Royal Five: The Gathering - Chapter Two (continued)

I didn't want to do it, but the stress of everything that had happened today finally got to me and as we drove in silence the tears began to slowly slide down my cheeks.  I let them fall.  Seth reached into his pocket and pulled out a silk handkerchief, silently handing it to me.  Gratefully I wiped the tears from my face.  He then reached into a different pocket and pulled out a sleek black cell phone.  The conversation was very brief, simply 'I need you' before clicking the line dead and replacing the phone in his pocket.

I pulled into my usual spot by the curb before shutting off the ignition.  We sat there for a minute.  Silent tears continued to fall and he just stared at me as if unsure what to do.  I couldn't take his silent scrutiny any longer and turned to face him.  Seth mirrored my movements and turned so our knees were touching.  I looked at him not knowing what I wanted to say.  We just sat, comfortable in the silence. Slowly, as if he didn't want to, Seth raised his hand to turn my head.  Amanda's slap had raised a red welt on my cheek.  Wincing as he gently traced it with his fingers I closed my eyes and let him hold my face in his hand.  Our eyes met and it was like every cheese cliche from every romantic comedy ever made.  Time stood still, we moved in slow motion, my eyes closed and I leaned into him as he leaned into me.  Just before our lips met and fireworks shot into the sky, Alex pulled up to the curb behind me and honked her horn.  Seth reacted like he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, rapidly pulling back and exiting my car.

"Seth?" Alex asked, "What's going on?"

"Let's go inside.  I'll explain there."  With that he shut the door on my stunned face and with Alex in tow walked up my porch steps.

"Please, follow me home. Please, come inside.  I just want this day to be over!" I screamed to the empty car.

By now they had made it to the door and turned to see why I wasn't following.  Grumbling under my breath I flung the door open with too much haste, causing the heavy door to swing back and hit me in the forehead.  Carefully this time I opened the door and pulled myself out, marched up to the house and let them inside.  This time it was my turn to keep going.  If I was going to listen to whatever explanation Seth cared to give then I was going to do so in the comfort of my own room.  I passed the pair and headed up the stairs.  I threw my messenger bag into the corner, kicked off my shoes and plopped onto the rumpled covers, grabbing my fluffy pillow and hugging it tight to my chest.  It wasn't long until I was joined by Seth and Alex.

"Wow, you're room is - " Alex began.

"Messy."  Seth finished.

"If you don't like it, there's the door."  I said pointing to the exit.  "I left school early because I wanted to be alone.  I kept my end of the bargain.  I didn't tell anyone, anything, and all day long I've been under Seth-O-Vision, was attacked by a brainless Harpy, and followed home.  So please, say what you need to say and then get out."

Alex raised her eyebrows and turned to her brother as if asking him if he really wanted to be here.  Apparently he did because he cleared his throat and began to make his way to my desk chair.

"I'm sorry for my behavior today.  I wasn't sure if I could trust you.  I had to be sure."

"By stalking me?"

"By watching you, yes, but also by learning your routine.  Do you not have any friends?"

"I have friends," I grumbled.  This time it was Seth's turn to raise an eyebrow.  He had watched me all day.  I was obviously lying.  "Well I talk to people at least."

"Hmph, teachers don't count."

"I talk to students too!"

"Name one."  Seth challenged me.  With this Alex walked over and sat next to me on the bed, shocked that I couldn't name anyone.  I felt my eyes fill with tears again and ducked my head, refusing to let him see me cry any more.

"Jessica?" Alex whispered.  She reached out to touch the tip of her fingers to my bruised and swollen cheek.  Her touch tingled at first, and then a cooling sensation spread across my cheek and partially down my neck.

"We're different than most people."  Seth stated.

"Different how?" I asked sniffing loudly.

"You already know.  You've seen it.  You've felt it," he nodded to my cheek, "I think we can trust you.  The question you have to ask yourself is if you can trust us?"

The silence was deafening.  I had seen him kill a man.  I had felt what I suspected was her healing my cheek.  I had no friends or companions and I was losing my mother despite what she had said this morning.  Hugging my pillow tighter I buried my head into its softness.  Seth couldn't know that he was asking more than I felt prepared to give.  When my father died it hurt so much that I had unknowingly shut myself off from world.  Pushing people out of my life was just easier than dealing with any more potential hurt.  It was also very lonely.

"I trust you." I mumbled into my pillow.  Alex stood, moving to stand behind her brother and resting her hand on his shoulder.  I couldn't help but stifle a giggle.  It looked like they were posing for a picture.

"What we are about to tell you we haven't told anyone.  Not even our parents.  You have to promise us that it goes no further than this room." Seth began.  I nodded my consent and he continued.  "Alex and I are adopted."

I couldn't help myself; I snorted.  "That's it?  You're big secret is you're adopted?  I'm pretty sure your parents know that.  You've got to be kidding me."

"That's part of it.  Of course our parents know we're adopted, but they and everyone else think we're just regular kids.  You know otherwise.  But there's so much more to it than that.  Where we come from everyone is like us.  Everyone has powers."  Seth paused to let that information sink in.  Slowly I nodded for him to continue.  "We look human, we act human, but we're not human.  Our world was destroyed by an ancient and powerful evil.   Before it could overcome our world completely the Elders used their powers to send us here, to be safe from harm.  We know there are others like us here, in this world, but we don't know who they are or how to find them.  Once we do our powers will reach their full strength and together we will be enough to defeat the evil that our ancestors could not and finally return home."

"Are you punking me?  I know I'm not popular and everything, but I'm not stupid either.  Other worlds?  Ancient evil?  What you're telling me sounds like a sci-fi novel and not a very original one at that."  I stood, pacing the narrow confines of my room.  They were nuts if they expected me to just believe such and obviously made up story.

"It's true."  Alex chimed in.

Scoffing I turned to her, arms akimbo, "Oh, well, in that case, of course it is!  How long did you plan this sick joke?  'Let's punk the freak girl!'  Just because you're popular and you're beautiful I'm supposed to automatically go along with it?"  I didn't specify which was which, but I think Alex knew that she wasn't the beautiful one in my scenario.

"You need to calm down.  Remember you've seen us use our powers."  Seth said raising hands, palms out in a placating gesture.

"I am calm!"  I yelled back, anything but.  We were going nowhere.  Logically I couldn't accept what they were saying, even if they were right and I had seen their powers.  This kind of stuff just doesn't exist.

Exasperated Seth ran his hands through his hair, causing it to spike up in a fresh out of bed sort of way.  I thought it looked better that way.  He dropped his hands to his lap and glanced around my room as if giving up, when he spotted a perfect red apple sitting on the corner of my desk.  Without saying a word he slowly started peeling off his right glove.  Reaching out he touched the apple with the tip of his fingers.  I watched as the apple slowly started to discolor and shrivel into a half rotten mass, barely recognizable as the scrumptious fruit that had once sat in its place.  Removing his hand and replacing his glove he looked up at Alex.  She reached out just as her brother and once again touched the apple with the tip of her fingers.  Within moments the aging had reversed and the apple was restored to its original ripe form.  As if sensing my skepticism she then picked i up and took a bite, crunching into the crisp flesh and wiping a bit of juice off her chin.  Holding the fruit out, she casually dropped it into my waiting hands.

"Now do you believe us?"  Seth asked

I shook my head in denial still unsure of what I had seen, but surprised myself when I replied, "I think I do."

Royal Five: The Gathering - Chapter Two

Morning dawned clear and bright.  I went through my usual routine at a snail's pace.  My inner voice kept telling me that my trepidation was silly.  Nothing was going to change.  No one would notice me.  I kept arguing that if no one would notice me, they wouldn't notice my absence either.  The thought of even potentially seeing Seth again left me trembling with fear and another emotion that I didn't want to give name to.

In the kitchen my mom was more attentive than usual.  She was having an up day.  I entered to the aroma of freshly cooked bacon, eggs, and toast waiting for me on the table.

"Morning Jessie-bean.  I thought we could have breakfast together today."

"I'm not really hungry mom." I lied.  It smelled good and sitting to breakfast would delay my arrival at school.

"Well just sit with me for a minute then."

Forcing a loud sigh I thumped onto the chair she pulled out and let my bag clatter to the floor.

"Jessica, I know it's been rough the last couple of years - "

"Mom, really - "

"Let me finish.  I know it's been rough.  Your father was a great man and losing him, well it still hurts," silent tears began to fall down my cheeks, "I just want you to know that I do love you and I'm trying Jessie-bean.  I really am."

A fat tear rolled down my cheek leaving a dark stain on my jeans as it fell.  Reaching up a shaky hand I wiped my cheeks, refusing to let her see me cry any more.  I nodded my head, looked up at her and said, "I know mom."  Grabbing a couple slices of bacon and a piece of toast I stood, kissed her on the head, and walked out the door.

After my unexpected guests left yesterday a quick phone call and $300 of my savings later and the Tank was fixed and parked out front once again.  Grateful for the heavy protection that the steel frame offered I leaned forward until my head rested on the steering wheel and let all the stress and tension of the last 12 hours escape in large heaving sobs.  Whenever anyone gives in to heavy crying it's not very attractive.  I was no exception.  Snot was running down my nose and mixing with the dripping tears.  Wiping my eyes I looked around for something to blow my nose with, trying to regain some semblance of being put together.  I at least had to be presentable enough to make it through the school day.

The shore drive to school was uneventful.  I pulled into the parking lot and headed for my usual spot.  Queen Alex was already holding court near the front of the school.  Climbing out of the car I nonchalantly glanced at her group and briefly rested my eyes on the brooding form of Seth.  He was in his usual spot just behind his sister, arms folded across his chest, but instead of looking at Amanda Stephens' desperate attempts to get his attention his eyes were focused on me.  Quickly I dropped my gaze, but not before a small shiver made its way down my spine.  By his half smile I was sure Seth had seen it.  Keeping my head down I quickly skirted the tennis court and made my way to first period.  Because I was concentrating a hole into the ground I didn't see the daggers that Amanda shot at me.

My morning classes went by in a blur and before I knew it I was shuffling my way through the cafeteria.  All morning whenever I walked the halls I felt Seth's eyes on me, watching my every movement.  For lunch all I wanted to do was escape so I grabbed the prepackaged sack lunches available and headed for the sanctity of the girls' bathroom and made a beeline for the corner stall.  Hanging my bag on the back of the door I sat on the back of the toilet, pulling my feet onto the seat.  Relaxing for the first time all day I rested my elbows on my knees and placed my head in my hands.  Only four more hours.  I could make it through four more hours.  At least that's what I kept telling myself.  The quiet of the bathroom had lulled me into a false sense of security.  So when the bathroom door squeaked open I stayed in my stall praying that whoever had entered would just go away.

"Who does she think she is anyway?  She's a nobody.  A freak!  I don't understand what he sees in her!"  I leaned forward opening the door a crack to confirm the voice I heard belonged to none other than Amanda Stephens.  I leaned back and shutting the door slowly so as not to be heard, engaged the lock.  The last thing I wanted was an angry confrontation over nothing.

"It's not like he even dates Mandy.  You're getting upset over nothing."

"Nothing!  He doesn't date - yet.  It's because he doesn't know it yet, but he's waiting to date the best.  Me." Amanda huffed into the mirror.

"How do you plan on doing that?" Asked her friend.  I think her name was Stephanie.

"It's simple.  I'm going to become best friends with his sister.  We'll spend so much time together that he'll have no choice but to fall in love with me."

"Do you really think that will work?"

"Of course it will!" Amanda shrieked.  Smoothing her shirt and visibly calming she continued, "After all, who wouldn't fall in love with me?  I'm smart, pretty, funny.  We're made for each other."

The rest of the conversation was full of giggling imaginations of Seth finally expressing his undying love for Amanda and their inevitable reign of the school.  It was nauseating to listen to.  Had I eaten my lunch I'm sure I would have been losing it to the toilet below me.  Leaving in a cloud of perfume and hairspray I slowly and gratefully eased out of the stall and studied my reflection in the bank of mirrors.  Amanda was right, I was a nobody.  Big green eyes a little too far apart, freckles across my nose and cheeks, thin pale pink lips.  Completely un-kissable.  My hair had a mind of its own.  Some days it lay in smooth waves down my back.  Most of the time the wet and humid Portland air left it in a tangled frizzy mess, resulting in a plain pony tail.  I wasn't skinny, but I wouldn't call myself fat either.  All in all I was completely forgettable.  No one, no boy, in their right mind would even consider me attractive.  I was the freak with the old car who didn't talk to anyone.  Blowing my bangs out of my face I retrieved my bag and headed to my next class.

When I didn't feel Seth's penetrating gaze I thought the day was looking up.  I made it through two of my classes Seth free before needing to retrieve my Government book from my locker.  Still no sign of Seth and his sister.  I was feeling like things were finally back to normal when I shut my locker, turned toward class and ran head first into a solid wall of muscle.  The air in my lungs rushed out in a loud oomph and I only managed to not fall on my backside when two strong arms wrapped themselves around me.

"You should be more careful Jessica.  Someone could get hurt," Seth grinned down at me.

"Maybe if you weren't following me everywhere I wouldn't have run into you.  Now please let me go."

"As you wish." He complied, dropping his arms at his side.  I stepped around him and continued to class, head down and a rush in my step.

I thought I had made it to class without further incident and was opening my book to the chapter written on the board when the classroom door was flung open and an outraged Amanda filled the doorway.

"Where is she?!" She shrieked, wild eyes darting around the room to finally land on my puzzled expression.  Without losing a step she marched down the aisle, raised her hand and with an explosive crack connected her palm to my cheek.  "Stay away from him!  He's MINE!"

I was too stunned to even utter a reply and just sat there staring at her retreating back.

"Miss Martin?  If you're finished I trust we can start today's lesson now?" Mr. Jones asked.  I nodded in response.  "Thank you.  Class, please turn to page 420 in your text.  Today we'll be talking about the Bill of Rights."

Mr. Jones' voice was soon drowned out by my own tumbling thoughts and obvious discomfort as I stared at the floor to better avoid the curious stares of my class mates.  This was way too much.  I couldn't believe I had ever wanted to be seen by Seth or any other boy for that matter.  Being invisible was much more comfortable and definitely safer.  Raising a hand to my stinging cheek I gingerly touched the swollen and bruised flesh.  I decided right then that I would be skipping my last class today.  All this attention wasn't worth it and I longed for the safety and comfort of my bed.

Finally when the bell rang I shot out the door, hurrying toward the parking lot.  I flung my bag in the car, slammed the Tank in reverse and didn't even bother buckling my seat bet before putting her in drive and turning toward the exit.  Revving the Tank's engine as high as it would go I burned a little rubber peeling out of the parking lot.  I didn't get very far, however.  Standing in the middle of the street was none other than Seth.  Slamming on the brakes my rear wheels slightly fished tailed and I barely stopped in time.  Panting I just stared at him as he calmly walked to the passenger door, opened it and slid in.  I didn't wait for an explanation, just revved the engine again and headed home.

Royal Five: The Gathering - Chapter One (continued)

I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.  I wandered three blocks further than I needed to and only realized I had been lost in my own thoughts when fat raindrops began to plop onto my head.  Rain wasn't an unusual occurrence in Portland, so I pulled my umbrella out of my bag, got my bearings and turned in the direction that would take me home.  If I cut through two back alleys and squeezed through the loose boards of a fence I'd be back on my street in no time.  From there it would be just a few houses down until I reached my front door and the sanctity of my bedroom.  I had made it halfway through the first alley when I heard the screams.

I stopped, unsure of what to do.  The screaming grew louder and was obviously coming from the direction I was walking toward.  Should I investigate or turn and go for help?  To get to the second alleyway I had to walk a quarter-block down Third Avenue.  I was just about to step onto the street and seek a shop owner's aid when a golden blur of hulking muscle ran past me so fast that I actually stumbled and fell as I was trying to get out of the way.

"Hey!" I yelled.  Anger at being so brusquely brushed aside spurred me to my feet and I raced after the speeding form directly to the second alley only to come to an abrupt and slippery halt as my food slid on an expensive leather glove over the slick streets.  With shaking hands I picked up the glove, brushed the muck of the street off my leg and back side and began to cautiously enter the alley.  The screaming had stopped as abruptly as it had begun.  Peering out from behind the relative safety of a large green dumpster I saw three figures pressed against the red brick wall on the right side of the alley.  Since I was on the left side, my dumpster offered very little protection from being spotted.

The scene was a strange one.  Alex was curled up on her side, softly sobbing as she tried to hold together the tattered remnants of her shirt.  Seth held and older man by his throat firmly against the wall.  At first I thought his face was turning blue from the force of Seth's powerful hands, but then I realized it wasn't lack of oxygen causing his face to discolor.  He was slowly rotting away before my eyes.  That's when I noticed that the hand pressing against his throat was bare.  I looked down at the glove in my hand; a twin to the one Seth was slowly removing with his teeth.  Once both hands were free the decaying increased in speed and in minutes the man had rotted away to a pile of filth and rags, indistinguishable from the other refuse that littered the ground.  Very carefully Seth put his one glove back on and reached for Alex.  With more gentleness than I thought him capable of he picked her up, wrapped her in his arms, and turned in my direction.

I should have screamed, or ran, or something other than what I did.  After all, I had just witnessed him disintegrate someone.  The seconds slowly ticked by as we just stared at each other; me holding my yellow umbrella and him holding his sister.  I took half a step forward and extended my hand holding the other glove.

"Here," I said with more calm than I felt.

"Thank you."

"Is she okay?"

Alex was still sobbing as Seth shifted her weight and deftly put on his other glove.  "She will be fine.  Forget whatever it is you think you saw here."

"If you take her home like that, there will be questions." I paused as I saw him measure the likelihood of my words.  "My house isn't far from here.  My mom should still be at work.  She can get cleaned up and calmed down and then you can take her home."  Without waiting to see if he followed me I began walking to the end of the alley and the short walk home.  I was partly relieved and partly panicked when I heard his sure and steady footsteps behind me.

In no time at all we were marching up my front steps, through the door into the dim recess of my living room.  Seth walked to the over-sized love seat and set Alex down, reaching for the throw blanket behind her and wrapping it around her shoulders.  I retrieved the small first-aid kit and a towel from the linen closet in the hallway and silently handed them to him.  Then I went up to my room and pulled a clean soft sweater from my closet.

"There is a bathroom down the hall.  You can change there." I pointed as I handed Alex the sweater.

She nodded her thanks and left me alone with the hulking presence of her brother.

"What is your name?" He asked, using the towel to dry his short hair.

"Jessica.  Jessica Martin."

"Not Jennifer then?"

"No," I shook my head confirming that he knew I was watching his conversation at lunch today.

"Jessica you put me in an awkward position here."

"I could say the same thing, you know."

He dropped the towel on the coffee table and stood, slowly stalking toward me like an animal stalking it's prey.  I reacted as any normal person would and retreated until my back was pressed against the entertainment center and I could go no further.  We stood an arm's length apart for several minutes.  Unable to stand it any longer I raised my head and met his amber stare with my emerald one.  I expected to see anger and intimidation, but instead he was studying me as if he had never seen a girl's face before.  Certain that he was noting every one of my flaws and solidifying his reasons for forgetting my unremarkable self I flinched and stifled a gasp as his hand reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.  His hand was warm and the butter soft leather was almost an extension of himself rather than a barrier between his skin and mine.

He was strong, but he wasn't the hulking brainless mass I had always pictured him to be.  Instead he held himself with a lethal grace.  I clenched my eyes shut waiting for him to touch me as he had the man in the alley.  Shaking and crying I stood, not willing to plead for my life.  I doubted I would be missed by anyone.  The sound of the bathroom door opening was like a spring releasing its tension.  I opened my eyes to find Seth on the love seat once more.  In a gush I let go a shaky laugh and leaned my head down between my knees to keep from passing out.

"Thank you for the sweater.  I'll return it to you as soon as possible."  Alex remarked as she emerged from the hallway.

"Keep it," I replied, "it looks better on you anyway."

"So what happens now?" She asked looking from me to her brother.

"Nothing."  Seth answered.

"Nothing," I agreed.  "You go home and I go back to being invisible.  I won't say anything.  I promise."  I could tell that Alex was relieved to hear me say that by the slight relaxing of her shoulders.

"Goodbye Jessica." Seth said, rising from the love seat and reaching a hand toward his sister.  They walked out the front door shutting it carefully behind them.

"Goodbye Seth."  I said to the empty room.

Royal Five: The Gathering - Chapter One

Chapter One

Portland, Oregon

It was raining again.  The steady drip drop of water outside my window caused me to groan, pull my blankets over my head and try to catch the fifteen minutes of sleep remaining before my alarm would sound off.  The damp weather meant my frizzy hair would now be an unmanageable mess.  Like it mattered anyway.  After 16 1/2 years on the planet I was getting used to being invisible, especially when it came to boys.  I could probably show up to school in nothing but my underwear and no one would notice.

With a sign I flung my blankets to the foot of my bed and stumbled to the bathroom.  There was no point trying to get anymore sleep.  I blasted the shower to full heat, hoping that the pounding spray would help wake me up a bit.  Lately school had become an exercise in the mundane and I found myself checking out of lectures more and more.  I couldn't wait until I graduated and could escape.  My mother had plans for college.  I had plans to see the world.  It was still unclear who would win.

After my shower I pulled on my usual wardrobe of jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, and tennis shoes.  I debated putting on make-up.  It was a brief 30 seconds of indecision before pulling my thick wavy brown hair into a ponytail.  Slinging my messenger bag over my shoulder I thumped down the stairs and headed to the kitchen for some breakfast.  My mom was leaning over the sink, eyes glazed over in though as she stared aimlessly out the window to the gray and soggy world outside.

"Hey mom," I mumbled a greeting.

"Morning, Jessie-bean.  You hungry?" she smiled in response.

"No.  Not really.  I'll probably just grab some toast."

"Okay sweetie," and she turned her gaze out the window again.

I stood in our falsely cheery yellow kitchen and studied my mom for a few minutes before grabbing a package of pop tarts and heading out the door.  I preferred them cold to hot.  Despite her use of my childhood endearment I hadn't been Jessie-bean for a while.  We had been growing further and further apart since my dad died two years ago.  I was in the car when we here hit by a drunk driver.  I think she resented the fact that I lived and her great love had not.  She didn't understand that dad was my great love too.  He was the one person who knew what to say and when to say it so that everything was automatically better.  My dad was my best friend.  For a few weeks after the accident I got some pitying glances from the popular kids at school, but the novelty of losing my dad soon wore off and I was once again invisible; just plain, uninteresting, completely forgettable Jessica Martin.

Other than my dad's freckles and thick wavy hair I had also inherited his old car.  A 1983 maroon Mercury Zephyr.  It was a heavy solid car that I had affectionately nicknamed Tank.  Sliding into the seat I tossed my bag next to me and started it up.  The engine roared to life and I eased out of the driveway and headed to school.  It was a short drive, only a few blocks that I could easily have walked, but I enjoyed the time spent behind the wheel of the Tank.  Somehow it made me feel closer to my dad.  As I turned into the school lot I drove past the lade model luxury cars and token pick-up trucks to the farthest corner.  I could have parked closer, but if I parked in the back corner I could skirt around the tennis courts to my first period class and avoid walking past the popular crowd.  Truthfully I just wanted to avoid Alex and Seth Parker.

Alex ruled the popular kids like a queen.  She kind of resembled one too, well maybe Snow White.  Her long, smooth, dark hair shined like obsidian in the waning sunlight.  Her complexion was pale porcelain and I wondered if it would crack if she was forced to smile.  Full red lips and large bright blue eyes were the icing on the beauty cake.  She was without a doubt the most beautiful girl at all of Wilson High.  What was worse, she knew it.  If you wanted to get close enough to talk to her, let alone dare to date her, you had to go through her brother Seth.  Where she was dark and fair, he was golden and bronze.  Tan skin, chiseled features, muscles on top of muscles and eyes that blazed like fire.  Seth always wore gloves, even when it was hot outside.  It was like he was dressing the part of body guard as well as acting as one for his sister.  If I were being totally honest, I just wanted to avoid Alex, not like she would notice me anyway, but deep down I wouldn't mind if Seth noticed me.  So did every other girl at school.  It was widely known that Seth didn't date, so the chances of his suddenly noticing me and all my average glory, declaring his undying love and us living happily every after were nil.  It was easier to avoid them both all together rather than wonder what could be.

First period gym was like every other day.  I was still struggling to finish my laps when the rest of the class was heading in to the showers.  Math was a snooze fest as usual.  English was third and I had to suffer through the stilted stuttering of your average teenager attempting to read Shakespeare out loud.  Fourth period was a free period which I spent in the back of the library reading through Jane Austen and dreaming of a woodland encounter with Mr. Darcy.  By the time lunch rolled around it had stopped raining and the sun was defiantly shining through the remaining clouds.  I hustled through the cafeteria line, and settled on a bench outside the cafeteria window, barely noticing my food as I continued to read Austen.  I was just about to the part where Lydia runs off with Wickham when I thought I heard my name.

"Who drives that ugly maroon beast in the parking lot?" one of my classmates asked.  Turning I looked around the courtyard trying to discern where the voices were coming from.  It wasn't until a discarded apple core hit the back of my head that I thought to turn and look at the open window slightly above my current position.  If I stood I could just barely see the students sitting at the tables lined up inside.

"I don't know man.  Some freaky girl who never talks," another replied.

"Who never talks?" I hastily ducked as none other than Seth Parker himself started talking about me.

"You know that freak Jennifer or Jessica or something that drives the big maroon car from 1980-lame."

Carefully I raised my head and met the molten gaze of Seth's amber eyes, "I doubt her car makes her a freak."

"Whatever Parker, you probably think she's cute.  You want to get freaky with the freak?" the boy laughed.

Our eyes were still locked.  I began to turn a furious shade of red, from embarrassment or anger I didn't know.  I had the distinct feeling that Seth knew I was the girl they were talking about, so his next words surprised me.

"Maybe," he grinned, "I really just wanted to tell her that her back tire is flat."  His statement elicited hoots and hollers from the boys and high pitched giggles from the girls at the table.  Of course he didn't want to hook up with me.  He was just being a body guard again; looking out for anything potentially harmful or dangerous.

Shaking my head I dumped my tray and headed toward my next class.  Dwelling on Seth and what he did or did not think would get me nothing.  There was no world in this universe or the next where we would end up together.  The rest of the day was uneventful; History, Chemistry, Government, and Home-Ec went by in a blur.  It wasn't until I headed out to the parking lot, glad to escape to the comfort that Tank provided that I remembered what Seth had said during his lunch.  Sure enough, the back tire on the driver's side was flat, a rather large and slightly misshapen nail sticking out of the back.  Great.  I added it to my list of reasons why I needed a cell phone, pulled out the nail for proof and began the short walk home.