Twilight- The Debate Continues

I have become a person who has long been unashamed to let people know what I think, or in this case, what I love. I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, Hunger Games, LOTR (both books and movies), X-Men, Batman, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Bones, Wicked, Sweeney Todd, literally, the list goes on and on.
But, I have another love, and this one is more controversial than the the others, especially when I'm with some of my friends...most of whom haven't read the books or seen the movies. Argh, more on that point later.

I have said this before, and I'll say it again, I am a huge, loving, and squeeling girl- fan of the Twilight Saga. I own evey book, in first edition, have read each a couple of times. And guess what? Breaking Dawn is my favorite out of the four! A close, close second is Eclipse.

Now I defend Twilight viciously for several reasons.

First and least important is because these books taught me to love reading again. I have said this before so I won't recount the whole thing again. After five years of assigned and depressing readings, and text books, I had lost my way as far as personal reading goes. And these books reminded me of why I once read at least five books a month.

Second, when I argue with people, most of these people have never taken the time to read any of the books, or watch the movies beyond the trailers. And they take it at face value. Maybe this is just something I do, but before I put myself out there to stand on one side or not, I want to know what I'm defending. I'm not going to heave myself over to one side and come out looking like a fool if I got something wrong. And it pisses me off when people do that! Come on, don't you want to win your argument? It's like when I had an argument with someone who found The Hunger Games too violent and was appalled at the story line. "Hello," I said, "The front flap cover distinctly tells you it's about children and war. What were you expecting?" To me, it looks like someone just bought the book based on what others had said, and didn't even take the time to see if they would actually like it! My goodness! Those books were 16$ for a hardcover! That's an expensive experiment.

Third and most important to me, is these feminists who think we young ones will read these books and grow up thinking this is what life has waiting for us. Our meal ticket out of work, rich vampires to pay for everything, we'll live forever, beautiful and perfect. First of all, give us some credit. We're smart enough to know it's only a fantasy. Seriously, you're a feminist and you don't even believe your own gender is smart enough to tell the difference between fantasy and actuality? Major LOL. You've got a lot of work ahead of you then.

Part two to my third point. Bella is a bad example for us girls. She gives up college to get married, and retains a dangerous-life-threatening pregnancy. Well, if you had READ the books, you would have seen that she had changed her mind and wanted to go to school before changing into a vampire. It was the pregnancy that threw those plans out the window. Don't you love it when people take things out of context? I certainly do. Said with much sarcasm. So, about the pregnancy, there are things in this world that need to be fought for. And this has nothing to do with pro-choice. This has everything to do with protecting something you love. And not being bullied by those around you to influence your choices. I see the baby as a metaphor to Bella's becoming a grown up and fighting for what she believes is right. She also finally sees that Edward isn't all perfect, and learns to work with him and not let him bully her. That's what I always liked about Bella...another thing taken out of context-she's completely infatuated and doesn't think for herself. Read the books and see the ways she defies him at every opportunity. She knows how to handle herself around him.

And guess what? I could still go on and on. But I'll let someone with an actual degree in writing talk about that instead. The Huffington Post has a three part article on "What Women Want" and its connection to Twilight. It's eloquent and only gets a little judegy with it comes to "Dragon Tattoo," which I agreed with every point there anyway. So, you can stop here, or continue reading. Each article is about as long-winded as my blog post is here. LOL
Part one
Part two
Part three

So, this may or may not be my last post on Twilight, probably not, I might have one more in me after I see the final movie. But this is definitely, maybe, LOL the last time I will get on the podium to defend it. Really, it's amazing how much guys get away with in their fantasies...argh here I go again. Just read the articles, and you'll see. LOL

I just gotta say it...

SEE?! I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!

The following is a rant.

There, I got it alllll out. Seriously. How long has Supernatural been on air again? I think we're in its 7th- holy crap really?- Season.

Just recently Supernatural has been made available on Instant Play on Netflix. ALL....6....SEASONS. Yep. And all of a sudden I have friends just popping out everywhere saying, "Wow, this show is awesome." "It's well written, well acted, and the effects aren't bad either."

head desk, head desk...

Ya' think?

Ever since this show was on the chopping block, way back in 2005 in its 1st season, I have been trying to get people to watch this show.
For all the reasons stated above. And now the show is in its twilight years, the writing isn't at its peak, still decent, and people are just now getting it?

Sigh....
At least I got some people to watch it.
Actually more than some. I have had 3 people independently tell me that Kripke himself should write me a check after how many people I got to watch his show.

Just make it out to cash Kripke, and you're welcome!

The Society continued

You know how people say that even they change one person's view on things, or how they say they can impact one person's life they'll be happy with their work on their cause?

Well as far as I know, one person has really liked my story, so that means I'll continue posting chapters so that they can continue reading my story. And for anyone who is anonymously enjoying it, this is for you too.

Ok, where we left off from last time.
Alexis, or Alex as she prefers, Williams is a senior in high school and ready to be done with it. She thinks the next year will be just the same as they have been before until she meets two newcomers....

And now, the continuation of The Society: Renaissance.

Thats right, I'm all official and stuff. That's just how I roll. LOL

And one more note, I posted 2 chapters today. ;-) Cause 2 is really short. LOL

***

Chapter 2

Friends

Lunch rolled around and this was the time that I wanted to take to get to know Janelle.

“Ready for lunch?” I asked. “I brought a tuna fish sandwich, and a juice. What did you bring?”

“What? Oh, nothing. I'm on a...special diet.” That’s funny. I could never concentrate on the rest of my classes without food. Then again, she seemed more than human to me. As we sat down to lunch, her brother came over. He didn’t have any food either. Strange. Especially since he’s a guy!

“Hey, Janelle! Who are you talking to?” his voice was the richest thing to listen to. Almost like dark chocolate melting on your tongue: deep and satisfying.

“Oh, this is my new friend, Alex.” Her emphasis on “friend” made me uneasy. Who were these people? From the Mafia or something? What my thoughts should have been was, “What were these people?”

“So, Joseph,” Janelle exclaimed, “Alex turns out to be a very smart and intuitive person. I think that we shall have a great time getting to know each other, and maybe become good friends.”

“Well that is a good thing to hear!” he seemed genuinely happy for her, which gave me a tingly “Stepford” feeling to all of this.

“I’m sorry Janelle, but who is this?” I asked.

“Oh, right! I’m so sorry, please forgive me. This is my older brother Joseph.”

“Older? But aren’t you guys both seniors?”

“Oh yes, older by two minutes. He’s my older twin brother.” As she said this, she looked up at him and smiled, and he smiled back at her. Ah yes, they were twins all right. They even had the weird “psychic” thing going on between them.

“Cool. I have never known twins. It’s a good thing that you guys are boy and girl, otherwise I would have trouble telling you two apart.” I exclaimed. Then asked, “So, you guys are new. Where are you from?”

“We’re from California, a few hours away. Family decided that there would be better…work opportunities here. So we moved.”

“Wow, it must be hard relocating like this. Having to start all over in making new friends and all that.”

“Well, I don’t know about me. But I definitely know that Joseph will have no problem making new friends.” As Janelle said that, she waggled her eyebrows and smirked at me.

Then we all laughed at this, and at that moment I decided that all of my conceived thoughts about them previously were completely insane and decided to drop it from there. This is an excellent time to remind you that you should always, always follow your first instinct.

***

Chapter 3

Offer

The weeks slowly passed by, and then those slowly turned into months, and nothing completely weird or strange ever happened with the Tanners. In fact, they were model students. Maybe too perfect. They attended school regularly, sat and watched the teachers like they should. Never took any notes, flew by every test, charmed every teacher.

But they never showed up when the sun shone all day. I would wake up in the morning, see the sun stream through my window and know that they wouldn't show up for school. And sure enough, their desks would sit empty next to mine, and I would eat alone and people watch during lunch.

I suppose that I did notice these much too perfect attributes, but never really put any real thought into these things. I guess I just came to the conclusion, that since their grades were so good, that they decided that they didn't need to waste a day indoors.

The days continued to pass by and I grew evermore oblivious to my new friend's charms and abilities.

December came and a few weeks after that, Christmas Break, with the end of school for the year. I felt a swelling of relief at the end of day and couldn't wait to do some shopping for Christmas.

I told mom and dad earlier that day that I was going to stay late after school to do some Christmas shopping. I was really looking forward to spending the day with myself in the mall. I guess as I happily cruised down the interstate, that I should have noticed that yellow Mustang trailing a few cars behind me. But I was only human, with human senses, and a human attention span.

I didn't even notice that there was trouble until it was actually happening before my eyes. I had spent more time in the mall than I had planned, and it was getting dark. Thanks to the Christmas crowd, I was forced to park in the upper level of the parking garage. I didn't like this at all as I made my way towards the top level. Entering the elevator felt like I was entering a tomb; the closed in space around me, the flickering fluorescent light above me.

Something just felt...wrong.

The elevator halted and the doors opened. It was dark, and my car was one of the few left. I saw it, all the way across the parking lot. Taking a shuddering breath, I made my way out of the elevator. Now wishing for those flickering lights to remain with me. I quickened my pace, but I should have known that once you're a target, sudden movements only attract more attention to the prey.

The figure swung out from behind an SUV parked three spots from mine. All black, and blocking my path. I froze.

I didn't know what to do, my arms were full of packages and there was no one around to scream to.

“This is how it's going to happen,” the man said quietly. “You're not going to utter one peep as I take everything you have on you. And if you do,” he reached behind himself, and I heard the click of a gun. “I'll force your silence.”

I swallowed, but it got caught in my throat. There was no way I was going to let him bully me. I know, stupid. But I was sick of it. I was sick of people just thinking that they could tell me something, and I would do it unquestionably.

I glared at him, which I’m sure he didn't see, since it was too dark.

“No,” I said equally quietly, “This is how it's going to happen.” I could see him pause. “You're going to turn around and let me pass.” instead of fear, inexplicably, I could feel anger bubbling up through me. “And if you don't. You will suffer the consequences.”

I could feel him thinking about my words, trying to decipher my tone, to see if I was bluffing. Which I was. But there was no way for him to know that completely. I took two steps towards him.

“Show me.” he said.

Then I knew it. I had sealed my fate. This was no one to be tangling with, and I had just kicked the bee's nest.

Not knowing what else to do, I continued to move towards him, fear was now mixing with anger, and my heart pounded within my head. I had no other ideas. If I turned and run, he would know I had nothing and shoot me. If I kept walking towards him, he could grab me and shoot me. All I could do was pray that he would fear my words. But with every passing step, I knew that that wasn't the case.

It was the end of me when I heard him chuckle.

“I knew it.” he sneered.

His hand struck out of the darkness, and his arm locked onto my neck.

“You don't have anything. I can just shoot you now and,” the cold barrel pressed to my temple, his breath was rancid on my cheek. “And there is nothing you can do about it.” the gun cocked in his hand.

“That might be true...” said a voice behind us. The man whirled us around, and I gasped for breath.

No one was there. But I could have sworn that I recognized that chocolate timbre.

Then from behind again, only closer: “But that doesn't mean we can't do something.”

The robber whirled around, and there stood Joseph and Janelle, glowing in the dark, both smiling, Joseph’s eyes shown black, and Janelle's, red.

Faster than anything I could ever see, Joseph struck. I heard the bullets leave the gun, but nothing seemed to faze Joseph as he attacked the armed robber. In a few seconds, the he was gone and Janelle held me tight. But for some reason, I did not feel safe in her arms. I struggled to free myself from them. It was as if a deep suspicion about the Tanners seemed to come to the surface of my mind.

I turned to see Joseph, holding the man by his throat, toss him over the edge of the garage. I turned to run for my car. But like the fear that surfaced about the Tanners, so did the knowledge that I would never make it in time. But I didn't hear footsteps behind me. And for some reason, when I reached the door of my car, I stopped and turned to look back.

Conflicting emotions shot through my system, fear, gratitude, terror, curiosity, and the strangest of all a longing. The longing pulled at me the hardest. Calling me, calling me...calling me...home? A tug at my heart, a knowledge now seeming to think that everything I’ve been doing up to this point...is not what I’m supposed to be doing. That, the answer to what I should be doing lay with the mysterious Tanners.

I thought about what these feelings meant as I put my things into the back of my car. The instinct to find out more about them, calling to me ever more. With a sigh, I rose up and slammed the door shut. They stood there, in the middle of the roadway. Looking ever patient. With another sigh, I walked over to them.

“Alex, we didn’t come here to this city just by chance.” Janelle whispered.

“Oh?” I asked. Folding my arms across my chest. My skeptical side rising to the surface. All right, I thought to myself, what kind of expensive cult are they going to ask me to join, and how much will it cost to experience Level 5? I snorted at that thought. Don't make jokes now.

“No, we could sense you from hundreds of miles away. Our family did. And Alex, we want you to join our family.”

I still wasn't buying any of this.

“You’re springing this offer on me now?! If I was so special, why wait till I have a near death experience?! And what family… Are you from the Mafia or something? Oh great!” I said throwing my hands in the air, my voice rising. “And now you're going to kill me. Just great.” Anger was starting boil through me again.

“Not technically…” I heard Joseph mutter under his breath.

“What?!” I squealed.

Janelle elbowed Joseph in the ribs. “Don’t!” she whispered fiercely.

“Alex, Alex, no we’re not from the Mafia…” Janelle explained soothingly, looking back at me.

“Then what?! And what do you mean by ‘sense?’” I squinted at them, and they looked at each other, exasperated expressions covering their faces. It seemed like they had done this too many times.

“We are from a secret sect called The Society. We’re a sect of…. vampires.”

“Vampires?” my voice started smaller and rose more and more. “Vampires, vampires, VAMPIRES?” I could feel my eyes bugging, and my brain not able to decide whether to burst out laughing, or run screaming from these delusional people.

“And by sense I mean that,” Janelle continued, unfazed by my outburst. “...Well I have the gift of knowing people from the inside, like mentally. And Joseph here, well he can sense people physically.” She gave him a sideways smirk at that comment.

“And why do you want me?” I asked, just deciding to go along with it.

“Well, our job consists of finding others like you. Due to our gifts we can be able to pull out individuals who would be the best for our cause.”

“And what is your ‘cause’?” I asked mockingly, giving them the air quotes.

Janelle took a deep breath before she explained her motive. And then that’s when I knew that I had to sit down before I heard this. So, I did, right onto the trunk of my car, it shifted heavily under my weight.

“We are a league of vampires trying to rid the world of the shape shifters, the ferals, and Hunters. The shape shifters of this world are the reason why there is so much chaos and war about us. They cause it by their ability to look like anything and anyone. Their goal is to turn the entire human race against each other to rule the world some day. They have been doing it for hundreds of years now. Which is when our leader: David set up this sect. Not even the highest government agency knows about us.”

“And Hunters, and what…ferals?” curiosity was now taking over. It sounded like a movie, a movie, which I could be a part of?

“The Hunters are the humans who know about us and our weaknesses. They think that all we want to do is feast on the necks of innocent humans, when most of us happily snack on something more… animal like. The ferals are other vampires who have gone rogue and attack humans and kill them. Being that they are insane makes them a threat to our secrecy and means that they must be eliminated. But the shifters are our main concern. And their leader Charles is the most dangerous and is at least as old as David. Making them long-long time enemies.”

            “Wow, that is some crap that you guys are pedaling,” I said. “I need a little more proof than that.” Boy, I wish that I hadn’t said that. As soon as I did Janelle and Joseph looked at each other gave a big huff and smiled. At first, I didn’t get it, but as I looked closer two small pairs of fangs dropped from their top gums and they proceeded to hiss and snarl at me, with Janelle's eyes giving off a faint tinge red in the reflecting light, and Joseph's turning to black pits. Just like what I saw in class that first day of school.

I didn't know how to react to such a display. So I asked weakly, “But why me?”

“Because,” Janelle answered calmly, “you have huge potential for amazing gifts in the vampire life. And this gig is not without its perks: money, power, super powers. I mean look at my brother; he got hit, how many times was it? Five? Six? And not a mark on him.”

“It was actually eight…” and then they both broke out into musical laughter. It ended abruptly though and then Janelle became very serious.

“But as with anything that sounds this good…” she said.

“…There is always a price to pay.” I finished for her. I may have been new to this vampire gig thing, but I knew nothing like this could come for free. I’d seen enough T.V shows and movies to know that. I sighed deeply and continued:

“What is it?” I braced for the answer.

“Your family must think that you are dead, and you are never to see them again, not to their notice any way. Technically spying on them isn’t allowed, but I still check in on my family every once and awhile.”

“Where are they now?” I asked with a quivering voice. Just the thought of losing my family forever seemed extremely painful.

“Well our oldest brother just celebrated with his wife their first great granddaughter. So we’re actually pretty young for vampire terms.”

“Wow….” I had no other words for that.

“I know… but it’s not like you live alone for all eternity. Many vampires find their own mates. And with vampires you never worry about losing each other. We pair for life.”

“There’s just a bit more you should know about vampirism…” Oh boy, I thought, what now?

“The physical change into becoming a vampire is extremely difficult and painful. That is why we hunt down the ferals. They are the humans who lost their sanity from the transformation and turned rogue. Brand new vampires, or fledglings are extremely difficult to handle and some break lose before we can execute them. Silver, fire, and other vampires are our worst weaknesses too. And like I mentioned before about the Hunters, though we may be almost impossible to destroy, one silver bullet or arrow to the heart will kill us. Those are the mains things that a Hunter goes for in us: silver bullet to the heart, and lights us ablaze.” At that moment, I saw the red flare up again from behind her piercing eyes and it scared me.

“But what about your bodies should you get hit elsewhere? Don’t they need healing?” This question brought out a delightful laugh from Janelle and Joseph chuckled along.

“No silly. Our bodies are dead. The silver in our system is what incapacitates us; it hurts like hell, but if it doesn’t hit the heart it won’t kill us. That is also, why the transformation is so painful. The vampire blood in your system is altering everything about you and killing your body.”

“How long is the process?” I croaked, not really wanting to know the answer.

“It took me three days, and Joseph only two. Bah, he is so lucky. One more minute and I could’ve ended up feral!” They both laughed at that, but I saw the underlying meaning in that. She wasn’t kidding and she seemed to be very lucky about her situation.

I took a deep breath and exhaled forcibly. “How long until my decision is needed?”

“Uhhh,” Janelle contemplated her answer. “I think one month should suffice. The Society knows that this is a huge decision and that you need proper time to come to grips with all this information that we have thrown out to you.”

When Janelle said that, they began to turn and leave, but I still had one more question that I wanted answered.

“Wait Janelle!” She and Joseph turned towards me in perfect unison.

“Yes Alex?” She seemed to guess my question. And answered before I could get it out. “Yes, it was, I decided in a heartbeat. But you have to know something Alex. Our family situation was much different from yours. We weren’t all as close as you and your family is. Just keep that in mind.” Then they were gone. In a blink of an eye, they disappeared into the dark leaving me alone with my thoughts.

“Still,” I mumbled, “was it really worth it?”

The Society: Renaissance

OK, I believe I owe you readers something. I have been going on and on about "The Society," and you've never even read one word from it.

I have trouble telling people about it. It was just a project that I really started for myself one summer, way back in 2008. Can you believe it? And nothing would have ever become of it if one of my closest friends hadn't asked for more. So really, the only reason these trio of "books" exist if because of her.

So I guess I'll let you guys read the first chapter out of the first book. And another thing, this book is another reason why I know how to spell Renaissance backwards and forwards. LOL

Now, please don't expect a masterpiece or the next "Hunger Games." (As cool as that would be) This, again, was just for fun. Enjoy! Let me know if you want to read more.

The Society

Renaissance

Book 1

By Lydia Atsma

***

Preface

What had I gotten myself into? That seemed to be the question that ran through my head almost daily, ever since I decided to join The Society and become a vampire. A creature of the night. Never to feel the sun again, or to see my family again.

But they're dead anyways.

And now, I risk my “life” every day, and for what? To defeat an enemy that no one else knows even exists? The answer seemed to be a resounding yes.

***

Chapter 1

The Mundane

I woke up that morning feeling tired. I look back and noticed that in the days before that first day of school, sleep seemed to evade me. It was like I could feel the big changes in my life coming. Some might say that it was because I was going to be a senior in high school, and that I was feeling the impending future of college, but no. A big change in the winds was headed for me. And I could feel it.

I groaned as I sat up in bed and looked around me. The blankets were everywhere, and what was left on the bed kept me trapped in a tight cocoon. I almost fell off twice trying to untangle myself.

This is going to be a long year.

Especially if I’m going to be having dreams and sleep issues like these.

As usual I don't remember anything from the dream. Just that it was bringing something. And right then, it felt like all it was bringing was sleeplessness.

After a futile attempt to tame my wild brown hair, I huffed and snatched my already bulging backpack off my chair.

Ah yes. I thought to myself. Another year of the mundane. The boring. Stupid kids, and pom poms. I couldn't wait to escape the folds of high school and join college. There I would be able to pursue my own life.

The exact nature of what I wanted to be when I grew up always eluded me. I couldn't seem pinpoint just what I wanted to do. It seemed too many things were out there to choose from. But if there was one thing I knew that I loved, it was writing and books.

Nothing made me happier than sitting down and entering a world not my own. Or creating a world all my own. I was always at complete peace in those moments, with nothing about reading or writing that I didn't like. But I knew that a career of that sorts was tricky, and unreliable. So it was most likely that I wasn't going to major in anything of that nature.

But for now, I would have to survive high school. Just one more year. Just one more year. Just one more year. That was my motto. I don't know how many times I told myself that in the days leading up to my senior year.

The blow dryer coming from the bathroom yanked me out of my thoughts.

“Susan!” I bellowed, “Come on! We have to get to school!”

“Yeah, just a sec!” I laughed quietly to myself as I made my way downstairs. My sister. I shouldn't begrudge her wanting to look good. She can do it. I on the other hand can't. It seems the more work I would put into myself, the more futile my efforts were. I didn't think there was any way I could improve on myself, so, why bother?

My family and I lived in a nice house in suburban San Diego. Living in a humid area on the water always made the mornings more cloudy. But most of the time it cleared up later in the day. However, right now it was perfect for me. A cooler, darker, day; which I kind of wish would stay that way, the night always seemed to bring out the best in me. But that doesn't happen when you live in a desert state.

I guess that also just meant that my younger sister Susan and I would get along better. Since we're not fighting over bathroom space, we get along really well. Just like sisters should.

My dad was in the kitchen finishing up breakfast. He worked at a bank and was getting ready for work.

“Hold on a second young missy.” he said as I tried to sneak out the door. He grabbed my backpack and pulled me into a hug. “This is going to be your last year of high school, ever!” he said into my ear.

“Try to enjoy it.” I could hear the pleading in his voice. My parents always worried a little too much about my loner status at school. But never really did anything about it because my grades were always too good.

“Dad...” I started, but gave in instead. “I will try to enjoy it.”

“That's my girl.” he gave me another gentle squeeze and left for work.

“Bye mom!” I called upstairs. Mom was an artist, and she was most likely in her studio creating something for her new opening. Art was another thing that I loved to do, creating dragons and monsters in the margins of my history notes was one of my favorite pastimes.

“Bye honey! Love you, have good day.”

“Susan, last call, otherwise it's the bus for you!”

I smiled as I heard her scamper down the staircase.

As we drove to school Susan chatted happily about her upcoming year.

“I'm just sooo happy that I’m not a Freshman anymore. I'm a Sophomore.”

I laughed, “Sorry Susan, but you're not really anything until you're a Senior. You're not even an upperclassman. I know that sounds harsh, but that's the high school life.”

“Psh, whatever.” she said with a wave of her hand.

I just rolled my eyes.

As we pulled into the parking lot of our high school, my sister squealed and pointed to a bright yellow Mustang.

“Ooh, there must be a new guy in school!” she clapped her hands and immediately began to fix her already perfect hair.

“Oh come on Susan,” I said, “you don't know it's a guy. It might be a girl, because yellow is a girl's color.”

“Oh whatever Alex,” she retorted, “since when do you know anything about fashion?”

All I could do was sigh and shake my head again as we pulled into a parking spot. It was with a sense of doom that I walked towards the school doors. I felt like an animal, walking towards entrapment, but at the same time, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And so I began the first day of my last year of high school.

Or so I thought.

As I walked through the hallways everything was exactly the same, but different at the same time. Instead of cheering for the previous class, my year was all over the halls. The Juniors of course had their signs as well, “You're almost there!” they cheered. Of course the Sophomores were just stuck in the middle. Not much to be said about them. And the Freshmen had huge, bright “Welcomes!” and
“Good lucks!”

Like I said. Exactly the same.

I also noticed the cliques in their spots as well: the geeks pissed every one off because their laptops hogged all the outlets, and cheerleaders doubly pissed everyone off because they shook their pom -poms in our faces for the introduction assembly. The Goths and emos just stood in the corner of the halls staring at everyone and the jocks…well the jocks were the jocks. I sighed again, nothing about this ever changed; and then I smiled to myself knowing that this was the last year I ever had to do this again.

As I made my way to my locker, trying to be invisible, I instantly got the feeling that- that was the exact opposite of what was happening and immediately felts eyes boring into the back of my head.

“Geesh, Alex,” I mumbled to myself, “stop feeling like a frosh all over again.”

Still I couldn’t help but glance around to see if I was correct in my feelings or only being paranoid. And then, there they were: perfect, beautiful, and poised. I right away figured that these people were the ones who drove the Mustang. They had to be; it would feel wrong for them not to be. One was a girl and the other a boy. No, more than a boy and a girl. But otherwise it was too hard to describe it. For they looked no older than I did, and yet their faces seemed to display a wisdom that was beyond the average teenager. She was shorter than he was, with piercing blue eyes and beautiful blonde hair that just reached her shoulders and then swept outward in a cute curl. Sigh, another pretty, petite, dainty girl, I thought. He was taller and looked fairly muscular, not in the over steroid way, but nice and toned. He also had the beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair. They were also impeccably dressed. Now I know that I’m no fashion mongrel, but everything looked designer; another clue to the possible fact that they drove the Mustang. Must be brother and sister, I thought. And all they did was just stare at me. No, it was more than staring. It was peering into me, looking into the depths of who I was. You’d think this detail would creep me out and it did, a little; but not as much as the fact that it felt like they were actually getting what they wanted. That they could see everything about me; that they were measuring me up. Then the thought or question entered my mind: did they like what they saw? As I was looking back into their faces, no trace of an answer was revealed.

Then it was over in a flash, they stopped staring and then leaned into each other and began whispering or, conferring seems to be a better choice of words. Once they had finished that, in another blink of an eye, they turned their backs and marched away into the crowd as if nothing had happened. Which nothing really did happen, it just did not feel that way to me.

The bell yanked me out of my thoughts so suddenly, that I jumped and crashed into the “star” quarterback of our school.

“Watch it dork!” he spat and stopped in front of me.

“So what sort of weirdo things do you have scribbled all over you notebook this time?” he sneered.

“Nothing that you'll be able to understand moron.” I retorted, as I grabbed my math book out of my locker.

“C'mon,” he said reaching for my papers. “Let me see your crap.”

“I said no!” I shouted and I jerked back just as he reached causing all my things to smear across the floor. I looked down and saw everything everywhere. And then he started to laugh.

I don't know what came over me. I looked up and saw his sniveling face as he and his friends pointed and laughed, then reached back and slammed my fist into his nose. For once, praising the stars that I am a bigger girl and was able to put some force into my punch.

“Ah!” He shouted. “You freak!” But then he turned and marched out of the hall, clutching his face in his hands. As I gathered my things alone, I couldn't help but smile. When I stood, I saw the blonde boy staring at me from the other end of the hallway. He too, had a small smile on his face. Before I could do anything else though, he turned and left.

As I entered my Trig class, wondering how Cosine and Tangent would rake its horror on my intellect today; I halted right in the doorway as I noticed who sat in one of the seats. The blonde girl who had, I don’t know, what exactly had she done? She noticed me and then smiled -one dazzling, bright smile with perfectly positioned white teeth- and gestured to the desk next to her. I smiled back, maybe she would be different then all the other girls who looked like her. But as I walked into the room another detail about her made me stumble, as the room light reflected off her eyes, there seemed to be a red glint that flashed from behind them. But I was still moving and then it was gone in an instant. I passed it off as having too much coffee this morning catering to my over active imagination.

“Hi, what’s your name?” she asked me in a voice that would have made was so smooth and pure, I wondered if she was really talking. I tried to put my finger on the sound, like tiny bells way off in the distance. This voice made me want to trust her completely, although something about her question seemed odd to me, as if she already knew the answer, which kept me from trusting her entirely.

“It’s…umm, Alexis Williams, but just call me Alex.” After hearing her voice, mine sounded like nails on a chalkboard compared to hers and I tried to clear it up; yeah, like that would make a difference.

“It’s very nice to meet you Alex; I’m Janelle Tanner. As you can probably tell, I am new here and would like someone to show me around. Do you think that you could do that? Alex, hello?” She had only been talking a few seconds, but by then I was almost completely mesmerized that I didn’t even answer her question.

“Oh, um…yeah, sure! I would love to show you around.” Geez, pay attention.

The final bell rang signaling the beginning of class. Although I could still hear frantic running in the halls as students tried to miss out on being tardy. I shook my head; things here never change; which just fueled my longing to move on.

Trig class went by in a breeze. As our teacher assigned our homework, Janelle leaned over to me and whispered, “I’m not sure where my next class is, could you show me?” Again, my first instinct was to trust her completely, but then a second thought made me think that she wasn’t being honest with me. But I just decided to go along with her.

As she handed me her schedule and I blanched a little, wow, she had all my classes. Something about this made me stop and think for a moment, she has all the same classes I do, and before that, she and her, I assume brother, were giving me a good once over this morning. What did it mean? Then I shook the thought away. Stop being so weird I thought; it is just a coincidence. She is being really nice, and it is about time that I had a friend.

“Wow, you have all the same classes I do!” I exclaimed,

“Oh, really? Let me see!” something about her “surprised reaction” did not seem authentic, again!

“Wow, you’re right, they are. Well won’t this be neat? And here I was worried that I wouldn’t find anyone be my friend.” She exclaimed.

I snorted in faux amusement.

Hah, yeah right, I thought. Looking like you do, someone would have to be blind and maybe even deaf to not want to be your friend.

Her face shot up to look at me for the briefest second, almost as if she heard me. The movement was so brief and concise that I thought that I had imagined it.

“I would love it! I don’t really have a friend, so I think we’ll get along well.” I continued trying to forget my suspicions.

“Oh…”she said, with a knowing nod, “…I know that we’ll get along well.” Something about her statement sounded ominous. If only I knew.