Chapter 3 Strange Events

*I'll cross my heart and hope to die, always and forever I'll be by your side. When days are dark and clouds turn black, always and forever till the end of time*

Those were the words ringing through my head as I sat with Chloe in the school cafeteria for lunch. We were the only ones sitting at the table. Every other kid seemed to ignore us like we didn't even exist (not that I care or anything). This is just a tip of the iceberg as to what Mirabel Snow was capable of.

I looked at Chloe and saw that she ate her lunch of spaghetti and meatballs silently nor glancing up or acknowledging anyone. My heart squeezed in my chest and I almost cried for her.

This was my fault. It was me that Mirabel hated. Why? I don't know. It's because of me that she turned the whole senior year class against poor Chloe. Chloe doesn't deserve this.

I turned my head towards where Mirabel and her coven members sat. As usual she sat in the middle with her posse flanking her on both sides.

Some kids were gathered round her looking at her adorably listening with rapt attention to whatever nonsense she was saying. Probably bragging about how many pair of shoes she got for her birthday. Barf. So sickening. Can't they see past the facade? She was obviously as fake as a chameleon, trying to blend miserably into the surrounding.

When she noticed that I was looking at her, she stopped talking and gave me a smug smile that said 'look at all the friends I have. With a snap of my fingers I can get them to do whatever I want'. She glanced at Chloe then whispered something to the crowd. They all looked at her and laughed.

How dare they?!!! Chloe was an angel, innocent and oblivious to all these. If that she devil does anything to hurt Chloe I will end her! I banged my fist in anger on the table.

Chloe looked up startled. "What happened?"

I saw Mirabel smiling sweetly at me. I grinded my teeth, "Nothing".

"You sure? Cos you're giving your fork a hard time". She said nodding towards my hand.

I looked down and saw that the fork was bent well over to the other side. I frowned. I knew I was strong but come on I can't be that strong.

I was still stewing over the she devil when the sweet smell of musk and forest hit me. I closed my eyes in pleasure.

That scent. That intoxicating scent that has been in my nostrils invading my thoughts throughout the day. I knew it was him before I saw him. I opened my eyes and looked towards the door and there he was standing in all his glory. I never took notice of his outfit before but now..... Oh my.

He wore black pants and shirt that fitted his frame perfectly. The outline of his muscles could be seen even with the leather jacket he wore. I ate him up from head to toe without shame. I don't care and I can't help myself if I like to admire good things.

I looked at his feet that were covered with black combat boots. The kind of boots that soldiers wore. That's weird. He looks too young to be a veteran or even in the army. I looked up at him and saw him staring at me just like he did before with so much concentration. I raised an eyebrow at him asking what you staring at. He frowned and started walking towards me.

I gulped. What did he want with me? And why was he always looking at me? He kept coming.

"Uh oh. Biker dude at 12'o clock". Chloe whispered to me.

From the corner of my eye I saw Mirabel look at the kid (I guess I have to start calling him by his name. Although Alex doesn't sound right for someone like him. I just feel it) then at me. It wasn't a nice look. She put on her sweetest smile and approached Alex, stopping directly in his path.

Alex halted in his tracks and looked away from me. Was that regret I saw in his eyes? With him I can't tell. He seems so difficult to read, closed off to the world. Kind of reminds me of me. Alex looked at Mirabel who was still putting on that disgusting smile. I could tell he was not happy with being interrupted.

"Hi I'm Mirabel Snow. The official welcoming committee for James Bayers High. I know you're new here so I'll be happy to show you the ropes and give you a private tour if you like".

I grimaced. Desperate much? I looked at Alex to see his reaction but he wasn't looking at Mirabel neither was he paying attention to what she was saying. He was looking at me! Oh come on! Again??!

Mirabel snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Hey I'm talking to you"

He didn't even flinch. He kept his eyes on me. Those extremely green eyes seemed so unreal. I heard that same hum of electricity and felt in my blood. Strange.

Mirabel followed the line of his sight to see what captured his attention. When she saw that he was looking at me, she gave me a death glare and I gave her one back. You can't intimidate me she devil.

She turned back to Alex and grabbed hold of his hand.

"Come let me show you around"

A spark of hot rage exploded in my eyes. Don't touch what is mine! A loud voice said in my head. I don't know why I suddenly felt like murdering the she devil and dancing in her blood.

The lights in the cafeteria began to flicker and one exploded. I heard some kids scream and scramble out the way. I couldn't take my eyes off Mirabel's hand on Alex's. If eyes could shoot daggers her hand will be cut clean. I suddenly wished that were true.

Alex looked up at the flickering lights then at me. He mouthed something I couldn't understand and looked down at Mirabel's hand on his.

"Get your hands off me or you'll lose them"

Mirabel suddenly looked scared like she wanted to run and hide. She gasped and let go off his hand and ran out of the cafeteria. Her posse looking confused ran after her.

God! The truth in those words were like hot flames. Like he was actually going to do what he said. He looked at me again and I gulped inching backwards on my sit.

Just then the bell rang. He turned and walked away without another word. I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the cafeteria. It wasn't just one bulb that exploded it was like five.

"Wow, some freak show going on here", Chloe said beside me.

"First a new kid comes in the middle of the term and he turns out to be a weirdo. I mean he practically told the she devil to f**k off. Then lights explode for no reason. Strange right? "

I had to agree with Chloe that was the strangest thing that has ever happened to me. What caused the flickering lights and explosions? And why did I feel like killing anyone who touched or even looked at Alex? Who was this ridiculously handsome boy that makes me feel sparks of electricity? Who was Alex Thorne?

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The rest of the school day went by like I wasn't even involved. My mind was occupied with so many thoughts, I wasn't sure how I went through my classes without a teacher yelling at me for not paying attention.

Chloe kept asking me if I was alright but I couldn't explain to her that I wasn't alright at all. She's like a sister to me and I will do anything for her but this is just different.

I don't know why anytime I think of Alex I always think of my mother which was weird because there was no connection between the two of them. I guess I just wished she was here then I could have talked to her about these feelings I have been having for the past few weeks.

I never told anyone about it not even my dad. I didn't know how to explain how I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and find black soot on my bed like it was just burnt. Or how I will find myself in the bathroom without any memory of how I got there.

Sometime last week some guy on the football team was making fun of Chloe's hair and I banged my fist in anger on the bonnet of his car. The metal bent and the force of the hit broke the windscreen. I was so surprised and scared of what happened that I ran.

I mean how can I explain these things to my dad when I can't explain it to myself? So many strange things started to happen from the first day of this month which was my birth month.

These thoughts went through my mind as I walked home. I was half way home when I perceived that sweet intoxicating scent. I stopped walking and looked around. There was nothing but trees on the right hand side of the road leading to the forest and a few stores surrounded by more trees on the other side of the road.

I looked towards the forest trying to catch sight of the mysterious new kid. I knew it was him. Only he has that peculiar scent. I thought I saw a flash of green eyes hidden in the trees surrounded by darkness. Now that's not normal because it was just 3.30pm and the sun was still up.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. Get it together Jade Black. You're just seeing things. I opened my eyes and saw nothing. The darkness was gone just trees and rays of sunlight. O.... K. Guess I was imagining it after all. I continued walking home.