2 Chapter 1
The Skylar High School was a school like any other. Located in the east of the city of Blackbones. Among the many students who walked the hallways, there were three girls considered quite invisible.
Selene Watson was a girl with long black hair and gray eyes. She wasn't shy and insecure, but she didn't like being the center of attention, so she had – one might say – chosen to be an invisible loser.
Beside her – with her sweet blue eyes – was Amy Smith. She was the most awkward of her three friends.
Haylee Anderson, on the other hand, was the bullies' favorite. She was the only one, of the three friends, who was often targeted. She couldn't explain the reason for all that hatred towards her.
After all, Amy would have been a better victim, so shy, so small and helpless.
But Haylee had quite a temper. She couldn't stand injustices. And she often defended other students from bullies. And that was probably why they took it out on her.
That morning, like so many others, they pushed her and took her backpack. They emptied it onto the floor and then left her there to collect everything. «Perfect. As if I wasn't late enough this morning.» she moaned as she bent down on the cold hallway floor.
Amy and Selene rushed to help their friend but she stopped them. «Forget it, girls. You go. You don't have to be late because of me.»
«Are you sure?» Amy asked.
«Yup.»
Her friends had better stay out of it, or they would be in danger too.
Selene and Amy hesitated, but eventually made their way to the classroom.
After laughing enough, the other students also left the hallways and Haylee was left alone, but at peace.
Or at least she believed so.
«What do they find amusing in all this, I just don't understand. I'm starting to get really sick of all this.»
«Need help?», a boy knelt to help her.
«Not necessary, thanks.» she replied annoyed.
«You sure? Because it seems like a lot of stuff to me… »
Haylee snorted. «What is it? Another attempt to make fun of me? You and your friends are getting really boring and monotonous.»
«Just because I'm the quarterback doesn't mean I'm the one giving the orders.»
The girl rolled her eyes and snorted again. «Look, really, just leave me alone. There is no one who can laugh at my misfortunes in this hallway now, so you can also leave now.»
«I'm just trying to be nice. I don't want to make fun of you.»
Haylee snorted again. «I won't fall for it.»
She took the last remaining things and put them in the backpack before leaving.
Someone like him would never have approached her without a very specific purpose. Haylee knew it and she wouldn't be fooled. She was not a child and she had more important things to think about.
But the boy didn't give up and followed her. «Where are you going? At least let me introduce myself. I'm Per– »
Everyone knows who you are, Percy Ryan, even the stones, Haylee thought.
She stopped abruptly, a few steps from the classroom. Suddenly she decided to be nice. She looked at Percy's hand reaching out to her, put her backpack on a shoulder, and shook it. «You don't need to introduce yourself, I know who you are.» she said. She decided to play her part. She pretended to be embarrassed and shy, like a fan in front of her idol. «Excuse me for being rude. But I'm terribly late, I really have to go.»
Percy, surprised by her sudden change, said nothing.
She said goodbye to him, still acting pretty, and walked to her class.
«You didn't tell me your name… » finally Percy spoke.
She turned. «Haylee.», she waved at him again and entered in the classtroom.
She apologized to her teacher for being late and sat down next to Amy.
«Why did you take so long?» her friend asked in a low voice.
«Something unexpected happened.» Haylee replied.
She really wanted to ignore it, but it was very suspicious that suddenly the most popular of the school had decided to speak to someone like her. But it could be used to her advantage.
When the lessons were over, she walked quickly to her car.
Selene and Amy walked home. They both lived not far from the school.
While Haylee lived at the far end of the city. To reach her small neighborhood, it was necessary to cross a short path in the woods, not easily covered on foot.
To tell the truth, calling it a forest is almost an insult to large forests. East Blackbones Wood was truly insignificant and tiny, smaller even than a public park.
The driveway in front of her house was blocked by a moving truck. So, she was forced to leave the car parked on the sidewalk.
She took her backpack and opened the door.
«Ouch!»
She had hit someone for sure. She immediately went out to check what she had been up to.
A boy with thick, shoulder-length black hair was rubbing his arm.
At first Haylee was dazed and surprised but then she started to apologize. «Oh no, I'm sorry. I am mortified. It's all my fault, I should have looked before I opened the door. It's just that this street is usually deserted and not– » Haylee stopped. The boy's gaze was completely disinterested. It was clear he didn't care much for her apology.
A man ran up beside the boy. They didn't look alike at all, yet he introduced himself as his father. «You must excuse him, he didn't sleep much this morning because of the trip.»
«No, he's not the one who has to apologize. I hit him with the door.»
«Well you apologized, we'll go now.» the man said. He seemed to be in a hurry to get away from Haylee.
Rachel, Haylee's mother, opened the door after seeing her from the window.
The girl greeted her with a smile, but her mother didn't seem very happy. «Hurry back Haylee!» she yelled at her.
Haylee turned back to the neighbor's driveway and noticed that the boy was still at the door, staring at her intently.
It's her…, he said to himself.
