Chapter 1

"Ms. Morrigan." I heard a voice calling my name but I didn't move. "Ms. Morrigan!" The voice was now yelling.

"What?" I complained. I opened my eyes and lifted my head off my desk. My teacher, Mrs. Forsyth, was hovering above me.

"I'm sorry if my lesson seems to be boring you, but could you please at least try to stay awake for the next half hour?" She hissed at me.

"I'll try." I said only to please her. I sighed and stretched my hands over my head and turned around to see my friend Kali shaking her head at me. I just shrugged and tried to endure the next thirty minutes of boredom.

Once class was over, I walked out the door and walked towards my locker, where Kali was waiting for me.

"What's going on? You've been falling asleep in class every day for the past week." Kali stated with a concerned look on her face.

"I've just had a rough couple of nights." I said as I exchanged my history book for my literature book. Once I was done I looked at her. "Honest." I said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"You're doing it again aren't you?" She asked me. I shut my locker and started walking down the hall. "Laria, I thought we agreed that you would stop hunting."

"No, you agreed." I stated with a sigh. "Why should I stop hunting them when they are continuingly chasing after me? All I've been doing is getting information from people."

"No one has come after you in over five months now right?" She asked and I nodded in response. "Then couldn't it be possible that they just finally gave up?"

"I wish it were, but no matter what, they will never give up."

We walked into the classroom and took our assigned seats, which just so happened to be on opposite ends of the room. I set my bag down next to my desk and got out my book and notebook.

"Alright class," Mrs. Robin said "Get your notes out. Where did we leave off yesterday?"

"Chapter six." Someone said.

"Thank you." She said, as she got her own notes out and began writing on the board.

Everyone was busy copying down the notes when a brown haired guy walked into the room. He was wearing dark denim jeans and a green T-shirt that he wore under a dark blue jacket. He had on some sort of necklace that looked like a pentagon. He walked up to Mrs. Robin and handed her a piece of paper. She looked at it then turned back toward us. "Class, we have a new student. This is Jensen Gerber." She gestured to him. I looked around the room and saw a few girls eyes go wide at the sight of him. I rolled my own eyes and turned my attention to look outside the window.

I looked out the window and watched some kids playing hooky in the football stadium. They were probably smoking or they just didn't care anymore. I shouldn't judge, though, since I'm the one who sleeps during class.

"You can take the empty seat next to Laria in the back there." I heard Mrs. Robin say. I made an annoyed noise to myself then looked back to the front and smiled my best fake smile. The guy smiled back and walked to the desk next to mine.

"Hey, I'm Jensen." He said holding out his hand for me, once he took off his backpack. I looked at him and noticed for the first time his bright green eyes.

"Laria." I said shaking his hand.

"Back to the lesson." The teacher called. I released his hand and continued writing the notes. I looked out of the corner of my eye and noticed Jensen looking at me. I quickly turned back to my notes and tried to ignore him.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I looked up at Mrs. Robin and waited for her to turn back towards the bored before I open the message.

'Newbie keeps staring at you.' It read. The message was from Kali. I looked over at her and she wagged her eyebrows at me mockingly. I rolled my eyes and went back to notes.

Once class was over I collected my things into my backpack and headed out the door. It was now finally lunchtime, so I walked to my locker and put away my backpack before heading towards the cafeteria.

I waited for Kali in the lunch line then we headed over to our usually table.

I didn't even get to start my sandwich before she started to interrogate me.

"So, are you going to tell me what you were doing last night?" She asked.

I gave her an annoyed look, then sighed. "I was just out getting information."

"About what exactly?"

"When they plan on attacking me next."

"Come on Laria. Can't you just be happy that they haven't shown up?"

"I wish I could, but this is the longest they have ever gone without sending someone. I know they have something big planned and I'm just trying to stay one step ahead of them. The last time I underestimated them, I almost lost my life."

"I know that, but can't you at least just try to enjoy the peace and quiet for a bit?"

"I can try, but I'm not I making any promises." I stated. With that said, I knew we were done with this discussion, so I began to eat my lunch.

"Mind if I sit here?" I heard someone say. I looked up and saw Jensen. I looked back at Kali, who only smiled.

"No, go right ahead." She said.

He smiled back and pulled out the seat next to me.

"So how do you like Black Water Ridge so far?" She asked him.

"It's pretty cool. I'm only here for my dad's business. We move a lot because of his job." He answered.

"Where have you lived before?"

"Well before this, we were in Ennis, Montana and right before that we lived in Phoenix, Arizona."

"Really? That's so cool. Hey Laria, didn't you say you lived in Phoenix before?" She asked me and I glared at her for bringing me into the conversation.

Jensen looked at me, waiting for my answer.

"Yeah I lived there, but it wasn't for long." I stated.

"Oh, really? Why not?" He asked me.

"Just needed a change, you know." I lied.

"So you and your parents just move whenever you get tired of a place?" He asked with a teasing smile on his face.

"Um, no. Just me, actually. Both my parents have been gone for years now and I have no family left so I've just been moving on my own."

I saw sympathy reach his eyes but I ignored it.

"I'm fine though. I mean, yeah it's hard, but I'd rather live on my own than with some foster family." I explained.

"I'm sorry." He said, sympathetically.

"Don't." Kali said to him. "Laria doesn't take any sympathy from anyone." She teased me.

"The only reason I don't take sympathy from others is because they have don't need to be sorry for me. What happened was in the past and I've moved on." I stated. I needed to change the subject before he asked me anymore questions. "So, Jensen, what classes do you have after lunch?"

He took out his schedule from his back pocket and looked at it. "Right after this I have calculus, woodshop and then gym last."

"Well, you have calculus with Kali and me and then you have gym with me." I told him. "We just need to go to our lockers and then we'll be walking over to the classroom. You can come with us if you want."

He smiled at me. "Sure, just lead the way."