to find out more about my biological parents and myself and that I'm determined to do.

'Vie! Vivienne? You'll be late for school, if you don't hurry up!" Mom yells, all the way, I'm sure, from the kitchen.

I look up at the clock by the door; it's 7:25 A.M. I only have thirty-five minutes left to get up from this comfortable bed, get ready for school and of course, go to school. I let out a heavy sigh, knowing that my Mom's right. See, it takes me forever to pick an outfit. I sigh one more time and finally got up. I hurriedly made my bed and walk towards my closet, opening it with a lazy hand. It's my first day as a junior student at Angel Falls High, a public school situated only two blocks from our house. More to the point, I really don't want to start off my year with an orange late slip. Incidentally, the number of late slips and unexcused absences was the main reason why I flunked all of my classes last year. So, I decided to transfer and start afresh, but I guess starting over isn't going to work.

'Vivienne? Honey, are you done yet?' It's my Mom once more, her voice sounding closer.

I sigh again, I say, it's become a habit. I finally decided to wear my favorite pair of CK jeans and a purple shirt. I don't think I should be showing off my assets this early in the school year. Ha-ha! I am totally kidding. The knocks on the door immediately bring me back to my senses. 'Hey, Mom.' I greet her as she walks in, still in her pajamas.

'Jeez, still picking an outfit?'

'No, I already have. See?' I show her the folded pair of pants and shirt on my arm.

'Alright, hon. I'll leave you to change. Your lunch is on the counter and don't forget the keys, okay? I might not be here, when you get back from school." Mom says, then she makes her way out of the room.

'Thanks.' I call out to her. Our conversations have been like this, strained, and almost without any emotions. Obviously, I want this to change, to go back to the way it was with her before. She turns and smiles at me, then walks away.

I glance up at the clock again. Oh, hell. I really have to hurry. I change my clothes and brush my teeth quickly. Then, I put some light make-up on. Well, of course. It's a must. I grab my bag and off I go, with only a little time to spare, I descend the stairs hastily. I pick my lunch off the counter and the keys off the holder by the door. 'Mom, I'm going!' And I walk, on my way to school.

With still one more block to go, I'm thinking of giving up the whole 'starting afresh' already. By the time I arrive to school, the place is pack with students crowding together in their little group of friends. I feel like an outcast, really. An image pops in my head, I could be in one of those cliques too, but only in another school and in a different situation. Oh well, too late. I'm here resolve on starting over. Somewhere in the distance, I hear the bell ring. Right, Ok. Where do I go from here? I didn't go to the orientation. I search for some signs to the office. The students are all moving in different directions, making it impossible to discern where the door to the office is, or in what building it even is. Taking a deep breath, I tap a guy on his shoulder. He turns around and I'm immediately blown away. Wow, those vivid dark green eyes!

'Yeah?' he asks.

I take a deep breath again. 'Can you point my way to the office?' I ask back.

'Sure, no problem. It's that portable over there.' He points to a small square building some feet away from me. Now, I see it clearly and I see a large sign saying OFFICE in black.

'Oh, right.' I say sheepishly, my cheeks flushing. "Thanks."

He smiles and says, "See you around," and walks off.

Seriously. I'm beginning to like this school already! I start walking in the direction of the office, while looking left to right for more cute guys striding about. A teacher opens the door, using his back since he's carrying a set of textbooks. I wait for him and let myself in before the door closes behind me.

The office is crammed with filing cabinets and there's a small lounge in front of a counter where the receptionist is working. To her left, there's another woman working. I think she handles the attendance, I could see stacks of late slips waiting to be marked and a couple of pens beside it. There are also separate rooms within the office, each for the principal, vice principal/guidance counselor and security. Jeez, I think to myself, this school is tight! The receptionist sees me looking around and says, 'I bet you're new. I'm Melanie. How can I help you today?'

I beam at her and move forward to the counter. She's very, very welcoming. 'Yes, you're right. I'm Vivienne Boyd. I wasn't here during the orientation, so I honestly don't know where to go.'

'Right,' she replies. She sifts through a file of stapled, color coded paper-works. 'Here, this is your first day of school packet. This includes a welcome letter, a school-year calendar, emergency card/contact information, a list of school rules, a school map, and most importantly, your class schedule.' She hands me a packet. 'Ms. Becket,' she addresses a girl with brown hair, filling a late slip.

I slumped my shoulders. If she's late, then I am too. Melanie sees and informs me that late students don't count as much in the attendance during the first three days of school. Whew, relief! There's still a chance for me to start all over again. Isabel walks toward the counter and acknowledges me with a brief smile. 'Yes, Mel?'

'Can you take Ms. Boyd to her first class? She's new.' Melanie asks for me. What a nice lady!

'Sure,' she answers. She turns to me and offers her hand. 'Isabel. Isabel Becket, a junior student.'

Forget like. I totally love this school! Isabel could become one of my acquaintances at school, if not a close friend. I smile, shaking her hand. 'Vivienne Boyd, but everyone calls me Vie. I'm also a junior.'

'That's great! We actually might have a few classes together,' she says. 'What class do you have first?' She walks towards the door and I follow suit after thanking Melanie. Isabel pushes the door, using her back. She's waiting for an answer.

I examined my schedule and excitement washes over me. My first class happens to be my most favorite subject. 'History!' I exclaimed.

She chuckles. 'See? We have the same first period already. Anyways, which school did you come from?' she asks me curiously. Somehow I get the feeling that Isabel's going to be a close friend.

'West View High,' I reply. We turn right from the office and walk straight ahead. Situated before us are three portables. 'I decided to transfer because last year didn't really work well for me with my old school. I just needed to start over again. Put things in perspective…' I continue to tell her, but trail off. I don't think I'll be able to put things in perspective anytime soon. Everything is still too raw for me to absorb and move on.

'Why? What happen? If you don't mind me asking,' she inquires. I take a look at her. Something in her eyes and voice tells me that she wants to know me a little more.

'Family affairs.' I reply shortly, it's the truth and a lie. Oh, hell! I can feel my face heating up and my eyes watering. What's going on? I'm supposed to be a robot!

'Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it's only a boy problem,' she says consolingly.

'It's Ok. I don't mind really.' I say to her. Isabel and I are now by the middle room and there's an awkward silence settling between us.

Isabel clears her throat and points to the third room. 'There, that's our History room. We have a new Social Studies teacher this year. I guess he'll be sticking around for a while,' she informs me.

'Why? What happened to the old teacher?'

She shrugs her shoulder. 'I have no clue. Rumors have it that he was fired. Some say he's retired. Either way, I don't believe it. He's a great history teacher. He's just unpopular amongst the students.' Isabel stops by the door and opens it quietly. I know it's because she thinks there's already the teacher talking to our fellow students inside.

However, as I enter the room after Isabel, some desks are facing together, students are busy socializing, and there's no teacher around. I notice that the little group in the corner is most conspicuous of the lot. Isabel strides towards them, greeting them happily. Obviously, they're her friends. Now, I feel left out. I stand by the door, searching for a vacated seat, at the same time, watching Isabel talk to her friends and even give a guy a playful punch in the arm.

Isabel finally realizes that I'm not behind her anymore. She turns around calls me over. Isabel meets halfway and drags me by the arm. Isabel then introduces me to each of them. And guess who's first for the introduction? The cute guy earlier with vivid dark green eyes. 'This is Dillon,' Isabel says, 'and you're gaping at her like a moron, you idiot,' she hisses in his ear, though I think everyone in the group heard her all the same.

'It's you again,' he comments. His eyes are still on me.

'I'm afraid so,' I reply. My face really heats up.

Isabel notices because she moves on right away, pointing to her friends as she mentions their names. 'Ethan, Matt and Neriah.' They all smile and wave at me. 'And everyone,' she acknowledges them, 'this is Vivienne Boyd.'

'But everyone calls me Vie,' I cotton on.

They nodded, still smiling. Isabel plops herself on a vacant seat behind Neriah and Dillon gets up, offering me his seat. The girls giggle and roll their eyes, while the guys tease. 'Typical Dillon,' Matt says and everyone laughs heartily.

I take the seat. 'So, what's the group history?' I inquire.

Everyone looks at one another uncomfortably and Matt finally clears his throat. 'It's complicated, but what the heck. Isabel and I are siblings. Ethan, Dillon, and I go from way back. Since we were kids. Neriah and I are together,' he narrates. I get the feeling that there's more to it than that. I mean, what's so complicated about it?

'And Dillon and Isabel?' I ask.

'What?!'

'No way!'

'Fat chance.'

'Gross'.

The rest of the gang laughs at their reaction.

Neriah shushes them. 'What they mean to say is, Dillon's single and ready to mingle, and Isabel's already wit h someone else.'

'Ooh! Who?'

They look at one another again. Oh, gosh. What on earth is the big secret? I start to feel uncomfortable myself. I dislike secrets; always have, and it only increased during that major revelation ages and ages ago. I couldn't take the furtive conversations with my mom, who's to say I could handle theirs? But then again, a part of me understands. They have their reasons, not to mention the fact that I'm new and they don't know me very well yet to be sharing what their group history really is.

'Arkarian,' Isabel answers. Honestly, the way the rest of them look at her, it's as if she's grown three heads over in three seconds.

'Huh?'

'Arkarian is his name. He doesn't go to this school though. He graduated already,' Isabel tells me. Their jaws drop. Literally drop. They see me staring at their unusual reaction and they recover themselves hastily.

'Cool name.' I remark. I don't really know what else to say to her or them. It's pretty much obvious that Isabel gave out too much. I make a mental note to thank Isabel after this and think of an excuse to not hang with them. The sounds of desks bumping into each other and chairs scratching the floor bring me back to my senses. Apparently, the teacher is here.

Turning my desk around, I glance at Dillon. He's also turning a desk around with heavy textbooks on top, with ease. I know he's a guy and all and therefore, it should be a simple task, but the way he's holding it, it's as if he's only carrying an empty file box with just few folders in it. Huh… The image, to me, is unsettling. I don't know. Somehow, it just is. I make the effort to push the picture off my head. I have to concentrate on the teacher. He's talking, telling us why he's late and without delay, he hands us the class syllabus.

Mr. Sparks drones on, in what seems like forever. Finally, the bell saves the class. I put my paper-works neatly in my binder. True to the plan, I thank Isabel, also telling her that I need to go back to the office.

'Hey, wait! I'll come with you,' Isabel yells. The rest of their gang stiffens. Yeah, stiffens. Seriously, what a welcoming bunch! Dillon on the other hand, is by Isabel. I guess he's coming with me too. I blush.

Isabel looks at Dillon and realization dawns on her. She turns, her back to me, and talk to him. I don't know what she said to him but it left me with a disappointed feeling. Dillon only smiles at me. Then he goes back to where Ethan, Matt and Neriah are waiting.

'I don't think you're friends want you to hang with me.' I said to Isabel as we walk out of the room.

She makes a scoffing sound. 'Don't worry. They'll manage without me.' She glances at me and lifts and eyebrow. "Do you really need to go to the office?'

She's quick. 'No. I don't. Honestly, I felt left out back there and I know I would be. Plus, when you we're telling me about your boyfriend, there was something about their reactions that told me you shouldn't be. I feel like I'm intruding in your circle and I don't mean to do that at all.' It sounds mushy but whatever. We turn around a corner and settle ourselves on a bench. It feels good, sitting under the sun. The only thing out of place is a squashed banana on the cement floor. Isabel and I relax for a bit. We exchange our 10 favorite things. A boy, carrying a portable CD player, is walking backwards, yelling to his friends, breaks up the calm atmosphere. He doesn't see the banana on the ground and he starts to fall down on his back.

On reflex, I make a hand motion. I don't know why, but I'm compelled to do so. But something else happens. The second I realize what it is, I let out a gasp. Isabel gasps beside me too, but in awe. 'Isabel? Isabel! What did I do? What on earth is happening?' I look down at my hands. It still looks normal that for sure. One thing's for sure though, the situation, Isabel and I'm in, is simply beyond my greatest and wildest dreams. It's very otherworldly.

Everything and everyone in motion freezes. They stop still except Isabel and me. The guy who almost trip is still as a statue. My heart begins to thump fast. I could hear it pounding against my rib cage. It's freaking me out. I take a look at how Isabel's doing. She actually stands up and positions herself behind the guy to catch him from falling. 'You better undo this, before someone else sees.' She's right of course, but I don't know how to "undo" it. One more thing, she's calm, like she's actually used to seeing people freeze before her.

'Bu… but, I don't know how!' I exclaimed.

'Do the hand motion thing,' she suggest.

The second I motion my hands again, everything and everyone spring back to life. Huh! The boy falls to Isabel, but with Isabel's feet firm on the ground, there isn't any major incident to pass on to the next student and the next, demonstrating a massive domino effect. 'Oh, I'm sorry about that,' he says and storms off.

I'm still on the bench, analyzing everything that's happened as best as I could. I catch Isabel rolling her eyes. She gets her bag and she grabs me by the arm. 'Let's go. I think you should meet someone.'

'Huh, right now? I don't feel like moving. I'm completely freaked out.' I tell her. 'Please don't tell anyone.'

'I have to tell the rest,' Isabel replies back.

Now, I'm frantic. 'Isabel! You can't tell your friends! I trust you to not tell them, Ok? They'll totally think I'm a freak, and they already don't like me!' I practically scream at her, standing up.

'I understand you. C'mon. Come with me, please? If you trust me, you'll come with me. There's someone you should meet,' she says soothingly.

Seriously. What is up with her with all of this calmness? Didn't she just witness what happened? 'Who's this person?'

'Arkarian,' she answers simply.

Isn't that her boyfriend? Now, I'm not only freaked out, but also beside myself. What is going on? This is supposed to be first day in this new school, my first day to a new life. The truth is, I left my old school to start again, to forget that traumatic revelation over a year ago. I guess it stayed with me and forevermore will be. I recover myself. 'As in, your boyfriend?' I couldn't help but use a tone.

She nods. 'You want answers, don't you?'

Scratch quick-witted. She's one conniving girl. I don't know exactly what she's up to, but she has me. I get the feeling that she knows me more than she's letting on. It sounds ridiculous, but I think she has it planned. I just need to prove how she's connected to that time-freezing incident a while ago. 'Where are we going?'

'To the mountain, in Arkarian's chambers. I know you're scared. I mean, you must be, but I really think that you two should meet right away. Trust me.'

'Okay.' I say. 'Are we leaving after school?'

'No, right now. We're skipping. There's a gate in the back. It's used for the bikes.'

I sigh. I must really forget my plan to start over. I nod and off we go.

Isabel leads me to the back of the school and we go through the unlocked gate. The hike to the mountain isn't so bad. I'm wearing comfortable shoes anyways, and so is Isabel. The only hindrance is our bags packed with school materials. We stop in front a huge rock. To an outsider, it's nothing, only a part of nature, but to me, as it opens its door for us, it has a whole different meaning. It's the enter button to my program being activated. Didn't Isabel mention something about "answers"? We enter and walk in a long stone hallway. It's cool, in here. We pass through a door and enter a circular room. A pair of big hands immediately greets me. I look straight at the owner's eyes and could help but let an audible gasp. I'm staring into a grown up man with deep purple eyes and electric blue hair.

'Vivienne, so pleased to meet you at last.' Arkarian says. He smiles and pulls me into a tight embrace.

'Hello,' I reply timidly.

'Come, I must make an important announcement.' His voice is soft and gentle.

Isabel pushes me forward and I follow him into another room, Isabel right behind us. The three of us go into a medieval rectangular room, with an old rectangular table and ten ancient wooden stools and a single light bulb, which seemed out of place compare to the other furnishings. Arkarian tells us to settle. He sits on a stool, in the corner of the table, then Isabel and me. A man with black hair and blue eyes arrives, nods at both Arkarian and Isabel. He makes an attempt to ask who I am. Arkarian tells him to wait for the rest until he arrives. I have the sinking feeling of who "the rest" is going to be. My guess is soon vindicated because I hear Dillon's voice. Ethan, Matt and Neriah walk in behind him, and another man. They stop in their tracks at the sight of me and recovering, a tumultuous uproar breaks out. I sigh, for what seems like the hundredth time already, this morning. Obviously. I'm not the only one with questions.

'Everyone, please sit down. I have a very important announcement to make,' Arkarian says in a clear voice, hushing the men and my schoolmates.

'In front of her?' Matt inquires rather rudely, again it's understandable. I realize that I'm in what appears to be a conference or discussion group of some kind.

'Arkarian, what's going on?' the second man asks curiously.

'Please, I have to tell you something important. If you could settle yourselves first, you'll know.' Everyone's eyes are on Arkarian now, including mine.

'This is Vivienne. Vivienne Boyd,' he introduces me, for the two men's sake.

'Yes, we already know. She's in school with us,' Ethan tells Arkarian.

'Yes, Ethan. I'm aware of that fact. I call this meeting because once again, I have something very important to tell you. It's The Named related.'

'Jeez, spill it out Arkarian!' Ethan urges.

And as if this eventful day couldn't get anymore stranger, Arkarian says, 'This is Vivienne, my sister.'


A/N: Don't forget to review:)