CHAPTER 2

The chiming of the school bell echoed through the walls of Crescent High School, as doors to classroom opened, followed by hundreds of different footsteps, all headed for the main entrance, back to their various homes.

The sun was already setting, as the warm evening breeze caressed the face of those brave enough to walk into it.

I could tell he was quietly trailing me a the way from the classroom. Maybe he wanted to explain the reason behind the stares or maybe I just really need to talk to him as well and that's why I left my car in the parking lot.

Why was I even giving him an opportunity to talk to me in the first place?

Whatever the reasons might be, I just needed to get rid of this crazy feeling and the best way to do that was to convince myself of how much of an asshole he really is.

Making my way towards the bus stop, I took a seat on the bench under the bus shelter, using the opportunity to look behind me and act surprised to see him, but he wasn't there.

Did he suddenly vanish? Or was he never following me in the first instance? Did I just walk down here for nothing?

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I slapped my forehead as a punishment for deciding so foolishly but since I was here, I can just keep myself busy with reading.

"Hi!" His cold voice echoed from nowhere, as I held my chest in fright.

"Jeez you scared me!" I said in-between breaths, as I looked up at him. How did he manage to still look as perfect as he looked in the morning? He must be a freak about skin care routines to be able to maintain that look. But how did he walk up on me without hearing his footsteps or was I that engrossed in the book?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay. I'm fine actually." I found myself looking back down at the book in my hand, as I didn't want to give him the pleasure of thinking he has me under his spell.

"My name is Daemon."

"With the really weird surname?"

"Yeah." He smiled a reply.

"It's kinda hard to forget, you know." I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips, as I found myself admiring the face that stared down at me in a -loving manner?

"Well, my name is Valerie." I offered my hand for an handshake, but immediately regretted the decision as I noticed he strangely doesn't allow bodily contacts. It's weird but he must have a thing for germs, I guess.

"Valerie Gonzalez." I added almost immediately, as he surprisingly took my hand in his.

"V-a-l-e-r-i-e" He called out slowly, getting a feel of the name on his lips.

"Yeah Valerie, and you didn't have to pronounce it that slowly. It's not a really difficult name, you know."

"I just don't want to make the mistake of addressing you by your other names, that's why I had to teach my lips immediately."

"Calling me Val or even Gonzalez isn't a big deal and I'd respond to either of them. It's nice meeting you." Smiling hasn't always been my thing with the male gender, except my dad of course, but this man before me just made me felt unexplainably happy that I just couldn't help the smile that jealously held onto my face.

"I didn't think I'd meet you here again." He said softly, his hands felt like they've been exposed to extreme cold.

"We just met some hours ago." I said emphatically amidst the smile, withdrawing my hand gently from his hold, as he kept his gaze on me, in a less scary way. The look he gave as he stared at me held meanings I couldn't fathom yet.

"Yeah, I know."

"I don't mean any offense but your hands are really cold. Are you sure you're fine? You don't need a doctor, or do you?"

"My temperature is always the first thing you notice about me everytime, that I'm beginning to think I don't even look attractive enough to you." He smiled a response, his voice was like an icy stake piercing my heart's door.

"Are you always this funny?"

"Making you laugh has been the only thing worth living for." His eyes burned with something strange but yet awfully familiar as well.

Have I met him before somewhere? But he just relocated from Australia down to New York. Or was it when we were still kids? Could he be a kid I knew while growing up? Can that be why talking feels so natural and comfortable?

"You talk weirdly..." A chuckle escaped my lips, as I placed the book back in my bag pack to give this gentleman beside me, my full undivided attention, after all, that's why I was here at the bus stop, "...but all the same, I can admit to the fact that you're good looking. I am just really worried about your health because it's not normal for a human to be this cold." I continued, tapping gently besides me on the bench, a way of me saying 'take a seat here' as I didn't want to appear like the rude one among us; that was his job.

"How good looking am I?" He asked, a wide grin on his face as he took the seat, a few centimeters away from me, so generously offered.

"Well, if I'm being honest, I'd give you a 5 out of a 10." Avoiding eye contacts with him, as I tried desperately hard to swallow the chuckle and sound serious.

"Ouch! That's awfully low. Most people say I'm way over average and that's just me being humble." His angelic voice was coated with pride, as he gave a silly pose to show off his perfect looks, the evening sun complimenting his graying hair, as I couldn't help the laughter that surged from my stomach.

"Oh, do they now?" I was still breathless from the long episode of laughter, "Well, if you must, you're permitted to flatter yourself once in a while to feel good." I tried to sound serious, as once again, I attempted stealing yet another glance but met with his eyes.

Those pair of eyes felt too familiar. I was pretty sure I had seen them before but where? How? Or was it my mind playing games with me again?

"Well I'm not most people and I think you're an average good looking guy." He must have already seen through me and known the truth about what I really think of him, as he lets out a generous smile. Up until now, I didn't think his face would look any more beautiful but I was wrong. His face radiated with a beauty that's not of this world, a beauty no mortal man should ever be in possession of.

And no! I'm not falling for him. Moreover I don't even have an idea who he really is. I was just merely admiring the magnificent work of nature.

"Is something funny?" Daemon who had been smiling this whole time was suddenly pulled back into reality.

"I'm just wondering how you get to be so damn beautiful every single time." He said effortlessly that I almost choked on my own spittle.

"Well, I think you should visit a doctor and have yourself checked. I'm honestly worried about you. Your temperature is just way too low." I finally found my voice after two forced coughs, avoiding what he said as I hated being flirted with.

"And what if I say that I'm fine and there's nothing for you to worry about as I'm not a human like you?" Was he happy with people calling him a weirdo? Does he really want to be bullied and mocked?

"Really? Then what are you? A vampire?" The words fell off my lips, as I rolled her eyes at him.

"What if I am?" He asked, not sparing silence a second.

"Then I am a witch and I'd cast an evil spell on you." Well, two can play the game of humor as well.

"You don't believe me?"

"I don't just think you are convincing enough and moreover you're way too good looking to be a cold blooded monster." A smirk found it's way to the corner of my lips, as he chuckled softly. Even his chuckles pulled my heart's strings as I savoured every second of it.

"Just a second ago, you said I was just averagely goodlooking and now..."

"You're still just that average good-looking guy to me." I got my wish as I heard his chuckles again, but the brakes of the bus pulling up on a speed breaker a stone throw from us broke through this conversation I didn't want to end.

"This is me. Thank you for waiting with me." Picking up my bag, and making sure I left nothing behind, I stood up, waiting for the bus to pull up in front of her.

"I could drop you off if you want."

"I don't, thanks." I said, disappearing into the bus, holding my heart in my hand.