After Eden

Chapter 1

A/N Okay, so this is my first story here on wattpad. I have an account on fictionpress with the same username, so if you want to check that out, go ahead. Anyhow, I need to explain some things. This is a sequel for one of the smaller characters in one of my stories. It’s told in someone else’s point of view who doesn’t know him very well, so you don’t need to read the first story in order to understand this. Yeah, so, anyway, enjoy and review or whatever.

Some people are predictable, like me. You know what’s going to happen to them, how they will respond to certain things, what they like. Other people are always full of surprises, always changing, always doing the opposite of what you expect. They always seem to have something to say, but never say it. They’ll do something so unexpected and strange, then leave you hanging there. Those are the kind of people I like.

…

“Isabella Shor, Isabella Shor, Isabella Shor,” I mumbled as I scanned the cheerleading callback list for my name. My stomach dropped when I neared the end of the list.

Then, when I had just lost hope, there it was. Isabella Shor, in black and white.

I immediately grinned. This was it. My one chance to finally get on good terms with Bethany Miller.

Bethany Miller, the most prestigious, worshipped girl in all of Stonehill High. She was the generic kind of popular girl-pretty face, snarky attitude, wealthy parents. She refused to hang out with anyone who wasn’t a jock or cheerleader. At the moment, I’d earned the privilege of sitting at her table-but that could all change in a fleeting moment. Bethany had high standards. If I didn’t make it through the callbacks, I’d be back to what I was before. A loser. Just another kid tossed around like a ragdoll by the popular crowd. I’d sworn that I would never let that happen again. Not after what I went through.

“Congratulations!” came a voice behind me. I spun around to face Sarah Mae, one of Bethany’s well-known comrades. Before I could say anything, she was already hugging me. She was incredibly enthusiastic. About everything.

“Uh-thanks,” I mumbled awkwardly, squirming out of her hug. I turned on my heel to escape the hoard of people huddled around the billboard, but was soon interrupted when a hand tapped my shoulder. I pivoted to face none other than Bethany Miller.

She grinned at me. “Congrats!” she practically shouted, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I had to resist a lot of urges around her.

I forced a smile as animated as hers. “Thanks!” Then I turned around abruptly and walked away, my grin disappearing the minute we left eye contact. Then I suddenly had that insecure feeling I always got after talking to Bethany, where I was almost positive I’d done something wrong. Part of me felt like I should run back and apologize.

I kept walking, far away from everyone, until I was walking in a deserted hallway. I sighed with relief-I had a problem with big crowds. They made me feel nauseous for some reason.

I started to look for the stairwell-I hadn’t been in this part of the school before, and I needed to get upstairs. I wasn’t going back to the crowd, so I’d have to find a detour in this area-but it was weird. Several of the classrooms were dark, and most of the doors belonged to supply closets. That’s when I heard it.

A yelp. I couldn’t tell which direction it was coming from-but it was there. I glanced around anxiously, halfway expecting someone to jump out or something. I peeked around a corner-nothing there. I searched the rest of the surrounding area, but nothing appeared to be there. I jumped when the janitor came out of one of the closets, but he quickly passed me by. There was no way that squeal came out of him.