Thats when I woke up.
I tried very hard not to think about my dream and yesterdays events, but it kept sneaking its way back in my head. I also tried very hard not to think about what would have happened if I hadnt have woken up too, but every time I thought about it a chill went down my spine. The only logical answer I could form, and this was after a lot of thinking and a lot of dropping things and tripping, is that Im falling in love with Sam Archer. Its the only way I can explain how I feel around him; I think its love Im feeling. Im sure he doesnt feel the same way, I think hes just being a lot nicer to me, but I cant help it. I am deeply and truly in love with Sam Archer, but does he feel the same way? I know I dont want him to, but deep down you just cant change some things, and this was one of them. And I know hes still a stranger but theres nothing for it, theres no going back, something is drawing me to him.
For school I threw on my uniform and my heavy coat. I grabbed the jacket Sam had loaned me yesterday, my bag and I locked the dead lock behind me.
It surprised me how eager I was to get over to the Archers house already, and I knew why I was but it was sort of embarrassing to admit, even in my head.
I buzzed the speaker button at the Archers front gate. It only took a second before someone answered.
“Come on in Layla,” a voice said from the box.
I looked around and there wasn't any cameras around. Oh wait, this is the Archer family, of course they would know I was coming here.
I smiled to myself as I walked through the now buzzed open single gate, up the driveway, through the courtyard, and to the front porch. Before I got to the front door James was there, standing on the porch. I walked up the few steps and James had a big grin on his face.
“Hi James,” I said slowly.
He didnt say anything, he just came towards me and scooped me up in a air tight hug.
“James... can't breathe here,” I gasped out.
He laughed. “Morning Lays,” he said.
He seemed really happy to see me, he was nearly always jolly, like Santa, but I hated to say it, James was hot, like a sexy hot, unlike Santa who is tubby, old and not hot. But come on, James was buff, funny, tall (not as tall as Sam, but almost exactly my height), and hes sensitive when he wants to be. Why dont any of these boys have girlfriends?
“What's up with you?” I asked warily when he put me down.
“Nothing, come on in.” He pretty much towed me inside the house where I saw Jane and Elane on the couch watching the expensive flat screen TV.
God these people lived a nice lifestyle.
“Hey Jane. Hey Elane,” I called from the other side of the room.
They both looked over at me and smiled. “Hey Layla,” Jane said.
“Hi Lays,” Elane answered, getting up and walking towards me.
“How are you this morning?” Elane asked, taking my arm and pulling me towards the couch.
I wasnt going to flip out or anything because of the past week, but I think that was why they were being so reassuring.
“I'm good, I just came to give Sam his jacket back,” I said.
She sat me down on one of the big white couches and dropped down next to me.
“He should be down soon,” Jane said to me.
So I sat and waited for Sam to come downstairs, just thinking about him gave me jitters and made it hard for me to breathe. This kind of behaviour I never displayed, it was frightening me.
I was sandwich tight between Elane and James and he had his big arm around my shoulders. I was sitting there for a while watching morning cartoons, waiting for Sam because nobody could be bothered to go upstairs to get him. Not even James who could be back in half a nano second. But I guess I liked how we were all open with each other now, it was sometimes surprising to see the Archers act like their usual selves but I really did like it. It was natural to them and they didn't have to hide it from me anymore.
Sam finally came downstairs with his bag hovering behind him. It shocked me a little that he could use his ability so casually, but it was cool and natural at the same time.
His eyes were black and his face was expressionless, but he looked like he was in control of himself. He was wearing our green uniform which emphasized his chest, making me stare at him like a gaping idiot.
He really wasn't as small as I thought he was, when I actually looked at him he... I hated admitting it but he looked just as sexy and hot as James, maybe more, but the difference was that I fantasised about Sam holding me, kissing me and loving me, as ridiculous as it sounds.
His bag came flying towards us and hit James Square in the face.
I looked back at Sam and he was looking the other way, trying to be inconspicuous. I looked at James and he looked shocked. Then he disappeared, leaving a breeze of his cologne behind him. He was suddenly behind Sam. He put his muscled arms around Sams neck and had him in a strangle hold. Sam wasnt even trying to struggle, he was smiling somewhat deviously.
James and Sam were suspended in mid-air now and they didn't even seem to mind. My jaw had dropped to the ground. This is not something you see every day, but I liked seeing it.
Sam flipped James over his shoulder, but James didnt fall, it was like there was an invisible floor under him as he hit it. Sam placed one foot on his chest and smiled in triumph.
“Give up brother?” Sam asked, enjoying himself.
James looked up at him with a smile, a determined look on his face. “Never.” Before I knew it James had grabbed Sams leg and flipped him, making him land next to him in mid-air.
He hit the invisible floor that was above the actual ground. It was awesome yet freaky.
I think the look on my face was shocked and astounded because Elane had to snap me out of it.
“Layla, it's okay. Like people say; boys will be boys,” she said, grinning hugely.
I didnt know if she was smiling from Sam and James, or my reaction.
I composed my face and turned to see what Jane was doing; she was grinning at James and Sam as well. They were probably showing off.
I turned back to look at the boys. They were getting closer to the ground now and James now had Sam in some sort of head lock with his legs. I looked at Sam and he was looking back at me, noticing he had caught my eye. He winked with one of his black eyes as he slipped out of James hold and turned the tables on him, holding him tightly in a headlock with his arms as he sat on his back. I smiled embarrassed, looking down to the floor and away from his eyes. I couldnt let anyone know about this, if they knew I liked Sam they might think its some desperate cry-out for the attention of a new guy.
Elane laughed, standing up. “Alright boys, it is time for school.”
Sam lowered them both to the ground and they were laughing.
We all grabbed our bags as we headed through a door to the garage.
I took notice this time of the cars in there, I had never actually paid attention before.
Whoa! There was a silver Hummer in the far corner of the gigantic garage that caught my eye. A Hummer was in my top three favourite cars, no matter the model, mainly because they are built big and can go quite fast, considering how big they are. But it is really hard to find a good priced one in Australia unless you were willingly to pay a fortune and a half. The H1s use to be the old army cars apparently, the H2s were my favourite because they were as big as the H1s but had the sleek new design of the H3s. And lastly the H3s were just made to look flashy and smaller than the other Hummer models, but they gain good speed.
By the looks of it, the silver Hummer was a H2 model and had been fitted with a huge shiny bulbar on the front. Next to the Hummer was a small white Dodge viper 2000, one of the newer models obviously built for speed and agility, and by my guess it was something James would drive. They're pretty sweet too, but I'd still prefer the Hummer, theyre just more my type of car.
I walked over to it and ran my hand across the smooth cold silver bulbar. I looked at the other car next to the yellow, I think, 2002 or 2003 Me
rcedes SUV which was Janes. There was a dark purple Honda S2000, and of course it was one of the newer models like a 2001 or 2002 model which I'm guessing is Elanes. Not too bad, it is a nice girls car, but not a race car although it can top pretty high speeds. And I remembered that Summer and Peter drove the classic Holden HV8, but I think it was mainly Peters, and Summer just rode in it. All of these cars were pretty good, but I still liked the Hummer best and it wasn't going to change.
“Do you like it?”
I turned away from the silver Hummer and faced Sam. “Sure,” I said, I tried not to be too enthusiastic, so I kept my voice even. “Its one of my favourite cars.” I looked back at the Hummer then back to him.
He smiled beautifully. “Same here, it looks like we have something in common.”
I smiled back, I couldn't help it. “Who's is it?” I asked curiously.
“Mine actually,” Sam said smugly.
“You have good taste in cars. Is it a H3?”
I smiled when I saw his face light up. I hadnt checked the model type on the side of the car yet but I knew it was a H2, I just wanted to test him first to see if he was just one of the people who has a car that looks flash.
“Ah, a H2 actually,” he corrected.
Sweet, I thought to myself. He did know something about his car.
He was about to say something else but James interrupted with a rude accusation. “Come on you two love birds, we are going to be late for school.”
I flushed a little when I saw James was mainly grinning at me. I looked back at Sam and there was a smile playing around his lips.
“Come on,” Sam said, gesturing towards the yellow SUV. “We don't want James to make anymore assumptions.”
I walked ahead of him and jumped in the SUV after James. To my surprise Sam jumped in next to me because James was sitting near the door, so I was in the middle.
I could feel Sams warmth radiate on my leg instantly, the second he sat down next to me it made me nervous. I kept my eyes on the floor the entire ride to school, I thought that might be the safest place to look. I just couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he liked me too, maybe and hopefully.
When the doors opened I could feel the cold morning air in the school parking lot. I remembered I still had Sams jacket on my arm and thought I would have to give that back to him sooner or later.
James stepped out one door, shutting it behind him, and Sam got out of the other side and he stood near the door waiting for me to get out.
“Thanks,” I said to him, still looking at the ground when I climbed out.
“You're welcome,” he retorted, his face smooth.
I still couldnt get over his features; perfect skin, angular and smooth facial features. I still wondered what his touch would feel like, whether his face felt rough or not, but I knew that no good would come from thinking this way so I had to stop myself.
He locked then closed the door and stood in front of me. I looked around and noticed Elane, Jane and James had managed to sneak off inconspicuously.
“Um, here's your jacket back. Thanks for lending it to me yesterday,” I said politely, still looking at the ground.
I heard him chuckle as I put the jacket into his hands. “You can look at me you know. I'm not going to turn you to stone,” he said, still chuckling.
I didnt look up when I spoke quietly. “I just don't want to do anything to offend you.”
He stopped chuckling and I felt a warm finger pull my chin up towards his face so I was looking into his capturing eyes.
“You never did anything to offend me. You should not feel responsible for my rude behaviour and actions,” he said intensely, his light green eyes hard on my face.
If it wasn't so cold my heart would have melted, but it was beating abnormally instead.
“Oh, you're welcome... for the jacket,” he explained.
He still held my chin and I was aware that he was touching me again. His hand moved slowly from my chin to the side of my face, and his still warm hand swept my long plain hair back behind my ear.
“You are so unique,” he murmured, so quietly I wasnt even sure he had said it.
First bell rung and we both looked over at the other students walking through the gates. I looked back at him and he was already looking at me.
I started to get the urge to… No, I will behave I told myself. Bad Layla. What was I thinking, he probably doesnt even care for me that way, but for some reason being near him now, provided me with a sense of security. Like I could be safe with him and trust him no matter what, it was as if he could sense that too when I looked into his eyes.
I sighed glumly. He looked at me curiously and tilted his head slightly to the side.
“What's wrong?” he asked, curious.
It seemed he was always curious about me now.
“Nothing,” I said, hoping he couldnt detect the sudden sadness in my voice.
“I will walk you to your class,” he said, eyeing my expression then starting to walk towards the school.
“You don't have to, its all the way in maths block,” I said in a rush, catching up to him.
His perfect smile appeared once again. “Don't worry, your class is on the way to mine silly,” he said, smiling teasingly which made my heart miss a beat.
He walked next to me the whole way to my Math class. We attained a lot of curious stares but Sam didn't seem to care, he just kept looking at me, oddly enough. We got to my class door and stopped walking, the people who walked past us gawked but I didn't pay any attention, I'm sure I was just imagining it anyway. All I could seem to focus on was Sams face and that he wasn't angry with me, but I tried to keep it concealed. Nobody likes an obsessed stalker.
“I guess I will see you soon,” he said, letting me have one of his dazzling smiles.
“Okay,” I squeaked out.
He chuckled, took one last look at me and walked away.
I sighed in content and walked into Math class, preparing myself for the wave of thoughts that were going to rush into my head as soon as I settled down.
Math passed in a daze because of two things: Rosetta wasnt there, and it was Math. It was hard to believe that Rosetta had wanted and tried to kill me, but the truth is the truth. So I listened to Mr. Henrys drag on about fractions… I think.
After class, as I walked out the door still putting my book in my bag and started heading to English, Megan caught up with me.
“Hey Lays!” she called.
I stopped and waited for her to catch up.
“Have you seen Rosetta lately?” she asked, concerned.
Uh oh. “Ah, no I haven't actually. When was the last time you heard from her?” I asked casually.
Something told me to lie otherwise I was just going to get trouble, and a little white lie couldnt hurt much, especially after she tried to kill me.
“Yesterday, when you and her said goodbye to us. She was supposed to call me last night,” she answered, looking at me funny.
How was I going to pull this off, I kept asking myself, frantically searching my brain for an excuse.
“Yeah, we started walking and she started feeling sick so I walked her to the office and she went home. That was the last time I saw her,” I explained.
It sounded so true I almost believed it myself.
She looked at me questionably but shrugged it off. “She never really misses a day, and she usually calls when she says so, but I guess she did look sick yesterday.”
Phew, that was a close call. I could see she believed me.
I entered English with Megan by my side and pulled my jacket off. I looked around to see James sitting right where he was on his first day, looking as mysterious as before. The only difference was this time I knew him, and he knew me. Once he saw me his face brightened up and he grinned at me, revealing his perfect teeth and devilishly handsome smile.
I smiled back and went over to him. I took my seat between him and Megan gladly, in need of stability. I smiled and he grinned back, mussin
g my hair a little, then we went back to being quiet after our greeting. But it was very weird because Megan didn't talk to me the whole lesson, on purpose I thought, but I couldn't be sure.
English went by pretty fast too but every once and a while James would nudge me to tell me about how ridiculous or idiotic the teacher was. I always giggled but once I almost burst out loud with laughter when he almost gave the teacher a heart attack. He ran behind him and tapped his shoulder, then ran back to his seat within a millisecond of me even knowing. Nobody suspected a thing because it didn't look like he had moved at all, the teacher must have thought he was going delusional from old age. He even checked his glasses! James had officially made English fun, and he wasnt a distraction either, he always told me what the teacher was meaning to say which was easier for me to understand. I guess he was a bonus.
James walked me to my Spanish class after English, where he hugged me goodbye and spoke to Elane quickly, but I didnt want to be rude by eavesdropping so I waited for Elane in my seat.
Spanish didn't drag as much because Elane did most of the talking and helped me with the answers most of the time too. She was really good at Spanish and she could speak it fluently, I swear there was nothing these Archers couldn't do. I was surprised though by how she could act so normal when she knows that we all may be in danger. It didnt seem to bother her at all, or she was a really good actor. I would have to ask her later if I remembered.
Class had finished before I knew it and it was time for lunch, the time I get to see Sam.
I think I had become obsessive, and its only been a few days, how ridiculous. I had to stop this, it's not normal behaviour.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 13