Jessica's Guide to Past Lives

Chapter One

"Miss Childers, are you paying attention or is there something more interesting out the

window?" asked my teacher, Mrs. Daniels. She taps my desk with her long, witchy fingernails and I

shudder.

"Well, I was paying attention but your voice is like so flat, always droning on. You really lost

my attention and I know I can say the same for my classmates," I shoot back to her. She taps her long,

witchy finger on her chin.

"Miss Childers, I will not be insulted. If you can't be respectful, than you can go to the

principal's office," she warns me, with a touch of ice in it, then continues teaching the class.

I immediately forget about her and continue to dream about Ivan. He's the hottest guy at

our school. One of my best friends, Amanda (or Mandy as I call her) passes me a note. I pick it up off

my desk, quietly open it, and read:

Mrs. Daniels has on Burberry!

I laugh and mime punching Mandy on the shoulder. Mandy laughs and I write back:

You'd think she'd know by now that Burberry is sooo out!

Mandy writes on it, then passes it back:

Obviously not!

I snort then hide the note when Mrs. Daniels turns around. She eyes Mandy sternly, but

Mandy gives her an innocent look. Then she turns around and Mandy leans her head over to talk to

me but then stares transfixed. I wave my hand in front of her face and Mandy turns me around. And I

see the hottest, sexiest boy, no, MAN, I've ever seen before! He stops by Mrs. Daniels desk and hands

her a note. Mrs. Daniels looks at the boy and BLUSHES! Actually blushes!

They confer for a few minutes and then she turns to the class and says, "Class, this is our

new exchange student from..."

"Sweden," he answers her and his voice is deep and mysterious and sexy and wonderful. I

hear all the girls in the room sighing and staring dreamily at him. Except me. Don't get me wrong, I

thought this boy was hot but I was never one to go for the suave, experienced types. The guys who

knew they were hot and knew every girl was fawning over him. I liked the less showy types. The guys

who didn't know or didn't really care if girls were throwing themselves at him. They were more

devoted to you.

"May I sit next to you, miss?" I jump when I hear a voice beside me. The guy is staring at

me, entreatingly. I blush and look over at Mandy, who's looking at me adoringly at the guy. All the

girls in my class are looking jealously at me, even my teacher Mrs. Daniels!

"Well may I?" he asks again. I nod my head, then turn away from him and get a piece of

paper out of my bag. I can feel his eyes watching me and blush again. Why the hell am I blushing so

much?!

"Shit!" I hiss. Mandy eyes me curiously.

"Do you need a writing instrument?" he asks, as he holds out a pen. I stare at it and