Shifter

I saw him before he saw me. The boy was tall and brown skinned; easily six foot. His brown hair was only a few shade darker than his golden skin. Bright blue eyes sparkled like sappires against his dark face, and his teeth flashed like pearls when he smiled. He wore clothes that hinted at designer origins, and the guitar-case he carried was ensigned with the Deboit symbol, the best quality guitars in the world. He looked older than a normal nineteen year old; his eyes were too deep, too full of knowledge. If only she knew he and his brother who walked beside him weren't usual nineteen year olds.
My mind blanked when the boy turned in my direction. Our eyes locked and held. My heart stopped and my breath caught in my throat. All the faces and hubub of voices in the lunch room dissolved until we were alone. Just me and that boy. Gravity suddenly disappeared, but I didn't float into space. This boy held me in my place. Then he turned away, and everything flooded back. The laughter of my friends. The flaming hand of Jake in mine. My brother Isaac looking at me strangely. My name was Sophie Whittake, and I had just imprinted on someone I didn't even know the name of. I lived in Kitui and attended the McInnleys' School of the Arts, where I studied song and dance. I guess I was what was classified as 'pretty' or 'beautiful'. I had an oval shaped face, framed by thick, black curls that cascaded over my shoulders. My skin was pale, due to the sunless months of a Kitui winter. I had moss green eyes, the colour iridescent in bright sunlight. My frame was thin and slight, but it had curves that drew male eyes. But I knew that that golden boy had not been looking at me because I looked nice. He had been looking at me for a completely different reason.
"Who are they?" I asked Isaac, guesturing to the two tall newcomers.
Isaac knew everything worth knowing about everybody at McInnleys' School of the Arts. Even the new students by lunch on their first day. I thought it was a little sad that my brother had nothing better to do with his time, but it was also useful.
Isaac launched into his tale immediately. "Luke and Harry Montgomery. They're apparently triplets, and were seperated from their sister, because their mother died in child birth, and their father wouldn't take a daughter into his house because it would remind him of the mother. Luke is the taller one, and he sings, dances and plays guitar and piano. Harry sings and plays guitar. They came from a music academy in Torin."
"I wonder how they're coping with the cold, then."
Torin was in Feldusts' sunny south, unlike the location of McInnleys' School, the freezing Kitui, on the edge of the Woods of the Giants.
I considered what had just happened. I had known my father had been a shape-shifter before he died, but I had thought all the traits had skipped me. Obviously not. I had just imprinted on this Luke. That was the only explanation for what I was feeling right now. I wondered if other shape-shifter qualities would show up, my main concern phasing.
For the rest of the lunch break, I snuck glances at the two tall brothers. I didn't get caught, for most of the other students were doing the same thing. Luke and Harry seemed oblivious to the extra attention they were receiving, and their laughter echoed around the room more than once. I could tell when it was Luke laughing, because my heart thundered in my chest and my blood sang.
The bell rang and I hesitated, watching the two dark boys exit before standing.
"I'll see you later, Sophie," Jake said, anger in his eyes when he looked after them as well. "I'm in Building E."
"Bye, Jake," I replied, reaching up to kiss him quickly.
Isaac rolled his eyes and towed me away from him.
"We're going to be late," he sighed. "And we've got exams now too."
When Isaac and I arrived in our class, they were one of the first ones there. Though Isaac was six years younger than me, the school was so small all ages were put in the one class.
"So much for being late," I whispered as we sat down. Isaac made a face at me.
The room filled quickly, the last to enter two boys carrying expensive guitar cases that I recognised instantly.
The teacher looked up when they hesitated at the door.
"Ah," he said. "You must be Luke and Harry. Just take a seat for a minute while I organise the rest of the class."
"Sure," Luke agreed, and his voice saturated the air like sweet honey. I almost sighed. I didn't notice the only two seats left were beside me until Luke put his guitar case next to my chair. My breathing accelerated and my heartbeat raced. I wondered how he or Isaac couldn't hear it. A small smile touched Lukes' lips. Shock rose within me; I could feel it echoed on my face. He couldn't possibly hear my thoughts, could he?
Luke looked at me. In that one glance, I could tell I was right.
"Later," he breathed, just for me.
When I turned around, Isaac was looking at me strangely again, a question in his eyes. I shook my head.
"Luke, Harry," the teacher said, drawing all attention back to him. "Today we were going to do pur midyear voice exams, but you can have some extra time to prepare if you wish."
Luke didn't hesitate with his answer. "I'm fine with performing today, if I can sing something I've written myself."
"I'm prepared as well," Harry added.
"Excellent. If you don't mind, you can go first."
Luke and Harry rose at the same time and walked to the front of the room, not looking nervous at all.
Harry sung first, and he had a haunting voice that stuck in my mind. I didn't pay enough attention to figure out what his song was about, for I was waiting for Luke. I applauded with everyone else as I watched Luke tune his guitar. When he finally began to sing, my heart melted. An angel couldn't have a more perfect voice. It rang in the air like bells.
"My father sat me down when I was six years old. He said 'Son, when you grow up, you'll be a gentleman just like me.' But I want to sing, learn guitar, play a grand piano. Still I bent to his wishes, didn't want to face his disappointment again.
"Yesterday I met a little girl who told me to follow my dreams, that music ran wild in my veins. So I picked up that guitar that was always too big, and strummed a tune that made us both sing. So now I scream; children of the world, follow your dreams.
"My mother told me I had to marry a pretty girl. One with lots of money and all the latest fashions. I shook my head and wondered where my life had gone. I wanted to sing, learn guitar, play a grand piano. Where did all that go? It disappeared as I grew up.
"Yesterday I met a little girl who told me to follow my dreams, that music ran wild in my veins. So I picked up that guitar that was always too big, and strummed a tune that made us both sing. So now I scream; children of the world, follow your dreams.
"Don't get trapped in someone elses life like I did. Don't leave it to someone else to save you. I've made the mistakes, now I'm telling you, don't do the same!
"Yesterday I met a little girl who told me to follow my dreams, that music ran wild in my veins. So I picked up that guitar that was always too big, and strummed a tune that made up both sing. So now I scream; children of the world, follow your dreams.
"Follow your dreams, follow your dreams."
I had trouble concentrating on the remainder of the class. The teacher had to call my name twice before I realised it was my turn to sing. I tried to keep my eyes off Luke as I performed, but I glanced at his his expression once or twice. It was hard to read as many emotions clouded there. The main ones were surprise and contentment. I couldn't make heads or tails of it.
The bell seemed to ring too soon. Luke and Harry were out of their seats as soon as the first toll sounded. Luke didn't meet my eyes once.
I gathered my belongings quickly and hurried after them. I jumped out of my skin when Luke grabbed my elbow as I walked past him. Oh, how my skin burned when he touched me!
"Sorry," he apologised immediately. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"Its okay," I replied through the lump in my throat. "I scare easily."
"Walk with me."
I fell in step easily beside him, like I had been born to do exactly that. I could feel his heart-breakingly beautiful sapphire eyes on my face, but I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze. I didn't think I'd ever be able to look away.
Luke broke the silence. "Look, Sophie, I'm going to get straight to the point. But we need to be alone." He pulled me into a secluded courtyard and onto a wooden bench. He stared deeply into my eyes. "Sophie. I'm not normal. And I know you're not either."
My mind reeled. "How do you know?" I managed to gasp, not being able to lie to this man that I loved with all my heart.
"I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. You can't hide anything from me. You don't want to." Luke took one of my hands very tightly in both of his. "And I don't want to either, Sophie. That's why we're here."
I hadn't realised I was holding my breath until I expelled it in one long sigh. Luke smiled and pulled me close into his side. I laid my head on his shoulder, sighing again.
"I never really thought I'd get to do this," he said, leaning his head on mine.
"Why?" I asked, surprised.
"Well, you seemed pretty involved with that other shifter, and he didn't look like he was about to . . . Sophie?"
I had pulled away from Luke at this new information, and I was facing away from him.
"What exactly is a shifter?" I asked in a voice barely above a whisper, though I had a sinking feeling I already knew the answer.
"Its a shortened name for shape-shifter. Harry made it up."