Rain: Chapter 2

My alarm woke me up around eight thirty that next morning. I could hear Larissa's music on down the hall and Ramie on the telephone. I got up and got myself dressed in a blue jean skirl and a white tank top along with some black flip flops and a necklace that Paul had given me before I left. It was kind of strange looking but I loved how it sparkled. It had a silver chain and a symbol on it that looked like a letter T with a X at the bottom. The diamonds that covered it were painted black giving it an eerie affect. I started straightening my hair while turning on my laptop to check my e-mail.

It was no surprise that I had three messages from Paul. All of them basically said the same thing so I only replied once. Why was he so worried about me? He was happy when I told him I got into school but now I feel like he's scared of what could be out here. From what I could see this place was just as normal as the rest, only much hotter.

My first class was at ten so I ate breakfast with my housemates before leaving. Luck for me, I had class with them so I had someone to talk to while I was in class.

"Gosh I hope this teacher is cute, I didn't go shopping for no reason." Ramie said.

I shook my head, "Are you serious? Ramie I hope you aren't planning on seducing your way to an A plus all semester."

"You bet,"

"I don't think that's a good idea, can't you get in trouble for that?" Larissa said.

Ramie smiled, "If I get caught, which I won't. It worked for me in high school."

Larissa and I looked at each other and then back at her, "Please tell us that you are joking."

She shrugged and walked ahead to the building where our class was. "She is so going to get herself in trouble if she goes through with this."

"Yea I know but hey if she does get caught, we didn't know anything about it." I said. "She is definitely not who I thought she was."

"Clearly,"

The two of us walked into the building and found our classroom. Ramie had seated herself up front and we sat behind her. The professor walked in a few minutes later. He was tall and very handsome. His eyes were ice blue and he had spiky blonde hair. His smile was that of a true charmer. He had Ramie in a trance already.

"Good Morning class, my name is Mr. Jericho and I am your Psychology professor."

Wow, his voice was even dreamy. No reason Ramie fell for these men so easily. Even Larissa looked like she was going to drool along with the other females in the class. After taking role, he asked us a few questions about the subject of Psych. Of course I had to be the smartest one in the class and answer all the questions in class.

"You seem very smart young lady, what's your name?" he asked.

"It's Carmen." I said.

He went from smiling to a blank stare. "Carmen Smith?"

I nodded, "Yea…how do you know my last name?"

He looked away from me for a minute, "Oh it's nothing…will you see me after class?"

I looked at my schedule, "Uh yea but I have another class after this one."

"That's fine it'll be quick I promise. Now why don't we open our books to page 17."

We did as we were told and opened up our books. He turned on the projector and began to lecture. Ramie had turned around and asked me to get his number for her. I shook my head and then started paying attention to the lecture.

When class was over I went and stood in front of his desk while everyone else filed out of the room. He sat down in his chair and looked up at me with a look of concern.

"Carmen I wanted to see you because I use to live in your old town. I was just wondering how you were doing after what happened six years ago."

I looked away from him for a moment. "I'm Ok I guess."

"Well I wanted to give you my number. If you ever need anyone to talk to I'm here for you Ok? I know that day must have been terrible for you."

"Yea it was. Thanks for understanding,"

He smiled and wrote down his number. "No problem, now remember you can call me anytime you want."

I nodded and placed the little sheet of paper in my purse. "Well I've got to go, thanks again."

"No problem."

I walked out of his classroom without looking back. I had never seen him in our town before but then again I spent a lot of time with Glenn and Mark too.

After a long day of classes I went back to my room and relaxed for awhile. When I walked into my room my computer screen was blinking signaling that I had a video message. I put down my purse and books and then went and sat in front of the computer. I sighed before clicking on the video message to open it.

When the screen popped up, I was shocked to see the video from the news six years ago back in my town. It was the same reporter I saw the night they took me to the hospital. She was standing in front of the burnt down funeral home where smoke was still coming up from the windows but the fire was out.

"Summerville has just suffered a tragic loss here today. Two boys and a woman died in this funeral home when an explosion that originated from the basement set the entire place on fire. The only survivor was a thirteen year old girl named Carmen Smith who is the adopted daughter of the embalmer Paul Bearer. The woman's body was found in an upstairs bedroom, but the two boy's bodies were never found. Police believe that they were the cause of the blast and got caught in it just as it went off…incinerating their bodies."

Tears fell from my eyes as I listened to her speak. Who in the hell would have sent this to me? I checked for a return address but there was none. I wiped my eyes and was about to shut off the video when a message popped up.

"Did you see that?" it said. "Watch this video again if you missed what was in the background."

I felt chills run up my spine. "There was something in the background?"

I rewinded the video and watched it carefully looking for anything I could have missed, but I didn't see anything. I sighed and then closed my computer. I was hungry, tired, and now annoyed. Every time I turned around I was hearing about my past. I thought coming here would be alright but it clearly wasn't.

I sat on my bed and stared out of my window wondering what could happen next.