Rosewood: Part One

Chapter One

Chapter One

Songani

"Song A KNEEEEEE!!!" A singsong voice rang out from across the street. I groaned in irritation. My emerald green hues took in the sight of my bouncing best friend, Rennie Camden. She had clung to me since I moved here when I was twelve. I was seventeen now. It had been five years of hell and I absolutely loved it. Rennie was exactly what I needed. When I was in my shell she brought me out kicking and screaming. She was the Yin to my Yang and I appreciated the hell out of her. I watched as she ran across the cross walk LITERALLY stopping traffic. Someone honked and she paused to stick her tongue out at them before skipping the rest of the way to me.

"Girl you are looking like a DAMN SNACK." Rennie said. She bared her pearly white teeth at me as she looked me up and down. I should have felt violated but I didn't. I looked down at the simple white tee shirt, faded jeans and boots. My honey blonde hair had been pulled back into a braid that fell to the middle of my back. I wore no makeup but I didn't need it. My lashes were naturally thick and black and my lips had a pout them and were a reddish tint. I had pale freckles across my cheeks and nose but they weren't too noticeable.

"What about you Rennie?" I murmured with a small smirk. I gestured towards the tight black shirt she wore that read, "I promise I'm a Virgin," coupled with black shorts and rainbow vans. Her bright red hair was wavy and fell past her shoulders. She blinked and looked down at herself.

"What?"

"The shirt? Really? You're begging to be snacked on." I replied.

"Oh this? It's true I promise!" She winked at me.

I snorted and walked past her. Thankfully there was no traffic. She fell into pace beside me.

"Fine don't believe me. Hey Noah!" Rennie waved at a slender boy in our class and his face turned beet red. He turned and went the opposite direction. Rennie burst out laughing. "He is so CUTE!"

I shook my head and gazed up at the schools sign that said, "Welcome to Rosewood High. We Promote Expression!" Rosewood had a habit of telling people to be themselves and they definitely took that to heart. We had many cultures here and I loved the diversity. On Mardi Gras, Rosewood would have it's own celebration. And Halloween was the absolute best. I took Halloween seriously as did Rennie. Every year we had a theme and every year Rennie threw a massive party. This year would be special because I was turning eighteen. My birthday was the day before Halloween. I was born on 11:59pm on October 30th.

"Leave that poor boy alone Ren. He is shy and you know it." I said to her as she reached out and pushed open the double doors to Rosewood High. She walked inside as if she owned the school. Queen Rennie had arrived. I smirked at that thought.

"I like the shy ones." Rennie said lecherously.

We reached our lockers and I glanced at hers. It had drawings of anime bats all over it. Rennie was always doodling. When I opened mine my gaze fell onto the three pictures inside the door. One picture was of me and my brother Jase. He had snuck up on me and we were both laughing in the picture. Above that was a picture of my father and mother that had passed away and beside it was another picture. One of my new family. I smiled as I stared at Laeta Winthrope, my mother. She had taken me in after my parents had been killed. I didn't remember that night. They'd said I lost a lot of blood and the head injury had messed with me.

Beside Laeta was my sister Raine who'd never been fond of me. She seemed to only tolerate me. She was beautiful with tanned skin and tawny colored eyes. Her hair was dark brown and long. She looked a lot like Laeta except my mother had blue eyes. I stood next to Raine. Behind the three of us stood my brother. He towered over us at six foot six. Though Raine was nearly six foot tall. Tate had golden hues and raven colored hair. He worked in the city so I didn't see him much. And when I did he always made me nervous.

"Songani…you here? Hellooo?" I felt Rennie nudge me and it brought me out of my reverie. I hung my backpack up and grabbed my English book before shutting the locker door.

"Hmm?" I said absently as we walked.

"I asked if you had any costume ideas? I was thinking we go old school. Vampire Diaries! I'll be Damon." Rennie piped. A boy stopped to stare at Rennie. He was in our first period class and was cute but honestly annoying.

"You can't be Damon. You're a girl." He stated rudely. Rennie's eyes widened with excitement.

"Oh my God. Chad!? You watch Vampire Diaries!?" Rennie said loudly. A few kids stopped to stare at us. Chad flushed red and glared at her.

"No."

"That's AMAZING! Who's your favorite character? I personally love Klaus, he is hot!" She fanned herself and Chad turned away to leave.

"Wait! Chad! What did you think about the last season!?" Rennie called out. I chuckled as she fell back into step beside me.

"You're on a roll." I said.

"It's the first day of school and I have a reputation." She shrugged.

We made it to our first class and Rennie walked in, immediately waving at everyone. Most of the students stared at her. Some waved. I rolled my eyes and took a seat in the middle. Rennie frowned at me. She preferred the back but I enjoyed actually hearing my teacher. Rennie grumbled under her breath and sat down at the desk next to me. Up in front of me was a girl named Jewel. She didn't talk about her heritage but I knew she was a mix of something. Just about everyone was. And she was BEAUTIFUL. Her hair was curly and thick. She left it natural and I loved that. Her eyes were almond shaped with thick lashes framing amethyst hues. She was curvy in all the right places and I was a little jealous. I smiled when she turned around and she returned the expression before facing the front once more.

"Pssst Songani!" Rennie whispered loudly as our teacher walked in to set down her things. I didn't know this one. She must be new. She didn't look that much older than us. I sent Rennie a sharp look.

"What?" I asked her.

"Costumes?"

"Later."

"Bu____"

"Alright please take your seats. My name is Miss Greyson. Greyson with an E not an A." She grinned at us as she pushed her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. I glanced at Rennie and she was staring at her with a frown. Okay. I saw nothing wrong with her. She had reddish brown hair and pale blue eyes.

"Now I know it is just the first day but I figured it was the perfect opportunity to see where you all were. So…pop quiz?" She pulled out a stack of papers from a folder and there was a groan of protest that rolled through the students. She laughed softly and began handing them out. Jewel passed me a small stack and I took one and handed it back to the person behind me. The desk directly behind my chair was empty so I handed it to the boy further back, stretching my arm out for him. I laid down an extra paper on the empty desk and turned around in my seat. My gaze scanned the contents on the first page. It was questions on poetry. I enjoyed poetry. This should be easy. I pulled out a mechanical pencil and pressed it to the page.

"You're late." Miss Greyson accused in a teasing voice.

I glanced up and stilled, straightening up in my seat. The boy that walked in was…absolutely..

"Boy slaaay." Rennie snapped her fingers in front of her. Usually her comments would have amused me but I couldn't seem to focus on anything but him. He had longish light brown hair and intense brown eyes. And boy was not the term to describe him. He was tall with lean muscles and dressed in a dark blue shirt with khakis. How did he make khakis look so good? He seemed out of place in this crowd.

"Hey guys this is my cousin Colin." Miss Greyson said as she patted the man/boy on the head. Colin shot her a dark look.

"Sit down Colin." The teacher said to him with a smirk as she found her own seat. She pulled out a stopwatch and tapped a few buttons. Colin took the seat behind me and I took a steady breath as I went back to my paper.

"Begin now."

I was the first one done with mine. I set down my pencil and stood up to walk over to Miss Greyson. She smiled happily and took the paper, looking over it.

"Awesome. You got everything right. Thank you..?"

"Songani." I supplied.

"Interesting name..Songani. Thank you Songani." She said, her voice had softened. I found that..odd.

I turned around to go back to my seat. As I sat, my gaze met Colin's and he frowned slightly. I smiled at him. He didn't return the expression. Embarrassed, I turned around in my seat and stared straight ahead. Why had I smiled at him? I never made moves towards guys. Ever. Was me smiling even considered a move? Ugh. I glanced at Rennie and she raised her eyebrows at me. Did she have to make everything about boys? Why was I so irritated?

I decided to ignore everyone and focus on my work. Miss Greyson had three quizzes to give us instead of one. The class wasn't happy with her but then again when was ANYONE happy to take a test? By the time the bell rang I was ready to leave and go to my next class. As I stood up to grab my book I wondered what they were serving for lunch? Maybe I should head over to the diner instead? I was craving a chicken wrap.

"Excuse me."

My gaze flew up towards a pair of soft brown eyes. Soft wasn't the right term to use. Harsh would be a better word. My lashes fluttered as Colin took a step towards me and I backed up against my desk. He was staring intently now.

"Y..yeah?" I mumbled. He watched me for a moment before passing me to leave the classroom. Oh..he wasn't trying to ask a question, he only wanted by. I blushed and angrily snatched up my pencil from the desk to walk where Rennie was waiting. I avoided her gaze.

"What did he say to you?" She asked.

"Nothing." I shot back. He hadn't said anything to me. I didn't know him but I was glad he was being rude. I wouldn't have to embarrass myself in front of him anymore…

Colin

So there she was. I had dreamt of her so many times but actually seeing her up close had me reeling. She looked at me and I felt a thrill. But that was what she had always done right? I steeled myself and walked towards my seat, keeping my gaze off of hers. She had that scent and it enveloped me. As I sat down my gaze fell on her once more and I saw a mark below her left ear. Small but noticable. It truly WAS her in the flesh. I drew in a deep breath and looked down at the paper that had been placed on my desk. Poetry. I lifted it and it held her scent. I scowled lightly and glanced back up at her. Pulling out my pencil I set to work.

Moving here wasn't the plan but we really didn't have a choice. Everything had changed now and I realized we had to roll with it. Lenora seemed okay with it but I had never been fond of change. I liked things a certain way. If it wasn't broke don't fix it right?

When the girl stood up, I noticed immediately and watched her as she took her quiz to Lenora, my cousin and now my teacher. They spoke briefly but I wasn't paying attention. My gaze had focused on the mark below her ear once more. I felt the urge to go to her but I steeled myself. That's when our gazes met. I stiffened as I watched her. She smiled beautifully and that made my frown deepen. Why was she smiling at me? I didn't like the way it made me feel. I looked away and forced her out of my head. It was hard to do though.

Class passed by swiftly and as soon as the bell rang I was up out of my seat. I grabbed my bag and moved to leave, almost crashing into her. I stepped back and scowled down at her, wanting to leave. I had things to do and I didn't want to stick around. She was slow so I said "excuse me." That was when she turned and my gaze caught the necklace she wore. It was a simple leather rope and in the middle a fang hung from it. I stepped towards her, my gaze intense and I watched as her lashes fluttered over emerald hues. She spoke but I didn't really hear her. That fang….where did she get it? My hand lifted but I forced myself to step past her. I ignored the little wave that her loud friend gave me as I went out into the hallway. When I looked back, Lenora was staring at me. She had recognized the necklace as well. It WAS her. And this time she would pay…