1: First meeting

 book 1

*Soleil*

 I open my eyes, blinking away the sleep. The dream still fills my senses, but what it was about lay just outside my reach. There is only this warm content feeling left. I can't remember sleeping this well for a long time and I stretch my body, feeling utterly content, before closing my eyes, drifting off again. I sit up, something is wrong ! Something is missing..

 Shit ! I jump out of bed.

 "Fucking clock". I hiss and throw open my closet. A pair of jeans and a jumper later I skip out into the kitchen, a sock dangling on my foot. I grab a piece of crisp bread on my way.

 A packed lunch I have to imagine again today, if I don't want to be even more late. I grab my bag and hurry out the door and run towards the school.

 I step into the school seven minutes later, finding the hallways empty, only the canteen has a few students left, who apparently need their coffee more than they need to be on time. I hurry down to my class, where the first lesson has started.

 It just has to be mathematics that I am late for, well with my luck it can't be any different. The teacher already loves me and this is bound to up my star.

 I slowly open the door and slide along the wall to my spot in the back of the room.

 "Well good morning, miss Summer". The teacher huffs. "How nice of you to actually show up to the lesson. Maybe we could try and be here on time the next time ? If it isn't too much to ask".

 Damn ! Busted ! "Sure.. or no I mean. Morning". I turn towards him, making a face that is supposed to be a smile.

He sends me a tired glare over his thick Armani glasses and my smile fades. "Sorry I'm late". I mumble and quickly get to my seat.

 "What a loser". Davina whispers to me, when I slump down into my chair. "He is just a dumb teacher who gets of on being mean to people who has a life outside this hellhole of a school".

 I roll my eyes as an answer.

 "Wanna bet that he is totally pussywhipped by his wife at home". Davina says with a wink.

 "Nah didn't she run off with someone else at the prom last year". I shoot back with a chuckle.

 Davina chokes down a hysteric giggle, but the teacher of course catches it anyway. And he turns to stare at us. "So Soleil, now when you decided to be late, it must mean you already know how to find X in the equation of a straight line". He huffs.

 The entire class turns their attention to me and the room goes totally quiet, while I search for my book, halfway in panic.

 Davina pushes her book towards me and tabs with a black nail on some numbers and words. I grab it with a thankful sigh. The silence is so loud now and I try to focus on the book and finding the right place. But everything just seems to melt together.

 "I .. uhmm". I swallow, my mouth feeling like I have sawdust in it.

 "Well then. Then could you ladies please pay attention ? This is a very important part of Your exam". The teacher turns back towards the blackboard and starts talking again.

 I collapse with a sigh when the attention is turned away from me and I hurry up finding my own book and notes.

 "Fuck mathematics". Davina sneers. "Lets try and get on paradise hotel or some other reality show next year, so we can get discovered by some cool producer and get paid a shit load of money for just being cool".

 I can't hold back a snicker. "That I want to see, the queen of goth on paradise hotel".

 "That's enough". The teacher croaks. "Soleil please leave as you clearly don't want to follow the lesson anyway".

 I blush badly as the whole class starts laughing. And I quickly pack up my books, hiding my face behind my blonde hair as I hurry out the room. Outside I throw my bag across the hallway, letting myself slide down the cool wall with a groan.

 I should have stayed in bed today, at least I am not a joke there.

 What am I even doing here ? School clearly isn't a strong point for me. Tears are blooming in my eyes as I think about the exams starting way too soon. I don't even know what I want to do after High School. If it hadn't been for Davina I would have dropped out long ago.

 A couple of students walk by holding hands. I look away as they kiss each other, and they continue, never even noticing me. I look after them. Who am I trying to fool ? It's me being the weird one out, not everyone else. I have never been one of them. I am too shy and I always say no to parties telling them I am too busy. The truth is that I don't dare. I hardly dare answer the others when we do group work, especially not the guys. So when the others talk about parties on Monday morning, who scored with who and such, I just sit there saying nothing. So they have stopped asking.

 I get up from the floor, picking up my bag and making my way towards the canteene to get some coffee and a hold of myself. Hopefully then I could get my brain into gear and maybe understand the mathematics I am missing.

 I slump down in a chair and pull out the dressed math book. But ten minutes later when I put down the empty plastic cup with a resigned moan I had to admit that nothing could save me from total fiasko.

 "Are you okay ?" A voice sounded right behind me.

 The voice doesn't sound familiar and I am pretty sure it is no one I know and I curiously turn to see who he is talking to. All Sound and movement instantly stops and I clamp a hand over my mouth not to gasp out loud. In front of me stands a guy, with beautiful hazel eyes with green flakes. He looks curiously at me under a mess of dark curls. I have never seen him before. Okay so I don't know two thirds of the students, but those eyes, in all kinds of brown nuances, even I would have noticed those.

 "Oh math". He looks at my book. "I get it".

 "Get it ?" I whisper, scrunching my eyebrow.

 "Yeah you were sighing and groaning so much that I thought you might be in pain or something".

 "Oh". I try to make myself as small as possible, looking down in the book. "No, no I'm okay. Me and math just don't work". I manage to stutter out. Bummer, why can't I think like a normal functioning human as soon as a cute guy comes near ?

 "Tell me about it". He laughs softly. "I am Luca by the way".

 "Soleil". I mumble, casting a glance at him.

 He is really tall and kind of blocks my whole view. I kind of jump when his soft warm voice sounds again.  "I just started here. Too bad having to catch up on a totally different pensum, but I guess I have to make it work".

 "Yeah it has to be". I am raking through my brain, trying to find something brilliant to say. I have seen the other girls flip their hair and smile seductively to get the guys attention. But neither my facial muscles or my hair want to cooperate. Hell, I can hardly get my voice to work.

 "Maybe I could help you with math someday and you could help me read up on my new pensum in return". Luca looks at me like he expects an answer.

 I nod, not really sure what he just asked me.

 He just stands there, looking at me.

 Oh God, is it up to me to continue this conversation ? What on earth am I to say ? I swallow a couple of times, trying to force something intelligent out my mouth.

 "Well I probably should be getting to the office, I need my timetable". He says, nodding towards the office door. "It's the door right over there right ?"

Before I can answer he is already walking towards the door. He turns his head and I feel like I am in free fall when his eyes capture mine and he smiles warmly at me. "See you around Soleil".

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 I am far away in my own thoughts when Davina slumps down beside me. "I can't believe our teacher was such an asshole today. Why haven't you answered my text ?" She stops mid sentence. "Are you angry, Sol ? Because I got you thrown out".

 "No, not at all, I am just a bit beside myself I think". I tell her.

 "Oh what a downer. Hey by the way, do you have any plans for the weekend ? The grotto is going to be happening. The rumours say that all the royals are going to be there and I got a killer dress that would look awesome on you". Davina says.

 "Yeah you have said that around a thousand times Davina, but you know I am not into those things". I tell her for about the thousand time.

 "And what do you mean with 'those things' ?" Davina makes quatiationmarks with her fingers. "It's not like people are doing S&M on the tables. Listen, you know me, right ? The others are like me, open, nice and with a fantastic fashion sense".

 "Yeah because you are as pure as an angel". I laugh, looking at my coffee cup, it could use a refill.

 I smile to myself.

 A refill of warm brown coffee and a dash of cinnamon.

 Davina keeps trying to talk me into going to the goth club. We both know the answer, so I just let her talk, answering with grunts and nods, while my mind is conjuring images of hazel nuts and milk chocolate with flakes of green mint. Brown is actually a pretty colour. So warm and interesting.

 I jump in shock when my daydreams are interrupted by a squeal. "Yes finally". Davina says happily. "You finally said yes".

 I might be looking rather panicked. What did I just do ?"

 "It's going to be so awesome". She says. "Finally you are going to come with me to the grotto".

I am what ? Oh no, Can this day get any worse ? I Seem to keep getting myself into trouble over and over. "I can't go there Davina, you know I can't. This is not fair".

 "It was you own subconsciousness saying yes, wanting to experience new things. I mean it has to be time you start going out somewhere. You know like a normal teenager". She say grinning.

 "Seriously, you Think my first night out should be to a goth club ?" I ask her, my eyebrows raised.

 "Well why not ? Come on please ? When you can talk to the new guy you Can come with me, just one time. Meet some decent people right ?" She gets a stubborn look on her face. "You just said yes, you can't change that".

 I can feel she is not going to give up. She has smelled blood and sunk her teeth into me, metaphorically of course.

 "Did you see the new guy ? The one talking to me ?" I am afraid that I sound too interested, but I need to change the subject.

 "Sure did, I guess he is kind of cute, he looks a bit.. grown up though, I mean he has stubbles". She answers. "He got measured by the Elites this morning and I think he was accepted". The look she sends me tells me that she isn't buying my change of subject and she tells me I need to get out and embrace my youth before I wither.

 My mind is drifting off again.

 At that moment the elites, with their queen Julie Sand in front, come flouncing into the canteen. The elite are the it girls of the school, no doubt they would suck in Luca. They had been through all the decent looking guys in the school, most of them several times even, so new meat was always welcome. But what do I care ? It's not like I would ever have a chance with a guy like him, I mean why would he be interested in a shy mouse ? No, he will probably be in the claws of Julie or one of her followers before the week is through unless he already has a girlfriend.

 "Hello, are you present ?" Davina looks at me.

 I bite my lip. Is it really time for me to get out ? Instead of always hearing Davina talk about how amazing the place is, maybe I should just join her, see what it is all about, why everyone loves going out.

 "Fine you win, I am coming". I sigh.

 "Oh this is amazing and I know just what to dress you in". Davina gushed. I smile and return to my daydreams as her tongue goes into free gear. So this is it, I am going to my first party, my first club. Fuck they are going to eat me alive. This would never have happened if I hadn't been dreaming of Luca and those stunning eyes.

 Yeah forget him and realise what a mess you've gotten yourself into, I think to myself.

 I try to follow Devina's rant about all the gowns I have to try on, but my eyes keep drifting to the office door. I can't seem to forget those dark eyes looking at me from under the cute curls. For the sake of my life I can't remember what X did, but I remember his name, Luca.