Zayla

I enjoyed the breeze and the sun on my skin as I walked to school. I wish I didn’t have to go to school, so my senior year would be over, and I wouldn’t have to deal with Mariah and Holli’s crap any longer.

I walked slower, taking my time; my first period was a free period that I did in the front office, filling and helping students; everything that the secretary couldn’t do or needed help with; the school wouldn’t hire her an assistant, so I did it instead.

I like Mrs. Parker. She was very kind; She was in her fifties. She was short, had long, light brown hair nicely kept up in a bun, had no hair out of place, and had a stocky build. She looked like a librarian. I have been helping her since 9th grade. I chuckled at the time we spent together. Her stories I cherish. She had two children and 4 grandchildren. She was widowed at a young age. They killed her husband in action, and so her children and grandchildren took up her free time.

I fell in love with fashion after she showed me how to sew. Outside of school, she had a fabulous wardrobe, even though she dressed like a librarian. A real fashionista.

I thought so; She has become my friend, and people laugh at me for it, but I ignore it. She was delightful. I heard the voice again as I got closer to school." My dear zayla, all will be revealed in due time. Stay alert and watch out for danger." Damn, this voice is freaking me out. I felt like I was going crazy.

As I stooped down, I shook my head. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack or something as I was crouched down with my head in my palms, struggling to catch my breath. I felt a smack to my ass. I was about to give someone a friendly punch to the face when I shot up angrily with my fists in the air.

“WHOA, hold up, killer; it’s just us. Calm down, “I noticed Jenifer and Amanda strolling up further to me as they had backup when I got up, so I wouldn’t hit them. I took a few more calming breaths as my heart rate returned to normal.

“You okay? Amanda asked, her eyes showing concern, but before I could answer, Jenifer spun me around to face her and grasped me. Wow, your hair is fantastic. Did you dye it? She questioned, looking surprised because I would never have done it before.

“No, I woke up like this,” I answered shakily. What?!! “Okay, we need details. You owe us; your mother called this morning, " she stated. I rolled my eyes.

“Of course she did,” I replied, annoyed.

I told them everything except that I was hearing a voice. I didn’t want them to think I was insane because what I was already telling them was crazy enough, but I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it. Their face were pale, and they had questions in their eyes as we arrived at school.

“Listen, I know you have questions. I will answer what I can during lunch. We headed to the office as we entered the school. I hurried inside after giving them a weak smile.

I put myself down on the desk in the corner. “ Good morning, Mrs. Preston,” Mrs. Parker sang out.”Good morning. I brought you some Hush Puppies. “ Thank you, dear. We have some papers to file, and a new student is arriving, and I need you to show him around.” Excellent, just what I need. I think it will keep my mind off of everything. “Okay,” I said, getting straight to work.

I finished what I was working on an hour later since I still had time before the new student arrived. I decided to go grab some coffee from the lunchroom. The one in the front office tasted like old gym shoes.

“Mrs Parker, I am going to the lunchroom to grab coffee. Do you want anything?” I asked." No, dear. Hurry back before the new student arrives, sweetie. “Okay, be right back, “ I nodded. Leaving the office, I headed out the door down the hallway to the cafeteria, walked into the kitchen, and poured myself a cup of coffee. Hearing humming, I turned around and saw the school’s cook, Mr. Cline.

“Good morning, Mr. Cline,” I said, trying to catch his attention."Good morning, Zayla. Are you ready for the day?" he asked without even looking up from what he was doing. Yes, how’s your morning going?” I asked. " Going great, “was all he said.

I chuckled a little as he continued working. He wasn't much of a talker. He claimed it interrupted his art. “

As I went back to the office, I got a couple of texts from Jenifer and Amanda, asking if everything is all right and what my plans were so we could talk, I reminded them we could I guess I was so into texting out my message because I didn’t realize I ran into a wall or what I thought was a wall, I ended up falling backward spilling my coffee all over my Self and me throwing my phone as well it landing on the linoleum floor with a sicking crunch...

“Hey, are you all right? “I heard a deep, husky voice say. As I looked up, I was astonished by the most handsome guy I had ever seen. Then I realized it was the boy from the woods. He put his hand out to help me up. I was still staring at his handsomely sculpted face, and my eyes traveled down his massive, athletic body. When my eyes moved back to his sumptuous lips, he returned a little grin. “Like what you see, “he taunted.

This made me hot and ashamed that he had caught me ogling him. I pushed his hand aside. “I don’t call for your help. Why are you stalking me? I asked him as I picked myself up before he could add anything. I found my phone and marched to the office door and left him standing there with a stunned look on his face.