Chapter 1

The day was just the same as any other, the bus with bubblegum stained seats had taken me to school, and my cat Silkie was missing. Yes, it just another day in paradise...if you think getting tripped into the mud by one of Kitten Moth's lackeys as 'paradise'.

I didn't like the way people were looking at me, as pity wasn't something my pride stomached very well. This had little to do with the mud now plastered to my clothes however, and more to do with my family.

It was the anniversary today.

That some of the schools population had even remembered made me feel a little lighter. After all it wasn't their fault that I'd rather deal with this on my own and not accept their pitying looks.

However some of the girls such as Kitten seemed to have forgotten. While I didn't want people to treat me any differently today, I would also appreciate not being tossed into the mud like a rag doll. If mother were around she would reassure me it was just jealously. If Koma, my sister were here, she'd offer to beat them up and I would have to calm her down, maybe drag her away. I smiled fondly, before wincing and glancing down at my knee. Seemed like Kitten's friend had pushed me harder than I thought, as my left leg was now scraped, the jeans torn.

I limped through the schools eerie looking entrance, which was thanks to the overhead clouds now blocking out the sun. I then nervously glanced around me to check if they were there. Nope, no plastic girls in sight. Sighing in relief, I wondered who Kitten was picking on in her spare time.

Checking my watch, it read 8.15. Well that's not so bad, I have 15 minuets of free time to myself. That's long enough to change my clothes at least.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw something which made my heart rate speed up, moved my legs into motion. Walking down the hall to avoid his intent gaze, I could feel his eyes on my back until I was out of sight.

No, this wasn't one of the girls who bullied me, this was one of the four boys who seemed to watch me all the time. I didn't know why they did it, and I usually never noticed any male attention, but these guys were ridiculously obvious about it.

The one I'd just avoided was Richard Grayson, who had been at my school for a few years now. In truth, I'd had a crush on him for a long time, even before my family's accident two years ago. He seemed far kinder and so different from the other boys, plus he didn't stare quite so much.

Puzzled by his attention, I wondered why he'd never approached me in all of our time at school. I certainly wouldn't be able to strike up a conversation with any of them, as all four of them were insanely handsome and slightly intimidating. Above all though, their intent stares made me uncomfortable.

When I first noticed the staring, I began to take notice of the odd patterns they had of turning up to school. All four of them were never at school at the same time. Roy Harper, who had warm brown eyes and ginger hair, was never at school the same day as Richard. He flirted with the girls but most kept to himself, excelling at archery.

The third boy that watched me was Jericho Wilson, who was quiet and shy in class. His eyes were a very sharp, vivid green that seemed more animal than human. Each of the boys were always still and collected, usually leaning against the wall casually. A specific thing I noticed about them was that they were all very pale. They had a similar build on each of them but different hair colors, so I wondered...what was it about them that felt the same?

They were truly a mystery, and as ridiculous as the thought was, it looked to me like they even had set places to watch me. It was like they had territory, and different parts of the school belonged to each one. Richard was always around the entrance, Roy was in the parking lot or the cafeteria, Jericho was near the class rooms and the other was usually around the lockers.

As I mused all this to myself, I rounded the next corner, stopping dead in my tracks.

The one I'd neglected to mention was Xaviour Redd, who was leaning nonchalantly against the wall across from me. It was almost as if he knew I'd been coming. His dull hazel eyes looked at me with interest, which I dismissed immediately, brushing past him. I'd been intending to continue down the hall when his words stopped me.

"I hear its the anniversary today."

My body froze, a phantom chill shaking me for a moment. He wasn't a sociable guy, in fact I'd only ever seen him speak to Jericho. He'd never spoken to me before. Turning slightly, I cleared my throat. "W-what?"

Xaviour put his hands in his pockets, looking at me from the corner of his eye. "Your family. I'm sorry for your loss."

Though his voice was warm and inviting, something about him made me uncomfortable. A darkness touched his features, and his lean body held itself unnaturally still. My heart hammered in my chest for no good reason.

Nodding and murmuring a quick 'thank you' under my breath, I eagerly broke eye contact with him and continued down the hall.

Feeling a little shaken and thinking it strange, I almost jumped out of my skin when I noticed Jericho turn the corner. He walked past me calmly, probably on his way to meet Xaviour. Still, even he glanced my way. All their gazes were strange to me, so intense they forced you to look away. I ducked my head and carried on.

Forgetting to change my clothes, I started walking to class, still little unsettled. I arrived early and sat at my desk. As the students started to walk in, I turned my head to watch them, before freezing in place.

Roy Harper passed by the open door, so smoothly no one else would have noticed. His brown eyes were fixed on me. Just as quickly a sense of danger swamped me, he disappeared from sight and took the feeling with him.

As my heart settled down in my rib cage, I wondered why the sight of all four of them at school together bothered me so much. I shouldn't have been reacting so strongly to such a silly thing. Forcing myself to calm down, I dazedly sat through the lesson. I wondered, if I'd just been a little braver and actually looked at Richard, would his gaze have been as intense and hungry as the others?

Unlike the other three, I liked the way Richard Grayson looked at me. It was unsettling in a way that made butterflies take flight in my stomach, rather than intimidating. I felt safe with him watching me, but my shyness always made me run for the hills whenever he was around.

Behind his icy blue eyes there was something hidden, something I couldn't grasp. Since the moment I noticed the attention I'd been getting, I felt like he had a different reason from the others to watch me. I didn't know much about him, apart from the fact that he had a sister called Raven, but when he spoke to anyone he was always so open and gentle. It was that kindness which first made me notice him.

The bell rang, signalling the end of the lesson.

A few of the students whispered among each other as I quickly grabbed my things and left. With a jolt, I realized that all my thoughts of the boys had distracted me from such a normally sad day for me. Shaking my head and smiling at what mother would have said if she knew, I laughed quietly.

Turning the corner which would lead me to maths, I bumped into a soft surface.

"Oh, sorry!" I squeaked, embarrassed that I'd been so careless. Looking up, my heart went on overdrive. Richard stood before me.

His eyes, a beautiful blue colour, trailed down my form. Feeling heat rush to my face, I was about to snap his attention back to me when I noticed his eyes lingered on my injured knee. Glancing down, I vaguely noted that it had started bleeding, but when my eyes returned to him I stopped.

His blue eyes were darkening in colour impossibly fast, and I watched in fascination as they shifted to grey.

When I blinked and looked again, I started in shock and fear.

Wild blood red eyes stared down at me.