• Prologue: The Dream
    Chapter 1:
    Ch.2 Part 1
    Part 2
    part 3
    Chapter II Part 4


    I WAS standing in the same spot waiting for Julie to pull up in her red corvette when I realized that I'd forgotten my Physics book up at the field house. “Ugh,” I moaned. After texting Julie to wait up for me, I started making my way back toward the track, but before I could get ten steps, I heard my name being called from behind. Turning around, I noticed Vincent standing directly behind me and nearly ran into him, which startled me a tiny bit.

    “Sorry,” he apologized. “I think this belongs to you.” In his hand was my Physics book. It took my brain a few minutes to register the fact that Vincent did something nice, and after it did, I wondered how he managed to get my book when he'd left before class was even over.

    “Um,” he began.
    It really didn't make much sense at all.

    “Do you want your book or not?” he asked annoyed.
    I looked up surprised and laughed despite myself. “Yeah, of course! Uh...thank you.” Thankfully Vincent's expression went from confused and possibly offended, to thoughtful.

    “No problem.”It was in that moment that I noticed him staring unusually at the top of my head. I instinctively ran my fingers through my hair.

    “What?” I asked insecurely.
    “Nothing. It's nothing.”
    Great. Now I'm going to be paranoid all night about that.

    We stood there for a few minutes surrounded by an awkward silence. As hard as I tried, I couldn't think of anything to say. My mind was completely blank. Luckily, Julie pulled up just at the right time. “Well, I guess I’ve got to get going,” I said as I began walking away.

    “Oh!” he said grabbing my sleeve, but quickly released after realizing what he'd done.
    “Yeah?”

    His eyebrows were almost completely merged together, and it appeared that he was concentrating pretty hard. “Well...I mean.”

    Another pause.
    With a sigh, I repeated, “Yeah?”

    Pursing his lips, he brushed the hair out of his face and asked awkwardly, “I was just wondering...um...what are you doing? After school I mean?” We looked uneasily at each other for a few seconds before I finally decided to answer. But it was just such a strange question; I was caught a little by surprise.

    Why would Vincent Balentein care what I was doing after school?
    “Well...Ju, Jeff, and I normally go to Charlie's. It's the local pizza joint.”
    “And you're going there right now?”

    “Well...yeah. Did you want to come or something?”
    He looked at me with a complete look of shock. “Oh, no! I was just curious,” he said with an indiscreet laugh. I heard Julie honk a few times and possibly shout something out the window.

    “Oh. Well I'll see you later then.”
    He grabbed my sleeve again. “Wait, um. What are doing after that?” Okay, this was beginning to become a little suspicious.

    I narrowed my eyes and said warily, “Well, I have to be at work at five. Over at the Music Shop downtown. My foster parents own the place.”

    He rubbed his chin considerately. “I see. So your parents will be there tonight as well?”
    “No...they're in Spain right now on a business trip.”
    I immediately regretted that statement, and I was certain the color drained from my face and my pulse began to increase. I just told Vincent that I was staying by myself. Who knew what kind of guy he was. Possibly some crazy maniacal killer! Or a stalker...

    After saying this, Vincent shot me a quick glance, and there was something strange about the look in his eyes. Concern?

    “So you're staying by yourself?” he asked wearily. There was a mixture of shock and distress in his tone.
    “Yeah but they'll be back in a couple of weeks. And my aunt lives right next door, so it's no big deal.”

    He nodded seriously, and almost simultaneously, Julie laid down on the horn as hard as she could.

    Rolling my eyes, I said, “Well. I really ought to get going.”
    “Right...I'll see you later.” I looked at him suspiciously.

    “Yeah.” Later? Not tomorrow? For some reason, I was feeling a bit uneasy about leaving school. I jumped in Julie's car and prepared myself for the horde of questions she'd throw at me later.

    Fortunately, Julie kept quiet about my little chat with Vincent. She glanced at me cunningly when I first got into the car, and even made some smart aleck remark, but didn't persist after we stopped to pick up Jeff from the art building. Part of me was relieved that she didn't mention Vincent in front of him. Not even Julie is that oblivious.




    WE WERE on our way to Charlie's Pizza joint when Julie suddenly looked at me with a surprised glance, as if she hadn't seen me in years. “Hey,” she said with incrimination. “I thought you said you've never dyed your hair!”

    At first I was confused by her accusation. “I haven't—”
    “Roots don't lie, hon.”

    That's when Jeff sat forward toward my seat and pointed in awe at my hair. “Oh my God, Kida. She's right.” Now I was getting annoyed. I covered my head with my hand inconspicuously, as if I had something to hide.

    “What are you talking about?” I asked defensively. Then I thought back to when I had caught Vincent staring curiously at the top of my head. Without a second thought, I pulled down the visor and stared with complete dismay at my reflection. My roots were significantly darker than the rest of my hair, and resembled someone who'd been late on their monthly re-dye.

    “Oh my,” I said wearily, closing the visor with a dramatic sigh. “People's hair color changes naturally all the time. Your hair was brown when you were a kid, Jeff. Now it's blonde.” I did a pretty good job at covering up my nervousness, but there was no hiding the fact that something was terribly wrong...especially from Julie.

    She snorted and looked at me skeptically. “Kida, your roots are black. Darker than black. I highly doubt your hair color changed that quickly and to such an extreme.” It made sense logically, and my mind drew a sudden blank. Nothing seemed to make sense about the abrupt change.

    “Yeah. Was it like that this morning?” Jeff asked. “I don't remember noticing at lunch, either.”

    Out of pure curiosity, I looked one last time in the mirror. Running my fingers slowly over the part, I made note of the rich new color. With an incredibly dark and almost bluish tent, it had a peculiarly shinier appearance and softer texture than my natural hair. The look on my face was a concoction of confusion, dismay...and fear. What on Earth was happening to me?

    And why hadn't Vincent said something?

    Part 5