Chapter 2: "Careful who you talk to"

I don't blame Laura, because the man she married is the one to blame. I eluded the thoughts of Mr. Alex Hunter, and parked my motorcycle in the school parking lot. I felt a number of questioning eyes follow me as I got off. I took off my helmet and walked to the entrance of this new school. As I entered the enormous building, I began my search for the main office. The inside of the school was even larger than the outside.

"Need help?" I jumped back a few steps. My attention was drawn to the stranger's eyes. His eyes were just spellbinding, it was a shade of blue I was unfamiliar with. His nice golden hair fell just across his forehead. I regained my focus the moment I noticed the stranger's perfect grin form on his clear face. I fixed my footing and straightened up.

"Umm...can you tell me where the main office is?" He grinned.

"I'll take you instead. I'm not good with giving directions and I wouldn't want a pretty girl like you getting lost because of me." He smiled. I felt my cheeks burn pink.

I nodded as if I was under a trance he began to lead the way. Our trip was quiet, but it felt like it took forever. As we walked, he constantly stopped to chat with the school's cheerleaders, their pom-poms gave it away. He even stopped to chat with a few guys each had this strange vibe, there was one in particular. Some of them looked at me, well it was more of a glance. As we made our way down the hall the silence was becoming intense, I mean when I looked up I'd see him studying me like a lab rat. I broke the silence.

"So are you a senior?"

"Yeah, and you?"

"Same."

"Um, is there a bookstore nearby?" He laughed at my question like I was joking.

"What?" He looked me up and down as if deciding whether I was serious.

"You don't seem the type, that's all." His eyes lingered on my chest longer than necessary. Heat made its way to my cheeks and spread like wildfire.

"You don't have to be a type to read. Maybe you should try it, you might be surprised, you might actually learn a thing or two." He chuckled.

"So what made you want to transfer during mid-semester?" I didn't answer because I didn't have an answer. I looked to the door on my left and noticed the label Main Office.

"Well this is my stop. Thanks for your help." As I turned to leave I felt a hand brush against my shoulder.

"My name's Gabe by the way, if you were wondering. Welcome to O'Malley High." He wore a boyish grin on his sweet face.

"Uh...cool thanks." I said softly

"Well see you around then Uh." He winked. Then he was gone in a heartbeat. Before I realized what he said, he was gone. I walked up to the front desk and told the women my name. She sat me down to wait for the principle.

"Eunomia, the principle will see you now." I picked up my bag from the floor and headed into the office. There was this weird cold drift the minute I entered the room causing the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"Eunomia Hunter, what an honor. I'm James Porter the principal." His cold voice startled me out of my thoughts. James Porter set off an alarm inside, one that warned me to stay away.

"It's just Mia."

"Well nonsense, a pretty girl like you should live up to her pretty name. Don't cut it short dear it's disrespectful." There was an edge to his voice making a simple comment sound like a threat.

"Well excuse me, it's my name therefore my decision sir." He looked at me trying to figure out his next approach.

"We shall see, welcome Eunomia." and just like that I was dismissed. Before I could say anything another student walked in, making me seem invisible.

After receiving all my paperwork including my schedule, I headed for first period, my least favorite subject, English class. The bell rang but that didn't speed up my slow pace. As I made a turn around the corner I heard an argument, and let my curiosity get the best of me.

"It's over Makayla. How many times do I have to tell you until you learn to back the hell off"─ he turned away from his locker to face her, then he grabbed her and shouted ─"I had enough of you and your stupid drama and your god damn jealousy!" He spoke with ire and such force. He released her, and then slammed the locker in frustration, which made me jump, but what was strange was the way the girl stood. She was firm she wasn't afraid, not even after staring into his murderous green eyes. I looked away trying to position myself to get a better listen.

"Whatever...you think you can turn your back on me, go right ahead. But what you're saying is crap." Her breathing grew louder echoing through the empty halls.

" Why were you in the woods yesterday... forget it you can't stay away from me. They won't allow it. Your mine and you'll always be only mine. That slut ..." Her words began to slowly fade. I looked up to see why she stopped. I looked up and found both of them stare at me. I let out a small shriek and made a run for it.

I ran as fast as I could to my first class. Their expressions made my body tremble. His green eyes were murderous and empty. It took me at least three wrong turns to finally find the right room. I barged into the classroom. My loud breathing caught the attention of every pair of eyes in the room.

"Well young lady, you must be our new guest?" Her sharp tone stained my cheeks red. I introduced myself as she asked. Ms. Grover, looked like she was in her mid-fifties. She gave me a seat and continued teaching. I sat down obediently trying not to draw anymore attention as I already had. I tried to focus but the images of those green eyes kept flashing in my mind. All I could think of was his eyes and the way he looked at me. The way he stared at me seemed like he could see through me and my walls.

I'm losing it! Get it together it's only your first day! But something about him, I don't know what it was. All I knew was, there's something strange about him. And then it hit me, it was the same guy from the beach.

What the fuck... the guy has a split personality.

On the beach he seemed like this lost boy, with so much pain and confusion. But the guy I saw there was someone with hate and so much rage.

I made my way to my next class. Luckily it didn't take me that long to find the classroom, since it was only a few rooms away from the last class. I walked in and found thousands of curious eyes following my every move. I slowly walked towards the young man who I assumed was the teacher.

"This is Mr. Turner's biology class?" He looked up at me as his smile spread across his face

"Well you must be Eunomia Hunters. Hi, I'm Mr. Turner. ." He was young and dashing. I think I'm going to like biology way more than I thought.

"It's just Mia and thank you." I spoke in a whisper trying to avoid the eyes that still followed me.

"We don't often get new students in O'Malley High. Especially mid-semester." He spoke as he walked me to my new seat. The classroom was wide, the tables arranged in rows of two. All the seats were filled except the one beside me. Mr. Turner began his lesson, I was so glad he skipped the whole new student introduction thing.

I stared out the window losing myself within my own confusing thoughts. Memories of my mother began to flood my mind. The night of my mother's death was still blurry to remember the details. The images of her lying in her pool of blood haunt me every second my mind was clear. Suddenly everyone jumped, and snapped their heads to face the slamming door.

"What an entrance." Mr. Turner began to clap.

"Thank you for joining us Mr. Blackstone. Would you do us the honor and take your seat?" Mr. Turner said calmly with a vex expression.

"Sure why not?" He shrugged. All the girls smiled in his direction instantly aware of his presence. He gave them a mischievous smile in their direction . I recognized those green eyes, it was the same guy from the hallway.

Great I have a class with the guy who caught me eavesdropping on his conversation with his girlfriend... well ex-girlfriend. He made his way to his seat, it didn't take me long to realize where his seat was.

It was right next to me.

Lucky me! After he took his seat a blond Barbie-look alike came from behind him.

"Hi Logan. I heard you and Makayla broke up I'm so sorry." Faking a sad face, she slowly shoved her hands down his pocket.

"Call me when you're free." Then she slowly walked back to her seat. She turned back once to check if he took out her note but turned back when he didn't.

Fear began to creep up my skin the moment his gaze locked to mine. The moment our eyes were locked, the smile he had vanished in seconds making me fidget in my own seat. I couldn't take the suspense; I broke my gaze and looked up at the board. I still felt his sharp green eyes burning into me from the side.

My mind crowded with wordless questions. I was so sidetracked; I didn't realize someone tapping me. I jerked my head straight into whoever was trying to get my attention.

"What the hell." He muttered loudly and then grumbled something. I felt my face flush instantly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you... it's just that when I... I thought someone was tapping me ... so I turned around. I didn't know I was going..."─I started fumbling with my hands─ "that this was going to happen." I wish I kept my mouth shut, my cheeks burning twice as more, the hot lava that was poured down made it incredibly difficult resume my natural skin tone. I was scared of what he was going to do. Then I started noticing the audience we stirred up. People began to stare and whisper, he turned around and gave each one staring a dangerous glare. They abruptly turned around in silence.

He handed me my phone and I took it managing not to say anything. The bell finally rang. He was gone in seconds with a bunch of girls all crawling behind him. I was finally able to breath, and headed out the door.

Throughout the entire day, I had eyes follow me like a shadow. People spoke to me either to ask "Where are you from?" "Does your dad really have his own private jet?" or "Is it true your real mother was a mistress?" High school was a zoo, no wonder my mother wanted me homeschooled. People were so ignorant they didn't realize how dumb they sound when they spoke.

"Okay so I'm only saying this once, my family my business. Which means it's none of yours, so I suggest you care less about me and more about your own daddy problems." I spat out the last word like venom. I walked to my next class without looking back for their reactions.

"Hey I'm Rebecca!" She said radiantly. I smiled optimistically a bit startled from her enthusiasm. She was gorgeous, I mean any girl would envy her red silky hair including her flawless skin, and judging by the way she acted she clearly knew it.

"My name's..." Rebecca interrupted me.

"I know who you are, who doesn't? You're Eunomia Hunter but prefer the name Mia, you're from somewhere in Wisconsin." I guess I'm more of an open book then I thought I was. I felt oblivious of the whole situation. She continued to answer most of her own questions.

"You must be wondering how I know all this." Finally letting me answer or react to her questions.

"A bit more freaked out, but still curious." I smiled.

"Well O'Malley is a small town if you haven't noticed. The teachers told us we were having a new student and I searched you up and found out"─ she turned to glare at the people behind us who were staring and probably eavesdropping. They turned away.─ "your dad recently became a major business success and is married to Laura Donald a successful business women. There was an article online." Before I had time to response the teacher entered the room and began his lesson. At the end of class the teacher stopped me.

"Welcome to O'Malley High we all have high expectations from you young lady." His icy voice startled me.

"Excuse me?" The confusion in my voice was clear and bold. High expectations for what?

"All the teachers have seen your... transcript." He hesitated before continuing.

"So we see very... highly of you." He said calmly but his eyes were filled with fear. I couldn't shake off the feeling, there was something I was missing about what Mr. Mason said.

Rebecca waited for me outside, insisting on walking with me to lunch. She sat me down at a table and left to get lunch. I took out a granola bar I packed and my favorite novel.

I began to read and eat at the same time. Only to remind me of how my mother used to yell at me for multitasking she would always say, "Mia dear, how many times? Do I have to tell you about a thousand times to do one thing at a time? Oh lord. When will you learn not to rush or do too many things at once? You don't see angels multi-tasking." I couldn't help but laugh, replaying her loving voice in my mind. She always had a weird obsession with angels.

"Must be a good book since you can't stop smiling, and I thought I only had that effect on girls." I looked up startled by the sudden voice. I recognized the guy from this morning but his name escapes me.

"Hi...." My cheeks were burning bright red. I was real subtle.

"Gabe" He finished off my sentence.

"And here I thought I left a good first impression." He playfully teased.

"No, I was just thinking of something so I couldn't spit it out." I retorted.

"Now I have girls spitting out my name instead." He paused to wink and said "saying it with pleasure." I felt myself starting to fidget in my seat nervously.

"Hey, I'm Liam and if Gabe here is done flirting with you I'd actually like to keep my appetite today." Gabe punched Liam on his arm.

"I normally sit there but..." Before he could finish, Rebecca came back to the table. She looked at Gabe and then back at me. She studied me for a few minutes and her gaze went back to Gabe and rested there for a few more minutes. When she was finally done studying the both of us, she let out a huge sigh.

"Umm... Did I miss something?" I asked. At first she hesitated to answer.

"Of course not. I just didn't...know you already met my brother." She glanced back at her brother for a few seconds.

"Gabe is your brother?"

"Sadly he is. But luckily Liam isn't." Rebecca sarcastically said and then winked at Liam making him choke on his drink. I let out a laugh. But I couldn't help but notice the tension between the siblings. Rebecca and Gabe began to argue about something while Liam ate for two.

I was lost again, the memories of that night replaying in my mind. She stood there fine one minute. Then in a snap she started screaming, shouting at me telling me to get out of the house. She needed me to live, she started to...

"Mia? You okay?" Rebecca asked tugging on my sleeves. The boys looked up noticing the concerned expression on Rebecca's face.

"Yeah I'm fine." The bell rang before they could ask for an explanation.

My last two classes flew by fast, I couldn't be happier to get out. Rebecca walked me to the parking lot told me she'll see me tomorrow and left. I walked to my motorcycle and saw a piece of paper flapping under the first tire. I pulled it out reading the dark green ink.

Welcome Back...xoxo

I told myself it was probably a mistake. There was nobody in the parking lot, except me. I shoved the note into my back jeans pocket. I started my engine and took off leaving my helmet off. The wind ruffling through my hair made me feel free. I decided not to go straight home because I knew what awaited me there.

I found a small antique store a few blocks from school. I parked my motorcycle a block away. I walked into the store feeling the cold air hit me. There was nobody there except an older lady at the cashier and a man. Neither acknowledged my presence, I continued to look around. I found myself staring at this locket taking the shape of an eye. I walked towards the beautiful piece and held tracing each detail. I walked over to the cashier.

"Excuse me, how much is this?" The lady not once looked up, from the corner of my eye I watched the men behind slowly get up. He walked up to the cashier and whispered something in her ear. Whatever he said to her shocked her, she looked at me as if I was a monster.

"H-How can I help you?" She stuttered fear flashing in her eyes. I let the weird feeling in my stomach go. I showed her the necklace, and watched her eyes pop. I asked her for the price again. She tried to speak but couldn't find the words. The men still watching placed his hand on her shoulder.

"It's 10 dollars young lady. Are you new in town?'' I reached into my bag and took out the money before answering his question.

"Yeah just recently." I put the dollar on the cashier and took the necklace in my hand. I headed towards the exit.

"Young lady wait." I turned my head to face the men who was now a few inches away. I stepped back creating more space between us.

"You forgot your receipt." He held out a piece of paper. I took the paper feeling his cold hand undermine. I said thank you and left. Feeling the warm cool breeze again, I walked back to my motorcycle where I left it. I stopped to put the necklace around my neck, I realized there was another note under my tire. I picked up the note. I stood there watching scatters of people walking. I read the paper in my hand, the same dark green ink.

Careful who you talk to...xoxoxo

The note's either a threat or a warning my stomach filled with knots. Not again I thought. I shoved paper into my jeans pocket and headed straight home. When I got home I realized it was empty, Laura left a note on the fridge saying she went out for an important meeting with a client. I took a shower and ate the pizza Laura left in the fridge. Today was a long eventful day, I laid in bed watching the time fly not realizing when my eyes had closed.

"When the time comes all will be revealed. Forgive him dear." I began to spin around looking for the person behind the voice. "Be patient my dear. I haven't left you."

"Mom...mom?" I started walking on the black path

"Good bye my dear, we'll meet soon. When the time is right, trust him." The voice slowly began to fade and the black path came to an end. There were two different paths ahead of me now, one white and the other was grey. There was a dark fog around the white path, revealing two green eyes staring at me. The hunger in the eyes called me, dared me to come closer. As I took the first step I woke up and just like that everything was gone. The dream disappeared as if it never happened, yet there was a feeling inside me making me believe it was all real.

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