Nobody's Angel

Heeeeyyyyy, this is my first story, so feedback would be AMAZING!!! I'm new to this site since I saw a lot of people liked it, so I thought I would try it out. Tell me what you guys think! Any kind of support would be great!

P.S. I had already written out this story in Word on my computer, so I just posted, like, the twenty some chapters I had. There won't be any messages up at the top like there is here, but my devotion is there too! I love you guys! Thanks! :)

-windxdancer

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- Shaanxi, China; January 23, Shaanxi, China was in ruins: bloodshed coated the city in a glaze of crimson; any kind of structure eventually crumbled to the ground; fires raged on, the smoke billowing in the air like a beacon for help; limbs were strewn across the streets, dismantled from bodies. In the distance, thunder rumbled, roaring its ominous warning of the storm to come.

One girl stood in the middle of it all, looking around at what she had done. Her thirst tickled the back of her throat once again as she spotted a survivor. It was a mere ten-year-old boy, cowering in the rubble. She shot over to him, faster than a human eye could see. The boy didn't stand a chance once she had selected him as her prey. The blonde waited until fear entered his eyes before sinking her fangs into his neck. When his arm came up in protest, she ripped it off, welcoming his agonized screams. His body fell limp in her arms. She pulled back, her lips now a vibrant red that would no doubt draw attention to her when she entered Beijing, China's capital and also her next destination.

With one more look around, she flipped her beautiful blonde hair over her shoulder and straightened her dress, wondering when her mate would join her.

Come and get me, Owen she thought out to him, knowing her message would reach him in no time. I'm getting lonely. While she waited for him, she decided she would walk around the town to check for other unfortunate stragglers. After only a couple of steps, though, her thirst returned with full force. She gasped, still not believing the intensity of her new body's demands, even after she had fed so recently. Impatient, she gave up on her leisurely walk and ran as fast as she could to Beijing, despite her stiletto heels. A few miles into her journey, she caught sight of three boys chasing her. Noticing their tan skin in contrast to her pale one, she fled towards the woods in hopes of losing them with her winding course; a small town would do after she lost those traitors.

Lightning from the upcoming storm illuminated the scene she had made, and the leader of the three, appropriately positioned in the middle of the trio, snarled in fury at her actions, running even faster and quickly gaining on her. His black hair covered his green eyes, but she knew they were filled with more hate and disgust than they ever had been when he had looked at her.

The two other parts of his nexus number now flanked him, making the girl's stomach drop in fear. They were her worst nightmare. When it was her against these certain three boys, she knew she didn't stand a chance.

With a ferocious boom, rain began to pour from the sky. The dark clouds pressed close to the ground, as if they wanted to get a front row set of the events that were no doubt about to unfold and make gruesome history.

The brunette and blonde boys were suddenly holding her arms behind her back, restraining her. She snarled in protest, her teeth glinting at them in a threat she knew she couldn't back up. She did everything in her power to get away, but they held her as well as if their hands had been iron shackles that not even a newborn vampire could break. The one that hated her most stalked up to her, his features drenched with spite not unlike the rain that now soaked his slick hair, droplets trickling off the ends. Another flash of lightning lit up his face, twisted in disdain. His red shirt stuck to his tanned skin, emphasizing his muscles.

"Please, no!" the girl pleaded, knowing that begging was her only option at this point.

"Did you listen to any of those people that said the exact same thing to you?" he retorted icily, referring to the now considerably lessened population of Shaanxi. He placed his hands around her throat.

"OWEN!" she screeched, her red eyes crazed, scared, and bloodthirsty, always thirsty. "OWEN!" The boy flinched before doing what he knew he had to do. His best friends and adopted brothers looked at him with empathy, knowing this was killing him on the inside. He didn't like doing what was needed, but he would for the protection of the human race. The scream that filled his ears was almost unbearable if it hadn't come from such an sinful mouth, housing two fangs that had overstepped their boundaries.

He made sure to do it quickly, so as soon as he could, he released her. She slumped to the cold, muddy ground as the brunette and blonde also stepped back. Her short, lacy, red dress stuck to her body as the rain splattered on her skin.

Back where the girl had come from, two more screams joined hers as her nexus number perished with her, feeling her pain around their necks as their leader did, though no one was touching them.

Their mates dropped beside them, shaking them and begging them to not leave them alone, not right now. The two girls both muttered 'I love you' one last time before they were gone.

"Veronica!" Veronica's blonde mate yelled her name, tears running down his cheeks.

"Holly!" Holly's brunette mate bent over her lifeless body, not believing what he knew was true. She was truely dead.

Meanwhile, the mate of the blonde girl had reached her too late. He arrived just as the black-haired boy released his hands from around the girl's throat. He took one look at his mate's body and was reduced to tears. His legs gave out, so he crawled over to her, taking her pale hand that will always be the only hand to fit perfectly in his.

"I'll kill you, Seth!" he screamed at the boy he knew had killed his mate. His precious, beautiful mate. "I'll kill you and your soul mate!"

"I'm sorry I had to do this, " was all Seth muttered before leaving him to grieve in peace. The three pairs of footsteps echoed in Owen's head. He swore that one day, that would be his nexus number walking away. He, that sorry excuse of a prince, would be right where he was, crushed and broken, and without any reason to live.

His tears mingled with the rain, thunder muffling his cries of agony. The smell of smoke filled his nose, making him cough. His whole body was numb due to his pain, but he still felt anger at him. He punched the ground, causing a rumble that closely resembled an earthquake go through the city. The force cracked the very ground. The boy didn't care.

"I'll avenge you, sweetheart, " he promised in a broken whisper, sobbing, screaming, and cursing at anything, everything.

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- ??? (Eva's P.O.V.)

I had no idea how I had gotten here.

Breathing. Gasping is more accurate, actually. I was gasping, hard, running as fast as my twelve year old legs would carry me. Running from what, I didn't know, but I knew I had to run. Run, faster. Left, right, left, right. C'mon, Eva, stretch your legs! I commanded myself. Get your stride longer! You have to run! Faster! Faster!

My respiration steadily grew more difficult to accomplish with every breath, and my throat ached with dryness. My legs were tired. No! I had to keep running. I scrambled blindly through the trees and brush of the forest I was caged in.

My foot caught on an anonymous obstacle, tripping me as I crashed to the ground. It came closer and closer until I face-planted into the cold dirt. My ankle screamed in pain as I made myself crawl into a clearing where the moon and stars shone between the branches, bathing me in strips of light.

A growl made me turn my head around too fast; I got whiplash. I put a hand to my head, begging the pain to go away. As my eyes focused, I found a man with red eyes creeping out of the brush and stalking toward me, the prey.

My bottom lip, by now, was quivering something terrible, and I was shaking horribly out of fright. Salty tears rolled down my cheeks, stinging the cuts I had there from the various branches that had scratched at my face with their reaching limbs. I didn't even try to hold them back. My knees were knocking together as I pulled them up to my chest and wrapped my arm around them, curling up into a scared, shaking ball. My hair was a mess and sticking up in all directions. My favorite black sweatpants and matching black shirt were ripped and stained with mud.

I watched those hungry, red eyes study me up and down until the man let loose a bone-chilling, animalistic snarl and sprang at me. I closed my eyes, getting ready for the pain, whatever it was he was going to do, but it never happened.

Fighting could be heard just in front of me, then a grunt of surrender, and someone crashing back into the forest. Everything seemed to stop moving. The only thing that disturbed the silence was my shaky breathing. A breeze whispered in my ears and only when I felt my hair blowing did I dare to look up. I loved the feel of wind in my hair, and I wanted it to glide across my cheeks. When I did, I found myself looking up at another boy--no, man--near twenty years old, breathing heavily, with a cut on his arm. The blood stained his white t-shirt, and his green eyes looked at me worriedly.

"Are you okay?" he asked. I nodded my head. The man offered his hand to me, but I didn't trust anybody, not even my savior. I quickly backed up.

This seemed to sadden him, but I couldn't find it in myself to care at the moment. "Don't touch me, " I warned, my voice still quivering. I cleared my throat and glared at him, making sure he knew I was serious. He got an irritated look on his face.

"There's nothing to be afraid of!" he yelled. I flinched, but kept my glare in place.

"Don't yell at me!" I shouted back.

"If you would've just taken my hand, I wouldn't be!"

"My ankle hurts, thank you, you big oaf! Maybe I don't want to stand up!" Okay, that was a lie. My ankle didn't hurt anymore, but he didn't have to know that.

Without responding, he came over and lifted me up like I was a princess. You know, when one arm was under my knees and the other one around my shoulders. I squeaked in surprise.

"I said not to touch me!" I yelped, scared that I was in such a vulnerable position. He ignored me, sitting down on the ground with me in his lap. His hand ran through my hair, getting out all the leaves and dirt. I felt really awkward with someone else taking care of me, especially one so older and so, well, male. I abruptly stood up. "I should go, " I announced.

The boy stood up, too. "Amazing recovery, " he smirked, glancing at my functioning ankle. I blushed at being caught. "I'll be back for you, " he promised. "I'm going to be back and protect you from anything that might hurt you. Look for me." He quickly kissed me, and then disappeared.

I sat up in my bedroom, groggily rubbing my eyes. I was back in my room, in my black shorts and tank top. There was no forest, I was fifteen again, and there was no guy that stole my first kiss. I uncertainly laid down again, unwilling for that dream to come back to me. I shuddered at the very thought.

The dedication is to my best friend ever! Because when this chapter accidently got deleted, she typed it ALL out again for me since she has to update her iPod touch for updates so she still had it! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! <

Any kind of feedback would be great! Thanks people! :)

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- Newberry, Michigan, United States

I heard my CD player go off, signaling it was 6:00, officially time for me to wake up, but I didn't open my eyes right away. Grumbling under my breath at having to wake up at ungodly hours for something like school, I blindly kicked my heavy covers off and fumbled for my glasses until I could replace them with my contacts. Rolling out of my comfy bed, I stumbled over to my dresser, where I randomly selected a pair of jeans, a shirt, and socks.

When I got to my locker, a guy, Bryce McLennan, respectfully stepped out of my way. I nodded my head in thanks. I had earned the respect of most people by keeping my mouth shut and eyes focused on my books. People stayed out of my way, and I stayed out of theirs. It was a very simple, silent cycle.

"Okay, " Mr. Collins, the anatomy teacher, called out to get the attention of the roomful of rowdy teenagers. "Since we just finished with the muscle system, today, we will start with the bone structure. Since I'm assuming you all know this, today's going to be very easy since it's just review. All I need you to do is label this worksheet with the names of the bones. And no, there's no word bank. You're not in the third grade anymore, " he joked. I smiled. I'd always liked Mr. Collins. He was fair, but still fun. "Get started! Tomorrow will be a lot harder!" The class groaned when they saw the multiple blanks, no doubt over a hundred.

Simple I thought smugly. I didn't crack open my book once. The worksheet only skimmed over the major bones, really, not even half of all of the actual, more specific ones. I finished the worksheet in twenty minutes while everyone else dragged through it.

After Anatomy I had Calculus, then Chemistry, and Advanced English after that. I met up with my friends, Elena and Cassie, in lunch after our morning classes.

Whoo! Junior year! I thought sarcastically, staring in disdain at the short skirts a group of girls were wearing that generously displayed a fair amount of their legs. Not.

Let's be blunt. In our little town, you established yourself in grade school and stuck to your profile religiously by the time you hit middle school. Everybody knew everybody, and stepping out of your boundaries caused quite a scandal. Why would nerds, such as myself, want to party or hook up? Why would the attractive, athletic girls associate with outcasts? I could talk to other people with my intellect, but if I were to ask Nick, our school's local drug supplier, if I would see him at the grocery store we both worked at after school, my parents would be grounding me for touching weed by the time I got home that afternoon.

So I kept my head down, got good grades, and selflessly didn't throw the solar system out of balance by disrupting the hierarchy. You're welcome, jocks and beauty queens of Newberry.

The true problem, I knew, laid in the fact that I didn't trust people. Knowledge is power. Let somebody know one tiny thing about you, and they'll be pressing for more and more until they understand exactly how you think, what makes you tick, and every single flaw you have. Then you just have to pray they don't hurt you. Most people aren't that considerate.

Except for my two best friends, Elena and Cassie.

Elena had been my friend for, as far as anybody was concerned, ever. We met in third grade, when I couldn't pretend to not understand how to read or write anymore to avoid recess, but I wasn't old enough to bury my nose in a thick novel just yet. Elena was willing to approach me. Even though we're opposites in looks, we instantly bonded. She's naturally tan because of her Latino background with brown hair and chocolate eyes. My hair fell in blonde waves down my back, and my eyes were as blue as blue could be, bordering on black if the light was just right. I towered over her short frame, and she loved to have fun while I preferred curling up with a good book and a bowl of popcorn. Night and Day. Moon and Sun. Dark and Light.

Next came Cassie. She was a loner at first, like me, in the fifth grade when she moved here at the end of the year. She has dark black hair with eyes that are a beautiful, grassy green. She's outspoken but caring. She's always trying to have fun, and her goal in life is to enjoy it. When the three of us are together, we're untouchable.

We sat down at the corner of a table we had claimed back in the beginning of the school year. "Did you hear that new song by Jennifer Lopez? Yuck, " I said, taking a bite of the stereotypical school lunch: plastic pizza.

"Yeah, which is sad since her old music used to be great. Now her career is spiraling down the toilet, and nobody's gonna remember her for any of her good stuff, " Cassie put in.

"Hey, don't hate on J Lo!" Elena said. "I have to defend the Latino pride."

I was bored with my life, but content in the simplicity of it. I knew what to expect. At home, my older sister Kayla ordered, "Take Chip out." Chip was our two year old Yorkshire terrier. Kayla had whined and begged for him, so my parents eventually caved and gotten him. Idiots should have known she wouldn't do anything to take care of him.

"I took him out yesterday when you had basketball practice, " I protested. "You take him out." Okay, that might have been a little petty, but after almost sixteen years of being bossed around, you would get sick of it too. Plus, it was in my nature to hate being told what to do. My independence reared her stubborn head at being talked down to. Defiance flared in her eyes, and I had a stomach-dropping feeling this dispute was going to turn into an all-out sibling fight.

She sprinted to the house with me hot on her heels. She waited for me to unlock the door since I unfortunately had the key, and when I did, she ran in and reopened the door, forcing our dog into my hands. I rammed my shoulder against the door as she went to close it, careful that Chip was safely in one arm. I wedged my toes underneath the door, biting my tongue when she showed no mercy and shoved at it, making it slide farther up my foot.

I flung my arm in the crack, slamming into the door once again. My dad was at some meeting, and my mom was still at work. I was all on my own. I spun in, taking advantage of the second my sister was surprised at my force. I set Chip down and tried to flee to my room, but Kayla grabbed my arm and shoved me into the wall. My cheek was literally up against the dry surface.

"Do what I tell you to, " Kayla hissed. "Take him out."

"No, " I snapped back. "Don't tell me what to do. You know that I took him out yesterday, and now it's your turn."

"I have homework."

"So do I." Okay, that was a lie, but just a tiny, white lie.

"Bullshit, Eva, " she barked. "I am older than you. Mom and dad aren't here, and you have to listen to me. Now take. The. Stupid. Dog. Outside." She shoved me into the wall one more time for good measure, then threw me out the door, reopening it so Chip ran down the steps. I scooped him up before he could run away and clipped him to his leash, waiting while he did his business as I tried to shake the snow out of my clothes. I seethed with anger. I hated being told what to do. What bugged me more, though? The fact that I was too weak to stand up for myself, that I wasn't good enough. That pissed me off to no end.

* * *

"Eva!" Elena called, waving me over to our little group the next week.

"Ohmigod!" I rolled my eyes, a smile slipping onto my face, knowing the only person with so much energy was none other than Cassie. Her black hair was a little crazy from her running as she skidded to a stop right in front of us, a few inches away from plowing me over. Her green eyes were wide, and she had the biggest smile on her glossed, pink lips. "Okay, so you know how there are three new guys in our grade? Right, so I was just in the office and they came in and I said 'hi' and two of them smiled at me, but the third one was blonde and super hot and he said 'hey' back to me and his voice is so amazing and I think I'm in love!"

I think my IQ just dropped five points.

"One through ten, how hot?" Elena asked.

"One million!" Cassie gasped, still trying to catch her breath.

I continued to stand there, uninterested. Elena punched me lightly on my shoulder good-naturedly. My focus on maintaining my 4.0 GPA right now wasn't going to be interrupted by my hormones. I could survive high school with one simple rule: avoid any and all drama, boys included.

For the rest of the time before the bell rang to signal the beginning of school, Cassie gushed and described the three newbies. Elena started to get into it, but I just listened, not really trying to put the descriptions to faces.

Beeeeeeeeep! Let the boringness begin.

I waved sadly to my friends and walked to my locker, getting my books for Anatomy. As I stepped into the classroom, I saw a raven-haired male talking to the teacher. I concluded that he must be one of the new kids, although I did take notice that he seemed older than seventeen. I ignored him and took my seat at my desk, the empty chair next to me remaining empty. Everyone else sat in identical lab tables made for two as mine, except their friends filled the seats next to them. I set my books down and doodled mindlessly in the margins of my notebook.

"Hey, gorgeous, " a cocky voice said from above me; he had an accent. I couldn't tell you from which country, but there was an accent. It was sexy, but I pushed the thought out of my head. Focus. He was talking to the girl behind me anyway.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" he called, tapping his fingers on the desk next to me. I grit my teeth together; his patronizing tone was so not necessary. I didn't even know he was trying to get my attention instead of somebody else's. It took everything I had to not snap at him, but I didn't have the energy for a verbal fight before eight in the freaking morning. I plastered on a fake smile, turning my head up to look at him.

Lord give me strength...

This guy was the hottest specimen my eyes had ever had the pleasure of seeing. From his tan skin, to his green eyes, to his ebony hair that fell just long enough for fingers to feel the downy softness that undoubtedly made it look just as soft as it was, he was perfection personified. He was much taller than me, easily clearing six feet.

"Do I get the pleasure of seeing you in any of my other classes, beautiful?" he pressed. My god, that accent was going to drive me crazy.

"Let me see you schedule, " I told him as steadily as I could. He handed it to me. Seth Valdez it read at the top. "So, out of all people, why do you care if you have any classes...with...me..." I trailed off. No way. There was no way we had all the same exact classes and the same lunch. The odds were astronomically not probable.

He shrugged, but his eyes were shining with a secret purpose. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted to know someone in this school, and you seemed...like someone I'd want to get to know."

"You...You're in a lot of advanced classes, " I muttered. There was no way this guy belonged in my circle of associates. "Nerd" would be the last thing anybody would ever think to label him as.

He chuckled. "Oh, I got held back a few years for messing around, but my grades were good, so they decided I could keep up with the classes and just have to suffer a few boring years at the end."

"Wait, so how old are you?"

"Twenty, why?"

"Just wondering." He was definitely a jerk. Only assholes are forced to endure school after nineteen in order to learn discipline. I was surprised he wasn't shipped off to a military boot camp. Or, if his aura of mischief and bad decisions had an ounce of truth to it, prison.

"So, do we have any classes together?" he pressed, sounding slightly defensive for some reason. My thoughts must have showed on my face while I was distracted by my shock.

I nodded. "All of them, somehow..." I muttered, miffed.

He smirked at me again, as if he took joy in my astonishment. "Then I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, angel." I blushed at the nickname. No one had ever called me that before. He chuckled again, a deep, throaty sound that I couldn't help but shiver from. "I didn't catch your name."

"Because I didn't tell you it."

He raised an impatient eyebrow, waving his hand in the air in a go-on gesture.

"It's Eva, " I caved.

"Please take your seat, Seth, " Mr. Collins instructed. He sat down next to me, the only empty seat. I would've felt bad for him if he wasn't such a jerk. Now I just felt bad for myself.

The teacher set up the screen, a PowerPoint appearing in the front of the class from the projector. The class groaned as they hurriedly took out notebooks and pencils. He started on his lecture, expecting us to take notes. I did so meticulously even though I could have just as easily sat and listened while my brain soaked up every word like a sponge and committed it to memory.

The new guy stared blankly at the notes Mr. Collins was giving us with a closed, new and therefore empty notebook in front of him. He didn't even both picking up his pencil. He occasionally glanced over at me in what I assumed were supposed to be casual peeks but, in reality, were intense and frequent. Weirdo.

"Take notes, " I prompted. Anything for him to stop looking at me.

"I don't need to, " he responded.

The rest of the hour was silent between us; the only sounds were pencils scratching hastily on paper as everyone tried to take down the words on screen and the little tidbits Mr. Collins added in. He furrowed his eyebrows at Seth, but didn't comment and flipped to the next slide. He wasn't the only one confused.

My mind wandered. I guess it wasn't too weird that Seth had my schedule. I mean, if he got held back a few grades then it wasn't that coincidental. I was overreacting. Now I just had to figure out why he was talking to me, the nerdy girl that everyone ignored.

* * *

"Hello, again, " Seth said smoothly in English, flashing me a suave grin that made any girl within a ten-foot radius swoon, excluding me. I spared him a glance before going back to my book. Elena finally walked in, another guy be her side making her laugh. I gave her a pointed look. She tapped her fingers on her notebook, indicating that we would pass notes since we sat right next to each other. I nodded in agreement.

Thankfully, class started about shortly after Elena sat down, so Seth didn't get any time to talk to me. The wheels in my head were turning, but I couldn't figure him out. He seriously wouldn't leave me alone for a second of any class. Why would Seth suddenly take an interest in me? And why did he act like he knew me, like we were long-lost friends?

As soon as Elena ripped a piece of paper out of her notebook, I was reaching my hand out to take it from her. She didn't even bother folding it up, sensing my haste.

What's wrong?

I guess my face did show my annoyance. I'd have to work on that.

I don't know why this guy is talking to me. It's irritating. Help me get rid of him?

I couldn't write fast enough, and I almost dug a hole through the paper from how hard I was pushing the pencil. I tossed the note back to her and waited impatiently for a response.

That's gonna be hard to do, considering Colton's been attached to my hip all day. Not that I mind ;)

You think Cassie has her own stalker?

They aren't stalkers Eva, and yes, she's talking to a guy named Cody. He's cute.

They're weird.

They're hot.

I wasn't over-thinking this, was I? When Elena, Cassie, and I bonded together like three peas in a pod, it took the school a while to get used to us being around each other constantly. We were a sight to see walking down the halls, I understood. With our varying looks and just as polar personalities, we took wandering eyes by surprise to see us grouped as we were. After a while, though, it became odd to see one or two of us without our complete trio.

For another group to be identical to ours, though, except in male form? It wasn't even the fact that each one existed that pricked at my suspicions. The nagging feeling in my head that told me something was amiss sprouted from the bond that they shared, one that rivaled even the strength of ours. It was a chance that happened once in a thousand years for three people of such differing traits, both physical and emotional, to band together so absolutely as we did.

Cassie was the social one. Elena was the manipulative, fun one. I was the brains. This situation was my responsibility to figure out, and I was going to throw myself into it.

Another note plopped lightly onto my desk, and I snatched it up before the teacher saw.

Hey angel

I grit my teeth together and answered Elena's first.

I'll tell you tomorrow everything I find out.

I passed it to her and replied to Seth's note. Honestly, who else would it be?

Stop talking to me. I don't need any more friends.

I casually reached my hand behind my back and dropped the note on Seth's desk, scratching my shoulder when the teacher looked at me. She continued without giving me another glance. He poked my shoulder with the edge of the paper when he was done writing.

How about a boyfriend?

I angrily scribbled down my answer.

Don't waste your time. Or mine.

I don't think this chase is a waste of time, angel. It's fun.

I ripped up the note and threw the remains over my shoulder in response. As if he was going to stick around much longer.

A minute later, I felt one more prick in my shoulder. Reaching behind me, I grabbed the note and read it.

I'm going to find out who you are, Eva. I'm going to get you to trust me. Whatever it takes, I'll do it. Just you watch.

...Was that a threat?

* * *

As soon as the bell rang, ending fourth hour, I was up and out of the classroom, following the flow of students to the cafeteria. When I caught sight of Cassie, I weaved around the other students, trying to put distance between me and Seth and also trying to get closer to Cassie. There was a cute blonde guy with her who I was assuming was Cody. With his tan skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair, he definitely looked like a California beach boy. Maybe I could get some answers out of him.

I made my way over to them, giving Cody a hundred-watt smile so he would view me as open and someone he could talk to. I could maybe get more information out of him that way. I felt bad for using the guy, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. My parents had taught me to manipulate people to get what you wanted, and life had taught me how to do it. At the moment, I wanted information, which I'd never had a problem getting before.

"Hi, Eva!" Cassie yelled when I caught up to them, gaining the attention of a few people surrounding us. She and I ignored them. Cody smiled at them apologetically, as if Cassie was his girlfriend and he had tipped his lips in the same smile a million times before and would a million times again. I stored away the possibly useful gesture for later. "This is Cody. Cody, this is Eva."

"Hi!" he greeted enthusiastically. That was the first person to match Cassie's energy level. "You probably know my brother Seth, right? We moved here from California. But you probably already knew that."

I nodded, giving him the same soft smile I gave Cassie that made her realize I couldn't keep up with her even if I was on a sugar high. I didn't miss that he only said I probably knew Seth, and not Colton. Had they not only attached themselves to our group, but had carefully chosen which one of us to individually stick to as well?

Seth must have gotten the short end of the stick.

"Yeah, but it's nice to double-check. And I'm Eva, which you probably already know. I've lived here all my life, and I have an older sister, Kayla, who's a senior." He didn't even ask about my sister, like most would. His attention was solely on Cassie, even though he was talking to me. His eyes flickered to her often, like he couldn't help himself.

"Do you mind if we sit with you guys today?" he asked. I froze, not saying anything. I didn't want to hurt his feelings--it was just a lunch table, after all--but I really didn't want to see Seth again. I looked at Cassie, telling her she could decide, even though I knew there wasn't a decision to be made in her mind.

"Yeah, sure!" she agreed enthusiastically. Cody smiled a million dollar smile at her. They did make a cute couple... I smiled at the thought. Cassie deserved a guy like Cody. I got a good vibe off of him.

When we sat down, Elena and Colton were already there, along with Seth. How he got there so fast, I had no idea. I would've sworn I got in line before him, and I didn't see him cut. There he sat, though, with our school's signature lunch tray in front of him. I sat on an end, next to Elena, across from Seth. Cassie introduced us three girls, as well as Seth, Cody, and Colton.

"So, you guys are all brothers?" Elena asked.

"Well, technically, Cody and I are biological brothers, " Colton said. "Our parents ditched us when we were little, and we were pretty much adopted by Seth's family. But, we are best friends, so we just call each other brothers." The conversation flowed fluently, excluding me, for about five minutes before Mr. Nosy had to interrupt it.

"You sure are quiet, Eva, " Seth noted.

"Yep." I'm listening to you. Analyzing. Trying to figure you out.

"Anything I can help you with?"

"Nope." Just keep talking. Ignore me. Please, pretend I'm not here.

"She's always quiet, " Elena helped. We looked at each other and finished her statement to make it true. ...when there are people around that she doesn't trust.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked suddenly. Elena and Colton started talking, as well as Cassie and Cody.

"Why?"

"I'm curious."

"Red, " I answered cautiously, trying to keep my emotions in check. Today was not my day and it wasn't my top priority to be interrogated by the new guy.

"Why?"

"Why what?" This guy was getting on my nerves. Why couldn't he leave well enough alone?

"Why is your favorite color red?"

"It shows any emotion I'm feeling. If I'm sad or mad, dark, ruby red matches my mood. If I'm happy, red is the color of roses, which helps make me feel even happier. And if you're happy, I'm hoping you'll get off my back."

"Why don't you like me?" I almost leaned back at his abrupt question. It had been a long time since I'd met anyone as direct as I was, and it startled me before I composed myself.

"Because I don't understand you, and you won't leave me alone long enough to figure it out!"

"What don't you understand?"

"Everything about you."

"I guess I'm just....different."

"I don't like different."

"You'll get used to it, angel, because I'm not going away."

"No, you'll get bored with me. Eventually you will. Then you'll leave me alone."

"We'll see." We didn't talk for all of fifty-two seconds, probably a record for him. "What's your favorite band?"

"I don't want to play Twenty Questions, Seth."

"What kind of game do you want to play?"

"The Quiet Game."

"How about I'm quiet, and you tell me about yourself?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"You think you can just waltz up to me and ask for my life story? Quit wasting your breath on me; other girls would be happy to talk your ear off."

"Well I'm not too great at waltzing, but how about we tango?" he bargained.

"You're disgusting."

"Not that kind of tango, sweetheart, " he chuckled. "Although I'd be more than happy to oblige. I meant actual tangoing. With our clothes on."

"You can tango?"

"My parents are old-fashioned, and it's harder than it looks."

"I doubt it, " I teased. Oh please, please teach me how to dance. I loved to dance.

"It really is. It takes a lot of balance, concentration, and skill, " he defended.

"So teach me, and we'll see if it's hard or not."

"What do I get in the deal?"

"What deal? This is me proving you wrong, or you proving me wrong. There's no gain or loss."

"Yes, there is. You want to learn how to tango, and if I teach you, then you get free lessons and I get nothing. I want something in return." Wow, this guy was attentive. Rarely anyone could see past my reasoning, no matter how fake it was.

"Name some options for me, " I tried, wiggling my fingers as if my painted nails could draw a simple, easy choice from him.

"How about a kiss?" I balked inwardly, but kept my face neutral.

"Wow, that's totally original, Seth, " I said sarcastically. "No, I won't let you take my first kiss over dancing lessons."

"You've never had your first kiss?" He looked really smug, sitting there smirking at me.

"No, I haven't. Why?" I challenged defensively, looking him straight in the eye despite my red face. Those words should never come out of a seventeen-year-old's mouth.

"Nothing, I'm just happy that I might be your first." He looked like he might start whistling, he was so happy.

"Might. Key word there."

"That means there's still a chance, " he retorted, still grinning like a maniac. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, how about this. For every class that I take you to, you have to answer any of my questions I have about anything. You have to answer them, no matter what. You can refuse to answer anything as soon as I drop you off and go home. The next day is just like any other day. But during that time, you have to speak the truth. Okay?" It seemed simple enough.

"Okay, sure, " I agreed, confident in my avoidance skills during conversation.

"Great, " he said. "I'll pick you up Friday at six. Wear a dress. They have heels there." Then, as if he timed it perfectly, the bell rang and I was left sitting there, realizing my first date was planned for this Friday. Maybe I had underestimated this newcomer that wouldn't leave me alone.

Comments are always nice! *hint, hint* ;)

Think what you guys want, but I actually think Taylor Lautner makes a good Colton over that-a-way :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

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Two days later, my feet dragged me lazily to first hour. My eyes were drooping in exhaustion. I hadn't slept all that well, my dreams being plagued with Seth. I guess I was walking too slowly because a junior, Christi Clark, bumped my shoulder. Her bleach blonde hair swung perfectly around her heart-shaped face and she smiled a too nice smile at me.

"Move faster, nerd, and you might not get bumped in to, " she sneered. I cringed on the inside, but didn't falter in my act as I raised my head and narrowed my eyes at her.

"I'm sorry, Christi, I thought all of that silicon in your fake boobs were going to slow you down. I mean, at least make them look a little real. Unless you were going for the hooker look on purpose, " I retorted bluntly.

She pivoted on her red high heeled shoe and looked at me, eye to eye. Wow, her heels were tall if her height matched up to mine.

"You're probably not even that smart, " she hissed. "You're just looking for an excuse to play off your ugliness."

Now, usually I would hold back, but my exhaustion mixed with my annoyance made me want to show her exactly how smart I really was. "Listen well, " I hissed. "I am a year ahead of my grade in both science and social studies. I have all the math credits I need to graduate. I have a book published by a company. Do not tell me I'm not smart."

The minute bell rang, so I sauntered off without waiting to gauge her reaction. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Seth leaning against the lockers, looking at me with his eyes that seemed to pierce my soul.

You don't care a voice in my head commanded. I raised my head a fraction of an inch. That's right, I didn't care. Caring stopped you from reaching your dreams.

I didn't need saving. And that was my entertainment for the week.

* * *

As I predicted, the rest of the week was boring. Seth asked questions, and I answered the ones I felt like answering. Seth answered the questions I answered. Honestly, all I remembered was his favorite color was red. I wasn't paying much attention to him. It was all just useless babble to me.

Friday wasn't a normal day. It started in the morning when Alex came up to me. Alex was closest to Elena out of our little group, but he liked me. Cassie kind of repelled him. They were both loud and crazy, and he just didn't talk to her that much. It was like trying to push two magnets together when they were both north-sided. It just didn't work. He had black, curly hair and light, brown eyes.

I was sitting on a bench by the entrance, bored beyond belief because I was the first one there. Alex slid up to me smoothly, put his arm around my shoulders, and exclaimed, "Hello, sexy!" I blushed because it was so loud, and also because his suggestive voice hinted that he was hitting on me, even though I knew he wasn't. Somewhere in the distance, I heard what sounded like a dog growling.

"Hey, " I said quietly back, not looking at him. He kept his arm around me and kept staring at the side of my face until I shook my head and rolled my shoulders, sliding his arm off me. I gave a little laugh, appreciating that he was trying to make me less lonely. He smiled widely at my laugh, glad he was able to make someone happy. When I asked Alex about the growl, he said he didn't hear anything and asked if I was alright, so I shrugged it off.

He swung his arm back around my shoulders, sitting with me in comfortable silence. He dragged out his iPod and offered me an ear bud. I gladly took it since I forgot mine at home today. Hey, we can't all be perfect.

Seth suddenly materialized out of nowhere. His eyes got a determined look in them, instantly noting Alex's arm. "Hello, " he said politely.

"Hey, who are you?" Alex asked defensively, obviously noticing Seth's hard gaze. Typical male pride.

"Seth, you?"

"Alex." Seth sat down next to me after giving a quick nod of acknowledgment in Alex's general direction. He gave me a gentle smile and slipped an arm around my waist, tucking me into his warm side, and also completely tearing me away from Alex. You could say it was more than awkward until Elena and Cassie showed up.

That was the first strange reaction. The next one came between first and second hour. My folder wouldn't fit into my locker, so I muttered, "Go in already!" Joe, being the class clown of our year, responded, "That's what she said!" I laughed loudly, the lame joke exactly what I needed to hear to cheer me up. Tears threatened to run down my cheeks from the force of my giggles. Seth appeared right behind me in that moment.

"What's so funny?" he sneered, putting an arm around my shoulders possessively and sending Joe a death glare, like he was the only one able to make me laugh. When I explained to him the joke, he hissed under his breath--even though I could barely hear it--and muttered, "I'm gonna take care of him." I shrugged it off. He couldn't tell me who to be friends with.

By fourth hour, Seth had two strikes. While I was getting my stuff Joe-who had obviously taken a liking to me today, not that I was complaining- wailed, "Wait for me, Eva!" I snickered and agreed. I will admit that I had liked him for about two years in middle school, but I had gotten over my silly crush as soon as high school began. We spoke every now and again. When we walked in together, Seth was glaring at him like he could shoot laser beams out of his green eyes and make him turn to ash. Which, with the intensity of his gaze, I wasn't really sure was entirely impossible.

Once we got to lunch, his mood took a complete 180 degree turn, and now he was scarily chipper. His eyes were shining, as if staring at me in anticipation. Our conversation, although still bumpy, continued with our silent agreement to play Twenty Questions.

Ten minutes before lunch ended, I felt like my panties were wet. Going to the bathroom, I cursed seeing the dark red blood. I didn't need to add 'Period' to my list of things annoying me today, the top consisting of Seth's persistent questions and my forgotten Anatomy test I was pretty sure I hadn't gotten an A on.

When I was washing my hands in the bathroom, I studied myself. I was pretty tall, nearing the six foot mark. My blonde hair fell limply to the middle of my back. My deep blue eyes contained huge black pupils, as if my eyes were naturally dilated. I had pale, almost chalky skin. I'd been told I was pretty by my parents' friends, but not by anyone under the age of fifty. Their comments didn't affect me too much since I had a feeling they repeated those same words to everyone.

I had a lot of faults, which I had come to accept. On the outside, I considered myself averagely attractive. My skin contrasted sharply with my dark eye color, and certain lighting made me look ill. I was tall for my age and naturally quite thin. My doctor said I would never have an average weight, and critical eyes silently accused me of being anorexic. I had a small chest to match my small features. My hips were bony and made me look like a twig with no curves partnered with my height. I was prone to acne from my oily skin, which I was told I would grow out of, but that didn't do a whole lot to comfort me now. Foundation could only help so much.

I was not proud of my appearance, but I tried to act like I didn't care. Most people couldn't see past my mask of indifference. I tried to convince myself that looks didn't matter as long as I kept my grades up; nobody liked their appearance at fifteen, right? High school had a way of reorganizing the priorities of teenagers, though, and appearances topped that list.

I left the bathroom with a wistful sigh.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, and soon I was walking out to my bus, blasting my iPod like any other day with Elena's borrowed earbuds. Seth stole the one out of my right ear, listening to the notes of the song I had at wince-worthy decibels. I paused it, raising an eyebrow at him in question.

"Make sure you're ready tonight at seven."

"I haven't forgotten." I plucked my ear bud out of his hand smartly, giving him a warning look for touching my iPod and hitting play.

"Wear a dress." Seth's voice was somehow loud and clear over my music.

"I know." I turned up the volume, hoping to drown out his voice, and nearly deafening myself.

"You have to answer me anything." Again, his voice was impossible to miss.

"I know." I kept walking.

"'Bye, Angel."

"I'm nobody's angel." I boarded the bus. When I looked out the window, he was watching me through the glass, as if making sure I was protected. With a final smirk and a flick of his fingers that I think was a wave, he sauntered away. I couldn't focus on my music the rest of the ride home, his last grin and salute replaying in my head over and over and over again.

* * *

That night, Seth showed up on his motorcycle. It had a sleek black paint job that matched his mysterious persona. It was beyond sexy.

He let out a low whistle when he saw me. I blushed and looked down. My dress was simple, just a plain purple that tied in the back of my neck and came down to about my knees. There was a black strip around my waist that knotted in the back to adjust how tight I wanted it.

I had on black boots and a line of black eyeliner around my eyes. There were simple black pearl earrings in my ears and a black velvet choker around my neck. My hair was straightened and left down to wisp around my face. It wasn't anything special, but it was definitely not supposed to be worn when snow littered the ground like a frosty blanket.

"I-I-I d-don't get why I c-c-can't just w-wear m-m-my normal d-d-dance c-clothes, " I complained, wrapping my arms around myself in a pitiful attempt to stay warm. The icy wind that blew without mercy out of the North easily penetrated my thick winter coat. I could feel my toes slowly but surely going numb.

Seth became fidgety, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. It was like he hadn't planned his idea through. Silly California boy not remembering he wasn't on the sunny beach anymore.

"I'll warm you up, don't worry, " he assured me, wrapping me in his arms before I could protest. I would have snapped at him for his comment, but the expression on his face led me to believe that it wasn't meant in any way other than a concern for my health. So I kept quiet, allowing him to warm me up with his body heat that soared far above the normal limit. When I asked him about it, he just shrugged and worried some more that he could see my breath in the frigid air. I rolled my eyes. I could see his breath too, but he didn't take any notice.

He finally let me go after another couple of minutes. I was just thankful that none of my family had come out to interrogate us. I didn't know how I was supposed to ride a motorcycle in a dress, so I just stood there looking at him with a lost look on my face. He patted the black, cushioned seat and instructed, "Get on like you normally would." I straddled the seat and Seth got on behind me.

I instinctively cowered into his warm chest. The breeze easily sailed up my dress and nipped at any exposed skin. Seth put one hand on each of my sides right above my stomach and slid his hands down, as if trying to make my dress longer. His hands radiated surplus warmth, and the heat seeped through the satin material. I suppressed a shiver of delight, grinding my teeth together. His fingers trailed along my leg to my knee, and then he pressed his legs against mine. I tensed. "My legs will keep the dress down, " he explained huskily. I nodded. Not knowing what to do with my hands, I folded them in my lap.

Seth wrapped his big, warm hands around them, bringing them up to the handles of the bike. "You're going to drive it with me, " his silky voice whispered in my ear. His hot breath smelt of caramel. I loved caramel.

"Okay, " I muttered, trying to not let him see how much he was affecting me.

He brought the engine to life, speeding down the dirt road. The wind whipped my hair back and glided across my bare cheeks. I felt that rush of freedom, the adrenaline high of feeling as if nothing could ever catch me. I breathed in a deep breath of country air.

As soon as we hit the blacktop, Seth whispered in my ear, "All right, speed demon, slow down. The speed limit's only fifty-five." I let up some on the gas.

"How fast was I going?" I asked.

"Seventy. Now, let me drive." I tried to wiggle my hands out, but Seth held them there. I slackened them and just let Seth guide the machine to wherever it was we were going. I relaxed contently in the protective barrier he made around me with his body, absorbing his heat.

After ten minutes, we pulled up in front of a house. I guess it was more of a cottage, something you would find somebody's grandmother living in. There were two stories, a porch, and lots of windows. The house itself was white, as well as the door and windows. The only color it offered was the red roof and same red border along the bottom. The green plants around the edge sprouted no flowers, but the green gave it a homey feeling, just the fact that there was some type of life to it. The color was fading a little, and there were cracks here and there, but overall it was a pretty place.

"Who lives here?" I asked.

"Colton, Cody, me, my two sisters, and my parents."

"Full house, " I commented. He nodded.

"Come on, I want to show you it. I think you'll like it." I knew that he could be leading me into a trap; I knew that if I was smart I would ask questions or, better yet, run away, but my feet obediently followed this black haired boy into his home.

"Colton, Cody! Mom, Dad! Riley, Victoria! I brought home a friend!" Seth called.

"The 'rents are out with the twins!" a male voice called back. "Just me and Colton!"

"Cool!" he yelled. "Well, should we get started?"

He led me upstairs to one of the rooms. There was a red and black bed, a dresser, and a stereo. The carpet was a worn out black and the walls were white. It was simple, plain. I liked it.

"Nice room, " I complimented. He shrugged, throwing a pair of three inch heels at me.

"My mom's, " he defended. I put them on, wobbling slightly before my feet got used to them; heels are like a bike: once you learn how to use them, you don't forget. Popping a CD in the stereo, tango music spilled out from the speakers as he put my left hand on his shoulder, put his right hand on my waist, and connected our free hands. He stared down at me.

"Now what?" I asked after a couple minutes.

"Just get used to the feeling, " he said, rubbing his hand along my side. I squirmed a little. "Ticklish?"

"A little, " I admitted. He stared at me intensely for a minute.

"There's so much I want to know about you, " he breathed softly, as if afraid the shadows might hear. "You have so many secrets and I want to know every one of them." I bit my lip nervously. This guy has known me for less than a week and already can read me like a book. "What's your family like, Eva?" he asked.

"Not much. I have a mom, a dad, and a sister, Kayla, the huge sports star. She's an amazing catcher for softball and got moved up to play with the Varsity league when she was only a freshman. She plays with another league in the summer. She plays basketball, too. She's dishwater blonde with super light blue eyes, from my mom. I get my eyes from my dad. My whole family's really tall, except for my mom. That's about it."

"Not at all. What about your nationality?"

"I'm half German and half French, roughly."

"Any pets?"

"A dog, purebred Yorkie."

"Do you like dogs?"

"Depends on what kind, but yeah, overall, I like dogs."

"Do you want one when you get your own place?"

"Defiantly."

"What kind?"

"Probable a German Shepherd, lab, or a husky. I'm leaning towards a Rottweiler, though. I saw one and fell in love with it."

"Those are big dogs."

"I've only had small ones, so I want a big dog. They kind of bring a sense of protection with them, too. I like that."

"Feeling protected?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I don't know, I guess it's a way someone can show that they care. I don't get a lot of that."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not that social. I wait for people to come to me. Elena and Cassie are really the only people that cared enough to; don't get the wrong idea, they're closer than my own sister. It's like they're a part of me, they know me so well, and I will always have their backs, whether they want me there or not. But my mom and dad just think I'm anti-social and I have to go to them, which I don't that often. Besides, with Kayla, they have enough entertainment."

"So what you think is that if people care enough about someone, they will go to that someone instead of that someone going to them?"

"Pretty much, but I'm pretty shy around people; I prefer my own space. I want to know someone before they know me. So it's not like I'm going to have a ton of friends."

He didn't comment any further, probably seeing how uncomfortable I was about sharing my personal life.

"Okay, we need to focus if you're going to learn anything. So exactly how flexible are your legs and hips because..."

* * *

"Wow, okay, you were right. It does take work."

"I told you."

"I know."

"How does next Friday sound, same time?"

"Sure."

I was currently laying on Seth's bed, my muscles aching from dancing, and Seth was sitting on the floor with his back against a wall, staring at me in amusement. How the boy ever found the time to tango like that was beyond me. And that's coming from me, a dancer who dances as much as she possibly can.

"How long was that?" I asked.

"One hour and twenty minutes."

"What?!"

"What's wrong?" he jumped, whipping his head between the door and window and crouching slightly, his hands twitching.

"That's it? I've danced for six hours straight before!" He relaxed.

"You scared me."

"Well, why did we stop? C'mon, new guy, get back up." I commanded, my mind set on dancing some more and anything else therefore irrelevant. I stood up off of his bed, even though my legs protested. I ignored them.

"Don't be stupid, Eva. You're practically asleep on your feet."

"So? What's life without a little pain?"

"A good one?"

"Shut up, just stand."

"Okay." He got up, walked over to me, and pushed down on my shoulders until I was sitting back down. "And you sit down. You will blame me tomorrow for your aching muscles if you wear yourself out tonight."

"It's only 8:20! I'll be fine."

"Don't argue. Just listen to me."

"You know, I don't listen to a lot of people." He sat down next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I shook him off.

"I've noticed. Why is that?"

"Because I'm not stupid; I can make my own decisions. I don't need someone telling me what to do."

"What if they just want you safe and care about you?"

"I said I don't listen to many people. That means I'll listen to a few. Just the ones I want."

"And I'm taking a wild guess and saying I'm not one of those people."

"You're a good guesser."

"What do you want to do when you need a job?" he fired off abruptly. It took me a moment to comprehend his sudden question, but I answered after a minute of contemplation.

"I don't know exactly, but I've narrowed it down to either a lawyer, doctor, or someone who works with some form of medicine, whether it's explaining to people or trying to find a cure for cancer. A toxicologist, maybe. I like chemistry, too, along with anatomy."

"Big dreams."

"Study hard, dream harder: that's the rule I live by."

"What about your personal life? Do you want to live in Michigan your whole life?" I stared at him incredulously.

"No way. I want to move to the Midwest or coast. Definitely somewhere that's warm, with lots of open space."

"You like your space, don't you?"

"Absolutely. I want nothing to do with the city. I don't know how people stand it. I'll never be able to."

"What if some city boy wanted to marry you? What if he had a huge house with family to look after?"

"...I don't know, " I muttered, regretting that promise as the questions got more...romantic.

"What if he was your dream guy?"

"I'll worry about it when the time comes."

I tapped my foot to get rid of the silence that ensued.

"What kind of wedding do you want?"

"What?" This guy switched gears so quickly, it was a wonder I could keep up with him.

"When you get married? Are you going to have a big wedding or go to one of those drive-through windows in Vegas?"

"Probably something small. I'll only invite a few close friends and family. I kind of want it to be on a beach, and I'll go barefoot. Feel the sand between my toes, you know? My dress will probably be more of an off-white, and definitely knee-length. I can't stand floor-length dresses, plus plain white just drowns my out. It's my blonde hair; I absolutely hate it, although I can't find it in myself to dye it. And- I'm boring you, aren't I?" I blushed, immediately stopping my useless babbling. I had no idea when I'd decided to pour my heart out to this guy, but I knew I defiantly had to stop.

He cocked his head to the side, his eyes losing their glazed look. "No, definitely not. I want to hear everything about you. Keep going. What were you going to say?"

"You know, I've never met a guy like you. Why would you care about some shy girl's dreams?"

"Why does there always have to be a reason with everything? Why can't something just happen? Why does there always have to be something in it for the other person?" he asked softly.

"Because that's just the way the world works, Seth. People are greedy, selfish things, and I can't think of one reason you would want to listen to me blab all night long. Now, why?"

"Are you waiting for the excuse that I want to get in your pants?"

"No, the idea never crossed my mind, actually. I'm not that self-centered. Why, is that your reason?" It would fit perfectly if he was with anyone else. Seth was sexy; there was no doubt about it. Any girl would be lucky to have him. But that girl couldn't possible be me.

"No! God, Eva, I don't know why I'm so interested in you, okay? I can't give you a straight out answer because I don't even know the answer myself! It's just the way things are!" he exploded.

I dropped my eyes to my lap, where my hands were folded, the pale color such a contrast to the dark purple of the dress. Guilt washed through me. Who was I to judge him? What made me so special that he had to answer to?

"I'm sorry, " Seth whispered. "Eva? Please? I'm really sorry. Please forgive me? Please? I promise I'll never yell at you again. I don't know what came over me, honestly! Angel, please?!" His voice sounded worried and desperate. Why? I had no idea. When I glanced up at his eyes, I was instantly reminded of my dream, when that man, who closely resembled Seth, had looked at me so worriedly. I quickly dropped my gaze.

"Of course I forgive you, Seth, " I told him. "Do you want me to go home?"

"No." The answer, though quick, was firm and strong. Final. "We still have a half hour."

"Then tell me about you, " I countered playfully, hitting his shoulder gently, trying to lift the mood. "What do you want your wedding to be like?"

If I didn't know better, I would have sworn I saw the Seth...whatever his last name is blush a little. "Okay, this is gonna sound really corny, but as long as that ring is on her left ring finger, and she takes those vows, I'm gonna be the happiest man in the universe. I don't care what kind of wedding she wants, if she wants to get married in a box or the biggest church in Vatican City, Italy, it doesn't matter to me in the least."

"You sound like you already have someone picked out, " I teased.

He smiled slightly. "You could say I have my eye on someone."

"Good luck, " I mumbled, unable to explain the feel of disappointment. I quickly dismissed it. She was probable some nineteen-year-old girl down in California that as soon as high school was out Seth was going to go running to. I hoped she was worth his time.

We talked for that next half an hour, never running out of things to say. When Seth took me home, we positioned ourselves on his bike the same way we had before, his legs pressed against mine, his arms wrapped around me.

I wondered for a fleeting second in that girl could be me. He wouldn't act so casual about this proximity if he felt love toward another girl, would he? And he didn't seem all that sad about coming up here to Michigan. Wouldn't he seem sad if he was leaving his heart behind? Or at least part of it? He didn't seem interested in any girls, either. I'm mostly the only girl, besides Elena and Cassie, that he talks to freely. Sure, some girls flirt shamelessly with him, but he's never shown any interest in them. Who's left besides me?

In that one fleeting second, I was the girl that someone loved. I was the girl that was above all others. I felt special, and I felt important. Then reality came crashing down on my little fantasy, wiping my smile off my face. Just in time I thought as we turned into my driveway. The lights were still on. I hoped dad didn't do the whole cliché father thing and grill Seth out. Anything to yell at me. He'd probably be doing it for my mom, anyway. My dad didn't despise me, he just didn't want to know me if I wasn't what was his consideration of "normal." I decided to play it safe and not spend any extra time outside. I quickly hopped off the motorcycle as soon as I was allowed, the engine still purring softly.

Just before I opened the door, a hand covered mine, stopping me from turning the knob. I felt warm breath in my ear that sent shivers through me as Seth whispered, "And you're right. It's not just a coincidence. We are here for a reason." My eyes widened, and my heart thumped far too quickly for my own good. I was right, and my imagination ran with that fantasy again before I could catch it.

"Why?" I asked, breathless from my new information.

"I'll let you figure that one out. You are the shy, nerdy girl, as you put it. Just think it through. Three guys, targeting and wanting to get to know three unstoppable girls their sophomore year. Two blondes, two brunettes, two with black hair. Cody and Cassie are inseparable, Colton and Elena are interested in each other's thoughts and me...well, " he chuckled, making goose bumps rise on my skin, "I'm far more than interested in you, Angel. I like seeing you squirm because of me." He lightly nibbled my ear, as if to prove his point, and I shivered at the sensation. "I love it, " he husked, making my own breathing become choppy.

He trailed a hand down my arm. Taking deep breaths through my nose, I called back the control of my body that had somehow slipped out of my tight grasp. I waited until my voice was firm and not the slightest bit breathless before stating, "I'm nobody's angel."

"I can fix that." Defiance and independence flared up in me. Oh, so he thought he was so hot and could make me change my mind so quickly? Let's see him change my mind. No matter how hot he thinks he is, even though he was probably right, I'm not that shallow.

"I dare you to try, " I hissed, glaring at his reflection in the glass.

He stared right back into mine, smirking. "Try and stop me." He threw me one more grin before sauntering over to his ride, roaring the engine to life and speeding away.

Thus began his famous pursuit.