text: Nicole Steele Little Liar 
   
   
     
   Chapter 1 
  Meeting Again 
  	“Why are you late Ms. Halliwell?” Miss Beckon asked. I thought really hard for an answer she hasn’t heard yet, “I…I...was getting my homework out my locker, but it was jammed,” That should cover me for not having my homework and for being late, I thought. She nodded and I went to my seat. 
  	During class my best friend Prue passed me a note asking me why was I late this time. I wrote back that I would tell her later. After that class was really boring, like always. When class was over, I met with Prue at my locker, “So?” she looked at me with curious eyes, like always when she wants to know about anything. “I was with Seth again” I replied with a sigh. 
  	“Wow,” she said while I was getting my things, “does he ever get tired of you? I know I do,” We started walking down the school steps and then a car came screeching to a halt on the curb. I stared with excitement. In the front of the car was Seth, “What would two young, gorgeous ladies say to a ride home?” 
  	I stared at Prue, and she nodded, “We would love to get a ride,” We walked up to the car and he unlocked the doors. I sat in front while Prue sat in the back, “Who would like to get dropped off first?” he stared at both of us and then Prue answered, “I would like to,” Seth started the car and we drove out the school parking lot. The whole ride to Prue was silent. After we dropped off Prue, Seth stopped the car two blocks away from my house. “Why are you stopping,” I asked. He leaned towards me and kissed me gently on the lips, “You know why,” he said. When he leaned in for a much deeper kiss, my phone started to ring. “Hello,” I answered. 
  	“Hey sweetheart,” my mom said, “When will you be home?” 
  	“Um…” I motioned my hands to tell Seth to get to my house, “I’m like two blocks away from the house. Why?” 
  	“Oh, well someone’s here to see you.” she answered, and then added, “Well, I’ll talk to you more when you get home,” then she hung up. Seth turned onto my street then pulled into the driveway. I unbuckled my seat belt and got my book bag. When I put my hand on the car handle Seth held my chin and kissed me. It was nice, but not the same as the first time we kissed. When Seth let go of my chin and stopped kissing me I smiled then got out the car. 
  	As soon as I enter the house, I heard voices in the living room. “You two have grown up way too much,” I identified one of the voices as my moms, “You won’t believe what you see of her now,” 
  	The other voice (which was husky, so I knew it was a boy) replied to her comment, “Well, I hope it’s not a big difference. I also hope she acts the same,” 
  	My mom chuckled, “Oh no, she has changed drastically. She dresses and acts different,” When my mom said that, I entered the room, “Hey mom, whose this?” The boy in the chair stood up and I couldn’t believe who I was looking at. “Eeeeeep!” I screamed. I ran up to him and gave him a hug. He picked me up and spun me around. “I can’t believe you’re here,” I said with excitement when he put me down, “How long are you staying? Why are you back? Why didn’t you…” 
  	“Alex, stop with the questions, catch your breath,” he said with a chuckle. I closed my eyes and breathed in an out, and then opened them again. I still couldn’t believe I was looking at my best friend, Stefan.  
  	We were best friends since kindergarten. The first day we didn’t even notice each other, not even glances. Then, the next day we ended up trading our lunches. I don’t know how or why, we just started being friends. 
  	“So how you been?” I asked. 
  	“Good,” he replied, “What ‘bout you?” 
  	“I’ve been great. So, why are you here?” I asked. We both sat down on the couch. My mom went in the kitchen to make us some snacks, “I’m actually moving back,” he answered when my mom left the room, “and one of the reasons I came back was to see my best friend,” 
  	“Is there another reason?” I asked. I wanted to regret that question, but it was already out. I knew his second reason wouldn’t be any of my business, but I’m a curious person. And there probably isn’t a second reason. “Well…” he hesitated, (I knew I should’ve asked that question) “I can’t tell you that…..yet. But I will, just not now,” 
  	“K,” I replied, “So, where are you going to school at?” Another stupid question, why don’t I just put tape over my mouth and let him do all the talking. “I’m going to school at Eagle High. I heard it was a nice school with a high education standard,” he said. 
  	“Yeah it is. I go there; it’s a really good school. There’s always something goin’ on there. I love it and I think you will too,” I said, “You wanna go out back? It’s practically still the same,” 
  	He got up from the couch and replied, “Sure, why not,” We both walked out to the back patio. The sun was shining brighter than it did earlier, making the pool shimmer like there were tiny glass beads filled it to the rim, and to me that was a good sign. We sat down on the lounge chairs by the pool. 
  	“Where did you go when you left?” I asked. 
  	He turned to look at me, “If I knew you were gonna bury me in questions I wouldn’t have come here. But, if you must know, I went to Chicago. When I first got there I hated it, but that was ‘cause I didn’t know it, but after staying there a while I kinda enjoyed it,” 
  	“Awesome,” I said, “Did your parents ever tell you why they left?”  
  	He turned away from me, “They didn’t tell me until I was twelve. I didn’t understand or accept it ‘til I was fourteen, now I'm sixteen,” 
  	"I know how old you are, our birthdays are in the same month,” I got out my seat and sat next to him. “What was the reason? You don't have to tell me but.....I would really like to know," I asked. I need to ask my mom what she did with that tape. I waited a few seconds, but he didn't respond, "C'mon," I said nudging him in the side, "it can't be that bad, “He got up and walked over to the edge of the pool. I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut. I got up and walked slowly over toward him. "I don’t really want to talk about it right now. Has anything new or interesting happen in your life?" He asked turning around, almost bumping into me. 
  	"Not really," I said, "except.....well you really wouldn't care," 
  	"Actually, I kinda would care, “He replied, "You’re like a sister to me, you could tell me anything and I would totally care," 
  	I laughed at that, "I don't think brothers would care 'bout who their sister goes out with," 
  	"Well, I'm a different type of brother. Plus, I gotta pound some sense into the boy to make sure he doesn't break your heart, "He said pounding his fist into his hand.  
  	I laughed and punched him in the arm, "If you do that I wouldn't talk to you for the rest of the time that we know each other," 
  	He stepped closer to me and said with a devilish smile, "Really?" 
  	"Really," I replied crossing my arms over my chest. Then all of a sudden he scoped me up in his arms and held me hovering over the pool. "You wouldn't dare," I said.  
  	He smiled, "You wanna bet," I shook my head. "If you want to be dry and on land, you have to take back what you said," 
  	"Only," I replied, "If you take back what you said," 
  	He sighed, "Ok. If I take back what I said you'll take back what you said?" I nodded my head. Instead of taking it back he dropped me into the pool. I came up and saw him laughing. "Ha-ha, now can you help get out of the pool," I said. He extended his hand; I grabbed it and pulled him in. We stayed in there for a while, splashing each other, which is really weird because we were dressed in clothes. After a while we got out and dried off. "I should be going. Moms probably getting' tired since I left her with all the unpacking," He said. 
  I made a frowning face and replied, “Stay a bit longer. We could watch a movie or something. Can't your dad help your mom?"  
  	He shook his head, " My dad's out looking' for a job and plus my mom is gettin' too old to be doing things all by herself," 
  	I sighed, "Your right, you should get back. But, I wanna go with you," He thought about me wanting to go and he made a funny thinking face, and then said, "Ok, but there is a lot of stuff to unpack and we kinda got a big house. And it might take...like the rest of the day," I shrugged.  
   
  	When I got home, my back was aching in pain and any time I tried to relax my shoulders it felt like an electric shock coursing through my entire body. I went upstairs -which I did with a groan in each step because I was running up and down stairs- to take a hot bubbling bath. I know what you're thinking, why would a teenager be taking a bath? Well, here’s the reason, I had a long day, so bug off!  
  	After my long, lovely bath I went through all the stuff on top of my dresser to look for my scrap book of me and Stefan. I always keep that scrap book in a special place, which is where I keep all special things. Or maybe it wasn't on my dresser, but in my desk. I went through all the drawers and checked everything that looked like a scrap book, even though I know what the scrap book looks like. 
  	Stefan and I decorated the book together when we were seven. We had divided it into four squares. I had one square, he had another and we decorated the third square together. We used the last square to glue the funniest picture we ever had. We had to make another scrap book because we both wanted a scrap book of our own.  
  	I couldn't find it on top of my dresser or in any of my desk drawers. The one place I have to check now is my closet. But I never go in there. Anything that I put in there never comes back out. Like lame costumes that my mom and dad pick out when they don't take me, but I don't have that probably anymore-thank god- because I don't trick or treat anymore. I opened up the closet and was shocked at what I saw: A huge pile in the middle of the floor. At the instant my eyes saw how enormous that pile was I knew it would be a long night. But instead of getting on my knees and digging through that fat pile, I closed the door and plopped down on my bed. For a few seconds I thought I would never fall asleep, but once I closed my eyes I was asleep. 
   
   
  Chapter 2 
  Introducing Stefan..... And Someone Else 
  	"Hurry up and get out the bathroom, you little bugger!" I yelled. I started banging on the door with the side of my fist. My stupid brother locked himself in the bathroom trying to make himself look cool. Oh, I just realized, I didn't tell you about my little bugger, I mean brother.  
  	He is eleven and is really annoying. He so annoying he drove Lily crazy. I know, it’s ridiculous, but she got used to it just like I did. The only reason I didn't mention him yesterday is because he was with his friend the whole day. I don't even know why I call his friend a friend. He’s basically a second brother. He comes around all the time. His name is Jacob. My brother’s name is Jake. You should take this as a hint to why they're friends. Since my brother’s name is Jake and Jacob's nickname is Jake, they became best friends quickly. They even call themselves J and J. 
  	"Hey, my hair takes time. And you should give me that time," he said. I rolled my eyes. No matter how long he takes in the bathroom every morning, his hair still looks like he just rolled out of bed and did nothing to it. Speaking of time I'm going to be late if this little bugger of mine doesn't get out of the bathroom. "Whatever you little twit, I'm going to use mom’s bathroom," I said.  
   
  	I got to school right when the morning announcements came on. I met up with Prue at the computer lab. "Oh my gosh," she said, "the hottest guy just walked through our school doors and I got to watch," 
  	I looked at her in shock, "Really? Do you know his name? I wish I was there to see. Give me the details," 
  	She taped her chin with her finger for a while, "I only saw a little bit of him because I was talking to Katrina. Oh, that reminds me, she needs to borrow your blue stilettoes," 
  	"Uh, she’s not gettin her nasty feet in my precious stilettoes. Anyway, how do you know if he's hot or not if you only saw a bit of him," I said, "you can't say a guy's hot unless you see all of him," We started walking towards are first period. I swear she doesn't know hot even if it was in her own room or in front of her face. "Oh whatever," she said rolling her eyes, "you shouldn't be worrying about him anyway. You have a boyfriend, remember?" 
  	This time I rolled my eyes, "It’s not the same anymore. We used to have fun together. Now it’s like we're an old couple, we don't do anything anymore. Oh, by the way, my best friend is back," 
  	She stopped walking and stared at me with wide eyes, "Excuse me but I thought I'm your best friend?" 
  "That's true we have been best friends for like......forever. But I've known this person since kindergarten," We were right at the chemistry labs door and the first bell started to ring.  
  "Ok whatever, but just promise me you won't forget about me, Prue, the best’s friend since middle school," We walked in to the chemistry lab and we both froze at the same time. I froze because I saw Stefan. I don't know what she was stopping for, though. I turned to her, "That's the guy I was talking about, Prue. He's my other best friend," She didn't move an inch. I shook her a little and she still didn't do anything. So, I gave her a hard shove with my hip.  
  "Your best friend is the hot guy. No way, you have to introduce me to him," she whispered.  
  	My eyes went big when I heard her say that he was the hot guy. "That's the hot guy that you were telling me about? Unbelievable, he is not hot. " 
  	"Maybe not to you 'cause he's your friend, I mean what kinda friend would call a friend hot. You have to get him to ask me out," she said, still hypnotized by Stefan’s so called “hotness”. She started walking over to the seat next him, but another girl slid right next to him. I walked over to him and leaned on the side of his desk. "Hey, Stefan," I said. He looked up from the book he was reading. “Hey, we have the same chemistry class,” he said. 
  	“Yeah, we do. I want you to meet my friend, Prue,” I said, pointing to Prue who apparently couldn’t stop smiling. She gave a shy wave and then looked down. Stefan was about to say something but Dr. Helen walked into the room. Dr. Helen was our chemistry teacher and she added a little bit more fun to chemistry. That was only because she usually showed what would happen if we put the wrong chemicals together, but only the ones that didn’t make a huge explosion. 
  	Today was different though, she made us sit through a boring video. She said it would “better our education”. To be honest I don’t even remember why I joined this stupid chemistry class. After the movie started, Prue and I started whispering. “So, are you gonna try to… you know… hook me up with Stefan?” She asked. I turned to look at her and almost laughed. “I’m not a match-maker and he just got here let him get to know you first,” I replied, “Why don’t you come hang out with us this afternoon. Where going to go to the beach,” At this she nodded with no hesitation.  
  We didn’t talk for the rest of the period, but during that time I kept staring at Stefan. Thinking why would anyone would think he’s hot. I mean sure he’s got a muscular body and a face that when you look at you just want to frame. He was tan and had helmet hair that was the color of dirty blonde. Maybe he is hot? What am I talking about? I’m sitting here practically drooling over my closest friend. I wasn’t the only one though; the girl sitting next to him wasn’t even paying attention to the movie. I don’t blame her, I mean the video was out of the world boring, but it would’ve been better if she tried to hide how much she was staring. 
  The movie ended shortly after that and so did the class. Most of the class was asleep, but Dr. Helen had a solution for that. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to know what that solution was but she told all of us that were awake to leave the classroom.  
  I went looking for Stefan when class was over because he had left before I could talk to him. I couldn’t find him, but it doesn’t matter because we’re going to hang out later to catch up. 
  Most of the school day was boring until there was fight in the hall between the transitions to the last period of the day. I didn’t really get to see it because a teacher that was monitoring the halls broke it up. I went straight to my class after that and was happy I did. In my last class was Stefan and there was an open seat right next to him. I walked hurriedly over to that seat because I know how many girls think he’s hot. I gave him a quick wave because class was about to start and he waved back.  
  During class I started falling asleep; who wouldn’t, my last class was social studies. Stefan had to slap me on my arm a couple of times and then he would laugh. I was kind of embarrassed even though he was just my friend. Class ended a little bit quicker than I expected, but I don’t argue with time. 
  I was happy to be getting out of school because I would be spending the day with my two best friends. Stefan and I were waiting outside waiting for Prue to come out of the school. Were about to leave when she showed up. We started walking down the row of cars and some empty slots. A car pulled up along the side of us; it was Seth –I knew it was him because of his car. I walked up to the side of the car and he rolled down the window. He looked over my shoulder, and then looked back at me. “Where are you going?” he asked.  
  I looked behind me and told him, “Me and my friends are going to the beach. Do you wanna come? I could ask them if you could tag along”  
  He looked over my shoulder again then asked, “Who’s the guy?” He eyed me suspiciously. 
  “He’s just a friend,” I said with a sigh 
  “How come I’ve never seen him around?” He asked 
  “You have so many questions today. He just got back from Chicago and we were best friends for like ages. You have nothing to worry about and if you don’t believe me then come with us,”  
  He shook his head, “No, I trust you,” He said, “I’ll talk to you later,” 
  “K, bye,” I replied. He rolled up the window and I turned back to my friends who patiently stood there waiting from me. We kept walking down the aisle of cars, and then Stefan stopped us in front of a shiny red Rover. Both I and Prue’s jaw almost dropped to the ground. “Is this your car?” He nodded with a big smile on his face. I turned to him in dismal.  
  “My parents want the best for me. And when I say the best, I mean the best,” He said. I playfully punched him the arm. “Ow!” He said rubbing the side of the arm.  
  “This is so much better than my red bug,” I said with jealousy 
  “Where and when did you get this sweet thing,” Prue asked checking the car out like she knows what she’s doing. 
  “We could waste our time going over my car or we could get to the beach,”  
   
  *** 
  It took us a while to get there because Stefan didn’t know the way very well. We had to stop so Prue could drive. I didn’t want Prue driving because it makes me feel a little queasy, but as long as I’m going to the beach I’m happy. 
  Finding a spot was easy because there weren’t a lot of people there at the moment. We settled everything down and went to go change into our bathing suits. When Prue and I went back to our spot Stefan was chatting with some girl. “Probably wants his phone number,” Prue whispered to me. I nodded my head in response. The girl didn’t leave though; she sat down and made herself comfortable.  
  When Prue and I got close enough to see who it was, we both got tense. It was Amber Jones. We hated Amber ever since the day she told everyone that we were lesbians. Anytime people saw us hanging out together they would shout lesbian to us. Amber has a best friend too and they share everything together, yet they don’t call them lesbians? I wonder why.  
  Amber and Stefan both turned around when they heard us approaching. “Hey,” Amber said.  
  “Hi,” I replied. Prue just stood there looking around not saying anything. I don’t blame her for not doing anything though because Amber used to pick on her the most until we became best friends. I guess she saw me as a threat, which I should be. I nudged Prue in her side. She mouthed the word “Ow” to me. She waved at Amber with half a smile. 
  “What brings you here, Amber?” Prue asked 
  “Well, it is a beautiful day. I thought why not go to the beach. What brings you two here?” she asked 
  “We’re just here hanging out with my friend Stefan,” I replied. 
  Amber turned to Stefan, “I thought you didn’t know anybody,” 
  “I don’t know anybody,” he said, “All I know is Alex,” 
  “Oh,” she said. Lily and I sat down on our towels and Amber kept talking to Stefan. We were going to join in their conversation, but decided not to. 
  “I’m going to get me a corndog. Do any of you want one?” Lily asked. 
  “Sure,” I said. Stefan and Amber didn’t hear Lily, so I turned and ask them, “Do you want a corndog?”  Since I interrupted their conversation, Amber gave me a mean look. 
  “No, I don’t,” Amber said. 
  “I’ll take one,” Stefan said 
  Lily smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll be right back,” 
  Stefan turned back to Amber and I heard him ask her, “Why didn’t you want a corndog?” 
  “’Cause I’m a vegetarian,” she lied. I’ve seen her eat meat before, since when did she become a vegetarian? 
  “Really,” I said, “I thought you ate meat,” They both turned to me. Amber had mouthed the word shut up when Stefan wasn’t paying attention. “I remember when we went on that camping trip, you had like three hot dogs,” I said 
  “I did not,” she said with an edge of anger. 
  “I’m pretty sure it was you, Amber,” I said. I knew she was getting mad but she didn’t make it obvious. 
  She acted like she had got a text message. “I gotta go,” she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow Stefan,” 
   “Bye,” Stefan said. She got up and walked away. When she started walking up the steps to the board walk she spotted Lily. I saw her say something to her and I knew she wasn’t just  saying bye. 
  Lily handed each of us our corndog when she came down. We both said thank you and ate them without saying a word. I was watching some dog dig a whole but only have the sand slip back in every time. I laughed in my head and thought ‘Silly dog’. 
  It was then that I had realized that I had said those words out loud because Stefan and Prue were looking at me. I pointed at the dog still digging and said, “The dog keeps digging but the sand ends up back in the whole,” They stared at the dog for a while and then laughed. 
  “Wow,” Prue said. 
  Stefan was digging in his bag looking for something. I peered over his shoulder to see what he was pulling out. It was a camera and he was going to record what the dog was doing. While he was recording the dog Prue and I were rolling in the sand laughing. After I was done laughing, I lied on my back and looked at the sky. There were a few grey clouds in the sky but I knew that it wasn’t going to rain because the forecaster said it was going to be a sunny day. Those clouds were just passing through to go rain on someone else’s parade.  
  I was just about to get up when I had felt something fall on the tip of my nose. I sat and touched it; it was wet. I looked up at the sky again and realized that the grey clouds were getting bigger. It looked as if sky would release the drops of water at any moment. “Guys I think we better leave like right now,” I said to Stefan and Prue who were deep in conversation about some topic that I could care less. 
  Prue turned to me with a sad look on her face and asked, “Why?” I pointed to the sky. She looked up –and so did Stefan - and nodded in understanding. Stefan started packing up some of his things. “We should start out to the car before we get caught in the rain,” he said. Prue and I nodded and started getting up our things. 
  We hurriedly went back to Stefan’s Rover after we got all of our things. It took us a while to get in the car. While Stefan was putting our things in the trunk, Prue and I were arguing who was going to sit in the front seat. 
  “It wouldn’t be fair if you got to sit in the front seat two times,” Prue said 
  “It doesn’t have to be fair. Come on Prue, it’s just a seat. It really doesn’t matter who sits in the front or back,” I was practically pleading with her to just sit in the back. 
  She looked behind her and said in a hushed tone, “Come on you know why I want to sit in the front. Just let me sit in the front,” 
  I thought about it, then sighed and said, “Fine,”  
  Just then Stefan came around the car and asked, “You gals ready,” 
  “Yea,” we said in unison. Prue hopped into the front seat happily while I sat in the back with a glum look on my face. After a while Stefan started laughing. Prue and I looked at him with a curious look. His full out laughter soon turned into a light chuckle when he noticed that we were staring at him, “ 
   
   
   
   
   Publication Date: June 7th 2011 https://www.bookrix.com/-vampiregirl809