Chapter 2

Scott’s prov

     Leah sat down on the sofa, her head in her hands and Jonathan sat down next to her, putting his arms around her as if trying to shield her from the cold reality that Jacob and Susan weren't going to survive, they were only twelve after all. It felt like it was only yesterday that I was seven and our protector Julian was introducing us to five year old Leah. She had a light, almost pale blond hair and electric blue eyes. Everyone was excited to have a new dorm member at stadfell, especially Jonathan who gazed at her as though she was a shiny, new, Christmas toy. I on the other hand didn't want someone new joining us. I remember playing with a yellow truck that Julian gave me for Christmas and Leah coming up to me.

‘Hi’ she said, looking shy.

I looked up at her. ‘What do you want?’ I had asked her.

‘I want to go home’ she sighed and looked down. ‘But I can’t can I? I can’t ever leave here’

‘No you can’t, now can you please leave me alone’ I said, not bothering to hind the bitterness out of my voice.

‘I like your truck’ she said, smiling at me, ‘yellows my favourite colour’

‘Do you have a problem understanding English or…or are you just deaf’

‘You don’t have a lot of friends do you’ she said, and swing on the heels of her foot as she said it.

‘I do have friends’ I said. Now that was a big lie.

‘If you say so’ she whispered, probably thinking I couldn't hear. ‘Okay then’ she said louder now ‘can I play with your truck?’

‘What! No way, now get lost’

That was when she grabbed my yellow truck from my hand and ran. Obviously I chased after her, I mean it was my favourite, and only, toy I had. I chased her up the stairs, past Julian, who was shouting at us to stop, past Jonathan, who was busy colouring in a picture, past Martha, the second oldest in the dorm who was cradling a baby in her arms. I recall chasing her into Julian’s bedroom. When I entered his room I couldn't see Leah anywhere. That was when the door shut and Leah appeared out of thin air, practically scaring me to death which caused me to jump backwards, trip on a shoe and fall on my bottom. I remember staring at Leah, who was hovering over me. She was busy laughing her eyes out, while I was still trying to decide whether she was a ghost or if I was just crazy.

‘So…’ she said, waving my yellow truck in front of me. ’Do you wanna be friends.’

That was the day me and Leah became best friends. It was also the day that I knew that Leah wasn't exactly human and for some strange reason, she didn't know that.

Jonathan’s prov

With my arms around Leah I felt like the happiest guy in the world. I mean, maybe now wasn't really the time to feel happy, especially when I was pretty sure that Jacob and Susan are probably dead, but still….

“They were so young” Leah finally said.

“They are so young” Lilly, cried. She was sitting on the end of the sofa that was near Scott “don’t speak of them in the past tense’

“Lilly, she didn't mean �" “I started to say

“Yes she did, just like she meant for Scott to get locked out after curfew when he was thirteen” Lilly exclaimed. She was now standing and little Edward was now crying.

That got Scott’s attention.

“Lilly, I never meant for that to happen” Leah said, quietly, looking down. “I would never mean for Scott to get hurt”

That shut everybody up. Even the big mouth, Lilly. Everyone was now looking at Leah and Scott. Even Edward stopped crying. I was looking at Leah but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Scott leave  the room. We stadfell kids rarely ever got locked out after curfew. We were always so careful. The only person from stadfell dorm that I know got locked out after curfew was Scott and maybe Susan and Jacob being locked out reminded Leah of what happened with Scott. Why else would she be so upset?

Leah sat  up.

“I’m going to bed” She announced. Got up from the sofa and walked away, not willing to look at me.

Scott’s Prov

I was lying on my bed, staring at the white sealing and trying to remember what life was like before I got locked out, that then led to me thinking about my experience of being locked out. First the shock and disbelief that it had just happened, I mean, we Stadfell kids rarely ever got locked out, but it wasn't until the realization of what just happened sinked in that I knew I had to run, hide and hope I didn't die. A soft knock on the door pulled me out of a memory I didn't want to recall.

“It’s open” I shouted. The door creaked as it opened. I already knew who it was before I looked at them. “Leah” I said softly.

“Hi” her voice cracked. “I came to see if you’re okay”

“Well as you can see I’m fine”

“So, em… what are you doing?” she asked.

I turned my head to look at her. Was she serious? “Well, you know, just staring at the sealing, asking myself about the meaning of life, why I couldn't have been a vampire instead of being human, the usual”

“Can I join you?”

When I turned to face her, she was inches away from my bed.

“Okay” I replied, not knowing what to say. I mean it wasn't every day your ex best friend, who was also the reason of you getting locked out and was now best friends with someone else, who she had no idea was in love with her asked to lie down on your bed.

I moved for her and she lay next to me. We were silent for a couple of minutes

“This is awkward” I said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that hung between us.

“Extremely”

“Scott” she whispered

“Yer?”

“You know that I never wanted anything bad to happen to you” something in her voice made my heart break, but I wasn't going to give in to her gentle voice or beautiful face. She was the reason I was scarred for life.

“Leah” I sighed. “I’m sleepy” I finally said “do you mind… emm…”

“Oh, okay, I’ll leave” she said, got off my bed and walked out the door, shutting the door softly behind her. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

“Leah” I said her name to myself.