Blaire clinched on the diamond necklace her mother had given to her on her sixteenth birthday. It was said to be from northern Europe. Its shape is very rare to be seen, having two triangular diamonds parallel to each other on a circular platform. Its rune symbolizes the Dawn. Blaire remembered her mother saying that the diamond represents the meaning of life. Considering the ultimate truth, the diamond embodies the concepts of awakening, insight, awareness, epiphany, new beginnings, and connections to the mystical beings. Blaire held on to a tighter grip, soon releasing the diamond from her hand. She baffled. She had forgotten Leslie had been talking to her. She quivered. “Do you think there’d be any new kids at school?” Leslie asked impatiently, as if saying she had been asking this more than a million times already. Blaire seemed dazed, but then answered in return, “There are always new kids every year.” “Makes good enough sense to me” Leslie stood up from her back and stepped foot on her carpeted floor. “You’ve been single forever. You should probably find yourself someone to love -” Leslie smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with being single” Blaire mumbled. Leslie walked back and forth across her room, as if searching for something. “Well, you can’t always be” she said, “But anyway, tell me about things more important. Still getting those nightmares?” “Well, last night. This boy-” Leslie cut her off before she could finish. “Aha! So there is a boy!” she exclaimed, “Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!” Blaire glared at Leslie for a moment, ”He saved me, sort of. But then, I told him to go away and all. And yet, he stayed because he said he loves me…” she mumbled. Leslie’s eyes grew wider and scooted next to Blaire. “O-M-G! What if he really exists! What if he’s actually someone who you’ll-” “I’m not gonna hear you say it. It’s all just a dream. It can’t happen for real. Dreams are just manifestations of visions, frustrations, and things you want to happen. But this boy is nowhere near any among the three.” Blaire said. “Fine” Leslie snickered. Blaire heard a double knock on the door. Leslie got up and walked toward the door and opened it. A skinny girl stood waiting by the door. She was a few inches shorter than Leslie, but had the same light blue eyes. She had darker blonde hair, almost like a gray ash blonde color. She wore a tightly fitted white shirt and a denim mini skirt. “What is it you want?” Leslie asked. The girl barged in her room, sucking on her red lollipop. “I came by to check on you. Wouldn’t want this house burn into flames, you know.” She said in sarcasm. Leslie rolled her eyes and pulled open the door wider, “Out” she pointed her arms out onto the hallway outside her room. The girl ignored what Leslie just said, “How are you Blaire?” she smiled. “I’m good, you?” Blaire returned a smile. “Never been better” the girl walked around Leslie’s room and brushed her fingers along the study desk by the window. She rubbed her fingers together and looked back at Leslie, “Hm. Your room needs cleaning.” “Desiree! Get out!” Leslie exclaimed. Desiree is Leslie’s older sister. Nineteen and bi**hy. She began studying at Heald College two years ago after graduating high school. Apparently, she was Melrose High’s Social President, but now she turned over her responsibility to her seventeen year old sister, Leslie. “Jeez, babe. I was just trying to be nice.” Desiree walked to Leslie and puckered her lips, then walked out the door. Leslie slammed the door and grunted. “So, where were we?” she asked in hesitation, “Right. This boy who saved you.” ~*~ Blaire parked her car in front of their house. She noticed Brent’s hummer was no longer on their driveway. She stepped out of her car and walked up to the main entrance. She pushed open the doors and walked in. The house seemed to be really quiet and the lights had been out. Blaire felt very suspicious. She always knew that their mother would never leave the lights out nor would Brent. What’s going on.. where are they? She thought. Blaire rushed her way through the dark hall and searched for the light switch. Her hands brushed against the walls and finally felt a thin and slanted bump. She switched the lights back on and found no one in the house. She called, “Mom? Brent?” But no one answered. She fished out her phone in her pocket and dialed her mother’s number. It rang. “Hello?” The voice of Estrelle had picked up. “Mom, where are you?” Blaire asked. “Oh, I went to see Mr. Hiller. I should be home tonight.” Estrelle said, sounding in a bit of a hurry. Blaire paused for a moment, Mr. Hiller? She wondered, “Who’s Mr. Hiller?” “He just moved in town. Did I mention he has a nephew living with him?” Estrelle said, “He says he’s a charm.” “Mom, please don’t tell me you’re trying to set me up with some guy I haven’t even met yet. We’re not in the old European days where children were already assigned to marry someone they don’t even know. Do not dare make a vow.” Blaire sighed. “Oh, honey. I’m just trying to make friends with the new neighbors.” Estrelle said, “I’ll see you at home.” Her mother put the phone down before Blaire had even tried to say good-bye. One thing Blaire disliked about her mother was the fact that she rarely shows affection to her and Brent. She seemed emotionless. Blaire released a heavy breath as she walked to the kitchen. She pulled open the fridge and brought out a can of cherry cola. She pulled the metal tab and took a sip off her drink. Blaire felt her phone vibrate on the palm of her hand. She winced. She looked over the brightly lit screen, it had been a message from Brent. Blaire immediately unlocked her phone and read, I’m outside. Blaire rushed her way out the house as soon as she read the message Brent had sent her, having her soda still in hand. Blaire stepped foot on the dark and cold outdoor and found Brent waiting outside his car, smoking a cigarette. He seemed to be talking to someone. Blaire approached him as she eyed the stranger. He had wavy blonde hair and eyes that stood gray. Blaire turned over to Brent, “Hey” she said, “What are you doing out here?” “This is Lucas.” He said, blowing out the smoke from his throat. “He’s new around here. Mom called and told me about him, apparently she knows his uncle, Mr. Miller” “Oh,” Blaire examined Lucas once again. He had a good build and his smile gave Blaire a slight blush. “Hi, my name is Lucas Fortier” he reached for a handshake. “I’m Blaire Morris” she returned a smile and a handshake. “What brings you here in Roseville?” “My uncle just opened up a car shack downtown.” He said. “Oh, I see. I’m sorry to be rude, would you care to go inside?” Blaire asked. “It’s all right. It’s getting pretty late, I should be heading back home to my uncle.” Lucas said, glancing at Brent. “I guess it is kinda late.” Blaire noticed bright lights coming from around the corner of their street. It was a silver Audi driving by their house and falling to a complete stop. A woman came out of the vehicle, it was Estrelle. “Oh, hi kids.” She said, “I see you’ve met Lucas” “Yeah, it’s great to meet you Mrs. Morris” he said, “I was just about to head home” “Oh, by foot? No, no. Allow Brent to take you home.” Estrelle said, approaching them. “We’ll do.” Brent said. Blaire felt a strange feeling around Lucas. She felt an urge to dislike him for some reason. There was something about him that made her stay away. But she didn’t know what. ~*~ Blaire stepped onto the cold concrete floor in her bathroom. She turned on the bath water and waited ’till the tub was half full. She looked at herself on the mirror and examined her porcelain skin. She felt every area of her neck with her warm hand. Blaire took off her black jeans and navy blue shirt, leaving her underwear and bra still on. She soon after took all her garments off and slowly stepping in the water filled bathtub. Blaire positioned herself, lying straight with her back slightly leaning on the wall of the bathtub. She relaxed and breathed gently. She closed her eyes and felt the warm water soothe into her skin. “Mmm” she moaned. She slowly lifted her right arm and reached for her radio located on the floor beneath her towel rack. She turned it on and played her most liked station, Kroq. The music had filled the whole bathroom an echoing sound. It was loud enough, it could be heard from outside. Blaire felt a thud from below, Brent must be back, she thought. She quickly stood up from the bath water. Her body had been soaked and water dripped from top to bottom. She immediately grabbed a moist towel from the rack and wrapped herself with it. She stepped back on the concrete floor and bent down, turning her radio off. Blaire went out the bathroom and shut the lights. She walked to her closet drawer and pulled out a set of clothes and wore it to keep her warm and dry. Blaire went to her study desk and sat on her chair, pressing the escape button on her computer’s keypad. She never believed in having to turn off her computer. She always thought it would slow it down even more. All she ever did was put it to sleep. The screen had turned on and Blaire entered her password on the box that appeared. The volume of the speaker was loud. The Windows theme had blasted into Blaire’s ears. She quickly turned down the volume on her speakers and logged on. She opened a new window on Mozilla Firefox and typed in her web-blog. Every student in Melrose high had a web-blog at the school’s webpage. It wasn’t anything mandatory. It was just a blog where students could customize their own page and write about their day in school or events in their life. Blaire’s web-blog fully loaded on the screen. It entitled, 250 and Dark Stars. She clicked on her News Feed and saw other students had updated their profiles. Blaire clicked on the page that said, New Comers. Apparently, it was a page of the new students enrolled in Melrose. There were about fifteen new comers in the Freshmen batch, two for Sophomore, zero for Junior, and three for Seniors. Blaire had read the list of names written on the page of New Comers. She looked to see if Lucas had been on it. She scrolled and didn’t find him. “Hm. I guess he’s not in high school” she muttered. Blaire heard a knock on her door, “Come in” she said. Blaire watched as the door slowly opened, “Hey”. It was Brent. “What’s up?” she asked. “Just wanted to tell you that Xian will be out tomorrow.” He said, “But he won’t be in ’till the second day of school.” “Of course.” She said, “Wouldn’t want him to rush with school having him slightly injured still.” “Yeah” Brent glanced on Blaire’s computer and noticed she had been on web-blog. “Oh hey, you’re on it. Any updates?” “Hm. Yeah, how come Lucas isn’t on the New Comers list?” Blaire asked. “Oh. That’s odd.” He mumbled, “He’s probably enrolled at some other school” “At some other school? But Melrose is our home school. Every kid in our neighborhood goes to Melrose.” Blaire defended. “Well, he just got here. Maybe he wasn’t able to enroll yet.” Brent said. “Ok, then” Blaire said without concern. Brent left her room and closing the door behind him. She heard him say good night out in the hallway. She smiled. Blaire put her computer on sleep and went straight to bed, all wrapped in her sheets. ~*~ It started to rain once again in Roseville, California. It wasn’t as strong as the other night, but slight rain had dropped. Blaire was all dressed and ready to go on her first day of classes. She simply wore denim jeans, a violet turtle neck, black trench coat, and her most favorable black Ugg boots. She ran out and pulled out her keys and unlocked her car that had been parked on the driveway. She went in and buckled her seatbelt, then turned the engine on. It was 7:15 in the morning and school started at exactly 8. She reversed the car onto the road and drove off on the way to the school. She got to the point of entering Melrose High’s parking lot, home of the Vultures. Blaire found an empty parking space and parked her white range rover. She turned off the engine and pulled out her keys and stepped out of the vehicle, shutting the door and locking it. She slid on her black hobo bag and looked around the entire school. Walking toward the sidewalk, Blaire noticed a girl in a fitted red dress and had black tights on and black boots. Her features could captivate an entire room. Her eyes were like charcoal; the eyebrows were smudges of graphite; high, pronounced cheekbones made her face appear almost triangular, like a pixie’s; her nose, thin and dramatic; her dark chocolate hair, falls naturally around her shoulders; and her lips were impossibly perfect – Skye Willis, captain of the Cheerleading team, as well as Blaire’s second cousin. She noticed Blaire had eyed her in familiarity. “Blaire!” she gasped and soon ran toward her. “I can’t believe you’re here!” she exclaimed, “There are a lot of changes here in school! Well, I suggested them to my father.” Skye is most likely known as The school’s founder. Her father, James Willis, spoils her like she’s the only person in existence. But she’s very open to what other students have to say about the school’s facilities and staff. She wants every student to remember high school at Melrose. “That’s great!” Blaire said. Skye nodded in return. “Mhm!” she said, “A lot of new comers, too. Come on” Skye wrapped her arm around Blaire’s and led them both to the main entrance of the school. “This year will be so much better than last year” she said, “There will be more school dances and formals.” Blaire wasn’t very much into school dances, or anything that dealt with having to dress up and stay out all night. She was more of the type that wanted to stay home and watch movies with friends – a homebody to specify. “Good to know” Blaire replied, “Are there any new electives or clubs?” “We do, actually!” she said, “I told my father to add German and Mythology. Those should be more interesting than Spanish or Art” Blaire smiled. They entered a double door that had read, Main Office. They walked in and approached a counter right in the middle of the bright and gray carpeted room. “Welcome to Melrose High School. How may I help you?” A woman asked as she stood from her seat. “Susan, you remember Blaire Morris, don’t you?” Skye questioned the woman. “Oh, of course, Ms. Willis. How silly of me.” The woman looked up, peering at Blaire through her thick, rectangular glasses that layed on the bridge of her thin and pointed nose. Her pale lips had pursed into a wide smile. Blaire moved a few steps closer toward the white marble desk where the woman had stood. She noticed how she was searching for files cluttered on her desk. The woman tore her eyes away from Blaire’s, and spun her swivel chair to a bulky printer to get the paper she hadn’t even realized had been printing. She handed Blaire a gray sheet of paper, boring her information such as name, grade level, and class schedule. “It’s good seeing you here at Melrose, Ms. Morris” Susan greeted. Blaire nodded in return. She looked over her schedule and saw Physics her first period class. “I should get going, Skye.” Blaire said, “I have Physics.” Skye turned to Blaire and wrapped her arm once again around her’s. “Oh, don’t be silly!” she exclaimed, “I have Physics, too.” Skye dragged Blaire along and exited the main office. They walked along the crowded hallways and searched for room three where their first period class had been. “There it is” Skye said. They walked in the large room and looked for vacant seats. Skye spotted two available seats on the third row, just about in the middle. The room could occupy about twenty students, but only several were present. “Take your seats.” A man walked in the room and stood in front of the class. He had glasses on and had his hair pushed back in gel. Very neat. He wore a khaki coat, white polo shirt, red bow tie, and black slacks. He was a Professor. He wrote on the whiteboard: Mr. Alexander Fritz. Placing the whiteboard marker down, he faced the class. He seemed to be examining each student’s face, as his hands were clamped together. “Now. What do you enjoy about a game?” he asked, chin up and looking out for someone to answer his question. A student raised his hand. “The action pack it has.” he said. “Anything else?” he asked. “The way our mood changes as we play the game” another student answered. Mr. Fritz leaned on his table, arms crossed. “But, have you noticed that you can’t fully enjoy a game unless you know its rules? Whether it’s a ball game, computer game, or party game – if you don’t know the rules, it can be boring. You miss out on what others enjoy. Am I right? Well, just as a musician hears what untrained ears can’t, and just as a cook tastes in food what others miss, a person knows nature’s rules can better appreciate nature. Learning that satellites follow the same rules as tossed baseballs change the way you see orbiting astronauts on TV. Learning the rules of light changes the way you see blue skies, white clouds, and rainbows. Richness in life is not only seeing the world with wide open eyes, but knowing what to look for. And this is where my subject takes point. We begin by looking at some of nature’s basic rules – physics. We treat physics conceptually which means concepts are presented in familiar English, with equations as…? Could anyone tell me?” he said. Skye raised a hand and when he glanced at her, he nodded. “Guides to thinking” she said. “Excellent! Ms. Willis” he exclaimed, ”Welcome to the class. Now, our today’s lesson is just simple. Scientific Methods. I suggest you all take down notes. I am no English teacher, but, penmanship counts.” he said, as he walked up to the whiteboard and taking hold of the whiteboard marker, he wrote. “The Italian physicist Galileo Gallilei and the English philosopher Francis Bacon are usually credited as the principal founders of the scientific method – a method that is extremely effective in gaining, organizing, and applying new knowledge. Scientific methods generally include some, if not all, of the following.” ~*~ Blaire walked along the hallways of the school trying to remember where the girls bathroom was located. On the corner of her eye, she spotted a sign with a figurine of a girl in a dress. “There it is” she mumbled. Before she was able to make her way in the girls bathroom, she felt a heavy push on her shoulder. “Ow! What the-” she exclaimed, as she turned to her side to see whom had hit her. She couldn’t familiarize who had bumped her just now. All she knew is he had already turned his back on her a few feet ahead from where she stood. He wore a dark blue hood and jeans. She couldn’t figure out who it was, but Blaire moved on and entered the girls bathroom. “Men these days” she muttered in annoyance. “Tell me about it” a voice came out from behind her. Blaire winced. She looked over the mirror and saw Leslie’s reflection. She hesitated. “You’re horrible. Don’t ever scare me like that!” Blaire yelled. Leslie chuckled and moved over to the sink. “Hi” she said, “so what happened? Something about men?” “Oh” Blaire looked herself in the mirror and fixed her eyeliner. Her violet eyes had glimmered under the warm light. “Some boy was in a hurry. I guess he didn’t notice hitting me” “We’ll get him soon” Leslie winked. “How was class?” she asked. “Never been bored in my entire life.” Blaire said. “Well-” Leslie sighed, “Blaire, I miss your brother. I mean, now that he’s in college, he must be into some girl” “I don’t know about that. You should talk to him” Blaire said. She glanced at Leslie and noticed how her head seemed slightly bent down. “I know he loves you. Has he ever said those words to you yet?” Leslie nodded, signaling a ‘No’. “Well, I haven’t said it either. I don’t wanna be too forward, you know?” “I know” Blaire walked over to the door then looked back at Leslie. “Let’s go?” she asked. ~*~ “So” Leslie gestured as she held onto her food tray, on their way to a vacant table by the bench outside. “Meet anyone new?” Blaire sat down and placed her hobo bag and tray on the surface of the brown picnic table. “No, Les” she said. “Well, I heard there are three new comers in our batch, doesn’t that sound exciting?” Leslie said, biting the center of a red apple. “Hm. I wonder where they are though.” Blaire went looking around, her eyes passing the tall and thick trees surrounding them. She didn’t see any unknown faces. “Must be shy” Leslie said, “New comers always are.” Blaire had thought she had spoken too soon when she heard deep voices behind her ear. “Trent!” one of the voices called. Blaire had recalled seeing the name Trent Lutheran on the school website’s new comers page. It must be the new kid… she said to herself. “What was that?” Leslie asked. “Do you see anyone behind me?” Blaire looked over her shoulder then back at Leslie. “I do.” She retaliated, “Two boys and a girl” Blaire altered and looked at the people standing a few feet behind her. Two boys and one girl. One of the boys had dark red hair in a clean cut, muscular, and fair skin. The other had light brown hair that was cut in a low mohawk, well-toned and slightly tan skin. “Camille!” the boy with dark red hair yelled. The girl had such heavenly hip-length dark brown hair and perfectly white skin. “Camille and Trent” Leslie whispered, “So we’ve got those names down. What about the other? Should we talk to them?” “Not a good idea.” Blaire said. She turned back to her food tray and picked up an apple slice. “Well, they’re walking toward us” Leslie mumbled as she looked down at her food and pretended to scoop up her pudding. “Hi!” the girl called out to Blaire and Leslie. “My name’s Camille” she spoke. Blaire looked up and examined Camille’s face. Her eyes were in an emerald green color, strange for a girl with dark hair. Must be wearing contacts…she thought. “Oh, these aren’t contacts” Camille said, “they’re my natural eye color” Blaire’s eyes had grew wide as if knowing Camille actually read her mind. “Anyway” she said, “This is Trent and Gage. We’re altogether new comers of the senior batch, how about you?” Leslie eyed Gage with a stunned look. “Oh, we’re seniors, too. Been here since ninth grade.” “Wonderful!” Camille blurted, “Mind if we sit with you?” “No! Not at all” Leslie asserted. Camille smiled as they sat at their table. Blaire found it very odd how normally the old students would be the ones to welcome the new students, and not the other way around. ~*~ “Well, that was pretty weird” Leslie ejaculated, “Don’t you think?” Blaire and Leslie had gone off to the library after their classes had ended. They needed to do some research for their class in World History. “Hm. Which?” Blaire asked as she scanned through a shelf of books. “You know, the new comers.” Leslie blurted, “They seem so talkative on our first day of school. Not to mention that they’re, you know, new.” Blaire ignored Leslie’s comment and kept her search for a book needed in her World History’s class with Ms. Logan. Just when Blaire had found her book, she heard Leslie rasp behind her ear, tapping her on the shoulder. “What, what, what?” Blaire whispered. “Who’s that guy over there?” Leslie asked. Blaire lifted her head and spotted a boy in a dark blue hoodie and jeans. She thought for a moment, “Wait a minute-” she maundered, “it’s that boy who bumped me earlier” “No way.” Leslie said, “You didn’t tell me he was charming!” Blaire stood straight and walked closer to where the boy had stood. She knew something very familiar about him. She then noticed his wavy blonde hair and gray eyes as he glanced at her. “Lucas?” she asked. “Hey” he said. “What are you doing here?” Blaire demanded. “It’s good to see you, too.” He exulted. “I’m sorry” Blaire said, “I should be going.” Blaire turned her back and walked to Leslie. She couldn’t sense a smile out of Lucas, but she felt the feeling he had already left. “You know him?” Leslie questioned. “Yeah” Blaire answered, “He’s new in town” “G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S boy” she exclaimed, “Go talk to him!” “Not happening” Blaire walked toward another bookshelf and started scanning through. “I’m nowhere near interested.” “For now” Leslie blurted. ~*~ Blaire tossed her keys on the kitchen counter as soon as she got home. It was already 6p.m. and her mother had still been working in her office. She noticed a note on the fridge and read, Didn’t cook tonight. Just ordered pizza for the house. Blaire looked over the kitchen counter and found a box of Domino’s pizza. She opened it and grabbed herself a slice. She pulled out her phone from her jean pocket and dialed Xian’s number. “Blaire” a voice picked up, almost sounding like the person had just woken up – Xian. “You sound tired” Blaire gestured, “Did I interrupt anything?” “No, no” Xian alleged, “What’s up?” “I called to check if you’re doing all better” she said in a concerned tone. “Thanks” Xian acknowledged, “I can definitely say I’m all better.” “Good, cause I miss you” Blaire could sense a smile out of him. “Blaire” he articulated, “Stay safe, okay? Now that Brent’s in college, you need to not trust anyone instantly. He won’t be there to come for you so very often. You need to be careful of your surroundings. There won’t be a man in your house.” Blaire had always listened to what Xian would say to her. He was almost like Blaire’s second brother because of how close he was to Brent. “Of course” she smiled, “I’ll see you tomorrow?” Xian interrupted before Blaire had ended the call, “But you know I’m here for you” he muttered, “Um. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Blaire put the phone down and stuffed it in her pocket. She took another bite off her pizza and walked over to the kitchen sink. She looked out the window and saw the moon had shown in its fluorescent light. Blaire always loved the way it had shined upon the midnight sky. Blaire cringed when she heard a door slam. She forthwith turned her head and realized it had been her mother. “Mom” she hesitated, “You startled me” “I’m sorry, dear.” Estrelle seemed distressed. “It won’t happen again.” “Are you okay?” Blaire interrogated. She gazed as her mother walked up the staircase going to the master’s bedroom. She seemed very weak and overstressed. Blaire thought she had been working too very hard in her office, that she lacked rest and free time. “I’m fine, sweetie.” Estrelle mumbled in a high pitched tone, waving Blaire off. “Don’t mind about me.” Blaire felt anxiety as she just heard her mother speak in such an unusual manner. She tossed her pizza slice into the trash bin and abraded the crumbs off her hands. She pulled the black garbage bag out from the trash bin and tied it in a knot. She went out in the back door of the kitchen and lifted their garbage bin. She dumped in the black trash bag and shut the cover of the garbage bin firmly, avoiding stray cats to invade their leftovers. Blaire heard a crack of a tree branch from behind her. She cowered and looked on the corner of her eyes. She heard a footstep close to her, causing the very hairs of her skin rise. Blaire felt very timorous. She moved a few steps back, gaining closer to their kitchen door. She noticed someone had been standing there all along, leaning against the picket fence of their house. It had been the same man who watched her the other night from her bedroom window. Blaire slowly made her way in the door and slammed it quickly, then locking it. She breathed hastily. Blaire dialed 911 on their home phone that hung in the kitchen wall, but there was no answer. It was just a message after the sound of the beep, then the call got cut. Blaire then thought, maybe I’m crazy. She must’ve just been hallucinating this whole time. She probably needed to see Dr. Peterson right away. She sighed, “My next session’s not ’till next week” Blaire checked the windows and doors making sure they were locked and secured. She finally calmed herself down and tried to forget the man outside their house.

Blaire ambled her way to her sixth period class in a gradual pace. She held on to her binder, arms wrapped, as her violet pitched eyes browsed through each student that passed her. She halted the moment something caught her attention – someone. Blaire instinctively grasped on a boy’s sleeve. He stood there for a short while then aggressively pulled back, releasing his arm away from Blaire’s hold. He looked at her with full intent. “Lucas?” Blaire catechized.

“You do realize this is a new shirt you just grabbed.” He brushed on his white sleeve and walked out of Blaire’s way, letting out a heavy sigh. She watched as he left her hanging heartlessly. What was up with him? She thought. Blaire had no idea Lucas enrolled in Melrose High after all. But what was up with him?

Without question, Blaire continued on through the hallway and went up the staircase to her electives. She passed through several rooms and finally got to room seventeen, Mrs. Abigail Barnes. There had been only five students in the room. Apparently, not much were in favor of Expository Writing.

“Take your seat, Ms. Morris” Mrs. Barnes took notice as soon as Blaire had entered the room. She chose a seat right up front next to a boy who looked seemingly fashionable – Xian. “Good seeing you in this class, Blaire” he said, facing her sideways. His attire had always given Blaire a smile, he always knew what looked good on him. “How are you doing today?” she asked. Xian stretched his arms out wide in front of him and yawned. “Everything’s great.”

“Well, I see we’re all here” Mrs. Barnes stood in front of the class, arms crossed. She seemed to be scuffing her black stilettos on the dirty blue carpet. “For those of you who haven’t taken my class last year, I’m Abigail Barnes.” She said, “I see we’ve got one new face in class.” Mrs. Barnes looked over to the end corner of the room, and pointed out to the boy sitting, chewing on his pen. “Your name?” she asked.

Blaire turned her head to the back to get a better view of the boy. “Lutheran” he said, “Trent Lutheran”

“Good, good.” Mrs. Barnes moved over to her desk and grabbed a white board marker from one of the drawers and began to write on the white board in front of the class.

“What are your plans for the weekend?” Xian whispered as he faced Blaire, tapping his pencil on the desk.

“Just home, I suppose.” Blaire muttered, “Or maybe a visit out in Blackwelder”

“With who?” Xian all of a sudden paid better attention when Blaire had mentioned the lake.

“Just me” Blaire cleared her throat then looked up at the white board that had already been occupied with writings. Xian glared for a minute at Blaire then turned over to the board.

The first time Xian ever met Blaire, his eyes fell deeply in love, but he knew he was forbidden to love her. He never brought up his feelings toward her ever again. He wouldn’t dare win the heart of his best friend’s sister, and he knew she wouldn’t give up her heart to someone like him. He would be seen forever just as a friend to her. Nothing more. The last time he remembered telling her that he loved her, she broke him to pieces. All she wanted was nothing more than just friendship. Blaire carries a strong heart that can’t always accept a person’s love for her. She wanted no affection toward anyone, but she knows there will be a right time for her to love. Now’s just not that time.

Blaire sat out on the bench, outside of school. She looked further down her mind, thinking. A lot of things protruded her head. Who was that stranger last night? Why had he been watching me? Why didn’t he bother attacking while I was still outside? Why didn’t he bother breaking in our home, and yet just stared? What about Lucas? Why was he so cold earlier? Did I do anything that got him mad? Blaire had thought too hard. She couldn’t answer her own questions. All of it confused her. She couldn’t understand what was going on.

Blaire hadn’t realized someone had been calling her ’till she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. She winced and let out a heavy breath. Blaire looked up and saw Lucas with a slight smile. “I didn’t mean to scare you” he said. Blaire turned her head the other way where she wouldn’t see Lucas. She spotted Leslie talking with Camille and Trent by the bleachers.

“Blaire” Lucas called once more, but in a softer tone.

“What is it you want?” Blaire quickly turned her head to Lucas, demanding for an answer.

“I just wanted to apologize for earlier-” Blaire had cut him off before he could finish.

“Yeah, what was your problem anyway??” she exclaimed.

“I didn’t mean to. It was a mistake.” Lucas paused for a moment and sat down next to her.

“You should’ve thought of that before.” Blaire looked down on her hands. She knew the way Lucas had been apologizing seemed truthful. But she couldn’t bear the attitude he gave her earlier. It just wasn’t reasonable and quite right. Blaire stood up with a stomp on her foot. She urged herself to leave Lucas, when right at that moment he grabbed on her arm to stop her from leaving. Blaire brushed his hand off her arm and left cold-hearted.

~*~

It was Friday night and Blaire went out for a stroll in the park. Standing on the bridge by the pond, Blaire’s eyes had watered from the thought of emptiness. She never shed a tear ever since her father’s death. Her eyes had been dry since then after. She felt relieved of her tears running wet and purifying. Blaire wiped them off with her bare finger tips and sniffled. Clip, clip, clip. Blaire begins to hear the sound of footsteps coming from behind the trees. Blaire winced as she felt a vibration in her pocket. It was her mother. “Hello?” Blaire picked up.

“Come home immediately” Estrelle’s voice had sounded deeper than ever.

“But-” Estrelle had cut Blaire off before she continued on. “I just heard from the news. A prisoner has escaped from the Roseville jail. He’s a rapist. Blaire, you have to get out of there now!” Estrelle exclaimed as the tone of her voice mixed in with anxiety and hatred.

“Mom” Blaire said unsteadily, her voice shaking and dry. Slowly, Blaire lowered her hand that was holding onto her phone, leveled to her left thigh. Estrelle’s voice could still be heard. She was in greater panic than ever. Hello?! Blaire! Honey! Answer me! Estrelle repeated over and over, but Blaire’s eyes had been locked to someone else’s. Her mouth had been slightly open and her body all frozen. Blaire choked back a scream to stay as silent as possible. A man had stood a few feet away from Blaire, holding a knife in his hand. He seemed to be five inches taller than Blaire. She cried to herself as soon as he took two steps closer. Blaire had breathed hesitantly. Her heartbeat pounded five times faster than the average beating. It was too dark for Blaire to see the man’s face. The moment she had blinked several times, she hadn’t realized he had already made his way right in front of her. Blaire felt the very hairs of her rise as her whole body felt a strong tension of fear. The man had grabbed on Blaire’s arm. He held onto it so tight, Blaire had gone stiff. She didn’t want to even see what the man looked like. She felt a sudden breath touch her neck. He sniffed on her, as if some kind of feed. Blaire couldn’t mouth out words she had thought of in her head. She felt like her tongue had been cut off, she couldn’t speak. The man started to laugh as he slowly slid his knife along Blaire’s arm. She felt the cold metal make its way down to her fingers.

The man began to shake, as if frightened by a ghost. Blaire could hear the sirens of police cars around the block. Mom must’ve called them.. She thought. Blaire watched as the man turned his back and ran off, but just before that, a police officer had already caught him. Blaire couldn’t believe her eyes. She thought she would be named dead by this night.

A tall and buff police officer approached Blaire. She looked up at him, frightened with words unspoken.

“Ma’am” he said, “Are you alright?”

Blaire looked down at his name tag, sewed onto his torso. Warner... she read. Blaire nodded.

“What is your name?” he asked.

Blaire couldn’t get her tongue to speak at all. She couldn’t move either, but a force had gotten her to speak. “Blaire” she mumbled.

“A woman had called and informed us you would be here.” He said.

“Blaire!” a voice went screaming behind Officer Warner. Blaire tilted her head away from the officer and saw a woman in her robe and pajama pants, running toward her, arms wrapped around her shoulders. She gave a tight embrace to Blaire as soon as she stepped foot in front of Officer Warner. It was Estrelle.

“My baby!” she bursts in tears, “Are you hurt??”

“No, mom” Blaire loosened her arms and gently returned a light embrace to her mother.

Blaire watched two police officers wait as the man stepped into the back of the police car, handcuffed. The officers got into the car and drove off. Estrelle released Blaire from her arms, “You okay?” she asked. Officer Warner had stood still behind Estrelle, waiting. Blaire nodded.

“Well, Officer-” Estrelle glanced at the Officer’s name tag, “Warner. I have to thank you enough for receiving my call.”

“It’s not a problem, ma’am.” Officer Warner nodded.

“Officer-” Blaire struggled, “That man. He was about to hurt me, but something stopped him. I noticed him looking behind me, and that’s when he started to run off.”

“Well, young lady.” Officer Warner cleared his throat, “He probably feared the police and so he ran off.”

“Never mind that, Blaire, honey.” Estrelle rested her arm around Blaire’s shoulder, “You’re safe. Let’s go home.”

Blaire got in her mother’s white audi and buckled herself secure. Estrelle turned on the engine and put the car on drive. Blaire looked back to where the police had been. She scanned through every police officer that had been standing by the park’s sidewalk. She noticed someone strangely familiar leaning on a tree nearing the end of the park. He stood under a lamp post. She remembered the dark blue pull over and jeans. It was the man who always watched her from her house. The light shone on him, having his blonde hair and complexion glimmer – Lucas.

~*~

It was Saturday morning and Blaire sat on her bed with blank wide eyes. She wondered why Lucas had been at the park that night and why he had been the stranger who watched her from the start. Did he frighten the prisoner away? Was he the one who protected me? Blaire thought. Who is Lucas?

Blaire spends her afternoon at Blackwelder lake with Skye. “What happened last night?” Skye asked, “It was all over the news. They even questioned the prisoner why he didn’t touch you! He said he couldn’t because you were with a big man! Blaire, are you dating anyone??”

Blaire pulled off her red shirt and denim shorts, as she walked toward the lake waters. She dipped her pale feet in and felt the cold water rush up her skin. “I don’t wanna talk about last night.” She said, “And I’m not dating anyone. You should know that.” Blaire walked deeper down the lake, drowning her body in water. Her hands brushing along the water, creating small waves. Her side braid had kept dry, all managed from getting wet.

She emptied her mind and cleared her thoughts. Blaire breathed in as she heard Skye shouting from behind her, but Blaire ignored her. She didn’t want to think about last night. She didn’t want to think that she had seen Lucas. Think again. Blaire stopped for a moment as if she had heard Lucas’ voice speak to her. Blaire didn’t mind it. She kept herself steady and eased as she dove into the water.