Gabriel's Lie - A Woodendale High Mystery

How It Started - The Present

It all started out at a small brew. Amelia Barrett walked into the pub as she went to the counter. And exhaled as she heard the song playing while she looked at the posters up against the wall. She exhaled as she quickly ordered a cheeseburger and looked around.

"You all right down there?" a man asked.

He was young, mysterious, and quite handsome. Amelia didn't know how to respond but she responded quickly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a little jet lagged. I just got back from Europe," Amelia said.

"What part of Europe?"

"Iceland. I visited my mother and younger brother. They've been staying there for the past 6 years," Amelia said.

"Why didn't you settle down with them?" he asked reading through his book.

"My, um, my parents got divorced back when I was 15. The court decided to separate me and my brother. A decision that none of us were very fond about, but yeah," Amelia said.

"They've been staying there for six years, you were fifteen when it all happened, meaning you are... You're twenty-one," he said as Amelia chuckled.

"Kinda. I'm turning 21 soon, yeah, so you can technically state that I am still twenty," Amelia said.

"University?"

"Woodendale College of Education. I'm studying American Literature," Amelia said.

"What I'm going to be teaching. I'm starting my first teaching job tomorrow at a high school close to here. I'm Hunter, by the way. Hunter Mitchell."

"I'm Amelia Barrett, nice meeting you. And you probably mean the only high school in town. Woodendale is a small place, not a lot of people," Amelia said.

"Been living here for long?" Hunter asked.

"My whole life essentially. I was born in Woodendale and have been living here even since. It's a relatively small town with more than enough small-town drama around for everyone," Amelia said.

"Seems like my town then. I originally come from a big city and rich family, so some boring small-town drama will do me good," Hunter said as Amelia chuckled.

"Trust me, I know everything about complicated families. My brother has resented me ever since we were separated when he was younger. Maybe you could keep an eye on him? He's supposed to be starting at Woodendale High," Amelia said as Hunter nodded and moved closer to Amelia.

"How can I say no to such a beautiful girl now? I would love to help you, Amelia," Hunter said.

Amelia smiled as she saw how Hunter leaned closer, pressing his lips on hers, and softly kissing her. She has kissed men before in her life, but it didn't feel like this one. It felt different. Hunter pulled away, biting his lip, as he looked at Amelia.

"I would really like to get to know you," Hunter said.

"I would really like to get to know you too," Amelia said.

Before either could even tell, they were in the bathroom making out. To Amelia, it felt different. Like a curse taken over from her. Hunter lifted her onto the bathroom island, never separating their lips, as he continued to kiss her. To them both it felt magical. Like nothing ever before, and they knew it would bring a lot of new things.