CHAPTER 3

DPOV

When Monday morning arrived, I readied myself slowly and robotically. I was still pondering over the previous night's events. Who were those people? Mother noticed my quizzical look.

"Is everything alright? My love" she murmured over the central counter top of the kitchen.

I scratched at the permanent stain left by spilt bleach, contemplating my reply "fine mama, just nervous, that's all" I kissed her cheek just in time for victoria to coming speeding down the stairs and screeching the a halt, millimetres from the front door. The girl was way too excited for school.

"Come'n, come'n, come on!" she whined "we're precisely 42 seconds late!"

"Ah, but still 18 seconds early" said mama, and with that she hugged and wished us luck. We left for school. The bus ride there was pleasant enough. Watching the trees pass by, Victoria bouncing with excitement and the other passengers catching up from the long summer break.

Then, we had arrived, among the other thousand or so kids who went to 'St. Vladimir's High School'. The grounds were packed! Footballs flying, soccer games were in play, girls chatting, texting, grooming themselves and professors screaming for organisation. They were ignored.

Stood on the steps, staring up at the grand gothic building, the nerves suddenly pounced. I was not prepared for this! At the same moment a women dressed in a grey skirt and suit jacket stalked out in her stiletto heels onto the top steps leading to the building, and a whistle so loud cracked through the hum and buzz of the returning students.

"Welcome all, back to 'St. Vladimir's' I am happy to see familiar faces and new ones. For those who do not know me, I am Head Mistress Kirova, now you may all proceed to your home rooms and await your schedules and teachers." With that she turned and advanced into the school, the rest of the student body followed behind.

When ensuring Victoria was in the right place, I went in search for my class. 7B, how hard could that be to find, right? ... Wrong? The school was a maze of confusing, twisting and turning passages all leading to class rooms, staff rooms, rest rooms, everywhere but room 7B. It was at this point; through the haze of my confusion I tripped and went straight into a group of jock-looking guys.

"Hey, Dude! Watch where you're going next time!" he was blonde haired and green eyed.

"Sorry, I'm lost." I said

"And new!" this guy was ginger. Now, they were all looking at me.

"Hey, well, no worries then" again the first one. "I'm Adrian, and the people you just fell into are my friends" he smiled. It was friendly, but I still kept my guard.

"Dimitri, sorry again guys" I said.

"It's fine. I'm Mason" he pointed to himself, his brown eyes sparkled and his charismatic ginger hair seemed to match his personality. "And these are Eddie, Aaron and Christian." He pointed out the rest. Eddie; light brown hair and blue eyed. Aaron; blond haired and brown eyed. Christian; seemed familiar.

He noticed my stare. "Are you OK man?" I instantly recognised him, his voice! The same voice from the garden the previous night!

I gulped. Not wanting to give anything away. "Fine, just a bit overwhelmed is all" he nodded his black hair shaking and crystal blue eyes were drawn to something across the hallway. A girl, she was tall, blonde with green eyes, the usual American beauty. However, there is an air of grace and respect to her. Christian appeared to but utterly in love with her, and no one noticed.

After talking and 'getting to know the group' was over, I was taken to 7B, which my new 'friends' we also in. Randomly sat in a seat, the professor stated the rules and took a head count and then we were left to talk again. The class burst simultaneously into a shower of words thrown over heads to others, insults, summer stories. When abruptly, a car skid sounded outside as a black sleek mustang came to a speeding halt outside the school. I heard the car door slam shut and the click of the locks turning. Everyone was silent, watching the scene unfold. This was when the whispers started. Students all around me saying; "she's back!"… "I thought she was expelled!"... "Suspended anyway!"… "Why is she back?" and so on, so forth.

The door crashed open, and behind it there she was. The girl everyone had been whispering about.

She stood proud and strong, and she was stunningly beautiful. Her long black-brown hair cascaded in waves down her back, so long and shiny, I had the urge to run my fingers through it. Her body curved and moved in all the right places, her clothes clearly pronouncing them. Her luscious lips lifted in a slight smirk at the class's silence, again subduing my urges to kiss her there and then. Her deep black eyes pierced into all who dared looked, forcing them to look away.

At that moment she looked my way and a small chuckle escaped her lips. The sound filled the air and was like sweet music to my ears. I wanted to know who she was, what she was like. Everything about her, I wanted to know. I wanted her to be mine.

I clearing of the throat sounded and a small breath escaped from the class in anticipated. The professor shivered with apprehension. "Rose…" he paused as her eyes burned into his. "Miss Hathaway" it was then my world shattered. Could this astonishing creature before me be that same person whom was in my garden the previous night? The Professor continued.

"… I think that… Err… maybe you should visit the head mistress… now" his voice lacked command; he asked more of a question than an order.

"Ha! ... I see no reason why!" she coyly teased him.

"You know why…. Miss Hathaway!" a little stronger but still you could see she was in control.

"Very well!" with that she turned and began to leave, pausing in the doorway. "Hey Chris, see you later" then left.

The door shut and rumours burst into the air. Shock had filled my body. I sat still as stone. Disappointment was written into my features. How and why? I didn't know the answers, but I was sure to find out. I was determined still to know Rose Hathaway!