I abruptly felt nervous meeting people like this. There were butterflys doing somersaults in my stomach, and that was just by looking at them.
The younger brother glanced at me before he had his green gaze fixed on Elane. I looked at Elane and she was smiling at her brothers and sister, like she had just discovered something remarkable or had found something she was looking for, instead of meeting his stare.
I stopped a few feet away, cautiously looking at the ground. I was overcome with a bout of shyness. I didn't want to be judged, any other day would have been fine but not today. I don't even know why I agreed to meet them in the first place, maybe to seem polite when I was really thinking of teen freaking suicide. God I sound so melodramatic.
Elane went over to James first. “James,” she said as they embraced each other.
“Elane,” he said, and I saw as she whispered something in his ear swiftly and he nodded.
She went and hugged her sister quickly and put one arm around her other brothers shoulders. I sort of envied her for that. I don't know why that just popped up in my head, but I had to shake that thought away.
“Sam,” she said lightly.
Sam, that was his name. I couldn't remember it from before.
“Elane,” he said back, acknowledging her presence and staring her hard in the eyes.
His voice sounded more alluring than he looked, even though there was a hard edge to it. You could see he was masculine but he was also a kind of serious scary threatening hot, I guess James was hot too but in an exciting and fun way. Even though they were brothers they didn't really look alike.
She let go of him and came and put one arm around me so carefree, like we were life long friends.
“Layla, these are my siblings. This is James, Jane, and loner over there is Sam.”
She gestured to each one as she said their names. She first pulled me over to James, who ducked his head but still grinned friendly.
Jane shook my hand lightly and said, “Lovely to officially meet you Layla.”
Her voice sounded pleasant as she looked at me friendly, and I think if I'm not mistaken, some sort of welcoming.
Last but not least, Elane dare pulled me over towards Sam who had not moved one inch, I wanted to pull back but my feet wouldn't obey, they wanted to walk forward. Stupid feet.
“Sam, this is Layla,” Elane said, her voice still light.
He reluctantly turned towards me, a lot taller than I thought. He was glaring, his green eyes almost looked like his pupils had increased double their size in a matter of seconds as I stared at him, and then he extended a hand towards me. “Hello.”
I took his hand warily without a word and he instantly tensed. I could visibly see the tendons stick out in his arm, and then he let my hand go. I looked at Elane and she was glaring at her brother, I swear I could hear her teeth grind together, and even though she was shorter than I was, she still looked fierce.
“Well, Layla, it has been nice to have met you, would you like to sit with us for lunch?” Elane offered me through gritted teeth, while staring at her brother Sam who looked back at her just as hard.
“Yes, join us for lunch, that is what we all want,” Sam bit back sarcastically.
“Why don't you shut the hell up,” Elane retorted, trying to maintain her calm.
“Why don't you stop making decisions on behalf of everyone.”
They were glaring at each other murderously, then the short black haired girl Jane interjected.
“Hush you two, you are going to scare her off,” she urged, looking me fairly in the eyes with an apology. “So sorry about those two, but you are very welcome to join us if you like.”
“Ahh, no thanks. I really have to do some research in the library, but maybe some other time.” I looked at her, forcing myself to smile slightly.
There was no research. I felt the need to get away from here with any means possible, even if it was a lame and totally made up excuse, and it looked like a fight was going to break out here anyway.
“Okay, some other time, sure… um, I guess we will see you around,” Elane finally said as I eased away from her.
She was smiling at me but there was still anger and a trace of disappointment in her eyes, not towards me, but Sam.
As I was walking away I started to feel something inside me, it was aching terribly and it felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out.
I walked away swiftly then it hit. It was a panic attack, but what from? It couldn't have been from meeting Sam. I mean who was he? Some boy who probably doesn't like me because I shook his hand! He was a freak anyway who probably had anger management issues!
I sat on a bench gasping, waiting for it to pass. I felt nauseated and stiff as I struggled to breathe. I took my bag off for some relief, but nothing changed. Nobody was around, but I was still gasping for air, trying to remember how to breathe as big fat tears rolled down my cheeks. I'm ridiculous.
After a while of thinking I came up with the excuse of it being caused by Adams leaving, after all, it made sense. Maybe because I hadn't told anybody, it came out itself, erupting without my permission.
I was so angry, not with Adam, but myself. Why did I have to be like this, so… so weak? I couldn't even face rejection from someone I had never met before, its disgraceful.
I curled up on the bench behind the classroom not knowing what else to do, and the tears just rolled silently down my cheeks as I hugged and puffed. I clenched the pendant on the necklace Adam had given me, shut my jaw tight, gritting my teeth together and closing my eyes. I prayed my attack would soon ease, it was so excruciating sometimes I would rather be dead.
2. Welcome to the neighbourhood
I don't know how long I was there on the chair, but eventually I regained control and was able to breathe steadily. Perhaps I blacked out, but suddenly I heard someone say my name; a male tenor voice.
“Layla, are you alright?” the voice asked, they sounded quite concerned.
At first I thought it was Adam, I wanted it so badly to be him but I knew he would never be at the school: he was gone.
I didn't want to open my eyes, so I just shook my head and I heard the sob finally rise to my throat. I bit down hard on my bottom lip, I could feel my teeth almost cut through the skin, but I didn't want to let that sob go.
“Heyy, Layla. It's alright, have you been hurt?”
I thought about that question for a minute and they started stroking my hair. I shook my head as I heard the sob had escaped my throat. It felt like there was an empty hole in my chest, it hurt so much the pain wasn't bearable, but if you imagine being shot in the chest with a shotgun, and times that by ten, you're not even close to how much pain I felt.
I felt hands picking me up and then my head was lying against someones warm hard chest, they were stroking my hair again, comforting me any way they could. I couldn't really care who it was, even if it was the weirdest person in school, it didn't matter.
I heard them breathe calmly so I tried to do the same. Inhale and exhale... inhale and exhale... it all seemed so hard and pointless now.
“It's okay, I'll take care of you... I promised,” someone murmured into my hair, trying to soothe me.
Promised?
I heard someone else ask in a male bass voice; “Is she okay?”
“She should be fine, she doesn't appear to be injured.”
Yeah, no injuries on the outside, I thought to myself. That was the problem with mental illness: people couldn't physically see it.
I felt another hand pat and rub my back. I couldn't help but think I didn't even know who was there holding and comforting me, but it was strange because one: I felt better and comforted in a way, and two: I had a lack of concern for my wellbeing right now.
I heard the bell ring and the two started talking again.
“Should we take her to the office?” the bass voice asked.
“We should ask her,” the tenor voice said, I heard his voice rumble though his chest.
He was still stroking my hair when it went silent for a moment, then he spoke again. “Layla, do you want Fredric and myself to take you to the office, or do you wanna go to class?”
That's who it was; Hunter Bale, I thought to myself. I knew I had heard him somewhere before. I always said hi to them because they didn't seem as mysterious to me as they did to everyone else at my table. I found them to be similar to me, outsiders in a way. And they always said hello back with a small smile. Fredrics in my grade, hes even in my Gym class, and Hunter is in the grade above me. Nobody knew much about them but they were good people in my eyes, even though I had never had an actual conversation with them before.
I thought his question through. If I go home I would crawl into the darkness and surely go insane if I was by myself that early, so I guess class would be the better option. I may as well stick it out for the day.
“I want to go to class,” I muttered against his jumper.
I felt him chuckle and I think Fredric did too.
“Okay then brave one, lets get you on your feet so you won't be too late.”
I felt myself being lifted so I decided to open my eyes to help them out. They got me upright and Hunters arms were around me while Fredrics were supporting me.
I felt slightly dizzy and utterly exhausted, but that only lasted momentarily, it somewhat felt like getting off a really fast theme park ride.
“Where's your class?” Hunter asked, looking into my eyes as they both let me go but steadied me on my feet.
“F block.”
As I gazed back and fourth between Fredric and Hunter I noticed they both had very warm brown eyes, it sort of comforted me, making me feel safe and reassured again. This was so strange, I never trusted people this fast before.
“Alright, shall we,” Hunter told Fredric.
Then we took off towards my class slowly and steadily with Hunter carrying my bag over one of his shoulders.
“I hope you're okay,” Hunter said to me softly.
I nodded. “Yes, this was not weird at all,” I said in a small voice, making them both smile.
We were nearly at F block and I was able to walk properly, Fredric and Hunter sensed that and they eased away from my sides.
“Thanks you guys,” I said to them sincere, looking at both their faces.
“Anytime Layla,” Fredric said with an easy smile.
I had never really heard them speak before, especially not to me so it was sort of surprising and new at the same time, it felt nice to be around them. I just kept getting good... vibes from them.
“Yeah, anytime you need somebody well be here, okay,” Hunter told me, smiling as well.
I deliberated the way they smiled and it looked like they both meant it. Which was weird. I didn't know them and they didn't know me, which begged the question: why did they want to help me?
We got to my classroom and Hunter handed me my bag. But as I walked away, I realised they truly did me a favour today and they were willing to do it again without question.
“Hunter, Fredric!” I called.
They both turned to look at me as I flung myself at them both, wrapping one of my arms around each of their necks and pulling them into a hug. I surprised not only them, but myself too.
“Thank you,” I said again.
They were smiling and they also looked as if they just flushed, it was hard to tell with their beautifully tanned skin.
“Like we said, anytime,” Hunter reminded me. “Now get to class.”
“Bye. See you in Gym Fredric.”
I waved a little and they waved back, then I walked into class to find the worst thing ever possible. Not. Even. Exaggerating.
It was… It was Sam Archer, sitting at my table, in the seat next to mine. How could this be possible in one freaking day?! I screamed internally to myself as the colour drained from my face. Three different Archers, three different classes, same day. I was beginning to get the feeling that I was being stitched up. I was just waiting for someone to jump out with a camera crew shouting, 'And he's an actor, and she's an actor, they're all actors! You've just been punked.' But of course that didn't happen.
“Layla Atkins,” Mrs. Nelson said impatiently. “Would you like to take your seat, or stand there all day?” she gestured impatiently towards my table.
Truthfully I would rather stand here all day than sit next to him.
But I slowly and reluctantly walked past the short old Mrs. Nelson to my seat and sat down cautiously, making sure I didn't make any eye contact with the outrageously weird boy.
I was feeling uncomfortable the entire time, he didn't relax at all and I could feel that... I think. It didn't help any that I had a tingling feeling run through my body rapidly at the same time. But there was a difference this time; it was intensified, sending wave by wave of Goosebumps through my entire body. I wanted to throw up truthfully, but fortunately for me he didn't talk.
Biology was going to be the worst class I had this year. The whole lesson all I could feel was the hate and disgust in the air coming towards me. I know he looked perfectly content sitting next to me, if you were a stranger you would assume that, even if he had his arm around me (he didn't). But if you could be in my shoes, you would bottle down the feeling to run out the door crying too. I had to keep reminding myself that I could go see Fredric as soon as the bell rung and I could maybe talk to him. But this had to be almost impossible; having each of the Archers three classes in a row. I wouldn't be surprised if Jane was in my gym class too, but then again, she was in the grade above me so it's technically not possible in gym.
I was uneasy and it kept me on edge, literally. Every thump or banging noise I heard would make me jump, you would think I had paranoia or something, it wasn't funny.
I couldn't help my eyes glancing over at Sam once and a while, stealing tiny sips of sun every time. He was completely oblivious to me now, like he had calmed down, but he seemed to not even be acknowledging me, which seemed a little unfair on my behalf. I automatically felt offended because he didn't even know me and it looked like he disliked me already. What a snob! What a weirdo loner snob! He could at least get to know me and see if I'm worth hating, but then again it really was a good thing that he hadn't said anything but hello to me. Maybe we werent meant to know each other.
I wanted to run so bad from this sort of rejection but I reframed from doing so, just a little bit longer I kept reminding myself every minute that went by. I've never been hated like this before. Why was I even letting it bother me?
Something was the matter with him, it wasn't normal behaviour to hate someone you only met once. It couldn't really be me could it? Did I do something wrong already? I couldn't figure it out. Stop focusing on it Layla, I chastasized myself.
The bell finally rung in which seemed like an eternity, but it did. Before I even got up and grabbed my bag, Sam was in front of me, staring at me with anger and agitation clearly in his eyes.
“Can I help you?” I asked, it meant to come out in a stronger voice but instead it came out in a weak and pitiful voice.
“Stay away from me,” he said slowly, low and cold, making my heart flip over itself and making me want to dry-reach.
I composed myself in front of this angel carved guy. “You don't have to worry about that,” I said, and yes, it came out perfectly the way I had wanted it to; cynical.
As I stood up and faced him he looked at me, his fists balled at his sides. As I stared into the deep green coldness, I wanted to shiver, even though I could feel his body heat rolling towards me. He turned away on his heel and briskly walked out the door with his bag as I watched after him, annoyed, but not just annoyed, something else, nervous almost.
I walked slowly to Gym, trying to stop shaking from standing up to him like that. I was thankful that none of the people I knew were on their way to Gym class, and I was secretly expecting to see Jane Archer there too.
I opened the gym doors and saw Fredric by himself, his built figure leaning
against the wall where he always was in Gym class.
“Fredric!” I yelled and waved.
He turned his attractive dirty blonde coloured head in my direction and smiled cheekily. He raised one hand, pointed his index finger towards me and motioned for me to come to him while smiling. I smiled back and started walking over towards him, thinking of how nice it was that we got along like we had been friends for years.
Then, as I was walking, Alex Fielding stepped in front of me, making my smile disappear instantly and completely blocking out my view of Fredric.
“Hey Layla, how have you been?” he asked smoothly, a grin on his face.
I rolled my eyes and thought of a nasty response. “Well, let me think, I was doing great... until I saw you,” I said, letting acid leak into my tone.
“Aw, cmon, it's me: Alex.” He tried to put his hand on my waist but I side stepped him.
I tried to walk around him but suddenly Brett Andersen and Logan Heilds were flanking his sides, taking away any hope I had for an escape, so now my back was nearly against the wall.
I remembered Alex had asked me out a couple of weeks ago when school started, but I said no and walked away. Its not like he wasnt good looking or anything.
He has Black hair to his ears, hes tall, olive and has yellow-ish, gold-ish colour eyes. But he is an arsehole and I would never go out with someone like that.
“Cmon Layla, you have to say yes to me sometime,” he said with a smirk on his face, and all I wanted to do was slap it off.
“Alex,” I said softly with a half smile, and saw him smile in response. “I would rather DIE! Than go out with you.”
He smiled cynically. “You will be my girlfriend.”
“Not if you were the last guy in the universe,” I said warningly.
“You will come crawling to me, I can guarantee it.”
“Yeah, well guarantee this,” I said, giving him the hand gesture with my middle finger which is not so polite and only supposed to be used in traffic.
He reached one hand up and touched my face, the other grabbed my wrist, but I flinched away, grabbing at his hand to push it away. He grabbed both my hands in return and held them tightly, and I tried to pull away. My heart sped up in response in what I knew he was going to try next, but I couldn't run, I felt stiff, frozen, and was basically pinned against a wall.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 3