The sun's rays hit Kerissa early in the morning. She sat bolt upright, wide-awake. Where was Marissa? Kerissa had sensed her departure in the middle of the night.
Kerissa heaved a sigh of relief. Marissa was safe and sound, and sound asleep in the bed next to her's.
Kerissa jumped up, dressed in normal clothes (she had finally managed to convince her mother that Laura Ingalls Wilder clothes weren't always necessary.) sat down on her bed, did her homework, and then sat, bored, until the alarm went off.
She shut off the alarm as Marissa sat up, stretching and yawning. Marissa smiled sleepily.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey sleepy-head," Kerissa grinned.
Marissa smiled. Suddenly, as if she had just realized who she was talking to, she involuntarily moved backwards, her smile disappearing as if it had never been. It was as if she had seen something in Kerissa's face that made her afraid.
"Are you okay?" Kerissa asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Marissa said, not meeting Kerissa's eyes.
Marissa dressed, and left, careful to stay as far away from Kerissa as possible. Kerissa left for school, alone, feeling thoroughly deserted.
At school, Serena, Vanessa, Catty, Jimena, and Marissa all avoided her like she had the plague.
Kerissa spent the entire lunch period in tears. She tossed her lunch into the trash bin, and slumped down at a table, far removed from the rest of the students. When the bell rang to signal the end of lunch, she didn't move, and, for the first time in her life, purposely cut class. She just didn't care anymore.
After school ended, she was about to leave when something made her look around. Standing, half-concealed by bushes, was Stanton.
Come here.
Oh, so someone wants me near them. I'm touched. Maybe I don't have the plague after all, Kerissa sarcastically remarked.
What do you mean? Who's avoiding you?
You don't know? She was at the bush now, completely concealed by the dense shrubbery. He shook his head. Your girlfriend, for one. She's the one that started it, last night. So, let's see, she counted the names off on her fingers, Serena, Vanessa, Catty, Jimena, and my own sister! Even Marissa won't speak to me! I don't even know what I did. Every time I get near them, they get this frightened look, and practically run in the opposite direction! She broke down, sobbing, before she even realized that she had spoken.
Stanton looked shocked, then angry. I didn't know. He said, angrily, I'm going to talk to Serena.
Suddenly, Kerissa realized that they hadn't said a single word aloud.
What, what is happening? She whispered, horrified, amazed, and frightened out of her wits, what's happening to me? How are we… what… She stared at Stanton.
"You mean that you didn't know?" He asked, amazed.
She had trouble drawing herself from his mind. "Know what?"
He swore. "I'm going to talk to Serena," he said, "In the meantime, go straight home, and don't talk to anyone. Do you hear me? DON'T TALK TO ANYONE."
She nodded. He spun angrily around, and stormed towards the school.
Kerissa disliked being alone. The uncomfortable feel of darkness was disconcerting. She had always managed; even the darkest night did not faze her when Marissa was by her side. She and Marissa were a team. And suddenly, Marissa had deserted her. Why?
A shadow sweeped through the window and into her room. She crept backward, shrinking into a corner of the room. The shadow disappeared. Minutes later, the doorbell rang.
She peeped through the keyhole (a door peeper was too obvious). It was Stanton.
Open up.
Am I allowed to speak?
He smirked, yes.
Kerissa opened up the door and motioned for him to enter. He shook his head.
Follow me.
Kerissa frowned slightly.
Come one, he said, slightly impatiently, you can trust me.
Kerissa hesitated, and then followed him. Where are we going?
You'll see.
He led her up to a sleek, black convertible, opened the passenger door, and bowed her inside. He closed the door, and climbed into the driver's seat.
He started up the car, and excelled. Kerissa knew that they were going much too fast for the speed limit, but at the moment she didn't care.
She glanced at the speedometer, and noticed that they were going 100 mph, on a crowded LA street. It was impossible. And highly dangerous. She laughed aloud.
Stanton glanced at her. "You know, you aren't' t what I thought you'd be."
"What do you mean?" Kerissa asked.
"I'll tell you later." Stanton pulled up in front of an apartment complex. He walked through the door. The security guard unconcernedly tipped his hat as they passed. Either he knew Stanton very well, or Stanton had done something to him.
Somehow, she expected the latter.
Stanton pushed on a button, and a voice called from a speaker, "Who is it?" The voice was warm, and female, and beautiful.
"Stanton, and Her." Kerissa noticed the emphasis he placed on the word 'Her'.
The voice responded immediately, "Come on up." A buzzing sounded.
Stanton held open the door to the elevator for her, and they slowly ascended. The elevator stopped on level 3.
"This is our stop," Stanton said.
Kerissa exited the elevator. The corridor revealed was normal. She somehow felt disappointed. She had expected something exciting.
Stanton knocked on room 114, and the female voice said, "One sec."
From within the room came the sound of footsteps, and the sound of a lock being drawn back. The door opened.