Chapter 7

What is this feeling?

This feeling creeping on my skin like a snake leaving a trail of water on a rock.

Insidious. Cold.

Under the fluorescence of the lights, her eyes reflected flecks of gold in a pool of lime green. Her dark brows lowered over piercing eyes that burned right through my flesh, searing my soul. Her mouth opened slightly. My eyes followed. The tip of her tongue pushed through her lips briefly but just as quickly it was back in the cavern of her mouth. She frowned.

The dark head nudged her and the moment was interrupted.

Suddenly laughter boomed on our table jerking my consciousness back to the present. Cara was laughing behind her hand. It was Jeff whose laugh interrupted whatever that moment I had with the redheaded Storm was.

Heat crawled up my neck, flushing my face red. "What is so funny?"

"I told you, everyone has the same reaction to them but they are out of bounds for the likes of us." He scoffed. "Who am I kidding, you're a Hunter I bet Kayla would go for you."

"Kayla?"

"That's the redhead. The goth chic is Silver and the dude with the gray sweater is Miles."

"Uh... okay." That was all I could say but my brain was racing with questions. What was that weird moment with Kayla Storm?

Miles returned to the table with a tray heaped with burgers and fries which he dug into with glee. Silver reached a hand into his tray and picked a piece of chip drenched in ketchup and ate it. Miles made a face and said something which she laughed off. Kayla whispered something that wiped the smile off Silver's face but caused Miles to guffaw. Something about Kayla Storm reminds me of something, something I have probably never experienced before and she looked familiar too, still, I couldn't shake off the feeling. 

Cara nudged my arm, once again bringing me back to the present. 

"What plans do you have tonight?"

I shrugged. Collecting Cara's notes and catching up with the terms work was utmost on my mind and I told Cara so.

"I don't think you'll have a problem with school work. I can help you out during the weekend if you're concerned though," she suggested. 

"Oh, thanks."

Jeff who was sitting beside her nudged her arm. "We were planning to grab something at CHOC-IT. There's a nice view of WhiSare from the cliff around the lake. Have you seen the lake?"

"Not yet."

"If you want to you can join us." 

Cara was watching me with hopeful brown eyes. Jeff was leaning slightly with his arm pressing against the plastic tray but he was looking at Cara. I recognized the adoring look he gave her and the faint hopelessness in the curve of his mouth as he watched Cara watch me. 

Someone has a crush on Cara and she's oblivious to it. 

When Jeff looked up and caught my eyes he cleared his throat and looked away. 

"What do you say?" Cara asked.

I shrugged. "It won't hurt I guess. I'm in." Mom would be proud to know I'm settling in just fine. All things are possible when you're the son of Jackson Hunter.

Cara smiled. 

Jeff seemed pleased with my answer but I guess he sees me as competition now. Mentally brushing aside that thought I polished off my burger. After the lunch break, we went to class for another 3 hours. Curiously, none of the Storms were in the same class as us even though they are in the same grade. I hadn't realized I was looking forward to seeing at least one of them again until I found myself searching every classroom I walked into. Thankfully neither Cara nor Jeff who decided to tag along with us everywhere we went for the rest of the day noticed. Rather they were busy filling me in on what to expect as a new student and what stuff to do to earn points before graduation. 

Jeff suggested I joined the Bandy team, a game very similar to ice hockey but with as many players on each team as a football game. Since he was Asst. Cap, he promised to speak to the coach for me.

All of these I listened to halfheartedly. What was utmost on my mind was how to see the Storms again. Maybe this time I'll get to talk with Kayla. Maybe I have seen her somewhere in San Frease or one time during one of my many vacations. No doubt she would recognize me too since she locked eyes with me.

"5 more minutes," Cara announced in a whisper. She yawned and scribbled some stuff in her notebook. "I can't wait to go home."

Even before she finished talking the bell went off. Students rose from their seats before the teacher finished reading the last line from her note, hurrying to get out of the door as soon as possible. I hung my bag on my shoulder and followed Cara out, walking away from the class block to the car park. The park was a lot fuller than it had been that morning. Some of the snow was completely melted and a shy ray of sun was peeking through the cloud. People hurried to cars, trucks, and bicycles, talking all at once. At the far end of the lot where I parked was a red beat-up truck and in front of it, in baggy mom jeans, halter top and worn-out sneakers, was Samantha from the bonfire. She was sharing a cigarette with her friend Debbie. She had her eyes squinted against the feeble smoke of the cigarette and was peering through the crowd. Suddenly she raised her hand and waved someone over. From the crowd, Gabe emerged, walked up and kissed her cheek, patting the side of her arm.

I was almost close to my car when she looked up and saw me. Her smile was surprisingly friendly when she raised the hand that held her cigarette to wave at me. I smiled and waved back.

Beside me, Cara looked over and frowned when she saw who it was I was waving at. She glanced at Jeff who had followed her gaze and was now watching the Vampire Hunters AKA Losers club curiously. 

"You won't believe Sam tried to sell her bullshit to DeShawn at the park."

"She did?" He glanced at me for confirmation. I avoided his gaze and walked to the car leaving them behind. But I could hear them since they weren't so far off. Leaning my arms on the roof of my car I waited for Cara to tell Jeff about the bonfire and Sam's craziness.

"Uh uh. I honestly don't know what has gotten into her. Remember when we used to hang out with her in primary school?"

Jeff nodded. "Yeah, that was before..."

"Hi."

The voice came from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the dark head Storm, Silver, swinging one long shapely leg over one of the Hayleys that was parked beside my car. Her voice matched her look. Deep and smokey.

She was alone.

"Uh hi." From the side of my eye, I saw Cara peek over her shoulder trying to see who I was talking to. Tapping Jeff lightly on the shoulder she left him and walked to the passenger side of the car. 

"Hey, Evan," Silver said with a toss of her head, her eyes drifted back to my face, grey eyes bordered with dark lashes. "You're new?"

I nodded. Should I say more?

She cocked a smile revealing sparkling white teeth. Her canine peeked beneath her top lip. "Welcome to WhiSare."

Without saying anything else she keyed the bike, pumped it and rode off. 

That was weird.

Cara chuckled and I glanced at her. "Silver is a wild one. Many students swear up and down that she's had sex with them." She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I hear she's quite good at sex too."

The way she said it with a bit of envy in her voice filled me with a mischievous urge to tease her.

"And you wish you were like her?"

She scoffed again, but her face was as red as ketchup. "Of course not. She's probably just trying to add you to her list anyway." Tapping at the car door she asked, "Can we go home?"

Laughing I opened the door and slid behind the wheel. 

The other Hayley was still parked. I guess it either belongs to Miles or Kayla. 

I wanted to wait back and see whose it was. If it was Kayla's then I'll introduce myself and find out if we met before. 

But the thought of waiting was banished by the thought of explaining to Cara and maybe mom that I wanted to talk to her because I felt a strange sensation while we locked eyes. I doubt either of them will accept such a bizarre explanation. 

I doubt even Kayla would buy the explanation. Maybe the odd feeling at the cafeteria didn't even happen, maybe it was a fraction of my imagination or my mind messing with me. Still, it doesn't hurt to know. 

Turning on the heater I drove back home. WhiSare roads are starting to look familiar and homely.