Chapter 2

It was a while before Liz saw the mysterious blue eyed boy again. She hadn't returned to those woods, and had spent the rest of the school holiday reading, getting used to American television, and swimming in the rectangular pool out the back of the house.

It was, in fact, her first day of school when she was to see the Blue Eyed Boy again, as she had come to think of him in her mind.

She walked into her first class, chemistry, after navigating her way around the corridors with their many lockers, a little late after having a bit of trouble figuring out which class she was meant to be in.

"Ah this must be Miss Hart, thank you for joining us." Exclaimed the teacher as she meekly pushed the door open glancing around the class of curious teenagers.

"My name is Mr Roche, and class, this is our new student, Elizabeth Hart. Please find a seat Miss Hart and take this book." Liz, who had been blushing to the roots of the blonde hair through this little spectacle, took the text book he had handed her and looked around the room frantically looking for a seat.

She saw a chair towards the back and dived for it, not wanting to be standing in front of the curious eyes for longer than needs be.

As the teacher continued to welcome the class back from their holidays, she took the time to steal glances at the people sitting around her, whose attentions had now been moved back to the front where Mr Roche was outlining the curriculum.

It felt strange for her to be sitting in class wearing her own clothes, as her old school had had a uniform, but everyone around her seemed completely at ease in their colourful array of clothing. This had been her first obstacle of the day, not having a clue what to wear to school. Having settled on a pair of tight fitted jeans and a baggy muse t-shirt complete with a pair of red Converse, she was glad by her choice looking around at the other students.

She didn't stick out and she didn't look boring, and she certainly didn't look like a slut, unlike the brunette girl sitting directly in front of her. The girl was wearing a tight small top and far too short skirt that revealed a band of honey tanned skin around her waist. She was leaning over provocatively towards the guy sitting in the seat next to her, obviously trying to catch his attention and involve him in a whispered conversation.

Liz let her attention slide to the boy and felt a slight gasp slip from her lips. No one noticed her strange behaviour, but she felt heart beating faster as she recognised the dark haired guy this girl was so intent on impressing. From her vantage point she could see his stiff profile and obvious disinterest in the girl as he faced the front, throwing annoyed glances in the girl's direction when she rested her fake nailed on his strong forearm.

It was him. Her blue eyed boy. Although up close now, she couldn't see his beautiful blue eyes, just the rigidness of his back. His presence unnerved her, and she suddenly felt scared of his reaction when he saw her again. There was no denying that she was afraid of him, ever since their encounter in the woods she had dreamt of him and his cool hard gaze, his fingertips that seemed to burn her, and his tall firm body that had intimidated her so. However despite this fear, there was something about him that fascinated her, and she couldn't drag her gaze from the exchange in front of her.

"Miss Palmer, do we have a problem?"

Liz turned her eyes to the front, dragged out of her day dream. The teacher seemed to be talking to the girl with the short skirt.

"No Sir" She replied in a smooth nasal voice, sitting back in her chair and crossing her long bare legs to the side, angling her body into the aisle.

"Well that's good, maybe you could repeat to me my last new words to prove your perpetual devotion towards Chemistry."

She seemed slightly lost for words and Liz saw the defeat in her shoulders as she turned her body fully towards the front.

Chemistry passed without any more drama, and Liz was quietly confident in her understanding of the syllabus, having taken Higher Chemistry in her previous school.

As the class were dismissed everyone rose at once and noise erupted from the 30 or so students. Carefully collecting her things and pushing them into her leather side bag, Liz joined the crowd and shuffled towards the door, looking at her schedule intently, trying to figure out where the music room was on the small map she'd been presented with at the schools office this morning.

"Ooh you have Music now! I have it too" Exclaimed a voice above her right shoulder, making Liz jump slightly at the first interaction she'd had today.

She turned around and looked up into the handsome face of a tall blonde haired male with bright shining eyes and a smiling face. She smiled back uncertainly, finding his enthusiasm infectious.

He thrust out a hand towards her and introduced himself as "Christopher Jason Smith III". She shook it willingly, relieved that she wasn't going to be ignored all day.

"The third?" she questioned.

"Yes, unfortunately it is a bit of a tradition in some parts of America to give the first male in the family the same name as their father. Guessing you're not from around these parts?" He questioned looking slightly bashful.

"No, I've just moved from Britain with my parents."

"Ah, you're from across the pond. Well I must say that accent of yours is enchanting, I'm sure you'll have plenty of attention flying your way soon enough. Would you like to walk to music with me?"

His voice sounded hopeful as she glanced up into his handsome face.

"Sure" she grinned, still blushing from the compliment he'd paid her.

Chris, as he insisted on being called, turned out to be a very attentive friend and helped her find each of her classes as most of them he was in. He explained any of the customs she didn't understand, and even helped her find her way about the Canteen in the food hall.

"Come sit over here" He motioned to her as she balanced her tray on her hand, paying the severe looking lunch lady.

He was motioning to a table nearly full of boisterous looking teenagers, laughing and catching up after the long summer. She followed his lead and sat down at the table keeping her head down not wanting to see the disapproving looks as she invaded their area.

"Everyone, this is Liz, she's new and British. Liz, this is everyone." Chris announced.

She suddenly found herself engaged in conversation, bombarded with question after question about England, her family, and where her house was now.

By the end of the day she was exhausted and yet comforted that she was going to be ok in this school. She had made many friends and already found a few males staring at her a little longer than necessary. The only thing that had darkened her day was not catching site of a certain Blue Eyed Boy. He hadn't been in any of her next classes, and despite furtive glances around the canteen at lunch when her attention wasn't directed towards any of the other students, she hadn't seen him again. She didn't understand why this plagued her so, but she seemed to be unable to stop thinking of him. His mysterious persona intrigued her, and despite the fear she felt in the pit of her stomach remembering him in the woods, she longed to catch a glimpse of him again.

She carried herself off exhausted to bed that night, dreaming of him again and waking up restless and hot in the middle of the night.

The next day proved to be much of the same as the last, however now she had joined a small group of friends who had willingly adopted her into their group. Chris being one of these, introduced her to Hannah, a tall girl with red hair who played for the women's soccer (football in Liz's language) team, Adelaide a buxom brunette with a mouth that never stopped, and finally Ron, a jock from the football team who was cheery and inviting towards Liz, making a few moves on her but not enough to make her feel uncomfortable.

It was in this group of friends that Liz found herself walking towards Geography, the girls nudging her and pointing out who was who. They pointed out Jacqui Palmer, the girl who had been wearing the short skirt in Chemistry.

"School hoe", as they described her. "She's been after Stefano Reed since, like, forever" Whispered Adelaide.

"Who's Stefano?" She questioned.

"Tall, dark and handsome, that's what he is. Loving, friendly and welcoming, that's what he is not. He's simultaneously the best looking and scariest guy in school."

"Yeh, I heard even the teachers are scared of him" Added in Ron.

"Surely he's can't be that bad?" Liz wondered, doubtful.

"You'll see" Chris replied ominously. "Just don't go anywhere alone with him, I'll tell you that now, there are rumours of him having his way with girls, and I don't trust him. I wouldn't want you hurt."

Liz was touched by his concern. But realised a problem, "I don't even know who he is, how can I avoid him if I don't know who to avoid?"

"He's that one" Chris pointed, as they rounded the corner of the Geography room.

Liz froze in her stride, as Chris pointed out her very own Blue Eyed Boy. His attention was directed out of the window and appeared to have not noticed the pointed glances in his direction.

So he was the one they were all scared of, well she could understand why now. He was terrifying in his own way, but so beautiful. As she stared at him she could see his hair glint in the sunlight, his pale skin seemed to have a luminosity of its own and his strong muscular body sat rigid in the chair, outlined by his thin v-neck black jumper, exposing a slight amount of firm chest.

"I see we have a new student in our midst," Exclaimed a strict female voice behind her, causing her to jump so violently she nearly fell over the nearest desk. She looked up at the teacher looming over her and realised she had been caught staring, and whilst she had been thinking everyone had found their places.

"You must be Miss Hart, please find a space and take a notebook from the desk." Liz looked around and was forced to move towards the only seat available in the back row, next to Him.

She wasn't sure how she felt about the new information that had been revealed. Sure, she had known he was intimidating, that was obvious from the meeting in the woods, but dangerous?

Liz was drawn from her thoughts as a rumble of excited whispers erupted around her, and she turned her attention to the teacher at the front of the class.

"The trip will be taking place one week from now, and yes it is short notice, but the Darton Cave Complex has only just opened to the public, and is offering a special deal to the schools in the area. Please take a consent form from the front when you leave"

With a smile on her face, Liz's day had certainly turned for the better. She had always loved caves, and revelled in the memories of the caving trips her previous school had taken her on. Something about the dark dank insides that had been created by so many so long ago made her imagination soar.

She turned to look at Chris who had turned to gage the reaction of everyone else. A smile was on his face, but when he caught Liz's eye, his expressions changed ever so slightly, and his gaze seemed to smoulder, and her breath caught in her throat. He was ever so good looking, the thought to herself. He sent her a cheeky wink, and she saw his attention shift to her left, and all merriment left his face. She watched as fear, puzzlement and then anger seemed to flit across his face. She looked to see where his attention was, and gasped as she saw Him.

He was looking at Chris with the most potent look she had ever seen. If looks could kill, she was sure Chris would be withering in pain in his seat. She didn't understand why there was such an obvious tension between the two males, but knew that if something wasn't done to stop this glaring match, one would spring at the other with the pure hatred now shared between them.

As she gazed into the blue eyes of Stefano, he seemed to feel her gaze on him and looked away from Chris, straight into her own eyes transferring the hatred with them.

Liz gasped as if she had been slapped, the intensity of revulsion radiating from him to her made her reel back in surprise.

"Is there a problem Miss Hart?" Barked the teacher from the front

"No Miss" She mumbled, grateful for the interruption. She turned back to Stefano, but he had also looked away.

Lying in bed that night, she thought back to that Geography class, trying to make sense of why he hated her, and more importantly, why she seemed so attracted to him. It wasn't just a simple school girl crush, this was different. She couldn't stop staring at him when he was near, she dreamt of his face, and despite the immediate fear he installed in her, she wanted to see him more, she wanted to go back to the woods and see if he was there again.

Turning over restlessly she tried to clear her mind of him, and think instead of Chris, and the suggestive smile he had sent her way. He was a very good looking guy, nothing compare to Stefano.. No! She stopped herself. Why was she comparing him to Stefano? It wasn't like she had a chance with him, why compare people to him?

She fell into a restless sleep with thoughts of Chris and Stefano swimming around her mind, confusion evident in the creases etched across her face, observed by one other person, a pair of eyes watching from the window. If anyone had been outside at that point they would have seen what many considered to be impossible as a dark figure leapt down from the small balcony outside her window landing with cat-like precision on the soft earth below, and ran off into the woodland behind the house.