The girl blinked twice and Brandon's eyes widened. "Uh. Stella." He said amazed.
"Son?" His father said looking at him. "You know her?" He said disappointed in his own work of relocating.
"She goes to my school." He mumbled as she sauntered away into a different room.
"Son, I need a favor." His father adjusted his tie and put his hand on Brandon's should. "Watch out for her for me while I'm not around. Don't let anyone get too close. If anything is suspicious, take her away." He lessened to Brandon.
Brandon nodded, not positive why, but he did.
Brandon's father got up and walked to the room that she retreated to. She walked out shortly, paler than usual and her hair was draped over one eye. "Hi." She choked out.
"Hey." He waved.
"You know her." His dad moaned and dug his face in his hands once he was home.
"Dad, it's fine." He chuckled to himself at his Dad's self tortument.
"Son, I need a promise. That you will do everything to keep her past life a secret. Ok?" His father said with his fingers in a flicking motion to his son.
"What's her past life like?" Brandon said crossing his arms and leaning against the cabnets.
"Get her to tell you." His dad was walking away.
Brandon got out of his truck and slammed the door. Ashely came waddling over to him in a short skirt and tank top with high heels. He sighed, another day, another Ash. "Hey boo!" She yipped and pulled him down for a kiss. He puckered his lips away from hers to avoid too much drool.
Stella slammed the door to her small pickup. She glanced at Brandon and adjusted the bow in her hair. Her long pony tail trailed down her back to her short floral skirt and soft pink tank top with small wedges. She completed the look with a classy spin, not a slutty style like Ashely. She walked past Brandon and he turned his head to her and smiled. She looked back and slightly smiled. He felt a cold hand bring his attention away. "Brandon, are you staring at her?!" Ashely accused. "Nawh," He shook his head and walked with her to class.
At lunch, Stella played the hermit game but was detected by a couple boys. Those boys attracted 4 other boys to her attention. Brandon saw that Ashely wondered to the bathroom with her other friends so he got up and walked to Stella's side. "Guys, beat it. Really." Brandon scolded. The boys immediatly fled due to the fact that Brandon towered over with a football shirt on. The nerds and wanna-be jocks fled and he looked to her solemly. "You okay?" He asked. She smiled more and nodded. "Thanks," She grinned. He looked around and sat down with her. "Can I get you a ride home?" He asked with a smile. She nodded and sighed, "My truck is terrible." She mumbled. He chuckled and the bell rang loudly. He quickly wondered away from Ashely's newly powdered stare and helped Stella into his truck.
He ran around the stares of confused classmates and slammed his truck door and turned the key. His truck groaned to life and started a steady mumble. He turned down the radio before it deafen them and an awkward silence rose. "So...um..." He started. Her gaze was tracked out the window into the glazey pale blue sky. The uncomfortableness left Brandon quiet. She folded her arms tightly and sighed. "So, Stella." He started. She broke her aweless stare from the window and glanced at him, "Yeah.." She murmured softly. "If I can ask, why are you in the Witness Protection?" He asked not breaking his stare to the road. She sighed a little.
"I used to live in Georgia. Bright skies, good school, hot guys." She smiled lightly. "I had a boyfriend named Jesse. He was tall, with curly brown hair and powerful blue eyes. Simply gorgeous. Not one flaw I saw. He was school president, football...all American." She said with film over her eyes. "He got involved with the wrong crowd but couldn't get out. One day, I was sitting all alone in my house and he came over drunk. With his friends. He tried to force his way in but I called the cops." She nodded quietly to herself. "Apparently, his gang was out to get me because their 'leader' got arrested because of me." She used air quotes to show the immaturity of the whole situation. "I was shot at twice." She added with a small laugh.
Brandon held his breath. She was tougher than he thought.
He pulled up to her drive way and helped her out. He held his jacket over her head and ran her to her front door. She shook off the excess rain and thanked his for the effort. "Thanks for the ride," She nodded as the rain increased in buckets. She stared at a puddle gain depth and looked to him. "Come on in," She laughed keying the hole and chugging it open. The water seeped through the door so he had to add effort. She set her soaked bright blue backpack on the tall glass table and smoothed her hair in the small mirror above the phone. She turned to him and he looked uncomfortable. "Take off your backpack and get comfortable. My home is your home," She smiled and jumped over the couch and sprawled out on it. He slid it off and set it up against the wall.
"Wanna start on homework?" She offered. He nodded and pulled out his soaked notebook. She giggled and grabbed a stack of paper from her bedroom and laid it on the table. He scanned through them and chuckled and turned to her. "You already did it?" He laughed. "Get crackin water boy," She smiled and sat back down. He laughed and walked to her living room. She patted the seat next to herself and he sat down.
"So, about that...girl that you're dating. Do you even like her?" She prodded.
He frowned a little. "I used to, a lot. She's changed. Badly. I'm waiting it out for this phase to wear off." He convinced himself.
She nodded then shook her head. "Honey, that's not a phase." She giggled. He laughed a little after her.
"Well, I'll just cross my fingers." He said soothingly. His voice was cool and he laid back. She yawned and got up and reached for a blanket. "I am sleeping." She murmured.
He looked up and stood up, "OK, I'll go." He said quickly. "You don't have to leave." She laughed at his embarrassment. He chuckled at his own flaw and look down to her. He was a good 1 foot taller but his view was nice. Finally not down a shirt like when he looks at Ashely. She hopped on her couch and draped the blanket over her body. "Stay a while." She smiled to him and laid her head on the arm rest of the couch. "I will," He responded soothingly to get her to sleep. She yawned and slowly drifted into a deep slumber. He watched quietly. He would normally quickly jet out of there and drive home but he promised. He found his eyes sagging and he took 10 second naps on shifts. He closed his eyes to relax but when he tried to open them, they didn't. He fell asleep with the restless sleeper who shifted onto his torso.