Danger in the Shadows

First day of school, first day of my "new life" at least that is what my mom told me when we moved here. "Jessica just think of all the new things you can do, just think of all the changes you can make" like I wanted to make any changes. I'm not what you call a "popular girl" I don't do cheer, or drama club any thing of that sorts. Instead I read, and I read and I read. Reading is an escape from the real world, escape from the chaos of my life.

My parents got a divorce last year, and in result of the divorce my mom thought it would be best to pack everything and move across the country, literally and to California of all places. Crazy, chaotic California. My brother stayed with my dad over in Virginia since he is in college and he didn't want to bother transferring. Not that I can blame him. We are from a small town, a population of 267 people to be exact. Well 268 now, Becky had her daughter 4 weeks ago.

Anyhow, today is my first day as a junior at Munson high school, a school of roughly 3700 people. I parked my car in the first parking space I seen, rushing I grabbed my book bag and yanked it from the seat, forgetting that I didn't close it and spilled all my contents in the parking lot. Great just what I needed today. I heard a couple people chuckle, but I didn't look up to see who it was, it's not like little laughs isn't something I'm not use to. All of a sudden someone kneeled next to me grabbing my notebook. Reaching for it I looked up at the person that was holding it and I was speechless. I felt like I couldn't move. You know those moments in cheesy romance movies where you read about how they feel like time has stopped?

Well that's how I was feeling right now, I felt my mouth drop open when I made eye contact with the greenest eyes I have ever seen, with a very very small hint of yellow to them. I couldn't move, I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe. All I could do was just sit there and gawk. The guy smirked at me and looked away breaking eye contact, breaking my daze with a snap.

"You know the bell doesn't ring for another 10 minutes right?" He said

" excuse me?" I said flustered, trying to keep my voice calm.

"well it seems you are in bit of a rush. Just letting you know you still have time"

I quickly grabbed my notebook and my class schedule and shoved them in my bag. Standing up I tried to close the bag and I realize the zipper was stuck. I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. I cleared my throat " thanks for the heads up. Just don't want to be late" I told him. Careful not to look him in the eyes. I am embarrassed enough as it is. I heard him chuckle and took a step forward. He looked over his shoulder with a smirk " see you around" and he walked off. I was just standing there dumbfounded staring into his back as he walked away. Taking a deep breath I grabbed my keys from my seat, locked my car and proceeded to walk to the school. I am going to hate it here.

It's been a week since I've moved to California, I want to say things are easier at Munson high but they aren't in the slightest. This school is huge, it's so big that I had to draw a map for me to get around. And I still get lost. Despite that my teachers are nice, and so far the assignments have been pretty easy. My favorite class is biology. My teacher, she is more of a hands on teacher then a note taker teacher. So everyday we go to class there is some sort of activities that we have to do for the lesson of the day.

I haven't made any friends, not that I expected to. But it's annoying having to go home to my mom and explain to her that I didn't talk to anyone or get anyone name and that I wasn't going to be sneaking out to go to any parties.

" I just don't get it, when I was your age I had to come up with new ways to sneak out of my house so your grandfather didn't notice I was gone" she told me the other night at dinner

" I don't know mom, I'm more of a home body. You were, excuse me are more of a go get them type of person" I told her looking down at my plate. She didn't say anything which I felt relieved. My dad is just as outgoing as my mom, and my brother Nathan is even worse then those two combined. Which I didn't find possible. It's not that I enjoy being different, sometimes I wish I enjoyed the things that my family does. It would make family time more enjoyable. Well not that we have family time anymore. But no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get into the things they were into. I didn't find the excitement of meeting people, seeing places things like that. I would love to have friends, and go shopping. I would love to spend Friday nights sitting in a circle painting my nails talking about my crush to a few girl friends. But i just wasn't wired that way.

My brother use to make fun of me and say that I was adopted, and sometimes I feel like he is right. But I look exactly like my dad. I share his pitch black hair and his bright blue eyes. His nose comes more at a point where mine is more of a nub. On the other hand I look nothing like my mom which is funny. Because they say the girls favor their mother. My mother has platinum blonde hair with almond colored eyes and freckles. I guess you can say Nathan looks more like her then either of us. But he shares the black hair like my father and me.

Oh how I miss them, how I miss Virginia and my small home and my small bedroom. It's to big here, there's just to much going on here in California.

"Jess what is it?" I glanced up to notice my mom staring intently at me. I didn't say anything I just kept looking down at my plate. I couldn't bring myself to tell her I hate it here. I couldn't bring myself to tell her I wanted to go back home to dads. After the divorce she was a mess, so when her boss Jack offered her a promotion with paid moving expense she didn't hesitate to jump at the offer.

" it's nothing mom. Just thinking about my biology project" I lied. She just gave me a small smile and continued eating. I watched her for a second and told myself that I can suck it up, I can stick this out for 2 years. My mom needed this and she has done so much for my brother and I. So I can do this for her. From this day forward I will do what I need to do to be happy in California.

I opened my eyes and peeked at my clock. '5:06am' I groaned and rolled over on my back. It was Friday and I didn't have to be at school until 9 since my first class was study. I tried closing my eyes and hoped that sleep would take over once again, after a few minutes I became frustrated and decided to take a shower. I guess I'll just grab some coffee and head to the library before school. After my shower and I was dressed I grabbed my bag and went down to the kitchen. My mom was sitting at the island eating yogurt with a file in her hand. She peaked at me and then looked at the clock,

" I thought you went to school at 9 why are you up so early"

" I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd go to the library before school today. I need a few more books to read"

" be careful out there driving. And don't text on your phone"

" always" I grabbed my bagel and kissed her cheek and walked out the door. The sun fully shiny at this point and I could already feel the heat beating on my skin. I opened my trunk and tossed my bag in there and then took off to the library.

There is an older style library about 15 minutes from our Loft, but the great thing about this is it has millions upon millions of books. I have never seen a library with this many books before. I mean of course the library back in Virginia was small, very small. It had 6 book shelves of books and two computers. Not very many people went in there. I was one of the few, and I became very good friends with Mrs.Lea and her husband John, the owners of the library. I spent most of my days there. If I wasn't reading then I was helping do things around the library.

I walked into this library here by my house and went to the spot I was at yesterday, trying to figure out where I left off. When I seen a few book titles that looked familiar I started hunting for books I haven't read. I'm not sure how much time has passed but I ended up collecting about 15 books before I went to go sit at the table closes to me. I grabbed a book from my pile and flipped through the first page. I seen movement to the right of me and I looked to the side to see someone standing next to me at the table, I looked up to see those familiar green eyes staring at me. Just like the first time I was starstruck. I couldn't move or thing. I just stared. I noticed the right side of his mouth tilt up like he was about to smile.

"Hello, mind if I sit here?"

I shook my head no and he sat across from me at the table looking at my book.

"whatcha reading there?" He said peeking up at me. I flipped the book over and read the title to my mind 'redborn' it's about werewolves.

"It's called redborn" I told him putting my attention back to my book. I could feel his eyes watching me. Finally I closed my book and looked at him.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked him.

He shook his head no and just smiled at me. He grabbed his notebook from his bag and started writing. I stared at him for a moment, when I noticed he wasn't going to look up from what he was doing I went back to my book.

" Demetrius" I heard him say. I looked up at him confused. " just in case you wanted to know my name"

"Jessica" I just told him and looked back to my book.

" you don't talk much do you?" He questioned pushing my book down, bringing my attention to his piercing green eyes.

"Erm not really, I mostly just read" I told him

" I've noticed that at school" I stared at him shocked. At school? I haven't seen him since my very first day there 3 weeks ago.

" I haven't seen you around"

" we share three classes together Jessica" he said curtly. I leaned back into my chair thinking, searching in my mind, Trying to figure out what classes I shared with this man. I searched his face and notice a hint of amusement in his eyes. Before he looked down and continued writing in his notebook. I didn't look away, I took this time to really look at him. He had dark brown hair that he had cut short, very short around the sides, and a little long on the top that he pushed to the side it looked like. I looked at his nose next, he had the most perfect nose. Which is weird because I didn't think any one nose could look that good. He had a chiseled jaw and delicious plump lips. He looks like a sculpture. This man looked like he was carved from God himself.

He looked up from his notebook, making eye contact with me again and I quickly looked down with embarrament. All of a sudden my phone alarm went off letting me know that it was 8:30. I gathered my books with me and stood up from the table. Demetrius looked at me with a confused expression.

" I need to get to school" I told him.

"well how about I walk with you?" He offered standing up from the table. I just shrugged my shoulders and started walking towards the door. It was a matter of seconds before he caught up to me. With him standing next to me I realize how tall he was. And he was tall. Well I say that about everyone because I am about 5'4. But Demetrius had to have a foot of height on me.

"So where are you from Jessica?" He asked me looking down. At this point we had it to the front door and he held it open for me.

"Virginia" I said walking through the door, he moved his hand and let the door close behind him and grabbed the other one holding that as well. He sure is a gentleman.

" what brings you out here?"

" my mom got a job promotion and they gave her an office out here, and paid for her moving expenses" I told him as we approached my car, I stopped by the hood and turned to look at him. He looked at the car and then looked down at me with a small smirk to his face. I looked up at him confused and he held my gaze, not saying anything, not moving. I could feel my heart beat pick up and I swear it sounded like it was banging in my ears. All of a sudden Demetrius stepped closer and looked like he was leaning down. I didn't feel like I had control over my body, i just stared at him, noticing him getting closer to me. What is happening right now? He's not going to kiss me is he? A million questions was running through my mind when suddenly my car alarm went off breaking us from our daze. I was so stunned about what was happening I didn't realize I was squeezing my keys.

"See you around" Demetrius said quietly before he quickly turned and walked away. I just stared in the direction that he walked away in trying to catch my breath. What the fuck just happened?