A Random Run-In

[Remi's POV]

“Remi!”

My nanny’s shrill voice echoes around me as blinding light pierces through my eyelids.

“It's time to get up before you're late for school!”

“Five more minutes,” I grumble, turning over in an attempt to stop the bright light from its attack. “I was up late studying for a test.”

“And if you don’t get up, all that studying will be for nothing,” she sighs.

As she speaks, she pulls my blanket off of me, allowing cold air to press against my skin freezing me instantly.

“Fine,” I huff. “Are mom and dad already eating?”

“They…”

She doesn’t need to finish her sentence for me to understand that my parents must have already left for work. I guess it was silly of me to even ask since they were rarely home to begin with. It was a futile wish to hope that they would actually be here one time, especially on a day as big as this.

Today would be the day that I took my entrance exams to the college of my dreams. It had the best criminal justice system in the country, and since I was able to see people’s deaths, I thought maybe I could give back by solving murders. My hope was that it would help relieve some of the guilt I felt from knowing when and how someone would die and not doing anything to stop it from happening.

Wishful thinking on my part, but I was beginning to suffocate and needed something to hold onto.

I also hoped to get into this college because it was on the other side of the country. I could start over there, where no one knew Remi the freak or Remi the ripper. I would just be Remi, the college freshman.

“I’m sure they’ll be home for dinner,” my nanny offers, snapping me out of my head. “I know they're rooting for you to do well.”

“Yeah,” I sigh, not feeling the slightest bit of hope. “It’s fine. They’re really busy, and I shouldn’t be selfish.”

With that, I get up and make my way to the bathroom so I can shower and get ready for school. Once I’m finished, I head downstairs and grab some toast before making my way to the door.

“Miss!” My nanny gasps when I grab my keys. “You can’t possibly think that is enough. You should…”

“It’s fine.” I counter, giving a smile. “I’m not that hungry anymore.”

Not waiting for a response, I head outside and then jump into my car and peel out onto the street. Only when I’m making my way down the highway do I let my feelings of disappointment and anger wash over me.

“Dammit,” I hiss, blinking the tears away that want to escape. “Why do you even give a shit about them? They've never cared to begin with.”

This was the norm for all eighteen years of my life. Even when I was struggling the most due to my strange ability, they weren't there. They shipped me off to a facility they were sure could fix me, and to not disappoint them further, I pretended that they did.

When I returned, things were normal. I was the promising daughter of a CEO. I was envied by all who didn't know my history, but one day all that came to a crashing halt when someone leaked my medical records. After that, rumors began to spread about me. I became an outcast after that because no one was brave enough to come near me, especially when I was deemed a murderer due to how many of my nannys died while taking care of me. Why this kept happening was a mystery, even to me, but when you're on the outside looking in, it is easier to believe what is in front of you.

Sighing, I turn into the parking lot of my school and find a spot. Once I'm no longer moving, I pull down my visor and take in my face.

Shit, I looked rough—well, more rough than usual—with dark circles under my puffy red eyes and messed up purple hair I looked more than the part of the freak.

Deciding I didn't have enough time to try to fix anything. I hop out and grab my school bag before making my way toward the school. However, before I can reach it, the sound of tires screeching echoes around me as a blood-red Mercedes stops inches away from me.

“What the hell?” The driver, a gorgeous man with messy brown hair and a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, yells while pulling down his sunglasses so his golden gaze meets mine. “Don't you know how to look both ways before stepping into the road, you idiot?”

“Idiot?” I repeat, my anger spiking. “Why don't you look where the hell you're going, Jackass?"

Not thinking twice. I lift a foot and kick out, connecting with the douchebag's bumper, before storming up the school steps.

“Hey, don't just leave like that, you little bitch!” The guy growls from behind me.

“Fuck you!”

Lifting both hands, I flip the bastard off before shoving my way into the school, where a few students stand watching the whole fucking ordeal.

“What?” I snap. “Disappointed?”

Rolling my eyes, I push through them and make my way to my locker, which has new graffiti on it. Today's message for me is bad luck, Remi. Nice, so damn original my harasser was.

“Remi!”

Turning, I watch as my one and only friend, Adriana, rushes toward me. When she reaches me, she throws her arms around me and gives me a squeeze, as if she were comforting me. This action was pretty common when there were new messages on my locker, and despite insisting that everything was fine and I wasn't phased, she wouldn't believe me.

“Why don't you talk to Principal Garcia?” She sighs, releasing me and crossing her arms.

“Because it's pointless.” I respond, shoving my bag in and then slamming the door shut. “Anyway, we only have half a year left, and then we are done.”

Reaching out, I clamp her shoulder and give her a small smile while appreciation rushes through me.

Adriana had been with me since elementary school, and despite all her other friends telling her to drop me, she stayed by my side, which was amazing. She was gorgeous, with an hourglass figure, porcelain skin, large blue eyes, and long, flowing blonde hair. She was fearless and athletic, and despite her association with me, everyone still loved her.

It also helped that her death was as natural as they came, so I didn't mind her touching me. She would live to a ripe old age, and I didn't have to carry around the guilt of knowing that something bad would happen to her.

“You have your entrance exam today, yeah?”

"Yep, and I was up all night studying for it, so I should have this in the bag.”

“You don't say,” she sighs, leaning forward so she can see the dark circles beneath my eyes better. “You really should learn to use makeup.”

“Why?” I ask, beginning to head to class. “So that I stand out even more?”

“But you're so pretty!” Adriana pouts. “If you just took better care of yourself, you would be a hottie.”

“Careful,” I warn. “I might take offense.”

“Take all the offense,” she snaps, linking her arm with mine and dragging me into calculus. “Then be spiteful and make yourself a damn stunner!”

“Remi, stunner?” Cameron, captain of the football team, laughs while his clones mimic him. “Like hell, that would ever happen.”

“You're right,” I agree, kicking my desk so his disgusting feet fall off of it. “Who would all of you pick on if Remi the reaper became beautiful and popular?"

“Right!” Cameron laughs, not getting my sarcasm.

“Grow up,” Adriana huffs, making her way to her seat. “Remi is…”

"Everyone, get to your seats and get your books out,” Mr. Martin, our calculus teacher, huffs, barging into the classroom and ending any more conversation. “You get five minutes to study for the quiz; begin!”

Appreciating the distraction, I open my book and start to study so that the world around me disappears for just a bit, but that peace unfortunately doesn't last long.