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| 3 years ago |

First Day of Highschool

~~~~~~~~~

I checked my reflection in the mirror once again.

My brown eyes seemed wider than usual my pulse was racing.

Today was officially going to be my first day of High-school.

"You know, this is the tenth time you've checked yourself in the mirror." Megan's voice interrupted.

I sighed, "I don't know why I feel so anxious today. It's just the start of another school year, there's no need to be nervous right?"

Danielle's laugh broke through my rambling, "Are you sure you're nervous because it's the first day of high-school and it has nothing to do with Hunter coming back from football-camp after three months?"

I had been friends with Danielle and Megan ever since I could remember. The three of us were really close, we were practically sisters.

I scowled at Danielle, trying to mask my creeping blush. There was a jittery feeling in my stomach when I remembered Hunter.

Ugh, what is wrong with me?

"Hunter is just a friend and there's nothing going on between us?" I snapped.

Megan giggled, "Why not? You guys would be great together."

I scoffed.

"Are you seriously trying to set me up with your brother?" I demanded and she just shrugged sheepishly.

Hunter was Megan's elder brother. They had moved into the house across from ours ten years ago and we'd been inseparable ever since.

We made our way downstairs towards the dining hall.

"Hey mom!" I greeted my mother with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello girls." My mother smiled warmly, "Come on, have some breakfast."

"Where's dad?" I asked suddenly realizing his absence.

My mother's happy expression faltered a little.

"He went to work early." Her voice sounded strained.

Something was wrong.

Did she have a fight with dad?

I refrained myself from asking in front of Danielle and Megan.

I would be lying if I said I didn't have a nice life. I had a nice house, amazing parents, some really great friends and I did well in school.

If only I knew that a few weeks from now everything would change. I would have been a lot more grateful.

~~~~~~~~~

The three of us exited the car. The school parking lot was buzzing with students like usual.

I smiled as I took everything in.

As much as I loved vacations, it felt good to be back.

"Where are the guys anyway? Danielle asked suddenly.

"They had to go early for football practice." Megan responded, suddenly she looked upset.

"Tristan and Hunter got into a fight again this morning." She told us sullenly.

"Tristan's home?" I asked, surprised.

Tristan was Megan and Hunter's step-brother. Their mother had married his father. Tristan was a couple of years older than us and he was in college. His college was in a different state so he hardly ever came home. I'd never really had a proper conversation with him but he was usually really polite, for some unknown reason Hunter couldn't stand him.

That's when I heard him.

"Scar!"

My heart jumped.

His voice was a little deeper than before but I knew it was him right away.

"Hunter!" I called out excitedly.

The next thing I knew I'd been lifted up into a strong pair of arms. I immediately melted into the embrace.

I missed him.

Hunter finally put me down and greeted the others, I finally had the chance to look at him.

My eyes widened.

Oh

My

God

"What did they feed you there in camp?" I squeaked.

He looked like he'd grown half a foot since the last time I saw him and his body was a lot more muscular.

His face broke into a smirk. "I look sexy right?"

I rolled my eyes at him.

There was no denying Hunter's good looks. He was built like a Greek God.

My eyes scanned his chiseled features, his dark hair, grey eyes.

It was no wonder that the girls in our town liked him so much.

Hunter's best-friend Jace and Danielle's boyfriend Bruce soon joined us.

It was good to see them all after so long.

"How've you been Scarlett?" Jace greeted me softly.

"I'm good." I smiled at him.

My eyes widened in surprise when I noticed that he was wearing hearing aids.

"Mom forced me to." Jace answered by unspoken question.

I knew he didn't like wearing hearing aids.

Jace had lost most of his hearing when he was very young but he never really let it effect him. He was good at communicating with people. With little professional help he'd taught himself how to lip-read..

Hunter threw an arm over my shoulder.

"So how does it feel to finally be in high-school?" He raised his eyebrow at me mockingly.

I laughed. "Honestly, I don't know."

Hunter, Jace and Bruce were three years older than us. So while we were freshmen they were seniors.

We headed towards the main entrance.

"Did you hear? The mayor's daughter will be joining us this year." Megan announced.

"Yeah from what I've heard she's been home-schooled all her life but she's going to join Winston High to complete her high-school education." Bruce added, he had one arm around Danielle's waist. The two of them had been going steady for six months now.

"I've heard that she's pretty hot." Hunter spoke up.

I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow and he chuckled.

"No need to be jealous, you're not too bad yourself." He said jokingly and his arm tightened around my shoulders.

I rolled my eyes at him.

I realized that this was the second time I'd rolled my eyes.

Boys were annoying.

"I'm not jealous." I defended, "It's the poor girl's first time attending school, she's probably going to feel shy and awkward. We should do everything we can to make her feel welcome."

"Look there she is!" Megan broke in suddenly.

My eyes quickly darted towards the beautiful leggy, blonde haired girl standing a few feet away. She was talking to a couple of boys.

That's her?

Okay wow.

She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.

Jace whistled, "She doesn't look shy or awkward to me."

'Who in the right mind would feel awkward when they looked that good?' I thought to myself.

As we started to pass her I tilted my head so I could catch her attention and give her a welcoming smile.

But her eyes seemed to be fixated on something.

Or someone.

It took me a while to realize that she was looking at Hunter.

Her eyes moved to his arm which was around my shoulder and very slowly they traveled up to finally meet my gaze.

I started to smile but my lips froze when I saw her hard expression.

Her icy eyes flashed.

They were filled with rage.

And challenge.

For some reason her expression made me shudder.

Little did I know that my nightmare was about to begin.

A nightmare by the name of Nichole Sanders.