Vivian

Chapter 23

ENJOY. VOTE. COMMENT!
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My first period was English, with a teacher as old as dirt. Then came History, with a teacher with a voice so monotoned there has to be something wrong with his voice box. I'd never seen either of them so they have to be new to town. And that means the town is getting bigger. Great.

I'd been told that lunch is right after this period and the thought of it sends a shiver down my spine.

"Chilly in here, huh?"

Turning to my right I see a guy wearing thick rimmed glasses and a school sweater with sleeves that reached over his knuckles. His brown hair waves down his forehead, covering his eyebrows a bit. "Sorry, my dad likes it cold. I keep telling him to turn up the heat a bit."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah, it's kinda awkward to have him as my history teacher, but there ya go." Sticking his hand out to me, he gives me a boyish smile. "I'm Nick! I believe you must be the all famous mayor's daughter?"

"Um, just Vivian is fine." I put my hand in his going for a handshake. Apparently that isn't what he had in mind. Pulling my hand up to his face, he swiftly places a kiss on the back of it. What the...

Probably seeing my shocked face, he laughs quietly. "Sorry, my dad taught me to always 'keep a lady's honor in mind', he's kinda obsessed with the old English ways. I'm talking Victorian and Edwardian Era." Glancing back down at my hand he says, "that's pretty much second nature to me now. Sorry if I freaked you out."

"Ermm."

"Nicholas," the monotoned voice interrupted, thankfully, "do you know the answer? Or are you too busy talking?" Now that I think about it, he sounds like Severus Snape from the Harry Potter movies.

"Nick, dad, call me Nick." His brown eyes left my face and quickly scanned the board. "Seventeenth century Russia, easy."

"Very good, Nicholas. Enough talking, pay attention."

Turning back to me, Nick mouthes "Talk, lunch," sends me another boyish grin, and then doodles in his notebook. Ugh, lunch. More people. More talking.

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Since I was only going to be in school for a semester, I opted out of having a locker. It's not like I actually had to do good here, I was accepted to college a month ago. So while all the kids crowded their lockers, I tried to escape and find someplace quiet. Key word: tried.

The second I walked out of the room, Nick called my name and asked me to join him for lunch. And because I am the epitome of a backbone-less pushover, I reluctantly agreed. The second we walk into the cafeteria I regret agreeing. I thought the outside was bad, but with everyone together in the same enclosed place, the noise was amplified ten-fold.

"Here," Nick grabs my hand and leads me into my doom, "let's go to my usual table, I'll introduce you to my friends, though I doubt any actual introducing will be necessary. You're kinda a big deal."

As we reach the table, a small group of students sitting around it, a girl with the most excruciatingly tight pony-tail I've ever seen popped up out of her chair and sent a bubble-gum pink lipped smile at Nick. "Heyyy, Nick," she twisted some of her platinum blonde hair around her finger before sending a glare my way. "Is this Vivian? How sweet of you to take her in like a lost little puppy."

"Hello, Lucellia. Yeah, this is Vivian!" Nick quickly introduced me to six people, whose names I promptly forgot the second he was done.

I say hello to everyone, put a smile on my face, but my head pounds. My heart pace races, my palms are sweaty, and my feet feel numbed. I need to leave. Vaguely I hear Nick calling my name, but all I can think of is getting somewhere quiet, somewhere I can just be alone.

Vivi, are you okay?

No. Not at all. I feel like I'm going to pass out.

It's okay Vivi, I'm here. You should go to the library or something.

That sounds good. I feel a cold sweat on my face... But I don't know where it is.

Well, you can ask. Nick seems nice.

Yeah, I should ask. I think I'll like the library...

Looking up I realize I'm not in the cafeteria anymore. I'm right outside of it, in the hallway. Huh? How did I get here?

"Vivian!" Nick puts a hand on my shoulder and gives me a concerned look. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"Where is the library?"

"The library? Um, it's on the second floor. Go up these stairs and it's the third door on the right. But--"

"Thank you, Nick. See you later." I shrug his hand off and start up the stairs only to be stopped by that stupid hand again.

"Vivian, wait. Are you okay? You look like you're going to be sick."

"It's nothing. I'm fine. My head was just hurting."

"The way you just randomly got up and left was kinda alarming. Are you sure you're okay? I can take you up down to the nurse's office, although they don't help much."

"I'm fine, Nick. Thank you for the concern but I have some work to do. See you later."

I get up the stairs as quickly as I can. Okay, third door on the right. Right here!

Opening the door, I'm greeted by absolutely nobody. The smell of mostly old books fills my nose and books of all sizes and colors are stacked neatly on shelves all along the walls, up to the low ceiling. Tables are strewn here and there, with little lamps and random paper weights. I set my bag down at a table that had been shoved to the farthest corner of the room, and pick up the book that was sitting on it.

Legends of Old: Redwell Forest and the Beings That Dwell Within.

Hmm, sounds interesting. Taking a seat I start to crack open the book. That is, until a heavy hand lands on my shoulder.

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WOOOOOAAAHHHH. It has been quite a while. I literally have no excuses so I'll just say SORRY!!!!!!

The picture is Nick, yes, he's a fashionista and you know you love it ;)
So I'm missing Aiden, dunno about you guys. Sadly he hasn't showed up in a while. Fear not, he'll be back.... Or will he? >;) muaaahahaha...

Soooo who does this mysterious hand belong to? Any guesses? No? Well, you'll just have to keep reading to find out then -3-

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, stay tuned for more.

~Rubz out