Chapter 2: Archer Evanz

The guy in a black stood quietly in front of the bungalow, not minding if some people on the sidewalk looked at him with frightened eyes. He was unfamiliar, and judging by the luggage beside him, he must be a newbie.

His lackluster eyes turned to them with a glint of annoyance. The dark circles below those balls of mystery looked like shadows that added to the mysterious vibe he was carrying, and that was enough to disperse the little crowd. He doesn't like attention. He doesn't like people prying onto his business instead of minding their own.

He started taking the boxes inside. But he didn't bother to arrange them right away. He had a few things, it would be over before sunset. He decided to go out again, just to take some breaths of fresh air, get familiar with the ambiance of his new place, and find some secluded places where he could hang out in the coming days.

Fortunately, there wasn't any curious group of people in front of his gate. But should there be some no goods who'd flock in there, he'd just silence them with a dead-eye stare.

It was four in the afternoon, and no people around his age were lurking around. Well, they might be at school. And he's thinking of attending school as well after he makes some arrangements. He doesn't want to. But a diploma is necessary to get the other half of his late father's estate.

His head turned to a two-storey house just a few meters away from his. It's obviously well-tended. The owners must have lots of money to be able to buy such a huge space. Well, he could, too. But he chose a space not too big for himself.

He heard some awful screaming from inside. But he didn't bother listening. Must be a couple getting into a stupid fight with each other. And that's totally none of his business.

He turned the other way but he was caught off guard by a creature with sparkly eyes, and a wide smile standing a few steps away from him. The girl had a cheerful aura prominent on her face. Her brown braided hair dangled on her shoulder as she looked at him with enthusiasm.

"Hi! You're new here?"

He slowly nodded. He had no intentions of making friends with anyone. And this girl, who looks like eighteen, looks very persistent, she might end up becoming a bother. He wants to dismiss her but there was an air of unexplainable mystery surrounding her.

"That's great! I'm Anna Harper. I live..." she trailed, and turned around until her pointed finger landed in the direction of a house with white paint, and green roof. "There. You, what's your name, and where do you live?"

"Archer Evans," he introduced, turning to the direction of his house without lifting a finger. Anna followed his gaze. "I live there."

Anna gasped in excitement. "Wow, that's very close to Selah's house. Do you guys already know each other? She's a good friend of mine."

Archer laughed inwardly. Friend? She thinks everyone on that subdivision is this girl's friend. Well, the lady mentioned might be one of the bystanders earlier but he hasn't traded names with anyone yet. He shook his head. Anna silently nodded as she smiled again.

"Maybe you will get along. She might go out tonight. You guys should meet each other." Anna glanced at the direction of her friend's house. Archer followed her gaze and was surprised that she was looking at the house where he heard the awful screaming earlier. He wanted to ask about it, but it's none of his business and he doesn't care. "See you around Archer!" She hopped away happily.

Archer was happy to get rid of the girl. She was too loud, almost annoying. He could've left her the moment she said hi, but her mystery kept him from moving.

Once again, he turned to that house. Why does he feel like there's something in there that would catch his attention? And why is he curious about who Selah is?

It has been two weeks since the face of the new guy was seen in the subdivision. He didn't come out of his house too much. But the bystanders that day he arrived had mouths to spread the word to the whole subdivision. Some said he looked gorgeous, making some girls be so intrigued they wanted to crash his gate, and storm inside his property.

Even at school, rumors about the new guy spread among neighbors.

"Mysterious, and cold. Girl, the man you'll dream of!"

"That's overrated."

"They said he looks about our age. Do you think there's a chance that we'll see him here?"

Muffled giggles, gasps of awe, and chatters until the end of the day. For a few days, that's what's been going on, and several other students are sticking their noses into it. Anna knew what they've been talking about. But she kept her giggles to herself. Partaking in gossip is too unbecoming. Especially for a girl professing Christian faith.

"The entire school's going mad." Selah said as she walked down the pathway, looking at the girls sitting on the stone benches. She heard about a particular neighbor of theirs, and Anna, being Miss Congeniality, had first hand information. Selah wasn't as interested, she didn't bother to ask about it.

Anna giggled. "Yeah. Going mad over a man they haven't seen just yet. I don't want them to know I talked with Archer or they'd hound me to death."

"Archer?"

"I thought you weren't interested?" Anna moved her eyebrows up and down with a teasing smile on her lips. Selah rolled her eyes. She's not that interested. But the mention of the man's unique name somehow piqued her curiosity. "Well, yes. Archer Evans. The man who can definitely pierce you with his eyes. A literal archer. And he lives with Mrs. Terry's bungalow."

Exaggeration, perhaps. That's how Selah saw it. "Morning classes are about to start. Let's walk faster."

Anna shrugged and tried to keep up with Selah's fast paces. Arriving in the classroom, their classmates were already seated. Selah noticed how one of their classmates' eyes rolled when the girl saw her. She wanted to say something, but their teacher entered shortly after, leaving no time for banter.

Much to everyone's surprise, a guy with auburn piercing eyes stood in front of the class, his hair disheveled, and there were prominent dark bags under his eyes, probably from staying up too late at night. Nevertheless, he's extremely poetic. That face is something you'd want to paint. He's oozing with a great deal of mystery, Selah could hear nothing but her shallow, and amazed breathing.

To her surprise, Archer met her gaze, and she could feel things moving on her stomach as they stared at each other.

"Archer Evans. Nineteen. I have no intention of being friends with any of you."