Phase

t h r e e ☽

First Day of School

Soft sun peeked through my curtains waking me before my alarm the next morning. I groaned an rolled over to check the time 5 a.m.

Sitting up in bed I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes pouting at the multitude of trunks and suit cases, just a reminder I was beginning school today. Letting out a huff of air I fall back into my pillows, covering my head with my duvet.

The sound of my door unlatching has me peeking an eye out to see who else was up this early.

“Hey kiddo, thought I heard signs of life in here” my dad says eyes covered.

I chuckled, “I’m decent dad you can uncover your eyes”

He smiled at me eyes twinkling, “you ready for today? Lucy should be here soon and the van is following behind with all the luggage.”

“Thanks dad, don’t know what I would do without you,” my stomach clinched at the thought.

“Breakfast is ready when you are” he stated closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Stepping out of the shower I dried my blonde hair and curled it, minimal makeup seemed appropriate given we’d be moving all day. I finished with tugging on a pair of my go to black leggings and a oversized sweatshirt, before I tied my tennis shoes and ran downstairs to eat.

As soon as I hit the bottom landing the door sweeps open and Lucy glides in. Her long dark hair cascades over her shoulders in glistening waves and her bright green eyes sparkle as she takes me in.

“Well id love to say I’m the better looking cousin but you unfortunately give me a run for my money as always” she laughs and pulls me in for a hug.

I squeeze her taking in the scent of lavender and vanilla.

We ate breakfast all smiling and laughing along with Lucy, for what seemed like the first time since the funeral.

Lucy and I were off in my car after multiple teary hugs from my father, Rebecca, and Summers.

I took a deep breathe and pressed the push to start button and drove to the next chapter of my life.

———————-

My mouth fell open when we pulled between the automatic gates of my new home for the next few months. Rolling green lawns, flowers blooming of every color in well landscaped sections. But that just added to the beauty and grandeur of the school, or castle was more fitting, before me. With tall towers accented with white washed brick, endless windows, and huge wooden doors. It was straight out of a fairytale, only thing missing was the white night and a princess.

I scoffed at that and Lucy lifts a delicate dark eyebrow at me. I just shake my head and get out at the front entrance.

I start walking towards the van to unload the bags and trunks when Lucy grabs my arm

“They do that” she nods towards the people in uniforms already headed towards the van.

I nod and head in behind her, trying not to gawk, and failing.

The inside was just as impressive as the outside, high vaulted ceilings with chandeliers glistening at every turn, gleaming floors and a double staircase winding up both sides of the entrance.

“I cannot believe this is real” I say half to myself half to Lucy.

She continues walking not even glancing around at the grandeur “you get used to it” she smiles softly and grabs my hand leading me deeper into the building.

A woman with dark auburn hair framing her hair exquisite face, blood red lips and a dress to match stood at the base of the stairs offering smiles and warm welcomes to the students.

“Who is she?” I whisper to Lucy as the woman’s ice blue eyes meet my gold ones.

“The headmasters wife, Genevieve Winters” Lucy says as we walk towards her.

“Hello Lucy, this must be your cousin Aspen” her eyes take in every inch of me, as if she’s not quite sure what to make of me yet.

“Yes ma’am, nice to meet you” i say returning her measuring glance.

I see approval and something like a challenge flicker in those blue eyes. “Welcome to Falls Academy Miss.Graves, I hope you find your place here” she welcome Lucy back and turns to the other students filtering in.

——————-

Lucy picks up our student folders from a table on the second floor landing and heads toward our room. “Third floor, room 313” she says reading off the paper as we find the correct heavy wooden door.

We step into the room and I’m awestruck again, this place just gets better. Vaulted ceiling, crystal chandelier, and a floor to ceiling window with four corners decorated with stain glass crest. One had a rose with what looked to be blood leaking from the thorns, one was the phases of the moon, one looked to be stars, and the last an array of flowers bloomed. Strange, but oddly comforting. I thought to myself.

“This is your room” Lucy said snapping me from my trance. “Thanks” I walk towards it twisting the golden knob.

Same as my room at home the ceilings are vaulted but a smaller chandelier adorns the ceiling. The walls are white brick and surround large windows and a small balcony. The curtain flutter with the cracked balcony doors and I can’t help but to walk out and take in the view. I step into the sun and the rays send my blonde hair glistening. I take in a deep breathe as freshly mowed grass and the sound of the creek below fills the air.

I get the strangest sense of someone watching me and open my eyes to catch a glimpse of someone vanish back into the forest behind the creek. Ooookay enough outdoors time for me, now you are just being paranoid Aspen.

—————

A few hours after getting settled in an unpacked Lucy and i head down to the dining hall for dinner. As you can imagine the “dining hall” is an expansive room with big round wooden tables and cushioned chairs. It also holds a buffet overflowing with foods and drinks. Lucy walks me over to a table occupied by a girl with flowing auburn hair, ice blue eyes, and creamy pale skin. She chatted away with a girl with rich chocolate skin and glossy black curls that hit just below her collar bone and framed her pretty face.

“Aspen this is Elizabeth and Celeste” Lucy says pulling out a chair beside Elizabeth.

Both eyes turn to me and they both smile “Hello Aspen we have heard so much about you” Celeste gushes pulling me to sit beside her.

“Yes, Lucy never shuts up about you” Elizabeth jokes, blue eyes twinkling.

My cousin rolls her eyes and all of the sudden food appears at the buffet table.

Without even a look of shock the girls get up and wait for me to join them before getting in line.

“Who even put this there” I ask wide eyed. Elizabeth and Celeste looked at my cousin with raised eyebrows in a you didn’t tell her manner.

“The- uh lunch ladies of course you didn’t see them?” She turns and piles food on her tray ending the conversation. I just brushed it off as me being tired and missing the food being placed.

After everyone was sat and fed, well except Elizabeth who claimed she was on a liquid diet, and drank from a insulated cup. We just sat and laughed and talked about life and they caught me up on all of the gossip.

I had just opened my mouth to ask Elizabeth about a couple she didn’t seem fond with, when the doors burst open on a phantom wind and a group of guys walked in. The other students didn’t even seem to notice but the second I saw the first male I couldn’t look away.

He had dark loose curly hair that was swept back and suited him perfectly, bronzed skin, a sharp jaw line that had dimples peaking as he clinched it - but nothing prepared me for when his eyes met mine. The most beautiful eyes I had ever seen met mine and a spark ran it’s way down my body- like electricity. I sucked in a small breathe as I tried to look away from those eyes, one crystal blue the other light brown. I had obviously seen pictures of individuals with Heterochromia iridum, but I had never seen them in person.. and they were mesmerizing.

“Aspen… Aspen” Elizabeths voice snapped me out of my trance and i blushed furiously when I realized I’d been staring hard core.

“Uh- what sorry?” I said meeting her eyes, strangely similar to the boys.

“I said have you had the pleasure of meeting my brother you were drooling over there” she chuckled as my blush deepened.

“I don’t know what happened to make me stare like an i***t” I apologized looking down at my hands.

“Don’t apologize he knows he’s good looking believe me, never lets me forget it” she rolls her eyes at that.

“You got that right” Celeste huffs leaning back in her chair as I feel ice creep down my body.

I sensed him before he even made it to the table and his thick English accent coated every word.

“Lizzy, you saved us a seat. You shouldn’t have” he grins, which mind you could stop a woman in her tracks, and started to pull the chair beside me out.

I stiffened as his gaze fixed on me again “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure who’s your friend here”

My back went ramrod straight, I tilted my head at him eyes slitting “her friend can speak for herself, if you’d like a name you can use some manners and ask me yourself instead of speaking like I am incapable of introducing myself” I snap the end out and rise from my chair. “I think I will see myself to our room, it’s been a long day” I turn on my heels to walk away when a hand snatches my wrist.

I stop cursing him for ruining my dramatic exit but I don’t turn. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to act as if you were incapable of an introduction. I’m Sebastian, and you are” he asked rubbing the inside of my wrist sending jolts of electricity coursing again.

“Uninterested” I say pulling my wrist unsure of the feeling coursing through my body right now.

I try and exit just to smack into someone entering. Strong arms snatch me before I can land flat on my butt, it doesn’t stop the whoosh of air from leaving my lungs though at the impact.

“Oh, I’m so sorry amor ” this time Mexico coated every syllable. I recognized that voice from anywhere. I looked up from the hard chest and met bright green eyes.

“Nate, when you said maybe we would run into each other I did not quite mean this” I laugh softly pulling out of his grasp.

He chuckles and brushes tanned fingers through his black hair. “We’ll I always like to start a conversation with a pretty girl with a bang so I can check that off my list” his accept flows beautifully with every word, you can’t help but hand onto every word. The ice runs down my back again and I dare a glance behind me meeting bi-colored eyes. I shiver and look back to Nate.

“I’m glad I got to see you, maybe I will bump into you soon” I smile and go around towards my room. The ice following me the whole way.

*****

Sebastian

I watch as the mystery girl walks away, her blonde hair swaying with every swish of those curvy hips. Stunning.. that’s the only word that could be used to describe her, if you could even put her beauty into words. Her gold eyes has glittered with anger and I didn’t even have the ability to be offended by the way she spoke to me. Nobody ever spoke to me that way.. she was incredible.

“What is she” I demanded of Lizzy.

“We have no idea” Lucy in turn answered stating after her cousin, wonder and approval sparking in her eyes.

“Father?” I ask this time to either who had the answer.

“He cannot even figure her out, but she is definitely one of us.. the question is which one” Elizabeth speaks biting her lower lip as she thinks.

My gaze snaps back to mystery girl as I hear a hard smack and a gust of breathe by the door. My blood boils as just who she decided to run into, the same person to touches her to steady her. The second their skin connects I begin to rise and feel Elizabeth’s hands grab my arm to set me back down.

“Don’t you dare Bash” she hisses tightening her grip to hold me there.

I feel Lucy and Celeste looking at me but my attention is fixed on her. Just as she flashes him a killer smile that could very well bring a man to his knees. Surprisingly the mongrel stays upright to my disappointment. Her dimples make an appearance softly forming on her creamy sun-kissed skin.

It takes every ounce of control in my body to stay put and not rip him limb for limb for even laying a finger on her. Did she not feel it.. did she not know the feeling she got when our eyes met.

She walks off and my senses return and my attention returns to Elizabeth and the others all wide eyed.

“What the hell was that” Lucy demanded flame dancing in her eyes.

“Calm yourself, I will figure her out if it’s the last thing I do” I drawled rising and going to join my friend group at last.