Chapter 2: another

As soon as class was over Hailey rushed out the door before I could grab her. Of course, being a Slater… I followed. But as soon as I turned around the corner she was gone.

Damn.

"Paul? Is that you?" a high pitch voice asked from behind me.

When I turned I was face to face with Hannah Kellen. Her blonde hair fell past her shoulders in wisps. She had curled it today and I could smell the hairspray flowing off of her. Disgusting.

"Hannah. Yeah it's me," I said.

Then next thing I knew she jumped into my arms, pressing her glossed lips to mine.

God this girl just never quits.

I had dated her before I left for Carmel, but before I left I broke it off with her. She was just to clingy and she thought that we were going to get married or something stupid like that.

Pulling her off me I held her at arms length. She smiled up at me with a big toothy grin.

"I missed you baby," she licked her lips, "we should get together after school."

"I don't think so," I said and then walked around her.

She followed.

"Why not! I mean, why don't we just start where we left off?" she begged.

"Ok then. Because if I remember correctly where we left off is when I duped you," I scowled.

"You were just kidding baby!" she squealed.

Ignoring her I continued to walk to my next class which was science. Hannah gave up half way when she had to go to her French class. Thank god.

When I walked into science I was disappointed to find that Hailey wasn't there.

Oh well better luck next class.

…………LATER………..

Lunch was a bore. Just random girls wanting to know how California was and if I wanted to go out later. I got at least five phone numbers. I wouldn't call though. Not unless I was desperate to get some quick…

I asked around about Hailey and each person had said the same thing. She was expelled for having a meltdown outside of class.

I had talked to this girl named Catherine and she had gone to the same school but had already moved when the incident had happened.

"I remember her always being really weird," she had said, "I would always see her in the local cemetery or just wandering the streets."

As I made my way to fifth period which was art I thought it all over. Why would she beat herself? Maybe she was crazy? Or was it something else?

When I walked into the class I smiled. Sitting by the window, sketching something onto paper, was Hailey.

Running my hand through my hair I walked over to her and sat beside her. She tensed.

"What do you want Slater?" she asked, not looking up.

I smiled, "There's no seating arrangement in this class so I can sit where I want. And I want to sit right here."

She sighed and continued sketching.

It was nice. The sketch I mean. It was of a woman in a flowing robe leaning against a tree looking up at the moon. Leaning against the tree beside her was a small girl who was holding the woman's hand. Something about the little girl stood out. She had what looked like a faint glow around her. She looked like a ghost.

"That's good," I mentioned, "who are they?"

"Just people," she mumbled.

I smirked.

"Mr. Slater. Are you just going to sit there staring at Hailey or are you planning on actually doing some art?" the instructor asked.

I smiled, "I haven't decided yet."

Hailey's cheeks flamed with embarrassment when everyone in the room began to snigger. To add effect I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my chest. She smelled good. Like vanilla and rain.

She instantly stiffened though, and I could hear her mumbling profanity to herself. Suddenly she grabbed my hand that was on her shoulder and twisted it. I yelped in pain and jumped out of my chair, but she didn't let go yet. She twisted it behind my back and whispered in my ear.

"Touch me again," she whispered and I felt a shiver go down my spine when her lips touch my ear, "and you will never use your hands again."

Then she let go of my arm and went to sit with a group of girls near the door.

Damn…I see that I have a challenge on my hands. Oh well, I like challenges. And I'm sure that my very capable hands can handle it… ahem.

As soon as the bell rang to sound that school was out for the day I followed Hailey out of the class.

"What do want Slater?" she mumbled.

"Why on earth would you assume that I wanted something?" I put on a mock innocence smile, "Maybe I am just walking with my good friend Hailey."

She stopped dead in her tracks and glared at me, "I'm not stupid Slater. Just because I'm new here doesn't mean that I haven't heard all about you. I know how you drag girls in, get what you want, and then drop then faster then hot cakes."

Wow. She was good. She had me down to a tee.

"How do you know that I haven't changed? You know that when I was in California I was going to a Catholic school. The teachers there really changed my life."

She cocked an eyebrow me, "Bullshit."

I brought my hand to my ears, "Ah! My virgin ears!"

She rolled her eyes and started to walk by me when I grabbed her arm and pulled her close to my face.

"You mean to say that you aren't the least bit interest?" I smiled down at her.

God her eyes were beautiful. Not as bright as Suze's but her shone with a sort of mystery. A mystery that I wanted to find out…

"Not in the least," she snapped.

Then she shoved me into a locker and pushed her way through the swarm of teens trying to get home.

I had my work cut out for me with this one. With Suze at this point I already had her blushing…but Hailey…she was different.

……………..THAT NIGHT……………

After dinner I decided to go out for a walk. There was a small park a few blocks away from my house so I headed that way.

It was a quarter to midnight so the park was deserted. I shivered as the cold wind blew in my face softly. Definitely not as warm as Carmel California. There I would wear shorts and a t-shirt and be warm, but here in Seattle I had to put on jeans and a jacket over my shirt to keep warm.

As I walked through the park I noticed something glowing off in the distance by the playground. When I got closer I noticed that it was a little girl. She was dead, which explained the faint glow surrounding her. She wore a pink jumper and had her blonde hair up in pigtails.

She wasn't alone either.

A figure knelt in front of her, holding the little girl's hands. The figure was wearing black pants and a black hoodie. The hood was up so I couldn't see the person's face. Judging how nicely the pants fit I would have to say that it's a girl. She was a mediator.

"Did you tell her?" the little girl asked softly.

I gagged, another mediator who did charity cases. What a waste of time.

"Yes," the girl said, "Your mom says that she forgives you for hitting your sister. You can rest now Mandy."

The little girl gave off the biggest smile, and then faded away.

The girl stood up and turned towards me. When she saw me she stopped dead.

I clapped my hands, "Very well done."

The girl didn't say anything.

But she did turn and run.

I smirked. I love the chase.

I ran after the girl. She was fast for a girl, but I'm faster. I caught up with her fast and grabbed the sleeve on her hoodie. She gasped when she was forced to stop and I pulled her close to me so she couldn't run.

"Let me go you fucking pervert!" she yelled and beat at my chest.

"Such language," I laughed.

Before she could do anything I grabbed her hold and pulled it down so that I could see her face.

"Hailey?" I gasped.

Wow. Hadn't expected that…

Her big brown eye glared at me. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold wind and running.

She was I mediator… I was a shifter… she could have… potential.

I smirked.

"Let me go Paul," she said harshly as she struggled.

"I don't think so," I said, pulling her closer so that my faces was a few inches from hers.

I could feel her blush slightly.

"That's quite the talent you have there," I whispered, "not many people can interact with the dead."

She stopped struggling as stared at me in shock, "You could see her?" she breathed.

I smiled my million dollar smile, "Yeah I can. You are a mediator."

She smirked back at me, "don't confuse me with a mediator Paul. I'm a lot stronger then that. I'm a shifter."

Wow. The surprises just keep on coming…

"That would make three of us," I said.

"Three?" she asked.

"Me, you, and Suze Simon. She lives in Carmel California. I was…tutoring her I guess you could say," my eyes gleamed.

Hailey glared at me, "I'm sure you were you pervert."

I laughed.

"So what do you say that you can me go out on Friday so that you can show me some of those skills you claim you have?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes, "In your dreams."

"Hey, dreams can come true," I retorted.

She actually laughed a little bit at that one. She had a nice laugh.

"Well whether or not dreams come true I am not going out with you," she smiled.

"Date?" I gasped, "who said anything about a date? I just want to see your shifting abilities. Unless of course you actually want to go on a date. We could go back to my place…"

"No thanks."

She pulled away and this time I let her go, but I kept her within reach just in case she tried to run again… you just never know.

"So what then? We both have the same ability. Are we supposed to just act normal around each other and not try to help each other?" I asked.

I watched her as she thought about it for a few seconds. After a while she sighed and the corner of her mouth curved into a small smile.

"Alright then Slater. You win the first round. We will get together on Friday so we can figure out where we both are with this shifting business," Hailey said and she turned and prepared to go.

"Wait!" I called after her and she stopped, "Dinner. That's all I ask for. After we get together how about we just grab a bite to eat? We can even go to a public place if you are scared to be alone with me."

She paused and then continued walking, "We shall see."

Tease.