Meeting Once More

One month later . . .

Alice's POV

"Alice? Earth to Alice . . . Alice!?" Runo shouted and I quickly snapped back to reality and looked at her.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I asked.

"I said that everyone's downstairs waiting for us. Are you ok?" Runo asked concerned, but I quickly smiled and nodded to her.

"I'm fine, I'm just a little . . . tired is all from yesterday's shopping madness." I joked and she smiled to me.

I wanted to tell Runo what had been happening to me lately, but ever since a month ago with the guy at the mall and the guy with the coffee. I just don't know how I would explain it all to her. I mean the last time we all hung out together and we went to the park I looked around and started to notice that same weird feeling I get when I last saw the two guys. Sometimes I'd even swear I'd see some people's eyes glow along with their bodies sometimes . . . I feel like something new is happening to me, but what exactly? As Runo and I made our way down stairs, I noticed everyone was here, including Shun . . . Lately he's been around us more since he came with us to the mall that day.

I didn't mind it; I was just surprised if anything. Then a sudden wave of realization hit me that I had almost forgotten about. I wanted to ask Shun about what that guy had said to me a while back like belonging to Shun? Being careful about me? The guy being surprised when he touched me? I was so confused and wanted answers, but I wondered if Shun could actually answer them? He probably will think I'm weird, or even crazy but still . . . What exactly was happening to me? Soon we all decided to head to the park and have a little picnic together. It was really nice out today and for a while everything seemed nice, but I couldn't help but feel that strange feeling I get inside me. I would look around and see no one, but the feeling just wouldn't go away.

Soon we got settled with picking a spot to have a picnic and started to chat away. It was nice being with my friends like this and enjoying each other's company. However, I would glance at Shun and just saw a plain expression on his face as he drank his tea. I couldn't tell if he was enjoying the picnic or not, but it was nice to see him again I guess. Suddenly he glanced at me and I quickly turned away blushing. I guess I must have been staring at him more than I thought. Suddenly though I started to feel that strange feeling inside me getting stronger. Without even realizing it I stood up and looked around from my spot. I looked through the trees and saw no one in sight, but I still felt something.

"Alice?" Dan suddenly spoke.

"Is everything alright Alice?" Julie questioned and I looked to my friends and suddenly realized I must have startled them with me suddenly standing up.

"What!? Oh . . . sorry, I was just um . . . I thought I saw something, but it was just my mind playing tricks on me . . ." I explained, but they seemed pretty worried including Shun as his eyes were looking at me as I looked to the ground.

"I think I'm going to take a short walk, I'll be back in a little while." I explained and then started to immediately walk away.

Something was definitely not right with me. I know what I'm feeling and if it's anything like the two guys I meant before, then I sure is heck don't want to be around. As I walked around, I noticed there wasn't a single person in sight which made me feeling nervous. I looked through the trees and noticed the sun's rays hitting my soft skin which made me relax a little as I felt it's warmth. I hugged my arms and slowly closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I let the sun's ray give me warmth. I smiled warmly feeling more relaxed and calm now.

"Alice?" A voice said.

I suddenly opened my eyes and quickly turned to see who it was. My eyes widen a little in fear as I saw that guy who I gave coffee to standing only a few feet away from me. I watched as he took a step forward and I took a few steps back.

"Alice, is everything alright? You look like you saw a ghost." He said with a smile on his face.

"Who are you?" I questioned immediately and he grinned as we took a few steps toward me and extended his hand to me.

"I apologize I haven't introduced myself yet . . . Hi I'm Luke," He greeted, but I refused to shake his hand.

"Look Luke . . . I don't know how you know my name as I didn't give it to you, but I have no idea who you are." I replied as he gave a small laugh and placed his hand in his pocket now.

"You're right . . . you don't me." He smiled.

He started to walk closer to me now as I started to back away from him. Suddenly I felt my back hit a tree and his hand lay on the tree I was against. I could see his eyes and I noticed them glowing in front of me and my eyes begin to widen as he gave a soft laugh.

"You don't who I am, or even . . . what I am." He smirked.

I felt my heart racing inside me and my pulse rising. I was scared at this moment as there was no one here to help me. A part of me wanted to leave and run away, but the other part of me was too scared and also . . . curious to leave. He knew something about me . . . I can tell and I can still feel that weird presence around me and I knew it was him. Our faces were so close that it made me feel nervous and uncomfortable, but soon I spoke to him.

"W-Who are you?" I asked sheepishly, still kind of afraid as he laughed a little.

"I told you I'm Luke," He laughed.

"Let me rephrase that, what exactly are you then?"

Soon his grin diminished a little, but then I felt his other hand push my hair to the side making me shutter at his touch. He gave another grin and soon spoke.

"What do think I am?" He simply asked, as I knew he was just was waiting to hear what I would have to say.

I couldn't answer him right away as I wasn't sure what exactly he was . . . His eyes continued to glow and there would be a few times, I'd see his body start to glow as well. I didn't know what he was, but no matter what I had to get answers from him.

"I-I d-don't know . . . But I can see it . . ." I spoke sheepishly.

"See what . . . Alice," He whispered into my ear and then looking at me straight into my eyes.

"You're eyes and body . . . they tend to glow some times." I explained and he grinned taking a step back from me much to my relief.

"So you can see it," He spoke making my eyes widen in surprise as he actually believed me!

"Wait, so I'm not totally crazy and what I saw is actually really there!" I exclaimed and he laughed and nodded.

"Well of course, I mean after all I know what I am and how I look." He explained and then realization hit me.

"What exactly are you then?"

"Do you want to see?"

I was surprised by his sudden offer and actually quite scared by it too at the same time. I had no idea who Luke was or what he knew about me . . . I don't even really trust him, but . . . I also want to know though what it is that I'm seeing. I want answers . . . I looked to him as he grinned to me as he waited for my answer and soon I slowly nodded to him hoping I wouldn't be regretting my decision. Suddenly he walked toward me slowly making it seem like he wasn't going to hurt me, then suddenly I saw his hand slowly reaching for my face. I didn't flinch or move right when he was about to touch me. However, suddenly his arm was stopped by someone else's hand holding onto Luke's arm. I turned to look and see who it was and saw myself staring at none other than Shun!

"What do you think you're doing Luke!?" Shun demanded as Luke grinned.

"Well if it isn't Shun . . . Haven't seen you in a while. How's the new life treating you?" Luke asked as Shun continued to glare at him.

"I'm not playing games Luke, what do you think you're doing here with Alice!" Shun demanded as Luke continued to grin.

"Showing her what you have yet to show her yourself."

Soon everyone remained silent as I started to process what Luke meant by showing me. I glanced at Shun who kept his eyes locked on Luke's. What did Shun know that I was obviously didn't know? What was he hiding from me?

"Show me what?" I finally spoke up first as now all eyes laid on me, including Shun's as he looked to me.

"The truth that Shun has yet to reveal to you. He and I both know something about you, that you haven't got a clue about." Luke explained as Shun then pulled him by the collar of his shirt to my surprise glaring at Luke.

"Don't say another word Luke! She is not getting dragged into this!" Shun exclaimed as Luke laughed.

"I don't think you quiet understand Shun. No matter what you do, nothing will change the fact on who she is and what gift she holds!" Luke exclaimed.

"It doesn't matter, because I won't let her be dragged into any of this." Shun said letting go of Luke's collar as Luke backed up a little and fixed his shirt.

"I wonder how long you can keep protecting her from the truth, because chances are there will be someone else that discovers her gift and then what? You can't keep hiding her from the truth forever."

"I can try," Shun simply replied to Luke who now turned toward me and gave a small smile to me.

"I'm sorry I couldn't show you, before we were rudely interrupted." Luke said glancing at Shun who still glared at Luke and then back to me.

"I'm certain you and I will meet again Alice, so until then . . . I bid you farewell." Luke said before walking away and disappearing into the forests.

Suddenly my knees felt weak and I slowly fell to the ground still lying on the tree. I was so confused by what just happened. What did Luke mean be everything he had said to Shun? Suddenly I saw Shun now in front of me as I looked up into his eyes. He remained emotionless, but politely offered me his hand. What did Shun exactly know? I slowly reached for his hand and took it in mine as he slowly helped me up, but then he immediately let go and started to walk back toward out friends, but I couldn't just leave without an answer.

"Shun I-." I spoke, but was cut off.

"No . . . we're not talking about what just happened, end of story." He said coldly, but I wasn't leaving.

"Shun I'm not leaving, until I get an answer about . . . something! I have no idea what's going on, who I really am, what gift I supposedly have, what I'm seeing or who I'm exactly seeing, and . . . how you might play a part in this now." I explained feeling tired and frustrated.

We stood in silence for a while, until shun slowly walked toward me as we gazed into each other's eyes. When he stopped right in front of me he left out a sigh and spoke.

"If I answer one question, can we please drop this conversation?" Shun asked me.

"Only for today," I nodded and he sighed again and soon spoke.

"You're still Alice and that's who you'll always be. That's who you really are. I know you probably wanted me to answer a different question, but . . . Look all you need to know is that everything will be fine and that you need to stay away from people like Luke and don't let them near you. They're . . . dangerous people who can't be trusted and I need you to trust me on this." Shun explained and for a while I didn't say anything as I was still so lost and confused.

"Please Alice," Shun actually begged as I looked into his eyes now which told me he was concerned and worried for me.

"I just need you to trust me on this. Please don't ask me about any of this. I don't want you to be dragged into any of this ok? I'm doing this because you're my friend." Shun said.

As I stared into his eyes, I could tell that every word he said to me he meant. Although I wanted to know what was going on, maybe it was best that I didn't know. I trust Shun and if it's better for me not to know then . . . It'll be ok.

"Ok . . . I trust you, but there's one condition I want in return." I said to Shun and he slowly nodded to me.

"Don't . . . drift away from us anymore." I spoke as he looked at me confused and a little surprised.

"We're you're friends Shun and although I don't know what's been bothering you, or upsetting you lately I can tell something has changed about you. Whether it relates to whatever it is that happened today or not just . . . remember you can always count on your friends. You can always count on me. We were once close Shun, but now it's like you're a total stranger." I explained and he didn't say anything for a while as he stared at the ground thinking, until I spoke again.

"All I'm saying is that whatever it is that you're going through, you don't have to go through it alone." I smiled to him hoping to lighten the mood.

I started to head toward where our friends were without any words left to say, until I heard Shun say something from behind me that made me stop in my tracks.

"Thank you . . . Alice," Shun said as I turned around to see a small smile on his face.

I smiled back to him and nodded and soon he caught up to me as we headed back to our friends.