After I had gotten dressed and ready for school it was around 8 o clock and I heard knocking from the front door. I gave a puzzled look and got up to open it to find Sam Archer standing in his green uniform and slacks with his hands in his pockets.
“Good morning,” he said, flashing me a heart breaking smile.
I was in shock, I couldn't help but stare as I re-analysed everything in my mind associated with the question why was he here?
“Layla? Are you okay love?” he asked sweetly, and I swallowed hard and nodded. “Are you sure?”
I finally stuttered out a sentence. “Ye-Yeah, just um… yesterday?? Was that… was it real?”
He took his hands out of his pockets and innocently placed them on my shoulders. “I don't want to scare you but yes Layla, it was all real, every part,” he answered, making my mind practically explode.
My eyes trailed to the porch floor and I felt dizzy.
“I know it's been a lot to take in these past few days but youre strong, I know you are… Why don't you come over to my house and well talk a little more,” he suggested. “Then we can give you a ride to school.”
I picked my eyes up off the ground and looked up into his eyes. They were impossibly light green, amazingly hypnotizing.
I nodded. “S-sure, just let me lock up and grab my bag,” I said quite distracted.
He nodded and took his hands off my shoulders, returning them to his pockets.
We walked down my driveway after I had locked the house up and grabbed my school bag. It was a little funny because Sam was supposed to be this scary guy but he's not, he was quite shy as he walked next to me.
He opened the side person gate after entering the pin code and motioned for me to walk in first. “So everything you told me yesterday about the Warrigal coven was real, even their motives changing?” I had to ask.
He nodded as he closed the gate behind him and looked over at me. “As real as you and me.” We both continued walking again. That made my brain still pause. Did he mean you and me as in us together? Everything about yesterday couldnt have been real.
“What about…” I felt my cheeks go bright red from embarrassment.
Wed both slowed walking until we stopped completely and were looking face-to-face.
“Layla, yesterday wasnt a mistake or a dream. I meant every word I said to you,” he said in that deeply seductive voice, making my pulse race.
“I'm just having a tough time believing everything. It all seems like something in a dream or a movie,” I said with a grimace.
He inhaled and then exhaled loudly. I looked away from his face and towards the trees. “Last night you asked me if I could protect you, and I said forever if I could, that wasnt a dream… And neither is this,” he said, and I felt him place his hands on the sides of my neck, leaning down and lightly brushing his perfect warm lips against mine slowly.
I didnt move at all, and when he pulled back and dropped his hands I was still stunned. “Huh,” I breathed curiously. “So I'm not as crazy as I thought I was,” I said out loud, mainly to myself.
He chuckled. “Come, let's get out of the cold,” he suggested, starting to walk again.
I walked beside him and found myself walking closer towards him, and as my arm brushed against his, he looked over at me and smiled.
“Um, I know I'm not very good at this,” he admitted, a little embarrassed.
“That's okay, Im emotionally scarred so I'm not very good at this stuff either,” I said truthfully, making him laugh, but there was something behind that laugh.
“Then we can both be not very good at this together.” That made me smile.
If everything I remembered yesterday was true, then I suspected Sam was thinking about what nobody was telling me, but what was it? It was frustrating the hell out of me not knowing.
I felt his fingers brush against mine and his eyes locked onto mine and held tight. I looked away, embarrassed, while I blushed with a smile and thought of how childish this was, but I liked it. He twined his fingers with mine and held my hand tightly. This was nice, the touch of his skin sent shivers through my entire body, and I had felt human when I was with him, I felt normal.
I tried to add the strange behaviour of everyone into the equation, and when I thought about it, I think it could definitely involve those Warrigal coven people because... well they are the only hint of danger I've heard the Archers mention. Now this is just nerve racking. I understand the entire abilities thing, but I didn't understand why they just won't tell me the danger. Perhaps it's about me, maybe that's why Sam hasn't told me anything.
Sam pulled me up the spiralling stairs and towards his bedroom door when we reached the house. I considered waiting in the small living room upstairs but he led me in with him.
I looked around the brightly lit room. It had a nice view of the forest outback and was very tidy. I went over to the computer desk and sat on the chair, he had a big stereo system in the corner of his room and a king size bed on the opposite side. I couldn't help but think his room was oddly clean for a teenage boy, but then again he is no ordinary teenager, nor a boy really, he was more like a man even though he was only 15yrs or 16yrs old. He hardly looked like a boy because of his angular features and how tall and masculine he was, it was like he was already matured. I had to stop myself there, it was sending chills through my body, just thinking about him. But when I'm around him, he makes me feel some sense of security, like he would protect me no matter what the price was. I couldn't believe this was happening, it was like every minute that went by I felt like I was going to wake up and find Sam didnt like me the way he does now. How could this be happening; falling in love with someone after so little time of knowing them, how is it possible? When I woke up this morning I was almost positive it wasnt possible. I knew there was such a thing called love at first sight, but I never actually believed in it, and Im still having a hard time believing it now. I know its more than just lust because it feels different, I feel like he wont hurt me, he makes me feel safe.
“Just make yourself at home, I have to find my school bag,” he said with a laugh. “I threw it somewhere around here yesterday.”
He smiled his heartbreaking sexy smile before turning towards his closet.
To occupy myself I decided to look at his Cds. He had quite a collection but none of which I was familiar with, and I noticed almost instantly that there was nothing on the walls except a flat screen TV. But I had to keep in mind that they had just moved in, and that I didn't think Sam was one to hang posters on the walls, somewhat like me.
I walked back over to his expensive computer and sat down again. I noticed on the desk was a black sketch pad and I couldn't resist the invitation to pick it up. I studied it curiously; Samuel Archer. That was the name written very small and neatly in the bottom right hand corner inside the cover. Wow, what do you know, you do learn something new every day, I thought to myself. Samuel; it suited him, but I personally liked Sam better.
I flipped through a few pages slowly and there was a whole bunch of beautiful patterns drawn on the first few. Before I knew it I found myself flicking through the whole book, studying each one curiously, and I found he was a really good artist. There were thousands and thousands of elegant patterned designs, drawings of places and even people, but there was one page in particular that caught my eye. It was a perfect copy of my necklace; the woven silver, the oval crystal pendant.
“Lays?” I turned and Sam was right behind me, making me jump.
I shut the book closed right away. “I… um, was just looking at your book. Im sorry,” I apologized.
It slipped out from beneath my hands and floated over my shoulder to rest gently in his grasp. He flipped through a few pages and found the page I was looking at and smiled. He offered his hand to help me stand up and I took it.
He still had a hold of my hand when he spoke. “This was what I dreamt about one night,” he explained.
“It's my necklace.”
“I
know. The peculiar thing is, I drew it before I knew you had it,” he said.
He raised our hands to stroke my cheek with the back of his hand. “I use to think it was beautiful, before I saw you.”
“But weren't you intimidated of me?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Yes, but that doesn't mean to say I did not think you were beautiful.”
We heard yelling from downstairs. “Sam. Lays. Get your butts down here. We have to go!” Elane yelled.
I smiled and looked back at Sam.
“We better go, shes probably anxious to see Fredric,” I joked.
He laughed, scooping his bag up off the ground behind his desk and over his shoulder. “Found it,” he said with a smile.
He offered me his hand and I slowly placed mine in his, feeling the smoothness of the palm of his hand touch mine. We then left his room and made our way downstairs to go to school.
We were both laughing as we walked through the house, because it was obvious that Elane really liked Fredric and I think it would have been hard not to notice the way they've been flirting with each other non-stop.
The first three sessions of school pasted in a blur again. But mainly because I was excited to see Sam at lunch, and well, mainly that. I was just so intoxicated by his presence, and now that he wanted me, it made me feel spontaneously overjoyed.
I walked with Elane to the lunch table and she seemed to be in a better mood than usual, maybe she really was excited to see Fredric. I didn't know, but what I did know was I could never stop thinking about Sam. I was starting to come around to the idea that maybe we were meant to be and that this might work out after all, but I couldnt be certain at the moment.
I went to him straight away and sat down beside him, disguising my excitement with shyness, or maybe I was feeling both.
“Hello,” I managed to say without grinning ear-to-ear.
“Hello, how was your morning?” he asked with that smile, the one that made me want to smile.
He was so unique.
As lunch went by and we talked I felt like a new person, reflecting on what I use to look like when I was happy, and I really liked the feeling.
Sam held my hand under the table all lunch. I still couldnt get over the way his touch or hearing his voice made me feel. It was like a little jolt of adrenaline rushing through my body every time.
When lunch ended we walked to Biology very close and holding hands the way you would if you were dating someone; entwined. He was starting to get use to holding my hand now and that made me smile.
I noticed Megans mouth fall open with a little popping sound as she took in our appearances. I couldnt help but snicker because it looked like she wasnt sure whether to be confused or jealous. And Luke had his eyes glued to Sam, looking irritated with just his presence.
All through class I could barely concentrate on what Mrs. Nelson was saying. I tried to sit still and stop fidgeting, I tried not to look over at Sam and lose my train of thought, but he kept doing little things that distracted me every time. Like moving my hair back behind my ear so he could see my face, his leg or arm touching mine, it was kind of embarrassing and I was probably hyperventilating the whole time. But I could see he was enjoying himself, probably impressed that he could make someone lose all coherency within one lesson. He was probably practicing getting better at treating me lovingly too.
Sam pulled my chin up and kissed me softly when fourth session was over and we were standing out front of the Gym. He said he hoped every minute would go faster so he could see me again. I laughed in response and I wrapped his strong arms around myself, just to show him it was okay by me, but I noticed he was still hesitant and unsure. Though he was able to make me lose coherency and he knew it, he had already said he thought he was getting better at it. He could tell I didnt want him to leave me but wed see each other when the bell rung, it was just school.
So I went to Gym class and he went to the sports field for H.P.E.
I was feeling nervous walking into gym. For one, or really for only one reason: Sylar was going to be there.
I sat as far away from him as possible as we were told to sit down and listen to todays instructions. I sat between two girls I knew from the lunch table; Whitney Madison and Mandy Stiles.
Whitney was really friendly, she was one of the people I got to know last year. Her personality reflected her looks. She had beautifully dark skin, brown eyes, frizzy black hair to her shoulders, medium height; she was what you could call normal. Whitney was never afraid to tell people at school what she knew was right and wrong. She always stuck up for herself and the people she knew. Surprisingly she didn't get down on anybody because of their looks, whether they were black, white, ugly, pretty, skinny etc. She was just genuinely a great person, I think that fact has to do with her being the only child though. Mandy on the other hand was a shy thing at first, but once you got to know her she was quite the joker and had a quirky personality. She was just about as friendly as Whitney was, but her shyness keeps her back until lately, I have noticed she has sort of been out there. I wondered whats happening there? Mandy had longish goldy-blonde hair, blue eyes and she was very short, so short that people nicknamed her shortie.
Mandy and Whitney were both chatting about some History assignment, often they tried to include me but I smiled and nodded, too nervous to face even class. I was thinking about ditching but it was too late now. Why didn't I just ditch before??
“You okay Lays?” Whitney asked, interrupting my useless plans to avoid Sylar.
I looked at her and nodded stiffly.
“Yeah, you look a bit pale. Do you think you should go to the office?” Mandy asked, concerned.
I looked at Mandy and shook my head. “No, I should be good. It's fine guys... really,” I said weakly.
They looked at each other, dubiously.
“Okay, if you start feeling sick-” Whitney started saying but I cut her off.
“Don't worry. I'll be fine.” I gave them the best smile I could conjure up before coach called me out to get a racket and take my place on the court.
I walked over swiftly to the trolley, keeping my eyes forward, took a racket and stood in position. Sylar was up to serve first and thats when things really started heating up.
“What's up with you Layla Atkins?” Sylar asked, noticing my hostility.
I looked over at him quickly before hitting the ball back over the net. “Nothing,” I grunted, hitting the ball.
“Doesn't seem like nothing,” he pointed out while running to hit the ball back over.
“Well it is,” I said, hitting the ball with a little more force as it headed towards me.
I was getting angry, and fast.
“Is this because I kissed you?” he asked, a little smug.
I glared, disgusted.
The ball came flying towards me and I hit it with as much force as I could, more than I should have, and I regretted it straight away.
The ball flew straight towards Eddie Maine and hit him square in the face, making him fall backwards.
“Oh shoot,” I gasped as I cupped my hand to my mouth in shock.
I ran over to Eddie and his nose was bleeding. I helped him sit up and started apologizing at once.
“Oh shit, Eddie. I am really sorry, I didn't mean to hurt-” he cut me off.
“It's okay Lays, nice back swing,” he complimented me with a bloody smile.
He was cupping his bleeding nose to try and contain the blood. I walked him over to the bubblers so he could wash the blood away and coach changed the teams playing.
“I'm so sorry,” I apologized again.
“Lays don't worry about it. Just remind me never to get on your bad side,” he joked.
He smiled at me bloodily again and I smiled back, glad that I was forgiven and his smile looked hilarious.
“What had you so worked up anyway?” he asked casually, holding the bridge of his nose and looking up at the roof as we sat down.
“What do you mean?” I
asked, vaguely hiding my agitation.
“Lays, no one hits a ball like that unless their pissed,” he pointed out.
I sighed. “Benson, that's what,” I hissed.
“Well, he must have done something pretty bad because that was some swing.”
“Yeah.”
After Eddies nose stopped bleeding I sat out with him for a while to cool down and watched everybody else play. I didn't exactly want to hit anybody in the head again.
I saw Sylar come towards us, he had the cheek to come and sit down on the other side of Eddie.
“You good Maine?” he asked.
“Yeah man.”
I looked straight ahead again, glaring profusely at a wall.
“Listen Layla, I need to talk to you,” Sylar said after a minute.
That's when I flew off the handle, but I tried to control my anger as much as possible.
“You've got some nerve Benson,” I hissed, trying to contain my anger I had towards him.
“Alright, I'm gonna go over there and leave you guys to it,” Eddie said.
He could tell I was pissed, and I think he didn't want to regret sitting between us and getting hit in the face again. So he got up and left.
“See ya later Lays. Later Benson,” he called.
Sylar waited for Eddie to walk a fair distance away before he started talking again.
“Do you know the Archers?” Sylar asked, low and urgent.
The question took me off guard a little but I worked quickly to compose my face.
“Why do you want to know?” I asked angrily.
“Because I have come to warn you that they are Dark.” I saw his face, and he looked serious.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, annoyed but worried.
Please say he didnt have a Supernatural ability too, it was all I was thinking.
“You have to get away from them, they will destroy you.”
I started shaking my head.
The Archers werent evil, were they? This didn't make sense.
“Layla, if you value your life you will stay away from them. If they get a chance they will kill you,” he said without so much as a stutter.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 17