Ch 2

Lunchtime is probably the greatest time of day. Food. That's all I can say. Alex and I were waiting in the cafeteria line, just like every other day, when a familiar face popped up in front of us.

"Hey Soph!" I grinned. Finally, someone a little more sane than Alex. Sophia had been my best friend since seventh grade. It began when she teased me about being shorter than her. And now, look at me. I'm two heads taller than her small, fragile, statuesque frame. "How's it hangin' bro?"

Sophia glared up at me, narrowing her big, brown eyes. "Must everything you say have a masculine connotation, Seth?" I chuckled at her reaction. Always the same.

Oh, dear Sophia, when will you ever act your age, you nerd? "Yeah, sorry, my bad."

Sophia wasn't your typical nerd. She was one of us. One of the guys. She loved skateboarding, and surfing and chilling out. She wasn't really that girly, but you wouldn't call her a tomboy either. Her dark brown hair framed her face in ringlets, letting her soft, brown eyes stand out. She was what you'd call "Hot". Every time she'd walk past a guy, they would stare with googly eyes.

What did I mean by her being not your typical nerd? Despite the fact that she was exotic, hot, and practically every guy's dream.. She was hard to get, and a total bookworm. She didn't date boys. She didn't wear make up. She loved to spend all her time, apart from hanging with us and going to school, studying. And it's something most boys didn't understand.

A snicker from Alex broke my reverie. "Soph, seriously, get over yourself!" He nudged me, wanting me to back him up. The bright red blush the flushed across his cheeks gave away his nerves. He was hell scared of Sophia!

Her icy glare at Alex sent shivers up and down my spine! "Don't make me hurt you! You're such a pain!"

I caught Alex blushing again, before smirking, trying to hide his feelings. "And how would you-"

"Shut up, you two!" I laughed. I'd always had a growing suspicion that Alex had a major crush on her. But he'd never, ever have the guts to admit it. It was like their open-hate between each other was just a mask for other emotions and feelings hidden underneath.

The cafeteria line crawled along at a snail's pace. I grabbed as much food as they gave me, which for my appetite, was never enough, and sat down beside Alex and Sophia at our usual spot. Away from the freaky art freaks. Away from the posh, prissy girls. And away from the "popular" group, which included the hot chicks, and the jocks. My nice little niche of a group had us three, and we didn't have a "type". And of that, I was proud.

Alex and Sophia were too busy squabbling as I scoffed down my measly amount of food in a few gulps.

"You know Alex, you piss me off. All you care about is "chicks" and cars! Do you have a life, perhaps?" Sophia's angry outbursts muffled in the background; I was concentrating so hard on my food, and deep in thought.

Alec laughed at her. "And you care, why?"

She didn't have a comeback. She just looked at him, speechless, with bright red cheeks. He'd won, and he praised himself, smiling victoriously as she blushed deeply.

Ah, love. Um, puke? Seriously. Love did not exist. It was simply something that phased people when they lusted after someone. Or imprinted, like my kind do. Everyone in the pack seems to imprint, except us Clearwaters. I don't know what's wrong with us. We're unlucky. Especially after dad- …

I looked around the cafeteria, looking at nothing in particular. I was, however, curious about the new girl everybody seemed to be talking about.

She looks exactly like Megan Fox.

Did you see her eyes? God, I could have died!

I'm so jealous. Why does she have to be so damn pretty?!

Man, that chick is HOT.

She's really sweet, too! Did you see how she helped out Arnie? It was so sweet! Not what you'd expect from a popular-type chick.

I'd been hearing various comments like that all day, and it was driving me insane. Why hadn't I seen her? God, she couldn't look exactly like Megan Fox, could she?

I continued my search for her, looking at every group in the room. But I failed. There was no sight of her.

"She's with the jocks, dude." Alex broke my reverie, yet again. "Bet ya she is. Hot thing like her won't stay single long." He smirked, and I felt my face flush, wondering how he could know I was looking for her. "Everyone knows I have the best chance with her." He popped his collar, and my sudden urge to want to smash him, turned into wanting to laugh my head off at him for the rest of my life.

This was an opportunity for Sophia to fight back and claim revenge. But I stepped in before she started.

"I wasn't looking for her!" I defended myself, feeling my cheeks and the tips of my ears burn with embarrassment.

I felt the stare of many pairs of eyes burning on my skin. I'd said that just a little too loud. Alex and Sophia were utterly confused.

"Hey man, chill out!" Alex smiled slightly. "I didn't say you were, Sophia and I were just talking about her and…" He trailed off.

I hung my head, staring at the empty tray, embarrassed. I barely felt Sophia's hand on my arm. "Are you feeling okay, Seth?" Did I mention even though Sophia could be bad-tempered at times, she was also really caring.

I met her gaze and nodded, smiling indifferently. "I'm fine." My thoughts lay with this new girl. What was she really like? Did she really look like Megan Fox? Was she the next it girl of the school? Was she dating anyone? Am I being stupid? Why did I care? What's going on?

Sophia changed the subject quickly, and I was beyond grateful. "I heard she's dating Josh Walker, Alex. Of course she'd be dating him …" Sophia's voice trailed off in my head.

Every single question I'd ever had about this new girl was answered as soon as I'd glanced at the figure that had entered the room. I think every set of eyes was on this new figure, but it seemed like none had more of an effect, none were more glued to her than mine.

I felt queasy. I felt like my stomach was pulling apart. I felt like my heart was racing, jumping, leaping out of my chest for this figure. I felt like gravity didn't hold me down to this earth, she did. It was like I was being pulled towards her. This glowing heat filled my every core; like every connection with everything else was severed and instead I was only connected to this earth for her.

What the hell? What just happened?

I stared at the figure, apparently named Jade, and wondered what the hell just happened to me.

Crap. I think.. I think..

I think I imprinted.