Two:
" Yes?" Unlike before, I was finally in my comfort zone; a nice and open space with few people, there were only a good ten of us in the class, and art supplies I just couldn't wait to delve into. So it was easy to look up into the hazel-green eyes of this staring stranger who looked down upon me. He was tan, like most of the boys here and slim with the proper range of muscles for one who couldn't be much older than me and dressed casually; a simple black tee and jeans with sneakers. My mysterious stranger didn't answer. " Can I help you?" I asked again, wondering if maybe the boy was possibly mentally ill.
Before he got the chance to answer, a woman came in and told everyone to sit down. I stared at her, now, for a moment. There was no way this could be the teacher. She was clad in a long jade green skirt with a long piece of black cloth tied around the waist. Small circular gold accents hung off the ends of her added wrap, clinking together as she walked. A white blouse of the same material had sleeves that were long and flared as they approached her wrists and hands. Long wavy locks of light blonde streaked with red and orange were capped under a scarf tired around her head.
" Good afternoon my young Picasso's and Michaelangelo's!" Her voice was light and airy. I wondered if she was high from paint fumes. " Today is a grand day! We have a bright and new shining star joining us in our skies!" Oh no, she was doing something I had hoped everyone would avoid. " Charlie Raye, oh what a grand and inspiring name! please stand up so you may reveal to us just who you are!"
I couldn't believe this woman! She must be on something, I thought before I stood up finally. My legs were shaking so bad I thought I would collapse to the floor. " H-hi. I'm Ch-Ch-Charlie." She had taken me right out of my comfort zone. I opened my mouth to say more, but just sat back down. I wondered if my face could combust from all the embarrassment. I could hear a few people giggling and turned toward my easel, taking my sketch book and putting it away as Mrs. Birdley distributed new ones to the entire class.
" Now, for today's assignment I just want you all to draw whatever you feel like! Consider it your first project of the year, due at the end of next week." And with that, she turned a radio on low and disappeared behind an easel of her own.
" What'd you do? Cast some sort of freaky voodoo spell on Leon or something?"
I turned to the girl next to me. She nodded to the boy who had stared at me before, and was still staring now from behind his own work station every-so-often.
" I didn't do a thing. He's been staring at me this entire time." I felt a little offended by her words.
" Oh, gosh, sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or anything." The cornsilk blonde frowned, pushing a stray lock that had escaped the bun secured to her head with chopsticks behind an ear with too many piercings to count. She held out a hand, already dotted with some paint and smiled. " I'm Tally."
" Charlie." I smiled back, taking her hand. " So, I'm not to only one who noticed, huh?" I dropped my voice and gave a small nod behind me to the boy, Leon.
" Nope, my mom always said I was too observant. But, it's like he's been starved for days and you're a six course meal." She crinkled her nose. " Then again, Leon is a bit... off sometimes, so maybe it's just some weird thing he's doing."
" Off?" I took out my sketch book again, figuring Mrs. I'm-High-As- A-Kite wouldn't mind. " What do you mean, off?"
" Well, he hangs out only really with these few people. All of their parents live in this little community too, like a private neighborhood just for them. sometimes Leon will come in with scars, scratches, bruises a broken limb now and then." Tally's voice was low as well, her eyes shifting as if to see if anyone was eavesdropping.
" Okay, and? Do you think they're some sort of gang?" I looked Leon over out of the corner of my eye. With the way he dressed and looked, he didn't seem to be part of any gang I could imagine. Unless they were just being inconspicuous.
" Maybe... He's just... Weird by my book. I'd stay away from him if I were you." She sniffed in disapproval. I considered this to be one of those stupid tactics girls use to keep other girls from going out with a boy they liked so they could, though the boy had no interest in that girl. Tally was quiet for the rest of the hour as was I. I couldn't help but glance at Leon now and again. It was like something inside me wanted to, wanted to smile and say hello. It was like even though I didn't know him, I did and he knew everything about me. And every time I glanced his way, Leon's eyes were locked dead to mine.
I gladly bounded out of the room the moment I heard that annoying bell ring. However I had this itching feeling I was being followed, which was stupid when you and a good hundred or so people were following behind you, trying to get to their class. But, it was like I was on one of those dark and creepy roads at night in a horror film and some bloody axe murderer was right behind me. I was close enough because when I turned, I saw Leon trying to push through the crowd and come for me.
" What is with this guy?" I asked myself, turning and heading through people chatting about and exchanging homework and books in the middle of the hall for my final class of the day.
He was getting closer.
Maybe if I just ask nicely, he'll leave me alone, I thought, settling on turning and asking why he was following me when I herd someone call my name.
" Charlie!" It was Bella, standing outside our American History class, waving with as bright smile.
Obviously Fate decided to have some good things in store for me here in Tampa.
I happily ran towards Bella and joined her in class, sitting next to her. She chattered on about how nervous she was to be taking a college level course. I would have comforted her, being as she was a newfound friend and someone I was instantly attached to, but my eyes were locked on the door until the bell had rung and Mr. Sears had walked in, he with his suit and all his bald glory. I waited five minutes before actually taking notes, seeing as Bella had nudged me a few good times and chastised me like a mother for not writing anything down.
Leon didn't come in, which meant I was safe. So why was part of me hopeful that he would walk in?
No! I can't think like that, I told myself. I sound like a loon, wanting this boy, this guy who I know nothing about, with me at every possible second.
I've finally come up with a conclusion: I was a bit loopy from the fumes in Birdley's room.
Before I knew it, I hard survived the first week.
" Ladies, Bella," Alice smirked and Bella scowled as we all stood at my locker after school. " We have all officially spent one week in this hell-hole!"
We all rang out a chorus of " Whoo-hoo!" in reply with laughter.
" So, in honor of this occasion I propose we all go shopping at the mall!" Alice said. Bella and I groaned, making Emmette only laugh more. " Oh, come on! I haven't put you though a shopping trip in three days Bella! Plus, Charlie has yet to experience all the joy!"
" Lucky you." Bella mumbled to me, highly irritated.
" How about we all think of it as Charlie's inauguration into our little group, hmm? Then, you can decide if you want to stick around with this crazy pack." Emmette said, an arm around my shoulders.
I already knew for sure I'd be hanging with these three for a while and I'm pretty sure that even if I didn't want too, Alice would reel me in anyway. Within a week's time, these three strangers, all so different yet so similar, had become my best friends. They had become part of my survival, as well.
" Might as well," I said, giving Bella a small apologetic smile. " Bells, you know Alice would only find some way to drag us all in anyway, right? There's really no point in arguing."
" Wow, only a week and the girl's learned pretty fast." Alice said, leading us all out to the student parking lot.
" Heh, I try."
" Hey, Em, what was with the pack thing? What are we, werewolves or somethin'?" Alice asked, having turned to walk backwards now and face the blonde.
" Would you prefer coven, blood-sucker?" There was a glint in Emmette's eyes and smirk I couldn't quite understand and comprehend.
" Yes, actually, I would." Alice had the same look, and I could see it twitch on Bella's face as well.
We all stopped at a bright yellow 911 Turbo Porsche with a black stripe running across it's middle and forming ebony flames at the trunk of the car. Digging into the large bag she used rather than a normal schoolbag, Alice pulled out a set of keys and hit the keypad attached to the key and the doors unlocked.
" YOU drive THIS?" I said, just realizing everything now.
" Yes, why?" Alice looked at me as if I had seven heads.
" I... I've just never known a seventeen-year old have a Porsche as their everyday car."
She shrugged. " My family likes cool cars. My brother has a Volvo and my sister has a BMW Convertible and my dad and mom share a Mercedes. My other two brothers share a Hummer."
" I never knew you had that big of a family. But, wait, where are all your brothers and sisters?"
" Actually, my parents adopted all of us and they're all older then me and off at college. I'm the baby of the group, you could say. " Alice blushed a bit from chagrin. " Anyway, are you going to stand there or get in?"
I nodded without saying more. Bella went to her own ancient Ford pick-up and Emmette proudly drove the VW Rabbit she built from scratch. Both of these cars I had seen and heard of many times in our conversations or when I left school for the bus. Never had Alice and her Italian sports car ever come about to mind. Actually, I never really considered how much money Alice had with the way she dressed alone. But, if her family owned all the cars she said they did, they must be pretty loaded.
I couldn't help but notice how Alice seemed disgruntled, always keeping her eyes on the speed gauge, as if she wanted to car to go faster. Maybe it was just me, though. After all, she was already pushing sixty, how much faster did she want to go?
" So, Charlie, got any interests? Like, hobbies?" Alice asked, taking her eyes off the road and just on me for the moment.
" Well, uhh, I like to read. A lot, actually. I'm really into music, too. Playing, singing, writing it... I guess you can pretty much say literature and music are my life." I was the one blushing now.
" How about myths?"
" Like Zeus and Hera and the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses?"
" More like witches, warlocks, faeries and things of that sort. Vampires, Werewolves, y'know?"
" Well, I've read different fiction novels with vampires and werewolves in them. Witches and wizards too," I said, wondering where she was going with this.
" Do you believe in any of that stuff? Like witches and vampires and all of 'em?" Alice had only just now looked back to the road.
" Why would I? They're nothing but old folklore used to scare children at night so they'd fall asleep and all that. Do YOU believe them?"
Alice laughed, her giggling like bells. " I'm kinda of torn between a yay and nay. I've done... research on different mythical creatures and other such of the sorts, to say the least."
" What about--"
" Bella and Emmette? Bella thinks I'm crazy when I bring the topic up and Em is a junkie about it, especially werewolves. There's not a thing that girl doesn't know about them. Well, at least, what's been told about them." The glimmer from before was bright on her face.
I was silent and would have asked my own questions, but we were already at the mall.
" Let the shopping begin!" Alice said brightly, rushing inside and to the closest sale. Bella sighed and shook her head. Emmette put a hand on my shoulder. " Don't worry, Alice isn't THAT bad Char. She just... gets a little out of hand sometime." Emmette smiled.
" C'mon slowpokes!" Alice linked arms with Emmette and Bella, who had linked with me and we were off for the night.
" Alice, you've set a new record." Bella said, eyeing the bags that lined Alice's tiny arms. " Twenty! Twenty bags!"
" What was the last record?" I asked, digging through one of my miniscule two shopping bags.
" Sixteen." Emmette chimed, hands stuffed in pockets without any bags to carry.
" Damn." I looked at Alice as we finally exited the mall. The sky was dark now and dotted with stars and a round white moon in a cloudless atmosphere. " Hey, can someone give me a ride home by some chance? I can't say I prefer taking a bus home at this time of night."
" I can take ya Char, my place isn't far from yours." Emmette offered and I thanked her with a smile.
As we walked to where everyone's car was, I noticed Alice drop something from one of her bags and picked it up. Now, we've all been told never to stop in the middle of the street, but with no one coming I decided I could make an exception for once.
" Hey, Alice you-- Uh, hey!" A tall figure in a long dark coat and hat knocked into me as I stood, calling to Alice, knocking me down. " Jerk!" I called after him, picking the necklace back up. Before I knew it, so many things happened I wondered if they were real events or just some dream my crazy mind cooked up.
Out of what seemed no where a dark blue car sped from around the corner, only a short distance from where I sat. I could hear Alice and Bella call my name and Emmette screamed something as well, but I didn't hear them anymore. My eyes widened at the headlights like a deer on an open highway as the car didn't seem to make an attempt to stop. It was going to crash into me. I was going to die. This was it, this was the end. I gripped onto Alice's necklace tight, bracing myself with my eyes closed for the impact that would happen any second. And then I was suddenly moving.
I hadn't heard the car's impact to my stoic body and wondered if I ever would. I could feel my body hit something hard, but was sure no metal of any sort had made contact with me.
And then I heard it. I heard the car crash, but I felt no pain and wondered if this happened too. If maybe I would be spared the pain in the quickness of it all.
" Are you alright?"
Was someone speaking to me? Had I made it to my final destination that fast and painless?
" Can you hear me? Are you alright?"
I could hear people all around now, gathering and gabbing about to each other's and on cells phones, calling for emergency.
" Charlie! Charlie, are you okay?"
I only now noticed the pressure around my waist, gripping tightly. Someone had a hold of me. Opening my eyes I found myself staring back into a pair of hazel-green orbs full of concern and worry.
" Leon?" I looked at him, seeing the small cuts on his face and the way his hair was tossed about now.
He had saved me.
Well, here is chapter two. It's sorter than One, but, do plan to expect more in the possible upcoming chapters.
-- Katori