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Chapter 1
New Beginning
“Hope, suppers ready!”
“Coming Lisa!” I called from my computer screen. I was in the middle of typing a section of my story. I was and still am a very dedicated author. I wanted it done; the public wanted it done, “right after I finish this last sentence…” I murmured. I hated leaving my story, because the moment I stop, I forgot everything that was in my head. So I type and type until my fingers ache, I never realized the time until I heard a knock on my door.
“Hope, why didn’t you come down to dinner?”
“It’s only been, like, ten minutes…I’ll be right down.” I mumbled.
“Hope, I called you over two hours ago.” She said. I looked down at the right hand corner of the computer screen, for a second, the time read eleven thirty-three.
“What…sorry…one second Lisa. I need to finish this.” So many words were going through my head. I couldn't focus on mediocure things like Lisa. I needed to finish. I needed the words down on paper.
“Fine, but don’t stay up too late. First day of school tomorrow remember?”
“Right, fine, bye.” I said. In reality, I had no idea what I was just told. I was typing like a maniac; the only thing I heard were the tapping of my computer keys and the voices that played the scene that were going through my head. My first book was a hit Drama with a Vampire. I went under the name Lantica Night; I didn’t want anyone to know that I was the author. The only thing that anyone knew was my email address, which was also under a false name. I needed to be contacted on dates and time. I had never made a public appearance, but I did sign many books and sent them out to people who ask via email.
Words just kept spilling into my head, and I felt as if my fingers couldn’t type fast enough. Finally the whirl of words came to a halt. My mind was empty, and the voices in my head stopped speaking. I looked over my work, admiring it.
“Another three chapters done. What a relief.” I looked at the computer clock, three AM…perfect. There was going to be no sleep tonight. I undressed quickly and plopped down in bed. I was tired but giddy at the same time. The scene of the just written portion was playing through my head. I loved the way it looked, the sound of the characters, the appearance of them in my dreams. I always pictured myself as the protagonist, and the vampire lover was played by a boy named Tobi, he attended my school, and was in all of my classes. He was funny and outgoing, he didn’t have many close friends, but everyone knew him. I loved hanging out with him, he always made me smile. Sometimes I dream that he was a vampire and I was the girl he fell in love with.
Actually to be completely honest, he was the one who introduced me to this vampire life. He lent me books and told me stories that he heard from his uncle, who was a vampire slayer. At first, I didn’t believe him but he invited me over to see for myself, and sure enough, he was telling the truth. The weird part about it was that Tobi was the one who reminded me most about a vampire. He always wore something black, he never went into direct sunlight, and he was as pale as snow. His eyes were amazing though, so mesmerizing, every time I look into them I lost my train of thought, as if he hypnotized me. I shook the thought from my head. I couldn’t think about falling in love when I had deadlines due, books to write. Tomorrow was the first day of school, the last day of summer. My days of typing all day were at an end. But on the bright side, I’d see Tobi tomorrow. No! I can’t think that. What is this? No one has ever affected me this way before. He’s the first thought on my mind in the morning, and right before I go to sleep. I hated it! I can’t think that way of anyone! Get over yourself Hopey…he’s just a boy at school, nothing more, he’s not a vampire, he’s not immortal. He’s just a normal human boy. And with that I drifted to sleep.
It was dark and a girl was running through the streets. It was cold, so very, very cold. I felt the fear in her heart, and the pain that she suffered. She wasn’t wearing a sweater or pants. She was in a regular shirt and a skirt. Suddenly she fell, landing on the palms of her hands, scraping her palms and her knees. She struggled to go forward. Gasping for breath. She collapsed on the ground giving up, and a dark figure came out of the shadows, the girl screamed, and her hero came forward from a different shadow. His Chocolate brown eyes shimmering red. He looked at his opponent, assessing him. Then he attacked. The girl on the ground was speechless. She didn’t know what to say, lost in the brutal fight in front of her. Her hero stepped away from the man, and the man ran. He came to the girl and held out his hand.
“You came back.” She whispered.
“I will always be right beside you.” And his cell phone rang, and rang, and rang. No one picked it up. The picture started to fade and the cell phone ring turned into the ring of my alarm clock. I punched it. And odd enough it broke. Opps…I need to get a new one. The man in my dream looked like Tobi, and the girl was me…I felt it in my soul, in my bones. She was me and I was her. Tobi…why? I grabbed my journal and started to write down my dream, I knew that I would use it for my story, but I didn’t know where just yet. I got up from my bed and stretched, today was going to be brutal, I was still sleepy from last night. I walked up to my closet and searched for something suitable to wear. I picked out a really cute outfit, it was a red top, and a jean skirt, with a beaded belt. I had my usual red flower in my brunette straight hair. I grabbed my bag and my new locker assignment and and ran down stairs, where I grabbed a granola bar, and my notebook. I went to the foyer and checked the drawer where I kept my keys. I grabbed them and ran out the door. I jumped into my red Jetta and drove to school. Not many people were there yet, so I got a fairly good parking space. I went into the school grounds after making sure that my car was locked, and searched for my locker. It was number 6023. I got there and put all my books into my locker. It was perfect. It was a large one and it was at the end of the hall opening toward the outside, and it was exactly in the center of all of my classes. I looked at my schedule, and gathered the books that I needed for first and second block, Writing and English class. I had two electives, Writing and Theater. Theater was my last block of the day, amazing, and writing as my first. My day was getting better by the second. I was organizing my locker when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I looked up and it was Tobi.
“Hey Hopey!”
“Hey Tobi! How was your summer?”
“It wasn’t my best, but it wasn’t my worst.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I laughed
“You know…I don’t really know.” And he laughed to, “What about you? How was your summer? Any boys ask you out?” Was it just me or did he sound jealous?
“Naw, I’m still single.” I laughed, “My summer was tiring I was up all summer, literally.”
“Why? Isn’t summer like sleep all day kinda thing?”
“It’s supposed to be, but I was busy. Things to do. You know.”
“Yeah, I guess. So is this your locker?”
“No. I’m just putting all my stuff in here for no reason.” I laughed again. He laughed too.
“Wow never would’ve guessed.”
“So where’s your locker?”
“Right next to you actually.” He said.
“Really? Cool, then I guess I’ll see you a lot this year, huh?”
“I guess so.” He smiled, “So what classes do you have?”
“Um…I have Writing with Mrs. Witting first hour, then English with Mr. Williams—”
“Really, my second hour is with Mr. Williams too.” I looked at him, “Sorry. Go on.”
“Third hour I have trig with Mr. Nelson, and then American History with Mrs. O’Connell, Chemistry with Mr. Matthews, and Spanish III with Mr. Franco, and seventh hour is theater with Mr. Lin. What about you?” I asked him. He stared back at me, “What?”
“We have practically the same classes again this year.”
"Really how odd.” I said though inside I was melting. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
“Yeah, but my first hour is Astrology with Mr. Hasoon, and my seventh hour is photography with Mrs. Carol.”
“Wow an artsy man.” I laughed, “Usually guys would do sports or something.”
“Not for me.” He said dumping his books into his locker, “Where is your first class?”
“Um…room four-hundred forty-nine.”
“Four forty seven.”
“Really. We are going to get so tired of each other.” I laughed. He didn’t, I don’t think so. Last year I didn’t really get to know you. I really want to now.” This is not like him. Last year he was so happy, now he’s so…serious.
“It was just a joke.” I said trying to keep a light tone. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. I was the first to look away, I felt my cheeks getting hot. But I knew that I never blushed, so I didn’t have to worry.
“What’s that?” He asked. I looked at where he was pointing, it was my notebook.
“Uh…it’s nothing. I got to go, see you in second.” I zipped up my bag and left him at his locker. I did want anyone to know that I wrote. At least write professional stuff. The bell rang and I ran to my class hoping that I wouldn’t run into Tobi. Luck wasn’t on my side. He was waiting by my classroom door. What the hell was wrong with him?
“Hey Tobi. What’s up?”
“Nothing. Why did you leave so fast?”
“Um…I needed to check something before class started, that’s all.”
“Hm…” He said nothing more.
“Well, um…I need to get to class so…”
“One second. Why wont you tell me what in your notebook?”
I stuttered, no one ever asked me that, and if they did I’d punch them, but I couldn’t punch him. It was physically impossible for me to do that. Stupid, stupid!
“It’s personal that’s all.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“What’s with the persistence? I don’t want to tell you get over it! Bye I’ll talk to you after class.” And with that I walked into my class. I took out my notebook and started to write.
Out of my peripheral vision I saw him looking through the window, I felt his eyes bore into my desk, I refused to look at him though. I looked up quickly and still saw his face in the doorway. He was confused, like he was trying to decipher something that seemed to be in hieroglyphics. I ignored him. Finally the bell rang. I looked at the doorway and he was gone. I relaxed, and turned my attention to the teacher.
“Good morning class. I’m Mrs. Witting, and I’m your writing instructor. I am not a teacher. I will not teach you. I will guide you. It is your choice what you work on in this hour. You write what you feel, and at the end of the semester you shall submit what you have. That is your grade. It’s worth two hundred points. There will be days that I will assign pop essays, that will be due at the end of class, that are worth thirty points each, but other than that, your grades are in your own hands. If you have any questions feel free to ask me.”
I was in a personal dilemma. All I ever wrote were my stories. I didn’t want to tell anybody about my work.
“Mrs. Witting?” a girl with blonde hair called in the back corner.
“Yes?” she said without looking up from her book.
“Are we allowed to bring our computers to class so that we don’t have to write on paper?”
“Yes of course. If you think that it helps you more, then please do.”
“Mrs. Witting?” I called out, regretting it as the words as they left my mouth.
“Yes?” She looked up at me.
“May I ask you a question in private?”
“Absolutely.” She got up from her desk and walked to the door. I picked up my notebook and followed her to the door. We stepped outside and Mrs. Witting asked me, “What is bothering you dear?”
“Actually, it’s kinda personal and something that no one knows. Not even my mom.” I said, “Mrs. Witting have you ever heard of the book Drama with a Vampire?”
“I’m in the process of reading it, though my daughter is absolutely in love with that book. Why do you ask?”
“Do you enjoy the book Mrs. Witting?”
“Yes, exceptionally. It was written amazingly well. Actually I was going to recommend it to the students. Have you read it?”
“Mrs. Witting,” I paused, “I wrote it.” Her mouth dropped and she stared at me.
“What is your name?”
“I’m Hope Deanne Redrick.”
“The authors name is-”
“Lantica Night, I know I made it up, her email address is lanynight@yahoo.com. How do I know? Because I get emails everyday.”
“Prove it to me.” She said.
“Do you have a computer?” she went into the classroom and showed me her computer. I took it and logged into the email address. I looked at her she was stricken.
“You really are her…”
“Yes, I’ll appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell anyone. I was going to ask if I could turn in my sequel for the semester project.”
“Absolutely. But you must sign your name to it.”
“I figured as much. But please, I don’t want other people to know.”
“That’s fine I respect your privacy.”
I knew that this day was going to turn out bad. The bell rang and I automatically dreaded it. I finished and put all my books in my bag and looked outside. And there it was, a face that I’ve wanted to see but at the same time hated it. Tobi was looking through the window staring at me. I rolled my eyes at the window and he smiled.
“How was class?” He asked with a smirk on his face, as if he knew an inside joke that I had missed.
“It was alright. What about you?”
“It was…interesting.” And he looked at me from the corner of his eye and smirked again. There it was that creepy feeling that he knew more than I gave him credit for. What was I going to do?
“So English huh?” I said trying not to fall into an awkward silence. Those never happened with him.
“Yep.”
“Yep…” I stayed quiet he wanted to talk about something; he’ll get to it in time.
We got to class and the first thing that happened was a shadow coming straight at me.
“Ahh!” I screamed. Tobi tensed. I felt arms wrap around me and a voice saying, “Hopey, Hopey, Hopey! Eek! Hiya. How was your summer? What did you do? Was there anything good? What happened? Details I want the dirty detail of your summer adventure!” I was being strangled all I heard was Tobi laughing. I pushed the person away gasping for breath. I looked at the person…
“Erica?! Ahhh!” I screamed again. I hugged her and we both jumped up and down. Mr. Williams looked at us and coughed.
“Sorry.” Said Erica, “Well details.”
“Nothing much happened. I went to the beach sometimes. I went to the lake with my family. It was a boring summer to be honest. I was always at home. What about you?” I asked.
“You’re not getting off that easily. Any boys grab your attention?” I saw Tobi look at me from the corner of his eyes and he seemed to tense. That alone made me shiver in happiness.
“No, there were no boys. Though boys were captivated by me at the beach. It was really kinda weird.”
“Oh! Hopey is a boy magnet.” I heard Tobi cough, I smiled.
“Well off of me. Your turn. What about you any boys?”
“Actually…”
“Ah! What happened, who, when, and where?”
“Okay well his name is Justin we meet at the pool by my house, you know how I take lessons.” I nodded, “Well, he saw me and talked like the whole time. He asked for my number and we hung out.” I gasped, “That’s not even the best part!”
“Stop keeping me in suspense! What else?”
“Well yesterday we went out again, we went to dinner and amusement park. But while we were on the Ferris Wheel he asked me to be his girlfriend!”
“Really! That’s so great congrats! Does he go here?”
“Yeah he does.”
“I expect to see him at lunch.”
“Absolutely.” She said, “I think Mr. Williams is going to strangle us. Come on.”
“Okay. Mr. Williams, may we please have our seating chart?”
“Yes, you are?”
“Hope Redrick.” I said.
He looked at me, I smiled, he looked back at the paper and said, “You will be sitting in the back corner second row.”
“Thank you.” I said and walked to the back, sat down and waited.
“Thank you.” Tobi said and he came up to me and sat in the last seat of the row.
“You sit there?”
“Yep.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes.
“Is that sarcasm?” I laughed and he laughed too.
“Hiya peoples!”
“Seriously?” I gasped, It was Erica, “This is gunna be fun.”
“Ha yes!” she high-fived me, “Hell yeah it is.” I already loved this class. But having Tobi this close concerned me. The class went by fairly quickly.
“See ya guys later!” She waved her eyes sparkled.
“Give me one guess.” I rolled my eyes at her and she blushed.
“Bye!” and she ran off.
“She is so weird sometimes, don’t you agree?” I asked Tobi as we watched her walk away.
“Not as weird as they come.” Was all he said back.
“What’s your problem?” I said to him putting my hands on my hip. He looked at me shocked.
“What do you mean?” He asked with wide eyes.
“What’s with you and these cryptic remarks?”
“What do you mean? I merely said that I’ve seen weirder.” He defended himself, “Nothing drastic.”
“Well, it just confuses me. You were never like this last year. You’re different.”
“I’m not trying.” He pouted.
“I’m not saying you’re trying. I’m just saying you are.” And he didn’t have anything to say after that so we were both quiet on our walk to our lockers.