Affliction

Chapter 1

Abagail

It was the last day of my last year in High school. The ring of the final bell chimes, setting off a stampede of wild animals; laughing, screaming and making weird whaling noises  I've never heard before.

I take the elastic band off my high tied ponytail finally letting my golden locks breathe as I finish my final challenge of the year. Getting Brandon Pastrami to sign my year book.

Brandon, the best looking quarter back Colorado's ever seen. His short cut brunette hair was perfectly spiked up yet messy, his acne free peach skin glows in every beam of sun that hits his perfect face; and those eyes I could melt in them deep blue babies.

"Hi Brandon." I approached as he's swarmed by a herd of junior and senior girls easily asking the same question that took me 3 hrs in the bathroom mirror to ask. His famous signature, "Oh what's up Swan Lake."? He giggled spotting me over the herd throwing yearbooks in his hands left and right.

Taking a deep breath I shout over them "I know your busy but..." I began trying to finish asking as quickly as possible without him realizing the quiver in my voice. "You asking me out?" He interrupts with a devilish smirk that brings out his right dimple; I just melted inside.

All the girls abruptly stop in their tracks and turn to me not one of them amused, just waiting on my response. "No. Can you sign my year book"? I finish, nervously brushing my hair with my hand. "Anything for you Swan Lake." He replies reaching over the girl of fan girls to grab my book again showing off that beautiful dimple.

Brandon and I have known each other for years now; and I've had a crush on him since the day we met in grade school. We never became actual friends, but we still grew a connection through the years of having the same random classes together.

We are often paired up in class as buddy's or lab partners. He's always been the hot shot, sex on a stick "bad boy" that drove all the females bananas - some males too.  I never knew how he actually felt about me.

We are all soon rushed out of the classroom by Mr. Gannet, "so there's this party tonight." His deep soothing voice details my thought train. Still holding my yearbook hostage " I hope to see you there" he continued. "A party"? I ask sounding a little dumb-founded, again I nervously brush a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Well I think you need to break out of that little shell of yours Swan." He states persistently; As we step outside and the beam from the summer sun blinds me, I have to put my hand over my eyes in order to look up at him.

He was so tall compared to me so this was normal. "Cmon, please." Now he was pleading for sure as he grabs my free hand. I giggle in amusement to his gesture of proposal and shrug.  "I guess I could try."
Finally agreeing he gives a little devious snicker and says "great."

One of his teammates Todd hangs his body halfway out of the bus window "cmon B-where going to be late." Brandon waves his arm at him in a "wait a minute" gesture and hands me my yearbook with a little slip of paper which had the address 115 Homestead Ln. written on it  "That's the address." He whispers before darting off.

"Wait, I didn't get to sign your book!" I shout in the most desperate voice I could, as he boards the bus he turns and lets me know he will bring it to the party; so now I have to go. I could feel  little smirk of satisfaction creep up on my face after the bus pulls off - I he just been invited to a party by Brandon Pastrami, I mean I have been invited to parties before but never by him.

"Hey Abby-let's go!"  Jess shouts as she rushes past me dropping her skate board, "we're going to be late for dinner." She continued strapping on her helmet. My little sister Jess or "Jessica" was a beauty that I always admired.

Her short blonde and brown hair just barley peeking out the bottom of her helmet, she wore a Guns & Roses crop top that hung just above her pierced navel. Her waist was so small they could barely keep up her ripped jeans, and she had on her favorite pair of old beat up white Nike forces or as she refers to them her designated skater shoes.

She's a rugged little beauty at only 16 which makes me seem like the Duff of us two. Here I am 18 with medium flowing golden blonde locks that stopped right below the wings of my back, I didn't have any tattoos or piercing due to my fear of needles.

My peach skin though clear of acne, always seemed so dull compared to hers. At least we shared the same almond amber eyes with long flowing lashes that everyone would die for.

"I'm coming." I chose after her. We didn't live too far from the school so the walk home wasn't bad- Jess kick pushing her way up the block couldn't help but pester. "So Brandon Pastrami huh?" She asks with a little smirk on her face. "We're just friends." I defend while trying to hide the red blush forming on my peachy cheeks.

She gave a little chuckle "Does your friend know you have a shrine of him all over your closet "? She pesters further as she pushes herself ahead of me. " I DO NOT"! I shout behind her following her into the house.

Before I made it inside I felt a weird shiver down my spine like the kind you get when you know someone's  watching you . I quickly skim my surroundings but no one was there. "Cmon I'm starving!" Jess shouts pulling me inside.