Shadows

Chapter 1 - Beginning

Anne's amber yellow eyes fluttered open. As the sun rose from its sleep, it casted a warm, golden glow into Anne's room, on her face, urging her to wake up. She yawned and stretched in her bed. 'Ahh, another great day.....' She jumped from her bed and landed on the floor like a cat. She was very acrobatic after spending her free time in the school gym. Everything about her was similar to a cat. Sharp features, a slender body and her cunning personality.

She headed to the bathroom and took a long hot shower. After drying herself, she looked in the mirror. A lot of people said that Anne had a vintage beauty. Thick and long eyelashes, dark eyebrows, high cheekbones and full pouting lips. Not to mention her fair skin and long, wavy hair that had the color of rich coffee. Many people mistook her for a 22 year old but she was actually 17. She smiled and that made everything better. She was glad that she has the vintage beauty ( or whatever they call it) because nowadays girls her age wear too much make up and dress very provocatively. All that just to be popular or to get a guy. (Jeez, she thought). She came to her room and dressed up, putting on a dark blue shirt and black pants with yellow stripes.

After some time, she headed downstairs and went the kitchen and saw something that made her smile even more. Her beautiful baby brother Sam, sitting on the baby chair smiling at her.

'Hi, Sammy.' Anne said cheerfully. Little Sam clapped joyfully in response. Anne chuckled. She ate her cereal and then fed Sam his baby food.

'Ok, Sammy. Open wide! Here comes the airplane!!' she put the spoon in his mouth while making airplane noises. Sam was laughing in the most adorable way and then Mom came in.

you can definitely tell that she is Anne's mother because they kind of look like each other. Same hair color, same facial features and what not. Only thing that was different from them was Anne's eyes.

Mom greeted them with a lovely smile.' Hello, my darlings' she said. 'Hey, mom.' 'Mommy!!!' Sam cried happily.

Mom came over and lifted him up to hug him. 'Doesn't he look so happy?' Anne said. 'Honey, he's always like that whenever you're around.' She said with a happy tone.

Anne wanted to stay longer to see her family happy but she realized she was going to be late. 'Mom, I've got to go.' She said hurriedly. Grabbing her bag, she dashed out of the house shouting 'Bye Sammy!! Bye, mom!!'

'Byeeee' Sam squealed. 'Bye, darling. Do well in school!!'Mom shouted. 'you know I do, mom.' Anne replied loudly and quickly flashing a smile to them.

Alastair High was 3 blocks away from Anne's house so she made it in time. Students and Professors were bustling here and there. As Anne reached her locker and opened it, there was another love note from her 'secret admirer'. She groaned. Even though everyone thinks it's a secret admirer, it was actually Rick, her egomaniac friend. Dude's been trying to hit on her for months but Anne never gave in, considering his desire for his reputation. She had much better things to do rather than date that rich, ego – loving showoff. After he knew she wouldn't give in, he decided to send her love notes as a secret admirer but she was too clever and hasn't yet spilled the beans.

This time, which was the 23rd one, the love note said 'Hello, love. You're looking damn fine. My heart yearns for yours. Please be mine, my sweet, sexy kitten. From your one and only, Secret Admirer.' She groaned even more. This dude needs to learn how to write properly to a lady. And some literary classes. Even though he is like that, he can be friendly and funny and good in Math where he helped Anne a lot and that's why he remained as Anne's friend.

She took her books and rushed to class. 'Hey, Anne' 'Whassup, Anne' 'Hi, Anne' 'Hello, Anne.' everyone in the class greeted her, including Rick. She sat next to her best friend, Joanna. Jo had black long curly hair, a few strands falling over her face, coffee- dark skin and black eyes shining. She has a reputation of being a gangster without a gang. You could easily tell by looking at her. Bling over bling, long, baggy clothes, a beanie that holds most of her hair, many rings on her long fingers and a thug look on her face. But at times she is friendly and helpful, thanks to Anne, the miracle worker.

'Yo, Anne, my girl.' She said in her deep voice.

'Hi, Jo.' She replied. 'Yo, I heard that a new dude is comin to town.' 'Who?' Jo shrugged her shoulders. 'I dunno, dude. Just heard about it.' 'Huh, I wonder who.' Anne said.

In front of her, a girl with makeup painted too much on her face and blonde curls turned around and said 'oooh, I heard the newbie's a hottie!!!! Can sweep women off their feet!!!' she squealed while making those girly hand gestures all over. 'Great. I'm going to need my gravity boots, then.' Anne mentioned, tone dipped in sarcasm.

Jo stifled her laugh while the girl Blanchett looked confused for a minute and then started laughing, giving out an ear- piercing sound. Good lord. Anne thought.

'Oh, you are soooo funny, Anne!!' she said, smiling her entire 32 teeth out. Anne thought she was going blind by looking at that. Same for Jo.

Then Jo and Anne got busy talking about the new person. 'So we know it's a guy.' 'Yeah. Probably some old, cranky professor.' She said. 'Anyway, why would anyone move here? Not that it's a bad place to be.' Anne said.

Stanton wasn't exactly a fancy town but it had a comfortable neighborhood and it had everything they needed. It was situated near a large forest where Anne went camping once. Stanton was a few kilometers away from Brooklyn.

'Dunno. Must be someone who's tired of city life and decided to settle in the middle of nowhere.' Jo said grudgingly. 'Whoa, calm down, Jo. School hasn't even started.' Said Anne, reassuringly. Sighing, Jo said 'I know, girl, I know. I'll try to keep it together' 'Good to hear that', Anne said.

Jo smiled genuinely as Mrs. Calloway, the school's principal walked inside the classroom.

Anne looked at Jo. 'What? I didn't do anything 'Jo said. Hopefully. Anne thought.

Last time Mrs. Calloway came, it was to find Jo because she was seen drawing graffiti on the classroom walls. Jo got suspended for two weeks and Anne had missed her terribly. After two weeks, she finally came back and Mrs. Calloway warned her that the next time she does something crazy in school, the punishment can be worse than suspension. Jo seemed to take that to her mind and so did Anne. After that, Anne made sure that Jo didn't do anything 'crazy'.

'Good Morning, students.' Mrs. Calloway said with a kind smile. That was a good sign. 'Good morning, Mrs. Calloway' the class responded.

Mrs. Calloway was a tall and proud woman in her mid-fifties. She is a fair person but at times she's really strict in probably the worst way. A warning about Mrs. Calloway. Do Not Underestimate Her. She may look old but she has the strength of 10 elephants combined. She could have been a professional wrestler in her early life. She made sure that got on her bad side which is scary than the Devil himself, so to say.

'We have a new teacher joining us today, students.' She said, rather joyfully. 'Oh boyy...' Jo grumbled. Anne shushed her and the new teacher came into the classroom. 'Oh boy....' Anne said the same thing Jo said as he presented himself to them.