Surreal

three

•eve•

The weekend flies by without any problems and before I know it, it's time to start school again.

Last year was okay until I came clean to some friends I thought I could trust. Needless to say I became the "town crier" or "the girl who cried wolf". This was the start of Dan's decision to move.

I don't trust people. Everyone has some kind of motive for being nice to you whether it's sex or money or even attention. I just want to get through this year alive and preferably alone.

No I'm not depressed. I'm just numb since everything that has happened. Someday I won't have to drift through this life aimlessly but I have to get through each day.

I put on my favorite outfit to give myself some boost of confidence and head downstairs, bag in hand. My mother doesn't bother to wish me a good morning since she only gets up with Dan then goes back to bed. She doesn't have to work because of how much money he makes (too much in my opinion). I grab an apple and leave quietly.

The walk to school isn't too long. I don't mind walking, it clears my thoughts and the fresh crisp air renews my spirits. Once I see the school lingering in sight though, I can't help but sigh.

Some people look at me as I walk through the doors and down the hall but their eyes don't linger and that makes me supremely happy. Maybe I can go unnoticed.

When I reach the counselor's office, I step inside and tell them my name.

"Eve...you are the new transfer correct?" the lady asks in a clipped tone.

"Yeah." I answer quietly.

"Well first semester started a month ago so you have some catching up to do." She looks at me over the top rim of her glasses. I nod and she hands me a few papers to sign and a map of the school.

"Your locker is number 503 and its in the West corridor. Good luck." And she turns her back on me and continues her work.

"Okay?" I say and walk out with the map. I have precisely no clue where I'm at on this map and class starts in 5 minutes. Great.

As I'm walking around aimlessly staring at this map, someone bumps into me and my papers go flying. I turn around to see a guy staring at me in...shock?

"Thanks man." I say and start to gather my papers while they are being kicked around by other students. He kneels and finally decides to help. I turn to him and he hands me the stack he collected.

"I'm very sorry about that. I was kind of out if it." He says politely.

"It's okay, it's no big deal." I finally take a good look at him and I'm quite surprised. Tall, dark (hair), and handsome never applied quite literally before.

"I'm Dimitri."

"Oh I'm Eve." What am I doing.

"You must be new? I've never seen you around before." He smiles. I don't have time for flirting.

"Yeah just transferred. Thank you for the help but I need to get going." I say just as the bell rings.

He smirks as I start to walk off. He must tell I have no clue where I'm going because he yells "on the right". I'm confused but I look up to see that it is indeed honors chemistry. I look back down the hall but he isn't there.

---

The day drags as I go from one class to the next. Each of my teachers are super nice which I am thankful for.

At lunch I have no where to sit by myself so I eat lunch in the library. I didn't know you could but apparently it's a great option. I sit against the shelf in one of the aisles and poke at what is supposed to be meatloaf. Eventually giving up on the nasty food, I set my tray down beside me and start browsing the shelves. The aisle I'm in is actually local legends and there is more books than I could ever imagine on such a subject. I pull one down called "Hayesville's Mysteries" and begin flipping through the old worn pages.

As I'm standing there I get that familiar spine tingling I got in the grocery store. Someone is watching me. I turn my head to see that same guy from the store watching me. He turns and starts walking away. I follow him wanting to demand answers of why he keeps stalking me.

I'm about to turn the corner when bam, I run into Dimitri. He catches my arms and laughs.

"We have got to stop meeting like this." He says lightly. I keep swinging my head around but the mysterious guy was no where to be seen.

"What's up with people disappearing around here?" I whisper under my breath.

"What?" Dimitri looks confused.

"Nothing." I say regularly. "What are you doing here?"

"I usually eat my lunch here. It's peaceful compared to the animal watering hole." He smirks.

"Wait what?" I'm still lost in my thoughts as he talks.

"It was an attempt at a joke." Dimitri laughs a little at my disorientation. "I assume you're eating here too."

"I was but I think I lost my appetite." I say quietly.

"Well I don't care for the food much either. I could give you some company though." He leans against the shelf.

"I'm not interested."

"Okay, it was just an offer." He starts to walk off when I yell after him.

"Wait!"

He turns back around to me with scrunched eyebrows.

"I meant I'm not interested in a relationship right now. I know how guys work and if you have some underlying motive to get in my pants then I don't want your company."

Dimitri smiles and walks back in front of me. "You'll come to learn I'm a little old-fashioned. I don't have any secret motives. I promise." He holds out his pinkie making me laugh. I wrap my pinkie around his and make the classic kindergarten oath. We stare at each other for a minute.

"In that case, it would be nice to have one friend." I lead him back to where my tray is.

We sit down against opposite shelves, facing each other. He smiles at me and starts to make small conversation, not intruding into my life details. This is nice. I hope this doesn't blow up in my face.