A M A R I S

I slowly observed the sea of gawking faces as I was introduced to my new class. Sigh, I get that a lot. Being born with violet eyes gives me the appearance of a fairy you would see in a dream. My aunt called them bewitching but I prefer fairy. I sat at the desk my teacher appointed me only to feel a set of eyes on my back the whole time class was in session. Goosebumps covered my arms as I could still feel the boys eyes on me after I left English to go to Math. What a wonderful start to my day. First I get rained on and now a pervert is in my class following me. Fueled by my anger, I quickly turn around and catch the boy by surprise. I smile sweetly at him as I said " Hi, my name is Amaris, could you by chance stop following me around. You can be my friend but you cannot be my stalker. Okay?" the boy nods his head adamantly. Poor lamb. He wasn't bad looking. A little on the awkward side but if he wore contacts, I'm sure plenty of girls would be the ones following him. Since my hand was still extended, I asked what his name was.
"Baethan"
"That's an interesting name. Baethan." I liked the way it sounded as I tried pronouncing his name.
After introductions, I had no more problems the rest of the day. Did he still follow me like a lost puppy dog? Yes. But after a while, I didn't mind. Friends could prove to be useful one day. How was I supposed to know since I've never had any...

Lunch time. I sit down at a random spot to eat my unappetizing meal. I tried engaging in a conversation with a few kids from my history and math class but no one wanted to talk. Sigh. They will regret it soon enough once they find out how awesome I am. I couldn't help but smirk when I thought of that. So much for a confidence booster. I look up and find the boy that was following me, Baethan, come and sit right in front of me. Shrugging my shoulders I continue to eat.

"What is that?" He asked as I sprinkled white powder on my food. "Flavoring, want to try?"
"Sure" the boy said as I sprinkled some in his food. Dipping his fork into what looked to be spaghetti, he shoved some in his mouth but then quickly choked it back up while gagging. "Ack! What is that stuff?"
"I started laughing. "It's calcium supplements. Since I have weak bones, I have to take some every day. I don't like pills so I ground them into fine powder so I could hide it in my food."
"Besides, even this stuff" I motioned towards the powder "couldn't make this food taste any worse than it is." I joked
"Hey you're funny." The Baethan said as he pushed his food tray away from him. Leaning forward on the table, he asked, "I have a question..."
All teasing stopped. I start to take a sip of my water.
"Do you by chance go to the Maple Grove Library? I think I've seen you there before."

I choke on my drink. "You've been stalking me even before I enrolled here?!"
"No..it just..I uhh....were you there last night at 1:00 a.m.?"
"No, who goes to the library at that time? I doubt it would even be open."
"That's what I thought," Said Baethan.
"You see, I had this dream last night...."
"Whoa whoa whoa. If you say that I was in your dreams last night, I will guarantee you that this drink in my hand will be poured on your head." I threatened
The boy clamped his lips shut and avoided eye contact with me. Sigh, this is why I don't have too many friends. Trying to reconcile with him, I lightened my tone. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was a monster.
"Hey, I'm sorry. It's been hard lately, having to move, transferring to a different school, no one nice to talk to, etc."
"Not too many people are nice to me either. And I've lived here all my life." Baethan said as he slowly made eye contact with me again.
"You know, if you ever want friends, you have to stop sounding like a creepy stalker." The boy threw his head back and laughed.
"I can't help it, you're worth stalking." The boy joked.

"How about this, let's make a truce. I don't have too many friends and I'm guessing you don't either. How about it?" I suggested as I held my hand out.
The boy looked at me in awe. Slowly, as if he was unsure if I was joking or not, he placed his hand in mind and we shook on it. Realizing what we had just done, a big smile spread across his face. "I can't believe it. Someone as beautiful as you want to be friends with me."
Sigh, my life is going to get pretty interesting now. But still, I just made a friend. He is my first friend. It feels.......nice. I'll have to make sure I reward him.

As I was walking home from school, I could feel a presence behind me. Expecting to see Baethan, I turn around with an annoyed look. But to my surprise, I didn't see him or anyone for that matter. Searching my surroundings, I start to get a creepy feeling....

Rubbing my arms to take the chill away from my body, I could feel someone's warm breath on my neck.
"Amaris, are you okay?"
"Yikes!" I screamed as I turned around again to see Baethan inches from me.
"You have got to stop doing that! We are friends now. If you want to walk with me, you walk beside me not behind me."
"Sorry, I'm not use to having friends either. Well...uhh...ones that are girls."
Taking a deep breath so I wouldn't explode at him, I count to 5. It didn't work, but it was worth trying.
"I have to go to the library and check out some books for a project. So, i'll have to catch you later."
"Can I join you?"
Hesitating for a few minutes, I look into his green eyes and slowly nod my head in agreement. So innocent, it makes you want to blemish his purity.

We spent the rest of the day in the library. Baethan got more comfortable around me the more we talked. I actually enjoyed getting to know the boy in front of me. Every time I tried to get close to someone, they run away. I've always wondered why... When I went home late that night, I felt exhausted yet strangely happy. Setting my alarm clock, I undress and put some shorts and an oversized t shirt on. The moment my head hit the pillow, I instantly fell asleep dreaming about how weird today was.

My body jolted to a sitting position as my eyes searched my surrounding nervously. I could hear the pounding of my heart as adrenaline courses through my body. Confused and disoriented, I rub my clammy hands on my clothes as I tried to calm myself. I look at the glaring light of my clock and it says 4:00 a.m. It must have been another one of my bad dreams. I slowly walk towards the bathroom and take a long cold shower so I could wash away the icky feeling I have. Feeling clean again, I crawl back into my bed and close my eyes, hoping for sleep to come.

Waking up to the bright morning sunlight on my face, I felt groggy as I struggled to roll out of bed and drag myself to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I sighed. Blood shot eyes, pale complexion, and bed hair. I looked like an old hag from a horror movie. Nothing a little makeup won't help. Hearing the sound of distant voices, I figured my parents were getting ready to leave for work. I splash cold water on my face to help wake me up. Rubbing my throbbing temple, I yell at my dad to turn the tv volume down a notch since he must have been watching his show with the speakers turned up. While looking at myself in the mirror I could hear something beeping over the sound of the television. That's weird, it sounds like the washer machine. Did mom put clothes in the dryer last night? Walking out of the bathroom and into the living room, I pause when I notice that my dad wasn't sitting in his usual spot even though his favorite was on. No one but Dad watches tv in the morning. Feeling a tingling sensation go down my spine, I cautiously approach the dryer. Pulling on the lid, my school uniform and clothes from last night tumble out. Holding them in my arms I whisper under my breath.
"What the....." Quickly looking down at my attire, I notice that I was wearing a nightgown.
Wasn't I wearing shorts and a shirt? Dropping the clothes as if being electrocuted, I rush towards the kitchen. There I find a yellow post it note on our refrigerator telling me that my parents were visiting some relative and would be back in the morning.
"What's going on?"
Suddenly a couple of word from the television catch my attention. Walking back towards the living room I grab the remote but pause when I see what's on. It was the morning news, one reporter was interviewing a witness who had found two dead bodies in his apartment complex. Evidently the quiet town of Maple Grove was having a problem with a serial killer for the last two months. Quickly turning the television off, I retrieve my school uniform I had dropped on the laundry floor and rush to my room. Scared to death, I get dressed and run to school, hoping that whatever happened at my house was just a series of coincidences......

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@Xiaojoeun