chapter 3:

The next morning I had breakfast with the group, instead of alone. I had to admit I liked it more than sitting alone in my room, they were really nice to hang around with. Deborah was telling stories about kids she scared in school, and even though the rest had heard it a thousand times and weren't listening, I was really interested. I had to laugh about most of the stories, some made me frown but laugh anyway afterwards and some just made me make 'aww' sounds which made her laugh.

Diana, Adam, Doug and Chris were with us from the beginning of breakfast. Later a girl named Laurel and a boy named Sean joined us. They seemed nice, though they didn't really talk to me much, but they hadn't glared at me so they seemed nicer than Nick had. He's not what he seems…The words from yesterday resounded in my head, I really hoped he wasn't because I didn't like the fact he hated me, probably because I had no idea what he could hate me for. When I asked Diana if this was the whole group, including Nick, she shook her head. 'No, we're still missing Faye, Melanie and Suzan. But I think they'll be here by lunch.' I nodded. I had already noticed that everyone was here except for Nick, and I couldn't help but wonder where he was, and why he wasn't here. I hoped he wasn't sick or something because that would mean I wouldn't see him today. Wait a minute, that shouldn't bother me. He glared at me, he doesn't like me, so why did I still have the urge, or even the need, to see him?

I was still wondering about that while making my way to my first lesson. The moment I walked in a relieved sigh escaped my lips as I saw him. He was bent over his book, and seemed to be deep in thought, but he was there. I walked past him with a smile playing on my lips already, just the fact he was here put it there, and I found that quite strange. During the lesson I glanced at him a few times, he just kept looking down at his book the whole time. I wanted to talk to him, I really did, I wanted to ask him why he was mad at me, at least I told myself that was the reason. In a way I just wanted to hear his voice, to be able to introduce myself, to get him to smile at me, though that would be a long shot.

I hadn´t even noticed that the lesson was over when I was pulled out of thoughts by a person standing in front of me. As I looked up I captured the dark eyes of the exact same person I´d been thinking about. ´Hey,´ I said, and could just hit myself for the worst response ever. He just nodded, yeah the worst response. He seemed to be pondering what to say for a moment, but my name was called out by Deborah. She came my way and looked at her nephew in a weird way, he just nodded at her and then stalked off. I followed him with my eyes until he was out of sight, silently cursing that I didn´t get a chance to hear what he had to say.

´Are ye coming to the lesson, or are ye standing here the rest of the day?' That shook me out of my daze and I followed her to my next lesson. Again he occupied most of my thoughts through the second and third lesson, the other thoughts I had were filled with the conversations I held with everyone else. I walked to lunch with Adam again and as we were walking we both noticed something.

A girl was hovering above some freshman, looking dangerous and scary. She sneered something at the boy and he was gone within seconds. 'Are you going at it again Faye?' Adam asked. I could only stare at the black haired girl who looked up at Adam with narrowed eyes. She was beautiful and had a deadly aura surrounding her looking like this. 'That doesn't concern you Adam, or your pretty little girlfriend.' She sneered at him. Adam took a step forward, his finger pointed directly at her face, 'You leave her out of this Faye.' She chuckled evilly, rolled her eyes and stalked off towards the cafeteria, without even glancing at me. 'Was that…?' Adam nodded, not looking very happy. 'Yep that's Faye.' I was frowning as we walked into the cafeteria together, wondering who that Faye girl was. When we arrived at our spot I saw several glares directed at Faye. Diana, Laurel, Sean and Adam were all shooting murderous glances at her. Chris and Doug were too busy discussing something, Deborah wasn't really paying attention either and two other girls were smiling and talking to each other happily. Nick was sitting at the other end of the table, with his eyes closed. He seemed to be listening to music, and I marveled at his handsome relaxed face.

'Ah Emily, I want you to meet Faye, Melanie and Suzan.' Diana said, smiling at me, her glare completely forgotten. I looked up at them and smiled, 'Hi, nice to meet you.' Suzan and Melanie both smiled back, Faye however just rolled her eyes and didn't say anything. One thing was for sure, she didn't seem to like me. Well that makes two in this group, I thought sarcastically.

I sat down next to Deborah and looked outside of the window that was across from the table. I was wondering why this group seemed to have members that didn't like each other at all, why would they form a group then? I didn't understand and frowned. The group had been so great and nice, but I still had one little problem, the 'We think we are so much better' attitude I was afraid the group had. I mean why else would you have your own lunch room, and to be honest Faye looked exactly like most of those girls in America with the same problem.

My stomach started growling and I cursed softly at the fact I'd forgotten to get my lunch from my locker. I got up from my chair and smiled at Deborah who looked up questioningly. 'I'm gonna go get my lunch.' She nodded and went back to whatever she had been doing on her phone all this time. I sighed while getting out of the room, heading towards my locker. I was stopped in the middle of the hallway however, by Sally and two other girls. 'I see you've found some people to hang out with.' She said, with a sneer in her voice I didn't quite understand. 'Uhh.. yeah I guess so. They're nice.' I shrugged and tried to get past them, Sally stopped me. 'They're not nice Emily. They are dangerous and mean.' I thought about it and turned to her. 'Dangerous?'

She nodded, satisfied I had stopped probably. 'Yes dangerous. They live on Crowhaven Road and are like some group who does illegal things.' I frowned at that, not sure I could believe her. Yes, I guessed Faye would probably be able to do illegal things, so would the Henderson brothers, though nothing serious. But Diana? No I couldn't even picture her doing anything wrong. 'Illegal things? Like what?' I asked her. She was at a loss of words. 'There are rumors that they can do things other people can't do. That they have certain powers.' She seemed to be taking on another direction. 'They are frightening, they frighten half of the whole school.' I looked at her skeptically. 'So your saying Diana scares half of the school?' Her face fell a moment, but then turned into rage. 'You'll learn Emily, I'll promise you that you will learn that they are dangerous.'

'Is something wrong here?' A low voice said. Sally turned around and frowned. 'No, nothing is wrong.' She simply stated. She gestured for the two other girls to follow her and turned around, glancing back at me once with an angered look. I swallowed, more enemies. 'Are ye ok?' The low voice asked her, she looked up and had to stop herself from gasping. It was Nick. 'Uhh..y..y..yes.. I think so.' I stammered, staring him in the eyes. He nodded, I could've sworn I saw relief cross his eyes, but I probably was just imagining things. 'What did she tell ye?' I only then noticed that he had the exact same accent as Deborah had, a light Irish lilt. It sounded really sexy on him, I mentally slapped myself at that thought, and started walking to keep the blush from reaching his eyes. 'Nothing really, just some lies.' I said, hoping he was following me. He was, I noticed so when I opened my locker and he leaned against the lockers next to mine. 'Lies?' I scowled at the thought of what she'd said. 'Yeah, lies.' I think. I swallowed at the thought of it all maybe being true. Could Sally really have been right, that those guys had some kind of power? No, she wasn't right. I convinced myself of that and took my lunch out of my locker. Nick seemed to be in deep thought as he was staring to the other side of the hallway. I waved my hand in front of him and he snapped his head to me. I had to smile, but felt guilty immediately. 'Sorry, I just. You seemed far away and I..' He smiled, yes he actually smiled at my stammering. It hurt in a way that I couldn't explain and so I just started walking past him. 'Wait up.' He called after me but I didn't, I just kept walking. Did he have to make fun of me, I was just trying to be kind.

'Wait,' he said and I felt him grab my hand. It was as if electricity ran from my body to his and back, that was the jolt I felt, and I thought I could see he felt it as well, but I wasn't sure. He let go of my hand and raised it to his neck, looking uncomfortable. 'I'm sorry.' He said. I nodded and wanted to turn away but he stopped me. 'Not for smiling, I mean you have to admit it was kind of funny.' I felt myself smile now, not only at what he said, but at the glint in his eyes I couldn't quite place. I just saw he was laughing from the inside. He turned serious again, 'I apologize for glaring at ye the first time we met. I was having a bad day and I shouldn't have glared at ye, it wasn't yer fault and it was just stupid of me.' Now it was me who was laughing. He frowned at that and I stopped. 'What? You can laugh at my apology, but yours is off limits?' He had to smile at that, 'Ye have a point.' I grinned at him, 'I always do.' Winking at him as if we had been friends for ages now, but it just felt right. He didn't seem put off by my sudden familiarity, he even seemed to be encouraged by it.

Suddenly my name was called out by Diana and I looked up. She was making her way towards us and I could see Nick shift his weight from one leg to another. 'I'll see ye around then.' He said, walking away again. For a short moment I hated Diana for interrupting whatever moment he and I were having, but when she was smiling at me again in curiosity I couldn't anymore. 'What was that about?' She asked. I shrugged, 'Nothing really, Sally came and said a few things about you guys and Nick saved me actually.' She frowned at the mention of Sally's name. 'What did she say?' I shrugged again, and started walking back to the cafeteria. 'Nothing important really, just some lies.' She had the same look in her eyes Nick had had when he found me talking to Sally. 'Lies?' I rolled my eyes, 'The 'they're bad for you' shit that normally parents would have to tell you.' I snorted. She still looked concerned, but smiled anyway. 'So you don't believe them?' she asked me.

'No of course not, it's stupid…' I said, but I started to wonder now. Why would she look so concerned if it all were lies, wouldn't she just laugh at the thought then? She laughed, oblivious to my sudden doubts, and walked on towards the cafeteria. I didn't really talk much the rest of the lunch, lost in thoughts of what Sally had said. Twice I said I didn't believe her, twice it resulted in a relieved expression, from two group members. I didn't know what to make of it, I didn't know who to believe. The group, ignoring the few exceptions, has been nothing but nice to me, and still something told me that Sally had been telling the truth.