• Chapter 3

    Inconspicuous


    As we were sitting down on the damp grass, I felt a sudden urge to ask Alex so many questions. Unsuccessfully, none of them left my mouth. I was beyond confused at this point. I didn’t know if this was a dream and that suddenly I was going to wake up in my bed and not remember anything. For once in my life, reality actually felt better than fantasy. I wish time would stop here and we would stay like this forever. That was the bad part of reality, time COULDN’T stop.

    “I wish I could stay here with you forever.” He said. It was as if he read my mind. I suddenly felt butterflies in my stomach and it was an uncomfortable feeling. Damn stupid emotions.

    “Me t-t-too.” Was all I stuttered out. I must’ve looked like an idiot when I talked. I was normally a really good talker, but he made me lose my concentration with his beautiful eyes and his perfect smile that hypnotized me. I was losing my mind.

    “How do you like it here in Oregon?” He asked. “Do you miss Florida?”

    “I guess it’s ok here.” I responded. “By the way, how did you know I came from Florida?” I never told him where I came from.

    “In this town, everyone knows about everyone.” He said with a smile, but behind that smile I could see a hidden secret.

    “I guess so.” Was all I said on that matter, too mesmerized to say anything intelligent.

    “How’s school been here? Do you like Harrison High school?” He said abruptly.

    “Schools been great here. Way better than my old school!” I said.

    “I’m really glad to here that.” He replied.

    “Why don’t you go to Harrison?” I asked him, not wanting to offend him.

    “My parents don’t want me to go. I don’t make friends easily. I’m different than other guys, Hailey.” He said in a serious tone.

    “Well I’m sorry and I hope that we can be friends.” I said, hoping he would say yes.

    “Hailey, you better get home before it gets any darker or your parents will get worried.” He said, changing the subject.

    “Oh yeah! I totally forgot!” I said. “How the time went by fast!”

    “Yeah, but before you go. Can I ask you a favor?” He said.

    “Yes, of course. Anything.” I responded. Anything for this beautiful angel, I thought to myself.

    “Would you mind meeting me here tomorrow at 4:30?” He asked

    “Yes of course” I said, too surprised he would invite me back after this strange afternoon.

    “Well I guess I’ll see you later, Hailey.” He said. As I was leaving he went in front of me and gave me a peck on the cheek and when I blinked, he was gone.

    “Later, Alex…”I said. There was a howl off in the distance…

    * * * *

    I had a weird dream last night. In the dream I was in the same forest I was with Alex this afternoon. I was sitting down on the floor and all of a sudden I see somebody walking towards me in the shadows. The person is getting closer and closer so I decide to walk towards the person. When I’m walking towards this person, I stop dead in my tracks. This was not any person that I saw. It was Alex. Except only in my dream his shirt was all torn up and his eyes were terrifying. My body told me to run and scream, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. No, I didn’t run. Instead, I felt a sudden urge to run up to him and hug him and tell him everything was alright.

    As I took a step towards him, he stepped back. His face turned from angry to sadness right in front of my eyes.

    “Don’t come any closer, Hailey” He said. “I’m dangerous.”

    “I don’t believe that.” I said “I don’t believe you have enough strength to hurt me. Much less, kill me.” I shuddered as I said the last part.

    “You can’t see me like this.” He said and when he said that, he started to run away from me. I started to run after but couldn’t catch up.

    I was so close to him and that’s when I woke up. I woke up to the quiet, warmness of my bed. It was around 6:15 in the morning so I decided to take a shower. My parents were at work and they were working double shifts today so they wouldn’t be home till very late. After I took a shower, I decided to make breakfast. The quietness felt good for once. It let me think things through. I wonder what the dream meant, especially the part when Alex says that he is dangerous. I know he isn’t dangerous. He wouldn’t be so strong to hurt me and I know it.

    After I ate my breakfast and washed my plate, I went to my small living room and sat on the cozy couch and turned on the TV. I changed it to the news and saw that they had found a hikers body this morning. Apparently he was killed by an animal about 20 miles up the trail where I was yesterday with Alex. This shocked me. This was not something I ever heard about in Florida. I decided to turn off the TV before I got even more shocked.

    It was still a long time till I’m supposed to go meet Alex in the forest. So, I decided to do my homework. I guessed that it would keep me busy since the loneliness was starting to creep me out. I finished my homework around 8:30. That wasn’t planned for. I decided that since I was done with my homework I would clean the house. It was at 1:30 when I decided I would go visit Cyra for a while till I waited to go meet up with Alex again.

    Cyra was pleased to see me and I was too. She’s a good friend. She’s smart and funny and a very trustworthy person. She has a normal height and has an innocent face. She is sort of like me except for the fact that she’s pretty and I’m not. We were talking about things from school, friends, teachers, etc. Then it occurred to ask her something.

    “I want to ask you something.” I said. “Just promise me you won’t laugh, ok?”

    “Ok.” She said. “I won’t laugh. I swear.”

    “Do you believe in vampires and werewolves and things like that?” I said

    “Why, do you?” She said in an unfamiliar tone.

    “Sort of.” I felt the blood rush to face.

    “If I see it, I believe it. So no I don’t believe in that kind of thing.”

    “Oh.” I said “Cyra, what time is it.”

    “It’s just past 4:00. Why? Are you planning to meet someone?”

    “No I just gotta get going before my parents get home. My turn to wash dishes.”

    “See you later then, Hailey.”

    “Yeah, I guess I’ll see you later Cyra.” I said, running to meet Alex.
    * * * *