Recap

He has bewitching turquoise eyes, tousled brown locks of hair, a nose that turns up adorably at the end and mesmerising lips that are shaped like a bow. His body is coiled with small and hard muscles, but he's still lean. His gaze meets mine and holds there. He doesn't blink as he stares right at me. My lips break apart as a breath whooshes out. For a moment, everyone fades away and it seems like he's the only person in the room. A shot of electricity buzzes through me and at that moment, he looks away, his face unreadable.

Chapter Two

I turn to Avril questioningly. She nods, "That's him. The new guy, Rhys 'Hottie' Hart." I look back towards the front of the class, shaking my head at Avril's nickname for him. Rhys is talking to Mr Markovitz. Mr Markovitz nods, smiles and then addresses the class, "People, this is our newest student Mr Rhys Hart. Why don't you sit next to Miss Morrison over there?"

Rhys lopes over to me and sits down at the edge of the desk, oblivious to the envious glares sent my way. He turns his head to look at me and I turn tongue-tied. I try to speak, but nothing comes out. My mind is empty. Crap, crap, crap. What should I do? What shoyld I do? I hear Avril cough and then blink twice, my mind slowly beginning to function. "I'm Donna. Hi." I say, still gazing at him.

"Rhys." He says, revealing his voice to be deep, velvety and a little throaty... but in a totally sexy way. Oh my god. What's wrong with me?? He gazes at me a while longer and then looks toward the front of the room as Mr Markovitz begins the lesson.

"Class dismissed." Mr Markovitz sits down at his desk. I stand up and am about to suggest that I show Rhys around but he is already making his way to the door and leaving.

"Oh my god!" Avril squeals, "I can't believe you get to sit next to him! That is so cool. Aw, did you talk to him?"

"No." I shake my head, frowning, "It's like he doesn't want to talk to anyone. He just was quiet all the way through." I look glumly at Avril.

Avril sighs, "Aw, too bad. He is so cute. Oh well, we can do without, Donna. You can get so much better." I scrunch my nose up and Avril laughs, linking her arm through mine, "Come on. We got Mrs Williams next and you know how she is."

I get my lunch; a salad with dressing on the side, and move to the dining table Avril and I usually sit at. Avril is waiting for me, scoffing down fries and a veggie burger. "How can you eat all those calories?" I ask as I pick at my salad with a fork.

Avril shrugs, "You were brought up to hate any thing that contains over a hundred calories."

"Not true!" I object, "Yesterday, I had a chocolate bar."

"Well done!" Avril claps sarcastically, "I'm only pulling your leg. But, seriously, you hardly eat anything!"

"I eat tonnes of food. I eat more than my mom." I tell her, waving my fork around with a flourish.

"That's because your mom doesn't eat or drink anything but -- Oh my god, there he is!"

I turn to see him. Rhys. Once again, I get tongue-tied and all rational thoughts fly from my mind. I just stare at him. Rhys sits down at an empty table and catches my eye. He looks at me silently, his face a blank mask. I study his perfect looks without blinking; the way his long lashes brush against his cheekbones, the way his strong jaw clenches and unclenches methodically. He lifts a finger and brushes it against the corner of his mouth suggestively. I do the same and look at the finger. Crap. It's salad dressing. How positively mortifying!!

I turn back to face Avril, a horrid flush reddening my cheeks. That was so awkward! I tell Avril what just happened and she nearly falls off her chair laughing. "Avril!" I hiss, "Stop laughing at me and tell me what to do! I just embarrassed myself big time!"

"Don't do anything." Avril insists, "The fact that he told you there was something on your lip suggests the fact that he was looking at them in the first place."

I blush again, "No, he wasn't. Don't be stupid, Avril. I mean, look at me."

"Yes, I am and you are beautiful. Trust me." Avril smiles at me.

I sigh, "I don't feel beautiful. I feel... plain. Just forget it. He's not my type anyway."

That Night...

The swirling mist. The distorted Disneyland Tower. The frightening shapes. But this time, I'm not going to let the intimidating silhouettes scare me. I clench my fists depsite my screaming instincts and carry on walking, my Converse carrying me closer and closer to the gates.

They're closed this time, still wonky and creaking on their hinges. The closer I get to them, the more my heart beats faster and faster. My feet drag, being slowed by some invisble force. My breath is white mist in front of me, rolling away to join the other foggy air. My knees begin wobbling, turning to jelly. I force my legs to move, even giving them a slap a few times. As I get closer to the gates, the temperature drops and continues to drop. My teeth are chattering as I finally touch the iron gates, which I expect to be glacially cold.

To my utter surprise, they are warm to the touch, returning feeling to my totally numb fingers. I am struck with dizziness and I collapse to the ground, my vision blurring, my eyes drooping...

My eyes flutter open. A green object is right in front of me, but I can't recognise it. I sit up, my head banging and aching. I realise where I am.

In my bloody backyard.

I stumble to my feet before Mom and Dad can come and scamper to my room, brushing soil and dirt from my clothes and hair. What just happened? I was so close and then... I rub my eyes, which are getting blurry again. No dizziness, just lack of sleep. I crawl into bed and close my eyes, hoping to catch a good wink of sleep before it's time to go to school...

At school, I meet up with Avril, who is wearing a purple and black striped top, some skinny jeans and black pumps. "You look good." I poke her in the ribs, "Who are you dressing up for? The new boy, by any chance?"

"Oh, shut up!" Avril swats at me, "He's yours, anyway."

"What?" I stutter, "How?"

"I saw the way he looks at you. He's so totally smitten with you. It's obvious to anyone and everyone who saw that little romantic scene in the dining hall. It certainly had me swooning." Avril flicks her long hair behind her hair with confidence.

"Romantic?!" I splutter incredulously, "It was bloody ridiculous!"

"As you wish." Avril grins, "Now, come on, let's get to lesson."

We had Art, a lesson which I don't do well in at all. Last month, I got a C Minus. Mom was more than disappointed - her and Dad put a big emphasis on education. Avril and I talk for a while after the teacher gives us our tasks and it's mostly me denying that I have any feelings for Rhys. I do have a little crush on him because of his insanely good looks, but I'm not ready to tell Avril that yet. I mean, I haven't even had a single conversation with him, all I've done is gawk at his face.

Just at that moment, he idly walks into the classroom and mutters something to Miss Stuart. Then he looks at me. Like, really looks at me intensely. Like there's something about me that he knows. Then he drops his gaze and sits down at the other side of the classroom. I look down at my paper, my cheeks burning, my mind rolling with questions.

What was with that look? I felt as though he was seeing right through me. Why does he never talk to anyone? I know he's the new boy but even new students attempt to get to know their fellow pupils.

I shake my head to try and clear it and focus on my work instead of focusing on him. It's obvious he doesn't want to get to know me, so why should I waste my time on him? Even as I think this, I know I won't act on it because he has some weird crushing hold over me that intensifies by the minute. Even now, I can feel my throat clogging up even though he's not paying attention to me. What is it that draws him to me?

I sigh and rub my forehead. It's starting to hurt. I try to ignore Rhys for the rest of the lesson, but I find myself glancing under my lashes at him as he bends over his work, his pencil making long and elegant strokes on the paper, his lashes brushing against his cheekbones. Avril nudges me and I turn to her.

"Will you tell me why you won't admit to liking Rhys? I mean, there's nothing wrong with him." Avril points out, as if I were dumb for not having seen it before.

"I know that." I roll my eyes, "But I just don't feel attracted to him. Maybe it's his lack of a social life. I don't know." I shrug as if I don't really think about it. Avril gives me a look that says she's onto me and I ignore it, putting all my energy into my charcoal piece unconsciously. When I put the charcoal piece down and sit back to inspect what god-damned thing it is I have drawn, I gasp, a sharp intake of breath.

I look down at it, my eyes wide. It's the tower, the mist, those circling silhouettes. And a girl, blue Converse on her feet, slumped in front of the gates, her blonde hair spread across her face. Murmurs surround me and I look around myself. The whole class is around me, gazing at my work approvingly. I bite my lip and look at my drawing again. I'm about to rip it in two, when a hand touches mine.

I look up into bewitching aquamarine eyes.

"Miss Stuart wouldn't be happy if you did that. I have to collect it." His deep voice rumbles like a symphony. I stay dumbstruck as he plucks the paper out of my hand and lopes away.

"That's mine." I blurt as I finally regain the ability to speak. Stupid Donna. He talks to you for the first time after telling you his name and that's what you say? So clever!!

Rhys looks amused, "I know. Your friend's waiting for you." I look towards the doorway, where Avril is giving me an exasperated look. I walk over to her and we make our way to our next lesson.