Author’s note: The story and characters belong to me, now the town name, well there’s always a chance that one exists with that name, and the paintings and objects described are created of my imagination, if they exist, sorry but I’m not psychic and I don’t know it all ; nor would I want to. Anyway, enjoy the story!

Lost Souls

Chapter 1

If I would've seen my future a year back, I would've probably dismiss it as an illusion. I never thought anything good or bad could happen to me. I never would've chosen this road, back then I would've agreed. I wasn't ready. This is my story. The story of when my dreams began to ring and I walked closer to the mirage... where I realized what was real and what was not. Spring break had gone, school was back and everything felt the same. Nothing had changed, why would it? I didn't even try to change it. It was the first day of school and I was early in the classroom. Maybe 15 minutes early. I didn't mind, I liked it here... it was quiet. I opened the window near me, letting the wind move my short hair. I was resting my cheek on my hand, my eye lids closed. I could sense something coming nearer each day, but I was never sure. It was a strange feeling, but I always felt it. At first I hated it... It was the reason I saw things happen, the reason why I saw them die.

Suddenly I heard yelling in the hall, I couldn't make out everything, but I did recognize a voice. The voice that said 'You try that one more time and you'll find out what it feels like to have your penis in a blender!'.

Right then I heard the door open and the clear loud voice of Lilliana. She smiled at me, her eyes shining with the light of the sun. She was wearing the school uniform today which surprised me, she always broke the rule the first days. The uniform was a black plaid skirt, a white buttoned blouse and a maroon ribbon on the back. The guys had black pants, white shirt and a maroon tie. Lilliana hated it.

"Sol, thought I'd find you here. Gosh am I tired!"she said collapsing on the chair next to me. I gave her a weak smile.

That's Lily, she was always tired, but I didn't blame her, she really had a lot of things to do. But she placed those things on her own shoulders mostly. Not a lot of people liked her, she was loud and honest. If she didn't like something she wouldn't hesitate to tell you and everyone in the school apparently liked being lied to. People found it odd that she was my friend since I was quiet, people could intentionally bump into me and I'd just shrug it off. Once or twice I've erupted into fits, but mainly verbal and I'd be found in a corner afterwards crying it out, even if I won the argument. But she just made me laugh one day. I still remember, that day I had a stomach pain and you could tell by the look in my face it was bad. She saw me and asked if I was ok, I really didn't say anything afraid I'd puke if I even opened half of my mouth or even moved my head. Then she said 'You look like if you just smelled one of my after eating eggs farts' and right then I laughed, five seconds later I puked, but she was there to hold my hair back.

"Did you sleep well? You look tired"she asked looking at me.

"I couldn't sleep last night"I muttered, she raised an eyebrow and looked at the board.

"Well, I just stayed awake being on the Internet. Which reminds me, can you lend me your math results? I completely forgot to do the homework. Honestly, what kind of teacher is twisted enough to send you homework via mail? I almost died when I got the letter. I thought it was one of my admirers, but no admirer of mine talks numbers"she said. I didn't even hesitate, I drew out the notebook. She was good at classes, she was an average student, only forgetful and lazy but I never blamed her. I kept looking outside the window, hoping the wind would brush my face again.

"Oh Sol, I'm thinking of turning into a nun and dating only the priests, really, all the guys I'm meeting are like dysfunctional one way or the other"she said as she copied from my notebook, I smiled before turning my head to her.

"What do you mean?"I asked.

"You remember, Rob? The cute older guy. Well, he's living with his mother, right? Well, I thought that was ok, cause that meant he wasn't a machist, but next thing I know his mom was preparing a bath for him, a bubble bath! And guess what else I heard through the phone? She asked where was the sponge that she used to wash his back. I had to hung up!"she said.

"Well... why don't you tell him what you think? Maybe he'll feel embarrassed and wash his own back"I said. It was kind of odd. The guy was in his late 20's, and his mother still saw him naked? I shrugged.

"Im tired of saying what I think, it's not like they listen and it's not like my old relationships were any good, I think its blasphemy to even call it that! Honestly, I want a guy I can boss around, but I need to get bossed around too even though I won't listen to him. I just need a miracle I guess"she said.

I didn't say anything else. Love wasn't a department I was really good in, at all.

"I mean, be honest, he's like a deranged puppy. I mean, no worse than yours... Oh, sorry"she said, stopping her writing and looking at me worried.

I did have one boyfriend, four times, it was a disaster. He loved me, he really did and he did everything for me. He was every girl's dream, but... I was with him, to make him happy, looking around me and thinking 'maybe I'll learn to love him. Maybe love isn't something that happens in a blink of an eye like in movies, but the more I tried, the more I failed. I looked at other couples, the girls giggling when they came near or petted them, but I on the other hand drew back and felt nothing. Not joy, nor disgust.... It was something that made every touch he gave me like a knife, my body screamed for me to get away from him, my heart empty and my mind telling me to try. He was still in the school and many people began to hate me because even after I left him, he would not look at anyone, but me. I hated this, more than people were willing to believe. I shrugged, giving Lily a sign to forget it. I hated memories and the fact that I remembered them so well.

It was kind of funny that after all the relationships that a human being could have, they ended up broken by the one who cheats, the one who hits, the one who lies, but I... I got hurt by the one who gave me everything.

The bell rang and students started to go in. Some smiling lightly at me, others giving both Lily and me cold stares. I shrugged it off while Lily just smiled at them cooly. Then the door opened, I saw a suit, but I couldn't see the guy's face very well due to the majority of people standing up. It was a new teacher, that I knew thanks to gossip. The fact that I was always walking around quiet gave me the chance to overhear the oddest and funniest things. This one was a teacher from a small island called Puerto Rico, giving math here in the states. I found it funny. Then I heard they found a new teacher for P.E., a guy from England. Strange combination really, but it wasn't my problem.

Eventually everyone sat done revealing a young teacher, impossible for him to be a teacher I thought.

"Hi, my name is Mr. Hernandez, I'm going to be your math teacher, temporarily at least since I don't exactly have a license to teach, only the practice, now those who did their work should hand it in, now"he said.

Well, he wasn't old, but he sure acted like it. His hair was dark, short and somewhat curly, his eyes were brown and his skin a little tanned. I sighed as Lily took my answer sheet with her so I wouldn't have to stand up, I looked out the window and suddenly heard my name being called.

"Mss. Aurora? You have legs, don't you?"he asked.

I nodded a little startled as Lily walked towards me with my paper and muttered a sorry.

"Yes."I said.

"Then you can hand me your own answer sheet"he said. I didn't say anything, I just stood up and did it, feeling eyes all over me. I sighed.

"That wasn't so hard, now let's see how you enjoy these next exercises..."he said.

As soon as I sat down Lily looked at me compassionately.

"He's an ass"she whispered.

"Yeah, I guess..."I said.

"Ladies, anything you want to share with the class?"asked the teacher.

"Nothing, just asking Sol if Ass really meant Donkey, the relation between those two words bedazzle me"she said, I grinned and contained my giggles.

"Well, leave that conversation for English class, this is math"he said. We decided to be quiet after that, since he apparently had bionic ears.

We took our other class normally, hardly anything happened at the school. Finally it was lunch. Lily and I always sat alone.

"So you're going to work today? You didn't bring your car to school today though"asked Lily. I nodded. "I felt like walking"I quickly responded. I worked in a little store to rent movies. I liked the job. Mainly I had the afternoon shifts then on weekends the night shift. My manager was a John and he was very kind to me letting me work even if I wasn't of legal age, but that wouldn't be a problem anymore. I looked at her hopefully. Then did that mean she remembered?

"Oh ok, I might pass by, don't know though, I think I have a date tonight and I left my agenda at home"she said.

"Oh, ok"I said with a yawn and a tired sigh.

"Girl, are you sure you slept today?"she asked.

"Yeah.. actually that reminds me, I had the oddest dream"I said.

"What was it bout?"she asked trying to chew down some weird meatballs the cafeteria lady made. Looked more like rocks.

"It was weird.. I was at the roof of my apartment building looking at the moon. It was white at first and I was wearing the school uniform. Then it turned blue, I was wearing this beautiful dress and I even felt a guy's hand on my shoulder, but then it was like everything around me broke, like bad TV reception? And the moon turned red, my dress was shredded and so was I"I said.

"So you were dead?"she asked taking a sip of soda.

"That's the thing, I wasn't. I was cut all over, but I was still awake and I could hear my heart beat normally"I said.

"Well, I'll only say this. If Freud was alive, you'd be his favorite patient"she said. I grinned and bit into a fry.

"Wow, I'm surprised you know who Freud is"I said, she grabbed one of my fries and threw it at me as I chuckled.

"Hey girls"said a voice. It was him.

"Hey, Donny"I said in almost a whisper as I watched him and his jock friends pass by. I felt my heart sink, my skin turn inside out and just guilt.

"Oh God, that boy doesn't quit. I'm this close to taking this fork and shoving it up his-"

"Lily, don't.. it's not his-

"OH no! Don't start with that again. I am NOT going to let you blame yourself for that bastard. It's not your fault he couldn't take no for an answer. I swear if I would've been here by that time, I would have had his balls barbecued"she said. I snickered. She probably would've. I sighed and played with my fries a bit.. for some reason I didn't feel hungry anymore.

"Sol, come on... I knew it, I should've stayed for spring break, at least then I would've found you a decent boyfriend"she said.

"No, it's fine. I had a good spring break"I said with a fake smile. Well acted too. I was lonely for the whole week. I spent most of my time working, cleaning, watching TV and getting online. That was the life of someone who lived alone. The day was pretty much quiet as Lily and I went our separate ways for our last class. I took art and she took P.E. which was something I hated. As I walked the halls I felt another drop of guilt sink in me. P.E. was a class I had never taken and the teacher who gave it knew of my situation... well, he knew my family and said I didn't have to take the class. As long as I took art, he would count whatever grades I got there as his which was more than fine with me. I reached the classroom hall and the teacher was outside and looked at me with an expression of worry in her face like if it was me she was waiting for.

"Hi Sol, how was your spring break?"she asked with a nervous smile.

"It was good, are you ok Mss. Rosario?"I asked.

If you'd look at Rosario, she didn't look like a Mss at all. By her appearance you'd think she was 60 and maybe she was. She was as skinny as could be, wrinkles here and there and her hair was gray with some white hairs around. She never got married, she lived alone to this day, unless you include her many cats and had no children. One of the things I loved about her, she always shared her life stories in class, inspiring us to paint with our heart, with our life stories, just by feeling her own.

"No, not quite. I'm afraid I got into a little fight with a new teacher"she muttered.

"Oh, but why?"I asked, not sure who would argue with her. She hardly ever stayed around the school. She always went to her house at all times to check on her cats, how could anyone have time to develop an argument against her?

"It was about you"she said biting her nails that were practically none existent.

"What?"I asked in disbelief.

"The new P.E. teacher. He wants you in his class. Apparently Mr. Price forgot our arrangement when he left and you have no P.E. credit. You have to take it this year and you can't take my class. He brainwashed the principal saying you needed physical attention just as much as emotional attention"she said. My eye twitched. How dare he?! I just felt like punching the wall, but I kept it in, I couldn't let her see me like that or else I'd be sent to the counselor and I was tired of seeing her everyday.

"But... The principal knows art is my life. Most of the trophies here are here because of me"I said trying not to make a fist, with my anger, I'd make my nails pierce my skin.

"I know.. that's why maybe I can make a little arrangement"she said.

"What is it?"I asked.

"Classes, at my house. After school, one hour. I know it's completely against the rules, but you're a brilliant student and I won't let a new teacher beat me down"she said just as angry as I was.

"I'd love to. When do we start?"I asked.

"Tomorrow. They said you can stay with me for today at least. Wait, don't you work? Won't that be a problem?"she asked.

"No, not at all. I have a car and I always have around 2 hours before my shift. I'm a quick dresser"I said with a smile. She returned the gesture and put her hand on my back guiding me in. She let me help the new students and do some painting of my own. Although I couldn't do much, I was too angry and all I did was too red because that's all I saw.

The bell rang quickly and I was more than relieved. As I walked out of the school a hand stopped me. Donny.
"Oh, hi Donny"I said nervous. No, not that feeling again. Like if something was inside my skin. Snakes. Fighting to get out.

"Hi, just thought I'd give you this. Happy birthday"he said handing me a plastic tulip.

"Oh Donny... thanks"I said walking away and he followed.

"I was wondering if you'd want me to give you a ride home. I kind of noticed your car wasn't in the parking lot"he said.

"Donny... don't, please"I pleaded.

"Don't what? I only want to give you a ride"he said. I sighed. That's how it always started... Then I felt it, all eyes on me. Girls glaring, even guys, some of them snickering and laughing. I hated this. I felt like jumping into Donny's arms to keep away from the stares. But no, I had to fight it, I couldn't let it get to me again. Suddenly a noise broke my mind's silence. Motorcycle. I ran into the streets and whistled making the driver stop and look at me. He lifted his helmet shade and I stood there like a stone. All I could see was his eyes, but it was enough. They were blue, so light, almost white.

"Sol!"I heard Donny yell.

"Are you going to get on, or not?"he asked. I hadn't moved, but then I did. Jumping on the bike as he drove, I heard Lily call out for me, but I didn't care. I wanted to get away and this time I don't know what made me do this, but I didn't feel the snakes anymore, although my heart was racing... but that was a good thing.

He stopped on a hill. I gulped. Not a safe place to be with a stranger. I wasn't sure how long had he been driving. I had my eyes closed the whole time. I had never been on a motorcycle before. I slowly got off.

"I'm sorry... I was kind of running... where are we?"I asked.

"Look to your right"he said and I did. You could see the whole town from here.

"Oh, well, this is not exactly where I wanted to go.."I said nervously.

"Well, I'm not exactly a taxi"he said.

"Sorry"I muttered holding my hands behind my back. He took his helmet off now letting me see his face. He looked young, for an adult, maybe around his mid 20's. His hair was black, neatly shaved, but not bald. His skin was tanned, but not so dark which made his eyes look strange... Blue eyes, almost white. His lips weren't long or thin, they were almost perfect. He looked strong, but not over sized and you could see he had facial hair that was slowly growing.

"What were you running away from?"he asked.

"Everyone"I muttered sitting on a medium sized stone looking at the town. I no longer felt the stares... only his. I looked back as he was analyzing me, I gulped again.

"Yeah, I heard that about you at the school"he said stepping off his bike and resting his back on it, his arms across his chest.

"You go to the school?"I asked.

"What? I look that old?"he asked.

"No, no, I've never seen you around that's all"I said.

"Don't worry, tomorrow you will"he said with a smile.

"Oh God, I can't believe I got on a motorcycle with a stranger... and I can't believe I just decided to say that now, after what, 20 minutes?"I asked.

He looked at his watch and grinned. "No, 5 minutes"he said and then he leaned forward towards me offering me his hand.

"Daniel Crow"he said shaking my hand lightly. His hands were rough, but seemed soft to my touch.

"Soluna Aurora"I said with a shy smile.

"I know"he said drawing back again, resting on his bike.

"What... what else do you know?"I asked curious.

"I know that your parents died. I know that you tried a foster home, didn't work out and that you're now living alone"he said.

"Wow, at least you don't know the details"I said looking at the ground, but his words made me look up again.

"I do, I just don't think it's something you should hear, when you constantly repeat it to yourself"he said. I gave him half a smile and chuckled.

"You should study for school counseling. If my counselor stopped telling me 'Let's talk about this' for the 100th time, perhaps I could forget it and get on with my life"I said.

"Maybe it's not a matter of forgetting, it's dealing with it"he said.

"Forgetting is how I deal with it"I said.

He walked towards me, but not so close. He bent down and picked up a rock, analyzing it then putting it back down.

"If you try to forget something, you have to forget everything connected to it. Without memories, you don't know who you were, who you are and nothing makes sense, because you've dug yourself out of the ground, lost your roots and lived your life as a broken tree."he said taking another stone and analyzing it. It was strange what he was doing. He dug them out, cleaned them with his finger and put them in the ground again.

"Wow, you're good"I said.

"No, I've just lived"he said.

"Yeah, well... sometimes I think I'm tired of living"I said. Finally he kept one stone and began throwing it in the air as he caught it.

"Do you ever wonder what trees feel like when you cut them down?"he asked. I turned my head to look at him.

"What do you mean?"I asked.

"A tree, spends it's whole life growing branches, growing leaves, then someone cuts down all it's hard work. But if you give it time, a little branch will start to grow and it'll start all over again. Do you think they get tired of living?"he asked. I was confused now. He was talking about trees, how could I compare myself to a tree?

"I don't know.."I said.

"Hmm, come on, let's get you home. Where do you live?"he asked.

"The Murley neighborhood, at the old apartment building, know the place?"I asked.

"Not really, but I have a good sense of direction"he said handing me the helmet to wear this time "Oh here, take this"he said handing me the stone. I said thanks and looked at it. It was a blue stone. I stayed quiet for a moment. All the stones in the ground were black.. how did he?

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So what do you think so far? I know, I need some practice among other things. I’m fighting my way through writer’s block with this one because I really want it to carry on, just like my 4 other incomplete stories, but one battle at a time please, one battle at a time. Oh and it’ll get supernatural soon.. not soon soon, but soon. Patience is a virtue . I think