My name is Anastasia but if you call me that I'll drop kick you into the middle of next week. Last month I lost my entire family and my boyfriend Adrian in a car crash. We were on our way to a play I was performing in. I was playing Christine Dae in our school's production of Phantom of the Opera. I was freaking out because we were going to be late and I was not going to let Mariah have the satisfaction of standing in for me. Adrian was trying to calm me down when that dear ran into the road. My dad, who was driving, had jerk hard on the wheel trying to avoid it. He hadn't seen the car coming up behind us.
It's been a month and I can still hear the echoes of my sister's screams and Adrian's last words that never ceased to stab the already gapping wound in my heart. Yet here I was, sitting in a classroom at Cross Academy next to Yori Wakaba, attempting to learn.
I really didn't see any point in even going to school anymore, especially with this silver haired boy that sits behind me glaring at the back of my head all day. I really don't understand what Zero Kiryu's problem with me is and I really wish I had the courage to confront him. Before the accident I probably could have. Now, I'm not so sure.
"Class, I am proud to announce that this year, we will be going on our annual Biology camp out in the woods!"
At the teacher's words the class groaned. One guy even thumped his head on the table. I watched him curiously, to see if he'd get a concussion.
"Now, don't be like that," the teacher, said. "Whether you like it or not we leave Friday and are returning Sunday. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Sensei." The class said in a monotone.
The bell rang and I got up to leave when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to find myself looking into the eyes of Zero. I couldn't read his expression; it was just as annoyingly impassive as it always was.
"Anna, right?" he asked.
Not trusting myself to speak I nodded thinking, was he always this cute?
"Come with me," he said softly, and he turned and walked away. Yori pushed and gestured that I should go with him. I complied and raced to catch up with him.
Somehow we ended up in the Headmaster's office. Zero opened the door for me, then turned and walked away, shooting me a final glare.
What's with him? I thought.
" Anastasia Hardwood, how good to see you."
"Just Anna please, Headmaster."
"I'm your uncle, you don't need to sound so formal, Anna." Said Kaien Cross.
" It' s because you're my uncle and the fact that you're taking care of me that I feel like I should speak formally to you." I said.
My mother's brother smiled brightly and gestured to a seat in front of his desk, his ponytail bobbing slightly as he shook his head. As I sat down he smiled and looked me over.
At 5'2" I was small for my family. I also had the gift of having black hair and violet eyes like my father. There were many times I wished I looked like my mother, who had had the same looks as her older brother, only her hair was longer.
"How are you enjoying school?" Kaien asked.
"It's going well, except for Zero Kiryu glaring at me every day." I leaned back in the chair. "I have no idea what he has against me, I really don't."
Kaien sighed, " I think he's mad at me for taking you in. I think he feels I'm trying to use you to replace my daughter, Yuuki Kuran."
I knew the story about how he had adopted Yuuki, how later he had taken in Zero, until finally Yuuki had found out her past and left with her brother and fiancé, Kaname Kuran.
"That doesn't explain why he doesn't like me."
"I don't think it's because he doesn't like you. I think it's because he had feelings for Yuuki before she left and he doesn't like seeing her replaced, even if they are enemies now." Kaien said.
I leaned forward, processing this new information. "He loved Yuuki?"
"He did but unless you knew him well enough you would have never known. He's good at hiding his feelings."
Then he's like me. We've both lost the one we love. The only difference is, I'll never see Adrian again. There's also the fact that Zero seems to feel like I am replacing her, which is not the case.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "Is that all you wanted to say?" I asked.
"Yes, it is. I just wanted to know how you were doing." Kaien said with a smile.
"Then I'll be leaving now." I got up. When I reached the door I paused. There was someone on the other side I could sense it. I opened the door to face Zero. His arms we crossed and he gave me his usual glare and uncaring look. Now that I knew the reason behind the way he was treating me I could also see sadness buried deep inside him. I brushed past him.
"Anna! Wait!"
I turned back to my uncle who was now standing with Zero in the doorway.
"Have fun tomorrow!" he said. Zero slammed the door in my face as I stifled a groan. Tomorrow was Friday, the day of the Biology camp out. I envisioned myself hitting my head on a "bang head here" sign.
I was going to be stuck with Zero and the rest of my class in the woods until Sunday. Talk about a nightmare. Little did I know the real nightmare was just beginning.