Author’s Tangent: Sorry this chapter took awhile. I’ve been working on the novel that I want to publish. A rough draft is up online if anyone is interested. It’s called “Everlasting Requiem” and it’s kind of a vampire story. There’s a description within the story if you’d like to read and review. I’d appreciate it! It’s darker, but so far I’ve had nothing but positive reviews. Thanks again for reading. And I’ll try to update soon! It’s going to get exciting.

He took long strides across the pavement – his bag swinging at his side. The school was supposedly just behind the dorms, and he could not imagine the possibility of getting lost again.

The sky was beautiful today with only a few light clouds twittering about like forgotten birds. Sam could not help but feel happy. He could almost forget about last night and the deep pain in his side. As if on cue, his stomach gave a sharp twang of pain and he halted – swearing under his breath. He had forgotten. He pulled up his messenger bag and dug within it – pulling out the tiny bottle of pills that Everit had given him.

The bottle was white with blue lettering and yellow label. It was a very expensive brand of aspirin from what Sam could see. Why would Everit give it to him? After all the complaining about not wanting to pet sit? Why? Perhaps Everit was just a stuck up rich kid who had too much aspirin and could spare it? Sam shook his head. No. He still probably wouldn’t give away free aspirin. Ah – why was this bothering Sam? He shut his eyes and popped two more pills in his mouth even though he had recently just taken two. Pills rarely did anything for him anymore.

Throwing the bottle back into his bag, he tried to shove aside his thoughts of Everit as he rounded the corner of the tall brick dormitory. This should not bother him. He refused to let it bother him.

Shrugging his shoulders, he glanced up from the immaculate sidewalk he had been staring at, and he immediately froze. His heart dropped into his stomach. Across the path was a girl sitting ever so neatly with her hands folded in her lap and her thin legs crossed. And it probably would have been a normal sight if it weren’t for the tears slowly sliding down her pale cheeks. Her black lank hair was sticking to the wetness on her face, and her lips were parted slightly while her eyes stared blankly at the ground. Her fingers were clenching and unclenching as if she could not grasp something – as if something was incomprehensible.

Sam peered around, but no one else was around. Why was she sitting there? His heart raved. Why was she crying? He rushed toward her without thinking another thought. “Excuse me?”

The girl gasped and flinched back instantly – her eyes flying open behind her large glasses. “Oh my god! Who are you?!”

Stepping back, Sam gulped. What had he done? “Ah – I mean, I didn’t mean to startle you. I just . . . why are you crying?” It pained him to see anyone in tears, and on such a beautiful day . . .

The girl’s mouth dropped open, and her hand grasped to her chest helplessly. “J-just l-l-leave me alone!”

“What?” Sam’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean, really . . . I am so sorry.” His head dipped into a bow, and as he backed away; his feet miscalculated. With a gasp, he tripped back and went stumbling to the ground – landing painfully on his side. The girl yelped, and he let out a hiss of agony – shutting his eyes against the explosion of pain that ripped across his abdomen.

“AH! Are you okay?!” Flying off the bench, the girl knelt beside him, her arms outstretched but useless.

“Shit!” Sam hissed out, wincing as he grabbed at his side and curled against the ground.

“I am so sorry!” The girl sobbed out. “This is all my fault. I’m such a horrible person!” New tears began to spill from her eyes and she choked on a sob.

Sam’s eyes widened, and he glanced upwards, still grasping at his side. “What? No – No! It’s nothing.” He bit his bottom lip as he sat up and pain slithered up his body. “I’m fine!” He gave a half smile and she flinched. God, she looked so breakable. He did not want to push her. He had only meant to comfort her. “I’m sorry. I just, I just don’t like to see people crying on such a beautiful day.” He smiled and brought his fingers to her cheek, wiping away tears that were haphazardly sliding down them.

She cringed slightly but did not bat his hand away. Her eyes watched him through her glasses as if he were a frog beneath a microscope ready for dissection. “I – I . . .” She broke into sobs and bent her head – her hair falling around her face and hiding it.

“Please don’t cry!” Sam shouted, which only made her wince. “Please tell me what’s wrong? I’ll listen. I don’t want to see such a pretty girl cry.”

The tremors running through her spine stopped, and her lips parted as her sobs stopped. She brought her face up slowly, her eyes wide and glossy from tears. They were a sparkling forest green. “What?” she whispered. “I – I – I’m not pretty.”

“Of course you are!” Sam grabbed her hands, forcing her to look him in the eye. “What would make you say that?!”

She batted her eyes and a slight blush rose to her cheeks. “T-those girls . . . they t-t-told me so.”

“Who?!”

“The . . . the prefects. Y-you know, Holly. And those barb-b-bies of hers.” She bit her bottom lip.

Holly Black? Those stupid prefect girls that Sven had told him about? How could anyone be so cruel and heartless? Anger boiled within Sam. “Why would they do that?”

“I’m not rich. I came here off a scholarship, and they . . . they have always hated me. And today, w-well, they . . . they snuck into my room . . . and tore all the pictures of my family. I – I have nothing left!” A sob burst from her lips, and she crumpled in on herself.

Sam’s mouth fell open. He had always been made fun of, but this . . . this was just absolutely low. How could anyone? And what could he say? “I’m sorry.” He looked down at his legs, a little lost for words. “Sometimes people don’t understand. I try not to use my parent’s money; therefore I might as well be poor. I know how it feels. But those girls had no right to say that to you. If it’s anything . . . and I know I’m a stranger . . . I think you’re very pretty. And those tears don’t suit such a beautiful girl.” Smiling his best smile, he took her chin in his fingers and made her look up at him. Her eyes were glimmering and a soft smile broke across her face. He wiped away more tears from her cheeks. Truly, she was a very pretty girl. He would have given anything to just . . . to just . . .

“Thank you so much.” She pulled away from him and brushed her hands across her face – wiping away the rest of the tears. “No one here has ever been so nice to me.” She smiled again, pulling herself to stand up. “My name is Annette Renge.” Another blush broke out on her cheeks, and she cutely dipped her head. “I am so very sorry for disturbing you. I – I really did not mean to . . .”

Sam grinned. “It’s nothing. Please don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I could help.”

“I see, well, here.” She lowered her hand to help him up, and he grasped it, attempting to stand. Yet as he stood, he felt the world spin and terrible vertigo gripped him. Pain tore at him, and he had to dash for the nearest trash can before he retched inside it; it felt like so much came up. He did not even know he had anything inside him. When he had heaved everything up he could, he rested his forehead against the cold metal top of the trash bin, taking in deep breaths.

“Are – are you o-okay?” He heard Annette come up from behind him almost timidly.

“Y-yea,” he said between breaths. “I’ve been sick.” Oh god, did he feel it. His stomach was doing somersaults, and it felt utterly empty and barren. Why did this need to happen to him? How embarrassing. Taking a deep breath, he straightened up and turned around to face Annette, who had a panic-stricken face. This girl could not hide emotions well. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, that’s so embarrassing.” He chuckled to himself, trying to shrug off the humiliation.

“Not really.” Annette blushed again as he cocked his head questioningly. “I mean it’s more embarrassing to cry in front of a stranger.”

“We’re not strangers. At least not anymore. I’m Sam, Sam Eagan. It’s nice to meet you.” He bowed his head politely. “I hope we can be friends.”

Smiles broke across her face. “Of course!”

Glancing around, Sam felt a blush rising to his cheeks. “You know what’s even more embarrassing?”

“What?” She cocked her head curiously.

“I’m lost.” Sam hung his head in despair. “This campus is so big! I’ve never even been to a school before.”

“Really?!” Annette eyes widened. “ Well, if you want, I can show you to the school.”

“I would be so grateful.” Sam bowed once again and straightened to find her face blushing a deep scarlet. “Something the matter?”

“No – I just – no one has ever been so polite and nice to me before.” Blushing an even deeper shade, she spun around on her heels as Sam frowned. “T-this way.”

Sam grinned and followed after her as she walked up a separate path lined with giant oaks. “This school must have a lot of money.”

“Yes, it does. They pride themselves on their appearance. This place is a lot like most of the people here. All about appearances.” Bitterness stained her voice.

“Not everyone can be that bad.” Sam retorted.

“I guess not,” she said. “So, if you have never been to school before, Sam, why are you now going?”

“I managed to save up enough money to afford this school, which was the only one my mother would let me attend.”

“Your parents wouldn’t pay for it?”

“It’s more complicated than that.” His stomach knotted. “But it’s fine. I don’t mind. I did manage to get the money.”

“Ah, I see. My parents are forcing me here. They spend all their hard earned money just to send me here when I don’t even like it. But they insist that I should go here. They love being able to tell everyone that I go to this prestigious school . . . yet I hate it.”

“Well, did you tell them that?” Sam asked.

“What? I could never do that!”

“Why not?” Sam moved so that he was walking side by side with her.

“Because . . . because . . . you know, I could never . . . it would break their hearts.”

“Therefore, you suffer instead?” Sam shook his head. “That’s unfortunate. Though I think it would be better if you said something. I’m sure they only want you to be happy. If being here makes you so miserable, I think that you should mention it to them.” Annette stopped suddenly, and Sam halted a few steps ahead, turning to peer at her. Her face seemed lost in wonder. “Annette?”

“U-uh, I need to go.” Annette’s fingers grabbed at her blouse. “The school is just up this pathway. Bye.” She spun around quickly and sprinted off before Sam could even open his mouth. The hell was that? All he tried to do was be nice? What had he done wrong?