Serenity

I was frantically shuffling threw my closet trying to find something to wear. This outfit, that outfit. I don't know. ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!! I called my friend Keira, to see what she thinks.

"Hello" Came a voice a few minutes later. "Hey, Keira, I have a dilemma and I need your help." I begged "Whats the problem, Serenity."

"I can't figure out what to wear today."

"Oh is that all? Why don't you wear your blue jean mini skirt with black leggings underneath and wear you black shirt that says 'rock-n-roll hottie in hot pink letters."

"Sound super, I'll wear that."

"Okay see you soon, later." I hung up the receiver and put on the outfit, then went down stairs for breakfast. A meal of bacon, eggs, and grits.

*****
*Where in the world is she? She told me to wait right here at this time and she's not even here* I thought to myself. *Great here she comes.

"Sorry, I'm late, stopped by the office to get my schedule. I wasn't here on meet the teacher day." She said. "It's okay, Keira, let head to the cafeteria."

Keira and I were sitting at the table when Xander the class hottie walks in (I have the biggest crush on him.) his long blonde hair, cascaded in think blonde waves down his shoulders. His blue eyes and thin mouth matched his face perfectly. He is well built, tall and lean with a great six pack, man he's very dreamy.

"Serenity, Earth to Serenity." I heard Keira call and she snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Where am I? Whats going on?" I questioned.

"we're still in the cafeteria you zoned out?" Keira explained. "Do you know you out of reality more then me."

"Yes. My fantasy world is better than real life."

"I totally understand."

ring, ring, ring "oh crap the bell I guess we're off to class. Later, Keira." I said. "Later Serenity." We waved our 'goodbyes' and headed off toward our classes.
*****
Yay! Ashlyn here I have somebody to talk too. "Hey Serenity." She said as she sat down in the seat next to me- her assigned seat- "Hey, Ashlyn whats up?"

"Nothing much."

Surprise! Xander strolled looking all cool just as the tardy bell rang. Ashlyn and I turn toward him and stared. "He's such a hottie." Ashlyn breathed

"Yeah, I know."

"Hey Serenity."

"Yeah, what?"

"You know you else is hot."

"No! Whoa!"

"Your brother."

"Whoa, wait. Now that is very disturbing."

"I knew your were going to say that so I decided to ask you if it was okay if I asked him out." Ashlyn said, but I didn't hear. "Serenity!" She raised her voice slightly and snapped her fingers.

"Huh, What?" I asked confused.

"Did you hear me?" She questioned.

"No, what did you say?"

I was wondering if it was okay if I asked your brother out?"

"I don't care, but I hope you know that he's a senior in college and engaged and if he doesn't care enough to help his sisters. He wouldn't care about you."

*****
I'm sitting at my desk minding my own business when Xander- the mega hottie- came over and sat down next to me. "Hell, my names Xander and you are?" He stated.

"Serenity...I mean my name is Serenity." I said. nervously.

"Well it's nice to meet you Serenity. What a pretty name. I think I'll sit here this period for the year." He said still in the seat next to me. "So..." I started. "How was your summer. Are you glad school's back in session?"

"Summer was great. We spent most of it at the beach, and yeah I missed school a lot so I'm glad it's back in session."

"I know me too."

We talked and laughed the whole period, and when the bell rang we walked to the door together.

"Hey, who do you have third block?" HE asked.

"Jacob Denozo." I answered.

"Hey, my class is right next door. I'll walk you." He smiled

When we got to class. I put my hand on the knob to go in, but he put his hand on my shoulder and I turned around.

"I was wondering is maybe you would like to go see The Last Song

in theater with me Saturday at six?" He asked

"Sure, I'd love to. I've been wanting to see that movie since I've heard about it." I replied.

"Great I'll pick you up at six sharp. I've got to get in class. I'll see you later."

"Okay. You too."

I walked into class in a complete daze, not know where I was headed. I tripped over a box in the middle of the floor and fell flat on my face. Everyone started laughing expect Keira who seen me fall and walked over. Helping em up. She said, "Are you okay?"

"Yes." I replied.

"What up? You came in, in a complete daze and didn't see the box and tripped over it." She coaxed.

"Oh nothing." I said dreamily

"Whatever, I know you. You only act like this when you see Xander and even than your not this bad. So spill." She coaxed again.

"Okay I'll tell you on one condition though." I sighed.

"What is it?" She smiled.

"Your better not say a word." I warned.

"Hey, you know I'll never do that." She said.

"well, Xander is in my second block class and he choose the seat next to me. We talked the whole black and when the bell rang he walked me to class because his class is right across the hall, and before I come in he asked me to go see The last Song

with him this Saturday at sic." I blabbed.

"Well, congratulations, luck you. I'm glad." She smiled.
*****
When the bell rang I got up and waited for Keira at the but she says, "Go on. I have to asked Professor Denozo something. I'll catch up." I gave her a brief smile and walked through the door. *I wander what she has to ask Professor Denozo. I believe she just met him* I thought to myself as I headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Serenity!" I heard someone shout and I turned around to see who it was. Xander was walking toward me. "Hey." Hey said as he gasped for air. "Man, your hard to catch up to. I have been calling you name for the last five minutes.

"Sorry I was thinking about something." I smiled at him and we continued to walk to the cafeteria. We put our stuff down at a table and I took one of my folders and put it in the seat next to me to save it for Keira and we got in line.

"So how was third block." He quizzed.

"Fine when I first went into class I was in a daze and didn't see a box in front of me and ended up falling flat on my face." I laughed at the memory and Xander started laughing too.

When we clammed down he said. "I'm sorry that must have been humiliating."

"Yeah, I was."

"I can't wait until Saturday. I'm really excited." He Smiled.

"I know me too. Your picking me up at six right?" I asked.

"Yep, so be ready."

"Don't worry I will be."

We got threw the line and sat down. I got a salad for lunch and Xander got a pizza. When Keira sat down, she had school the school lunch which was a hotdog, chips, and soda.

"Xander this is Keira, my best friend, and Keira this is Xander." I introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Xander." Stated Keira.

"You too." Said Xander.

Keira took her hotdog out of its bun because she likes eating the and bun separate. As she goes to put the hotdog in her mouth it began to shake. Xander and I busted out laughing.

"What's so funny?" She asked dumbfounded. Xander and I pointed at the shaking hotdog. "Oh!" She exclaimed, shaking the hotdog harder causing Xander, herself, and I to laugh even harder.
*****
The bell rang and Keira waves 'good-bye' and went one way. Xander walked me to class, on the way he said, "Keira is silly."

"Yeah, I know we have been best friends since middle school." I chuckled.

"Hey, Serenity, how old are you? When is you birthday?"

"I'm sixteen and my birthday's Sunday, September the seventh." I said.

He laughed a jolly laugh and said, "Perfect timing, huh? If I did ask you I would've missed it."

"Yeah, I guess." I Said, not knowing what else to say.

"My birthday's December the Seventh and I'm Seventeen." He said

"Hey, that make you nine months older than me." I concluded.

I'm in forth block and bored. Nothing fun is happening. I miss Xander already. Fifth and sixth block, then home I go.
*****
I just got home and ole crap I realized I forgot to pick up my little sister from day care-Layla.

I think I should tell now. My mother past away six month after she had Layla, due to Ammonia and my dad past away a year after after that because of a heart-attack. So, I've had to take care of Layla by myself for five years now. Before I get Layla at seven I have to go to work. I'm the waitress at the SLOP SHOP.
*****
I sent Layla to the bath than to bed. I threw a pop-tart in the toaster, ate it then went to bed.

I woke up to the thunder and Layla running into my room screaming. When I got her clammed down she fell asleep on my bed. I was able to fall back to sleep a hour later when the thunder clammed down.
*****
Ring, Ring, Ring went the phone. I reached over and picked up the receiver. "Hello" I called sleepily.

"Wake up call. It's six-o-clock. Time to rise and shine." The voice on the other end chuckled.

"Xander?" I called.

"Yeah." He replied.

"Why did you call me this early? How do you get my number?" I questioned.

"You gave it to me, remember?"

"No, I didn't."

"Okay, I guess I won't be able to convince you. Keira gave it me" He smiled. I couldn't see him but I could hear it in his voice.

"I better get dresses. I'll meet you at the Cafeteria at 7:45, Okay, Xander." I said calmly, now that I was awake.

"Okay, see you than." He chuckled and the receiver clicked at his end of the line, and I sighed, got up when dressed and than I straightened my long curly black hair with red strikes. Then. I headed for school. I arrived at the school and headed straight for the cafeteria. When I got there Xander was already sitting at the table I usually sit. He saw me and waved.

"You early." I chuckled.

"Yeah, I know. I wanted to see you." He smiled, and I chuckled. Soon Keira got here and when the bell I was disappointed.
*****
Ahh! I sighed as I opened my bedroom window and the cool morning breeze blew in. I took a deep breath with a smile stretched from ear to ear. *I have a date with Xander.* I thought happily to myself. I began to dance around the room, happily, humming to myself. KNOCK...KNOCK...KNOCK...someone knocked on the door, Then Layla strolls in.

"What are you doing, sissy?" She laughed.

"Nothing." I answered, flopping onto my bed, I sighed a sigh of relief that Layla didn't see me.
*****
"Lunch time!" Layla came into my room shouting.

"Okay, I'll make lunch in a minute. What do you want?" I asked calmly

"Hamburgers!" She shouted again. Than turned and ran out of my room slamming the door behind her, with a loud, BOOM!

The hamburger patty's are in the frying pan sizzling away, while I'm chopping up the lettuce. Layla is behind me setting the table and humming to herself. "Hey, sissy!" she called.

"Yes." I answered."

"I love you." She said, walking up behind me and giving me a hug.

"I love you, too." I whispered into her tiny ear. When the hamburger's were finished I put everything on the table and we ate lunch. Than I went back up to my room, and Layla's to hers.

Around five I began to get ready for my big date. I jumped to the shower and then blow dried my hair and straightened it again. Than, I threw on a red sequenced thank to and a black leather mini skirt. I applied my black eye liner and red lipstick. I grabbed my purse and headed down stairs to wait.
*****
Ring... came the door bell. I jumped up, brushed my skirt down and ran my finger's threw my hair, and opened the door. Xander was standing there in a blue bottom up shirt and blue jeans.

"You look nice, but your late." I sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry." He chuckled as he pulled a baguette of roses from behind his back. I gasped when I felt a tiny cold hand touch mine. Layla was standing there.

"Who's this?" Xander cooed and bent down to her level. Layla chuckled shyly and I said, "This is Layla. She's my sister." Then I turned to her said, "Can you please go put these in a vase of water. You know how to do that."

"Okay." she replies and ran off towards the kitchen with the roses in her hand.

"She adorable." Xander exclaimed as we walked toward his black Mercedes.

"Yeah, she's the best sister you could ask for, she's an angel. She does what I tell when I tell her...Most of the time." I chuckled.


"where are your parents?" He questioned.

"My mother died a months after she had Layla. My dad died a year after that." I stated

"Oh I'm so sorry. So your taking care of Layla by yourself?"

"Yeah it's gotten easy after for years."
*****
We're standing in line. Waiting to get the tickets for the movie, which starts in fifteen minutes. The line moves up a foot every minute.

Xander ran his fingers threw my hair. "Your hair's so soft." He cooed.

Thanks." I replied back.

He smiled, grabbed my hand and spun me around. "what are you doing? I can't dance." I gasped.
"I dought that very highly." He chuckled and twirled my again, but this time guiding into his chest. I buried my head in his chest and inhaled his scent. He had fresh scent kind of like he just got out of the shower. I realized about five minutes later that he had his arms around my back, hold to face the front. Realizing that I was facing a tall, lean girl with short black hair that reached her shoulders and spikes at the ends. She wore a low cut black tank top.

"How may I help you?" She said sweetly.

"Two ticket for The Last Song

, Please." I answered her.

"Sure thing. That'll be ten dollars." She smiled and I pulled my purse to get the money.

"I'll cover that." I looked up and Xander was handing the women a ten dollar bill. He smiled at me and I chuckled.

We sat down and the movie started. In that dark I felt a hand tickle the back of my hand so I turned it over so that the palm faced up and Xander curled his fingers in between mine so that his palm laid flat against mine

"I kneed to go to the restroom. I'll be right back." Xander whispered into my ear, and he stood up and headed up the aisle to the back door. I watched him disappear through it, I sighed and faced the t.v. It was just getting to the good part. The main character and the guy where hanging on the beach.

When the movie ended and the lights came back on. the theater stood up and evacuated through the back door. When I got into the lobby I seen Xander sitting on the bench next to the boys bathroom. I walked up to him and realized that his faced had gone ghostly white and he was drenched in sweat. I put my hand on his shoulder and he was shaking.

"Are you okay?" I breathed. He didn't answer me, instead he got up and ran into the boys bathroom with his hands over his mouth. When he returned he said, "Sorry, I'm very sick."

"don't be sorry it's not your fault you got sick. Why didn't you come get me we could've left."

"I didn't want to take you away from the movie."

"Okay, well it's over now. So let's get you home. Hand me your keys. I'm driving your to sick to." He handed me his keys and I stopped by the counter and asked the waiter for a plastic bag. We got into the car and he falls right to sleep.
*****
I climbed out of the car and went around to the passengers side of the car, opened the door, and pulled his legs out of the car and put his right arms over my right shoulder and then I put my left hand behind his back and lifted him out of the seat so that he was standing on his feet and I totted him up to the door. I opened the door and called in a normal voice. I opened the door and called in a normal voice.

"Layla, I'm home." Layla came running to the door. "Serenity!" Layla yells.

"Shh..." I cautioned. Xander I moaned but didn't wake up.

"What happened?" Layla whispered wide-eyed when she saw Xander.

"He got sick that the theater and fell asleep when we got into the car. Could you go open my bedroom door, Layla?" Layla didn't say anything, but dashed up stairs which I had to slowly trudge up because Xander's weight made it hard to walk. When I got to my room was standing next to the door.

"Can you pull the blankets back so I can lay him on my bed?" She did what she was told and I laid Xander light on my bed so that his feet were hanging off the side. I took off his shoes then put his feet on the bed and covered him. "Layla, get a blanket and a pillow out of my closet and lay it on the floor. I'm going down stairs to get the thermometer. I be right back." I Stated vanished through the door. I grabbed the thermometer and went back to my room. I put the thermometer into his mouth and waited for it to beep, when it did I pulled it out of his mouth and checked it. It was a hundred and four degrees. "Oh, no" I said shocked I went to the closet and pulled out two more quilts and threw them on Xander. I wanted to try and swear the fever out of him. When I had him taken care of I jumped into the show and than hit the sheets. Wait, I can't do that for to reasons. One; I'm not going to use my hands and hit the sheets, and two: Xander's on my bed so I'm stuck on the floor. I stopped by Layla's room before I went to bed and she was asound asleep on the floor next to her Queen size bed. So, I picked her up lightly and laid her on her bed.
*****
"Serenity." I heard someone whisper. I moaned rolled over.

"Serenity get up."

"Do I have to." I moaned.

"Yes, you do."

I turned over and saw Layla's cute little face above mine. "Good Morning, Layla." I smiled and sat up. Layla, on her knees, hugged me. When she let me go I stood up, and walked over to my bed where Xander was sound asleep. I laid my hand on his forehead and snatched it away almost automatically. He was burning up. I reached over to the bedside and grabbed the thermometer. When it beeped I pulled it out if his mouth and read it. It said a hundred and five point two. He should be dead that was too hot for anyone's body to handle, but his breathing was steady and his pulse was normal.

"Layla cover him with some more blankets, Now! I'm going to call the emergency room!" I shouted and ran down stairs. I picked up the phone and thrust-ed it to my ear. I punched in 9-1-1 into the keypad and waited for the operator. "Hello."

I explained everything in such a rush that I didn't understand what I was saying, but the operator seem to understand because her reply was, "Okay, an ambulance will be there in ten minutes." I hung up the receiver and ran back up stairs. "Layla get dressed and brush your hair. The ambulance will be here in ten minutes."

"okaie dokie." Layla replied and bounced out of my room towards her's just as i finished getting dressed the phone rang. I ran down stair again and answered. "Hello?"

"Serenity?"

"Oh, hey, Keira. i can't talk right now, If its important meet me at the hospital in ten. The ambulence just arrived."

"What's happened?"

"Don't worry I'll explain in ten."

"Okay, see you there." I hung up with that and a knock at the door. Two guys stood at the door, one tall and lean. He looked as if to be in his early twenties. He had a shoulder length black hair. His bangs were the same length as the rest of his hair, tucked behind his ears. I could see the sparkle in his hazel eyes when he looked at me.

The other guy was older with short gray hair and a some what rectanguler head. He looked a lot like Richard Gene, so I'm going to start calling him the-Richard-Gere-look-a-like. The older guy gave me a shy smile and said, "May we see the Patient."

"No problem, follow me." I stated plainly. I started up the stairs. The guys following me.
*****
In my rioom the Richard-Gere-look-a-like put his right hand on Xander's forehead. "Man he is burning up. Julio get him on the stretcher, Now." he said to the younger guy. "Okay, just go open the door, Max." Julio walked over to the bed and picked up Xander and carried out to the ambulance, I followed behind. When we got down stairs Max turned toward me and said, "Thanks for calling us he'll be in could hands, but you can ride in the back is you want."

"Thanks, sound great. Let me go get my sister, I want her with us."
*****
At the front desk and filled in the clerk behind the desk. "Yeah I know I've already been filled in. He's in room two hundred. Right down the hall." She said.

"Thanks." I replied and turned to head to Xander's room, when I heard someone call my name, "Serenity?" I turned back around to see Keira running towards me.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"You told me to meet you here in ten minutes remember."

"I did?"

"Yes, you did. Now whats going on?"

"I'll feel you in on the way to Xander's room."

We walked down the hall towards Xander's room and I explained what happen to Xander and why we where at the hospital when they get into Xander's room. Layla was sitting in a chair in the far corner of the room out of the doctor's way.

"What's going on?" I asked her.

"The doctor's are trying to bring down his temperature. Oh, hey Keira." She replied, getting up an giving Keira a hug.

"Hey, Layla. How are you doing?" Keira answered her with a question.

"I'm fine. I'm glad your here."

"Great, I'm glad I'm here to. I hope Xander get's better fast."

"Yeah me too. I don't want Serenity sad."

"oh, Layla. I'll be fine and so will Xander. I have a feeling he'll be fine. I don't know why I have this feeling, i just do." I answered Layla. She didn't actually ask a question. It was more a statement then a question, but I answered her anyways. One of the nurse's came over and said, "Xander's temperature is starting to come down, slowly though. I think he is going to be just fine, if we can get him awake so we can get some fluids down his throat. He is also dehydrated."

"Well, that good news. If you don't mind, could I try waking him up?" I asked her.

"Sure, that's not a problem."

"Thanks." I breathed and walked toward Xander's bed while the nurse chased the other's out of the room. I Sat on the bed next to Xander and shook him. "Xander wake up. Please...please...please wake up. It's Serenity and I need you to wake up so you can drink something." I choked trying to fight back tears. I knew that Serenity was going to be just fine, but I couldn't stop the tears from coming. Five minutes later I had my shirt soaked from where I'd kept wiping my tears.

"Mmm." I heard a moan and wiped me eyes once more, so I could see what was happening. Xander's eyes fluttered open and he moaned again. "My heads killing me." I smiled , happy that he was awake, and gave him a gentle hug. The nurse came over and told him to drink the bottle of apple juice she gave him.

"Where am I?" Xander asked, confused.

"Your at the hospital." I answered him.

"Huh? What happened? Why am I here?" He asked, again

"It's a long story. I'll feel you in later." i sighed

"Oh, hey Keira how long have you been here?" He asked Keira.

"Long enough." Keira stated simply.

"What's wrong you seemed ticked off at me. I don't think I did anything to make you mad at me." He sighed.

"I'm not mad at you. I just have a lot going on, and I needed to talk to Serenity about it, but you got sick and had to be rushed to the hospital. So, I haven't had a chance to really talk to her." She said trying to force her voice to stay calm.

"I'm sorry, it's not my fault I got sick." He replied

"It's okay, I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't mean to sound mad." She said.

*****
"Xander, go get in the shower. I'm going to change the streets on my bed. When you get done I want you to go lay down." I warned him.

"Yes, madam." He chuckled.

I pointed him to the restroom, than went to my bedroom. Keira right behind me trying to picking on Xander and I. I laughed and tried to ignore her.

"Hey, Serenity?"

"What?"

"Umm...Umm...Umm..." She stalled.

"Come on spit it out. I don't have all day." I snapped not meaning to.

"Ummmm...How well do you know Professor Denozo?"

"Not very well. We,ve only been in school for a week, duh. Why?"

"Ummm..." She stalled again.

I turned to face her. She had this crooked smiled on her face and it was as red a ripe, juicy tomato. I mean her face was blood red kind of like she was over heating.

"Keira?" I called and got no reply. "Keira." I called again, but this time I waved my head in front of her face. She finally said something. "Umm." I asked her head was out of the clouds. She Shook it as if to say 'yes'.

"Keira, what are you going trying to say? It had better not be what I think it is."

"I think you already know what I'm trying to say." She smiled.

"Oh, Keira. Please tell me your not falling for Professor Denozo."

"Umm. no I don't think I am. I think it's the other way around."

"What do you mean?" I asked even though I exactly what she meant

"I mean, I think he is falling for me."

"What? How? I would think he would know better."

"Yeah, me too."

"How do you know he likes you?"

"Do you remember when I told I'll catch up to you in the cafeteria because Professor Denozo wanted to talk to me. After you left he told me that I was a great student. He grabbed Me and pulled me to him until me chest was against his. Than he wrapped his arms around me and held me there. I tried to get away him but he squeezed me harder, not loosing his grip until I relaxed. The bell soon rang, and he said. "I'll right you a pass." Luckly no one seen us hugging because he had planning that period. Right before I left he asked me is I wanted to go to the movies next weekend. I told him I would have to think about it. What do you think i should do."

"I don't know. I'm not the one that likes a Professor."

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa... I didn't say I liked him. Weren't you listening? So should I go out with him or not?"

"Sorry. I was listening. I don't know if you should go out with him he's way older than you. Do you think you should follow your heart though."

"You don't know how old he is, do you?"

"No...you probably don't either."

"No, I don't, but i'll find out, he doesn't look that old."

I turned and walked the rest of the way up the stars. I got to my room and started remaking my bed. Just as I finished I heard someone shriek. It wasn't a brief shriek. It sounded like it someone was in organizing agonizing pain. I wasn't quite sure where the sound came from, then it came again. I knew where it was coming from-the bathroom-"Xander!" I shouted and ran toward the bathroom when I got to the bathroom door, I pounded on it.

"Go away." Came a sharp hiss.

"Xander. What's going on?" I called

"I said go away." he growled. I heard the sound of glass crashing. I couldn't stand it- the thought of him being in trouble-I needed to know if he was going to be okay. I ran down stairs and grabbed the extra key to the bathroom.

I got back up stairs and unlocked the door. I opened it to find a broken a window and 'No' Xander. Xander wasn't there, it was like he tried to escape. I looked at the window and pondered on how Xander could've fit through it. Something appeared out of nowhere it took me a minute to realize what it was. I climbed up onto the rim of the tub and pulled it of the windowsill it was a wold of fur covered in blood 'huh' I thought to myself. I looked out the window toward the woods in the darkness of night. I saw something sparkling in the darkness. I strained trying to see it better, but I couldn't make out what it was. I felt deep down that someone was watching me, ready to pounce at any moment. I shook my head as if to get rid of the thought, looked back out the window and the pair of eyes were gone.

*****
*Man what a day.* I thought to myself as I cleaned up the shattered glass and the window sill. I took the piece tarp, I got from down stairs and duck taped it to the window. I acknowledged that I would have to replace the window soon.
*****
"Layla, what are you doing?" I questioned her as I watched her throw her clothes over her shoulder landing all over her room.

"I'm looking for some. I think I know what's going on , and I have something that can help. Great here it is." She held of a necklace with a golden phoenix. "Here put this on," She stated.

"What's this and where did you get this." I questioned her.

"I've always had it." She said as I took the necklace from her. I turned the necklace over and over in the palm of my hand. I admired the designs. The phoenix's wings wrapped around the front of his body cupping the bottom of a full moon.

I slide the necklace over my head and it rested lightly on my chest. It stood out like a sore thumb with the gold lying against my black tank top.

"Repeat after me," Layla stated. I looked up from the necklace.

"Huh."

"Just repeat after me." She warned.

"Okay, whatever." I said

"Please, golden phoenix I asked you to help me find Xander, tell me how long I have to find him. Thank you golden phoenix." Layla, chanted.

I repeated what she just said. I began to go to feel light headed and a image appeared in front of me, it wasn't ant old image. the scene was a outline of a dog shape running threw the woods at night.

"You have three nights to find him. You'll have to travel by night, get started to night, and take Layla she'll be able to help." Came a unfamiliar voice. The Image vanished and Layla's room came back into view.

"He's being chased by a huge dog." I gasped.

"No, he isn't." Layla smiled

"What do you mean." I said, looking up from the floor so I was looking at her.

"I mean that's him."

"So what your trying to say is, he's a dog."

"Not exactly...he's a...a...a werewolf."

"Werewolves don't exist."

"Yes, they do and so do vampires."

"What?!"

"what I'm about to tell you is going to be overwhelming, but you need to know...your a vampire. The gene just hasn't kicked in yet, but the should real soon and when they do you won't be able to control your thirst. You might attack the first thing in sight...weather its human or animal and when that happens I might have to tie you down. Let's just hope that doesn't happen before we find Xander."

"Wait your saying I'm going to be a vampire? How do you know all of this your only five?"

"Yes, your going to be a vampire and I know I'm only five. I'm also five hundred years old. You see I'm not a vampire or a werewolf, but I'm not human either."

"What are you and how can you be five hundred? I was at that hospital when you were born.

"You see I'm a spirit and in the spirit world a human year is a hundred spirit years. I was sent here to help you. I know everything about everything. I was a scholar back in the spirit world. I was forced to learn everything I could about this world."

"This is too much, i'm going to bed." I said flatly.

"Wait!" She shouted at me.

"What."

"Did you forget. We only have three days to find Xander. Those three days start tonight, but we have an advantage he won't be traveling during the day and we can. Unless your genes kick in."

"My head is starting hurt. This is to much." I turned and headed for Layla's door.
*****
*Man, what a day?" I thought to myself as Layla and I walked around the corner, heading for the barn. If We are going to find Xander we are going to need horses. I won't be able to walk for seventy-two hours straight and we can't take the car into the woods.

Layla led Sparky out if his stall and tied him to a pole in the middle of the barn. Sparky is a stocky black and white painted stallion. I got Rosalina and tied her the pole next to sparky. While, she pranced happily behind me. Her coat was almost the color of magenta. She's a quarter horse mare. Sparky and Rosalina have lots of energy which makes them perfect for this job.

Layla and I though on the blanket and saddle on the two horses. I put the reins on while Layla ran inside and grabbed us some food, drinks, spare clothes, and sleeping supplies. We headed out.


***AUTHOR"S NOTE:*** This is the end of chapter one. They chapter's are long, between 15-25 pages and chapter 2 is from Keira's point of view and will be up soon. Will she get with the professor? Will she end up going on the same path as Serenity and Layla? And is there something off about her too? We shall see. Please rate and comment***P.S. This is my very first story it is still a working progress so please don't be to critical. Sorry about any typos I tried editing it.

Keira

"Serenity Beldare." Called professor Denozo. When he didn't get in answer he continued calling out the roll. When he got to my name he said. "Keira Lowell"

"Here." I called.

He looked up from the clipboard he had in his hand, and winked at me while have gave a shy smile, that was so cute I felt I was going to melt. I replied with a crooked smile and sank lower down into my seat, because I could feel my face turning bright red. I put both hands over my face and laughed briefly to myself.

"Let's began." Called professor Denozo. "Please turn to chapter 10 in your textbooks, page two-twenty-two. Can Someone please tell me what we'll be studying." My hand shot up and Professor Denozo called on me.

"Professor, we're studying 'How Earth began' right?"

"Very good Keira, we are, How did you know you haven't even opened your textbook yet?"

"I looked at the next chapter when we were on chapter nine."

"Okay, but you didn't have to answer that question, it was rhetorical. Would you all please read the chapter while I send a e-mail to my mother it's her birthday."

Everyone stated to read as Professor Denozo sat down in front of his computer, and began typing away. A few minutes later he clicks a few times and a piece of paper comes out of the printer Professor Denozo got up, stretched, than reached for the paper in the printer and grabbed the paper and folded it into thirds. He slipped it into an envelope and wrote something on it.

"I'm running to the office. Please, keep reading. I'll be back in five minutes." He said heading for the door. When I walked by my desk he stopped, check to see if anyone was watching, and pushed the envelope under my textbook and then disappeared through the door. I pulled the letter out and began to read it:

Dear Keira,
Please stay after class. I know
you have another class. I already
e-mailed the teacher to let her
know you'll be late. There's something
I want to talk to you about and
it's important so I don't want to
write it in this letter. You might
miss most of your next block, so I
hope you don't like that class.
Love,
Professor Denozo

I smiled to myself while I folded the paper back up. My heart began pound and I began to feel all warn inside. Kind of like my blood was racing or kind of like you feel when you drink hot cocoa on a cold morning, you get his warm sensation that everything's right.

"Your face is red. Are you okay?" The girl across from me ask.

"Huh? What?"

"Are you okay. Your face is red." She repeated.

"Yes!"

"Great!" she said. "Is there a problem?"

"No, I just embarrass easy."

"You want to talk about it."

"Nah!"

"Okay than, I'm jolly. Short for Joslyn and you are?"

"Keira nice to meet you!"

"Hey, where's the girl you were talking to all last week y'all seem like good friends."

"She's my best friend and I don't know where she is. She didn't show today."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

Ring, ring-ring, went the bell. I sighed a sigh of relief, but why? I don't want talk to Professor Denozo. Alone. I already know he likes me as more as than just a student. I know it's wrong to like a teacher, but I can't help myself. Which is why I'm trying to avoid him as much as I can.

I took my time getting my stuff together so the other student wouldn't get suspicious. When everyone was gone except Professor Denozo walked through the door.

"What's the problem? What do you need to talk to about?" I questioned seriously.

"Why don't you sit down. You don't have to though." He replied. I chose to stand

"I just the feeling..." He continued, "That you already know that I like you as more than a student, but why are you avoiding me?"

"What do you mean? I'm not avoiding you."

"Yes, you are. Okay, you participate in class. You answer most of the questions, if you know the answer to them, but in the hallway or on the street you avoid me. You don't say 'Hi' when I do. You walk pass me minding your own business. You don't smile or look at me, you don't acknowledge me at all."

"I'll explain, but your going to have to pay attention."

"Okay, good. Now for the story. Yes, I know you like me, I really like you, too, but I could never date you. You see, your my teacher and I'm your student and if we get caught. Well, the coincidences are to horrible to imagine and I know you already know what they are."

"Yeah, I know what the coincidences are and yes, they are horrible, but I don't care what the coincidences are. I like you and want to be with you. I'm twenty three and I can make my own choices."

"Oh, how sweet, but I have to say 'no' for one reason. If we get caught the law will be contacted, because I'm only seventeen and I'm considered a minor until I turn eighteen. When someone over eighteen dates a minor, they could be thrown into jail, because they consider it child rape.

"I know, If you just give me a chance I will keep it a secret until you turn eighteen."

"How many times do I have to tell you! The answers 'No." I shouted. "I'm sorry." I said more calmly"

"Whatever. If you don't want to date me, than fine, but I'm not giving up. I really, really like you."

"Whatever, now I've got to get to class." I turned and began to head for the door.
"Wait." He said flatly. he grabbed my right arm and spun me around violently to face him.

"What are you doing I quizzed him. He didn't answer. He held my arm with his right hand and he took his left hand and put it under my chain he lifted it enough, do that I was looking in his eyes.

What happened next made my head spin. He leaned over, with his hand still under my chin, and kissed me. Oh, so, passionately. He slowly moved his hand from arm to my lower back, when I relaxed. At first I was counting how the kiss lingered, but then I lost counted after five seconds. When He retreated and let me go. I fell to the floor- on my knees-gasping for breath. I looked up at him with curious eyes. "Wha..." I gasped not being able to think of anymore to say. He reached his right hand out toward me and waited until I grabbed a hold of it. When I did he pulled me up to my feet. My head was still spinning. So, I was unbalance. I fell into knocking him over, backwards. I landed on top of him. He began to laugh, softly at first than he got louder until he was laughing hysterically. I began to laugh along with him. When we stopped laughing and I calmed down. I got off of him and stood up. Than, reached down grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

ring, ring, ring. The bell sounded leaving a loud noise making my head feel like it's going to explode.

"Now, I really have to go. I missed all of forth block, and I don't want to miss fifth."

"Okay, I understand. I wouldn't have kept you the whole block, but I lost track of time, but before you go give me your hand. He grabbed it with his left hand than grabbed a permanent marker off his desk and jotted these digit on the back of my hand 3-8-6-9-0-1-1-5-9-0 than he wrote the word 'cell'

"Call me, please." he had a tone that sounded desperate.

"Okay." I stated simply and left with that.
*****
I'm headed for my car when heard someone called my name. "Keira." I turned around to find jolly sprinting toward me waving Hysterically.

"Hey, Jolly. What's up?" I wondered aloud

"Do you drive home."

"Yeah, why ?"

"Can I hitch a ride home with you. My brother's in the hospital and my parents can't come get me."

"Sure thing. That's not a problem."

I started walking again while she trotted along behind me. When we reach my car jolly climbed in on the passenger's side of the car and I, the drivers side . I turned the key in the ignition, the motor coughed then the engine roared and jumped to life. I pulled out of the school parking lot. "Your going to have to give me directions to your house." I warned Jolly.

"Yeah, I know. Turn right at the first red light."

"Okay, sure thing."

After I dropped jolly off at her house i headed home. I flew around corners and zipped passed cars. I made it to my house in half the time it usually takes me . I pulled into my drive way then parked in the garage. I turned the key and shut off the ignition.

My house, a two story off white, with a red wood door lined with a canopy of pink and red roses, reminding me of valentine's day. "What a day." I sighed, I twisted the golden door knob on the polished red wood door. When I opened the door, it squeaked. "Man. I need to change the hinges."

I live by myself. My parents both died when I was twelve and they left the house in my position. The house is paid off so I don't have a buy a house, but I do have to pay the light and the water bill. I work at a polishing company. I had a little sister who died of a weak heart when she was only two months old.

I went up stairs to the only phone I have, which is in my room. I picked up the receiver and punched in Serenity's number. The phone began to ring, I waited a minute, no answer. I waited another minute: Still, no answer. i hung up my receiver and grabbed my keys off the table next to the phone and headed back to the car.
*****
When I pulled into Serenity's yard, I climbed out of the car. I left it running, because I wasn't going to stay long, at all. I want to see what's up with Serenity. Why she wasn't she at school or answering the phone. That's just not like her. I walked up to the front door, it was wide open- lucky she lived in the middle of the woods, because is she lived in the open someone could just wonder in- I stepped across the threshold onto her her freshly polished wood floor.

"Serenity!" I called, but with my luck, I did not get an answer. I check the kitchen, she wasn't there. The living room, No. The patio, No. The headed up stairs to check her and Layla's room. They both were trashed. Clothes and knick-knacks everywhere. It looked like a tornado just came storming through. * Man what went bonkers.*

Back outside at the barn. I checked for Sparky, Layla's horse and Rosalina, Serenity's horse. "Where are they? Why is the house wrecked? And why are the horse's gone.
*****
I'm back in Serenity's house once again, but this i'm using her phone. I pounced in Jacob's number, (Professor Denozo) It rang only once before he answered. "Hello."

"Hey, Professor Denozo. It's Keira."

"Oh, hey Keira. I'm glad you called, but when your out of class please call me Jacob or, Jake. What's up?"

"Okay, Jacob. I don't have long and it's a long story, sort of. Are you still at the still."

"Yeah, I'm still here. What's going on?"

"Stay there, I'm on my way. I'll explain what's going on when I get there." With that I hung up the receiver, and headed toward the car.
*****
I arrived at school trying to hold back the tears that I felt coming on as I headed for Jacob's room. I reached for the door, not being able to hold back my tears any longer. So. I entered the classroom balling.

"What's wrong." Jacob asked curiously. He stood up from the chair He was sitting in behind his desk. I ran straight into his arms balling into his shoulder.

What's going on?" He wrapped his arms around me light, as if trying to comfort me. "You know you can tell me anything right?" He continued.

"Yeah." I gasped wiping my eyes with the pain of my right hand.

"Yeah, so whats wrong?" He questioned seriously.

"Serenity, and her little sister are missing." I choked through another sob.

"Whoa, Keira. Calm down and start from the beginning." I wiped my eyes, once more, and told him the whole story, form the very beginning. I started at the hospital and ended here at the school.

"Come on." He replied simply, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the door.

"Where are we going?" I questioned him.

"To find Serenity."

"Thank you." I said choking back the last of my sobs. "Can we get Jolly, first."

"Sure, Who's Jolly?"

"A friend, she's in your class, Joslyn, remember."

"Oh, Joslyn, nice girl." He winked at me as we scrambled down the deserted hallway. I gave him a shy smile.
*****
When we arrived at Jolly's house I knocked on the door. A minute later a going girl, of four stood in the open door way.

"Yes." She asked in the cutest voice ever.

"Is Jolly home.' I asked.

"Mommy." The little girl shouted.

"Coming" I heard someone shout back.

I began to hear foot steps and her vice again, but this time closer, "Who is it, Miranda?"

"You have a visitor." Miranda answered.

Jolly walked into the door way as Miranda moved to the side.

"Serenity, what's up?" She said while she scammed me with her eyes. Her eyes stopped when they got to about the height of my hip her mouth dropped. I looked down and noticed I was still holding Jacob's hand. I snatched my hand away embarrassed.

"Can I speak to you alone." I said briefly.

"Sure...follow me."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me through the door and up a flight of stairs, that squeaked as we went. At the top we turned the corner and entered a room. The room was blue with tweety bird everywhere.

"What's going on?" She asked curiously.

"Get packing. I'll explain, and hurry we still have to run to my house to get my stuff. Then, to Jacob's to get his. Why did Miranda call you mommy. How old are you?"

"Miranda is my daughter I'm eighteen she was born when I was fourteen. Okay now that I answered your question, what up with you and Professor Denozo? Why are you calling him Jacob?"

"Where are sort of dating and if you tell a single soul your dead. I mean that."

"I won't tell a single soul, but since when? How?"

"Today, I don't know how. Now to the important stuff. Serenity and her little sister, Layla, are missing. I don't know where they are. When I went over to her house there rooms were trashed, so we're going to look for them. I might take a few days, because I have no clue where they are and they also got a head start."

"Finished!" She shouted as she zipped her last suitcase shut.

I held out my arms so that my palms were facing up and she loaded all four suitcase in my arms so that is was blocking my face. "Great now I can't see." I said melodramatically.

She ignored me and we headed for the door, I followed her. Peeking around the bags trying to she where I was going. I get the top of the stairs and when I went to take the first step and went tumbling down the flight of stairs. I heard someone shout "Keira!" before I blocked out.

Upon waking up I could feel my whole body aching expectantly, my right shoulder. I took my left hand and gently lifted up the sleeve. I looked at my left hand and gently lifted up the sleeve. I looked at my arm and there was a tattoo of a black wolf sitting on his hunch's, howling at a fullmoon. I was bewildered, where did the tattoo come from and why do I have it? I don't know, but I attended to find and by the time I find Serenity and Layla. I told myself.

"You okay?" Jolly questioned.

"Yeah, I just hurt." I replied. She bent down and helped me up. Jacob who had been leaning against the wall with a worried look on his face, grabbed the bags and followed us out the front door.

Jolly helped me into the front seat while Jacob tossed her bags in the back. She climbed into the back seat and let out a sigh of relaxation. "Man, what a day?"

"Yeah, I know, I'm the one that hurts."

"I'm sorry that happened."

"All I remember is losing my footing and waking up on the floor, swore."

"I'm sorry."

"You better be, its your fault!" I snapped.

"Oh, come on. It was an accident. I didn't think you were going to trip."

"You got that right. You didn't think." My voice was so fierce that she retreated, but I ignored her and continued talking. "Your so glad I didn't break my neck or something else, but I'm going to wake up tomorrow bruised."

"Like, I said, I'm sorry."

I ignored her and looked out the side window, as Jacob raced down the road to my house. I realized that it was to quiet, so I reached over and turned the radio to a country station and went back to staring out the window.

A minute later, I hear the radio turn off. I looked up the see Jacob staring at me with deep dark eyes. "What?"

"That was mean." He stated coldly.

"I don't know what your talking about." I stated automatically.

"You know exactly what he is talking about." He stated plainly.

"So what. I don't care if that was mean and most of all I don't care about you or jolly. I just want to find Serenity and Layla and get back to my life."

I felt the anger surge up in my very soul. I felt like hitting him, but I resisted. I held held until I couldn't hold back any longer and my right arm went flying into his nose. The next I realized was the blood leaking slowly threw the figures of his hands as held his hands ever his nose.

"What the hell, Keira." he shouted "Ouch!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I was angry." I apologized Sincerely.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not. I've never done that before no matter how mad I've gotten."

I realized that the car was about to run off the road into a tree. So I grabbed the steering wheel trying to jerk it back onto the road, but the car spun out of control and Jacob's side of the car hit the tree at a accelerated force of sixty miles per-hour. The impact caused Jolly to hit the windshield so hard that it cracked and she landed in my lap.

"I'm going to kill you all. I hate humans and there all going to soon be exterminated from the planet." She hissed threw her teeth before she lost conscience. I sighed and turned toward Jacob he was holding his left arm with his right one as if he broke it. He began to say something, but he blocked before he could finish. My head began to throb with pain and I blacked out from the pain.

I woke a little while later, my head throbbing. "Ooh! My head. Where am I?"

"Your at the hospital." The nurse stated as she walked around the corner carrying a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. "You have a moderate concussion please take the aspirin and try to get some rest."

"Where's Joslyn Mitchells and Jacob Denozo?"

"They're fine. Joslyn had to get some stitches and Jacob shattered his left arm in three different placed, which will take about six months to heal, but other then that they are fine."

"Thanks." I relied, falling back to sleep.

"Keira, honey, wake up its time to go." I opened my eyes to see jacob standing over me.

"What? I questioned.

"Oh, Okay." I climbed out of the bed, but I fell to the floor not realize that my head was still spinning.

"You, Okay." Jake and Jolly both asked at the same time.

"Yeah. my heads still spinning though." They picked me up and lead me out to the car.
***
We went to my house and got my stuff, but I was super nervous about Jacob knowing where I live. When I got done we went to his house.

He lived in a one story brick house with one bedroom, a small living, a small kitchen, and one restroom from the outside it looked to be only big enough for a dwarf, not a human.

"Nice house." I commented.

"Thanks." He replied as we walked up the path to the door.

"It's small enough."

"Yeah I know, but it's the perfect size for me."

He grabbed my left hand and smiled at me, and I couldn't help but to smile back.
***
We're on the road ounce again. Headed toward the woods on the out the out skirts of town. I don't why we're going to start looking there, but I have a feeling we are going to the right place.

"How do you know. We're going to the right place." Jolly and Jake both asked me, at the same time.

"I don't know if we're going to the right place, but I have a feeling we are and I have a feeling we're going to find them soon."

"What are..." Jacob started.

"I can't explain how or why so don't think about asking."

He didn't reply but he kept watching the road.

"Hey, Jolly." I questioned her.

"What?" She replied turning to face me.

"Did you mean what you said before you passed out."

"What?"

"Did you mean when you said 'I'm going to kill you all.'"

"What are you talking about I never said that."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't."

"Yes, you did, but I'm not going to fight with you over this, so lets just drop it."

She didn't answer me so I took that as a okay, and looked out the window once again.

I began to daydream , a picture of a girl sat in the front of a computer. She had light brown hair the cascaded down her back. The curls bounced freely when she laughed, but most of the time she had the saddest look on her face that would make you want to cry. As she typed on the keyboard you could tell by the look on her face that there was something going on, that something was breaking her heart. I didn't know what and I didn't know why, but it was both sad and romantic at the same time. She sat in front of the computer and just started at the screen as if waiting for a reply. You could tell she was about to start crying, but trying hard not to. When she couldn't hold em back any longer when they came she got up and curled up on the bed behind her, crying.

"Keira?"

"Huh? What" I said, wondering where I was.

"We're here." Jacob said

"Oh, Okay"

He climbed out of the car, walked around to my side, opened the door and helped me out. Jolly behind us we walked to the woods.

Xander

I felt a powerful energy well up inside of me making me feel like I was going to explode. My vision began to fail me and I began to feel like something was ripping me to shreds from the inside out. I let out a loud painful shriek that made my ears feel like the were going to burst.

"Xander?" I heard someone called worriedly

"Go away!" I shouted

"Are you okay?" Came the voice again, With a hint of panic in it.

"I said go away!" I hissed, and crashed through the bathroom window and sprinted for the woods. When I reached the trees I turned around and I could see Serenity as clear as day, and it was pitch black outside, She was looking out the window straight at me. It Was like my 20/20 vision was a hundred times better, and my hearing? I could hear the birds, their mild chirps made my ears pound. I could hear the feet of the insects running across the ground. I could hear the wind in the trees and the rushing of water in a stream miles away.

I looked down and realized that I was on all-fours-kind of like a dog. I tried to let out a cry of help but instead it came out as a sad howl. I didn't know what was happening to me, but I intended to find out and as soon as I possibly could, and why it was happening to me.

I began to run at a speed I don't actually know, but I was probably running at a speed of a cheetah or faster. I was going fast. It was hard to maneuver around a corner without crashing into a tree, so when I rounded a corner I would use the power of my legs to keep me from colliding with a tree.

The night seemed to quiet, with the animals asleep and the wind still. The Only thing I heard was the crackle and pop of the leaves beneath my feet as I ran.

Crrraack! I heard a tree branch snap and I froze in my tracks. The Sound was not created by me. I had no clue what made the sound, but what I know was that it had to be something big.

An animal rounded the tree snarling at me. It look like a huge wold with snow white fur and a light-blue grayish strip that started between it's ears and extended down the middle of it's back to the very tip of it's tail.

"Well I'll be." Came a melodic famine voice

"what?" I choked. "You can talk?"

"Yes, but only to other werewolves, and you can understand me."

"Yes, I understand you." It wasn't a question but I answered anyway.

"Do you know what that means?" The wolf questions.

"Let me take a wild guess. I am a werewolf, right?"

"Right" She replies

"What? How?" I question, completely dumbfounded

"I'll explain in a minute, but first whats your name?" She asked curiously

"Xander, and you are?"

"Meeka" She said happily

"Well, nice to meet you Meeka."

"You too, Xander."

"Do you have any idea where I am?" I asked, curiously, but hey *curiosity killed the cat, right*

"Yeah, your in Timber Wood."

"Hey, you want to race?"

"Sure, But I'd better warn you, I am fast."

"so What. I bet I'm faster."

"You want to make a bet?" I'll leave your newbie butt in the dust."

"Whatever!" I stated sarcastically.

"Ready...Set..."

"Wait I'm not ready!"

"Too bad...Go!" She shouted and took off deeper into the woods. I took off right behind her. Staying on her tail for most of the race because it was to narrow move past her and the sharp turns that she took caused her to brush up against the trees anyways. We soon came to a space wide enough, barely, but still wide enough to fit threw. I decided to try and pass her while I had the chance. I slowly eased up my speed, so that she wouldn't realize I was trying to pass her. I eased up next her as my chance to pass her declined because the tree were starting to get narrow again. At the last second I shot forward and passed her, not she was stuck following me. We ran for another five minutes before we come to a field with a run down house that looked more like it had caught on fire and not that long ago either.

"Stop!" Meeka shouted from behind me. I slide to a stop just as Meeka came into the clearing behind me..

"What?" I questioned

"I said stop!" She snapped at me.

"I know what you said, but why?" I snapped back.

"Because this is where the race ends."

"Oh, sorry."

"No problem, follow me."

"Where are we going?" I asked stupidly. I knew what the answer was going to be.

"Inside." She replied showing her dog like fangs. I followed her up to what was suppose to be a door, but instead of a door there was a big hole in the wall.

"Man, what happened." I questioned out of curiosity.

"I had to knock the door out so i could get in." she chuckled

"Whoa, my bad."

It's okay, come on." She said walking throught the door, I followed her in. The inside looked nothing like the outside.

The inside consisted of two rooms. The floor had a mattress in the far corner covered with a fitted sheet, and cover sheet, a pillow and light blanket. In the middle of the room was a small couch that could only sit two people, three if they we're kids, and a small twelve inch television. On the wall up above the bed was a picture of a man and woman holding a little blonde head girl. "Who is this?" I questioned pointing to the picture. Meeka looked up from the floor at me.

"Oh, that's me with, oh you can call them my parents. In a way." She said with a sad tone in her voice.

"What do you mean by 'parent's in a way'?"

"it's a long story."

"I've got time."

"Okay, when I was Five my real parents disowned me and kicked me out of the house. I had no or no place to go. All I had was my favorite teddy bear which I'd Names 'Beary' and a small zip-loc bag of oreo cookies and candy. With that I started off down the road cry my eyes out. I came across an alley that had an empty box in it. I grabbed the box and pulled it away from the wall and curled up in it still crying. I sat in that box for the next three days watching people walk right passed me ignoring me and my cries of help. Until, I fell asleep on the third night, because when I woke up the next morning. I was in a queen sixe bed, and I was actually warn for the first time in three days, and I had clean clothes on. I was still dirty and my breath stunk and my hair was a rats nest, but I didn't care. I had actually gotten a decent night of sleep and woke up smiling. I found a note on the table next to the bed that told me to go down to the kitchen and it gave me directions to the kitchen. When I got there, the people in the picture were there. when they heard me come in they turned around and smiled at me. The woman told me site down at the table and when I did she sat a plate of food in front of me. I thanked her, and she just smiled and said, "you enjoy it okay. You look like your straving." I smiled back and took a bite of the grits which was very refreshing. They asked me why I was sleeping in a box on the street. I told them the whole story and they said I could live with them on one condition, I'm to go to school. I agreed and that picture was taken the first time we went to the beach. It the only thing I have left of them." She finished and I ran the whole story over again in my head.

"What happened to them." I questioned

"They Parished in a fire." Tears welled up in her puppy dog eyes. I waked up to her and rested my nosal behind her neck so she could rest her head on my shoulder. "It's okay." I said trying to comfort her. I stood there for the next few minutes letting her cry, until she was ready to move. When she retreated she took her right paw and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I guess talking about still gets to me." She said wiped her eyes again.

"It's okay, It's not your fault. I hope you don't mind me asking, but when did the fire happen?" I asked her not expecting an answer, but i got one.

"It occured almost two years ago. In a month it will be two years. it still hurts to talk about it, but everytime I do the pain lessens a little more. I know one thing for sure, that I will never forget them or what they did for me they'll always have a place in my heart, because them I'm who I am today."

"I know what your talking about."

She walked over to the couch and curled up it was to small for me to fit, because she covered the whole couch by herself, so I crawled up on the floor next to her and fell asleep within the next five minutes.

                                                                     *********

The next morning I woke with the sun glaring clear in my eyes. I opened my eyes and rubbed them and when I did I felt skin on skin not fur on fur. I stood up and looked at myself. I was human again, but completely naked.

"Ah!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs. "What's...What's going on!" Meeka sprung from her sleeping slumber on the couch and her human from but completely cothes. She looked at me and screamed, "where are your clothes."

As soon as I heard her say that I sprung for her mattress grabbed her cover sheet and wrapped it around me, tripping on the way. Meeka began to laugh, but when she stopped she said, "Did you hear me? I said where are your clothes." 

"Oh crap, Now I remember I was in the shower when I transformed-If that's what you call it-and I didn't know what was happening so I panicked and broke threw Serenity's bathroom window."

"Who's Serenity? And it's okay that you dont have any clothes. I have a pair of old shorts of my father that I sleep in, but you can wear them!"

"Serenity's the girl I like." I replied.

"Is she your girlfriend" Meeka asked as she dug threw a pile of clothes next to her so-called-bed.

"Not yet." I replied.

"What do you mean 'not yet'?" She said as she tossed the shorts over her shoulder, "Put those on I won't look until you finish."

"Okay, I haven't had a chance to tell her I like her yet." I replied and threw the shorts on and tapped her on the shoulder and spun around and said, "Those shorts suit you well." 

"Thank you." I replied.

"Sorry, I don't have a shirt."

"It's okay."

"I'm getting hungry let's go into town. I know a place were we can eat free, because I'm friends with the owners daughter. She is actually quite the character, but I'll tell you about her later. Lets get moving. Breakfast hour will end in forty five minutes."

She grabbe my hand and pulled me through the hole in the wall, and into the wood behind the house. She kept pulling me for at least five more minutes, until walked out of the woods into an adorable little town. In the middle of nowhere. There wasn't much in the toen, but there was enough. It had a few stores and resturaunts, and some homes.

Meeks pulled me up to the door of a small resturaunt. A sign on the doorsaid, 'Welcome, come in whenever and stay as long as you want.' Meeks pushed the door open with both hands and walked in. I followed het to a table in the far right corner. The seats we're faded from being sat on so much, but they were soft.

A of the early twenties came to there booth. Her hair came down to her mid-back in a cascade of waves. Her bangs the same length and tucked behind her ears. Her emarls green eyes sparkled bright as she said: "Good morning, Meeka. Who's this."

Meeka smiled and replied, "Hollyah this is Xander. Xander this is Hollyah."

"It's nice to meet you, Xander." Hollyah said as she put her hand out toward I took her hand and shook it. "It's nice to meet you to Hollyah, that's a pretty name."

"Thanks."

We told her our order and she bounced off toward the kitchen happily humming to herself.

"She seems to be in a good mood." I said to Meeka.

"Yeah she's like that all the time if she's not like that then you know something's wrong."

"That's good it's better to be happy then sad all the time."

Hollyah came back with out trays of food five minutes later.

"Hey Hollyah?" Meeka called her getting her attention.

"Yeah?" She questioned Meeka back.

"Would you like to stay the night?"

"Sure." With that simple reply she ran back to the kitchen. Meeka turned and looked back at me and I just stared at her.

"What" She said suddenly.

'Why did you do that? You know tonight is another fullmoon don't you?"

"Yes, I do and it's not a problem."

"What do you meam?"

"Hollyah knows I am a werewolf. In a way she's my sister. There's something special about her too, I just can't tell you she'll have to do that. Plus, speaking of fullmoon there's something I need to tell you."

"Oh! What?"

"After tomorrow night you will be able to control your informations. All you have to do is concentrate. You see have already been through my first three transformations so I don't have to transform tonight if I don't have to, but you will, so when she comes back you check want to tell her you're a werewolf too."

"Okay, sure thing!" One question though."

"What's that."

"What's the purpose of me actually becoming a werewolf."

"Oh that, that's easy the purpose of you becoming a werewolf is because you have to hunt and kill your enemies, or anything that's evil. Could be vampires, spirit, shapeshift, ex cetera."

"Huh?"

"You have to fight against the forces of evil."

"Oh."

Just than hollyah comes trotting back over to the table and handed us the check, of course we didn't have to pay it, and turned around to leave, but I stop her and she looked at me and said, "Yes, how may I help?"

"Can I ask you something?" I quizzed

"Sure." She replied, starring at me with cautious eyes.

"Meeka told me that you know she was a...a werewolf.

"Yeah, what about it."

"Well I have to tell. I am just like her."

"What do you mean...your not a werewolf too are you?" She exclaimed and her eyes about popped out of her head.

"Yeah, I am and I just went through my first transformation last night so I won't be able to control tonights or tomorrow nights."

"Why are you telling me this?" She choked.

"Because your staying the night with Meeka tonight and I'll be there so I didn't want to take you by surprise when I transformed."

"Oh, that's all."

"Yeah for right now." I gave my final answer, but Meeka told her something before she ran off once again.

Meeka grabbed my hand ounce again and drub me out of the dinner and turned right. Still holding on to my hand ahe began to run faster. When we came a fork in the road she took another right then continued down the road.

"Where are we going?" I asked, threw my gasp for air.

"You'll see. Now, keep running." She replied.

We ran for about five more minutes until she suddenly turned onto a driveway and ran up to a door with a sign over it that said, "Community pool."

"What are you doing here?" I questioned.

"Going swimming. Hollyah's father owns this pool also and it's closed during the day, but Hollyah gave me a key so i could go any time I wanted, so it be just us."

She didnt wait for me to reply. Instead she unlocked the door, drug me threw it and she puches me toward the boys bathroom and said, "walk threw there to get to the pool I'll meet you out there in thirty second." With that she disappeared into the girls bathroom. I sighed and walked through the boys bathroom to the pool. Meeka wasn't out there yet so I sat down on the edge of the pool and struck my feet in the pool about ten seconds later. She walks around the corner. I stood up and waved at her.

When she got to me she began to pull her red spaghetti - strap tank - top over her head and all the way off than gracefully dropping it to the floor. She began to unbutton the black mini shorts and as graceful as a swan she began to wriggle out of them until she was standing there in only a pair of black underwear and a black demi-bra.

"You gonna get in?" She questioned.

"Nah! Not right now. I thank I'm gonna sit right here and watch you." I said.

"Okay, suit yourself." she said, and dove in the pool. She swam above water until she got to the shallow and then she dove under the water.

I closed my eyes and began to think about Serenity and how she must be worriwd to death about me. Man, i missed her so much. I really would love to see her again. I wonder what she is doing right now."

I was so zoned out that I didn't know what was going on around me. I didn't hear Meeka come up or feel her grab my wraists and snatched me into the pool. The next thing I knew was I was trying to catch my breath, nbut instead I was coughing from swallowing the water. She was laughing.

"That wasn't funny!" I shouted at her when I caught my breath.

"yes, it was." She said still laughing.

"No, it wasn't!" I shouted again.

"Oh, lighten up and race me to the shallow end." She smiled slyly at me

"Fine, if you promise you won't do that again."

"Okay, I promise." She said crossing her bird and index figure.

One, two, three we set off racing to the shallow end and to my own surprise I made her eat her bibbles by the time I'd touched the wall in the shallow end. She was only half way there.
I walked to the middle of the shallow end and waited for her to reach the wall when she did she stood up in the water, turned and walked over to me.

"Why so slow?" I joked

"Shut up!" She said playfully. Jumoing on me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.

"What are you doing?" I gasped the question in surprise. I could feel my body tense up an I knew if I could she could too. I stared at her wide-eyed waiting for an answer. she just smiled and took her right hand from behind my neck and held up her index figure to my lips and said, "shh!"

She slowly moved the hand from my mouth to my forehead than running her silky fingers threw my hair, behind my ear, and under my chain and held her hand there to make that I was looking her straight in the eyes and not trying to look away.

She leaned in slowly at first, but her face got closer to mine, she sped up a little. I tensed up even more when I began to feel her breath on my lips. She ignored my tension and kept moving closer. Than images of her and Serenity started flooding my mind. I finally felt her lips mine, soft at first then harder. When she retrieved about fifteen second later I was still tense, but I could feel the tension ease off and a smile began to stretch across my face. I began toward her not being able to control myself. She leaned in too, and our lips touched  we kissed passionately and I moved my head hands from my waist and put them on hers. . She moved her right hand from my hand and put it behind my neck. Her head fell to the right as mine fell to the left. I felt her tongue touched the tip of my lips. I slowly opened mine so that her tongue fit into my mouth. Keeping our lips together she began to move her tongue around mine as I did the same. My feet began walking backwards as if they had a mind of there own when my back hit the wall she retrieved her tongue, but kept kissing me for a few more seconds. Then retrieved completely. With my hands still still on her waist she did a back bend until her head was completely submerged under water. When she came back up she gave me a brief kiss and wrapped her arms back around my neck. My hands were still around her waist so we stood there the next couple of minutes just hugging, but when I realized what just happened I jerked away from her as fast as I could.

"What did you do that for?" I hissed the question at Meeka.

"Because I like you." She replied simply

"You know that I like Serenity and I'm going ask her to be my girlfriend. You should've never done that!" I didn't like yelling at her but I could help myself.

"Jeez, you can't blame all of this on me you kissed me back didn't you or am I wrong?"

"Of course I started it if I didn't I wouldn't have known if you like me or not."

"Well I think that just spoiled your chances of getting me to like you as nore than a friend. I'm not the type of guy that goes for women who threw themselves at men."

She didn't reply, but instead she climbed out of the pool and began to put her clothes. I climbed out behind her than followed out the door.

On the way back to her place we didn't say. Which was a kind of nice. I actually got a chance to study the town. When Meeka was dragging me every which way. Meeka, who was a few feet ahead of me turned around and faced me. I stopped walking and wondered. I was expecting her to say something but for five minutes straight she didn't say anything, She just stared at me.

"What do you want?" I questioned her.

"I want to say I'm sorry. I'm know I already said it but I wanted to say it again. Sometimes I lose control of myself and I'll do something super crazy out of the blue."

"It's okay, I forgive you, but made my mad is that you knew I like Serenity and you threw yourself at me."

"I know and I'm sorry."

"I told you I forgive you, but lets just stick with being friends."

"Okay." She smiled

I tooked a step forward than continued until I reached Meeka's side and we proceeded toward her place.

                                                   ******

She was walking threw the door when she tripped on a lose peace of wood she hadn't noticed. I chuckled to myself so she wouldn't hear me. I bent down and put my left hand around her waist and pulled her up. "Are you, okay." I asked her causiously.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a klusts." She chuckled, with my arm still around her waist I lead her threw the door and to the couch. When she was seated I removed my arm and sat down next to her lucky we were dry or the couch would be wet from our clothes

"Thanks." She smiled

"No problem." I replied smiling back.

She got up and walked up to the television and dug threw the pile of movies that were sitting on the floor next to the television. She founf the movie she was looking for and stuck it into the D.V.D player. She pressed play and sat back down.

"What are we watching?" I asked out of curiousity, but her 'curiousity killed the cat, right?'

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Have you seen it?"

"Nope."

"You'll love it."

"I know. I have a feeling I will. I have been wanting to see it since I heard about it. I have seen "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wordrobe. I liked it."

The movie came on and I shut up. Thirty minutes into the movie Meeka was sound asleep and by the time the movie was over I was asleep, too."

Serenity

I shivered a chill ran down my back. "I should've put on a long sleeve shirt before we left." I said aloud, but to no one inparticular. The next thing I knew was that a blanket thrown into my face. I removed the blanket and looked at Layla she had a giddy smile on her face.

"Thanks, but could've warned me." I chuckled and wrapped the blanket around my shoulders. I immediately began to warm up.

"Come on, Serenity we've gotta get out of here." Layla said to me as she kicked Sparky into a steady trot. I kicked Rosalina into the same trot right behind her. We raced acroos my back yard and into the woods behind our house. We slowed down to a walk when we came up to the woods, pulling our horses to a complete stop.

"You ready, because once we go in there, there's no turning back and there's no telling what will happen. A forest is unpredictable and very dangerous."

"Yeah, I'm ready and I'm positive about it, lets get moving."

"Okay." She said to me, then whispered in Sparky's ear, "Come on boy lets get moving." Nudging him with the heel of her cowboy boot. He eased into a steady walked and disappeared threw the trees. I followed right behind her.

"Hey, Layla?" I questioned.

"What." She said, the horse kepted walking, but she looked back at me.  

"Do you have any idea where we're headed?"

"Nope, you have the necklace, remember? Use it?"

I reached into my pocker and pulled a necklace of a golden phenoix cupping a fullmoon with it's wings. I dropped Rosalina's rains and slide the chain of the necklace over my head and down my neck so that the phenoix rest in the middle of my chest on my heart I grabbed Rosalina's rains with my left and putting the right hand on the phenoix and said aloud, "Golden Phenoix, please give a clue to were Xander might be?"

The scene arround disappeared and a picture of burnt house in a feild of green grass surrounded it. even though I house was burnt but it looked stable. I thanked the golden Pheniox and the image disappear. The familar woodsy scene came back into view I began to shiver and realized that the blanket and slipped off my shoulders and onto rosalina's rear end. I picked the blanket up and wrapped it around my should again.

"So, what did the golden Phenoix tell you this time?" Layla asked. Looking back at me, she smiled.

"that he was in a burnt abandoned building, but the house seemed pretty steady. It was in a clearing of a group of woods, but the golden phenoix didn't tell me in which forest the house is so we better move faster if we want to find him in time."

"Okay, but we can't move much faster right now because of how tightly packed the trees are, but we speed up as soon as we can."

"Fine." I said clamly.

I glinced down my watch on my wrist it was midnight no wonder I straving. "Hey, Layla?" I called.

"What do you want now?" She said sarcastically

"Do you have anything to eat in that baggage? I'm straving."

She groaned and rolled her eyes but begin to dig threw her sadlle bags. She found a packed of peanut butter crackers and tossed them atme I caught them, but bearly.

"Thanks." I called to her, but she ignored me. *Man, what's got her ticked.* I thought to myself. Her short blonde curls bounced in the rhythm of the horses movement and glimmered when the moon hit it threw  the breaks in the tree tops. She suddenly rounded  a corner and all of her hair moved to one side reveiled a tattoo of a little girl in a flowing white dress and a buttonweed flower in her hair.

"Layla, since when did you get a tattoo?" I asked. Trying to keep my voice normal.

She turned ounce agai , but this time she smiled and said, "Oh, this old thing.  I've always had it." She touched the back of her neck. 

"I never noticed it before."

"I know"

"Does that tattoo have a meaning behind it?"

"Yeah, every spirit has to same tattoo then only thing thats different is the dress and the different, but the same color as the dress. The dress and flower represents our power, You see, white is light and our flower is the buttonweed flower. Black is darkness, there flower is the black rose. Red is fire, there flower is cyress vine flower. Blue is water, there flower is the cornflower. Green is Earth, ans there flower is the lime green spray mums. Yellow has the power of lightning with the Stell D'oro Daylily as there flower. Purple is engery, the flower is the passion flower. Pink is wind and the fourth natural element, there flower is the sand-plain gerardia and the last one is orange, the power of animals the flower is the mexican sunflower. That's all. Any question?"

"Yeah. One"

"What is it?"

"What do you mean by 'power of animals.'"

"Oh, that. Spirit's with that power can speak to animals. They can summon animals."

"Oh, cool,"

"Yeah, but that power is very rare. So your lucky if you get it."

"Cool" I said again.

She nodded at me than nudged. Sparky who let out a grumbly knae. "Oh, don't complain Sparky and get moving, Now!" Layla grouched back at Sparky and nudged him again forcing him to move forward I asked Rosalina to follow and she did as she was told.

We walked for about five more minutes with no talking, completely silent. I began think about Xander. Well, actually, worry. I couldn't shake the thought of him in trouble. I know it was stupid and that he would be just fine.

All of the suddenly out of no where my heart flopped and pounded my chest. I put my right hand over my chest and gasped for air. Layla turned and looked at me with curiousity in her eyes." Are you, okay."

"Yeah, I think so."

"What happened."

"I'm not really sure. I think my heart just flopped."

"Maybe your exsaulted."

"I don't know."

"Well do you think you okay, now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, then lets continue."

This both horses complained, but they walked on. They were getting tired of walking and stopping and walking. Suddenly Rosalina stopped and wouldnt budge. "come on Rosalina, lets keep going." She started panicking as if something bad was about to happen. I started talking to her softly trying to get her to calm down, but she kept freaking out. Then, out of heart flopped and than began to skip beats. I started gasping for air, but couldn't get any. Layla just turned and looked at me when I fell off of the horse and hot the grounded.

"Serenity!" She shouted in a panick. She threw herself of the horse and to my side. Her tiny hands were around my waist tryying to hold me up off the ground.

"Serenity!" She shouted again, "Are you, Okay!"

I could hear her, but I couldn't answer so I shook my head, lightly, "No." I could feel my whole body go numb as I kept gasping for her air and my head began to fell light headed and I gasped for air one last time before I passed out.

                                             ******

When I woke the next morning, everything seemed twice as bright. Everything seemed to glow vigeriously. When my eyes adjusted everything seemed clearer, but it was still to bright and my eyes still hurt. The way everything smelt seemed sharper. I could smell things I never smelled before and the things I had smelled before were extra powerful.

Then I also realized that my hearing was sharper, too. I could hear the little rabbits running threw the brush and the insects crawling and buzzing around. I put my hands on my head and tried to black out everything, but couldn't. My head pounded and I moaned loudly

When I realized I was laying down I sat up, and I could tell that I was in a tent. The door of the otent was closed so it wasn't all that bright, but it was brighter then usual. I stretched and sighed.

Layla walked threw the door causing the sunlight to flood the tent When the sunlight hit my eyes. I let out aloud complaining moan.

"Oh, sorry!" She exclaimed

"What happened? Where are we?" I questioned, my voice sounded hourse.

"We are in the tent I brought along."

"Okay, but what happened? My eyes hurt when the sun hits them, my smell and hearing is way sharper, and I am straving and I don't know what I am craving."

"Here, I think I knew what might help you figure it out."

She crawled over to so that her face was near mine. She grabbed my hand and put it over my heart. I constracted on what she was trying to do then I realized I couldn't feel a heart beat.

"I dont have a heart beat." I gasped.

"I know."

I don't know why I didn't realize it until now, but Layla didn't smell like herself. She unually smelled like cinniamon, but this time she smelled of something sweet and warm, but I couldn't decipher out what that smell was. My stomach being to growl, as is to telling me she was hungery

Out of the blue, I jumped Layla pushing her to the ground with her hand pinned over her head. I growled at her and she shouted, "Hey, Get off of me. Now!" I just hissed at her. She took her feet and kicked me so hard that I went flying into the wall of the tent behind me. I got back up hissed in anger and lunged myself back at Layla but before I reached she she threw a dead rabbit at me. It was still warm so I knew it was just killed.

Imprint

Publication Date: 12-10-2011

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
All of my friends. You have supported me and encouraged me to keep writing.