It's the middle of January. Which means the middle of the school year; yeah, this sucks! And the only place I could sketch was in the cafeteria. "Hi, my name is Jillian, but you can call me Jill. What's your name?" I looked up from my sketchpad to see a perky southern girl sitting across from me and just staring. "Serena," I said plainly. I don't want to talk to you! "Wow, is that your real name? Cool! I've always wanted a name like that! But not that one of course because its yours. So how old are you?" I was already getting sick of her. "I just turned seventeen in November." "Cool," and then we sat in silence. I guess she didn't know what to say to the "gothic princess" sitting in front of her, because she sat quietly for a while. I was hoping she would leave when she asked, "Well Serena, what do you like to do in your spare time?" I gave her a look; my look. Then I had the most evil thought. "Do you really want to know?" She nodded her head eagerly. "Fine! You've convinced me! Come here." She leaned in her chair and started jumping in her seat. "Whoa! Chill, ok?" She stopped jumping but continued to lean. "I like to sit with vampires," I whispered. "But not the fake kind, it's got to be the kind that sucks your blood and turns you on at the same time." I looked at my handy work and liked what I saw. She was looking at me with disgust, turning a nasty green color. I hoped I freaked her out enough to get her to leave me alone. "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't realize our lunch date was cancelled!" I swiveled in my seat and found myself facing two girls just like me; drenched in black. I acted along. "No, I think Jillian her was just leaving," and the words weren't even out of my mouth before she stood up. "I see you already mad friends, so we'll talk later, ok?" I nodded and gave her the best smile I could give as she left and the girls took her place. "Hey, thanks for saving me." "No prob! I'm Jewels and this b***h is Tamitha." They started to eat, which was fine with me because that gave me the opportunity to look them over. I could tell Jewels was cool. She was pasty white with long bright blue hair that framed her face well with the soft curls. Tamitha was different. She had a dark tan with straight short blonde hair that only went to her shoulders. They both had a piercing: Jewels her lip, Tamitha her nose. Jewels looked like she could kick your ass, when Tamitha looked like she would be anyone's best friend. Boy was I wrong. "What are you staring at?" Shot Tamitha. I quickly looked down at my hands resting on my sketchbook. I looked up again and saw Jewels smiling. At first I thought it was for me, but I heard a "Hey Jewels," and immediately thought different. "Hey Jeremy! What you doing here?" He sat right next to her, and two other guys came up and sat on both sides of me. "What, I can't hang with my sister, her friend, and he gorgeous acquaintance?" I could feel the tomato color hit my cheeks. "Hi, my name is Jeremy," he said charmingly as he took my hand and kissed it. Jewels hit him in the arm. "Don't scare her off!" He gave her a quick chuckle and me a wink. "Hello, I'm Serena. And your friends?" The guy on my right chimed in. "I'm Shane and this is Login. Nice to meet you," and he gave out his hand. I took it while staring into his deep piercing ocean blue eyes. He was hot. "Hey, we are all going to Burger King later in the week, than a teen club. Want to tag along?" Of course I did! But I have to keep my cool. "Yeah, I guess that would be cool." She gave me an amused look. "What, are you scared of us? You shouldn't be, we don't bite. Much." I chuckled and immediately replied, "I'm not afraid of you biting me. I'm afraid I'll bite harder. Maybe even draw blood." Everyone around us started laughing, including him, but he wouldn't break eye contact. I was saved from drowning in his stare by the bell, but I didn't want to leave my new friends. "Hey, what class do you have next?" I looked up (cause I had to) and found I was looking at someone about six inches taller. "Uhm," I rustled through my papers hastily and found my schedule. "French!" I love French class! "Same here, care to join me in the walk?" I DO need the help around. "Yeah, that would be nice. Thanks," and I took his extended arm with my left hand as I held on to my books with my right. "So how do you like your first day here?" "Its ok I guess. Its nice to meet people and learn about them and the school here." He wrestled around with that. "What have you learned so far?" "About you?" He nodded as we exited the cafeteria. "Well. I know that you are good friends with Jeremy, Shane, Tamitha and Jewels, you are nice to new people, or at least to me, and you are totally in love. I think it was the Jewels chick but I'm not positively sure." Was that a blush? "How did you know? Is it that obvious?" Oh my god! I was right! "Kind of. You look at her a lot and smile when she talks to you. Its sweet! Why don't you tell her or ask her out?" "I don't know," he replied shaking his head and hanging it low. We finally made it to French class when I asked, "How is the teacher?" But Login wasn't able t answer as a short plump lady came up and started to quarrel with the kids sitting next to the door. She finally stopped yelling and recognized we were there after about ten minutes. "Bonjour, et vous soyez?" "Mon nom est Mme Sterling. Vous ates le professeur?" "Oui je suis. Je vois que vous ates daja avanca en franacais. Vous vous adapterez bien dedans. Bienvenue. Vous travaillerez avec Login. Bienvenue au Fran_áais 101." I nodded in appreciation and told Login the news. "I knew what she said! You're not the only one who is fluent in French you know." I giggled and immediately felt calmer and looser around him. It felt nice to have friends and to feel welcomed here. I may actually like it here. * * * When the final bell rang to warn us to scram home, I was over-joyed. I had a long day and only wanted to go home and sleep, but of course, that wasn't possible. "Hey Serena, you live on the south side?" S**t, I knew that voice. I opened my eyes and turned my head and saw a nightmare. "Hello Jillian. Yes, apparently I live on the south side," I shot at her. She looked hurt, but only for second as she shrugged it off. "Cool. Hey, do you have a bus partner?" I don't even know what that means, and was going to tell her when lord and behold, Shane and Tamitha knock on the bus door/ "Sorry Mr. George, we had to help our history teacher move some things." He just grunted and shut the door behind them. Of course, during all of this Jillian is still babbling away. "Just wanted to know, you know, so that if you didn't maybe we could be bus partners." Then she realized I wasn't listening. "Serena, want to come sit with us?" Shane asked. Of course I did, but one look at Jillian and I was reminded of an abused puppy. "I guess I'll go," she whispered as she picked up her bag. And being who I am and feeling sorry for her, I said, "Its ok Jill. You can stay. It looks like Shane's girlfriend doesn't want me near." She giggled behind her hand as Tamitha and Shane gave me looks. Tamitha's a "Don't Mess with Me" look and Shane's a "What Are you Talking About?" I just shrugged it off and watched my first crush since moving here walk to the back of the bus with his girl attached to his arm. Of course they were dating! He was irresistibly hot and she's perfect in all ways. So now my dreams and heart are trampled to smithereens. I didn't want to think about it, so I turned to Jillian. She gave me a shock. She was half buried into her book bag, throwing things around. "Jillian, what are you doing?" She popped out. "I'm looking for something for you," she replied and dove back in. I looked out the window and asked, "When's your bus stop?" She came right out again. "I live on Maple and Green. Can you watch out for me?" "Yeah, but under one condition. I get to stare at you in confusion." She stuck out her hand, like she thought I was serious. I took it, and she dove back in. It took her a minute, but she finally found what she was looking for. "I saw what you were drawing at lunch and thought I recognized it from somewhere," she implied as she offered me the book that she had. I opened it to the first page and was put aghast. There in the inside cover, was the bloody rose with ripped ribbon tied roughly around it that I was drawing earlier that day. "Who drew this?" She presented me the cover of the book. It was titled, "Anonymous Artists' In Our Mist." By Fock M. Eups High School. "Are you saying these are STUDENT drawings?" She deliberately nodded. I glanced out the window and saw a glimpse of the street name. "Jill, this is you! Take your freaky book and go," I said as nicely as you can and shoved the book at her. "Oh! Ok! See you tomorrow!" and she left. Now it was just I, or so I thought. "Mr. George, you missed my stop again!" Tamitha looked furious. "Sorry faltas, I almost forgot." He took a legal u-turn around and we dropped her off. NOW I'm the last one, right? WRONG! Shane's still on the bus! We finally go to my street. The bus idled to a stop, and I got up to talk to the driver. "Gracias mucho senior. Aprecio grandemente," I told the bus driver. "Usted es demasiado bueno conmigo," he whispered back as he lightly waved me off. I waved to the bus driver right before Shane blocked the view, and started walking towards the woods. "I didn't know you were fluent in French and Spanish. Anything else?" "Waarom wilt u het weten?" I shot. He at first had a confused look, but then replied, "You know Dutch too?" Ugh! How does he know this! I have to think of one of the ones he doesn't. "Yes, I know Dutch. Want to know what other ones I know? Wiem, ?e Polska, Io so come parlare in italiano, e ainda por cima de tudo isso eu sei falar PortuguIs tambEm." I don't think I've ever seen anyone's eyes get so big. "You learned English, French, Dutch, Polish, Italian, and Portuguese before you turned seventeen? How?" "I know more if you want to know some more of my business," I said fiercely. Why doesn't he just get the message? I walked off again, this time pulling out my sketchbook and pencil. Art has always been a way for me to vent. But I just couldn't catch a break, as Shane pulled up next to me in a red BMW. "Come on, at least let me give you a ride?" Wait a minute. "If you have a car, than why do you take a bus?" He looked guilty. "I don't like people knowing my business." Didn't I just yell at him because I didn't want him to know mine? "I feel in control if no body knows mine but I know theirs. It was kind of what I was raised with. Sorry," he said apologetically. I softened up a little, but not enough to actually say he was forgiven. "Come on, get in. I want to take you somewhere you might enjoy." My mind said no, but my heart, legs, and instinct told me to get in the car with him. Finally, I gave up fighting and got in the car. It was warm compared to the winter icy air outside, and the radio was softly playing some rock I knew too well. "Any requests for the radio?" I smiled flirty and shook my head. "This is just great," I replied, TRYING and FAILING to keep my cool. He seriously was perfect. No one can be this perfect. There has to be a catch. "Ok then, buckle up." He put the car in gear and went down the road. I was surprised that he was going the speed limit instead of going fifty over like some morons. "So where are we going anyway?" He looked over at me and gave me his hot superstar smile. I liked that smile. "If I told you, I would have to kill you." Nice and forward. This guy can not be real! "Fine then." I took out my sketchbook again and went looking around for my pencil. "You draw a lot, don't you?" I found it! "Yeah, why?" "No reason. I draw some but I mostly write. Jeremy does the art in the family." What? "Jeremy is your brother? I thought he was Jewels'. Unless." He nodded. "You're smart. Yes, I was adopted. I knew this. I was adopted at sixteen. Old enough to know everything and old enough to know that I was never going to see my mother or father again." Now I was upset, and I had the feeling that I should tell him something about never seeing someone again. "I know I will never see my brother again, but you see me walking around talking and laughing. You seem to be living as though it was the last breath you took." He clutched the steering wheel, making is knuckles turn white. "Was your family murdered? Did you know the person who did it? Did he walk away?" He said fiercely, almost yelling. We came to a stop sign just about three blocks from my house. I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the door, grabbed my bag, and slammed it. He rolled down the window. "Come on, I'm sorry. Will you please get back in?" I turned around so that he wouldn't see the tears. Tears were a sign of weakness. "I know what it's like. My brother was in the military. He knew he was going to die. You want to know the last words he said? He said at least it was now instead of later when it would have killed us too. It nearly did. Unless you know what that means, you can go to hell." Shane got out of the car and tried to comfort me. "Serena, will you please stop walking? Can we talk? Please?! I'm sorry!" He grabbed my arm, spun me around, and pulled me in close so that there was only a short space between our faces. "Serena," he whispered, "How much would you hate me if I kissed you right now?" I whispered back, "I wouldn't, but I will be pissed if you don't." He cupped my head with his hands, store deep into my eyes, leaned in, and gave me the most magical kiss possible. I felt myself wrap my arms around his neck, leaning deep into him. We kissed for a bit, and then separated with sighs. "Wow," was all that I was able to say. "Yeah," he answered. We looked up to each other and started laughing. "Here, let me take you home," he offered. "Ok." * * * "Well, uhm. Here you are." So I wasn't the only one who was speechless. "Thank you for.... uhm.... Everything," I said. Maybe it will loosen things up. "Yeah. So do you want to like hang tomorrow?" Wow, typical, but I wanted to SO bad. "Yeah, that would be great. Can you pick me up?" "Sure can. Around four good? I can show you around town and then we can get dinner." I answered with a peck on the cheek. "See you then." I got out the car and walked up my porch. I waved back and opened the door. As soon as I was in, he put his car in drive and left. "So who was that?" "Ah!" I jumped around holding my chest. "Alex!" She was leaning against the wall, dressed up in her knee boots, mini skirt, and jacket. "So? Who was he? He was kind of cute too," she added. "None of your business dweeb," I said harshly. "Wow! So old! You know that stopped being annoying when I turned fifteen?" It still annoyed me. I dropped my book bag on the table. "Where's mom and Lilly?" "They went to buy the incense and Chinese food. Mom said you had to help me with my report." I ignored the last part and ran up to my room with the necessary books I needed for my homework. I didn't get through any of it though because as soon as I hit my room I fell to my bed like a rock and started to dream. * * * "SESE!" At first I thought it was my alarm clock, but when I went to check it, it only said five-thirty. I looked around my room and like I thought, my sister Lilly was sitting at the foot of my bed. "COME ON! TIME FOR FOOD!" I couldn't help but smile as my five year old sister started tugging at my blanket. She loved to eat. "OK! I'm getting up! See?" I stood up and smoothed out some of the wrinkles in my clothes. "No one cares how you look! We just want to eat!" "Wow! Bossy much?" She stuck out her tongue and so did I. We really didn't fight; we just liked to be funny. "Well come on!" I giggled at her maturity and ran after her, catching her in a bear hug just before she reached the stairs. "Eh!" she squealed in laughter. We walked down the stairs into the living room just like that. "Serena, put your sister down. Lilly and I looked at each other, and like we read each other's minds, we pouted and sat. My mom couldn't help but let out a little giggle. "Ok you two, what do you want? Lilly, I know you want some shrimp toast, but are you sure you don't want anything else? And Serena, I got your favorite! Honey walnut shrimp!" "Yay!" we both answered in unison. "Ay! Why? Why have three girls?" All three of us stayed quiet, because we knew the reason why. "So how was your first day of school girls?" "It was great! I met this cool chick Erin who has her lip pierced and her mom was ok with it, not like you when Serena got her nose pierced, and I already am on the teachers' good side and." She continued on babbling on how her day was, but all I could think about was the kiss I had shared with Shane only a couple of short hours ago. "Serena! Alex asked you how was your day." I came out of my memory right back into reality. Yay. "It was fine." She gave out a short snort. "It has to be more than fine if you came home in a BMW." I kicked her. "Ow! What was that for?" "A ride?" Great, now she has mom's attention. "Yeah Mom, asked who drove her home." Two can play at this game. "Mom, ask Alex what she was wearing today when I got home." She shot me a dirty look. "Serena, I will deal with that later. Who brought you home?" I looked at my food. "A guy I met at school. But he just," "Serena met a guy! Serena met a guy!" Of course she would interrupt me. "Yes, I met a guy. And we're hanging out tomorrow! Got a problem with it?" I got up and ran to my room. Why did they have to over-react? He was just a friend! Who gave me the most beautiful kiss a girl could dream about. "Serena, we're about to go look for our acorns. Are you still going to do it?" I looked over to my mom who was standing in my doorway. "Of course, why wouldn't I!" I got up and followed her to the back door. You see, we have this tradition every year when we start school. You find an acorn near the house and hold it in your left hand. Then you light the incense, and while they burn you make a wish. You snuff it out and bury it with the acorn after you make your wish. Also, we have Chinese food. My dad started it when I went to school for the first time. Finally, everyone had an acorn to use. "Lilly, it’s your year," I said. Lilly had a big grin on her face. She took the acorn in her small hand, had my mom light the incense stick, and started to whisper. Too low for anyone to hear other than herself. She snuffed the stick and dropped them in the whole she had dug earlier. Next was Alex. She repeated the same ritual Lilly had and dropped hers in too. Mom took more time with hers, letting the incense brn for a while before wishing. Last was me. I didn't at first know what to wish for, but after a minute of thinking, I had it. I took the acorn in hand, held it close to my chest, and whispered, "I want my new friends to see the real me." In they go. "1, 2, 3," and we dumped the dirt over. "Well lets go inside before we freeze." Lilly came and took my hand. "Did you make your wish Sese?" I looked down. "Yeah, did you?" She nodded. "Let's go finish eating," I suggested, and led her in. I finished my food fast so that I could get some work done before I went to bed. "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, but its all right because I like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry, but that's alright because I love the way you lie. Love the way you lie." I glanced at the screen of my cell phone. Unknown number. Who could it be? "Hello?" "Hi Serena, it's Login. Your French partner. I was just wondering if you could help me out with something. Interested?" Login? How did he.? "Yeah, sure. How did you get my number? I don't remember giving it to you." There was silence on the other side. "You gave it to me right after class. Remember?" I didn't, but it didn't matter anymore. "Ok. What do you need help with?" "Well. I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on how to ask Jewels out. And Jeremy need's an idea for a painting." I couldn't help but smile. I felt so special and needed. "Ok. Well what you should do is." We talked for about a while about when, where, and how he was going to ask her out, and I told Jeremy he should paint a rose. I secretly wanted it to compare with my own and the one in the book. "Good night Login." "Night Serena." Finally, some peace and quiet. I caught a glance of my clock. Crap, it was already eleven. I needed to sleep. Now. I changed into some more suitable clothing for bed and brushed my teeth. But when I got back into my room, there was a lump in my bed. "Lilly, what are you doing in here?" She came from under the covers. "I hear the doggies crying. I'm scared. Can I sleep with you?" She was scared of the wolves' howl? Personally I loved it. It was like the wolves were signaling to all that they were free. I wanted to be free. "Ok, you can sleep with me, but only tonight, ok?" I got in next to her and immediately fell asleep.