Torn up

Chapter 1

I looked out the frosty glass window to my right. The rain trickled down drop after drop. It was grey out, darker than most rainy days. The clouds hung low in the mountains and across the Black Lake. I traced a raindrop on the glass as it fell and my hands became colder. My knuckles slowly turned a dark shade of red and contrast to the pale skin around it. I gripped my book tight with my other hand.

I muttered something softly to myself.
"What?" Someone questioned from across the room. I turned around to see a figure sitting on the couch.
"Nothing, sorry I thought I was alone." I didn't want to bother whoever was sitting in the common room.
"No, repeat what you said." The stranger said sternly. I repeated myself.
"The rain can make us sad, until we see closely the beauty of a single raindrop. And so to the same with life.
"What's that from?" He asked. I could tell it was a man from the way he spoke.
"Me."
"Oh, sounded like something a poet or writer would say."
"Well maybe I am. Who are you anyways?" I stuttered.
"Depends on who's asking." He remarked.

I was leaning on the window ledge, refusing to move just yet to see who it was. So I got comfortable and wanted to make conversation with this mysterious soul. I would start by telling him my name.

"I'm Diana Durocher."
"Nice to meet you Ms. Durocher."
"Likewise." I added. I needed to make conversation. Something I knew a lot about. Books. Perfect.
"What's your favorite writing?" I inquired.
"That's a good question, anything by Edgar Alan Poe."
"Ah yes, "Sleep, those little slices of death; Oh how I loathe them." I quoted.
"You read his work?"
"Of course, whenever I get the chance." I grinned. I wanted to know who this man was. My curiosity was overwhelming my mind to where I could barely make out a thought.
"You intrigue me Ms. Durocher, why don't you come over here."
"But then where's the mystery in that." I acknowledged sarcastically with a slight chuckle.
"Mysteries are meant to be solved, aren't they." I was surprised with his words, but yet he was not incorrect.

I collected my book and glided over to the couch at which he was sitting on. It was dark, but the fireplace glowed up the area surrounding the dark green velvet couches and chairs. I looked down over the couch and saw a boy with dark brown hair and a charming chiseled face. It took me a moment to realize who it was.
"Riddle?" I said astonished, not knowing one of those mischievous boys could be this deep in thought.
"Please call me Zachary." And he gestured to the spot next to him.

I hesitated for a bit. I was simply frozen. I didn't know if i was nervous because this was the first guy I've talked to at this school, or because he was a Riddle. My thoughts were interrupted by him grabbing my wrist and pulling me next to him.

"There." He said looking straight into my sage green eyes. I just looked at him, waiting for him to say something.
"So what brings you around the common room this late."
"I always come here, I just read over there and ponder." I pointed over to my little sitting ledge by the window.
"No wonder I haven't noticed you, you've been hiding away in that corner."
"I chose to sit over there, and it's quite nice to be alone." I snapped back.
"Well that makes two things we have in common." He remarked, leaning back on the couch and reached his arm over me. I looked at him and just stared.
"I'm just getting comfortable." He smirked.
"Oh really." I said back slyly.
"What other readings do you enjoy, Ms. Durocher."
"I've always loved the book "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott, but i never got to finish it because some idiot lost it at the library." I didn't mean to get so fumed.
"Hmm, well I'm sorry." He said as he started twirling strands of my brown hair.
"Wha-what are you doing." I turned to him.
"You're very pretty, are you new here?"
"Yes, I'm from France, it was quite lovely there."

He nodded and continued to twist the strands of my hair. It took me a while to realize how late it was. I looked out my window and it was pitch black. It had been about 10 minutes of us sitting there in complete silence. Not awkward, but silent. He still had his fingers intertwined with my hair, I could tell he was about to say something else but was interrupted by two people walking through the door.

"Well well well,  what do we have here." The first one said.
"Getting cozy with the foreigner I see?" Said the other.
"Excuse my brothers." He had gently gotten up and walked past me as he went to confront the boys.
"May I help you, because if I can't I was kinda in the middle of something." He said, raising his eyebrows and looking at me.
"Who is she?"
"Probably another one of his side girls."
"Excuse me I am not a side piece." I said getting up.
"It's ok Dianna, just sit back down I'll be over in a second." Zachary said back to me.
"No, no, let her come here."

I got up and walked over to the two imbeciles talking to me.

"What's your name again?" 
"Dianna, Dianna Durocher. I don't think I have had the pleasure of knowing yours."
"Got yourself a feisty one, haven't you Zach."
"I'm not his." I said looking over to Zachary.        
"Then I think I must be blind, because I swear I saw something going on when we busted in here."
"I think you're right Theo."
"Well, don't just stand here. Introduce yourselves." Zachary said motioning his arms to me.
"Oh right. Well I am Tom, call me if this one doesn't work out." He said walking out the door. I was completely astonished by the utterly rude encounter I just had with him.
"Oh also, I'm Theo." He said and winked as he followed Tom out the door.
Nothing like their brother. I looked over at him still partially in shock due to the recent situation.
"Sorry about them, they can be a bit much sometimes." He said rubbing the back of his neck. I could tell he was anxious. I walked over to him and grabbed his arm and looked up at him.
"Hey, it's all good. I'm just going to head up to my room. It was nice meeting you." I waved goodnight as I walked up the stairs to my dorm.

Zachary's POV
Why did God pick this family for me. I hadn't done anything wrong. I guess it's just my luck when I meet a beautiful girl, I can't have one moment to myself. I was hoping to keep the fact I had brothers out of the conversation for a bit. Definitely not a great way to start off a relationship. I watched her all the way from the bottom of the stairs and up to her dorm.
"Should have gotten her number." I heard Tom say. I turned around to see him leaning on the door frame with Theo behind him. What a suck up.

"Why, it's not like she would be interested. Especially after that stunt you two just pulled." I remarked.
"You need to hang loose sometimes." Theo said.
"So seriously, what's the deal with her." He said looking up the stairs leading toward the girls dormitories.
"I just met her today, don't get too excited." I said back.
"Perfect that means she's still up for grabs." Theo said.
"Guys, we can't all go after her." I said.
"Says who?" Tom replied walking past me bumping into my shoulder.
"I like a little family competition.." Theo added.

Just like that, she was gone. I was going to compete against the two most "attractive" guys in our school. I wouldn't say she's lucky though, they tend to get, well let's just say besides looks they don't have a lot going for them. Maybe she was different though, she did thoroughly participate in conversations about poems. I don't see my brothers being her type, but we'll see, I guess.