Immortal Fire - Book One

I am so late! Why do I always do this to myself? Staying up late every night to do sketches of the guy I have never met has become an addiction lately. I could not explain it even if I tried. It has been driving me fucking insane and making me exhausted beyond comprehension. Times like now, when I had to get to class and focus, all I want to do is climb back into my bed and sleep. Today was going to be an exceptionally long day…

Grabbing my keys and slamming the front door as I exited, I took a deep breath… I raced toward my car in the driveway through the summer storm. It was the first day at my new school and I was already late and most probably missed my registration. Shit. The drive to Parma High School was quicker than I thought it would be I did not know whether to be happy or despondent about that. A new school once again. I never stayed at one school longer than a semester because my parents felt the urge to just pack up and move on to the next town every few months.

Maybe if I just lay low, no one would notice me come and go when we had to move again. It had become a way of habit. My parents had promised me that we would not be leaving this time. This was now going to be our permanent home, but I knew better… Lies, lies, lies.

Reaching Parma High, which was only two blocks from my house, I couldn’t help but be in awe. The school gate looked like something from a castle in Europe; there was no other way to explain it. Large iron rods bent into delicate flowing patterns and a guard held his stance as he let me through after checking with someone over his radio. The drive up to the main office was also unbelievable. Cobblestones led the way up the hill with grass swaying in the raining breeze on each side with willows showing up every few meters or so.

Finally reaching the student’s parking lot, I saw that it was filled with some of the most expensive sports cars I had ever seen. My mom had to have made a mistake when she gave me the address and name of the school. There was no way my parents could have been able to afford this. As I parked my car, my eyes set upon the custom matt red Jaguar F-type parked next to my car.

Probably owned by some jack-ass jock, I thought to myself as I got out of the car, my eyes still on the Jaguar.

Rain showered me and the chilled drops ran down my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I let the breath that I had been holding out in a big huff. Why was I so nervous? I had been doing this first-day thing for since I could remember.

Setting one last glance at the Jaguar, I headed up the steps to the main office, being careful not to slip. Today is going to be a long-ass day, I repeated to myself in my head as I swung the door to the office open and took a step inside and out of the pouring rain.

“Aria Silverton?”

The question came as I reached the formal desk set out with brochures and a flower arrangement in the corner. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged woman with a black pantsuit and red hair pulled back into a tight bun. The woman smiled sweetly at me but for some reason, she was giving me the fucking creeps.

“Uh, yeah, I’m Aria. Sorry, that I’m so late; I got lost.” I lied.

“That’s not a problem. We were expecting you, nevertheless. I have your schedule right here for you along with a map explaining how to get to classes. Your first class started twenty minutes ago so you better hurry along. All I need from you is to sign this piece of paper that confirms you have been here and registered and then you can be on your way.”

As I signed the paper and looked back at the woman, she was still smiling at me, and I caught a look at her name tag before I picked up my bag and handed the now signed form back to her.

“Thanks, Ms. Rose.”

Glancing at the map once more, my gut tightened in anticipation.

“I just go through that door to get to class?” I asked pointing to the door to the left side of the office.

A short nod and a tight smile were all I got back from her. What a strange woman. Maybe she was bored sitting here dealing with latecomers like myself.

The door was heavier than it looked as I pushed through it into a fluorescent-lit corridor that looked more like the schools I was used to seeing. I felt myself start to relax as I thought that this was just like any other school that I had been to.

There was nothing different compared to the others, except of course the student cars and the exterior. I still could not believe the cars they drove whilst I just had a little old Volkswagen Beetle that my dad got for me two years ago for my sixteenth birthday.

I was eighteen now and finally not gawky looking... I had a woman’s curves now that complimented my tall five-foot-nine height. My hair, I had also finally managed to tame. I had always struggled with and hated my blond wavy hair. I had come to love it in the past year and grown it to hang halfway down to my waist. Puberty was shit, but it had done some good for me now that it was over. I felt comfortable in my skin for the first time in my life.

As I strode down the corridor, I spared glances into the classrooms as I passed. Some students were quiet and paying attention to the teacher whilst some of them were the opposite, as students were shouting at each other, texting, sitting on desks etcetera.

My class was apparently at the end of the hall. I had history first. I was so late. I would have to enter in front of a full class of people that I did not know and probably already get chewed into about my punctuality. Great... maybe, I could just avoid the class altogether…

Shit, here we go… Biting my lip as I waited outside the door of my class, I took a deep breath, pulled my shoulders back, and tried to exude the confidence that I was not feeling. I felt like a leaf blowing in a storm, but I would not let these new people think that I was a pushover from the very beginning. I swear the bastards could smell fear.

As I was about to knock on the door someone opened it. It must have been my teacher as he was an old man that was balding and had on old khaki pants and an even older-looking ugly green jumper.

“Miss Silverton, how nice of you to grace us with your presence… A bit late don’t you think?” he said as I stood there with my mouth agape.

Huh? How did he know I was there? He looked at me as if waiting for me to answer him, but I just stood there shocked. Someone laughed from within the classroom, and I came back to my senses. It was one of the girls in the back and she had a bunch of friends around her. So, I’m guessing that you’re the queen bitch then I thought knowing all too well what her kind was like.

Every school had a queen bee that thought she ruled the school. And in most cases, it was unfortunately true. They did rule the school. She was smirking at me as the man before me cleared his throat, annoyed.

“I’m sorry, I got lost and had to go to the main office first.” I finally replied while he stared at me with a bored expression.

I was starting to feel uncomfortable when he finally told me to take a seat in the back left corner of the room.

Thank God he was not going to make me introduce myself in front of everyone like most teachers did.

On my way to my desk, every single eye was on me. It was as if I was fresh meat to them. Sitting down awkwardly, I spared a glance at the mean girl, and she was pointing and giggling.

Sighing, I sat with my arms crossed on the desk before me and forced myself to stare forward. Today is going to be a long ass day I thought for the third time and probably not the last…

The old teacher, I found to be quite good at his job. Everyone was listening to him when he spoke about the civil war. He was so captivating when he spoke that you could almost believe that he was there when it happened. I had also found that his name was Mr. Parsons. It fitted the short, old, round balding man perfectly.

There was a knock on the door and with a sigh from being interrupted once again, he told whoever it was to come in. It was Ms. Rose from the office, and she didn’t look happy.

“We have a problem, Mr. Parsons. There was a mix-up with Hayden Levi’s schedule this is supposed to be his class now, and Shaleigh Greenwald is supposed to be upstairs at English. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Shaleigh dear…? Come with me please.”

The mean girl was packing her things with a huff and taking her time to deliberately make Ms. Rose wait.

So, your name is Shaleigh. That fits. I have never gotten along with a Shaleigh before. She did not look happy at all. She looked like she wanted to throw a temper tantrum and was barely keeping herself under control. What was up with that? She must be batshit crazy. For once everyone was not watching me and it was a relief. They were all watching Shaleigh make her way to the door and being ushered out by Ms. Rose. Right then the biggest block of ice formed in my stomach as Hayden Levi entered the room.