Chapter One
Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you?
Been here all along, so why can't you see?
You belong with me.
Taylor Swift - You belong with me

“Cassandra Elaine Gray, be quick! Derek is here!” Cassie heard her mother’s loud voice as she brushed her hair. A quick pass of electricity went down her body as she thought ‘Derek was here!’

Derek Parker was and is her crush. She had fallen in love with her childhood best-friend since the first time they met at 2nd grade with the help of their parents. Derek was a cute, bubbly kid back then and he was a lot of fun to be with, as Cassie put it.

But there was Derek, who thought of her a sister in many ways. Though he had not given much thought about being with her in a different way, he was a major flirt. In fact, he was the one who gave Cassandra the name “Cassie” as he thought that Cassandra was a bit mouthful and “Cassie “would be perfect for his pale, short and clumsy best friend.

“Coming!” Cassie yelled and looked at the mirror if she looked good. This day she felt confident that she would drag his attention to her, as she was wearing his favorite color, purple.

She ran downstairs and there Derek stood, smiling gently back at her that she couldn’t stop the automatic smile that formed on her lips. Her heart started to beat faster as she started to take a look at his perfect features.

His dark brown hair fell perfectly in his pale icy blue eyes. Derek had a perfect straight nose with high cheekbones. Cassie had a thing for Derek’s well-shaped pink lips, which many girls in his school loved. He was wearing a black and brown striped t-shirt with his favorite jeans.

‘He is perfect’

she thought.

“Hello?” Derek asked, shaking his hand in front of her face and Cassie pushed her thoughts away. She had spaced out, yet again.

“Hm, purple… Nice” He complimented which made her blush. She had won “You ready to go?”

“Yup, yup” She said and they were off to school on Derek’s black Porsche.

School was unfortunate for Cassie. It had been unfortunate for her since day one. But thanks to Derek, who helped her to get away all the bullying from the “Yo gang” a group of bad boys and the teasing Cassie receives from the cheerleading trio for not having perfect curves.

Cassie received a glare from the lead of the Cheerleaders, Chelsea Bowen as she and Derek entered into the School hall and headed to their lockers. Cassie and Chelsea hated each other as it was said that Derek had a crush on Chelsea, though Cassie hated to think about it.

“Alright Cas, meet you at lunch” Said Derek and headed off to his class as Cassie leaned on her locker and stared at his back as he walked away.

After a while, she was off to her Biology class. Class couldn’t get any boring than this.

Mr. Huber always picked on Cassie, who was not a good spectator when it comes to class. In truth, no one actually listened to Mr. Huber.
As usual, she wished up on Derek sitting next to her in class but he wasn’t here.
But Cassie did listen to one of the conversations at the back of her…

“Did you know that a new kid has moved to town?”

“I saw him. He was so cute!”

“Yeah, I know! Guess what? I heard that he is actually coming to this school!”

“Oh my god! I can’t wait to see that mystery boy!”

Who was that boy? Cassie started to think. Everyone knew everyone in the state where she lived so no one could be unknown. But Cassie just pushed the thought of the boy and started to look forward for Lunch break.

The bell rang and Cassie quickly ran off to lunch, where she could meet Derek and sat at one of the tables, waiting.

A wide grin formed on her lips when she saw Derek running towards her. She sat straight and Derek approached her.

“Hey Cas, I need you to help me in a thing, okay? I want to ask Chelsea out tonight. But I need to practice it! Will you help me?” He asked and added “Please”

Immediately, her face fell. She had waited for him to realize his feelings for Cassie. But he never did. It broke her heart. Her thoughts started racing before some disturbed thoughts took over her mind.

What does he see in Chelsea that Cassie doesn’t have? Wasn’t Cassie not treating him right or did she go around cheating on boys like how Chelsea did?

But the truth was that Cassie was a gorgeous girl for her age, with beautiful forest-green eyes and dark brown straight hair which hung to her waist. Everyone in her school wished to date Cassie when she first joined Kingsley High School. But she ignored them as her eyes were only on Derek Parker every time and everyday. Cassie knew that Chelsea wasn’t a pure, innocent girl, like how Derek expected her to be.

In fact, she actually was the one who went on kissing boys in her school. And it angered Cassie that Derek was going to be her next turn.

But the saddest part was that, she still wanted to see him happy…

Feeling empty inside, Cassie agreed “Yeah, sure” And put on a forced smile, showing her pearly white teeth.

“Okay, here it goes…. You have beautiful eyes” Derek practiced, looking deeply into her eyes without knowing what that statement actually did to Cassie. Her heart thrashed so hard against her ribs, which she thought that it was going to break. But the moment seemed so real, though it was just his ‘asking out’ practise…

“Reply back to me!” Derek yelled softly, as Cassie stole the time around her to take in his words. She then cleared her thoughts and replied back softly, “Thank you, Derek. Yours too”

He smiled his gorgeous smile which Cassie loved, “And, I love the way you talk and walk. It seems so natural” Derek said again. Cassie felt like she was literally going to faint. His words and his beauty seemed to hypnotize her to the very end…

“Thank you, Derek. I like… y-your voice too” She said, stuttering in the middle and blushed deeply. But on the inside, she actually felt relieved that she was telling the truth to him even in an indirect way.

She felt contented for a second…

“Thanks” He said casually, the smile still on his face “And I absolutely adore your blush”

For a second, Cassie felt that her dream had come true. He was beginning to notice the changes that her body caused when he was near her. Like blushing, stuttering, passing out etc.

“Uh, huh…” She trailed off without being able to say anything other than that. He was dangerously mesmerizing her.

“So tell me Chelsea… Will you go out with me tonight?” He asked. That hurt Cassie.

The only thing she wanted was that name ‘Chelsea’ to be her name. Cassie. His statement felt irrelevant to her because of his use of Chelsea’s name…

But reality was still present in the atmosphere around Cassie.

“Yes of course, Derek. I’d… love to” She said, stopping herself before saying ‘I love you’ hoping that it would ruin the wonderful moment. Cassie frowned inside when Derek presented a happy hug to her.

‘I have to let go of him’

She thought ‘Chelsea is the one who can make him happy’

“Thank you so much, Cassie-Massie!” He cooed her, as she just sat there emotionless without speaking anything “I love you so much! I need to talk to Chelsea right now, okay? Bye”

The sentence ‘I love you so much’ brought chills to her spine but romantic sparks vanished when he just meant it as a best friend. Of course, she could be nothing more than just a friend to Derek even in her dreams after this…

Cassie dropped her spoon, which fell on her plate filled with broccoli and cheese, creating a small sound. She sat there and watched Derek approaching Chelsea’s cheerleading group in the corner of the Cafeteria, to Chelsea.

Then after a minute, she heard Chelsea yelling excitedly and accepting his request. That moment, Cassie badly wished if she was Chelsea. But she knew that she couldn’t be. Not now. Never.

The look on Derek’s face was pure love as he stared at Chelsea. Cassie felt her throat ache and she tried so hard to hold back the tears, before a sinking feeling captured her heart.

Will he ever look at me that way?




Chapter Two
Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe
Don't tear me down.
Within Temptation - All I need

Derek was literally jumping out of his skin. He had finally asked Chelsea out! Derek Parker had liked Chelsea Bowen since 9th grade. He thought of her as a beautiful cheerleader- Much different than any of the girls in her Cheerleading trio.

She had strawberry blonde hair, which was cut till her shoulder. Chelsea was famous among boys in her School for her well-shaped body and legs. But that was not what Derek cared about a lot. All he saw in a girl was her eyes, which would look into his honestly every day and a girl’s smile, which would be powerful enough to make the world turn to her direction.

Derek pulled his Porsche, near the sidewalk of his Mansion and they both got out of his car. He knew that Cassie looked a little disturbed but never cared to ask her because Derek thought not to intrude and dig answers from a girl, when she looked like she need some space- desperately.

“Mom, I’m home!” Derek shouted from the living room, loud enough that his mom could hear his voice from the kitchen. Cassie and Derek dropped their school bags on the couch and went into the Kitchen.

“Hey kids. How was school?” Mrs. Angela Parker greeted them, charmingly and they replied “Good” At the same time.

Derek’s mother was a very kind, young lady who loved Cassie as her own daughter as she didn’t have one on her own one. Cassie would give her some company, cook food with her and be with Derek when he went through some tough times, making Mrs. Parker proud that her son had a concerning friend like her.

But in truth, Angela was an extra-ordinary woman…

“Derek! Treat ladies first!” Mrs. Parker scolded her son, who silently tried to eat the delicious muffins served on a red bowl. Derek huffed and handed it to Cassie, who took it whispering a “thank you” in return.

As Cassie munched down the tasty muffin, she unknowingly moved forth the kitchen island. Suddenly, Derek felt as if something in him was signaling the reflexive muscles in him to work as he anticipated the Kitchen vase on the island to fall down.

“Careful!” He shouted just a second before Cassie herself turned to the vase and caught it before falling, letting out an “Oh!”

This made Mrs. Parker to stop what she was doing, “Oh, my!” She exclaimed and ran towards Cassie, who was holding her favorite antique Kitchen vase, gifted by her husband.

“Derek” Cassie breathed “How’d you know that it was going to fall?” She spoke, surprised. Derek felt very different, all of a sudden. Like he never knew how it happened for himself. He felt so weird.

With his eyes wide and mouth agape, he replied “I don’t know…”

“It’s alright honey. Go get some rest” Mrs. Parker said, looking at him with a worried expression. Cassie didn’t speak anything but just stood there, speechless.

“Okay, mom. Just try to wake me up soon in the evening. I… Have a date tonight with Chelsea” He breathed weakly but highlighting the special part of his statement ‘date’ so that his mother would understand. Cassie sighed silently. Just that statement hit her heart like thousand blades.

“I’m very glad to hear that, hon. now, go and get some rest” Mrs. Parker spoke to her son and Derek left after waving off to Cassie. Cassie and her best friend’s mother just stood there awkwardly without talking anything.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” asked Cassie with a concerned look on her face. Angela didn’t answer but just nodded. Only she knew what her son was going through, but she dared to let it out.

As a worrying mother of Derek, Angela feared about how the natural changes of their ancestors, would affect her son’s teenage livelihood. She never wanted her son to go through all of this trouble- He didn’t deserve it. Mrs. Parker knew what Derek wanted- To graduate, go to a well-known college, marry a girl when he had earned enough money by himself to live and start a family with her.

But as the legendary instincts take over him, it would become merely impossible for him to get a bright future. This was what Derek’s mother feared the most. She thought that he won’t be happy about anything. And the worst part is that…. She thought that her own son would start hating her.

The sun was slowly starting to set. Derek snuggled helplessly without sleep in his bed. Cassie left soon, as she knew that it would be hard for her to go home, when it becomes dark. And, Mrs. Parker was just sitting on her couch, her head on her hand as she thought deeply.

Deep secrets have already become a part of her life, right now.

Who would have ever thought that secrets could be a dangerous killer?


Chapter Three:
Trembling,
Crawling across my skin,
Feeling your cold, dead eyes
Stealing the life of mine.
Breaking Benjamin - Dance with the devil

Alex Hernandez sipped his glass of wine, seated comfortably on his velvet chair in the bar. Many girls’ eyes were on him. His inhumanly beauty hypnotized people, letting him to take advantage of it; and he decided to choose his prey as soon as he can.

That was when he set his eyes fell on a particular pair of light brown eyes. They both stared at each other, before the teenage girl started to approach him. ‘Way to go on tonight

’ Alex thought and smirked to himself.

“Hey handsome” She whispered, for what seemed to be said in a seductive whisper. But Alex never fell for it. In fact, he was on a hunt.

“Hey” Alex whispered back huskily. The girl started to play with the buttons of his shirt, as a signal to let him know what was going to come.

“My name’s Christy… Want to go out?”

The request sounded good to Alex. ‘Great

’ Alex thought ‘A place where no one could find me feeding on you

’

“Sure. Why not?” He said and led the human girl, like how a gentleman would. But the poor human had to be pitied. She never knew what was coming for her.

Alex gripped her wrist tight and started to walk towards the thick forest. The human teenager, Christy obeyed and started to fall in love with his aggressiveness. She smiled widely, but wondered. ‘Why this lonely, abandoned forest when we had many places in California?

’ She thought.

“What is your name?” She started. Alex never answered, as his hungry instincts were starting to take over his body. Then he stopped walking and stood at a place; A lonely, quiet place where no one could find them.

“Alex” He said gruffly and then whispered, moving closely to her face, “I’m going to kiss you”

Christy smiled as the most awaited moment was going to occur right now. She was waiting for this for such a long time.

“Go ahead. Take me” The innocent human encouraged and he bent his head, moving closely to her lips as she shut her eyes.

His inhumanly, silver eyes turned blood-shot red.

His sharp fangs came out from his gums and they quickly pierced into her pale neck, as a pained shriek came out from the girl. The human’s knees weakened and she fell down, with the side of her neck still being dominated by Alex’s teeth.

He greedily sucked onto the life, soul and the blood of the girl, as a result of not consuming food for almost a month. The girl’s heart beat started to decrease and hitch as her effortless shrieks started to fade…

Once Alex finished feeding on his prey, he pushed her body off from him and his fangs went inside his gums, replaced by his normal teeth. He then flapped his tongue across the bite on the girl’s neck, letting the bruise to vanish right away. This was a trick used by him to leave no trace of evidence that the dangerous mythical, dark creature exists.

“Rest in peace” He said into her ear huskily and got up from the forest’s floor. Alex then licked his mouth covered with the tasty human blood and inhaled the scent of Christy, which was still flowing in the air.

The most awaited hunt has been complete. Now he was all set to run to the little town, which was very near. Well, Alex Hernandez had a frightening past, which actually created the reason for him to go to the town. He still remembered the night when his parents died….

Alex’s parents Lucas and Debra were actually vampires, even before Alex was born. In order to protect themselves from the vampire slayers, they took Alex to a cave and lived in there secretly. But a coven of witches, however found them and destroyed them, believing that they were a threat to humans. Alex remembered his mom screech on the top of her lungs, “Alex, run!!” And if he hadn't run that time, there wouldn’t have been an Alex till this time.

Of course, revenge became a part of his life then. The most surprising part was that the witches were females with immense powers, which were being controlled by the spells they chanted. The revenge was going to last forever, and it was going to be very complicating to the witches.

‘They will see

’ Alex thought, ‘they will definitely see

’

He sighed and took the first step to the East, where the town Stone Falls was; to where Cassie and Derek were...

Alex Hernandez was born a killer. Born to destroy the lives of two young teenagers. Forever.

Chapter Four
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you.
David Guetta - Without you

Derek woke up precisely at 5:30 P.M. He hurried towards his wardrobe, as he realized that he had only half an hour to pick Chelsea up on a date.

“What to wear, what to wear…” murmured Derek, as he eyed every single clothe that he owned. He finally found a blue flannel shirt, lying hidden in the wardrobe.

‘Blue is Cassie’s favorite color’

He thought; but Derek never gave a thought about why Cassie was the only person, who occurred in his mind, all of a sudden…

He got dressed up, as faster than ever. Derek buttoned up his shirt, combed his hair neatly and he hurried downstairs.

“Mom, I’ll be back at 9:00 P.M!” Derek shouted out to his mom, who was sitting on the couch, worrying. Before Mrs. Parker could even say ‘goodbye’ to him, Derek had went out and was seated comfortably in his shiny, black Porsche.

“Here we go” He murmured, grinning, as he accelerated the engine and began his smooth ride to the huge mansion, where Chelsea and her rich family recited.

A fact about Derek was that he never compared or judged people. He also saw Cassie and Chelsea in the same view. But, to be honest, Chelsea came up first in everything. She belonged to a very rich family. Her father, Mark Bowen excelled as a designer of men’s clothes. Her mother Jennifer Bowen owned a restaurant on her own and received a lot of money.

Chelsea had everything… While, Cassie had none other than Derek, who was always in her heart.

As Derek sped along the road, he noticed that the sky quickly darkened with dark grey clouds, even though it wasn’t too late in the night.

‘What’s up with this road, today?’ Derek thought as he was driving in a road, which used to be crowded with people everyday, but seemed strangely quiet all of a sudden.

Derek was even confused when smoke started to fill the area, not allowing him to see the road properly. What is happening?

That was when he saw a man just close to his car and Derek took all his effort to turn the car away from the man; but his efforts were of no use.

“Oh shit, no!” Derek shouted when his car went out of his control and ended up bumping harshly into a tree on the side. The front of his car got greatly damaged and the lights of the car flickered for a few seconds after which they stopped glowing completely.

Derek, who had hit his head hard in the front window of the car, was unconscious. His forehead started bleeding and it kept getting worse. He slowly tried to open his eyes but he couldn’t see anything properly.

The pain in his forehead was so excruciating that Derek thought he was dead. But he wasn’t.

Suddenly, without any warning, he was pulled out of the car by two forceful hands. Derek cried in pain when he fell harshly on the road. He ended up lying flat on his back, motionless.

Derek started breathing heavily. He wondered if there was someone else in here with him.

That was when Derek was hit on his face by a crowbar. His heavy breathing stopped.

Blackness consumed him.





Chapter five

“Every time I think of you,
I always catch my breath,
I'm still standing here
And you’re miles away
And I wonder why you left me
And there’s a storm that’s raging through my frozen heart tonight”
Taylor Swift – “Missing you”

The next day, Cassie went to school grudgingly. She did her best to forget about Derek and decided to move on, thought it was very hard.

Her first class was Biology, where her professor Mr. Huber just won’t stop picking on her. ‘What a terrible start of a day’

Cassie thought, rolling her forest green eyes.

She went to her classroom and sat in her place lazily. When Cassie glanced at the place next to her, where Derek used to sit, she couldn’t help but worry about him.

She wondered where he was right now. Usually, Derek comes to school with her. But things were strange that day.

‘What happened to him? What if he’s sick? What if Chelsea had hurt him?’

Cassie panicked. She forced to take off her eyes from his place and looked down.

That was when she heard a group of students near her chatting and laughing. She decided to ignore them but their voices were too loud that she couldn’t help but listen.

“Oh my god! I finally

saw the new guy who has come to our school! He is the definition for hotness

!” Cassie heard a red-haired girl named Holly squealing.

“I know right! I just wish he would be my boyfriend someday” She heard another squeal from a different girl.

Cassie furrowed her thin eyebrows. ‘Who is the new guy?’

She thought to herself. She’s been hearing about that guy for the past two days. But Cassie pushed those thoughts away and sat straight when Mr. Huber made his entrance into the class.

“Alright class. Please turn your books to page number 104 and fill in!” Mr. Huber announced. Everyone groaned quietly but then carried on with their work. Cassie took out her book and a pencil and started doing her work.

That was when Cassie heard someone at the entrance of the class, “Excuse me, sir?”

Everyone’s eyes quickly left their books to see to whom the voice belonged to.

Cassie’s mouth fell open as she eyed the new boy. She thought he was… beautiful. His features were all unbelievably attractive. He had dark brown hair and an almost transparent pale skin. His silver eyes looked threatening, but at the same time, they shone against his pale skin, making it irresistible. He had high cheekbones and a straight nose. His lips were perfectly shaped and full, that any girl could fall for it easily. He looked like he could be an actor or a model… Or even a mythical Greek God.

He was extremely handsome, that put all the boys in the school to shame.

‘Wait!’

Cassie thought ‘why am I even looking at him? My heart belongs to Derek Parker ONLY!’

Again, a sad feeling captured her heart and she thought ‘and his heart belongs to someone else…’

“Come in. You must be uh- Alex Hernandez… the new boy?” Mr. Huber questioned the boy at the entrance. The boy, Alex, smiled, which made Cassie catch her breath for a second. She couldn’t help but notice how perfect his pearly whites were.

“Yes, sir” Alex replied, his voice sounding deep and husky.

“Well, Alex. Since Mr. Parker is not present today, your place is next to Ms. Cassandra Gray in the last bench. Please take your seat” Mr. Huber said. Alex’s eyes quickly shot to where Cassie was and he approached her.

‘Oh boy’

Cassie thought as she uncomfortable shifted in her chair. A girl mouthed ‘Lucky bitch’

to her. Cassie started breathing heavily when Alex pulled his chair out from the table and sat comfortably.

Mr. Huber started his lecture while Cassie just looked down at her book. She felt Alex’s eyes on her, which made her even more uncomfortable. Her cheeks reddened and she hid her face behind the strands of her dark brown hair.

“Hi. You must be Cassandra. I am Alex. Alex Hernandez” She heard him whisper to her. Cassie couldn’t believe it. Was he actually talking to her? Or was she just hallucinating?

Derek was the only one who ever talked to Cassie. Others called her a ‘freak’ or a ‘weirdo'- but now…

The hottest guy in the whole school was talking to her; and it was NOT a dream.

“H-hi” Cassie stuttered but still managed to say something. As soon as the bell rang, Cassie grabbed her books with her bag and walked away from the class as fast as she could. She heard something falling out of her book but never bothered to turn around.

“Cassandra!” She heard Alex call her but she never stopped walking. ‘What’s wrong with me? He’s probably thinking that I’m dumb!’

Cassie thought before she made her way to the Cafeteria.

When she entered the Cafeteria, she saw a crowd standing near Chelsea and her Cheerleading trio. The room was noisy. Cassie’s eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.

She moved closer to get a better look and then she heard Chelsea speaking in a broken voice.

“… I was waiting for him the whole time! I called his cell MILLION times! That guy… He-he wasn’t picking up. He ignored me like I’m a piece of trash!” Cassie was shocked to hear Chelsea speaking like that. Usually, she spoke in a high-pitched and confident voice but now… She sounded as though she was crying.

Who was Chelsea talking about? Was it Derek?

Cassie’s heart hitched.

Everybody turned to Cassie. She stepped back. Chelsea narrowed her eyes at Cassie, who gulped a Basketball sized lump in her throat. This was probably the first time she had seen Chelsea look ugly, with mascara running all over her face. She looked like she had cried. But she really didn’t.

“Look who’s here. Cassandra Gray, the girl who had a love potion for Derek Parker up her sleeve for… forever. Too bad, her little girl fantasies didn’t work out!” Chelsea said loudly. Everyone started laughing. Cassie’s eyes became watery and she tried so hard not to cry in front of everyone.

Her crush on Derek was no longer a secret. Chelsea had told everyone about it and made Cassie look like a loser. This was her worst nightmare.

Chelsea stepped closer to Cassie and whispered “That’s what you get when you take Derek away from me”

With that, she walked away from Cassie, leaving her speechless. The insults began.

“Omg, you loser!”

“Did you honestly think that Derek would be your boyfriend someday? Did you even look at yourself in the mirror?”

As soon as she heard these horrible comments about her, tears rolled down Cassie’s cheek. Soon, her tears turned into sobs, which made others laugh at her even more.

Suddenly she heard a familiar voice- A voice that she thought that she would never hear again.

“Shut it, all of you! She’s better than you all and you know it!”

Cassie’s teary eyes widened as she turned her head, as slow as a turtle, to see who stood up for her.

She gasped.

So did everyone else.

(AN: What do you guys think? Did you like it? Who do you think is Cassie’s ‘defender’? Say it in comments! :D)

Chapter Six

“I can be your hero, baby
I can kiss away the pain
And I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.”
Enrique Iglesias – Hero

Cassie’s POV:

Ever get that feeling when reality seems so surreal that you start thinking that you’re still sleeping?

Well, that’s EXACTLY how I’m feeling right now.

First, a hot new guy called Alex talks to ME, out of all the other attractive girls in my school. Second, he just told the popular gang that I, the infamous and miserable Cassandra Gray, was better than all of them when he should be mocking me along with them.

Here I was, staring at Alex, with my mouth wide open. I’d never been this shocked in my life. Why was he, of all people, defending me? In fact, we were complete strangers. All we knew about each other was our names! So why was he doing this?

What was his motive?

Everyone started to leave the cafeteria as soon as the bell rang. No one dared to even say anything to me as Alex continued to glare at them. When Chelsea thought that Alex wasn’t looking, she came to me and whispered, “The hot guy may have shown you some pity, but don’t get your hopes too high. Because in the end, I’ll get him… I always get what I want. ”.

My eyes widened. That evil, cunning and hideous cow! Yesterday, she seemed to really like Derek and now she’s found her next target: Alex. Does she even know how hurt Derek will be if he finds out that she’s looking at someone else? Does she even know that Derek loves her and not me, who had been with him his whole life? How many more ways can she rip his heart out?

Right… she never cared. All she needed was entertainment.

Then there’s me, who cared so much about Derek that now I don’t know how I’m going to deal with things if he comes back. I’m still his best friend, no matter what.

Speaking of which, where’s Derek? Was he bunking school without me?

‘No, Cassie! You’re supposed to try to stop thinking about him!’

I told myself.

Yeah, as if that was easy.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Chelsea’s heels as she walked in another direction. Then, I realized that I had to get to my next class, which was English. Though I was really good in that subject, I really didn’t want to get embarrassed in front of the other students again for being late.

I started walking to my class when I heard a voice calling me, “Cassie, wait!”

Damn, I forgot that Alex was still there. I thought he had left with the others! What did he want from me?

But I never stopped walking. I just kept walking faster, until he grabbed my elbow from the back and forced me to turn to him. I shivered at his touch. He was so… cold. Like the kind of cold you feel when you touch an ice cream. I quickly moved my arm away impulsively. His silver eyes stared down at me.

For a second, I couldn't move my eyes away from his. His eyes held me there, right at that place. He was looking at me with an emotion I wasn't quite familiar with. No one has ever looked at me like that. Not even Derek.
So what’s different about this guy?

Why was he even talking to me? That’s something that I’ll never understand.

Alex cleared his throat, “Uh… You dropped your pencil when you walked out of the class. I tried to call you but you ran away” He spoke nervously. Oh my god. Someone like him was actually nervous to talk to me?

I opened my mouth to answer him but an embarrassing sound came out of my mouth. He chuckled at my nervousness while I looked down in embarrassment. I could feel my cheeks heating up but thankfully, he just handed me my pencil and walked away without saying anything.

Then, I remembered something really important.

“Hey…Alex!” I called out to him. He stopped walking and turned to look at me. He looked surprised, probably over the fact that I called him by his name. I then smiled and said, “Thank you… for standing up for me”.

Alex smiled back and said, “You’re welcome, Cassie” before he continued to walk away.

For the first time in my life, the pain I felt when I thought about Derek was slowly vanishing.

All because of this mysterious guy with an unknown motive.

Alex Hernandez.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 10.05.2011

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Widmung:
Book One