It's official; junior year sucks, especially when you are the new girl in a small town. It was like one of those clichéd teen movies where there are clicks and nerds and all that nonsense that used to make me want to turn it off. Of course, when it's real life, I don't get the luxury of turning it off. The school itself was fine. It was brick walled, large, and pretty old fashioned compared to the schools we used to go to. Elena had no problem fitting in; she had that gift I guess. Luckily, I didn't have to see her for most of the day and Jeremy had disappeared the second we got there. I didn't have any classes with him even though I was secretly hoping for some. At least then I would have a familiar face to look at. I had been put in all AP classes, which most likely explained why I wouldn't be seeing Jeremy. Bonnie and Caroline, Elena's friends, tried to talk to me at first but since I continued to ignore them, I think they got the message.
It wasn't that I didn't like them because I honestly did. Well, I liked Bonnie anyway. Caroline was too much of a busybody for my taste but she wasn't horrible. It's just that both of them insisted on looking at me like I was some sort of charity case; like "be nice to Elena's little sister because she lost her parents." GAG! I'm sorry but I hated people's pity and I always have. Just as I had predicted the night before, it seemed like the entire world knew about what had happened. If one more random stranger said they were sorry for my loss, I think I would implode into a million pieces. Lunch in the cafeteria made me want to stick my head in a toilet and flush it. It was like that scene in Mean Girls, when she couldn't find a seat. I felt dizzy, claustrophobic and hot; like all the walls were crashing down on me. Elena didn't have the same lunch as me, which a part of me was sorry about. I would have sat with her instead of sitting in a bathroom stall like a typical, high school loser. But whatever…there was nothing I could do about it.
Whenever I was alone, I got this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I lost my voice, my eyes stung, and my leg started to shake. I started thinking about my parents and how it felt to be inside that car as it filled with freezing water. I couldn't go to class like that…then I would really be the talk of the town. I grabbed all of my stuff and half-ran out the door of the high school. I wasn't exactly sure where to go so I walked towards the football field, which luckily, was completely vacant. I knew I couldn't leave the school completely even though I wanted to. That would give Elena grounds to talk me to death. I knew I should talk to her. She was my sister for God's sakes. But I knew that if I started talking I would start crying. If I started crying, I would never stop and that couldn't happen. I couldn't be weak like that. Besides it was like I couldn't cry anymore anyway…my eyes just would sting like someone threw soap in them or something.
I was sitting on the bottom bleacher, watching squirrels pounce on each other in the trees, absently kicking my shoes into the dirt.
"You're gonna ruin your pretty shoes if you keep doing that," a deep, strange voice said from behind me.
I jumped and flipped around. I nearly lost all my breath just by looking at him. He was the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen…and I mean ever! He had jet black hair that was tousled and curled around his ears. His eyes were ice-blue, electric and piercing. And for once, they didn't hold any pity in them. He smiled but it seemed cocky and smug.
"Skipping class on the first day," he remarked with a grin. "Naughty naughty," he clucked his tongue.
He plopped down next to me and I scooted away.
"And what exactly are you doing?" I hissed. "Participating in squirrel watching class?"
"Nah," he laughed. "I don't do the whole "high school" thing. It's too clichéd, don't you think?"
I didn't answer. I tried to ignore how fast my heart was beating sitting next to this handsome stranger. I could practically feel the heat rising to my cheeks and he smirked smugly, like he knew the effect he was having on me. Ass. Cocky ass.
"I'm Damon, by the way." He said, offering his hand to shake.
"Alyssa," I mumbled, not taking it.
"Alyssa," he said, enunciating every syllable in a way that made his voice sound like melted honey. "Nice name."
"Thank you." I said, gruffly. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Nope. Just enjoying the pleasure of your sparkling company. Do you?"
"Not really. I just want to get out of this school." I said, not looking at him.
"So why don't you?" He asked, like it was the easiest thing ever.
"I can't. My sister will kill me."
"Ohh, scary," he whispered teasingly.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"You're the new girl, right?" He asked.
"Wow, you're good. If you were planning on asking me about my parents, please don't. I am so sick of people talking about it!" I snapped.
He raised his hands in surrender.
"Relax, I wasn't going to. I've lost enough people in my life to know when the ones left behind just need space. Besides, I'm not nosy like half the people in this town." With that, he widened his eyes and rolled them.
I had to laugh.
"You mean all of them."
He chuckled.
"Are you from here?" I asked.
"My brother and I have moved around a lot but our family roots are here."
"Oh, cool. Ours too, actually. We used to be in California. Well, actually I was born here but then we moved there for my dad's job. We used the house we used to live in as a vacation home." I stuttered.
I tucked my hair behind my ear nervously but the wind kept blowing out. I was getting more flustered by the second and I could tell he was enjoying it. He leaned in closer and pushed the stubborn strand back in place. My whole body tensed at the contact.
"Relax," he whispered.
Why was everything about him so…seductive? I felt like one of those cartoon characters that would slam their head against the wall or ram into a tree. His face was inches away from mine. Was he going to kiss me? Was this beautiful stranger going to kiss me?
Oh my god, he was going to kiss me!
Now, most girls would probably be extremely happy by this. Most would even kiss back. But what did I do? I flung myself onto the dirt. Yes, you heard me right. I stumbled to get up and get as far away from him as possible, forgetting my backpack was at my feet. I tripped and fell flat on my butt in the dirt in front of the sexiest thing since Rob Lowe in the 80's.
Fantastic.
He threw his head back and howled…literally, like a god-damn, cackling wolf.
"I am so glad you are amused." I hissed at him, wiping off the dirt from my pants, too embarrassed to even get up.
He struggled to contain his hysterical laughter, which succeeded in making my blood boil in anger.
"Aw, don't pout," he teased, pouting himself. "Are you okay, there, Grace?" He laughed and pulled me up.
"Yeah, I'm great!" I muttered.
"Do you normally fall on the ground when you meet someone? Or is that just something you saved for me?"
I rolled my eyes and brushed off my butt. Oh who I was I kidding? I couldn't even try to act dignified when I had my hands on my butt cheeks.
"But seriously, are you okay?" He asked, losing the teasing tone.
I sat down on the bleachers again.
"I'm fine. Believe me, I do it all the time." I said.
"That doesn't surprise me." He winked.
I had to chuckle.
"So how old are you anyway?" I asked, dying for a subject change.
"119." He said.
"Wow, you look good for your age!" I exclaimed.
"I know right?" He teased. "I'm just awesome like that."
I rolled my eyes and laughed. Wow, I actually laughed. This was a first since the accident.
"Wow," I whispered out loud before I could stop myself.
"What?"
"I laughed!" I nearly shouted in awe.
He widened his eyes.
"Amazing," he said sarcastically.
"It is!" I insisted. "I haven't laughed since…never mind."
He smiled. He played with a strand of my hair again. I blushed.
"You're blushing." He noted, smirking in a sing-song voice.
"Am not," I said childishly.
"Really?" He asked, with a raised brow. "You're seriously gonna play that game with me? Are we 6?"
"You started it," I mocked, sticking my tongue out.
"Don't stick that thing out unless you intend on using it, sweetheart."
"Ew, you're a pig! And don't call me sweetheart!"
"Sorry, honey," he cajoled, pinching my cheek.
"You're infuriating!" I informed him.
"I've been told that. Usually on the second date though!"
"This isn't even a date! I hardly know you." I exclaimed.
"Ah, but you want to!"
"Do not!"
He raised both eyebrows at me and shook his head.
"Okay," I relented. "Maybe I do."
"Hmm," he whispered, getting close to me again. "Well, what do you suggest we do about that?"
"I don't know," I squeaked.
Attractive, Alyssa, I hissed in my brain. Guys love the mouse thing. Not!
"Have you ever been to The Grill? It's a restaurant/bar downtown." He said.
I shook my head.
"What do you say we go there this Friday? I bet you don't know how to play pool."
I laughed. "I do! And I bet I'll wipe the floor with you!"
He teasingly winced. "Oh, we shall see, young one. It's a date."
He stood up, leaving my insides in a knot. He offered me his hand to pull me up and this time I took it. His hands were absolutely freezing even though it was relatively warm out. I ignored it, as my body felt like it was on fire.
"Until we meet again, Alyssa," he smiled, handing me my backpack. "I'm sure I will see you around before Friday."
"Aren't you going to ask for my number?" I blurted.
"Well, aren't we a pushy one?" He mocked. "What kind of guy do you think I am? I take things slow."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh please!"
"Now you're begging, oh my God! You are a pushy, little thing."
"I was not!" I exclaimed, turning beet red. "I was only..oh my God…you are impossible!"
He winked. "You have no idea." Then he got close to me and whispered in my ear, "But you will."
Chills ran down my spine. I opened my mouth to say something when I heard someone yelling my name from a distance.
"Damn it!" I hissed. "That's my sister."
Damon heard me and looked over to see Elena running to us.
"I take it you and sister dearest aren't close?"
"It's complicated." I half-groaned.
I walked over to meet Elena, hoping Damon's interest in me didn't die as soon as he set his eyes on her.
Those gorgeous blue eyes.
"What are you doing here and who was that?"
"Oh, um, class got out early and that's just nobody." I stammered.
She smiled. "He's a hot "nobody", huh?"
I blushed.
"Alyssa Michelle Gilbert, are you blushing?!" She all but yelled as kids poured out of school.
"Why don't you say that louder, I don't think he heard you!" I exclaimed angrily.
She chuckled. "Sorry."
I turned to look at him and he was gone. Great. I might as well forget it, I thought. But I couldn't. Those blue eyes haunted me the rest of the night. I realized I didn't even know his last name or even how old he really was. He could be an axe murderer for all I knew.
A hot axe murderer, my brain taunted. Get a grip!
But as I lay on my bed that night, after everyone else had gone to sleep, I could only think about one thing….
Damon.