Mysteries

Chapter One: Lela

I woke up with a start. I gasped for air and looked around the room. I was in my bed. 

That was all a dream. Thank the Lord. It seemed more like a nightmare. 

I let out a sigh and got out of bed to get ready for school. Only seven more months and I would be completely done with high school.

I headed downstairs after getting dressed to see my parents getting ready for work in the kitchen. My mother was a daycare provider and my dad owned his own company. They always left before I woke up and came home after I had gone to sleep. I rarely saw them so it was strange to have them here. 

"Hi, honey!" my mom exclaimed and kissed my cheek. 

"Hi," I said hesitantly. They were acting weird. 

"I was thinking that we could take you to school today instead of you riding the bus," my father said with a smile. Now I know something's up. 

"Okay... what's wrong?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. My parents looked at each other and then back at me. 

"Nothing's wrong. Let's go!" my mom said, handing me a bagel and basically pushing me out the door. 

I got in the back seat and texted my best friend, Tracy. 

SOS. Parents acting super weird. Tell you about it when I get there 

My parents got in the car and my dad pulled out of our driveway. I crossed my arms and waited for what they were going to say. 

"So Lela, I have to go on a business trip for a little bit and your mother is coming with me," my dad finally spoke after about five minutes. I rolled my eyes. That's what this was about?

"Okay, whatever," I responded. 

"We'll be gone for three weeks," my mother chimed in. I shrugged.

"Okay." 

"That's all you have to say?" my dad asked, looking at me through the rearview mirror. I shrugged. 

"It's not going to be any different from the way it is now so why should I care?" I answered harshly. Huh. Who knew I had all this pent up anger? 

"Honey, that's not fair," my mom whispered. I glared at her. 

"You know what isn't fair? Being alone all the time and not having my parents around when I need them. Life isn't fair, mother." My dad had just pulled into my school's parking lot. 

"Thanks for the ride. Have fun on your trip," I said and tried to get out of the car but my dad locked it. 

"Lela, everything that we do is for you," he said sternly. 

"Thanks. I greatly appreciate it," I responded sarcastically. My mom let out a sad sigh as if I hurt her. She was the one who's been hurting me for years. 

"Look how you've made your mother feel! This is not how you treat your parents!" my dad yelled at me. I rolled my eyes once more and unlocked the door myself. 

"Like I said, have a nice trip." I got out of the car and slammed the door. I sulked into the school building. This was not how I wanted to start my morning, especially after that weird dream. 

"Hey, girl! What's good with you?" I felt an arm go over my shoulders and tensed. I let out a breath when I realized it was just Tracy. 

"My parents were at the house this morning and drove me to school," I told her as we walked to our side-by-side lockers. Her eyes widened.

"Seriously? You haven't seen them in weeks," she said as we reached for our books. I nodded. 

"I know. They just wanted to tell me that they were going out of town for a couple weeks as if I would care," I muttered and frowned. I'm not saying I don't love my parents because I do. It's just that I hardly know them. They're strangers at this point. 

"I'm sure they love you, Lela. They're just busy," Tracy said sympathetically. I shrugged and closed my locker. 

"It's whatever. Let's just go to class." We started walking towards our first class: AP Calculus. I gasped when I remembered last night. 

"Oh! I forgot to tell you, I had the weirdest dream last..." I started to tell her when the fairly condensed hallway immediately became silent. Tracy and I looked at each other and turned around to see a group of five people walking in, sunglasses on, with leather jackets. Tracy smacked my arm and raised her eyebrows. I knew that look. It was her "Oh my gosh, that guy is so hot" look. 

The group walked in a triangle formation like a flock of birds. At the point of the triangle was a tall, very muscular guy with curly hair and full lips that were pulled into a smirk. He removed his glasses and winked at me before putting them back on and continuing down the hall. I scoffed and turned back to Tracy. 

"Anyway, as I was saying before everyone got super weird..." Tracy shushed me. 

"They are literally perfect," she whispered. Everyone in the hallway began whispering under their breaths. 

"Okay, Tracy, we've talked about this. They are just people, not gods," I said in annoyance and grabbed her arm to drag her to class. 

There was something about that guy that seemed familiar. Familiar and comforting. 

He also looked like a player. I knew the girls were going to be all over him, especially Briana. 

"Watch where you're going, bitch!" Speak of the devil. Briana crossed her arms and glared at me. I stopped and cocked my head at her. 

"In case you didn't realize, Briana, there's this unspoken rule where you stay on the right side of the hallway. Perhaps you're too airheaded to get that through your head." Tracy let out a giggle and Briana huffed. 

"You better watch your back, Lela McDaniel." She lunged as if she was going to hit me before flipping her hair and pushing past me. 

"Oh, I'm so scared!" I told Tracy before rolling my eyes and laughing with her. We walked into our class and sat at our seats. Everyone was talking about the new kids. I frowned. 

It was going to be a long day.