Think Fast

Chapter one

Which way do I go? I have to think fast he could be around the corner. Think, think what do I do?!? I felt a hand on my shoulder. Oh, crap. Run yeah just run! It was too late he had me; he’s going to turn me around-

“Arabella, It’s time for breakfast!” Oh, thank god it was only a dream. I opened my eyes and looked around my sky blue room. I looked at the clock while I steadied my breathing. The bright blue numbers on the alarm clock actually hurt my eyes. I got up and ran down the stairs. When I sat at the table with a pleasant smile my mother said,

“Do you know what day it is?” I thought about it and shook my head no. “Oh come on you of all people should know.” I thought about it again but this time I figured it out… it was my birthday. Instead I just looked at her confused and sighed.

“Just tell me.” I said trying to sound the least bit interested. She raised an eyebrow at me.

“Your no fun you know that don’t you?”

“Yeah, yeah I know. Now what is it?” she rolled her eyes and sighed.

“It’s your birthday silly.” You see my mom is the perky type of person with the perfect blond hair and blue eyes. I personally thank god that I didn’t inherit that annoyingly positive trait from her.

“Oh great I’m so excited.”

“It’s your fifteenth birthday and you know what that means right?”

“Um…. Not really.” Unfortunately I do know what that means. You see my family is well… a little different from most. We….well we have special powers. I guess you could say we’re witches or whatever. Up until a witches fifteenth birthday she can’t use her powers.

“Oh please Arabella don’t play stupid with me.” Oh yeah one more thing I forgot to mention. My mom can read minds, just another one off my families “gifts”.

“Oh yeah that. Honestly mom I don’t know what the big deal is.”

“What?!?!” She screeched, “Aren’t you the least bit excited about getting you powers?” then she stared at me as if waiting for a response. Then she said “You should go get dressed” talk about changing the subject.

“Okay fine I’m going” I stood up and went back up to my room to change. Oh yeah if you’re wondering, my dad works all the time. I hardly ever see him anymore. Oh well life is life you’ve got to get over it.



Chapter two

Okay well my school life isn’t much better than my home life. I know it’s hard to believe but it’s true my life just sucks anyway you look at it. At school the key is to stay out of sight out of mind, but sometimes that simple task can be quite difficult. You see the kids insist on torturing me with they’re constant criticism, I just tend to blow then off or say some smart Alec remark back. The worst of them all is Katrina Moody, and trust me MOODY is the only word you need to describe her. Of course she has the most gorgeous boyfriend in the whole school; Seth Carlson, he is oh my god hot. He has the perfect blond hair and deep sapphire eyes. The only problem is he has the same hair and eyes as his lil girlfriend. I thought about all of the tricks I had for surviving school as I walked onto the bus and sat next to my friend Kayla.

We rode the bus down the road to the next stop and waited for the kids to get on. I watched one by one the very same kids that I saw the other day, in the very same order, looking just as displeased to be here as always get on and sit down in they’re usual spots. As you can tell life around here stays pretty much the same.

“Oh yippee here comes your bff,” whispered my friend Kayla

“Shut up!” I hissed back at her she just giggled and as I looked toward the front of the bus when I shot a quick glance up and Katrina gave me daggers. Then I looked at Kayla and studied her features for a quick second. You see her and I are practically twins… accept for a few major details. We have the same black hair and dark blue eyes. The only difference is she is a happy-go-lucky type and I’m… well not so happy-go-lucky.

“Oh, wow.” Kayla’s eyes popped out of her head and for a second she looked like one of those really old cartoons.

“What is it Kayla?” she didn’t respond it didn’t even seem to register in her brain that I had said something. “I swear to god woman sometimes… just argh!” then she pointed to the front. “What!?” I looked at were she was pointing, wow is right. In the doorway is a totally gorgeous guy. He’s male model material. You know perfect skin, silky black hair and emerald eyes. I must look away… but I can’t. He looked around the bus and our eyes meet. He smiles and starts walking toward us and of course every girl on the bus is staring at him. It feels like we’re the only two people on the bus, like our gaze could never break. Like nothing could tear us away. Then I realize that Kayla bailed on me and is sitting with her boyfriend. Oh great now he gets to sit by me. Just breath, he maybe the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, (not very comforting I know) but he’s still a person… right? Then he sits next to me and says,

“Hey I’m Aiden.” He smiles and I blush his eyes sparkle and he leans a slightly closer. I can’t think straight; everything about him is just too much… too perfect. I finally get the ability to speak back and say,

“I-I’m Arabella but you can call me Bella if you want.” I try to force a smile but it comes out as more of a cringe. His smile never fades and he gets a little closer; I sort of lean back and he just stares into my eyes. Why is he so close? I mean seriously my personal bubble was popped about three inches ago.

“I think Arabella is a beautiful name and” his smiles fade a little bit, “I’d rather call you that… if you don’t mind” there’s something wrong with this boy.

“Oh thank god finally someone who actually like my name. My own mother doesn’t like it very much.” Oh crap did I really just say that out loud. He smiled again but this time he showed he’s perfect teeth. I felt the bus stop and we got of and went into the torture chamber we so fondly call school.







Chapter three

I found out that Aiden and I are in the same homeroom this morning when he asked me where room 113 was.

“Oh great.” I said Mr. I don’t know the meaning of personal space just so happens to be in my homeroom. “Can I see your schedule?” I asked. He just nodded and handed it to me. Oh no. No no no no, this can’t be. He has every single same as I do. I try and keep my expression calm but that obviously doesn’t work. He smiles and asks

“What’s wrong babe?” I raise one eyebrow at him and he looks a little surprised. “What?” he shrugs. He looks completely clueless.

“Okay if I’m going to have to deal with you all year here are some rules.” I have to try not to look into those hypnotizing eyes of his. I honestly think he put me into some kind of trance before though. He looked very intrigued so I continued, “ Do not call me babe alright?” He smiled and said

“Alright anything else?” then he smirked a little. Just then I saw Katrina walk inside the school along with her little posse of perky preps. When they saw me talking to Aiden jealousy spread across each of they’re faces. Hmmm this boy could be useful. Oh god she looks mad. I have to think fast. I grabbed Aiden and pulled him down the white linoleum hallways, and into homeroom.

Finally… safe. Then I realized that our arms we still interlocked and he had the most stupid grin on his face. He looked at our arms and then winked at me. What is he doing? I thought. Then to add a little extra confusion to my day he held my arm tightly against his warm body. Then just my luck our eyes met. I could feel his heart and mine pounding rhythmically with one another. Then he slowly raised his hand to my face and brushed the hair out of my eyes. Does he like me? No…. I mean he can’t. I snapped out of my haze and gave him a questioning look. Then he looked deeply into my eyes and it looked like he was looking for something there but, what?

Then I heard the faint ring of the bell. I looked around and discovered that the world was frozen around us. Oh crap. Think fast. “Aiden close your eyes!” I said a little bit to urgently. He gave me a strange look and was about to look around the room. So I did what most normal people would do… well not normal…but freaks like me. I-I… kissed him. Wait what? Ok whatever I have to unfreeze time- god he’s a good kisser. Damn I lost my train of thought. Unfreeze…. Please?  Then the last few second of the bell’s ring went off and I pulled away. I looked at him and he had kind of a dazed look on his face. Oh well what did I do to him now?





Chapter four

“Hello?!” I waved my hand in front of his face. “Aiden?” He blinked and shook his head like a wet dog. Then his eyes focused on me and he smiled. “Are you ok?” I asked him.

         “Yeah I’m fine. Just kind of surprised I had the feeling you didn’t like me, but since you’ve shown me how you feel we uh, we could do it again if you like.” He winked and smiled deviously at me then leaned in. I pushed him away right as I saw the teacher coming over toward us. My homeroom teacher is Mrs. Brown. She has light brown hair with a little silver in it. She isn’t the thinnest of women but she in good shape for her age which is like fifty-seven I think. She looked at both of us and said

         “Move along… Wait you’re Aiden Hazard right?” I burst out laughing “Hazard” are you serious? Wow, perfect. Mrs. Brown and Aiden both looked at me but Mrs. Brown’s look was more of a scold. Aiden’s on the other hand was amusement. “Arabella would you mind taking Aiden to his classes, at least until he gets more familiar with the school.” I hesitated and tried to decide whether or not I wanted to have to deal with him more than necessary.

         “Sure, I guess I can do that.” I gave her an innocent smile. Then she smiled back and said,

         “Okay well have fun you too.” I walked out of the room and I was soon followed by the sound of his footsteps behind me. As I hurried down the hallway I would check behind me once and a while to see if he was still there. Of course each time I looked back he was still there. Then I turned into Mr. Ross’ English class after receiving a few nasty looks from Katrina’s posse. When I sat he sat right beside me. Then I realized that I sit alone in all of my class- or I used too. All through the class Aiden just had to annoy me and there was also the fact that I could feel the posse’s eyes on my back burning deep until the flames broke through.





Chapter five

As I walked out of the school at the end of the day I felt like I was being followed. I turned around quickly only to see nothing and no one. I shook my head, what was I thinking me being followed in what bizarre world would anyone do that? Then I heard it; it was very faint but it was still there. A deep voice in the background of my own thoughts, “Crap she almost caught me. I have to be more careful.” Who is this person, and why are the following me? I started to walk with a more brisk pace hoping that whoever was there would just leave. This felt just like my recurring nightmare; the feeling of urgency to get away, the fear and the uncertainty of whether this person was friend or enemy, one of the people strong or stupid enough to try and expose my family for what we really are. Then I heard the voice again only this time out loud,

“Jeez Arabella how can you walk so freakin fast?”…Aiden why hadn’t I figured that one out? He had followed me all day, sat by me at lunch and of course made Katrina hate me even more than before. I groaned.

“What do you want?” I asked being sure to make it clear that I’m annoyed at his very presence. He just gawked at me with a very fake hurt expression. I stopped at the door of my bus and waited for him to catch up. He stopped in front of me and just looked into my eyes just like before. We stood there until the bus driver told us to get on or find another way to get home. As I stepped on the bus I tried to find his thoughts with my mind, no such luck. When I found an empty seat I sat there and in a matter of seconds Aiden was there right next to me.

“Can I help you?” I asked. He looked at me and smiled and just like before he started to get closer to my face. No! This isn’t happening again. When he was one inch from my face there was a zap. Like when a bug gets killed in a bug zapper. He jumped back and just stared at me in awe.

“What was that? Wait, no how did you do that?” he demanded I could feel the air around us change; it became still and quiet. The same feeling as when I had stopped time. I made an attempt to look around and he grabbed my face and made me look at him. “Arabella! How did you do that?” I didn’t know what to say. Then suddenly I felt a presence appear on the bus. It wasn’t human though. The feeling felt close like it was touching me. Aiden quickly pulled his hands away right as I became aware of this presence. The feeling was gone. Aiden just sat there staring at me and then he said, “Arabella you’re a-“ he was caught off by a sudden flash of white light. My moms’ here…great. That was the first time I had the chance to look around and I saw no normal movement around me. I looked up at my mom and said,

“Did I do this?” I hope she won’t be too mad. She just nodded her head while looking past me at Aiden then she said,

“Why weren’t you affected by this?” Her voice was stern and even though it wasn’t directed at me I still felt fear. My mother was never like this unless something horrible had happened or was going to happen.

“Ah, I knew there was something different about you Arabella, but what I didn’t know was that you are a sorcerer…very interesting.” What?!? Had those words actually come out of his mouth?

“How do you know that?” I tried to hide the fact that I was shaking but talking didn’t help, you could hear it in my voice. I was going to say more but my voice broke and nothing came out of my mouth. He smiled a little and said,

“It’s fine Babe don’t worry I’m supposed to know about all this. Well I guess I should tell you what I am now huh?” I just nodded unable to speak and until now I hadn’t noticed the fact that my mom wasn’t there anymore. Crap, I have to focus on him…just him. Ok, what had happened to the sweet Aiden that was here about thirty seconds ago? Then I looked into his eyes; I saw a glint of red. Something was definitely wrong here. But what?



Chapter six

“What are you?” I demanded. He just cocked his head like a confused little puppy dog. Then he straightened his neck and smiled at me; sharp pointed teeth grew ware normal canine teeth just where. Then slowly he raised his eyebrows.

“Do you get it now?” Then he saw the fear inside me and immediately his eyes turned that brilliant emerald green and his teeth dulled. He looked down and shook his head. “I’m so sorry Arabella! This can’t be happening. I never wanted you to have to deal with this!” He took a step towards me and I stiffened. Sensing my tension he stepped away from me. I couldn’t handle seeing him like this. I rushed towards him and took him in my arms. I took in a deep breath of his cologne. He hugged me back and slid his hands down to my waist. Then he rested his chin on my head and just held me to him. We stood there for a while then he looked down at me. I looked up into his eyes wishing that he would kiss me. Slowly he leaned closer to my face and kissed me. Slowly he pulled away, wanting to make the kiss last longer I stood on my tiptoes. He just chuckled and kissed me one more time. Then the bus was suddenly full of life again. When I realized Aiden and I where still pressed against each other and pulled away quickly and sat down. He did the same.

“What exactly are you?” I asked then I looked at his face. He looked really upset and ashamed. He sighed and looked me straight in the eyes.

“I’m a Vampyre, but I’m a new breed of Vampyre though, the only one of my kind. I appear to be human but if my heartbeat accelerates…well you saw what happens to me.” He looked at me and I could tell he was waiting for a response.

“I’m sorry Aiden.We can still hangout right?” He smiled and shook his head at me. “What?” I asked. He started laughing “What?!”

“I tell you that I’m a blood sucking monster and all you’re concerned about is if we can still hangout? I can’t believe that you’d even consider being my friend now; but yes if you don’t mind me saying that your blood smells wonderful.” My eyes got really wide and I could feel heat in my cheeks. He just smiled and said “I love it when you blush. It brings your blood closer to the surface.” I just raised my eyebrows and winked. He looked surprised and said, “No matter what I say or do your not going to be afraid are you?” I shook my head,

“Nope. Never.” He just laughed and put his arm around my pulling me closer to him all the while I could hear Katrina whispering to her friends about us. I looked up at Aiden and he said, “Just ignore them babe they don’t matter.” So I did exactly that all the way home.



Chapter Seven

         

When we reached Aiden’s stop he took my hands and turned me so that I was facing him. I looked into his eyes once again struggling not to get lost in them. Then his smooth voice snapped me out of my dreamy haze.

         “Call me later, please.” He looked at me with pleading eyes and I remembered that earlier today he had written his cell number on my hand. I looked at my hand for a quick second too make sure his number was still there. Then he pulled me closer to him and kissed my forehead, got up and slowly walked down the bus isle to the door. Before he stepped off the bus he looked back at me once more.

         Then I noticed something in his eyes that I had never noticed before now; he seemed almost wild, dangerous, like a cornered hurt animal. I could never truly predict what he might do next. He also had the eyes of a compassionate, understanding, loving person. To be completely honest I loved him for both very different sides of his personality. Yes, that’s right. Me, who doesn’t even love the very person who brought me into this world, loves a complete stranger that I had only just met eight hours ago.

         As I sat there staring out the window at the passing cars, I wondered what my dear old mother was going to say when I got home, for the main fact that she had left me on the bus to deal with a fortunately friendly vampyre, which up until about ten minutes ago I didn’t even know existed. Well at least now I might actually have a valid reason to confront her.

         When I got home my mother rushed up to me and put her arms around me. I felt a smoldering anger slowly igniting into something big.

         “Arabella! Thank goodness your alright!” she said but I could tell that her concern was all a slowly cracking mask, and with that I was determined to shatter it. I could sense someone else in the room so I looked behind her and saw my father sitting at the table reading what looked to be a letter.

         “Yeah, no thanks to you! Why don’t you just go ahead and stop you r charade mom? If you really did care so much about me then why did you leave me? Oh yeah by the way Aiden wouldn’t hurt anyone anyway!” I’ve had enough of this. I’ve spent fifteen years dealing with it all. I’m done with this, with her. Her mask shattered at that moment, but she just put on a new one. This mask was full of pain as if I had hurt her feelings.

         “How dare you talk too me like that. I do care…” she spoke softly but I could tell it was strained. I just shook my head and looked back to see my dad staring at us his deep brown eyes wide. “Arabella! Listen to me! I don’t ever want you to talk too me like that ever again! I don’t understand where you get thoughs accusations. I think we should start going to see a family therapist.” She said looking past me at my dad.

          “Bull! The family isn’t the problem here you are!” I could feel hot tears welling up in my eyes. My mom just gave me a wide-eyed furious look. Then her body twisted and I could see her hand coming towards my face and I braced myself. My parents never hit me before; I guess there’s a first time for everything though. When her hand hit my face I heard my dads chair slide out and felt him run in front of me.

I turned the other way and ran upstairs to my room and grabbed my bag and put clothes, makeup, brush, ipod, cell phone charger and money in it. Then I put my cell phone in my pocket. I walked over to my window, opened it and took one more look back at my room.

“Goodbye.” I whispered then still feeling the sting from my mother’s hand I jumped out my window.

Chapter Eight



As I fell from my second story window, I felt weightless. Then I looked down at the fast approaching ground and snapped back into reality. When O my feet hit the ground I was expecting pain but there wasn’t any. Then I ran, I didn’t know where exactly I was going, but one thing I did know was that I had to get far away from this place. Aiden, that’s what I’ll do! I have to call him first though.

I gradually I slowed down, pulled out my cell phone and checked to see if his number was still on my hand, it is. I slowed to a walk and tried to steady my breathing. I slowly dialed his number and put my phone up to my ear deciding what exactly I’m supposed too say to him.

“Hello?” Said a familiar deep voice. At that moment I finally felt safe.

“Aiden, it’s Arabella.” I could here the fear in my voice and I hoped that maybe he couldn’t.

“Arabella? What’s wrong?” He asked urgently. I sighed.

“Do you think I can come over?” I heard nothing but silence so I figured that it was a no. “Oh, ok I’m sorry I asked.”

“No!” He shouted. “I was just surprised that’s all. Of course you can come over. Anytime”