"Hey, guess what?" I said in excitement. As soon as we got out of Algebraic Math I blurted it out. I mean they had a right to know so why not just say it now.

Seth raised an eyebrow at my tone and said,"What is it? You know your killing me here!"

"Who's killing you? Have my prayers been answered?! What a miracle!" rejoiced Jodie as she came out of another class.

I laughed while Seth said,"Haha, very funny Jodie. And Arielle wants me to guess at something."

Jodie lightly punched his arm."I'm just kidding you know. So, what it is, Arielle?"

I beamed and moved them aside as we made it down the stairs to the second floor. My feet barely touched the ground as I excitedly engulfed the news that Matt will be entering at this school. Like right now my heart was beating fast in excitement.

"You won't believe who I just bumped into today! I just happened to bumped into Matt! Can you believe it!" I said with awe.

Seth frowned and said,"Wait, you mean Matt Lancer? Like, Matt Lancer is here? In this school! How?" I giggled.

Jodie cocked her head. "I don't remember any Matt Lancer. Who is it?"

I gaped at her and frantically replied,"You don't remember him! Matt! Don't you remember that skater guy with the blond hair and beanies, and Nike dunks?! With the dry sense of humor? Are any sparks flying in that head of yours?"

Jodie held out a hand and said,"Wait. Let me see... Hmm. Did he always wear those handmade bracelets and uh...have a lopsided grin? I think."

I eagerly nodded and answered Seth's questions,"Yes! Well, you see, he just moved to Oregon to live with his aunt, Mrs. Elle? 'Cause he was having some problems with his dad, they didn't...click together, I still don't know all of it, but so yeah he moved in with his aunt, and he just entered this school! Can you believe it! He's here! He's coming to school tomorrow!"

Seth's face went dead white and he said in quiet shock,"I can't believe it. I'll have to see the guy to believe it. Wow...this is like so surprising. Is that why you were late to class because you saw him?"

I nodded. "We better tell Ruby. Let's see if she remembers too because they didn't know each other so well. Like, only a couple of months," I said. I checked the time. "Oh shoot I better head to Music! Can you guys tell her? Thanks, your the best!"

Seth smirked."Yes. Yes, we know." Jodie rolled her eyes and waved goodbye. I started backing away and jogged to class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I placed my stuff in my locker and headed to class. I checked my cell again. I have five minutes left to arrive there.

I nodded and rounded a corner.

My eyes suddenly found the masculine figure of Shadow. Even with his hoodie up and it covering his face I could tell it was him because...well just because of the way he was positioned. With half his body leaning against the bulletin board and the rest leaning away from it with his long legs crossed. It was just a feeling, the aura that came from him just made me point him out so easily.

He was wearing the usual with the black jeans, but these had like holes in them. Wait, that's not right. They were ripped jeans that included black converse shoes with a silver studded belt. Then came in a black tee instead of the band shirts he always wore, a silver necklace was hanging from his neck, and he had his bracelets, and rings on. 

It was so unexpected to see him like this. One: He was wasn't alone.                                                                                                                                                                    Two: I'm not ready to have a conversation with him, not when I almost had my first kiss with him.           Three: He is drop-dead gorgeous.

He was just so real that it was shocking to find a person like that. When people these days just wanted to fit it even if it involved being someone they're not. Fake, I guess. He just made me really look at things

Shadow's deep voice rang around the empty hallway around me as he spoke out,"I know your there. No need to be so quiet." I panicked and absentmindly started quietly backing away, but I guess I didn't do it quiet enough because my foot twisted on my other foot, and I almost fell on my butt, but I caught myself on the lockers which made a loud, banging sound.

I cursed and silently shook my head, murmuring,"I'm such an idiot. I'm an idiot and a klutz." I turned my face away as a sign of shame.

"You are a klutz, but I don't know about the "idiot" part though. You okay, there?" said Shadow. He sounded at ease, like he was alone, but I couldn't quite tell if his friend was there or not, so I took a chance.

I took a deep breath and turned around as I mumbled,"Uh hi."

Shadow smirked and responded back cheerfully, saying,"Hey there. So, what's up?" Before I responded Ash spoke out.

 "Nice to see you again, doll face." He smirked. TJ laughed at his left.

My defensive side got in. "I'm not a doll, Ash. And nor do I have porcelain skin."

He laughed and crossed his arms,"Don't your friends call you that? Your a feisty girl, no wonder Shadow has the goods for you."

I frowned while Shadow snapped at him. "What? It's the truth,"Ash put out . TJ just pursed his lips.

I shook my head and said,"Um. So, how you've been."

TJ smacked Ash on the arm and feigned a worried look, and said,"You made her uncomfortable."

Ash grinned. "I guess I did. Hey, you going to the Halloween party this Sunday?"

I licked my lips and frowned,"Uh why? But to be honest I don't know."

"Ah. A friend making you go? That sucks. Well, anyway maybe I'll see you there, it would be interesting to see you in a--Ow! Dude, what the fuck!" he yelled.

Amusingly, I looked at Shadow and he was glaring at Ash. "Get out. Or I'll drag you out," he threatened.

TJ rolled his eyes and nudged at Ash, who sighed disappointly and reluctantly started walking away.             

"See you later, Arielle," he grumbled. I nodded and waved at them. It was hard to stop the giggle forming in my mouth as I looked at him.

At the way out, some guy made a sneery comment at him and Ash flicked him the middle finger which made me raise an eyebrow as I was impressed at how casually he did that. I could see now how he didn't give a damn of how people thought of him. Nice Ash, I thought.

Then after checking if he was gone we started laughing. Half of it was random the other half was just because of Ash's expression.

"Oh, alright. That's enough!," said Shadow, but his voice was half muffled that I barely heard him through our laughter.

Eventually my laughter lopsided and we kept our cool. Well, half of it anyway. We smiled at each other and instantly I was struck by a strong spark that made me fidget. It didn't hurt though, it was just warm. As we held each other's gaze it crackled and finally sizzled like when a fire would start.

I tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear and spoke almost shyly, saying,"Well, that was fun. So, how you've been? Been quite awhile since I've seen you."

Shadow closely looked at me and finally responded,"Nothing major if you know what I mean. So, your friend, Ruby, is making you go to the Halloween party at school?"

I groaned."Yes! But to be honest she's doing more for me to let out my teen problems. God, did that sound wrong," I said. He chuckled and leaned on a locker with his arms crossed and legs held out in front of him. "At least it's this week so I don't have to hear her for more than two weeks of her babbling about it. Are you going?"

Shadow shrugged and said,"I don't know. Maybe not. Is it required to have a costume? Ah, then I guess no. No, I'm not going. You should go. Have some fun."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Like I said maybe, but I really hate dressing up in costumes mostly all the costumes the girls wear are kinda dramatic and exposing. Oops. I guess that slipped out," I apologized, but it was half true.

Shadow chuckled and shrugged his shoulders at me. "Hey, it's alright. It's mostly true anyway. So, I heard a friend of yours has entered this school? What's his name?" For some reason I could hear some detaste in Shadow's voice as he asked for Matt's name. I never known as Shadow as the judgemental person or is he...jealous? I really don't know. 

I pursed my lips as I looked closely at Shadow, but I could see Shadow's electric blue eyes staring back at me, but with some sort of edge. Poker face. I slightly pouted as I saw this, but regained my posture.

"Uh, Matt. He's name is Matt and he's only my friend so there is like nothing going on," I said. 

"Did I ever ask if there was something going on? Last time I checked no," he answered dryly . Even if he sounded kinda snarky I could sense like some sort of relief under those words and his eyes had gotten brighter instead of being dull. 

I frowned and looked questiongly at Shadow. Now, I'm the one being clueless, I thought desperatly. Kinda getting tired of being played here, you know.

"Anyway, maybe I'll introduce you guys. I want you to meet him.  What I mean is you don't have to, but I'd like you to. So, what you say? And he's coming tomorrow just so you know," I said, raising an eyebrow.

Shadow scratched his head and kinda seemed lost, but finally he nodded. "Oh, what the hell. Yeah, I'll meet him, but just meet him. Not spend a whole hour trying to know every bit of the guy and I don't even know how he looks like, so yeah. Got it?"

I nodded, but couldn't help feeling excited about this. "He looks like a skater kinda guy. And...and likes Nike dunks!" Shadow furrowed his brow and I giggled.

"Um, okay. So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow and your, uh, friend. Later then?"

I didn't respond, but instead reached outward to softly kiss Shadow's cheek. Shadow seemed frozen in place as I did that, but suddenly turned his head to have our lips brush softly against each other. Barely. Only like in the edge of our mouths, but still it left butterflies on my stomach. I thought that I would have  tomato red cheeks, but instead it left me staring boldly at Shadow, and my eyes would be glancing down at his lips a few times. Desire filled the air around us and Shadow wrapped his arm around my waist in a tight hold. Our foreheads were touching as we stared at each other's eyes and then we started leaning forward until our lips were just a few breaths away from each other. We were about to press our lips together until the bell rang, announcing that class was in session.

As I realized what I was doing I backed away and loosened his arm around my waist. My confidence shattered to pieces and I was left looking like an idiot. I'm such a fool! How could I have done that! What will he think of me now!

I started shaking my head and I quickly grabbed my things. Tears suddenly blurred my vision and a lot of emotions were going through me that it left me all chocked up from my throat.

Shadow stood there for a second until he suddenly started shaking his head at me and outstretching his hand out to me.

"Arielle, calm down. Can we just talk about this? Why do you keep shaking your head at me? Please don't think of this wrong. Arielle! Wait!" he shouted as I ran away from him and all this.

His voice was pleading for me to not think of this the wrong day, but unfortunately I have. I didn't know if this was what I wanted or that this was right! I can't see to look for the truth when I look in his eyes. I softly shook my head to clear my head and decided to think this later. That is of Ruby lets me since she probably would drag me to a Halloween costume store.

Why do you ruin everything, Arielle, I scowled to myself. Now how am I going to face him tomorrow since I said I was gonna introduce him to Matt! I can ditch him...No, that would set things in a more worse position that it is now

I kept this up until I arrived to class, but I wasn't feeling the mood for Mary Had a Little Lamb. My mood was sour and I wouldn't look at my reflection in the window.

Things didn't go as I thought.

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God, this was heartbreaking. But I promise there is a good thing to this!

Anyway, I'm gonna peace out and continue with the next chapter! This is so exciting! Bye now and hoped you kinda understood this. :D

Peace! :D  O

P.S. I will forever thank TheShadowThief a.k.a Alex for the picture dedicated for me and my story. Thanks so much and I miss you! <3