Prologue

Chapter One

I was gasping for breath rapidly as I woke up to the sunrise. This nightmare was something more powerful today.. It was as if I had woken up when I had fallen to the ground from the dagger-like claws that were being torn from my chest.. When I recollected most of my thoughts, I could hear the wind howling and screaming outside as if it breathed heavily with me. 

As soon as I wiped away a stray tear and pulled myself together, I slung my legs over my bed and stretched my arms. As I stretched I felt my cat, Belle, rub against my lower back and meow. I turned my upper body, looked down at her, and smiled a little. She purred as I petted her softly before I got up slowly from my bed and stretched a little bit more.

 

I walked down the hall and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. As soon as I took off my black tank top and gray sweatpants, I walked into the shower. I started drenching myself on the hottest setting in the shower. I sighed as the warmth settled onto my skin, it was the only thing to calm my nerves.

As soon as I washed myself and the hot water started running out, I turned the knob and got out of the shower with my towel wrapped around my body. I turned to the mirror and wiped the steam off it with my hand to see if anything on my unfortunate looking self had changed. My eyes were a little bit darker brown than usual.. and they'd always been light.. "That's strange.." I murmured under my breath.

"Seriously, aren't you like, being a little vain looking at yourself EVERY morning? And God, could you use anymore steam in here? I mean, this is ridiculous, it's, like, flooding out."

I jumped when I heard her obnoxious voice. I didn't even hear the door open, it was always so annoying when she just opened it. Brooke was the biological daughter and I knew she hated me because I guess I was "competition" now that she's no longer the center of attention. (In her mind, I'm always a recluse in my room.)

I turned my eyes away from the mirror and grabbed my pajamas. I looked at the floor and silently told her, "How could I be vain if I'm not even pretty?" I looked up a little to see she had a little glint of sympathy. And then avoided her eyes again.

Ugh, just what I want from an irritating girl like her.. I hate when I end up bringing sympathy out of people..

 

 I looked away as she tried to make eye contact with me, I murmured, "I need to get ready for school..." and walked down the hallway, in a fast pace, to my room. She had said something but I shut the door behind me before I could even make out what she said.

 

I was incredibly socially awkward because I could never look anybody in the eyes. Everytime I did, they'd look at me in horror.. I knew I was ugly.. I had big, long red hair, huge brown eyes, a strange pointy nose, little lips, and an awkward shaped face that was as pale as pale could get. I could never look pretty and I had learned to accept that. People have always assumed I was just shy but honestly I got tired of peoples faces when they looked at me. I sighed and walked to my closet.

I got dressed in my favorite skinny jeans, my black t-shirt and my black, worn out Converse. I dried my long, big hair with my towel and decided to lay down on the bed. I looked at my watch to see it said 6:50. It takes 10 minutes to get there, school starts at 8, I'm a new student so I'll need to go to the office so she/he will be talking to me for about 20-25 minutes. They'd want to get a student to show me a tour to which I'll say no because I have a map (Plus I don't want to get all social and I can get by) which will be an explanation of an extra 5 minutes. I have to find my way out of it, which I always do. So, 10 minutes there, 30-35 minutes approximately in the office, my first class might be on the other side of the school which might give me an extra 5-10 minutes.. I need to be early by 10 minutes. So, I need to leave the house now.

 

As if reading my thoughts, Belle meowed beside me. I scratched the top of her head, "I'll see you soon enough, hopefully my day will go okay.." I got up and picked up my backpack and black leather jacket. I ran down the stairs, tiptoed towards the door and quietly shut it behind me. I ran out the door to my car as quickly and quietly as I could. I avoided my foster family because I dreaded hearing, 'Have a good day at school!'  At this point it felt like it was routine for any parent and it's a numbing thing after 13 foster homes.

I put the keys into the car and heard it crank. Then lightning struck loudly. Yeah, yeah, I was mad.. It was always so strange that the weather changed so quick to my moods and thoughts. I drove out of the driveway and spun on the road to school. Here we go..

Chapter Two

I parked in front of the school and turned the car off. I sighed and rolled my eyes when the sky sighed with me. I hated weather, it was so strange. I jumped when lightning struck and put my hands up in frustration, "Well, quit acting with my emotions." And then the sky went straight back to the softly, fast, pulsing thunder that went with my heartbeat. "I will never understand Oklahoma weather."

I climbed out of the car and slammed the door behind me to open the door behind it, grabbing my backpack. I closed the door and started walking towards the school. I looked at my watch walking slowly, '6:58'.

I guess I have time to--- THUMP.

"Uh.. Sorry about that.." Said a deep, soothing voice.

I had bumped into a tall chest and couldn't help but stutter a little, "Uh.. Um-m-m.. It-t-t's-s f-fin-n-nine.." The thunder seemed to coo a little bit.

I turned away, looking down at the ground as usual, my heart was beating rapidly and the wind was giving me cooling chills along with the thunder, rumbling with my heartbeat.

I felt a shockwave as his hand touched my shoulder and lightning crashed when he did, I jumped and looked up at the sky. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye to only catch him staring at me in awe.

Our eyes connected and he whispered, "You are... Gorgeous.." He stepped back a little and kept staring at me with his soft, green eyes. Before I could look at him more, I backed away and ran to the office, feeling my face flush with embarrassment and.. flattery? Confusion?

I heard the sky rumble and saw it turn a little red. But I never dared looking back at the guy who could actually.. look into my eyes with passion instead of horror.. And he said I was.. Gorgeous?

"Wait!" I heard him yell towards me. The sky rumbled with my frustration of him running after me.

Why me? And why him?

I finally made it into the office and dashed into the room that said 'Principal Marie Daniels', closing it behind me. I sighed and sat in the chair in front of the desk. I never looked up because I felt her there and I knew I couldn't look her in the eye..

Or could I at this point?

Chapter Three

She laughed a little bit and enthusiastically talked, "Why hello there. You're welcome to sit down. I've never seen you here before, are you a new student?"

I nodded and nawed on my bottom lip, trying to calm myself a little better. I started trying to think of other things while I heard her click her mouse and type on her keyboard. I jumped when she piped up again, "Ah, are you the new senior.. Aye-lah Kalina?" I sighed a little bit at her misprounciation, it happened a lot but it still rubbed me wrong to have a name so uncommon.

"Yes." She cleared her throat and pressed a few buttons to talk into her phone, "Hi, Mrs. Samuel? Can you tell Phenex Marquis to come to my office? He has to do his welcoming committee duties." She paused and said, "Alright.. I see.. I'll make an announcement for him to come then." She hung up the phone and pressed the button to the loud speaker, "Phenex Marquis, Phenex Marquis, come to the front office, Phenex Marquis." She let go of the button and we sat there in silence for a brief moment.

My heart started fluttering uncontrollably again and I heard the thunder go in loud unison with it. Why does my heart keep racing like this? 

The door opened and I felt a warm feeling as the footsteps passed by me. I knew exactly who Phenex was and now I knew I had to deal with him unlike I had tried to avoid. He just stood there, not saying a word.

Mrs. Daniels talked seriously for once, "Mr. Marquis, where have you been, exactly?"

I looked at Phenex's feet and I saw him shuffle his shoes nervously, "Um.. I got distracted this morning and I just... I ran to the bathroom to calm down because I got anxiety.."

I heard Mrs. Daniel's chair moan as she got out of her chair, "Well, I've never known my welcoming committee, class president, top-of-his-class, award winning Scientist and poet to be anxious. What ever is going on?" I heard her say in her regular cheery mood.

He was quiet for a moment and then he seemed to quickly manage his words, "I guess it's the weather that's getting to me. It's changed so quickly these last two days. I think I'm just not used to it."

Mrs. Daniel was quick to answer back, "Well, anxiety or not, you have a job to do as the only member of the welcoming committee."

"That's why you called me in here?" He said in an almost humored tone. It made me slightly laugh because I knew he thought she was as ridiculous as I thought she was. I didn't even need to look at her to know that much.

Mrs. Daniel seemed to grumble in distaste after he said that but was soon to snap back to her 'act', "Yes. This is... Hala."  She said, spitting my name at me. Yep, she hated me already. Like everybody else did, oh well, not a bad thing to me. At least she pronounced it right was all I could think. I could hear him chuckle. Does he think my name is funny?

As I saw his feet start to turn my heart started to race even more and the lightning seemed to start up outside. He stood there in silence and I knew why, I couldn't seem to speak either. I was still looking down because I knew I couldn't look him in the eyes again. 

He finally spoke up, "Hello, Ala, I'm Phenex. It's great to meet you." And to know your name.. And to just see that you really are real... 

I jumped when I heard him think that.. Was it my imagination to hear his thoughts? 

He whispered to me, "No.. I can hear yours too."

I looked up at him in shock and felt my face flush with embarrassment. I couldn't stop looking into his eyes when we had a connection again and felt like I was locked into them. I was finally able to really look at him..

...He was perfect... His face was just.. beautiful. He had an almost oval shaped jaw but somehow it looked just right, a nose that hooked downward, it almost Romanistic and it was kind of big but it was the right kind of big. His eyes were shaped like they were almost closed but enough to see those pretty, brown eyes. He was tan and muscular but not too muscular, and had the most beautiful, feathered-like, flowing, black and orange tipped hair. As I said, he was perfect. 

You are perfect as well with your beautiful long red hair, gorgeous, big brown eyes, beautifully heart shaped face, your light, flawless skin, kissable lips and your very cute, little button nose.. you're just perfect in every sense. He thought towards me as the lightning struck uncontrollably. I don't know how I'm able to do this, but I want you to know that I think I've known you my whole life. 

That was when the wind blew every window open and all Hell broke loose with the thunder and lightning storm. I somehow couldn't keep my eyes off of him.

"Leave the office and find a safe place, you two!" I heard her press the intercom button and heard her try to keep her voice from shaking, "Teachers and students, get under your desks for the tornado alert, this is not a drill, I repeat this is not a drill." She cut on the tornado alarm and yelled at us again, "Quit staring at each other and get out of here! Go to a safe place!"

He broke away from my eyes and looked out the windows with wide eyes and complete disbelief, "We haven't had a storm this bad before.." he shook his head, as if to shake the thought, and turned to look at me. He yelled loudly over the storm, "We need to get out now! I need to protect you!"

I felt myself stuck looking at him and tried my best to snap out of it. He heard that I was struggling and went into my mind again, We don't have time and I don't want the storm to hurt you. I know I just met you but I know that I need to protect you. I don't want you hurt. Please, snap out of it and come with me; grab my hand, Ala.

 That was when I snapped out of it and felt the wind pulling us around. I was terrified of this oncoming storm and knew I had to take in his words. Lightning and thunder shook when I took his hand and got up to run and follow him, Where do we go?

He let go of my hand and looked around frantically, clearly confused, I don't know. It's shaking so hard.. I can't think of what to do.. I don't know if you can even hear me..

A sudden rage that I could not contain coursed through my body, "QUIT SHAKING THE SCHOOL!" 

And it stopped.

We stood there looking at each other in shock, "How did.. How is that.." I felt myself wanting to freak out but another part of me told me to stay strong. I furrowed my eyebrows, I felt suddenly determined at this moment, "I don't know and it might be a coincidence, but we need to hurry. It's still storming so it might come back."

The shocked expression left his face and I knew he must have been a mirror with his determined look, "I know where to go." 

Chapter Four

We ran for a long time with many twists and turns. I honestly wondered how much longer it would take.

"Not much longer, we have to run down this hallway then we have to go down two flights of stairs."

Oh yeah, he can read my thoughts.

"Two flights of stairs? Where are you taking us?" I yelled as he ran ahead of me. Lightning struck loudly again.

"We're close and it's the safest place, you'll see."

We ran a little more and stopped in front of a white door covered in CAUTION tape. I looked at him, "Are you sure this is safe?" He looked back at me and smiled mischeviously, "Who do you think put it there?" I looked at him with complete confusion, "Why would you..?" The ground shook more.

"I'll explain later!" he opened the door, "Come on!"

I groaned when I saw the stairs, he was already halfway down the first flight of stairs. He yelled, "Come on! I need to have you safe!" I groaned again and ran down the first flight and jumped when the door shut incredibly loud behind me. I slipped on one of the steps but when I did, I was caught by him.

Unfortunately for me, though, his hands holding me made my heart flutter and made me lose my breath. The last sight I saw was him yelling for me to wake up.

Then I blacked out.
~~~
I felt strangely comfortable when I started to open my eyes. When I opened them, I looked up to see him looking down at me in concern. I started to look around me to see a room filled with lab tables and chemistry equipment. The room kind of looked like a basement with each wall being made of flat, gray cement.

"It's the old chemistry lab, if you're wondering." His voice was a deep, sweet melody and I felt my heart race a little more from hearing it. "Hey, don't pass out on me again. I don't want my deep, sweet voice to make you faint. I like seeing you conscious." He laughed sweetly.

I looked at him and smiled a little bit. He smiled back with that smile that lit up his entire face. "It's good to see such a beautiful girl smile... You feeling a little bit better?"

He called me beautiful. 

He chuckled softly, "Yes, you are beautiful. Very beautiful." The arm he had around my torso moved up to my cheek. My heart started beating out of control as he used his hand to stroke the side of my face. Chills ran down my entire body and I sighed as if it was the relief of every worry I've ever had went away.

"Everytime I've been with you, you always seem to fall. Right now, I'm starting to really enjoy your clumsy self." Humor danced in his beautiful eyes as he smiled.

I smiled back, "You're soooo funny."

He smiled and moved his hand to trace my lips, I shivered with delight. He looked at me with loving eyes and said sweetly, "I love your sweet voice. And just looking at your pure beauty." He moved his hand back to my cheek and made me sigh again. I smiled, "I bet you tell that to all the girls you catch from falling down stairs." He returned the smile and whispered, "Only you." My heart fluttered uncontrollably as he lifted my head and moved his head closer to mine. We were really about to kiss. He wanted to kiss me. He was starting to move closer, closing the gap between us..

I was scared so I turned my face very quickly.

He moved my head to look at him, "What are you scared of?" I looked at him and could see the hurt in his eyes.

"I just.. You're a very handsome guy that I can somehow read minds with. That's definitely a new one for me. And.. I just don't know how to explain it but.. I feel like you are meant for me. But it feels like it's all moving so quickly for my mind to comprehend right now.. and... you'd be my first kiss." Oh my God, I sound like a cheesy romance novel and did I really just tell him he'd be my first kiss? 

He smiled, "I can understand that and... I feel the same about all of this. I just feel so suddenly drawn to you and..." He sighed, "You'd be my first kiss too... And first girlfriend." Why do I always talk like a complete idiot around her? I shouldn't have said that last part..

I smiled at his comments and thoughts, "You aren't an idiot, I like it when you talk. My thoughts have already told you that much. And.. It's nice to know you feel the same as I do. And... That I'd be your first because.. You'd be mine too."

He sighed with relief and smiled, "Thank you."

Chapter Five

I layed there in his arms thinking. 

"Ala, you know I can hear your thoughts."

I looked at him, "I know but.. Phenex.. I want to voice it. I already know I am meant to be with you and the feelings are sudden. I know I sound like a broken record there.. But, anyway, I never knew I could feel this strongly about somebody.. Especially a guy as handsome and sweet as you are.. But now I'm scared if you and I even hug or hold hands that I might faint. I don't even know why I'm not passed out still from you holding me. I'm still scared to touch you in any way, though."

He smiled and I saw understanding in his eyes, "First off, when you said my name... It was music to my ears." We both laughed a little bit. Oh, his laugh was even perfect. "Secondly, I'm very glad you like my laugh that much." I felt myself blush and he smiled when he saw it so he stroked my face more, "And, as for what you said, I know and I'm scared for the same. It scared me when you fainted, you were out for a very long time. And.. I want you to know.. You keep seeing me smile but honestly.. I've been so depressed for so long and being with you, I feel so happy, so alive. If you've really listened to my thoughts, I get the same feelings you do. I was never able to look people in the eyes but now, I somehow can with you."

I gasped, "I'm the same way. I always thought it was because I was ugly.. But somehow I'm able to look into your eyes without complete horror in your expression."

"....I kind of wonder what it is between us. And you aren't ugly, Ala." He stroked my face gently, "You are truly gorgeous.. Um.. Can I ask you something, Ala? I should have asked this before."

"What is it?"

"I wanted to ask you... Will you be my girlfriend?"

I smiled and laughed a little bit, "I thought that was already official."

He grinned brightly and lifted my chin to kiss me but then put my face down gently, "Sorry about that."

My heart rate was out of control, I could feel the abnormal adrenaline rushing through me, "Phenex, you've saved me from a major storm, we've told each other our feelings, and now we're boyfriend and girlfriend. Right now, I'm able to keep my eyes open and talk to you while you're holding me and stroking my face. I'm not afraid to kiss you anymore. I feel as if I've known you my whole life and now I know for a fact that I will for the rest of ours together. I want you to kiss me."

His eyes widened and then he smiled, "I thought you said you didn't want to. Where was this a while ago?"

"With you, my thoughts change within a five to ten minute conversation." I giggled a little and he smiled.

The hand he had on my lower back moved to support me more. The hand he had on my cheek moved to tuck my hair behind my ear and moved to the back of my neck. He lifted my head slightly as he lowered his head towards mine. The gap between us seemed to become smaller and smaller. This is it.. The first, most amazing kiss I'll ever have.. My heart raced with the thought. He smiled and we both closed our eyes as our lips were about to touch...

VRRRRR! VRRRRR! VRRRRR! VRRRRR!

We groaned because we were both so close.

My stupid phone HAD to go off.

"I am so sorry, Phenex." I started to lift myself up in his lap and got my phone out of my pocket. I unlocked the phone and saw the caller ID. It was my foster parents.

"Hello?"

I heard thunder roll and lightning crash and wind blowing out of control as I tried to listen for her voice, she yelled as loudly as possible, "I know you're stuck at school because of the storm. Please stay there and call me if anything happens. Drive here as soon as the storm goes down."

I looked at my watch, '4:25'. School had been out forever.. Phenex wasn't kidding when he said I was out for a long time. I heard him laugh a little at my thoughts so I rolled my eyes dramatically at him.

"Alright, I'll leave when the storm calms down."

"Okay! Text me if anything happens!"

"Alright, I will, bye."

"Bye!" I pressed the red button to shut off the conversation.

"Your mother seems to really care about you."

I looked at Phenex to see him slightly smiling. I tried to return the smile, I didn't want to ruin the moment with my sob story.

He looked at me with concern, "Ala, I can read your thoughts. What is it?"

I sighed. I really hate that he can read my mind sometimes, "She's not my real mom.. She's my foster mom. I got dropped off at a really crappy orphanage by someone with only my name on a piece of paper. It just said the strangest message, 'Ala. Pronounced with an H. Born on October 31st.' I was only 2 weeks old. Right now this is my thirteenth foster house. I planned on them ditching me like all of them have.. I think that they might have to keep me now, I also have a reason to stay now." I looked at him and smiled slightly.

Chapter Six

He looked down at me for a long time and stroked the side of my face before he spoke, "Ala, you and I must have a connection somehow. I mean, obviously we do if we can read minds. Which, I'm still freaking out over a little bit." He chuckled a little and then got serious as he moved his hand to stroke my hair, "There's some... there's even more factors here now, with it."

I pulled my head up slightly and drew in with curiousity, "What factors are you talking about? We can read each others minds, that should be enough... Not to sound mean. But it kind of should be."

He pulled me a little closer as he adjusted my body with his hands, "Ala, I was an orphan too. Dropped off the same way you described with a note exactly described like yours. Told about the prounciation too. And this is my thirteenth foster home too. And... October 31st? Are you kidding me? That's my birthday too. You just... Don't even realize right now how strange and shocking this is... and how much in awe I am with this, Ala."

I felt my eyes widen and I drew myself speechless. I just didn't know what to say to any of it. We couldn't be twins if we were attracted the way we were so why is all of that so similar? Maybe it's a coincidence?

"Ala, I really don't think any of that is a coincidence, given these circumstances. I mean... This is all so... I wish I knew what all of this was about. This is actually pretty cool." His face lit up a little bit and it made me giggle. He looked down and smiled at me, looking at me with admiration, "What?"

"The way you just got so excited about it and your vocabulary is usually so long and then you put this whole situation down to 'cool'. I just thought it was cute." I smiled at him and he smiled back, blushing a little, making me giggle again.

"You know, your laugh is probably the most adorable thing I have ever heard and that smile is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. You know that?" Then it was my turn to blush and his turn to smile at me.

Impressum

Texte: Wikipedia, information and song for the demons
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 29.11.2013

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Widmung:
To the ones who only know love through reading. That's true love, that isn't fantasy. It's where your emotions stir and the time invested is real. Every tear, smile, heart flutter, and smalls shouts for the characters are real. You know how much it hurts to read when your favorite character dies. Or when the bad guy wins. The frustrations of a cliffhanger. Your love deserves this dedication, bookworms. Rock on and keep reading.