On Monday I was a zombie, I dragged my feet in the new black shiny slip-on shoes that I was told I had to wear, In fact they said anything but my converse, I was almost tempted to buy knee high hooker boots just so they'd get pissed. But either way, I didn't care that morning, I was to spacey from the restless sleep I had. Too much had gone on and I was wishing I was back in Maine with my mom. But nonetheless, there I was walking rather slowly to my English class where I would have to face Reid and the rest of the guys, whom didn't know I was a witch, and who didn't know there was an evil warlock lurking about.

My main concern was what friend exactly he was helping; Jonah was never up to any good. The thought of the metal branding stick burning his mark into my skin made the scare hurt as well as my heart. But I refused to think about the past right now.

While I was sitting there writing the essay about Huckleberry Finn, I felt Reid's gaze on me. I looked up at him and mouthed, "Hey."

He looked back down at his paper and continued writing; I couldn't believe he was angry at me for last night. My frustration took over me and the next thing I knew Reid's pen exploded all over his paper. Tyler, another Son of Ipswich, laughed.

"It's not funny man," Reid snapped and picked up his assignment and cautiously threw it away. My head snapped back down at my paper and I pretended I had no idea what was going on. This wasn't good; I was losing every bit of my control. Okay, so it was one stupid little thing.

XXXX

Julian stared me from across the lunch table until I had finally gotten sick of it and snapped at him,

"What?"

He put his string bean fingers in surrender, "Nothing, it's just clear that the other night did not go well…but I'll refrain myself from saying I told you so."

"But you just said it, how can you not say something if you already said it."

"It's in a completely different context."

"Whatever, Julian," I half-heartedly chuckled.

XXXXX

Nikki's was well known place around the school and I could see why. It was a small, hole in the wall place but crowded with pool tables, foosball tables and music. It could've been the least place I wanted to be, but Sarah had said I should come and hang out with her and Kate, which I did until Caleb and Pogue showed up. I think it's funny how I came here to get to know them, they fall easily in my grasp and then just a week later I'm a complete wallflower. Truth is, I was jealous to see their relationships with the boys; I'd never had something like that before.

I shot the eight ball into the right corner pocket like a pro and then took a fry and ate it bit by bit.

"Nice shot," It was Reid.

I blushed and shrugged, "I used to play a lot, but it's been awhile."

"Wanna play?"

"Is that a challenge, I don't know if you can handle my skills," I teased.

"Watch and learn," He smiled.

The first game he used his power to win, it was clearly obvious. Especially with that beat-that grin on his face. Considering that it would totally beat his manhood if I won I let him play his way, but by the third game I felt myself get competitive, I stayed tied with him until the eight ball, whenever he shot I would make the ball miss the hole by an inch and just raise my eyebrows at him and smiled. After a few rounds at it he just tossed the little black ball into the hole and said, "Why don't we get out of here."

My mouth popped open, "Oh no you didn't, I was totally going to win."

He frowned, "Yeah I doubt that,"

"You just didn't want to be beaten by a girl."

"Bring it on, next time I bet you a hundred dollars I'll win." He replied

"Don't sign a check that your ass can't cash," I chuckled, nudging him lightly.

"Oh it's on!"

Reid and I walked out of Nikki's and started walking down the street. We walked in silence for a moment; I couldn't help but steal glances. His white blonde hair fell in his blue eyes beautifully.

"So Julian says that you're bad news," I stated teasingly.

"I am," he smiled back, I thought my heart stopped for a moment, his smile was breathtaking, snap out of it Ari. "I'm dangerous you know," he looked at me from the corner of his eye, his hands shoved in his pocket.

"Oh," I laughed, "It's a good thing I like danger once in a little while."

He smiled and shook his head, "It's down this way."

We walked to a little grassy beach area and sat down. It was dark and you could see all the beachside house lights reflecting off the ocean water. I took in the breeze and hugged my black leather jacket closer to me.

"Cold?" He asked extending his arm out. I leaned into him and took in as much of his warmth as I could get.

"Do you come out here often?" I asked.

"I used to come here to clear my head."

"You know what I think about you," I said after a moment of silence, "I think that this bad boy thing you got going on is a façade."

He frowned and got up, "You don't know what you're talking about." He walked forward closer to the water.

"Maybe so, but you're different with me outside of school. Why?" My heart pounded against my chest as I got closer to him, he turned and faced me but his eyes didn't meet mine. I wanted to know more about him; I had to trust him before I could tell him who I really was.

"You're different, I don't know."

"Yeah," I smirked, "Hell everyone knows that."

"I like it though."

I smiled and looked back out at the ocean, he tucked a piece of my blonde hair behind my ear and I caught his hand. I didn't understand why I gave into him so easily, normally anything of that sort I was running as far away as I could. My mom even banded me from relationships for a long time after Jonah, God don't think about him. But Reid and I weren't in a relationship, just a cozy friendship; I guess that's what you could call it.

"What's on your mind?" He asked I hadn't even realized he was looking at me.

I couldn't tell him the truth, not yet, so instead I said; "Just thinking that I like you too."

He smiled, "So tell me about yourself."

"What do you wanna know?"

"Everything,"

"Well, my mom and I moved around a lot, bouncing from school to school it started to become difficult to fit in, so friendships were short lived, it's a pretty boring story…" actually it really wasn't boring at all.

"What about your dad?"

"I didn't know him very well, I mean I had visited him years and years ago but after that he just kind of vanished off the face of the earth, along with my brother. What about you?"

He huffed, "Well, my dad doesn't hang around much either, nor does my mom so I decided to just live in the dorms and party."

"Oh," I nodded.

I didn't want to pry anymore in fear that he might want to know more about my past. There was so much I regretted about it, so much I didn't want to resurface. But it was, because a big piece of it was hanging over my shoulder, that big piece being Jonah.

I did belong to him; we were binded on so many levels that it scared me and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to escape him again.

Reid walked me back to my car.

"I'm going to meet up with Tyler." He said, "I'll talk to you later?"

"Yeah, of course just give me a call," I nodded.

We paused for a moment and he got closer, I could feel his breath on my face. This time I didn't pull away, our lips brushed, he was hesitant and I couldn't blame him. I leaned in more and our lips locked. He was warm and inviting, when we pulled apart I was breathless. I smiled as the heat stretched up my cheeks. He backed up enough to let me into my car. He started walking backwards; I gave him a small wave before he turned around and started walking back to Nikki's.

I got into the car and sat there for a moment in silence, I couldn't believe I let that happen…the sound of loud clapping came from the backseat of my car making me jump, hitting my legs on the stirring wheel. I looked in the review mirror to see Jonah with his needling grin and his cold eyes.

"Congratulation Ari girl! You have got yourself a boyfriend! For now anyways."

"Don't you lay a hand on him," I snarled. My heart rate picked up and my head started spinning a bit.

"Oh Aria, always so territorial, don't worry I won't have to lay a hand on him. Just wait until he finds out the truth of you really are."

"I swear..."I began as I turned in my seat, but before I could finish Jonah was out of sight. I sat back down and put rested my forehead on the steering wheel. Tears fell onto my lap as I picture my life in Ipswich slowly unraveling.