Great start

CHAPTER 1

12 years later. Precisely after the gruesome sight of watching my biological parents being torn limb from limb until there were just a pile of mixed flesh on the floor. Am I damaged? Yes. Is my mental health unstable? Probably. I give myself a pat on the back for making it this far. Yes. Well thank you to therapy!

“Cane, would you slow down and eat your breakfast?” mum chuckled as she watched me sling my back pack on. Her hair had that beautiful glow you get right after a weekend at the spa. Her cheeks stretched into that smile that tells you every thing is going to be okay. My mum. Mum, oh yes I have my mother back, not exactly my actual mother but she is my mother now. She and dad found me and saved me. Not from the killer wolf unfortunately but this horrible place they call an orphanage. I love them for it.

.I steadied my black light rimmed glasses and gave her a smile. A smile another thing I learned to do and actually mean it.

“Mum if I don’t leave now I will sure get a detention again.” I whined walking over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek, her little cheek bones show cased themselves in her signature grin as she finished packing the rest of my lunch in a container.

“Fine I will let you off the hook this time but here is your lunch,” she handed me the container, “make sure tomorrow you don’t sleep through the alarm again.” She scolded.

I rolled my eyes and gave her a quick hug before practically bolting out the door.

The yellow school bus was right at the stop and I had to undergo the daily torture of sprinting my heart out so the driver doesn’t leave me again. She is a cold hearted witch who hates my guts. Her lips quirked up in a taunting smirk as she watched me cough my lungs out when I reached the stop.

I stepped in and smiled politely with my chin up and carried the last of my dignity to an empty seat. The bus started moving again after that and I sighed , leaning back into the seat to get my blood pumping at a normal rate.

The giant building of River High brought itself into view and I groaned putting back my phone and stepping off the bus.

***

I was late walking into the homeroom but unfortunately for me early enough to get into the morning remarks.

“As we all know we are all seniors this year...”

Cue the speech. The man talking must be the one they call the head of department for one of the subjects we did at the school. I was never really good with memorizing names of authority.

“… and we need to work hard on our grades in order...”

For all us to graduate and go to college and blah blah….

“So today I would like to start with a little project I want you guys to do in groups of three.” Mr Stone said and clapped his hands together like a nursery school teacher in excitement, “it’s a new way of teaching so I don’t have to the work anymore. Anyway make your own groups pick a leader to come to my table and pick your assignment.”

Unfortunately, neither Luke nor Amy is in this class with me. Luke and Amy are my best friends. We’ve basically moved through elementary to senior together and have each other’s backs all the time. I love them to death. They seem to be the only people outside my household who make me feel sane again.

I sat in my secluded seat by the window in the middle row as my neighbors got up to look for seats. Once every one settled I noticed, much to my dismay, that Mr. Stone raised a questioning look at me through his glasses and I shrugged. What was I supposed to do? Everyone had a group but me.

“Crystal what do you think you are doing there all by yourself?” he asked getting onto his feet.

He scanned the classroom very vividly looking for where to place me while I sat silently praying not to go anywhere.

“Alright.” He said.

I sighed in relief.

“Go seat at the back with the three young gentlemen and work with them. I am sure they wouldn’t mind.” she told me. I grunted and reluctantly stood to go to the back. Working with people made me woozy.

The muscular backs that faced me made me gulp. There was one watching me and scanning my every move I made with intensity. He had the darkest set of blue eyes I had ever seen. There was an aura he carried, dark like his eyes and strong like his body. I knew right then that he had to be Felix. He was built, not like “the rock” but not far off either. The other two were stuck in some quiet conversation and whispering to and forth, one more louder and comic than the other who seemed really serious. Neither of the two noticed me when I quietly decided to take a seat.

There were rumors about Felix and his friends. Bad and weird ones. People said that they were violent. Asylum kind of violent. Some say they are ridiculously rich and have this whole school in the palm of their hand. The one that sent me rolling on the floor was that they were a group of gay guys who made love in the gym lockers after school once that’s why they were always together to keep their love alive. Amy was my source.

Jordan was the comical blond with striking light blue eyes and fare complexion. He literally had girls falling on his feet every lunch. I remember passing by once and he was with Taylor Grim making out in the hall way to the Gym. Taylor was the most out spoken about how hot he was, he finally gave her a thank you she would never forget. Blake... was the serious one of the group I learned. Physically athletic and very smart, top of his class and top of his game… at any game. He was good at track, football, basketball and all the sports out there basically. No one dared to go against him because they were cowards. I never really had a chance to talk to him but every time he talked with his friends he was always smiling so I didn’t see what to fear about him except for his largeness.

Felix was unreadable, feared by all and never once seen with a smile. Smirk definitely, but never a full blown grin. They say he just didn’t see what to be happy about. He kept a good poker face. I always noticed him walk down the hall brooding like he did. Call me a stalker. His mysterious demeanor sends tingles to my lady regions. Sue me!

“Begin discussing.” Mr Stone declared dramatically before returning to his seat and back to his laptop.

I placed my back pack down and pulled out my blue notebook and placed it on the table.

“Umm... so what are we discussing?” I asked, breaking the little argument between Jordan and Blake.

“Shouldn’t we begin with a little introduction?” Felix said. His voice deep and smooth with a hint of arrogance there. It sounded more like a cold demand but who am I to say no to the Ice King. I coughed awkwardly and cleared my throat.

Great start, crystal. Just go ahead and be awkward why ya don’t ya?

“I am Crystal, Crystal Cane.” I said and smiled giving him my best 'you don't scare me' look.

“I am Blake Stevens.” Blake said giving me a nod of acknowledgement.

“You can call me Jordan, my lady.” Jordan said with a wink. He did a dramatic wave through his dirty blond hair with his hand and winked at me again with his baby blue eyes. He had cute dimples that show cased when he grinned and I found myself smiling back. Out of politeness of course. I heard a low growl but chose to ignore it, must be my stomach. I missed breakfast so that must be it.

“Felix.” Blake teased. But Felix's scowl showed his displeasure. Was it not his idea in the first place?

“Okay… so our topic this week is Culture.” Blake stated as he stared at the small piece of paper in his hand. I was too bust staring at Felix to see where it came from.

“We need to research the importance and disadvantage of it plus we need to write, in our own way, what we think culture is.” he continued, “okay…” he placed it on the table and glanced to all of us.

“So Crystal, the guys and I practically live together so we can do our part together but it leaves out you so what do you suggest?” he asked.

Oh, they live together? Blake has brown hair and brown eyes and lacks any facial features that would resemble Jordan, well Felix he is has really dark hair almost back yet still brown. They lack any similar facial features but were they brothers?

“Umm what about we split it and I will do maybe the importance while you guys divide the rest and we meet up maybe the day before presentation and put it all together?” I suggested.

Let’s be honest here I am not much of a group person.

“No, that wouldn’t work out.” Felix cut in surprising both Jordan and Blake. Their eyes went wider than saucers when he continued, “we have to do this as a team. Why not meet up at lunch?” he said staring at me. I looked outside the window right behind him to distract myself from thinking he actually wants to spend time with me.

“I… can’t.” I said subtly. It will be quite nerve racking sitting with the three most admired boys in school plus Amy wouldn’t let me live after that.

“Why?” He asked. His deep sent shivers down my spine and made internally shudder while the owner just wore an amused smirk on his lips.

I need to stop staring at him.

The table sat in silence waiting for me to answer while I waited and silently prayed for this hour to get done so I can bolt out of this place.

“Okay, what about after class may be?” I said. When no one is staring at me like they are right now.

“No.” Felix said sharply, “we are busy then.”

Okay…

“Can my first idea be considered now?” I asked hopefully.

“So it’s settled then,” Jordan announced happy with himself while I stared at him confused, “we are meeting at lunch in the cafeteria.”

I internally groaned but nodded.