Two Beating Hearts

Chapter 6: Lights out

My book bag overflowed with clutter as I jammed my books in, including the note, which I crammed all the way to the bottom to ensure it doesn't fall out. Boy then would I be in trouble.

Peering up and around the room, Max was already gone. I grabbed up my book bag, throwing it across my back as I walked out of first period.

Bumping people and the wall, I wiggled my way through the narrow, crowded hallway. The hall smelled like stinky feet mixed with a hint of lavender. Not a good combination..

A crash of thunder roared through the hall causing everyone to go quiet and still.

Suddenly I lock eyes with Andy who's standing about 20 feet away at the end of the hall in the corner glaring at me expressionless. In fear I break eye contact and continue past him, feeling his stare burn through my body. In that same moment everything went black. Screams and laughs echoed through the hallway.

"Everyone stay calm, the thunderstorm knocked the power out, our generators will kick on shortly, until then stay where you are." The principal yelled up the hall in a strained voice, as he must have already yelled several other times.

Dark shadows of students stand against the wall on both sides, it's impossible to tell which shadow is Andy's. My heart races uncontrollably.  A low pitched voice came from behind where I stood, in the middle of the hall.

"You the new girl? " I turned in one quick motion almost jumping.

"I asked you a question, are you that new girl everybody has been talking of? "

His dark face only inches from mine, breath smelled like wintergreen's. without muttering a reply, I try stepping around him but he catches a hold of my forearm stopping me.

"let go, " I cry out, fear coming through my voice. With all the excitement and noise going throughout the hallways, no one could hear me even if I screamed.

"what do you want?" I choke out.

"You." He whispers in a demanding tone directly into my ear again blowing twigs of my hair.

His grip tightened on my arm, struggling was useless. His other hand intertwined into my hair on the back of my head causing pain as he pulled my face into his. Just before our lips made contact, his grip on my arm loosened and his shadow soared through the air with him landing into the front of the lockers against the wall causing a loud cling from the metal rattling. The hall became quiet for a second as everyone tried to figure out what it was.

Standing in shock, the lights came back on. An indention was left where he slammed into the lockers but he was gone. My breath feels caught in my throat as I realize Andy isn't standing in the corner anymore, where could he have gone.

Nobody seemed to have noticed anything except the girls that were asking if lightening struck their lockers.  I walked to second period trying to act like everything was ok.

Sometimes I long to have a real mother I can talk to about my problems, But then again what would I tell her, that I'm stuck with vampires, and one trying to kill me last night. I came to Wilkes county hoping for a fresh start, and that I got just not in the sense I expected.

***

Later at lunch I sit alone. Misty doesn't bat an eye in my direction. She keeps her book held up covering her face. embarrassment clearly showing. Max sits at the table in the corner with a few others. One girl, beautiful with sandy Blonde hair pulled back in a perfect ponytail, laughing as the other two guys spoke. One looked like a football player with the broad shoulders and squared face, with the other one being the complete opposite, skinny, almost scarily skinny with red hair and covered in pimples.

"You know he hasn't stopped looking at you." A girl says as she sits in the seat beside me putting her lunch tray down.

"Who?" I asked shyly but relieved that I'm not sitting alone anymore.

"Max, his eyes are dead set on you." She says with no judgement.

"Na." My checks begin to heat in a way I've never felt before.

"I'm Amber by the way, Amber Waylen," She says in confidence tucking her shoulder length, light brown hair behind her ears.

"I'm Ara....." She stops me before I can get it out.

"Yeah,  I know,  Arabella." She says with a friendly smile. "Will you be coming to the dance tonight?"

"I'm not sure." I really wasn't.

"Oh,  please come,  I'll help you with your hair and makeup." She pleads.

"Okay,  I'll come but no dancing." I've never danced and don't plan to start now.

"Whatever you say." she taunts.