Deep within the uninhabited Galaxies, floated the island of Alethia. It carried upon its shoulders the future of countless stars and new life. But not only did it promise new life, the island also carried very ancient life. Life as ancient as time and space itself, that it had passed into the realm of the divine, watching over all to this day.

Besides the shimmering island of Alethia, something much darker, more cynical, awaited in the deep recesses of the darkness. Waiting to tear apart Alethia and steal its light, that the darkness had craved so much. Testing the borders of the city, finding ways in through the smallest of crevices. Invading many other spots that weren't under the Alethians care, which earned them the title of Invaders.

The Invaders were not to be trifled with but the Alethians would never give in so easily, they would put up a fight against the soulless creatures of the darkness. Stamping down hard onto other areas to put them within their protection. Expanding resources, covered lands that were defenseless, sending out highly trained soldiers to protect the lands.

The war amongst each other raged for many millennium, with neither side gaining any ground. Always causing mass destruction in their wake but also rebirth in the process by bringing stars to life with their conflicting energies and left over debris causing planets to be born within their wake. Setting the steps into motion for life to be born. But even that gave the Invaders energy to leech off of, making them even more powerful but that just gave cause for the Alethians to fight harder.

All seemed that the war would last until the end of days, though one day a spy of the Invaders was able to sneak past the barriers that Alethian crafters had erected around the city, creep all the way to the Citadel of the Penta-Stars, the source of all the Alethians power, knowledge and faith.

Sneaking in the shadows of massive columns, the Invader snuck pass many rooms with silent prayers and chants echoed into the Hall. The Maidens, female Alethians who devoted themselves to help expand life in each individual galaxy and protected the island from decay and corruption, giving out their attention to the worlds and try to fortify the protections against the Invaders.

Finally the creature reached the very center of the Citadel, the energies of the Maidens and other powerful beings made the rooms air swim like a stone hitting the surface of water. The center being the very home of the Pure Ones, powerful Alethians that were said to be the first families to reach dominance over their designated element. At the head of the six Pure Ones were the two ruling families. Lux, the clan of Light, and Tenebrae, the clan of Darkness, ruling side by side in peace and harmony.

It was there, in the room the Father of Tenebrae lived, was attacked by the small Invader being jabbed at his heart with its deadly venomous stinger. The room next to his, the Mother of Lux cared and sing to their child, a son born of Lux and Tenebrae, a child that would rule all the Alethians when he came of age but also deemed to be feared because of the conflicting powers that lie within.

Hearing the gentle thump of something collapsing onto the ground. Leaving their child in his crib, she wondered to her loves room and from that room, covered by thick ancient walls, that the whole of Alethia heard the Mothers grief stricken howl of loss and shaking the whole Island from the attacks as She sought vengeance on the small Invader, incinerating the little things body with her Light.

On that day, the Lady of Light declared open war with the Invaders. Blinded by her rage, she could not hear or see the consequences of the rash decision. The High Priestess or Arch Maiden, who led all the other Maidens of the Citadel, saw the Lady's bad decision and took action to protect the future children of their race.

The Arch-maiden summoned the four remaining Pure Ones, she requested them to help her bless the five children of the Pure Ones with extraordinary gifts for any obstacles and Guardians. Creatures every Alethian received once they reached adulthood as a familiar and guardian but as the children weren't over a several month old, she made an exception for them and for their guaranteed future.

As they moved onto sending the children into through a Time Gate, the Lady of Light stormed into the room. She started a argument with them, for taking her child without her consent and casting the blessing circle without the presence of Light and Darkness. The Arch-maiden couldn't keep silent anymore, she raged over the Lady's own rash decision, as a Regime of Warriors of Alethia faltered to the battle front of the Island to protect them all from the tide of Invaders.

The Invaders felt the discord happening on the Island, taking the little break in their defense, they swarmed toward the uncertain soldiers and broke through. Their razor toothed maws devoured emerald fields, evergreen sentient forests, and sapphire blue lakes. Turning all of the land to barren sand and death.

Tremors raced through the land as the Pure One of Terra, the element Earth, felt many deaths of plants and trees instantly. She clawed at her hair and screamed the agony of their deaths, collapsing into a heap on the floor gasping through heart breaking sobs. The High Priestess foresaw that that it would happen, she opened the Gates of Time allowing all who entered to travel to any point of time with their will power alone.

Everyone, except Terra who still cradled her head, pleaded with the Lady of Light once more about the great loss of their people; the Arch-Maiden asked and pleaded for the Lady's blessing for the safe journey of the children and their Alethian protectors, ten Maidens who willingly volunteered to go with the babies for their protection while they still grew into their powers and to teach them about their talents when they came into age.

Still blinded by her rage against the Invaders who murdered the man she loved, it was an explosion that rocked the Chamber of Time and her little boys cry broke through the haze that clouded her reasoning. She held out her arms for the baby, the Maiden handed over the baby and the Lady of Light cradled her little boy in her arms, holding him tightly as she felt the fresh wave of sadness strike her heart relentlessly. Though the rumbling from outside continued to get closer and closer and it would only be a matter of minutes before the Invaders swarmed into the chamber and devoured what was left of their world.

Through her tears the Lady of Light blindly handed her boy to one of his protectors but the Ritual of Baptism still had to be completed so the children would each receive a personal guardian. A creature born from their souls and bound to their very life so they would have to obey every order given to them.

Gentle wavering light spread throughout the chamber as each Pure One sung a song reminiscing of a lullaby, all who heard it filled with energy. Flowing through each ear of the children, sparking another kind of fire in their souls. Dully the new fire nudged its way through each little ones bodies, finding a place to settle and observe the world in greater detail than any of them would and to later mark that spot with their Summoning symbol.

The pounding on the outside soon broke even closer to the time chamber, smothering out the singing and breaking all the Maidens into chaos but the Arch-Maiden and the Pure Ones had to finish their job by sending the last surviving members of their great race into the very distant future.

Set within the wall of the Chamber, a giant set of ornate doors with symbols of confinement also hourglasses around the edge marked the door, with immense power rolled off in waves whenever looked at it. Only by the touch of the Arch-Maiden and the Lady of Light could the doors of Time be opened but in order for the doors to be opened for prolonged periods of time, all the Pure Ones had to be present and the person would have to walk through the doors of their own accord.

That was another reason what the Maidens had to do, carry the infants safely into the future and protect them from any dangers and train them in one of the Sacred Arts and guide them throughout the rest of their lives though when the Maidens stood on the threshold of the Time Gate, a explosion threw them off balance.

Toppling into the passageway, the babies flew through the swirling masses of time and Time Vortex. Destinations to some distant world in the distant future unknown the Maidens dived head first to chase after their little charges, hands outstretched. Many of the Maidens got a hold of their children except one and to later find out, that he was the most important one of them all. The only child born of both Light and Darkness destined to either save or destroy the cosmos.

At least that is what they have told me so far from where I am staying at, the beautiful and twisting dorms of Alethia Academy but I brought you to far back let me bring you to a few months ago when my world completely went upside down from meeting the most hottest man ever.

2: Beginning Anew

Erik's POV

Shadows surround me surged into every opening, when my mind entered the dream. My mouth, ears and eyes, gasping for air and my arms flailing in the air. No way to escape from inky darkness choking me. A coldness seeping into every pore and freezing my bones, chilling the essence of my soul.

Horrible screams of people dying sounded far off in the distance but as far as I could see, there only stretched emptiness and the creeping darkness. It creeped closer and the stench of death suffused the air, gagging me with the smell of rotting flesh. Feeling claws tear at my flesh, red streaks caress the surface of my skin and blood ooze from my arms, dripping onto the pitch dark floor. My heart pounding in my chest and with blood thundering in my ears, instinctual fear overcame me, legs moving of their own accord. The scene changing in a star burst of darkness, to an empty road lined with gray houses.

Racing down the paved street of empty gray houses lining the road, darkness swarming pass the houses. Each foot fall making the shadows darken and shudder with malevolence around me, trying to out run the evil. A burst of bright white light enveloped the street, making the darkness became crystal clear; showing grotesque creatures writhe in pain, scrambling behind each other so that the light wouldn't touch them.

The light faded away slowly taking the demons with it, ground shaking as another nightmare rolled right in. Windows shattering from their panes, unable to with stand the pressure and the road buckling, sending my stomach into my throat as weightlessness and falling over came every sensation. Falling through the gaping hole that opened beneath me, sending me to a whole new world of darkness. Though very different from the terrifying empty darkness, where the old felt empty, cold and full of hatred, this held me close and comforting, cradling me like a mother does her child. With a silvery light shimmered around me, as though moonlight exuded from my pores bringing a sense of peace and overwhelming power (if that could happen at all).

Falling through the open space, small twinkling lights slowly come into life guiding me along an aimless journey with no end. Gliding through the serene blackness, a burning light flew towards me as the darkness lulled me to wakefulness as the beautiful light came to me it took on the shape of a bird on fire or fire in the shape of a bird. Burning brightly in vibrant shades of blue, green, red and orange. With eyes a brilliant blue gazed through them, wings outstretched as though to embrace.

Eyes slowly opening against bright dawn streaming through the open blinds, an occasional bird whistling in the distance. Squinting against the light and trying to grasp for my dream but always slipping through my fingers, locked away to some dungeon. Brought back from the deep recesses of my tired mind through quizzical dreams. Sighing for the new day and beginning a new life at another new school, struggling again to remember the recurring dream that started six months ago, on my fifteenth birthday, and becoming more and more vivid with each day like some message was trying to get across.

Exhausted and draping my arm over my eyes. Covering them from the light, laying in bed, puzzling over the bits and flashes of the dream. Deep down I still felt they held some unknown secret instead of just the flaming colorful bird, like the dreams were trying to tell me something but could never remember what they were trying to tell me. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, hopping from the bed to giving my body a stretch. Feeling the pull of tired muscles ease and groan with pleasure from sleeps adventurous contortions.

Groggy, grabbing a pair of jeans from the small closet and sidling over to my dresser for a pair of underwear, wondering what the school would be like here in this small town, if any of their classes and curriculum could keep up to par with all the private schooling I've had from my foster parents. The bathroom joined to my room held the chill from the night, always an honor when my dad lowered the heat during the night. Turning the shower on and setting the water on full heat, walking out of the bathroom and bedroom for towels. Crossing our hallway to the closet, gathering towel in hand and back to the bathroom too start my day with a refreshing shower cloaking the room with nice humid steam, opening up my nasal passages flooding my lungs with air.

30 minutes later

Toweling my hair, going back to my closet searching for a shirt that wouldn't cause immediate embarrassment so my Pink Panther shredded tee was out of the question. Amazing how just a simple piece of clothing could make or break you . My favorite dark blue t-shirt sleeve sticking out from a pile on the floor caught my eye, thrusting a hand to pull it out of the disheveled clothing and the hooded button up vest hung from the doorway went right over. Shoving the shirt over my head and buttoning up the vest as fast as possible. The brush lying at the bottom of my sink as a tube of tooth paste remained uncorked, spilling tooth paste everywhere. Giving my towel a quick swipe over the counter and brushing my hair, hearing my own foster parents clatter down the steps. Another swipe of my toothbrush with toothpaste gave me minty fresh breathe.

Gathering the messenger bag over my shoulder, noises from downstairs drifted into the room, my foster parents preparing for their own days maybe the coffee filtering strong coffee for them to drink and wake up. Heading down the steps two at a time, a quick glance in the mirror at the bottom showed aqua blue eyes staring back and bangs doing an flip from the annoying cow lick, I could never get to lay flat. The sharp small nose twitched as the smell of burning bread wafted up my nose, cringing that my foster mom, Emily, trying to make breakfast. Cooking never seemed to come to her, my foster dad Mike had to step in and make it himself for fear that she would burn down the house, giving me the pointers on how not burn water.

Jumping the remaining three steps and an abrupt U-turn to the kitchen, giving quick glances at the family pictures littering our walls. All the way from when they first adopted me in front of the court house, only two months old wrapped completely in a blue blanket. All the way to the most recent one, where my foster parents and I took our yearly family picture in front of the Lilac bushes, that my foster mom just got done planting in our new front yard, the red scar tissue shining bright to me, running across my face and arms. Thankfully we moved a month before summer break so Emily and Mike didn't make me go to the local school yet but finished my education at home.

Looking at the pictures, there could be no way anyone would mistake me for being Mike and Emily's son. I didn't look anything like them, they both had mahogany brown hair and Mike having a smooth angular face with a tall muscular build, since he was the quarterback in his old high school and college years. While Emily had more of a petite body, like a small fairy but the sharp gaze couldn't fool anyone, being the old shy girl in school with her heart-shaped face, but then grew into womanhood when she got away from the drama of High School and blossomed with confidence.

Me, tall and skinny with that kind of lean muscle that swimmer or a sprinter, with my snow white hair and skin that kept denying the sun rays to remain a forever shade of pearl white. With my one "beauty" mark under my eye as a small dark mole right in the middle of my cheek, high in contrast to my white skin.

Even my hand pushing against the dark oak door to the kitchen held my eye, seeming like a ghost and that I could pass through the door. Though only the blue veins underneath pulsing against the skin gave satisfaction that I was alive, giving my bones and muscle a stretch to open the door. The door swung open to spotless wood flooring and matching cabinets, the maroon walls stinging my eyes and a tingle spread up my forearm. The stainless steel appliances littered our counter top but the whole setup ruined with black smoke rising from the toaster next to the sink with the sunlight making the metal gleam brightly.

Shaking my head with a sigh, feet squeaking against the wood flooring toaster grabbing the toaster little bar. A little push making the toast popped right up and making the air smell like burnt bread even more. The blackened hunk of bread trailed tendrils of smoke, grabbing the charred bread with my finger nails, gingerly carrying them to the trash by the door that I had just came through.

About to straighten up from reaching down to the lift the trash lid, a mass of brown hurtled toward my face and within that split second an intense jab of pain radiated from my nose and forehead. Pressing my hand against my nose, praying that I wouldn't get a bloody nose and have to change my only half normal shirt and my casual vest, thankfully nothing oozed from my nose. Just the sharp sting remained and it just hurt a little bit to breathe through.

"Oh dear, I forgot the toast again," a high soprano voice chimed, hearing foot falls recede to the toaster but stopped abruptly when the groan I was repressing escaped my lips." Erik what are you doing on the floor, you're going to get your pants all dirty" my foster mom, Emily, said with an innocent face, like she had no idea that I was behind the door.

Her eyes told another story, as they moved over everything only people who knew her well would know that her mind was taking in all the details. She may seem scatter brained but when she wanted to her brain could work a million miles a second. That was how she got the trust of everyone, playing the part of the little innocent woman who appeared weak and harmless but if you crossed her, she could make your life like a living hell.

"I thought I might admire the grain in the floors and check for any scuff marks the movers may have left behind," layering the sarcasm thick, as I held my now runny nose and burning forehead. My hand though only had a little snot on it so no blood was good at least," maybe my snot could maybe be used as another gloss finish, I hear it really brings out the shine."

A hearty chuckle from the kitchen table and the clink of a coffee cup being set down turned my head to gaze at Mike, the other foster parent who took me in as his own. Sitting at the table in only his pajama pants, cross legged as the sun shined in and showed his lean body muscles pulled taught underneath them. Even though he wasn't my real dad, I still considered him my dad so him just sitting there blatantly shirtless was a huge embarrassment. What if someone knocked on the door, he was already tall enough where almost any normal person could stare eye to nipple.

"Hun, what did I tell you about leaving the toaster on all the way, no matter how high you put it. The bread won't brown faster, all it will do will just catch on fire and burn the house down," tapping the rim of his coffee cup as he gave Emily his best teacher stare," and this is why I persisted on not getting that darn door."

On the other side of the kitchen, Emily filled her coffee cup giving Mike the sink eye all the while. Not even looking at the creamer as she poured in the right amount and stirred without spilling a drop, probably thinking over a calculated answer to give him or to work up an apology. She always gave an apology when she knew she was in the wrong or try to turn it to her own benefit," I know we shouldn't have gotten it but look how cute it adds to the house and gives the kitchen its own sense of space. That way we don't have to worry about people peeking all the way in here when they are standing at the door."

Chuckling again because he knew he wouldn't be able to get Emily to budge on the subject, Mike simply amended to her answer and gave me a look like he would expect me to be a lot less clumsy. Snickering and rolling my eyes at his weirdness, the hot water my foster mom had set to boiling every time in the morning for me started to scream from the tea kettle.

"Erik, you better hurry or you will be late to the bus pick up spot. It's going to be there in the next 7 minutes," Emily spoke over the rim of her cup, one arm running across her body and hand resting on her elbow. Drumming the fingers over the bone and a twinkle in her eyes at my attempt of humor.

Rushing to get the hot kettle off the white electric stove, immediately turning it off so it could start to cool down and not burn anyone. The hot water went straight into my bright green thermos and grabbing a packet of tea from my stash in a side drawer. Dropping the tea bag in and screwing the cap on so the string would dangle outside and keep the bag from sinking to the bottom.

Giving Emily a quick peck on her cheek, wishing her a good day and waving good bye to Mike. Another quick adjustment of the strap to stop it from digging into my collarbone, jogging to the front door lacing up my black boots over the blue denim skinny jeans. Stepping outside to the blue sky with the sunlight shining on the dewy green grass and lazy clouds drifting. The songs of canaries far off in the distance echoing into my ears. Does it sound like a cliche morning but honestly there were birding chirping and the morning was picture perfect.

The bus turned the corner a few block down from our house, sprinting towards the bunch of kids all huddled together with the white of teeth showing from my house. Chatting loudly with each other, showing the new smartphones that they must have bought from their summer jobs. Probably showing pictures that they wanted to show one another from their summer breaks and family trips.

Racing quickly to the bus stop nearly tripping over an uneven sidewalk and having all the kids glance my way, snicking at the new kids clumsiness. Just reaching the bus stop as it pulled up to the curb and the kids filing on. Having to readjust the strap on my shoulder again from the sprint and my near moment of embarrassment, taking in a gulp of air glancing back at my home where the lilac bushes were now bare of any flowers. A glimpse of a bright bird detaching itself from a tree from the corner of my eye caught my attention, whipping around and looking skyward to catch another view of it.

The bird swooped down by the bus windows, all of the kids continued chatting with one another, like the blazing bird that had came a few feet from their windows didn't even exist. The last kid got onto the bus, stepping away from the bus and looking up into the sky to see if the bird would swoop by again, nudging my mind with a flash of recognition but quickly receded away.

"Hey kid, are you planning on getting on the bus or are you just going to gape at the sky all day like a fish out of water all day," the lady bus driver said with barely concealed impatience and lips puckering as if she bite into a especially sour lemon.

"Keep your hair in its bun lady, I am getting on already," I muttered to myself but from the way she gave me the stank eye, she must have heard me. But her lemon sour mood couldn't pucker my day, being surprisingly optimistic and very excited to meet all the new kids now. In the back of my mind though sat the worry of one of my panic attacks springing up from a guy brushing against me.

Hurrying onto the bus with a shake of my head and finding my way for the back of the bus, while telling some of the kids to get into their seats or else they were going to go flying through the window. Once they were all seated I was able to sink down in my seat at the very back of the bus, right next to the window noticing all the other teens noses stuck to the phone screens, even a pair of girls taking a selfie. Shuffling through my bag, finding the iPod at the bottom, digging out headphones from the front pocket.

Settling for the long ride to school with many possible stops, looking back up at the sky and wondered, not for the first time, what was up with the strange dream of the flaming, multiply colored bird. Staring at the passing trees lolling me back to sleep, a red convertible zoomed by the bus with the top down and a shock of midnight black hair with pair sunglasses faded into the distance and drifting back to sleep.

The shuttering of the bus coming to a stop woke me from the nap just as a feeling of falling started in my dream. Pulling up to the school Northern Lake High, in a quaint town of far in the Minnesota countryside, the low lying brick building exuded the years of learning that had gone on in its halls. With kids chattering outside their doors enjoying the bright sunlight and the occasional breeze as some girls tried tucking their hair behind an ear, the whole scene looked happy and peaceful. Not a single kid remained in a certain group, even seeing the goths standing right next to the jocks.

Filing off the bus, everyone mashed, pushed and shoved against each other fighting to get off the bus first but doing no good as from the few yelps I heard. Sighing, I sat in my seat while they tried to disentangle themselves, knowing that I would just add to the mess and chaos, also not wanting to suffer from an every now and then elbow jab to the gut. The last person finally pushed passed, grabbing my stuff with one ear bud stuffed into my ear and calmly walked off the bus to the smell of gas burning and hot rubber, the pungent smell irritating my sinuses causing a giant to erupt from my nose.

My heart pounded in my ears with new school anxiety turned my stomach with all the new faces, my only confidence having several feet of height and a window pane of glass separating us. Walking through the crowd with clumsy footing, I glanced around trying to find a clear pathway to the doors and as much as I hated being the one to do the elbow jabbing, my elbows poked into the occasional side. Apologizing, pushing even further inward an opening finally jumped at me, like the front doors of the school created some kind of force field repelling all the kids.

The strap dug into my shoulder again and feeling the ear bud pop out of my ear, for me to catch it and twist it up, stuffing into my front pocket. The school doors weighed heavy, the handle sturdy in my hands. Helping to ground my feelings with the weight and anxiety that kept building up, a deep breathe calmed the last of the nervous energy and gave me the last will power to open that door to step into a new social life.

The school door eased closed behind me, giving a gentle thump and air breathed down my back cutting off the loud banter of all the other kids outside. Still enjoying the last minutes of freedom they had before the school bell rang but I couldn't dawdle behind since I had to get my schedule and figure out where my locker was at. Mike and Emily decided at the last minute to sign me up for the school year, hoping that the social interaction would help heal the scars from the past.

The main office sat right next to the school doors, the clicking of someone typing on a computer telling that the assistant was busy at work.

"Ummm...," barely said through the nervous knot in my throat.

That small noise got her attention right away, clicking stopping right away and looking up at me. Quirking her red eye brow at me and blowing out a bubble the snap of the bubble sounded like a gunshot to me in my nervous state, placing her manicured pink nail on her cheek staring with muted green eyes and just the hint of redness around the iris and in the corner of her eyes. I noticed that her tear ducts were slightly inflamed. If she had been crying for a long time, she hid it very well with her mask of cool calm and analytic stare.

"Well, boy," Miss. Bachlem, as the plaque read right in front of her computer, pursed her lips while drumming her other hand against the desk," you must be a new student because most of the old brats stay outside to enjoy the warm weather whenever they can and the ones who do come inside never stop by the office. They just head straight to their lockers and their herd of friends following along so now, what can I get for you?"

Still crippled from my nerves but from the ladies tone and the way she smirked grated on them as well. Emily and Mike have taught me to show respect to everyone and not to show fear or anger to the ones who didn't treat you with respect. From all those years of ethics being drilled into me, I was able to work up a bit of courage to reply without stuttering or having to pause," I haven't gotten my schedule for the year and when my parents called the school. You guys said you would have it ready for me when I came in the first day."

"Hmmm," with one more pop of the gum, pulling her auburn hair into a quick bun and sucking her lower lip into her mouth, she came the perfect image of a college girl, poised and innocent. She was ready to get to business and help. Restarting her clicking with the occasional question to me and for my full name, along with my birth date. Turning around to gaze out the window that overlooked the hallway, all of the students from outside had started to mill inside to look for their new lockers and in hopes that they would be next to their friends while all still comparing schedules, now my nervousness escalated more because now I knew I had to fight my way through elbows and way to energetic teens.

"Ahaa!" jumping from Miss. Bachlem's exclamation,"Here you are, the dang school system didn't get yours done until this morning so most of your classes will be confusing because your teachers won't see the schedule change. I better call each of your teachers and tell them to adjust their seating charts because most likely they haven't seen the new student added to the list," pressing another button on her computer and the whir of a printer must have meant she started printing my schedule," oh, and sorry for being so snotty. Usually I'm much more nicer to the newbies, I know how it feels from moving to school to school and trying to fit in with all of them," grabbing a slip of paper from under her desk and another to place it on her own desk.

She handed me the first with a pre-offered hand shake," Welcome to Frostpine Acres High." Grabbing her hand to give it a quick shake and a thank you, the contact with her hand suddenly had images flying through my mind. With a man and a woman scurrying under some sheets to hide themselves, obviously from the red cheeks and the way the lady clung the sheet to her chest, they must have had sex. With a deep ache in my chest, making it feel like my heart was breaking in two.

Holding her right hand firmly, my schedule tightly in my other hand. I don't know what caused me blurt out," He wasn't good enough for you," snatching my hand to my chest, scurrying out of the office myself. Crumpling the paper in my fist and flushing from the sudden vision with embarrassment, running smack dab into a hard wall of muscular flesh.

Looking up, I saw that I had run into a tall guy that must have only been a year older then me but also from the hard hold he had of my arms and the sexy cocky grin. He was used to people bumping into him and that he didn't mind it one bit, even if it was completely by accident," You must be a freshman," he asked with a flash of white teeth underneath his slightly hooked nose, dark green eyes carrying hints of bluish tint flashing up and down like he was evaluating me, while his black hair flipping up the front and sides cut short gleamed against the stark fluorescent lighting.

Taking in all his features quickly, I could only nod dumbly and feel the hint of a blush creep along my neck and cheeks, likely making me look like a tomato. Cursing my pale complexion again, it always gave way to what I was feeling and that embarrassment never worked good for how I looked.

From over my shoulder, I could hear Miss. Bachlem clear her throat and say with a slight quiver in her voice," Daniel, what great timing! Could you be a dear and show poor little Erik around the school and where his locker is located. please? You don't have to worry about being late for your classes, I can give you a note of excuse for being late"

"Sure, Miss. B. Anything to help you out," he flashed her a wide smile, a dimple indented his left cheek and making his eyes brighten and soften, turning on the charm and smoothing over the situation with grace. Turning down the smile and facing me again, the dimple disappeared and that he had just a touch of scruff underneath his chin," would you mind if I saw your schedule?"

Handing over my schedule to the tall black haired, stormy green-eyed Daniel, there came lots of stares and murmurs from the surrounding upper class girls. It seemed that he had lots of fans around the school and they didn't care to him giving his full attention to some newbie. His entire demeanor changed as he read over my schedule, taking his task very seriously.

"Okay, I remember where your locker is," Daniel said without taking his eyes off my schedule, from the corner of my own eyes the skipping of his eyes caught my attention. Watching as they jumped from each class, and starting over many times.

Turning abruptly away to start to walking down the right hall way, hastily I followed to try to keep up with his long strides. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw repeatedly people look over at Daniel. Without understanding why they were doing so, I pondered this for awhile until the next moment, I found myself running into the boy.

Falling backwards, his strong arms shot out to grab me and pull me close to into his chest again, this time I took a small smell and hoping he wouldn't notice it. Smelling the faint scent of shaving cream, with a hint of some kind of cologne and soap. While the smell of conditioner fell from his hair, which all covered the soothing smell of crushed pine needles.

"Are you alright,"the rumble of his voice sounded in my ear, blushing intensely against his chest I nodded mechanically, releasing me he stepped away ,"well here is your locker, maybe see you around sometime," he said as he turned around with a thoughtful look, until he took a full circle and faced me again. And the cocky smile back on his face, noticing the shallow dip of his cupids bow making my fingers tingle and itch to touch it

"How rude, I didn't tell you my name officially, I'm Daniel Nickelson. High school Junior, and you are?" Daniel asked with his cocky smile and his shoulders stooping low. The bastard knew I was checking him out!

"I'm Erik Kimble, thank you very much for helping find my locker," I said stiffly, turning on my mental barriers and giving me that air of confidence. Also making my own shoulders relaxed, hopefully to show that I didn't care. I gave a roll of my eyes to emphasis my point.

"It's no problem kiddo, you can call on me anytime," Daniel waved good-bye and was off, the confused look in his eyes and face very comical. He was already swallowed up by all the other kids scurrying through the hall before I had a chance to say good bye too and decline his offer.

My blood pounding in my ears over powered all of the other voices around me, turning to my locker and messing with the combination lock trying to figure out the right way to work it, the lift of the latch eased some of my nervousness energy. Inside the lockers, there was the same uniformity all lockers had, a upper cubby and a larger cubby underneath for jackets and backpacks. My own back-pack went onto the side hook and pulling out my binder, the school bell rang announcing that school started almost made me brought my binder onto the floor and get pushed into my locker from all the students rushing to class.

Panicked, I zipped open my back-pack hastily, grabbed my black, star covered felt binder, all stocked with my necessary school supplies, and headed off towards my first hour class of my new life in High school, all still with a pounding heart and the smell of Daniel still in my nose.

3: Not so Secret Admirer

This teacher talks more than a Auctioneer on Ritalin, I grumbled silently, glancing around the classroom and everyone also had that bored glazed eyed expression. Listening to the droning voice as he explained he was there to help build a base structure for our education and other such random stuff, how we better not fail him by acting like flea infested monkey children, thinking that all of us were raised in the jungle or barns.

Eyes rolling at his nonsense remembering how much I dreaded public school, my mom and dad's teaching methods much more informative and educational, his disgust for another year of teaching leaked out of every pore that was known to man. I ran my eyes over the clock again, happy to see that only a matter of a minute and a half left until lunch started. Looking back at the teacher, he also knew that we had very little time with him, mumbling something about that he was to old for the job and monkey's. Allowing all of us to leave early, since he was done talking to us and that he would let our poor little ears recover from the internal bleeding that he must have given them.

Bustling and rushing out of the class, all of us freshmen, from that class, headed straight to our lockers and threw our books onto the bottom slamming our lockers shut and hurrying over to the lunch room. Feeling the occasional prick against my thigh from the pencils in my pocket.

"Thank god that man was done talking, I thought he would never end about school policy and other such prison-like boundaries," one of the students, Michael or who likes to go by Mikey, said," what do you think Erik, I for one, am uber excited to be out of his class for the day."

"Don't even get me started about how annoying he was," I stated back jokingly.

"Hahaha, I know right, he could make a nun swear with all that babbling," Mikey said with a big grin plastered on his face," or have a deaf person want to tear off their ears."

Chatting adamantly about different classes and how the teachers seemed like they all wanted to be out on a cruise liner, drinking some form of an alcoholic beverage. Laughing away, we handed the cashier our money and went in to get our food. With trays in-hand we entered the rapidly filling lunch room, pointing out a small round table near the back, Mikey and I weaved our way between various long rectangular and other round tables to the one way in the back.

Silently eating, I listened to Mikey talking nonstop, as he less then slightly finished each mouth full of food before he continued on with his most liked classes to the despised ones, which was the fourth hour teachers Mr. Martins English class.

Agreeing with some of the classes that he liked, saying that I had two of his morning classes after lunch, I scanned the lunch room to find the source of the nagging feeling I had since entering, like someone was staring at me. There, far on the other side of the lunch room, sat another round table filled with a bunch of jock-looking guys, all leaning towards the center of the table, probably discussing the football season opener.

All of this took me a matter of a few seconds to diagnosis, but that's not what caught my attention, leaning away from all the other guys, against the wall with the sun shining through a window against his hair and face, with arms crossed over his broad chest, was Daniel staring straight at me.

Him seeing me looking at him, put a sly grin on his face, with a little smugness and self confidence in the way he held himself.

"Yo, Erik did you hear," Mikey said, with waving his hand in front of my face," you kind of seemed a little spaced out there a bit, what were you looking at anyway." Looking around, I heard him draw in a small breath and came out almost sounding like a laugh, as he saw Daniel looking our way.

"Oh brother, I see you caught the eye of the star quarter-back," wiping my head around, I felt like my eyes would nearly pop out of my head," HAHAHA, you should see your face, don't tell me you didn't know who he was," I shook my head no," really, that's weird everyone knows who he is."

"I guess a lot of it has to do with that my parents really don't go to football games because my dad thinks that all football players now are a little cocky about everyone noticing them now and that I don't like football either," I said shrugging my shoulders non-nonchalantly," but oh well, I don't really think that he is interested in me, wouldn't everyone kind of be grossed out that their football star fell in love with a freshman boy."

"Yeah your right, a lot of people would be freaked out about it and not to mention that a lot of the girls would probably try to kill you," Mikey said with friendly mocking sarcasm," don't worry I will protect from the Daniel crazy fans," Mikey clasped my shoulder in a friendly manner.

Lunch finished, we dumped our trays remaining contents into the trash and placed them near the washing bay. While I turned my head towards Mikey on my right, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Daniel was still sitting with his football buddies but with his head turned slightly towards me.

Going back to our lockers, I found that Mikey's locker was right next to mine, sitting in front of them, we continued our chat about things we were interested in. From all that I heard, me and Mikey had lots in common, like reading Fantasy novels from having a few video games that we thought were really fun.

Bell ringing, we both got up and reached into our lockers for our stuff so we could go to our next hour class. Saying good-bye to each other, I felt a little at ease knowing that I had a good friend for my high school years.

The remainder of my day felt like it went by in a rush, I found that the last three classes of my day were ones that I found were really fun and interesting. Like my last hour class that I am in right now, listening and watching our teacher Ms. Simpson demonstrate what it must have been like for Hercules to kill the Nemean Lion, and if you haven't guessed that our class was Greek Mythology, with the teacher demonstrating Hercules, please go and look up Greek Mythology because everyone should know about Hercules.

By the time school was done for the day, everyone was laughing hysterically from watching Ms. Simpson trying to behead a giant stuffed toy lion with a broom, while she also showed the type of scream Hercules used, with her face distorted into something that slightly resembled that of fish out of water, while screaming at the top of her lungs.

Laughing along the way back to my locker, I greeted Mikey with a laughter induced smile.

Grinning also he asked," I guess you also think that Ms. Simpson is really funny too?"

"Oh yeah, she definitely knows how to make a good time at school, without the mundane talk that we got from the other teachers," I said.

"Glad you think that too but I need to go catch the bus or else I won't have a way home, talk to you tomorrow," Mikey said, walking away and waving to me.

Waving back, I reached for my stuff also and headed to my bus as well, putting my headphones in my ears and resuming the music on it. Watching everything pass by, I felt like the bus ride back went much more quicker than it was in the morning.

By the time the fifth song started, the bus turned the corner to the street my house was on. The screeching tires ground into my ears as I made way to the front just as the bus came to a complete stop at the bus stop. Hopping down the steps, I jogged back to my house hoping that no one would be home.

Opening the front gate, I looked towards the garage to see that none of the cars were home, glad that I would have the house to myself for awhile, I hurried up to the front door and threw my backpack down on the chair by the door.

Bouncing up the steps, walking start to my room, I grabbed my running shorts and shirt from the very bottom drawer of my dresser, while grabbing my iPod holder on the top as well. Changing quickly into them, I reached under my bed to grab the last thing I needed, my favorite pair of red Nike running shoes.

Slipping my iPod in its holder, while stomping down the stairs back to the front door. Throwing my backpack off the chair I sat down and tied on my shoes. Tapping the tip of my shoe on the floor once my foot was in, I slipped my headphones back in and clipped the holder onto my shorts waistband.

Jogging out the door and firmly shutting the door, I hurried past the front gate and headed start for the block corner. Feeling the warm sun shine down through random cloudes that dotted the sky against my skin, I felt more alive again to finally feel my leg muscles extend back and forth, as I got back into the fast paced rhythm of my run.

Turning the corner with nothing to hear, but the occasional dog barking at each other, there was another flash of light up in the sky that couldn't have been the sun. Stopping, I looked up into the sky to strain my eyes against the glare that came from the sun. Eyes focusing slowly to the intense after-summer sunlight, the shape was made clear enough that I saw the shape again of the flaming bird that I saw that morning.

Watching the bird for a few seconds, that I was so engrossed that I didn't hear the footsteps come up behind me, before a pair of big arms wrapped around me and covered my eyes, shutting them off to the little of day.

"Guess who, cutie," I heard a newly recognizable voice behind me.

Letting out the breathe I was building into a scream, in relief I said," Dear god Daniel, you scared the crap out of me."

Hands coming down from my eyes, to be suddenly whirled around to be looking back at a wall of clothe tightly fitted against big pectoral muscles. Arms slightly squeezing me tighter to him, I felt as he leaned his head on the top of my head," Don't worry, I would never let anyone hurt you," Daniel said, as I felt his chest rumble with his clear deep voice and as his heart pounded right in my left ear.

As my heart pounded at a faster rate then his, it felt like we stood in that position for hours, when it was truly seconds that ticked by, as my face started to heat up with the deep blush I known was covering my whole face.

"Umm, Daniel," I asked innocently.

"Hmm."

"Could I go back to my house, so I can change back into regular clothes."

"Oh, sure you can," Daniel said, while letting me go with an innocent smile.

Disentangling myself from his arms, I side stepped around to head back to my house. Turning the corner, I stopped and thought that my jaw nearly hit the ground with what I saw parked in front of my parents house.

There, looking not at all inconspicuous, was a red Lexus with its top down. All round the street, I could see various windows of our neighbors twitch their curtains aside to get a good look at the car sitting in front of our house.

Feeling a heavy arm being draped over my shoulder Daniel spoke into my ear," Pretty nice car huh," I nodded solemnly," I think it is a little flashy too but with very successful parents, they kind of like to show their wealth off a lot. Also since I am the schools precious star, my parents also thought it was only fitting to give me something to show how much power I had," Daniel said.

Looking over at him, I saw his face was really close to mine and that I could stare right into his eyes, with his breath leaving little pins and needles go across my face with each exhaled breath. Feeling light-headed, I ducked out from under his arm and ran the rest of the way to my house.

Opening and slamming the door shut behind me, I leaned against the door composing myself, as it felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest.

"Hey honey," my breath hitched in my throat as I heard my mom rummage through the kitchen," I was wondering whose car that was up in front?"

Running to the stairs, I was already half way up them before I replied," No one mom, I have no idea who it is," I tried to lie through the knot in my throat and my still thundering heart.

Jumping onto my bed, I took deep regular breathes to help calm down from my close encounter with Daniel. Turning over to look up at the ceiling, I heard the rhythmic footsteps of Emily, as she danced up the stairs.

Looking over to my open door, I wasn't the least surprised when I saw Emily step into my door way with a Tinker Bell apron on and with a ladle in hand, along with a stern look on her face," Now Erik Matthew Kimble, you know very well that there is no lying in this house."

Facing palming myself mentally for thinking that I could throw off my professional psychologist foster mom with as weak as a lie I just told, I was saved, or cursed, when the door bell rang.

"Just so you know mister, you aren't off the hook yet," my mom said with a final stern look, as she turned away, her normal happy go lucky face was put back on whenever she was answering the door to someone new.

Jumping off the bed, I silently followed my mom down the stairs and stopped just at the bottom and hid, while peeking my head around the wall to see who I thought was there. Opening the door, I saw that my suspensions were correct as Daniel stood in the door way, with a kind delicate smile on his as he introduced himself to my mom.

From behind, I was able to notice that Emily's back became ram rod straight when she figured out with lightning quick analysis of who he was, gulping audibly to myself I knew that this was not going to end well because the only and I mean the ONLY football player in the past, present or future that my mom trusted, was my foster dad Mike.

"Hello ma'am, it is nice to meet you," Daniel said in a conversational tone.

"Mmm, like wise," Emily said with a tone so cold that it would make Zero Kelvin seem warm.

"I was just in the neighborhood, when I remembered that the members' of the Fencing Club were interested in inviting your son to join them," he continued on, being oblivious to Emily's frosty glare.

"Son, I know your there so if you would like to speak to Mr. Nickelson so he can get on his way, I would very much appreciate it," Emily said turning her frosty stare back to me.

Laughing in a quiet nervous tone, I stepped out from behind the wall to confront Emily and Daniel

"Uuuh ummm, I th...think it would be good for me to ah..um to join an e...ex...extracurricular activ...ity," I stuttered out nervously.

"Yes, I will have to agree with you on that but how will you get home when you go to the meetings after school," Emily questioned in her cold serious tone.

"Don't worry ma'am, I can bring him home, since I have practice in the morning and that I am also the captain to the fencing club as well," he said, continuing with his smile still on.

"Well I guess that is figured out, with me it is fine if you join as long as you are home before seven thirty," she said pointedly while staring at Daniel.

"That shouldn't be much of a problem since most of our meetings end at six forty-five so I would think that I could get him home before seven fifteen or sometime around that time."

"Good, now if your done," Emily said, while slamming the door in his face.

"MOM, that was really rude of you, especially to someone you just met," I chastised her quietly.

"Hmph, I don't care, he was a football player and to tell you the truth he made my skin crawl," she said tonelessly, with crosing her arms over her chest.

"MOM," I whined," that's how it always is when it comes to football players, just because some of them were asses back in your day doesn't mean any of them are like that today."

"It doesn't help my perception of them, when what happened to you in Oklahoma three years ago," she chastised back.

Keeping my mouth shut as I had a flashback to that horrible night on walking back to our house. As old wounds arose to the surface I felt my mom hug me," Sweety, I am so sorry for bringing that back up," holding me quietly as tears slid down my cheek with the pain of the memory.

Sniffing, I pushed away and mumbled that I was going back up to my room.

Ruffling my hair she said," Alright honey, supper will be ready in an hour."

Shuffling up the stairs, I walked into my room head held down. Laying down on my bed, I grabbed a picture from my bedside table. Looking at the picture with a bunch of my old friends surrounding me, with silly string cans in hand, as my mouth was open in a silent playful scream as they opened fire on me. This picture was taken the night before that terrible nightmare of a night.

With my mom bringing it back up, with me trying so hard to bury it beneath so much, I didn't know if I would be able to be near Daniel again without feeling scared. With that thought, the rest of my day passed by in a blur from eating dinner with my parents to going to bed with the full moon shining through my window.