Yours to Hold

2 - Andrew

Everyone was staring at me. I didn't quite understand why they were watching me enter the classroom. I noticed some of the girls were gapping at the mere sight of me, giggling amongst themselves. I didn't get why I had to get unwanted attention. Sure, the teachers are nice and all. But I could see the pity they had in their eyes; pity for me. I take it they knew about the incident with my family 10 years ago. The family that was taken from me.

My mind took me back to that dreadful night; my parents were fighting again, like almost every other night. I had locked myself up in my room to avoid the yelling and screaming. I didn't understand why they had to fight all the time. I knew that we were having troubles getting by, and we didn't have much money. But we had each other; we were all that was left. We needed each other. Soon after the yelling, I heard my mother try to compromise and sort things out. At that point, I believed we were going to make it through. We were going to make things right again.

I suddenly heard the slam of a door opening, my mother screaming and my father shouting at the intruder. I remember the fear; that undescribable fear that coursed through my veins and flowed through my entire body. Once I heard the gunshots, I could've sworn my heart stopped for a moment, then went back to its rapid rhythm.

Everything was silent. So painfully silent that I found myself rushing out of my room only to see both of my parents lying on the hardwood floor. A pool of blood was forming from beneath their still bodies, eyes open and unblinking. I screamed then. I screamed so loud, I was pretty sure that the heavens could hear my cries of loss and pain.

Everything else that happened was a blur; I remember the ambulence sirens and the police cars pulling up at our driveway. The doctors carrying my dead parents' carcuses away from the house, with me calling out to them, sitting in the backseat of an officer's vehicle while trying to be comforted. I was taken to many foster homes here and there, yet I didn't want to get close to anyone after my parents were murdered. I became distant, cold, and maybe even heartless.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I heard the teacher beside me announce my presense, seeing the students ahead of me stare and murmur to one another. But one girl managed to catch my attention; a girl with long dark hair with eyes that glowed under the school lights. She tried not to stare, I noticed, and a smirk graced my lips. She's quite the shy one.

Striding forward, I sat on the desk beside her and watched her cautiously. She turned to face me, and she seemed to be in a sort of daze.

"What are you looking at?" I spoke to her, watching her jump in startlement as a glare began to form on my face.

"N-Nothing." She stuttered, then turned away as if ashamed that she became nervous.

I let out a snort. "Women..."

I watched for her reaction, and she seemed angry. I tried to fight the urge to laugh out loud. Watching her stand and gather her things to leave the room, I couldn't help but shake my head and smirk. That seemed to really throw her off, so she left. After that, several other girls came crowding towards me, asking me the most strangest and straight-forward questions. Such as, "Will you go with me to prom?" Or, "Will you be my boyfriend?"

Wow, I thought. Girls here are pretty desperate. An exhausting 30 minutes had passed until class had ended, and it was time for lunch. Finally, I said to myself. I could use some food. The cafetorium, or so the school called it, was packed with people; staff and students. For my first time in Lennox High School, I felt rather small. That's when I noticed that girl again, sitting by herself with a tray full of food that was untouched.

"Hey." I called out to her, walking towards her to see that her shocked expression turned into a death glare. I laughed. "Is that any way to treat a new kid?"

She turned away. "What do you want?" she hissed, venom in her tone. I must've upset her, I thought. Taking a seat without asking, I watched her for a moment.

"Look... I'm sorry for earlier. It was uncalled for. But seriously, why were you staring?" I asked, finally managing to make her look at me.

"You were making it very difficult to concentrate on reading for one. And another thing..." she paused for a moment, her expression turning soft. "There was something about your eyes that just...." she trailed off.

"That just what?" I asked, smirking. She turned away again, her cheeks turning a light pink.

"Nothing." she replied.

Tilting my head to one side, I blinked. "If you say so." I chuckled bitterly, standing to find another table to sit at. She stopped me by calling out.

"Hey! I didn't catch your name.." she said, eyes avoiding mine.

"Andrew... You?"

She turned to me, and this time with a half-smile. "Lillith.. Lillith Cross."

"Lillith..." I repeated, then a sly smirk appeared on my face. "I'll try to forget."

She glared at me, grabbing her tray and stormed off, ramming into my shoulder. I laughed. This girl is too easy to get agitated. This could be fun.