Undertow by K.R. Conway (1st book in trilogy)

chapter 7

Monday morning dawned with a dusting of crystal dew on the ground. I cranked the heat in the Jeep as I drove to school, my teeth chattering since my jean jacket did not suffice in the Cape's suddenly cooler temps. I made a mental note to try and locate the box of winter clothes that were stashed somewhere in the house.  How Cape Cod could be sunny and warm one day, and frosty cool the next was maddening.

Walking past some of the still unlit rooms, I couldn't help but think of the dude that hid so well in the shadows across from my house. By the time I reached my locker, I was consumed with thoughts of creepy stalkers.

As I shuffled books and folders into the steel box well past its prime, I reflected on how fast that blissful life I was daydreaming about only hours earlier at the beach, had taken such a wrong turn. 

I jammed one last book in the locker and slammed the door shut and let out a howling scream.  Raef had been standing behind the locker door and the sudden sight of him scared the life out of me.

"Eila! I am so sorry," he said, amused but a bit alarmed. "I didn't mean to scare you like that."

I leaned back against my locker and took a deep breath. I felt exhausted, and the stress swirled through my body like a wayward river. "It's not your fault," I said, looking first at the ceiling, then to his beautiful, worried face. "I'm just . . . tired."

"Just tired, huh? Usually 'just tired' people yawn, they don't scream to shatter glass," said Raef, questioning my lame excuse. "You look drained. Is everything alright?"

I debated telling him about the man I thought I saw, but worried that he would take it upon himself to go looking for the dark stalker and end up in a dangerous situation.  I decided to keep the incident to myself.

"I just didn't sleep well due to nightmares," I lied. Sort of.

"Nightmares? What about?"

"You don't want to know. You'll think I have a seriously twisted psyche."

"Try me," he said, leaning a broad shoulder against the adjoining locker.

I looked at him for a moment, debating whether to skirt the issue, but went with it instead. "I keep dreaming about a woman who seems to get . . . murdered. I only get quick snapshots though, once I'm awake, so it's kind of jumbled and hazy."

Raef seemed to stiffen, "Seriously? You think it's some sort of future premonition?"

            "No. I think I just read about it somewhere, because the scene looks like it is from the past. Like, WAY past." I glanced up at Raef and sighed. "You know what? Do me a favor and don't tell anyone. They think I'm weird anyway."

He laughed a bit. "That's probably wise. Especially after what Kian told me about you and a certain aggressive toothpick with pompoms. You sure do steer yourself into the lion's den. Tripped huh?"

I moaned. "Please just tell me to duck when she hurls something at my skull, will ya?"

"Will do. I've always got your back," he said, lifting my backpack from the floor and pitching it over his shoulder. We headed out to first period English together, my improbable companion and I.

By the time lunch rolled around I was amazed at my luck, as I had not seen Nikki at all. I mentioned her absence to Raef as we walked to the cafeteria. He was as pleased as I was, especially since he had to leave school early to meet his brother.  I missed him, almost painfully, the moment he was gone.

            I sat down across from Ana and MJ. Our seating arrangement never changed, as if the chairs only fit each of us and couldn't be traded. MJ, as always, was chowing the instant he sat down. How he remained so slim and toned while consuming so many calories was beyond me. Hello envy.