"Now, everyone get into groups of two to discuss the book" Mrs. Frump said as she finished reading, Scarlet Ibis, to the class. Peyton Nero looked around as other students scrambled around to get partners. By the time Peyton had gotten up, there was only one Person left. He made his way over to a girl in the front of the class as she re-read her book.
"Well hello" Peyton said, giving her a dazzling smile. Her grey eyes looked up to study him.
"May I help you" she said politely.
"I'm your partner for this assignment. What's your name" Peyton said sitting next to her. He put his feet on the desk and laid back.
"I'm Abby" she said straighten her glasses.
"Well happy Monday Abby. The First day of school" Peyton said. Peyton was sure she was one of those girls who liked school and stuff like that so Peyton was going to impress her. To his surprise, she frowned.
"One, its Tuesday. Two, it's the second day of school. Did you sleep all day yesterday or something?" she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
"No, it's just, I was so focused on your beauty that, I couldn't think straight" Peyton said smoothly, trying to cover up his mistake.
"Look. I know your type. You flirt with a girl, date her for a while, but once your tired of her, you dump her. Let's get back to the assignment" she said turning her attention back to the book. Peyton frowned.
"Whatever. So what was the theme of the book" Peyton said reading the first question off the discussion paper in his binder.
"Be thankful for what you have" Abby said without missing a beat.
"No. I'm pretty sure that it's, Family is forever" Peyton argued. Now it was Abby's turn to frown.
"And where does it say that" Abby asked.
"Stanza two" Peyton replied smartly. You wouldn't believe his irritation when she face palmed.
"Now what" he asked. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"There are no stanzas in this book. It's by paragraph" she said. By the time the bell rung, Peyton was fuming. He hopped out of his seat and immediately headed towards his next period. Swimming. That always got his mind off things. He went into the locker room to get changed.
"Yep. New kid" Peyton heard behind him. He tuned his ear in while pretending to look for something in his gym locker.
"You have any intel" a voice said. Peyton recognized that voice as Brett Decker, the schools party man. Brett was a laid back guy who could really throw a mean party.
"Of course I do" said the voice of Mason Harris. Peyton rolled his eyes. Of course Mason had all the info.
"He just moved to California. He came yesterday" Mason started.
"Where's he from" Brett asked.
"I have no idea but, he was adopted by Andre Feral's parents" Mason offered.
"So he's a Feral" Brett questioned.
"No, he wants to keep his old last name" Mason said.
"Come on. Maybe we can squeeze some more info out of Andre. He is in our P.E class" Brett said. With that, the boys headed off to P.E. Peyton made his way out of the locker room and to the pool. There was already four other people in the pool. Peyton jumped into the pool and swam to the bottom. He checked his water proof watch. Five minutes until class. Perfect. Peyton swam contently around the bottom. Soon enough, he heard the coaches whistle blow. Peyton began to swim to the topped only to be tugged down. He looked down to see something wrapped around his ankle. In the shadows, green eyes stared at him. Peyton screamed back. The eyes blinked and disappeared. Peyton checked his watch. He had been down her for seven minutes. He should have been dead. He put his hands to his throat to see that he was breathing. Under water. Peyton began to thrash. He kicked whatever was holding on to his leg and swam to the surface.
Ω
A.J Miles through the football to Andre, who caught it perfectly.
"Where were you yesterday" A.J asked. Yesterday Andre wasn't at school for the first three and a half periods.
"I was picking up my brother from the airport" Andre answered throwing the ball back to A.J
"So the rumors true? You have a new foster brother" A.J asked catching the ball.
"Yep" Andre confirmed. Before A.J could throw the ball to Andre Mason Harris and his buddy Brett Decker ran over.
"Andre, could you tell us about your new brother" Mason asked eagerly.
"Can't you see we're playing a game here" A.J growled.
"Relax A.J. Why is everyone asking me about that? It's no big deal" Andre answered.
"Well you are the most popular boy in the 12 grade" Brett added.
"And you have the toughest guy in the tenth grade as your bodyguard" Mason said.
"Bodyguard? I ain't nobody's bodyguard" A.J shouted popping the football. Everyone just stood there awkwardly.
"Sooooooo. About your brother….." Mason started but stopped as he saw Andre glaring at him.
"You know what? I think I know enough, see Ya" Mason said as he and Brett ran away.
"Sorry about the football" A.J apologized.
"It's fine. This school has more than enough" Andre said as the coach blew the whistle.
He hustled over there still wondering how he got all that strength. And where was it when he was doing pull ups? With all those questions in his head, he failed to notice the green eyes staring at him from the bushes.
Ω
Vince Hall quickly finished his woodshop project. He picked up his small coo-coo clock and brought it to the teacher. He put it on her desk.
"I finished all of this week's homework. Can I have next weeks" Vince asked. Mr. Vento looked up from the magazine he was reading.
"I'll email it to you Mr. Hall. Until then pack up, and go home. Also take that creepy thing with you" Mr. Vento said pointing at Vince's small robot. Vince quickly packed up and grabbed his robot Douglas. He exited woodshop club and began to limp home. When he was younger he and his parents went mountain climbing. His life's goal was to climb Everest but before he could do that, he had to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. During the climb, a boulder fell on his leg, leaving him crippled forever. Vince turned Douglas on.
"Good afternoon Vince" Douglas said.
"Hey Douglas" Vince said putting Douglas on his shoulder. He had made Douglas back in the third grade and has been tweaking him since. He looked up ahead and he nearly fainted. He saw Dove Abbott in her friend's pool. She was wearing a pink bikini with hearts on it. Even with her hair wet, she was breath taking.
"One day Douglas, she'll be mine" Vince said dreamily. Douglas turned his head to Vince.
"Yes" Douglas said. Vince frowned.
"I should really fix your voice programming" Vince said. He kept walking home. He heard rustling in the bushes. He turned his head to see what it was and did a double take. He swore he saw creepy eyes looking at him.
"Douglas, did you see those eyes" Vince asked.
"No" Douglas answered.
"Why did I think it was a good idea to only program you with the words, yes, no, and maybe" Vince asked.
"I've been meaning to upgrade you but I've never had a reason. Till now" Vince snorted. Still he had a bad feeling about those eyes.
Ω
Holly Versity looked out the window of her dad's car as he drove her home. Walking home, she saw a crippled boy with a small robot on his shoulder. She felt so bad for him. She frowned and turned away.
"Father what do you want for dinner tonight" Holly asked. Her father smiled kindly.
"Holly, you always make dinner. Let me do it for once" her father asked. Holly shook her head. She had been cooking, clean, and doing anything a mother would do since her mom passed eight years ago.
"No, it's okay. Really" Holly insisted. He just smiled at her.
"Your so much like your mother" he said, pulling into the drive way. Holly opened her door and stepped out of the car.
"Hey Holly" a voice said. Holly turned to see her best friend and neighbor, Daisy Callaghan, running towards her. Daisy was a perky, country girl, with curly black hair in two lose pony tails, and dark green eyes.
"Father, can I hang out with Daisy for a bit" Holly asked.
"Of course. Don't be out to late" he said. She nodded and ran towards Daisy.
"Hey Daisy, what's up" Holly greeted once she got to Daisy.
"Omg Holly, I have to show you something" Daisy said grabbing Holly's hand and dragging her to her backyard. Once in Daisy's backyard, Daisy let go of Holly's hand.
"Check this out" Daisy said rushing over to her garden. All of the plants were dead except for one. Daisy went over to it and touched one of the leaves. It immediately sprang to life. Holly was speechless.
"Daisy, how on earth did you do that" Holly asked.
"Shhhhhhh! You can't tell anyone! On the other hand, isn't it cool" Daisy giggled.
"I won't tell and yeah. It's cool" Holly said, rolling her eyes playfully.
"I want to see what else I can do" Daisy said.
"Don't push yourself" Holly advised.
"I won't" Daisy promised kneeling near a patch of dirt.
"What's that" Holly asked, referring to a piece of paper near Daisy's shovel.
"Huh? I have no idea. What does it say" Daisy asked looking at the piece of paper. Holly bent down to pick it up.
"It's a note" Holly told her.
"Just read it" Daisy exclaimed.
"Okay, okay" Holly said.
Holly Versity, and Daisy Callaghan,
This is just the beginning for you both. All of you will have many challenges ahead. You have been warned. It's up to you Holly, to bring them together. You are hope! Daisy, you're their protection.
Sincerely,
C.H
Daisy and Holly stared at each other for a moment.
"Just the beginning" Daisy asked nervously.
"I have to keep all of us together? Who's all of us? How many of us are their" Holly asked in return. Her mind was reeling as all these questions floated through her head.
"Maybe this is a joke" Holly finally suggested. Daisy just shook her head.
"Then how did this get here? And whose C.H" Daisy exclaimed.
"Cindy Hart" Holly said thinking of a girl in their math class.
"How about Killer Hacker" Daisy asked, exasperated.
"One, your overthinking this, two killer starts with a K" Holly told her.
"They could have done this to mislead us" Daisy pointed out. Holly just sighed. Her friend was on something, and it would be difficult to change her mind. Then she thought back to Daisy's new gift. Maybe that has something to do with this Holly wondered.
"H-holly" Daisy sputtered.
"Yes" Holly said as she whirled around. As soon as she did that, she gasped. In the bushes were two pares of eyes. They blinked and were gone.
"That's it! I'm going home" Daisy exclaimed getting up.
"I should be going home too. Bye Daisy" Holly said, also getting up.
"Bye" Daisy said, running inside her house. Holly went to hers but she couldn't stop thinking about those eyes. They were creepy. Holly was starting to think that, maybe Daisy was right!
Ω
"Bye" Dove Abbott to her friend, Amy. Dove was just leaving Amy's pool party. Dove walked over to her pink Camaro SS. She hopped inside and turned the ignition. She jumped when she heard a voice.
"Hey Dove" it said. She turned around to see A.J walking up to her car. She turned off the ignition, and turned to face him.
"Hi A.J" Dove said, waving enthusiastically. She has had a crush of A.J ever scince she met him in sixth grade.
"Are you just walking home" Dove asked, since school let out two hours ago.
"I was at wrestling practice" he told her, putting his hand on hers accidentally. She almost fainted. Unlike other boys, he had that effect on her. Usually it was the other way around. Most boys bended over backwards for her but, A.J didn't. Maybe that's why Dove had a crush on him.
"Oh. Do you wanna ride" She asked him.
"Sure" he replied, getting in the passenger side. She silently cheered in her head as she turned on the car and began to drive.
"Where did you come from" A.J asked.
"A pool party" Dove told him.
"I miss all the good stuff" A.J grumbled causing Dove to blush.
"Where do you live" she asked him trying to regain her composter.
"I'll tell you when to turn" he said. Dove nodded.
"So how was practice" Dove asked. A.J sighed.
"Better than yesterday" A.J grumbled. Dove was confused.
"What happened yesterday" Dove asked.
"Well, a new kid joined an- DOVE LOOK OUT" A.J screamed. Dove looked up just in time to see something run across the road. She slammed her heel on the brakes and the car swerved so that it blocked both right lanes. The car that was coming behind them screeched to a halt. The driver's side and the passenger's side of the black car opened. Out stepped Andre Feral and a boy she's never seen before. He had pale skin, military cropped topped black hair, and brown eyes. To top it off he was wearing all black.
"Are you guys okay" Andre asked as he and the other guy rushed over.
"Yeah. Something weird just ran in front of my car" Dove said, nodding.
"Who's he" A.J said, pointing to the boy in black.
"Oh, that's my brother! Peter, this is A.J and Dove and A.J. Dove and A.J, this is Peter" Andre introduced. Peter put his hand up in greeting but Dove was too confused to say hi back. She felt as though she knew Peter from somewhere.
"Dove, are you okay" A.J asked.
"What? Oh yeah I'm fine. Here let me get my car out of the way" she said, losing her trail of thought. She positioned her car so that she wasn't blocking both lanes.
"Thanks! See you around" Andre said, as he and Peter got into his car.
"Bye" Dove said, waving happily but, on the inside she felt horrible. What ran in front of her car? It didn't help that yellow eyes watched her from the bushes. She pretended not to notice. She breathed out as it disappeared. She but her foot on the gas and began to drive.
"Is this yours? It was on my seat" A.J asked. Dove spared a glance and saw that he was holding a piece of paper in his hand.
"I don't recognize it. What does it look like" Dove asked. A.J opened it slightly.
"It's a letter. Addressed to… us" he said confused. Dove pulled her car over and took a look at the note herself.
Dear Anthony Jackson Miles and Dove Abbot,
Without the others, you will not succeed. Anthony Jackson, you are there strength. Strength combined with wisdom is the only way to win. Dove, you are there way to find love. Team work does not work without love and trust. You two are only two of the key figures. Good luck.
Sincerely,
C.H
Dove stared at the note for a bit. Was it real? Dove was so confused that she wasn't sure.
"What do you think" Dove asked A.J while she began to drive yet again.
"It's confusing. Turn here" A.J told her. She turned into the neighborhood before hers.
"Should we tell anyone" Dove asked. A.J shook his head no.
"Heck to the no! My house is right their" A.J said. Dove stopped in front of a small brown brick house.
"So," she said turning to him, "Anthony Jackson"? He gave her a smile and got out of the car.
"Thanks for the ride" A.J said closing the door. She smiled back.
"No problem" she said as she drove away. She sighed happily. Besides the note and what happened with the car, this was the best day ever!
Ω
Peter woke up abruptly the next to something jumping on his bed. Or rather someone.
"Peter, wake up" Kayla exclaimed giggling as she jumped on his bed. Near the door stood Eden, who was giggling as well.
"Mom told us to wake you up" Eden explained. Peter nodded and the two girls ran out of the room, still giggling. As soon as they went out, Cerbi came in. He sat next to Peter and wagged his tail. Peter scratched behind his ear and closed the door to his room. Peter looked around his room and sighed. He still hadn't finished packing his room, so his belongings, a suit case and a box, were against a wall. He also didn't get to paint his walls either, so they were a painful yellowish whitish.
He threw on a black shirt, jeans, and slung his black messenger bag over his shoulder.
"Come on Cerbi' Peter said as he opened his door. Cerbi barked and followed him. Down stairs, Mrs. Feral was serving pancakes to Eden, Kayla, and Andre. She smiled warmly at him.
"Good morning Peter" she said while giving Kayla another pancake.
"Morning Mrs. Feral" Peter said.
Peter hadn't exactly adjusted to his new family yet. He knew that Miranda and Alex would prefer him to call the "mom and dad" but, it just didn't feel right to him. He didn't feel like Kayla, Eden, and Andre were his siblings either. Nothing felt right to him. Plus he wasn't much of a people person, so he couldn't confront them about it.
"Come on Peter, we're gonna be late" Andre said as he got up and grabbed his backpack. Peter wanted to point out that he hadn't eaten yet, but decided against it. Andre grabbed his keys and gave his mom a hug.
"Bye mom" Andre said.
"Bye Mrs. Feral" Peter said, not bothering to give her a hug. He and Andre walked outside to Andre's car. Peter quietly slipped into the passenger's side. Andre sat down in the driver's side and started the ignition. Soon they were pulling out of the drive way, and on there way to school. After a moment of silence Andre spoke.
"Look Peter. I know what's bugging you. You can call them mom and dad. Or show some love. They adopted you. They're your parents now" Andre told him. Peter just stayed quite.
"You can talk to them" Andre said but was responded with silence.
"Whatever" Andre sighed.
Peter just stared out the window. Soon they pasted the old cemetery and Peter watched pass by. For a moment, time seemed to slow down and in the bushes, were a pair of golden eyes. They didn't look very threatening. They actually looked kinda scared. Time sped up again. Peter closed his eyes and sighed. He was dealing with to much drama to think about gold eyes.
Ω
She backed away from the bush and turned to her pet wolf Karmine. Karmine barked happily.
"Come on Karmine, we have work to do" she said focusing her gold eyes on a tomb stone.