Prom was officially over now. It will be one that I will never forget. Hopefully next year will be better, that's if I even decide to go. The weekend was over as well. Landon had been a joke; the fairy tale date never happened. I should have known. A star football player only goes out with his cheerleader. The play had been just a play nothing more than two characters playing their parts. Just like Mr. Foster said, 'we are only characters playing a part, nothing more.'

Then there was Isaiah going out of his way, sometimes too far out. He may give one a ride home in the middle of the night but he as well holds many secrets. As I walk down this hall of the school, I hear so many voices, so many stories and rumors of the weekend. This is how I found out that I put a spell on Julie. Whatever! And if I did it would have been a spell to make her not so popular and so rejected by all those that had deep crushes on her. I pay close attention to those desperate ones, those girls who wish to be anything but who they really were. It's just not right to make her feel like she is one of them and come today she is nothing more than the mud on the bottom of one's shoe. I never realized this feeling till now; I'm glad that I'm not one of them after all.

I fight with my combination to my locker. I was just about to give up when Isaiah walked up behind me. "Here let me try." He got it the first time around.

"Thanks." I reached in to grab my books for my first two classes so that I wouldn't have to stop back by after my first class. There was no need in arguing with the locker again.

"No problem. I guess I'll catch up with you later." He placed one hand in his pocket and held the other with his books.

"Later." I slammed the door shut and started to walk off to English class. I passed the plastics hovering in the middle of the floor. They were all gossiping about the weekend. I do believe I heard my name pop up a few times.

By the time lunch came around, I heard every story possible. I went to grab a seat at one of the tables but no sooner than I sat down everyone at that table got up and walked off. I heard a few of the other tables laughing. So I guess the joke was on me. The funny thing is I remember being one of them. I left the tray on the table and got up making my way out of the cafeteria.

Julie stopped me right before leaving. "You really think you belong here. No one likes you, you don't belong here witch."

I didn't say a word; instead I just shook my head in agreement and left the room. I wasn't in the mood to step down to her level right now. Landon followed behind me. I knew it was him because I could hear Julie calling after him, "Landon just let her go; she's just a piece of white trash, a little orphan girl, Landon." But I knew he wasn't paying her any attention.

"Wait up Shayla." He called out.

I stopped and turned around, looking at the floor and then up at him. I wanted to cry but I held back the tears. "What?" I asked harshly.

"Ignore her. She's being a B. Can we talk?"

"About what Landon? We have nothing to talk about go back to your little girlfriend. Go back to your friends. I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself." I started to walk away as he grabbed my hand, pulling me back to him.

"I'm sorry. I do have feelings for you. You have been on my mind all weekend."

"Ohhh! I've heard that one before. Let go of me Landon." I demanded, jerking my arm away from him. He let go even though I seen the urge in his eyes, the temptation of grabbing me and kissing me right there in the middle of the hallway not caring about who was watching. However I pushed him away from me and headed to art class.

We have been working on a painting for over a week in class now. For our final we have to show an art piece and it is critiqued by the class. For some reason I have been struggling on what to do but as I walked through the door, I put on my apron and stood in front of my isle. I turned the music on then dipped the brush ruefully in the paint and started to make strokes on the paper. I blocked everything out around me. I didn't even notice that someone stood in the back of the room watching me. I didn't even notice when the rest of the class came back in. I was in my own zone. Mrs. Long never said a word when she came into the room either. The class was in awe as I painted without thinking. I was still painting when class was over. The last two classes were not being held today due to the band playing outside for everyone. Therefore Mrs. Long let me finish the painting. Two hours later I stood back and looked at the work. I was amazed. Did I really do this? I heard a voice from behind me, "That's amazing, who is she?"

The painting was in black and hues of blues and very little white was used. He was right she was amazing, my mother. If you looked real close there was actually two women in the painting. Both were my mother, the one that raised me and the one that gave birth to me. My birth mother shimmered over my mother. She sparkled like a ghost or some kind of angel, watching over her. "That is my mother." I whispered.

"Which one?" he had asked.

"Both of them." It just dawned on me that I have never talked to him before now. He was in my art class. But he kept to himself and I kinda kept to myself. The funny thing is I can't even remember his name at the moment. He is not like the rest of the guys in this school. He is very quit and laid back, like I said keeps to himself. He is slender, dark tanned on smooth skin, his arms are huge from working out, wavy jet black hair, and his eyes sparkle of hues of blue and green. Yes, I have noticed him before, several times before. Today is the first day that he has talked to me or anyone that I have noticed. "I'm Shayla."

"I know who you are; who doesn't." He handed me a rag. "You have some paint on your face there." He said, pointing at my left cheek. "I'm Joel McCallister by the way."

"I guess you know a lot about me then uh? There all rumors you know; don't believe everything you hear." I wiped my face off with the damp rag. "Wait did you say you're a McCallister?"

"Yeah, the name seems to be popular in this school uh."

"So are you like Landon's brother or something?" I tried not to roll my eyes. Another McCallister, great.

"Cousin," he corrected, with a grin.

I didn't make a comment after that, instead I turned around to clean off the brushes letting the blues and blacks swirl around in the bottom of the sink. I wanted to cry. I could feel the tears coming but I held them in hoping that he would just go away. But that didn't happen.

"I'm nothing like my cousin." He walked back over to his project. I could hear him fumbling with the paint brushes. "He's a jerk you know; thinks he can have anything and everything and he usually gets what he wants. He has that way about him. Come on tell me that you didn't want a little piece of him. He's got it all, the looks, the car, the money, the girls, the attitude that goes with it all. I don't blame you though, every girl in this school thinks he's...what do you call it....hot. He's a bad ass you know. He uses everyone and then spits them out like yesterdays trash." He walked over to the sink and started to wash his brushes off. I backed away and went over to the table to get my things. "Come on, I know about prom; he was using you. It's a stupid game that the guys play. I'm sorry if he hurt you. I hear he got a lot of points from it."

"Actually I used him. I found out what he was up to. The points were a joke; we didn't do anything. I told you don't believe everything that you hear." I smiled and patted him on the chest and walked out of the room. By the time he caught up to me I was in the parking lot. Today I did not have my Grandpa's car and Brooke had left before I came out. Great! I completely forgot that she had to go to work early today. I sat down on the sidewalk and started to dig through my backpack for the cell phone. That's when this old beat up Chevy truck, with mud splash on it everywhere, pulled up in front of me. Smoke came out of the back of it and I tensed up waiting for it to backfire, but it didn't.

He leaned over and looked out the dirty passenger window. "Do you need a lift?"

"No sports car, McCallister?" I wanted to laugh but I held it in.

"Please don't call me that." He shook his head. "Do you need a lift or not?"

Well duh! How else was I going to get home. By the time I called my Grandpa it would be late anyway. "Sure, why not." He opened the door from the inside and I jumped in. He rived up the engine and took off, leaving a dust of smoke behind. We passed Landon with his buddies standing by his sports car. He gave him a look, the look of a predator ready to attack his prey. Maybe he was just shocked considering I was in his cousins' beat up truck. Joel headed out of the parking lot taking a right. "So, do you know where I live?"

"No. But you can tell me later. First I need to stop off somewhere it will just take a few minutes with your help that is." He winked.

"Wait, I was planning on going straight home. Help you with what?" I said in confusion.

"You'll see." His eyes sparkled towards my direction and then back on the road.

A few minutes later he pulled up into a big farm. There was a house in the distance and acres and acres of land. He got out and went into the barn. "Come on." He motioned for me to get out and follow him.

I jumped down from the truck and walked in behind him. The smell was a little rank, but I guess one could get use to the smell after a while. However, not me, no way. I looked around the big barn. There was bales of hay stacked in the corner and up in the loft. Chickens started to come out and walked all around me. They started pecking around my feet. "Joel where did you go?" I hollered.

"Over here." His voice came from the back of the barn. I heard him talking to someone. When I got to the end, I looked in the stall and there he was rubbing on a horse. He brushed her and hugged her up. "Come on girl let's go for a ride."

"You're talking to a horse." I said in amazement.

"Hey, there you are. I was beginning to worry about you. Come on; come for a ride with me." He led her out into the opening. He got on and then held his hand down for me to get on. "Come on, Catori won't hurt you. She needs her exercise for the day."

"Alright." I reached for his hand and he pulled me up onto her back. "I have to warn you though I've never been on a horse."

"First time for everything." He smiled and took off. I held on to him for dear life, praying that I wouldn't fall off. We rode Catori for about fifteen minutes, until we reached the pond. He got off and then helped me off. "Let's let her rest. She needs to drink a little."

From where we stood, I could see for miles, hills and hills of trees and pastures, flowers in the fields, wheat and other veggies growing on the farm. There were animals everywhere, cows on the far hill, a few horses in the meadow, a herd of sheep in another meadow. Not to mention all the birds and little insects flying near us. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue almost like out of a story book. But where the sun was getting ready to sit, the sky was fabulous in shades of orange, pink and deep blues and purple. It was amazing; the view from here was like no other that I had seen. Was it real? Could this place truly exist? "The view is nice from here. I can't believe you live here; is it like this every day?"

"Yeah, the view is always the same but the sky changes from day to day! Actually my Grandfather, Randell McCallister, owns over a hundred acres. He had three sons and each of them have a part of the land as well to keep it in the family. Landon lives on the south side of the estate. My uncle, his father lets him get by with everything. There's nothing that his son can't have. My other uncle has two girls and they go to school with us as well. They are part of the cheer squad. Preppy little things. I don't hang out with them at school either."

"And you?"

"Yes, well. I chose the more practical way of living. My father died when I was ten. He believed in farming. It got really late one night and he didn't come in from the field." He paused briefly looking out at the pasture below. "I remember going out looking for him with my uncles and my grandpa. We found him with the tractor. Somehow or another he fell from the tractor and got trampled and shredded by the bush hog. It was pretty bad." He looked like he was thinking back to that day. "Anyway since I was the oldest boy, I have been taking care of my mom and my little brothers. I don't have time for the crap that Landon is into. We use to be close but every since the farm took my dad I changed." He rubbed Catori's back. "This is my life, this farm and Catori here."

"Is that why you keep to yourself?" I stood in front of Catori, rubbing the side of her face. She felt so soft and gentle.

"I have no reason to please anyone. I don't care what people think of me." He smirked. I knew he wanted to ask me the same. Why should I care what people think. "So what is your story?"

"I don't care what people think of me either, the hell with them."

"Why don't I believe that? I see this beautiful girl hidden behind all this black." He pulled on my shirt. "You don't want anyone to see the real you. Mysterious. Yet you go to the prom with Landon as if you still want to be in that clique. You want them to accept you; you want to be one of the popular ones." He reached for my cheek, gliding his fingertips along my jaw line. "Who are you underneath it all?"

Wow, how right he is. I suddenly got that little tingle in my nose and a lump in the bottom of my throat. "Everyone knows my story, why I am here. I have no reason to please anyone either. I don't care if they accept me or not. Landon black mailed me into going to prom with him. I had no choice in the matter."

"Really, what did he have on you?"

"You think you have all the answers don't you. This place, this town is a joke. I didn't want to be in that stupid play. Mr. Foster forced me to, among other things. I had no intensions on kissing Landon or getting close to him even though I think he is wanting more from me. Anyway, I wanted out of music and drama and art. I wanted out of my past life for that matter. When my family died that night, a part of me did too. I closed that chapter, closed the book. Or I tried too. They forced me to go to therapy, forcing me to remember what I don't want to remember. The stupid counselor at school made my schedule. Everyone is trying to make me continue on with my life as if I am too young and naïve to know what I want for myself. I'm not a little kid anymore." I paused for a second. "I was the popular one back then, the cheerleader, the one that had it all. You're right, I wear the black to hide myself, to hide my feelings, to hide who I really am. Who gives a crap? Who cares who I was and who I am now? I don't know who I can really trust here anyway."

"I'm sorry to hear about your family. You must be so lost without them." He reached for my hand. "It's hard having something so close to you taken away like that. I never knew that you were a cheerleader and so popular and just to think it was only a few months ago. I think it is good to think about your family and I also think they would be a little sad seeing you like this Shayla. You are so pretty." His hand stroked my shoulder. "And I know how people are around here, especially Landon. Mr. Foster is a different topic though. Your secret is safe with me. You can trust me."

"I wish I could let you in. The past few months has been a living nightmare and I wish I could tell you everything. The thing is, is that I'm still looking for answers myself. It's just so complicated right now."

"Well if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm available." He got back on Catori and reached down to grab a hold of my hand to pull me back up.

I pulled my arms around him to hold on tight as Catori took off. "Thanks for the offer; I'll keep you in mind."

He took me back to his truck and then took me home. As I was getting ready to get out he stopped me. "Thanks for coming out today. By the way be careful who you talk with, watch out for Isaiah."

I nodded my head in agreement. "Thanks for taking me with you today, it was nice. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Yeah, see ya." And he took off, leaving a trial of smoke behind him. I can't believe he didn't even attempt to kiss me, not even a hug bye.

The porch light was shining dimly on the house waiting for me to come home. Suddenly I heard, "You're late getting home; where have you been?" Grandma tapped her foot on the porch. She had been sitting in the porch swing waiting for me to get home.

"I forgot Brooke had to go to work today. Joel gave me a ride home. Sorry were late he had to stop by the farm and take care of his horse. I wasn't expecting to get in so late; I'm sorry."

"Call next time. Your plate is in the oven waiting for you." She smiled. "Oh! Isaiah called looking for you."

"What did he want?" I followed her into the kitchen.

She took out my plate and put it on the table. Then she sat down beside me. "Is everything alright at school dear?"

"Yeah! Everything is fine." I lied. I picked up my fork, digging into the potatoes. I wanted to scream. But I didn't. I ate and then went up to my room as if nothing happened.

I pulled out the journal that belonged to my mother. I thumbed through the pages, looking for nothing in particular. I wanted to know more about her. The thing is, I had a feeling that Isaiah knew something about her. I had a feeling that the old woman knew a lot about her. How do I trust either one of them? How can I find out what I need to know without the two of them?

***

I feel asleep in no time. The dream formed so vividly in my mind. I was running through the trees now. Someone was following me, trying to catch up to me.

Shayla you can't hide from them; they will find you. They are coming for you, the male's voice echoed in the night sky. I ran so fast through the dense forest, tree limbs and sticker bushes scraped my body, causing me to trip. I stood up quickly and looked around for somewhere to hide. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide, I continue to run. That's when I find myself in a clearing. I can hear them all around me, chanting. It is so dark here, where is the moon for crying out loud. I can feel them closing in on me. I start to panic and words come out of my mouth, words that I do not know. I'm chanting something, can they hear me? Blackness surrounds me.

My head is throbbing of pain; what happened? One small light shines over my head. The room is dark, yet I can see the figures around me. I'm strapped down to a table. The weird thing is, is that I am watching this from a different view now. I'm looking down at the girl on the table. I can see her; I can see me.

'You are the one. You have the power, Elita.' 'Each of you', she pointed to the others in the room, 'will drink one small sip of her blood and you will have some of your powers back as well. We will live longer thanks to the gift that you have my child'. She looked back down at me. I felt them closing in on me again, taking little sips of my blood, my soul. Tasting it, hoping that it is the right flavor, the right mixture of DNA to give some of their youth back.

I jumped out of the bed, kicking the covers off of me. I wanted to scream, however I held my mouth shut so that my Grandparents could not hear me. I breathed so hard, so deep, that I thought that I would hyperventilate. These dreams, these nightmares, I wish for them to go away. I looked around the room and that's when I noticed something sparkling on the wall. Something from outside was shining in my room. I walked over swiftly, hiding behind the curtains. I peered out and looked down below. There she was dancing under the tree. I grabbed my robe and walked down quietly and out the back door. I stood under the tree with her. "Are you real?" I asked her.

"Yes. I'm real. The nightmares won't go away, Aislinn." She walked around me.

"What do I have to do? How do I make it stop?"

"They found you. They know that you are alive. You have the power that they want." She twirled around and reached for my hand.

"What power?" I knew that I had visions of the past and of the future but what other power could I have that they wanted so bad.

"The power of life."

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "That doesn't make any since, this is crazy."

"Watch your back. They want you now and there is nothing that will stop them from getting to you. Stay away from the town, stay away from the old woman."

She was starting to disappear, fading into the crisp morning dawn. "Wait, I found your journal; where are the others?"

"They are home, with the old woman. Stay away, far away from there," she warned.

And then she was gone.

My father would have never believed in ghost. He barely believed in me. I knew the dream would happen, I just didn't know when. I knew they would find me. What I didn't know was why they wanted to drink the blood from my body. This was so unreal. Things like this didn't just happen, they couldn't happen. Who would believe in ghost, magic, spells? Who would believe that I had a power; I didn't even know what power I really had?