-Laelyn-

Before first hour, the basketball teams had a forty-five minute practice. Link was on the team, as well as the baseball team, soccer team, and cross country. He was muscular and very active. I was always jealous of his physique, but I just couldn't be bothered to go into sports, so I had an average body type. We got to school just in time for Link to make the last ten minutes of morning practice. I went into my first hour early, taking some time to hang out with my friends. I sat by most of them, in the front row.

"Lyn!" Alyrica turned to me from the seat directly to my left, flipping her wavy brown hair over her shoulder.

"Hey Alyrica! How's your day going?" I asked happily.

"Hey, Lyric." Link smiled and shyly waved as he walked into the classroom, five minutes before class began. Alyrica smiled back and giggled as she sat down next to me. Link sat in the back of the room, and Alyrica waited until he had reached his seat before turning to me.

"Do you think he likes me?" Alyrica asked excitedly.

"Don't tell me you like him! That's my brother, Lyric. He's... Gross." I replied.

"You guys get along fine!"

"Yeah I know. But he's still my brother. That's weird," I laughed, and winked at Alyrica, "I'm just kidding. Sure it's a little odd, but he's my brother and I can't imagine a better guy for you."

"Really?" Alyrica bounced up and down in her seat, "So... Do you think so?"

"Do I think he likes you? I'm not sure. We talk about everything except romance- it's not something that comes up. I could ask though." I slyly grinned.

"Oh my God, would you?" Alyrica was smiling so big it looked like her mouth was going to break. "That would be awesome. Thanks Lyn!"

"You're welcome," I answered, holding back a giggle of my own, "That would almost be cool. You and Link."

"Huh?" Link sounded from the back of the room. Alyrica and I whipped around and quickly replied.

"Oh, nothing!" We said in sync. Before anything could get more awkward, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. We all turned our attention to Mr. Jev, at the front of the classroom.

"Good morning!" Mr. Jev exclaimed in a singsong voice, too chipper for it to be eight o'clock in the morning. There were a few grumbled replies, and a few "Morning's" voiced across the room. The poor response did nothing to affect the young teacher's mood, however. He was as happy as a child on Christmas, as usual. Mr. Jev was not a typical high school teacher. He was only in his early twenties, and he treated everything that happened in class as an "exciting opportunity." Of course, he was everyone's favorite, but he was also a little too cheery at times. Like that morning.

"We have a test today, everyone pass in their study guides!" He clapped his hands twice and waited for all of our packets to reach him. "It looks like everyone did theirs! How exciting!"

Alyrica and I shared a groan. Link grinned happily from his seat. From the second I saw the test, I said a silent thank you on Link's behalf. I hadn't known anything on the first page until our impromptu study session that morning. Now I was confident, and rapidly circled all the answers- thank goodness it was multiple choice- and was the second person to hand my test in, after Link of course. We shared a smile before I got my book out and began to read avidly. I began to daydream again, going back to the party I had been "planning" that morning. But all of the sudden, my thoughts were invaded by that all-too-familiar image of the girl with black hair and white skin. A small scream escaped my lips, bringing me back to the classroom. I nervously glanced around, realizing that everyone had begun to stare at me.

"Um... sorry... I got to a scary part in my book." I lied to the class, then went back to my book, trying to read the blurs on the page. I couldn't get the girl out of my head. Who was she? What was she? She didn't seem to be completely human. Sure, she looked human, but she didn't act like it, and her voice sounded more demon-like than anything. Her eyes were unnatural. She was too skinny, and so tall... I shivered. Read the book, Lyn, I told myself. And just like that, the image was gone again, and the words were readable. I had read two chapters by the time Mr. Jev announced the end of the exam time.

"I trust you have all handed in your tests?" He asked. "If you need more time, please see me after class. But as I have nothing else planned for today, please enjoy fifteen minutes of free time!"

The class instantly exploded with noise and activity. I looked up to see Tayvis and Cowyn standing in front of my desk.

"Hey Laelyn!" Cowyn waved. He and Tayvis were 17, a year older than me, and Cowyn's family had adopted Tayvis after he was left orphaned. That was probably the only reason they hadn't killed each other by now- they were technically brothers. They joked around with each other a lot, but they irritated the hell out of each other as well.

"Hey Cowyn." I mumbled, finishing a sentence in my book.

"How are you?" He and Tayvis said together, turning to each other and laughing.

"I'm good." I lied again. I didn't want anyone to know about the girl in my dreams. It was only a dream, of course.

"I probably flunked that exam." Tayvis smiled, as if it were the funniest thing in the world. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to see Link standing behind me.

"Nah, you studied with me yesterday!" He reassured him.

Geez, how many times does Link study? I mused. "I assume you're very confident then?"

"Of course!" Link grinned. "It was very basic stuff."

"I agree, except for question 30. I just couldn't figure that one out!" Alyrica joined the conversation.

"If I remember correctly, the answer was the square root of 13." Link said. Cowyn and Tayvis stared at him, gaping. Alyrica and I were used to it by now, but his intelligence and memory astounded most people. Sometimes he even stumped the teachers.

"Well, I got that one wrong." Cowyn said.

"Ditto." Tayvis added.

"I actually think I got that one right!" I exclaimed proudly. Link nudged me with his elbow.

"See? Studying pays off." He said arrogantly.

"Yeah, yeah." I waved him away, holding back my laugh. I glanced up at the clock. Five minutes, I thought. Five minutes until I could run through the halls to my favorite class, chemistry. It always made me feel like magic existed- seeing how so many things could change instantly, and learning how. It intrigued me, and I was quite good at it. I didn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation as it turned to video games and high scores. I expectantly watched the clock, waiting for the hand to hit the twelve, signifying that the hour was over.

Finally! I thought, collecting my binder and book and walking out the classroom. I stopped to my locker to get my lab coat, and went on my way to my next class. I rounded the corner to the chemistry lab, and unexpectedly ran into someone going the other direction.

"I am so sorry!" I uttered, embarrassed. I picked up a folder that the person had dropped. "Here, you dropped-" I swallowed my words and dropped the folder back on the ground. There, right in front of me, was the girl from my nightmare.

Author's Note!

Alright, so how are we feeling about the story so far? I thought that last sentence was a good way to end this chapter, sorry not sorry! XD What do you guys think is going to happen? Love you all!

Savy Pearson