Shattered *ON HOLD*

Puzzled Mind

Martin's POV

Steph has been acting weirdly these days. She changed so much. Her grades have fallen and her realationships with people are getting worse with each buzz of a text message. She used to be an outgoing person, but now she is just like like a fading light. I watch her go to school every morning. Same breakfst, I can compare he rlifestyle with a nun. She never ate the same breakfast two days in a row. After school I don't see her much. She goes to the library too often, although she loves to read I feel that it's abnormal. I think that there is some heaviness in her mind. She can't let go of something. I am worried for her. She seems depressed and sad. She looks like she hasn't slept at all, like a ghost almost. Thin and ordianry and that was never the definition of Stephanie.

"Hey, Steph." I said entering the living room where she sat. "Can we talk?" She looked at me smiling.

"Of course. What's up?" She seemed enthusitastic. First time in weeks.

"I am worried." I said sternly.

"You are?" She said in disbelief. "About..." She let the sentence just hang there.

"You."

She turned around facing me. Her expression emotionless.

"I don't understand." She finally said looking down. "What are you woried about?"

"You've changed Steph," I said calmly, trying to get her to spit the thing she is holding in her mind out. "And I feel you are a prisoner of your own mind" Wow that sounded quite....poetic.

"Well, of course I changed. Everyone changes. Can't you see it around you..?" She was nervous. I could tell. Her body tensed. "And regarding the mind, I'm just thinking a lot. That's all." She wanted to end the topic, I knew that. She is hiding something.

I decided to give her time, no pressure.

"We are having a party tomorrow night at the old stadium. You should come, and bring some friends. It'll be fun." I said before walking towards the door. She kept silent. "I'm always here for you, sis." I said and run upstairs to my bedroom.

Stephanie's POV

(NEXT MORNING)

My alarm clock went off quickler than I thought. I lay in my bed for a couple of minutes before getting up to the bathroom. I got into the shower. Standing in the shower I let the water drip all over me. I closed my eyes.... I felt a shiver up my spine as drops of water dripped down my hair. After I was done, I just run down the stairs to grab breakfast. Martin was still upstairs. I thought about our conversation last night. He seemed very open. I was just thinking about telling him. I would be relieved, some of the burden would be carried by someone else. I would feel free. Like a bird in the sky, not in the cage of secrets. Just then my phone buzzed.

"Today at the library before school. I'll be waiting" from an unknown number, but I knew who it was. The last time we met, he walked away not telling me who I was (if not a human). How did he get my number though. I left all the thinking for the walk to the school. I left Martin a message.

"Sorry, had to go earlier. You're breakfast is ready. See you at school. Steph."

The breeze blew my untied hair every possible direction. In my ears blasted my favourite Hans Zimmer soundtrack from the Pirates of the Caribbean. I ran into the locker room, to get my books. He was already there. How did he know? I greeted him with a simple "Hi." He didn't respoond.

We were on the corridor alone, no one comes to school this early. Why is he here? I walked half a step bechind him. His skin is lightly tanned, he is tall and has charcoal, dark hair. He is silent too, but when he does speak he reveals a perfect rown of diamond white teeth. I felt weirdly excited being near to him, almost a little fearful. He seemed so dark. Unreachable. We sat down in the same place. He looked around for any unknown audience and sat down. I sat down too, this time beside him.

"Your not afraid anymore?" He asked grinning.

"I was never afraid." I answered frowning. "What's your name?" I asked unsure if I picked the right time.

"Does that really matter?" He asked coldly.

"To me, yes. It does." I answered. "You know everything about me, I should know at least your name." I backed up my point.

"You think so?" He chuckled.

"That's what it looks like...that morning in the storage room. You even knew my age. Even though Im 2 years younger than everyone in my class"

"I looked through your files. I had to."

"What do you mean you had to?" I asked curiously. "And your dodging my question." I pointed out with a smirk.

"Alright then. Everyone calls me Kyle. And I had to look through them to see if our predictions were true."

"Wait, too much information." I said confused.

"Well, too bad." He said standing up. He was just about to leave when I caught him.

"There's a party at the old stadium today. I want you to come. At 8:00PM."

He just stood there for a few seconds, silent. After a moment he continued walking down the lane. I only heard the door closing with a thud. I played our conversation in my mind over and over. What did they predict? Everyone "calls" me Kyle? But what's your real name?