Chapter 6

Black Forest is a really small town. Like really small.

Which means not many people reside here. And those that do, know each other very well. So obviously, a new comer is a big deal. Like, I get it, I'm new and none of them have ever seen me, ever. So I get the stares. I mean, it's okay and tolerable for a day or two. Even a week tops. But now, it's been three weeks. And the stares still haven't stopped. It's getting on my nerves. I am a very nice and polite person but, I also don't exactly have a high patience level and these people are about to find out exactly how low my patience can get. I don't really want to be responsible for wiping out an entire town. And I actually like this place. But if this keeps up, I really don't know what I'll do.

Right now it's Monday, exactly three weeks since I got here, and the last day of September. I'm sitting in History class, my third period of the day and everyone is staring at me. Literally, even the teacher, stared at me for the first few minutes of class. Then she snapped out of whatever daze she was in and started today's lesson. The students, however, don't seem to get the memo. Even though it was probably straining their necks to turn their heads and look at me, since I was sitting at the far left corner, they still looked at me as if I was a the greatest masterpiece of the best artist out there.

So, as soon as the teacher turned her back towards us to scribble something on the board, I raised both of my hands and flipped them off. That seemed to do the trick as everyone snapped their heads towards the board. The teacher too was happy as she saw everyone finally paying attention to her lesson.

I wonder what kept them busy.

I sighed heavily as I started taking notes.

"Psst...Hey." The girl on my right nudged me.

"What?" I said as I turned my head dramatically in her direction.

"I'm Kayla." She grinned, shoving her hand in my direction.

"Hey Kayla," I smiled at her, shaking her hand. "Did you need something?"

I looked at her weirdly as she was still grinning at me and still didn't let go of her hand. I snatched my hand from her grasp, wiping it on the front of my jeans. That seemed to snap her out of whatever daze she was in.

She blinked twice before nodding her head," Yes, actually. I did. I have to tell you something."

"Well, do go on," I gestured with my hand for her to continue.

"My mom wanted me to tell you that you and Arabelle are invited for dinner at our place tonight." She said smiling once again. At least she didn't look as creepy as the others when she smiled that way.

"Oh, that's nice. But should you not tell Arabelle as well?" I asked raising a brow.

"Yeah, my mom already told her. She wanted me to tell you as well. I really don't know why." She replied shrugging.

"Okay." I shrugged, "But I can't promise anything. I really don't like small dinners."

"Oh, but you have to come." She said, "It's actually a formal dinner, so we get to dress up and stuff."

"I'll think about it." I sighed smiling at her as I got up just as the bell rung, signalling the end of the period.

"So, would you like to join us for lunch after?" Kayla asked falling into step beside me as I walked out of the classroom.

"Lunch?" I asked raising an eyebrow, "I usually sit with Suzan. Besides, I don't even know you or your friends so..."

"You hang with Suzie?" She asked, still walking beside me.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding my head, " We're friends."

"That's cool." She said nodding her head."She's a cool gal."

"I'm sorry, but don't you have a class to get to?" I asked not so subtly."You're holding me back as well."

"Y-y-yea, I-I'm going." She said hanging her head, " See you later.."

"Later." I smiled and then she rushed away.

~~~~~~~

"So, what did you get for lunch?" Suzan asked as she sat across from me putting her lunch tray parallel to mine.

"Uhh..." I said looking up from my phone and peering into my lunch tray,"I got two slices of pizza, some fries and a bottle of water."

"That looks appetizing." She said resting her head in her palm.

"You can have it if you want," I sighed," I'm not really hungry. I'll just take this one slice of pizza."

"No thank you." She said," I have my own."

"No, I insist." I said sliding my tray towards her whilst taking one slice of pizza and slowing biting into it. I made a disgusted face just as the pizza came in contact with my taste buds. "On second thoughts, don't. I don't want you to eat any of that. How can someone ruin pizza?"

She chuckled," Yeah, the food here is disgusting, just like every other school's cafeteria."

"No." I deadpanned." The food at my school back home was heavenly. Seriously, it is mouthwatering and you can never get enough."

"Probably," She shrugged," There are only a few schools with good food. Besides, you probably went to a private school so, I guess they good food. I'm gonna go throw this away. I'll be right back." She said getting up to dispose the tray in the nearest trash can.

"Yeah true." I nodded and pushed my tray towards her, "Here take mine as well."

She nodded balancing both trays in her hand as she left.

I checked my phone just as it pinged with a message. I let out a small laugh at Josie's text.

"What are you laughing about?" Suzan asked as she took her seat.

"Nothing, just a text." I replied with a hint of a smile, " Hey I've been meaning to ask you something."

" Yea sure." she replied, gesturing me to go on.

"Don't you have any other friends, like before you started talking to me? I haven't seen you talking with anyone since you've started hanging out with me. You seem like the type of person who'd have many friends. I don't mean to be rude or anything but don't you?" I asked politely, raising a brow.

She stiffed up and replied in a cold tone gritting her teeth,"I-I do. We're just not in a good place right now. Besides it's none of you concern."

I watched her as she got up and left without even so much of a goodbye.

Well, that went well.

~~~~~~~

"Are you ready yet darling?" Arabelle's voice came through the intercom beside my full length mirror in my closet.

"Yeah, Just give me a minute." I replied to her through the intercom.

I gave myself a once over. I was wearing a simple, black, off shoulder, A-line dress that reached mid-thigh. It was hugging my figure around the bust and waist area and then flowed at the bottom but not so much. I had my hair up in a messy and loose, yet elegant and perfect bun with a few strands falling out of the bun and a few strands resting across my face. I applied very light makeup with just mascara, a little blush and lip gloss. Because let's face it, I don't really need makeup. I'm already perfect and beautiful. Not that I'm egoistic and bragging.

The mascara made my eyes stand out even more than they already did. I had on grey ankle boots with a five inch heel and a watch on my right wrist. Slipping a grey jacket over my outfit, I was satisfied.

Smiling at myself in the mirror and checking myself over once again I left the closet and my room to go join Arabelle at the dinner tonight.

Yeah, I was going. It took a lot of convincing on Arabelle's part but I gave in. I just couldn't say no to her. She is the only person in my life who hasn't lied to me.

"Well don't you look astonishingly beautiful." Arabelle commented looking me over and gave a satisfied smile as I went and stood stood in front of her and Joseph near the car. "You're going to be stealing a lot of hearts tonight darling."

"You already have my heart miss Rose." Joseph said taking my hand in his and kissing my knuckles."Let's be on our way now." He said opening the back door of the BMW for Aarabelle and I.

"Flattery doesn't suit you Joseph." Arabelle said rolling her eyes as she got in the car.

"Thank you Joseph." I smiled at him as he closed the door behind me as I got in, nodding his head at me.

"I thought it was just us and Kayla's family." I questioned Arabelle at her earlier comment about there being a lot of hearts present at the dinner.

"Not many, it's us, the Sinclair's and the Wilson's" Arabelle replied just as Joseph started the car and we sped off.

"They have a few young sons, so.." Arabelle said raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"Ew, Arabelle. Stop." I said laughing and swatted her hand away which was pinching my cheeks.

Joseph too, laughed from the drivers seat,"This doesn't suit you either Miss Nightingale. Not at this age."

"Oh, hush.I'm only 59." Arabelle said scoffing.

"Sure. You are still young." I said laughing.

"We're here Miss." Joseph said as he stopped the car in front of a very familiar looking mansion.

I got out of the car shutting the door behind me and went and stood next to Arabelle who was standing in front of the car.

"Let's go." She said as I slipped my hand in the crook of her arm and we walked towards the front door.

"I'll text you when you have to come Joseph." She called over her shoulder at Joseph who replied with a 'yes,miss' and got in the car and sped away.

The front door opened just as Arabelle was about to knock. There stood a lady, probably in her mid twenties, who looked like the older version of Kayla and very familiar.

"Hello, Lucia." Arabelle smiled at the woman and went forward to hug her, who returned the gesture.

"You must be Corinna." She turned to me smiling as she hugged me as well.

"Yeah." I replied in a soft voice as I hugged her back.

"You're the woman from the hospital, aren't you?" I asked, letting go.

"I am." She smiled gently. "I'm glad you remember. Now come on in," She said guiding us inside and closing the doors behind us ," Let me introduce you to the others, Corinna."

I smiled softly at her following her to the living room, probably.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look dear?" She said looking back at me.

I shook my head no, smiling cheekily at her.

She chuckled softly,"You are really, really beautiful dear."

"Thank you." I replied softly.

"Hey Corinna."I turned to see a familiar face standing near the sofa.

"Hey Kayla." I greeted her, waving.

"This is my daughter, Kayla" Lucia said pointing to her."You obviously know her from school."

I nodded my head,"Yeah."

"And that's her twin, Colton." She said pointing to a very, very familiar green eyed, dark haired, broody guy standing a few feet behind Kayla next to a very amused looking Elijah.

He stood there with his arms crossed across his chest and an unreadable expression on his face. He looked me over with a very heated gaze. Elijah, who stood next to him, not so subtly covered up his laugh with a cough.

No wonder this place looked so familiar. It's the place I was brought to a few weeks ago by the two males stood a few feet away from me. One amused, the other furious.

Well, shit just got interesting.

***