Forlot - Books 1-3 {Completed}

Chapter Four

I gasped. I had totally forgotten that my best friend was on vacation!

Damian and his parents left for vacation last week. They had planned on going to Europe, and they were coming home next week.

Why did he return early? Did something unexpected ruin their plans?

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to remain calm. I was sure that he had his reasons for coming back to the small town a week early.

"Nigel, are you okay?" Paul asked. A look of concern appeared on his face.

"Y-yeah," I stammered as I stepped into the bus. "It is just...I forgot that he and his family were on vacation. It slipped from my mind."

"Oh? Did he tell you before he left? You two are best friends after all."

"Yes, he did. I guess...I guess that I was too focused on my dreams."

"Hmm?" Paul took off his hat, revealing his dark brown hair, and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "Dreams? What kinds of dreams?"

"Shadows." I never told anyone but my dad about the dreams. I was afraid of what other people might think. However, I could trust Paul. We were good friends. "Every dream that I have ever dreamt involved shadows, and in my recent dream, a shadow wanted to kill me."

"Oh, dear."

I rubbed my neck, remembering the shadowy hand that clamped down on my neck. "It felt...real. Like I was really going to die."

"You know what is not real? This bus making its way to school!"

I turned and noticed Nell Hudson.

She was in the seat behind Paul and sitting by the window. The window was open, and the wind made her long, blond hair flow in the breeze. Her arms were crossed, and she glared at me and the bus driver.

"Are we going to school or what?" Nell said in a nasty manner. "I do not want to be late for art class."

I sighed. Nell may be the most popular girl in school, but she is mean-spirited.

Do not believe me, readers?

There was an incident that happened three months ago in which she blackmailed a cheerleader. Nell loves cheerleading, so it was not surprising that she had a desire to be the leader of the cheerleaders. However, when she lost the part to another cheerleader, she blackmailed that cheerleader and eventually became the leader.

And she got away with it.

I will admit that I used to have a crush on her when I first came to Forlot. Not anymore. I have seen her true colors. She is beautiful on the outside, but she is wicked on the inside.

Paul rolled his eyes. Even he thought that Nell was a jerk. "Everybody knows that you have art class in the morning, beauty queen," he stated. "You all will be at school in no time."

"Not everyone knows," Nell scolded. She pointed at the window across from her.

No, wait. She was not pointing at the window.

She was pointing at a girl.

I looked at the girl who was sitting in the seat across from Nell's. The girl was staring intently out the window. She had short, brown hair and freckles covering her face. She wore a blue jacket and a dark blue skirt that reached to her knees. She also had on black shoes.

And she looked...sad.

"Take a seat, Nigel," the bus driver suggested. "If Damian is really back from his trip, then I will wait for him."

"He is," I said. I examined the seats. There were only two spots left.

A spot next to Nell, and a spot next to the unknown girl.

Can you guess who I decided to sit with?

I plopped next to the mystery girl and shifted my body, so I was facing her. "Hi there," I spoke to her. I waited for her to answer, but she did not speak. She kept looking outside. She probably did not realize that I was talking to her.

I gently tapped her shoulder, and she let out a yelp.

"Ah!"

The girl turned to me and was shocked. "Did...did you do that?" she questioned.

"A tap on the shoulder. Yes," I told her. "Sorry that I startled you."

"That...that is okay." She brushed her hair back. "I get startled easily."

Just then, my best friend hopped into the bus. He placed his hands on his hips. "Ladies and gentlemen, here is Damian!" Damian proclaimed.

I chuckled. He is funny.

"Hello, Damian," Paul greeted. "I thought that you and your family were not coming home from your vacation until another week."

He cleared his throat. "Vacation?"

"You went to Europe."

"So, why are you back so early?" I piped in.