Chapter One ; Something About Him
The sunshine in the morning was shining through the blinds in squares of gold, warming the bedroom of Isabella with the soft warm light. She lay between the bed, reluctant to get out of the nest of sleep, until the small buzzing in her ears woke her up to the fact that she had gone to sleep with her earbuds on. Her favourite playlist of a relaxing mix of indie and soft rock was playing and she said that it helped keep her in touch with the ground whenever the world became a bit too loud.
She got out of bed and ran on her knees over the wooden floor coming to the mirror. Her image stared her back, with twisted curls sticking out in haphazard strokes. She took her hair in a loose ponytail and screwed a scrunchie then pulled her hoodie over her body. One of her desks had a sketchbook with pages that were torn due to use. she was indecisive over putting it into her bag. Her foster brother Caleb crashed against the door of the bathroom with his hands.
"You've been in there for ages!" he complained. It is called a routine, Caleb, replied Isabella and grinned. You should try it sometime."
There was a growled hiss which made her laugh under her breath. She was greeted by the smell of burnt toast frying below. Her foster mother, Diane, was at the table, wearing glasses on her nose, and skimming the newspaper. As Isabella came in she looked up, tired, but loving.
Remember curfew is ten to-night, and here's a banana, said Diane. "Even if there's a party."
What did anybody say about a party? Isabella questioned, and raised the eyebrow. Diane didn't respond. That was the mere giving of that knowing look, as though she had lived long enough to foresee all the teenage excuses before they were uttered. Isabella shook her head and slipped the banana into her bag walking away.
Outside it was the air of September, fresh and cool, and slightly fragrant with pine. She took her earplugs back and allowed the music to dictate her motions. The town was still too young to get the stores open. One was a baker who came and swept flour off the sidewalk before his business. A dog barks in the distance. All was lethargy, sleepiness, and monotony. Until it didn't.
When she rounded the bend by the bakery a bicycle flew past.
He flew by her as a ghost, fast, quiet and focused. Elias Evander.
His black hoodie was blown on and briefly His eyes met hers.
These were not ordinary eyes. they reflected the sunshine and shone pale, frigid, almost silver.
Isabella's breath caught. Electric. However, it was fleeting. The following beat of his heart had seen him disappear.
She blushed after him, wiping the fluttering in the chest now and then, and roused herself to move her legs.
When she reached school the calmness of the morning was changed to confusion. Teachers shouted directives, students shouted at each other and the noise made by the chairs banging on the floor echoed in the room. Isabella sat at the window, retrieved her notebook and attempted to focus her mind. Tried.
The voice of the teacher became nothing but a static.
Her eyelids got heavier.
And then she no longer was in the classroom.
It was mist swirling under her feet. The tall trees over-head stretched out, and had their branches like claws. The moon light reflected on the ground in dazzling stripes.
There was a burning in her lungs as she ran, which snapped twigs under her feet. Behind her was a guttural growl which paralysed her nerves. She didn't glance back. She just ran. "Isabella." With a flash of her name, she pierced the dream.
She woke up with a start and her heart was racing against her ribcage. And her friend Elena was leaning in and talking furiously. "You're doing it again."
The lesson-room was already vacant.
Elena put her arm through the one of Isabella as they walked into the hall. "So... was it the dream again?"
He was nodding, Isabella touched her temples. "Yeah. The exact same woodland. The same wolf.
That is creepy, said Elena with a false shiver, and grinned. "But it's kinda cool. Something weird and spooky. Sexy-creepy, perhaps."
Isabella gave a grunt. "You think everything is sexy."
Never mind everything, Elena said and winked. Whatever makes you blush, just anything.
They went by a group of giggling students by the lockers. Isabella stretched out her sweater and wished that she could shake off the weight that lingered as a result of those dreams. She was unable to describe how true they were.Week after week it had been exactly like that, the forest, the chase and the wolf in the shadows.
Elena nudged her. We can party this evening at the lake house anyway. "You're coming."
"I don't,"
"Nope," Elena cut her off. "There will be no backing out. You require amusement, music, bad choices, and inappropriate dancing. "Trust me."
Tempting, mumbled Isabella smiling.
Elena flicked her hair, and cried: You love me. "Pick you up at eight." Eight came sooner than Isabella supposed. She was sitting on the front steps, waiting, and tapping her foot to a music of which she alone heard. One by one Streetlights came on. Elena did not come yet, and Isabella sent her a text message, but there was a quick reply to her: Sorry, Alex came by. The phone died. See you there.
With a sigh, Isabella stood. She was not willing to spend another Friday night alone.
When she arrived at the lake house the music was already beating, a beat of heart that was felt through the floor. Shouts and laughter were pouring over the lawn where students hung around with red cups, and the odour of smoke and cheap beer hung in the air.
This very house was electric, and lights shone against the windows like lighthouses. Isabella stood hesitating on the borders of the crowd. The sound was hammering upon her, acute and intense. She almost turned back
"Elena!"
The voice of her best friend acted as a piece of cutting metal. Elena ran in her direction taking her hand.
"Isabella freaking Jarvis! You look good. Like, text-him-at-2-a.m. hot."
No, no, no, no, said Isabella, shaking her head. "Who exactly am I texting?" Elena's grin spread. "Let the universe make the decision, sweetheart.
