Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 1: New Town

   The sun leaked its beautiful rays through my window as I open my eyes, sitting straight up in the bed realizing today is the day. The first day in a new school, in a new town, trying to make new friends and keep my head down for two more years until I could go back to where I came from.

       "Oh no," I mutter to myself slinging the covers off and making my way to my bathroom. I grabbed my leggings and slipped them on with my black sports bra and white tank top. I grabbed my shoes and slid them on, putting my phone in my arm band and plugging my ear buds in as I stepped out of the house to take my morning jog around the block. We had been so busy with packing, moving and unpacking the last couple months, I had gotten out of the habit of my morning run, but this morning I promised myself to get back into routine.

      The morning Colorado air was just a tad bit crisp this time of year, but it was a nice wake up call to my body as my feet hit the sidewalk and I let my legs carry me away. I couldn't believe that we had left the warm sunny beaches of California to move to this small town, just because my brother got in some serious trouble. Okay, I understood that we needed to get him away from the crowd he was running with, but they have reform schools for a reason, why move the whole family. I knew, I knew why. Mom and dad didn't want their reputations ruined in their crowd because my brother had the whole bad boy thing going on. At fourteen he was sure making a name for himself in our old town, but they didn't bother to ask anyone else's opinion. They immediately found work at one of the local colleges as professors and moved us out here. My sister was not happy at all, she was a young teenage socialite and was just starting her career as a teenage model. Me, well, I didn't really have anything like that keeping me there, I just had friends that had been my friends my whole life, I had my morning routine running on the beach in the sunrise, I had the late-night talks with my crush Isaac on the balcony of our beach front condo. Life was great, now I just felt numb, like things would never be the same again and I was not looking forward to the next two, well three years. I was sixteen, I know I can leave when I turn eighteen, but I am just starting my sophomore year.

       I felt my toe catch on something as my feet and legs were moving as one, and just like that my life flashed before my eyes, as I suddenly had a scooby-do moment and my arms and legs flailed in all directions trying to catch my balance. It was slow motion and all I could do was watch the sidewalk become dangerously close to my face as I threw my hands up and closed my eyes waiting for impact. After a minute, I realized I didn't hit the ground and was suspended mid-air, I finally peaked an eye open and was suddenly well aware that there were two golden arms wrapped around my waist.

       "Oh no, no, no, no, no, this is not happening," I muttered to myself. The arms finally pulled me to my feet, but they didn't let go. The warmth from them felt so nice and sent butterflies straight to my stomach, I am sure a whole nest of caterpillars just hatched in there. I cleared my throat and straightened myself and stepped forward out of those arms. Taking a deep breath, I turned so slowly it was almost painful only to be met with the most beautiful amber eyes I believe I had ever seen. I took a minute to let my eyes roam, his longer, but perfect messy mocha colored hair, golden skin, dimples, a smile to die for and that white t-shirt with form fitting washed out jeans left nothing to the imagination of the body hiding underneath there. He had to be about five seven or eight, seeing as how I was five three and he was only a few inches taller. I finally realized I had my ear buds in and this whole moment was narrated with the song, A'Ok, by Tai Verdes. I reached up as quick as possible pulling them out of my ear and was met with him clearing his throat and throwing that beautiful smile at me.

      "Are you okay?" He asked with his voice laced with concern. And I swear it was the sexiest thing I ever heard.

      I felt my face turn a crimson red, I suddenly realized I probably looked like an i***t standing here and staring at him like he was the best piece of candy I had ever seen. I cleared my own throat and tried to stop it from coming out shaky, "Yes, thanks." We stood there awkwardly for a minute, and I finally found the courage, "Well I got to get going, thanks again." I didn't waste another minute putting my ear buds in and flying back toward the house, not even daring to look behind me.

      I walked in and found my usual sight every morning. Mom and dad were standing with their backs to the kitchen counter, coffee in one hand, and newspaper in the next, and as always, they were dressed to impress with starting their new job today. My brother, Preston, was sitting at the table, his short brown hair perfectly sculpted to a short spike and his green eyes focused on his phone while shoveling a spoonful of cereal in his mouth. And my sister, Darlene, sitting across from him, with her shoulder length dirty, blonde hair styled perfectly in loose curls around her face, of course her make-up perfect, eating and apple while also gluing her green eyes to her phone.

     I just rolled my eyes stepping to the kitchen sink to get a drink of water and turned like mom and dad drinking. "Morning guys."

     "Morning sweety," mom said turning to look at me. I looked like mom, with my sky-blue eyes and dirty blond curly hair, only difference hers was short and my hung down to the middle of my back when I let it down. Darlene and I took our hair from our mother, I had moms' eyes, while Preston and Darlene had dads. "Dear, we have to leave in thirty and you aren't even ready yet."

      "I am going now; I will be down in twenty." I kissed her cheek, rinsing my glass and running upstairs.

      Twenty minutes later I stood in front of the mirror staring at myself, giving myself my pep talk to get through today, trying to forget totally about this morning. That handsome devil of a boy could get under my skin, and I made a fool out of myself. Oh, who am I kidding, he will never remember me.

      I took one last look at my reflection, a pair of skinny jeans with an oversized, blue, mid arm sleeved thin shirt. My off white Skechers, blending perfectly. My hair in a braid down my back and no make-up, well that's nothing new, I never wear make-up, I like going just natural.

      "Skyla, time to go honey." Mom shouted from downstairs. I grabbed my bag and took my steps two at a time till I was standing in the foyer, and before I knew it my body was already in the car waiting for everyone else to get in.

      "I can do this," I chanted to myself, repeatedly, not realizing we were already on our way to school.

      "You know looking like that, you will draw attention." I looked at my brother and wanted to wipe that smirk off his face, and I noticed my sister rolling her eyes.

      I just shook my head and stared out the window, please eat me now earth.