In the Dark by Lila Rose (2 page)

"And I look forward to that day. But I can't today, because I have cramps. Really, really bad cramps. You know, that time of the month cramps."

She quickly wiped at her smile with the back of her hand before she tucked her short blonde hair behind her ear. "I know it's no use arguing the importance of P.E. with you, Leila." She glanced down at her clipboard and muttered, "Go and sit down somewhere."

I began to walk off until I heard her speak, "Now what can I do for you, Isaac? No wait, let me guess. You have cramps as well."

Dear God, how long had he been behind me? Please, please, please tell me he didn't hear what I'd just said.

Isaac didn't respond; instead, Coach Bacon growled out her frustration and said, "Fine. Go and find a seat to the side." She turned her attention to the waiting students. "All right, everyone. Get into teams for dodge ball."

Humming my way over to the far right side of the gym, I sat down on the cold floor and crossed my legs. Hopefully, I was far enough away from all the flying dodge balls. Movement beside me let me know someone was there. I glanced to find Isaac had followed me and proceeded to sit down beside me.

My heart took off in flight. Why did the big hunky idiot have to go and sit there?

Leaning my head back against the brick wall, I closed my eyes and ignored his presence. Which was always bloody hard. Like every time in history, his scent soon filled my senses.

I think I preferred the days Isaac participated in P.E; at least then, I got to watch his amazing body move. Actually, I even liked the days he didn't participate and he'd sit by
himself
somewhere else in the gym…
Not right next to me.

Why today? Why now?

For a while, I sat and listened to the ball being thrown around. Listened to the girls squeal, the guys laugh and the impact of the ball when it hit someone. Then a muffled conversation caught my attention. I opened my eyes in time to find Isaac's hand inches from my face. He'd caught the ball before it made impact with my head.

I stared at his outstretched smooth hand in front of me and watched as he threw it back to the one who'd tossed it my way. Mick Delaney, a jock and boyfriend to the gorgeous Hilary, one of Jenna's, my arch-nemesis, cronies. I sent daggers his way, only he ignored them and kept his gaze on Isaac, before he decided to walk over to us.

"Good catch, man. You should try out for the basketball team."

Snorting to myself, I said to the ground, "Idiot."

"Shut. Up. Freak," he snarled. His face heated as he glared at me. His hatred palpable. It was a reaction I was used to from the majority of students.

"Whatever, jackarse," I mumbled under my breath and glared at his back as he walked off.

He didn't even bother to wait for an answer from Isaac. Then again, he probably thought Isaac was also a freak, considering he sat next to me. I would hate to think I'd caused another to be deemed a freak by association.

It cemented my reasoning not to have friends, as well as explained why my early-childhood friends had left me. They didn't want to hang out with the weirdo of the town.

No one trusted the eyes.

My right eye was normal, a moss green colour like my dad's. The problem I had was my left eye. It was black. The iris was all black like my pupil.

It wasn't as if I could help it; it was the way I was born. People hated it or they didn't trust it… me. When I'd been born, my parents put me through every test known to mankind. They wanted some kind of explanation. But no one knew. Another pain-in-the-arse situation was I couldn't even wear contacts to hide my disfigurement. I was told they would have worked, if I weren't allergic to them.

Go figure.

No normal life for me.

Which was why I didn't understand Isaac's newfound attention. I glanced over at the guy, who stared back while sitting quietly beside me.

Glancing away, I muttered half-heartedly with a shrug, "Thanks."

"It's fine."

My head spun his way. I looked at him with wide eyes then away again.

He spoke.

I would've thought his voice would have been a deep, gruff one. Not the soft, light—yet
all
male—one he used. One that made my heart stumble.

As my shock subsided, I said, "Oh, Lord, he speaks. I don't think my beating heart can take it, please, no more."

Glancing his way, I
received a sweet half smile. Only, it didn't reach his eyes and quickly disappeared after I witnessed it. "Are you mocking me?" he asked.

My heart pounded wildly. I held my head high, gave him a full-blown smile and pinched my thumb and forefinger together. "Maybe just a little."

He nodded and stared at me. His eyes flicked all over my face, as if he were taking it all in, studying me. I looked away first.

Great, have I just blown my chance of having a half-decent conversation, because of my stupid teasing?

Coach called time, announcing the end of the lesson and the end of the day. I looked to Isaac
and back to the ground again.

Yep, I guess I blew it. Oh, well.

Shrugging, I got up from the floor and dusted my butt off; the floor was never the cleanest to sit on. I'd taken a couple of steps forward, but stopped when I heard an intake of breath behind me.

"Goodbye, Leila Morgin."

Looking over my shoulder, I met his gaze with my puzzled one. Why was he speaking to me of all people?

"Yeah, see you. Isaac Grey."

I made my way home by foot, because I hadn't bothered to apply for my licence, strange for an eighteen-year-old, but really, the world would stay that little bit safer if I didn't. Besides, I only lived a few blocks away in the house I grew up in. It was an old farmhouse with a wooden shed off to the side of it. The property was large enough to have no neighbours sticking their unwanted noses in. It was quiet and very peaceful. How I liked things.

My house was a four-bedroom weatherboard home. Not too small, but really too big for just me and my absent guardian. My uncle was rarely home. He never told me what he got up to, but some days I pictured him either doing something very illegal or he was involved with the government for some reason. However, the truth was probably that he was off hunting and drinking with his mates somewhere. As long as he showed when it was time to pay the bills and give me money for food, I preferred to have him absent. We didn't get along very well. Dad had always said it was because we were too much alike, both of us being stubborn. I couldn't see it.

I supposed, at least one member of the family had stuck around.
Even if we didn't see eye-to-eye. I looked too much like my dad and uncle to second-guess it, but I often wondered if my mum was my real mother. From memory, it seemed she hated me forever.

Since my parents left, Dad would sometimes call; usually, I left those missed calls on the answering machine for my uncle to return. Though, they hadn't called for a while.

Dad had been my everything. My best friend, a confidant, a role model, a peacekeeper.

It still hurt…

Shaking my head, I unlocked and opened
the creaky front door. I threw my backpack down and headed to the kitchen for an apple before walking through the dining and living room, and down the hall to the end bedroom, my bedroom. On the way, I passed the bathroom and the other three bedrooms with their doors closed, where dust had settled on the knobs.

I opened my door and fell to my bed, heaving a sigh.

I had no time for thinking. Though…
Isaac?

No
.
Instead, I
reached for my history books and searched through them to revise what I was supposed to be learning.

Sometime later, my stomach growled. I gave up the books for the night and went for my usual run. After that, I would then come home, eat, shower and fall into bed, the same as I did every night. I loved to run though. It did so many things for me; more importantly, it kept me sane—most days anyway.

Darkness surrounds me. Every way I turn, I see nothing but black. My heart beats hard in my chest. My hands tremble along with my legs. I want to run, to scream, but I don't.

Because I know I'm waiting.

It isn't until I see two small red dots in the distance that I relax somewhat.

"Yes," I whisper. "That's what I'm waiting for."

The dots drift closer and closer.

And in a blink of an eye, which always makes me jump, they're right in front of me, so close I can reach out and touch them… No, touch the face that belongs to those red eyes.

I want to.

I need to.

Even though a small amount of fright fills me, I still know I'm safe.

The red eyes study me.

"You're mine," the voice growls…
Right before I woke up.

Every Goddamn morning since I turned eighteen, I'd had the same dream. The same darkness, the same red eyes and the same voice claiming me.

None of it made sense, and I hadn't spoken to anyone about it to see if they could understand it.

I didn't see the need to worry if it was set to be my future, if the red-eyed person would find me. I wasn't worried by the dream; confused yes, but not worried. There was also nothing I could do about it. It came no matter what and, each morning I woke, I pushed it aside to continue on with the day.

On the walk to college the next day, the same sense I'd had for a while filled me. That someone was watching me. I shrugged it off; it was probably just me. I did tend to get a little paranoid.

The paranoia lingered, though, as I walked down the hallways. I felt more eyes on me than usual.

I stopped in my tracks when super bitch Jenna Avery stepped in front of me. Her evil cronies Tina, Hilary, Montana, Sofia and Monica standing close behind.

Quickly, I flicked my eyes to the ground.

"Hi there… ah, what's your name again?" I caught her smile through my hooded eyes. She shifted her long, blonde hair over her left shoulder.

Rolling my eyes, I told her, "You know my name, Jenna." We'd only been attending the same school together since first grade. In addition, she'd been a pain in the neck since then too.

"Oh, yes, Leila. Such a pretty name for such a…"—she shook her head—"Anyway, I saw you yesterday in the gym, when Isaac talked to
you
. I want to know what he said."

Sighing, I raised my eyes and noticed there were more than Jenna and her tarts listening in.

It was then I spotted Isaac walking our way.

He stopped just behind the crowd and met my gaze with a curious one, his brows high.

Honestly, I didn't know why—maybe it had been because Isaac was there, giving me confidence—but for once, I stared straight at Jenna and watched her shudder from my gaze.

"So you want to know what Isaac said to me yesterday?" I slyly smiled.

"Yes,"
Jenna snapped.

Shrugging, I said in a bored voice, "He confessed his undying love for me." I covered my mouth and faked a cough to hide the laugh wanting to arise.

I saw Isaac roll his eyes and the twitch on his lips.

"Yeah, right." Jenna glared. "As if he would like something like you." She laughed, others joining in. "You might have more luck with another species."

Wincing, I realised I shouldn't have started it. Me and my big, stupid mouth. What could I have said to that?

My mind went blank.

I was stumped, because I felt it was true myself. Who would even think of falling for the freak show?

Looking to the ground, I hoped I seemed to be walking away with as much dignity as I could manage. Which was what I started to do. I pushed my way through the laughter, the jibes, unti
l someone grabbed my wrist.

My body was spun around. My eyes landed on the hand that held me and I knew who it belonged to because it had been in my face just the previous day. I followed the hand up his arm, to his shoulder, and then to Isaac's sober face.

The hallway grew quiet. My ears rang from how silent it had become.

I waited for Isaac to say something—anything. He didn't. Instead,
oh, God,
he pulled me close, wrapped one arm around my waist, the other went to the back of my head, which helped me lean into him, and then…
he kissed me.

My first kiss.

Shit, I don't know what to do.

Thankfully, my body took over. I wrapped my arms around his neck and dragged him closer still.
Yes
. His lips parted, and mine followed suit. His tongue ran lightly around the edges of the inside of my mouth.

That was when I woke up and the anger took over.

It was my first kiss, damn it.

It shouldn't have been like that. Like a pity kiss.

Breaking free of his grip, I stepped back and searched his face to find he
did
pity me. His chest heaved in heavy breaths, his eyes sad and wary.

He was only kissing me becau
se he felt sorry for me.

Hell, that hurts.
My… shit, I didn't even know what it was, but I wasn't happy being away from him. My
everything
wanted him to take me, surround me and let me stay that way forever.

Freaky thoughts, Leila.

Isaac must have read the pain upon my face. He took a step towards me, his hand reaching out. I turned and stalked quickly away.

When I made it into the girl's bathroom, I looked at my watch. First class had already started. I had study time anyway, and knew I should be using that time to do exactly that, especially because I refused to cry over it, not there around people anyway.

Still, I needed the breather.

Turning to look at myself in the mirror, I raised my hand and ran a finger along my lips.

Stupid, kissable, delicious prick
. I wished it never happened. I wished I could take it back, get him to give me back my first kiss.

But I couldn't and it wasn't fair.

I fisted my hair as my mind kept repeating how his lips felt against mine, how his arms around me felt right, kept me warm. And then there was the foolish way I'd accepted him in.

Why did he do it in the first place?