Remember me? Perhaps not. I'm Nicholas Gray, the slightly manic boy who saw little girls in mirrors. Would you believe me if I told you it wasn't the first strange thing that's happened to me? I can hardly remember the events myself, but I know it continually haunts my family. It's difficult to tell when it all started. One moment I was fine, a little stressed, but what college student isn't? Especially one studying psychology. The next...well, you'll see. Maybe it was the arrival of the new girl. Perhaps it was the built up aggression within me due to constant harassment. Maybe I am just purely crazy. Whatever the reason was, it was sure as hell frightening. In fact, I believe this was what caused the supernatural to target me, just like the girl in the mirror.

I was sitting in psychology, taking notes on yet another mental condition when in stepped a girl I'd never seen before. The professor merely looked at her and continued on. She was tall, maybe an inch sorter than me, with short reddish hair. Her eyes were dark and her face pale. She smiled pleasantly, but there was something off about her. There were no introductions, and she took a seat in the second row. She simply opened a note book and began writing.

I, however, couldn't stop staring at this girl. Eventually I lost myself in daydreaming. What to make for dinner was my primary thought, and by the time class was dismissed I'd decided to order pizza. As soon as it went off I was overcome with an almost desperate need to leave the room as quickly as I could. It was stifling all of a sudden, too close and too hot. I took the steps two at a time in hope that I could escape quickly.

Once in the hall, the air seemed to cool, the walls moved back outward. It was wonderful to breathe again. Luckily, my next class was an hour and a half away, so I took the opportunity to go into the garden and sit. I love it there in the fall. The trees were turning and there was enough foliage to hide anyone from view. It smelled of that sweet decay and burning wood I always equate with the turn of the season. Just to sit and be was enough to appease the artist in me, between the vibrant colors and the music of the wind in the trees. It was a haven on campus. Unfortunately, my peace was about to be disturbed.

Someone cut on the sprinkler system, and I was drenched in less then a minute. I pushed my way through the bushes just in time to see the jerk run off with his friends. Sure, mock the queer. Capture the fag seemed to be their favorite pass time when they weren't...Oh that would just be in bad taste. Anyway, I was left to trudge back to the dining hall sopping wet.

I never really thought about making friends in college. I'd known most of these kids my entire life, so there was really no sense in befriending them. I was simply glad that most of the people I'd known weren't smart enough to make it to college. Some people depend on a friend though, and that's exactly what happened next.

"You're in my psychology class right?" The red haired girl looked down at me, lunch in one hand and a book in the other.

"Yes. You're new aren't you?"

"Yeah, just transferred. Hey, um, you dropped this, or I think you did. I tried calling the name on the cover, but I guess you didn't hear me. It's Nicholas, right?" She set down her tray, handing the book to me.

"Right. Nicholas Gray. And you are?"

"Persephone Ravenhearst. Pleased to meet you. Um," she looked around shyly, licking her lips. "Can I sit here with you?"

"Sure. I must warn you, it may damage your reputation before you make one."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's uncool to associate with the queer," I said wryly, tucking the book into my bag.

She did the oddest thing yet - she gasped in excitement. "You're gay! Really? Do you have a boyfriend?"

Needless to say, I was very taken aback. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Fiancée actually. Why are you excited about all this?"

"I don't know. I've never actually been friends with a gay guy before. I think it's really interesting how two men can have such a great relationship."

Now, I know it's cruel, but I flat out laughed at that one. "Remind me later to tell you the story of how I met my fiancée. I promise you, there is no romance involved whatsoever."

"Why are you wet?"

"Oh, the watering system cut on. It happens every so often. So, your name is actually Persephone?"

"Yeah," she smiled, picking up her sandwich. "Mom thought it was interesting. Persephone Ravenhearst. Now that's a name."

Strangely enough, and despite her alarming weirdness, Persephone and I became fast friends. She took an appreciation (and a fork) to my cooking, especially after that first day's mistake of eating the food in the dining hall - it's called the Gag for a reason. She invited me out to study, and even dared to be seen with me in public. Shocking, I know. She even gained the famed title of 'fag hag'. Most shockingly, none of this deterred her from her attempt at getting me to tell her all about my 'interesting life.'