Pulsing music and the swaying of partiers surrounds me. A huge stone gray skinned man dressed in brown leather pants and matching vest, towers over me and the others surrounding him. He dances in time with the music, his movements makes the ground tremble. I squeeze my way through the thick crowd of human and inhuman club goers. The ceiling looks like the night sky, dotted with millions of tiny starts. Tree branches frame around the opening, the trunks surround the dance floor, like arches of a cathedral. Looking around the crowd, I can feel various hands brush against me. Some pull at me trying to draw me into an embrace, to dance.

I catch the glimpse of strawberry blond hair woman wearing a red dress, grinding on a bleach blond haired man dressed in all black tunic and tights.

"Jackie," I call out to her, making my way to them. Next to them I see a man with jet black hair that is styled in spikes all over his head, his skin sunkissed. He smiles at me, his blue eyes sparkle in the colored lights. I push my way through the crowd to my friends.

"Hello, Rayne,"the black haired man says, his voice is husky, my breath catches in my throat. He walks over to me, I feel like time has stopped, the party pulses around us.

"Hello," I reply finally able to speak. The handsome man pulls me into an embrace, we sway to the music. Hands wrap around me from behind pulling me away from the man and my friends. I try to wiggle out of the arms of the unseen person.

"See you soon, my beautiful Rayne," a voice whispers into my ear. My heart starts racing, the voice eerily familiar.

"Hey Rayne, the bell is ringing." Jackie says, jabbing my arm, bring me out of my thoughts.

"Crap!" I exclaim, collecting my belongings and we run out of class to the busy hallway. We navigate the crowded halls to our lockers. "Why does that class always make me day dream so much?"

"Duh! Because Mr. French is so hot!" Jackie sighs, leaning up against her locker next to mine.

"That's true," I laugh, thinking of Mr. French's jet black hair and dreamy blue eyes Shoving my history books back on the metal shelf in my locker, I grab my math book and homework and place them in my backpack. "Did you get the math homework done?"

"Yeah, this morning in study hall," Jackie says, as we make our way through the still crowded halls to our math class on the opposite side of the building. Just as we were about to the classroom, I bump into the hottest guy I have ever seen. Black hair, piercing blue eyes, tan skin and dressed in black baggy denim shorts, a dark grey Transplants shirt, and solid black skater shoes. I can't help but stare at him, he looks like the man from my day dream.

"Sorry about that," he apologizes in a husky voice, goosebumps form on my skin at the sound of his voice. "Are you okay?"

"Um... yeah," I manage to say. "No harm done." He smiles, a smile that lights up his sapphire eyes.

"Okay, see you around." He says and makes his way back into the crowd. I watch him leave, hoping to see him again.

"Drool much?" Jackie teases me in a soft voice. I shake my head to clear my racing thoughts, as we head into the classroom. There are groups of students in different clusters, chatting with their friends, before our teacher has made her way into the room to begin class after the next bell. Jackie and I take the empty seats in the back of the room. I place my backpack against the base of my chair and start grabbing out my supplies for the class.

"Have you ever seen that guy before?" I ask Jackie, placing my books on the desk in front of me.

"Yeah, he's a senior that moved here a few months ago," says Jackie. She pulls out her own books and mechanical pencils, placing them on the desk we share. "I think his name is Garret or something like that." Jackie looks over at me and smiles, " thinking you may want to get with him?"

"Maybe," I say blushing, which doesn't go unnoticed with my pale skin. "That depends on if he is nice or not. I don't want to end up dating a jerk like I did last time."

" Please, never do that again," she tells me. "Harley treated you like crap and cheated on you the whole time."

"Don't remind me," I sigh. Shivers run down my spine at the memory, of us walking down the isles of movies, his arm around my shoulder. Suddenly he pulls his arm up, squeezing it around my throat, making me panic. Harley just laughed after choking me. "I'm glad he has left me alone for the time being."

"Maybe he will get locked up one of these days," she comments, putting an arm around my shoulder. "I still think you should have reported that," she whispers into my ear.

"We can only hope," I reply as Mrs. Lang enters that room. She is dressed in a nice navy blue dress suit with matching navy blue high heels, that click against the tile floor.

"Settle down kids," Mrs. Lang orders the class. Students begin taking their seats. Harley sits towards the front of the class next to one of the girls he cheated on me with. I hope you both get an STD, you jerks, I think to myself, glaring at the back of his shaggy bleached blond head. The second bell, for classes to start, rings through the buildings intercom system. "Time for class to start," Mrs. Lang announces, walking over to the dry erase board at the front of the room, to begin the days lesson.

I take out my note book, turn to a clean lined page and write down notes for the assignment. Jackie writes a note on a small piece of paper, folds it and slides it over to me. I look around to see if anyone is looking before I open the note.

Want to cut classes after lunch? The note reads. I write back, might as well, most of my classes aren't doing much after then. Folding up the note I slide it back over to her. Do you know if there will be anything good for lunch? Jackie writes back. At this school? Good luck with that, I write before slipping the note back to her. Jackie has to muffle her laugh, Mrs. Lang gives her a stern look and clears her throat. We both smile back at her, she turns back to the board and continues the lesson.

Well lets cut lunch too if it looks that gross, Jackie writes on the note. I'm down for that, I write back to her.

For the rest of class we pay attention to what Mrs. Lang is teaching us. When the bell rings, Mrs. Lang asks us to hand in our homework before we leave. The class files past her desk, placing our homework in the top tray on the corner of her desk. As we head out the door, I bump into Harley, who glares at me.

"Watch where you're going, loser," Harley snarls. His eyes are filled with delight at tormenting me.

"Get stuffed, jerk," I snap back and shove passed him to join Jackie. He grabs my wrist, stopping me, I spin around and glare at him. "Leave me alone, Harley."

"Why? It's fun to mess with you," he says, his lips curl up into a mischievous grin. I roll my eyes at him.

"Go torture your girlfriend or girlfriends. I don't want anything to do with you. Or have I not made that clear enough for you?" My patience with him is running thin, I yank my wrist out of his grip and start walking away with Jackie.

"But they aren't as fun to mess with as you," Harley replies, following after us.

"Why are you even following her?" Jackie asks him. "Won't Jessica get jealous that you are talking to your EX?" We both look at him, he just smiles at us.

"She will get over it," he laughs with confidence. Still thinks he's God's gift to women I see, I think to myself.

"Harley, let's go eat lunch," calls Jessica's high pitched voice, as if on cue.

"Sounds like you are being summoned," I smile at him. " Now be a good boy for once and leave." He just laughs, stepping forward to try and hold my hand. I cross my arms over my chest before he can. Jessica storms over to him and links her arm in his, glaring at me.

"Let's go eat lunch," she tells him for the second time. "She isn't worth your time," Jessica gives me an I-hope-you-die look, while trying to steer Harley away from me.

"Thank you for taking the trash away, Jessica," I tell her with a smile. She turns on her heel and slaps me across the face, I chuckle. "What? Didn't like that I called Harley what he is?" Harley has an even bigger grin on his face, clearing finding this encounter entertaining. Jessica pulls back her arm to slap me again. I caught her arm and twist it back behind her back, before shoving her away from me. She stumbles and collides with Harley, who to my surprise actually catches her. "Can you two leave now?" I growl, annoyed that I still have to deal with him.

"Aw, but it was getting good," Harley teases, both Jessica and I glare at him.

"I don't think she wants to deal with you. So leave her alone," I hear the voice of the guy I bumped into this morning say. He comes up beside Jackie and me, and winks at me when he sees me looking over at him. Blood rushes to my face, making it warm.

"Who asked you, Garret?" Harley spits at him.

" No one, but it seems like you can't take a hint." Garret say, getting in between Harley, Jessica and me. "Just go with your girlfriend to lunch like she asked you to, Harley." Harley sighs heavily, but turns around and heads to the cafeteria, leaving Jessica to jog to catch up to him.

"Thank you for helping me," I say to Garret. He turns around and smiles, his smile makes my heart skip a beat.

"Any time," he says. "Did you really date that jerk?"

"Yeah, and regret it ever since," I say putting my books in my locker. "Going to lunch?"

"Yeah, what about you two?" He asks, we look at each other and smile.

"We may eat lunch here if it looks edible. If not we are cutting out," Jackie informs him. "Want to join?"

"Sure," he replies and we head to the cafeteria together. The noise from the chattering students greets us before we reach the doors, along with the smell of a variety of foods.

"Do you know what they are serving for lunch today?" Jackie asks, I shrug.

"I think they said it was some form of mystery meat," Garret says in disgust. "Want to go get burgers instead?"

"Sounds good to me," I say taking my keys out of my purse, that is slung over my shoulder.

"Count me in," Jackie says, linking arms with me. We walk down the hallway to the side exit, that has the alarm turned off. Garret opens the door for us and we walk out to my black 2004 Chevy Impala SS. Once we get near my car I click the unlock button twice on the key fob and we load in the car. The car roars to life with a turn of the key, we pull out of the parking lot and head to the drive-thru at the local burger place.

Hard rock plays through my speakers as we wait. Once we get up to the speaker, we have decided what we wanted and order the meals we want. I pay for the food, and pull forward receiving our drinks first. Putting Jackie and my drink in the front cupholders, I hand Garret's drink back to him.

"Thank you," he tells me, placing his cup in the armrest cupholder in the back.

"You're welcome. It's my treat for helping me get rid of Harley," I tell him with a smile. The drive-thru worker, hands me the brown paper bag that contains our food. I hand the bag over to Jackie. She opens it and pulls out some French fries, munching on them. The smell of the fast food causes my stomach to growl. After getting food, I drive to the nearby park that has a lake in the center. The park is mostly empty other than a few older men fishing off one of the decks. Driving around to the side where a white wooden gazebo is and park my car.

We get out with our bag of food and drinks, walking over to one of the picnic tables in the gazebo. Jackie hands out the food and we start eating. "This is so much better than eating at school," she comments.

"I agree," says I, unwrapping my burger. "Where to after this?"

"How about going to the beach?" Jackie suggests, taking a bite of her chicken nuggets.

"Alright," I say, wiping the corners of my mouth and hands with a napkin, before grabbing some fries that I dip in ketchup. Garret finishes the burger he ordered.

"I'm okay with that," says Garret, stirring mustard and mayo together on his burger wrapper with a fry. "Do you two normally cut classes?"

"Nope," I answer, after swallowing the food in my mouth. "Today just seems like a good day to not deal with school."

"That and she is tired of dealing with Harley," Jackie chimes in. He nods in understanding.

"So much for him leaving me alone like I thought he would." I sigh, then finish my burger and eat a few fries before offering them to Garret and Jackie. They eat on a few of them. I lean back stretching my arms over my head "Enough with that issue. What I need is a break from it all."

"I hear that," Garret says. "My dad wants me to go to medical school like he did. That is more schooling than what I want to do. Plus I'm not good with blood." His face scrunches in disgust.

"In real life or overall?" Jackie asks, before I can.

"Real life," he replies. "Movies and TV shows have fake blood, so it doesn't affect me much."

"Why does he still want you to be a doctor if he knows you can't stand blood?" I ask, thinking I would hate to be told to go into a career that doesn't suit me.

"My dad thinks that I will outgrow the fear," he sighs. "I highly doubt it though."

"What do you want to do rather than becoming a doctor?" Asks I, as Jackie finishes her nuggets and they both finish off the fries.

"I want to be a writer," Garret says with a smile. "Fiction is fun to write. If I go to college to be a doctor, there would be no time to write even outside of classes."

"Then go to college to become a writer," I tell him, and take a sip of my drink. "Or if they force you to go to a college you don't like, change the major to something that interests you rather than what they want."

"I like Rayne's idea," Jackie says with a smile. Garret looks over at me and smiles. We get up and throw away our trash in the trash can next to the gazebo and head for the car. "Ah, I haven't been to the beach yet this year."

"Well it has been raining a lot," I tell her. "But I thought you went to the beach with Rex last week."

"Nah, he decided he didn't want to go to the beach. So we ended up at the movies instead," Jackie explains, as we get in the car.

"You're dating Rex Thompson?" Garret asks from the backseat.

"Yeah," she says, a smile creeps across her face. "What's wrong with Rex?"

"Nothing," he says with a smile. "Just never met his girlfriend yet."

"We just started dating, so that's not much a surprise," she replies. "Are you dating anyone?"

I look in the rearview mirror at him, he still has a dreamy smirk on his handsome face.

"Not at the moment," Garret replies, relaxing in the seat. "But things could change. What about you Rayne?"

"Me?" I ask, looking at him in the mirror to see him nod. "Not currently." I reach up and open the sunroof and roll down the windows, we are almost to the parking lot for the beach. Labyrinth by Oomph comes over the speakers and I crank it up, singing along to the song.

"You know German?" Garret asks, not really understanding what they are saying other than labyrinth.

"I know some, not enough to be fluent or anything," I reply, with a smirk. We pull into the beach parking lot, it's mostly deserted as it is still technically winter. I park the Impala and roll up the windows and close the sunroof until it vents. "Ready to go to the beach?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jackie says, on her way out of the car. I pop the trunk as Garret and I get out of the car. Going to the trunk, I pull out three of the four towels that I keep in my trunk just in case we go to the beach. Tossing my purse in the trunk, I close the lid. After locking the car, I hand a purple towel to Jackie, which she usually claims when we go to the beach.

"Which one would you like?" I ask Garret, holding out a black towel and a blue and teal stripped towel. He looks at them.

"The black one," he replies, pointing at it. I hand him the black towel that he drapes over his shoulder. We walk down to the beach, our feet leaving our trail in the sand. The salty air washes over us, the wind blows my long blond hair across my face. I place my towel over my shoulder, and pull my hair back using a black hair tie that I had on my wrist.

Jackie takes off her sneakers and socks and runs ahead of Garret and me. A few yards away from the shore she stops, places her shoes on the sand before spreading her towel out on the sand. Garret and I walk next to each other as Jackie takes off her tank top and shorts placing them on her towel before making her way to the water.

"This is the first time I've ever skipped school," Garret confesses. I smile and look over at him.

"So how does it feel to skip school?" I ask him, teasingly.

"Freeing," he replies. "But I guess that sounds cliche, right?"

"It does, but it's fine." I tell him. "What class would you be in right now?"

"I would be in gym right now," he replies.

"Well we can swim, so it's not like you're missing gym at all." I say, as we reach the spot Jackie had placed her towel and clothes. I spread out my towel on the right side of hers, before taking off my shoes and clothes to my black bra and underwear. Looking over at Garret, my heart skips a beat, he removes his t-shirt revealing ripped abs. He looks up, catching me watching him and smiles. I blush and look out at the water.

"You can look if you like," he says. "I don't mind," he lets out a chuckle.

"Ready to get in the water?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah," he answers and we start towards the water. "What class would you be in right now?"

"Accounting, I had finished the assignment yesterday." I tell him, the waves swish against the sand of the shore. The damp sand is cool under my feet.

"Isn't accounting a boring class?" Garret asks as we walk farther out to the sea. Jackie is laying on her back floating still a few yards away from us.

"It can be, but it's fairly easy." I reply, slipping on some unseen rock under the murky water. Garret catches me, helping me get my footing again. "Thank you, I'm usually not this clumsy."

"You are more than welcome," Garret replies. "The water isn't very clear so it's hard to navigate what you can't see."

"That's true," I reply, as we walk to where the water comes up to my knees. The water comes up a few inches under Garret's knees. "Have you lived here long? I don't think I remember seeing you around."

"I moved here at the beginning of the year." Garret tells me, the waves tries to knock us over. Jackie is still floating a few feet away from us.

"Was it hard moving in the middle of your senior year?" I ask, he shrugs.

"It's not what I wanted but I didn't have a choice in the matter." Garret sighs, "my father changed jobs, so we moved here from New York."

"Probably wish you could go back, huh?" I ask, looking over at his handsome face. "This town doesn't have much going for it."

"I did at first," he replies, his blue eyes looking even deeper blue against the blue sky behind him. "But now I think I may have found something to stay around for." He smiles at me, a smile that makes me weak in the knees.

"Is that so?" I ask, smiling back at him.

"Well, that's if you don't mind being the reason," he says. I blush at his words, not sure if I could even speak, so I nod. He closes the small distance between us, lifting my face to look at him. "Good, because I find you very beautiful and intoxicated."

He leans down and kisses me softly. His lips are soft against mine. It feels like time had stopped, a fire within me builds. As we break the kiss, I feel faint. Looking into his eyes, my thoughts seem to be clogged. Garret chuckles at my expression.

"Maybe I should ask Rex to come here." Jackie tells us, bringing me back to reality. She is now standing near us in waist deep water. "You two make me wish Rex was here."

"Why don't you text him to meet you here?" I suggest to her. "You know he will want to see you."

"Well he better," she says, we both laugh, knowing he is head over heels for her. Rex and Jackie started dating a month ago and they have been with each other anytime that they had free time. Most of the time I feel like the third wheel, which I don't mind too much. She had to deal with Harley and me when we had been dating, up until around Thanksgiving.

Garret wraps his arms around my waist, the touch is gentle as he pulls me against his chest. Heat from his body radiates around me. Jackie smiles, I smile back.

"I think that I'll go text him to come join us." Her face lights up at the thought of her boyfriend joining her at the beach.

"Okay, we will be here," I tell her.

"I will be back," Jackie tells us and makes her way back to the beach. I watch my friend as she leaves.

"What are you thinking of?" Garret asks softly next to my ear, goosebumps creep along my skin.

"That I'm glad we are here and not at school." I answer honestly, turning to face him. "Glad we asked you to come with us?"

"Very much so," he says with a smile. "Being out with two beautiful girls is a fantasy most guys have." We both chuckle.

"I'm glad you came," I tell him, he blushes. I glance at the horizon, where the sea looks like it touches the sky. A dolphin jumps out of the water, arching and landing a few feet in the water again. "Aw, look over there."

"Huh," he says before looking where I was pointing. Another two dolphins jumped out of the water. "That's amazing. I've never seen dolphins in the wild before."

"Living here you will see them from time to time." I say informing him. "They still make the day better when you see them."

"This is the best day I've had since I moved here." Garret says, still watching the dolphins. I watch him, behind us splashing draws my attention. I turn to see Jackie walking out to us, a grin on her face.

"I take it he is on his way," I call out to her.

"Yes," she squeals. "He should be here in a few minutes." Her dark brown hair has dried a little bit, her tan skin looks darker against her baby blue bra and underwear.

"Get ready for two love birds," I whisper to Garret. "They are cute together but can be a bit intense."

"Ah, I know the type." He replies in the same soft voice. "But now you have me to make it less awkward." I smile at that, he smiles back at me.

"Well, aren't you two cute together," Jackie says in a cheery voice. "Now Rex needs to get here and it would be like a double date." She clasps her hands together, happy that I may have found someone that I like.

"Would you call this a date?" I ask Garret, who thinks about it for a bit.

"Depends on how you look about it," he replies as Jackie reaches us.

"And how do you look at it?" I ask him. Jackie still wearing a smile, hugs me excited to see the man she loves very soon.

"I'll let you know later," he teases. I sigh, but smile and hug Jackie back.