Shift

Chapter 1

Esper woke with sharp pains running down her spine. she rolled over and smacked the alarm clock that rang in her ears. She shoved her head under her pillow and tried to block out the pain streaking down her back. It had been bothering her for weeks but this morning it felt worse. She groaned as she sat up, her long light brown hair falling in her face. With the intentions of getting up she flopped back down to her bed, and let out a squeal as the pain rippled down her spine.

To the sound of the squeal, her bright eyed, what looked to be a German shepherd mix, burst through the door to make sure every thing was ok. He trotted over and sniffed Espers limp arm hanging over the side of the bed. He sat back and cocked his head looking at her, pleased with himself that she was fine. Esper rolled off her bed and stumbled to her closet. She pulled on a boot cut pair of jeans and an old graphic areal t-shirt. Then she went over to the bath room and started playing with her hair. After many attempts, she decided to pull it up in a lose ponytail.

She turned to see jay watching her every move. "Ya, I know your hungry. I'll feed you in a minute." He stood up and barked happily wagging his tail. He always seemed to understand what she was saying. She adopted him from the shelter less than 2 months ago. The workers there all assured her he was only 8 months old. She didn't believe it. Esper walked into the kitchen, grabbed a cup of dog food, and dumped it into his bole. "Well go on, eat." She said taking a step back.

He stared at the bole then looked up at Esper and barked. "What?" She said in return. "Eat I know your hungry." He sat and looked at her with big pitiful eyes. "No, your gonna eat your own food to day." Esper said crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Jay rested his head on the ground and looked up at her with those eyes. Those deep blue eyes. Ya it's weird for a German shepherd to have blue eyes but Esper just figured it was from whatever other breed he had in him. Jay pawed at the ground. She stared down at him, not convinced. He let out a faint whimper. "Fine," she broke.

Esper reached for a pan and grabbed some eggs. Jay jumped up and barked in delight. "Ya,ya. Scrambled or over easy?" She asked turning on the stove and cracking open an egg. It sizzled as it hit the pan. "I'm going with scrambled." Esper walked to the other side of the counter and started shoving binders in her backpack. She hated school. After her best friend, her only friend, moved away she had no one to talk to.

Her dad was in the military, so he was never home. Her mom had died about 3 months ago in a car crash. Of corse her mom was the drunk driver who had killed 2 other people, a women and a child. Yet thinking about it still made her eyes burn. She held back tears and changed the subject by thinking about her brother. He was going off to collage soon and Esper still didn't know where she was to go. She lived with her brother scene... We'll you know. She thought she could stay there alone, she had recently turned 16. But nobody was gonna let her stay by herself. And of corse in her brother and fathers eyes she was still only a child.

A burning smell interrupted her thoughts. Esper ran over, turned off the stove and threw the burning pan in the sink. She ran cool water on it and steam filled the kitchen. Turning off the water she turned to jay. "why didn't you warn me?" He cocked his head. "what you like your eggs crisp?" She held up a piece of burnt egg. He sniffed it, then backed away. " ya, didn't think so." She threw the egg back in the sink.

"Shoot!" She said looking at the clock. " I gotta go." Esper grabbed some pop-tarts from the pantry and threw one to jay. He jumped up on his hind legs and cought the pop-tart in his muscular jaw. "Your welcome." Smiled Esper as she popped some iv-profins in her mouth hoping that it would help her back pains, even though It never did. "Bye jay." Esper said patting his head before grabbing her backpack and keys, and running out the door. She threw her stuff in the car and started it up. music came blaring through the speakers. She only turned it down a little before pulling out of her driveway and to school.

"Surprised you made it to school without crashing into something." Yelled a kid as Esper got out of her car. She stepped up to the sidewalk and tried to walk around them. The group of boys decided to part and walk on each side of her. So Esper keeps walking staring strait ahead. "Aw someone's still a little hung over." He said sticking out his bottom lip at her.

"Shut up Zach." She mumbled still staring ahead. "What was that?" Zach put two fingers behind his ear pushing It forward. All his friends broke out in sound. "Shhh, shhh the little whore has something to say." Esper turned to glared at him with hate. They could make fun of her all they wanted but, the always managed to bring her moms ascendent into it. " look what you did Zach. Now the little whore is mad." One of his friends shouted. Esper picked up the pace and tried to lose them by turning the corner, but it was no use.

"Oh look the little sissy's trying to run from us." Someone yelled. "Stupid little whore. We could all out run you." And it was true. "Ok, let's try this." One of zach's friends with ginger hair walked in front of her and punched her in the gut. Not only did it feel like she was being hit in the stomach full force by a brick, but a harsh pain sprinted through her back. Crawling up her spine till it webbed out like a tree to her neck. She crumpled over. Which only made her back hurt worse she thew off her backpack and bit her lip holding back tears.

"Dude!" Zach shouted at the ginger. "You know that can get us in trouble!" Don't worry Zach, the little wuss ain't gonna tell no body." They all stood there staring, pointing, laughing, calling her names. Espers heart pounded in her ears. Her head spun. What was happening? Her chest swelled and she let out a deep Sound that was covered by the ringing of the bell. The ringing had stopped but she could still hear it in her ears. Every one scattered around her but she didn't move. The world kept spinning around her faster and faster. She felt she might pass out.

Esper dug her head into her knees. Everyone around her was scrambling like ants to get to first period. She didn't move, Didn't even breath. What was she supposed to do? Her eyes burned and she clamped her hands on her shins. The courtyard began to quiet as the last of the people rushed into the hallways.

She felt a tall figures shadow fall over her. she still didn't move. It was probably one of those stupid teachers that would yell at her to get to class. But the person didn't speak just stood there towering over her. Esper finally looked up blinking back tears. The sun shone behind him, glowing around him. She could only make out the outline a muscular figure. The guy bent down out of the light so there faces were level. He was very handsome. His eyes shown a light blue and his hair a sandy brown that waved perfectly around face. Despite her awful look he smiled at her. His teeth a strait gleaming white. He looked like ones of those young models straight out of a magazine. Normally she would have straitened out, tried to impress him. But she just didn't care anymore. She didn't know the boy, so why did it matter anyway.

"Come on." His unfamiliar voice said helping her to a stand. Esper winced in pain. "Are you ok?" He asked Cocking his head slightly to one side.
"No."
"What happened? Who would do this to you?"
"No one."
"Please tell me." He begged.
"It's none of your business!" She snapped turning away
"Esper, your stronger than you believe"
She shook her head still looking away. She felt his hand on her shoulder.

Wait! How did he know her name she had never seen him before. She werled around. "who are- " the boy was gone. The handsome guy who had obviously just helped her up was nowhere in site. She rubbed her eyes and stood on her toes looking around trying to find where he had gone. Not seeing a trace of him anywhere she gave up. Maybe he was just a hallucination or something.

Doesn't matter. She started off to her first class trying to think of an excuse knowing she would be late. But try as he might all she could think about was that boy. Who was he? Where did he come from? What did he want? And mostly, how did he know her name? Was he some sorta stalker? No, he seemed nice. But what if he wasn't? What if he was really a psychopath murderer or something? She was so deep in thought she didn't realize she was about to walk right into a door. Laughter came along with a bruise above her right eyebrow.