Photography

Even though I don't talk it about it very much, I really enjoy photography! I'm taking the class in school, but no one takes it seriously, so I don't learn as much as I want to...I do pretty well with a digital camera though! I especially love to take hundreds of pictures when I go and visit other countries.

In London:

In North Carolina:

In Holland:

New York:

Random:

Books That I Recommend

Besides writing, I love love love to read! Yesterday, I was able to go to Barnes and Noble and use up my gift card and get a whole bunch of cool books!

I decided to make a list of some really good books/series that I would recommend to anyone out there looking for a good read. :)

The Lovely Bones

Made into a movie not that long ago, The Lovely Bones is one of the best and most memorable books I have ever read. It takes place in Pennsylvania during the year of 1973. The first two sentences in the story explains the plot very well: "My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." Raped and murdered by her neighbor on her way home from school, Susie begins her story off rather sadly. However, though it starts off rather depressing, it ends hopeful and inspiring. The author does an excellent job of creating realistic and attachable characters. It's a very compassionate story, the way it's told in Susie's point of view, and how she looks back at the world she has left behind. Though she is a victim, she is incredibly independent and strong as she tries to influence the people back on earth to help them catch her killer. It was easy to get into and I couldn't wait to see the movie!  

My Sister's Keeper 
This was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult, and I loved every word of it! Like The Lovely Bones, this was made into a movie, but I haven't had a chance to see it yet. The story is about a girl named Anna, who was engineered to be a donor for her older sister, Kate. Kate has been fighting leukemia ever since she was very young, and the only reason Anna was created was to save Kate's life. Kate's condition was extremely rare, which is why her parents had decided to engineer Anna in the first place. Now at age thirteen, Anna has decided that she does not want to continue helping Kate. After her parents were going to donate one of her kidneys, she decides to sue them for the rights of her own body. Though the plot is not overly exciting, I couldn't put it down. The author does not fail to surprise you throughout the story, and in result, I found myself at the last page. This is one of those books that you think about long and hard, several days and months after you've read it. It was very good, heartbreaking, and it is guaranteed to take your breath away.    

if i stay 

Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down. Mia's life was perfect...until one devastating snowy day. One moment, she was in the backseat of the car with her family, the next she was looking into the dead faces of her parents...and more horrifyingly, the dying face of her own. The car accident was surreal, and the scene was grotesque. She follows her own body, back to the hospital where doctors and nurses are desperately trying to keep her alive. As the day continues on, Mia realizes that she needs to make a choice. Will she stay with the guy she loves, her friends, and her brother? Or will she leave her world, like her parents did? In one day, Mia looks back on her life, and makes the ultimate decision...to leave or to stay. 

Thr3e 

 A nonstop page turner, Thr3e starts off with one simple phone call: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky high. Then the phone goes dead. The main character, Kevin Parson, is suddenly thrown into a sick, twisted serial killer's game after he gets a single phone call. Though he is barely able to escape everything thrown at him, he still can't figure out what he has done to upset the killer. The suspense is incredible, and it carried me to the end of the book within a day. And the end will completely take you by surprise...I was breathless when I finished it. I also heard that there is a movie of this out, and I could find trailers on You tube, but besides that, I haven't seen it. Anyways, the book was really good! If you like thrillers and suspense and endings that will take you completely by surprise, you should read this. :)


Nineteen Minutes

In the small town of Sterling, New Hampshire, nothing ever happens - until March 6, 2007. That day, Peter Houghton, a bullied student, entered his high school and shot 29 people, 10 of which were killed. As the story continues, you learn about Peter's best friend as a child, Josie, who is one of the popular kids at their school, and whose boyfriend both abuses her and Peter. As the story laces it's way through, you get to read from Peter, Josie, both of their mom's, the detective on the case, and the attorney's points. It's a full experience, and the story is phenomenal. Jodi Picoult does a fantastic job of developing strong characters with different backgrounds and personalities. Though you feel bad for Peter because of all the things he suffered through, the author makes it very clear that blowing up your school is not the way to fix your problems. And, to make things better, the author includes a "double twist" at the end of the story. It was an excellent read. 


Vampire Academy

Ever since the Twilight phenomenon, I assumed that every vampire book published after it would somehow relate to it. (By the way, I would recommend Twilight to you, but you have all probably read it.)  A girl meets a mysterious, pale, and mysterious guy. He's hiding something. She is attracted to him. He's super fast and strong....blah, blah blah....you get the point.
I actually came across these books when I was looking through Barnes and Noble, and I read a little description and was surprised by the originality of it. I asked for the first book for Christmas, but my brother accidentally got me the third, which caused me to buy the first and second after that. When I got into the first book, I was shocked by how good it was. It is a completely different world than Twilight, and according to the author, it is based off of Romanian mythology. The world was incredible, the endings were unexpected, and the characters were amazing. I loved every minute of it and I would definitely recommend it to you!




(I'll add to this later, after I finish some books that I am reading.) :D

Chapter One - Part Two

Here is the last section of Chapter One in Last December. Enjoy and tell me what you think!

        We turned onto one of the main roads and I ignored the warm area where the fries rested on my lap. I felt my lower lip tremble. I had no idea what to do. I was never held hostage before by one of them. What better luck could have I gotten? 

            “What on earth are you doing?” Dante asked me.

            I blinked.

            “Nothing,” I said simply. I was surprised that he actually talked to me. I assumed that he did it to try and slowly ease the answers out of me, so that he could figure out what was wrong with my brain, why I could see what he was…

            “Your position looks…unnatural.”

            “What you’re doing to my friends is unnatural,” I threw back, my voice suddenly strong. He didn’t seem surprised by my change of subject. He just started driving down the street, tapping his thumb lightly on the steering wheel.

            “It’s for their own good,” he muttered, turning right onto the beltline. I held my breath, trying to figure out the worst possible solution to his words.

            I tried focusing on the steady hum of the engine below us, or the everlasting black sky…anything but what was going on now. What would happen to my friends back there? What would be their fate?

            “It’s for their own good.”

            I shuddered again, like I had many times these past couple of minutes. And I knew for a fact that it wasn’t from the ridiculously cold weather.

            I noticed now that Dante seemed more relaxed than before. He kept his eyes more on me than the road, but it didn’t affect his driving at all. I refused to look back at him, even when I felt the pressure of his black eyes studying my face. I pretended to be like paper, to look without expression out of the windshield. However, I did wince inside, because the unsteady current of his stares did affect me in several ways.

            “Do you understand who I am?” he asked me, finally.

            For some reason, I felt surprised when he started talking again. I guess that I was still into my whole “paper” illusion thing. I raised my eyebrows and looked at him warily for the first time.

            “Yes and no.”

            He narrowed his eyes in curiosity, and continued drumming his thumbs against the steering wheel. It reminded me of a time bomb.

            Tick tock tick tock.

            “Explain.”

            It was a statement, not a request. I cleared my throat before answering.

            “I know that you’re different,” I stated quietly, quiet enough that no one in the car could hear me, besides him of course. “Different than everybody else. I don’t know if you are a certain –,” I hesitated, not really sure what to say, “species or creature.”

            “But you know I’m different,” he said, nodding slightly. He cleared his throat loudly. “I’m just curious, but what do you see that makes me different?”

            I paused, recollecting my thoughts.

            “It’s more of an…intuition,” I explained. “A general knowledge. I get it from looking at people. I knew you were different when I looked at you…how my mind figures it out, I don’t know. It’s more of a feeling, a knowledge, like I said before.”

            “Interesting,” he said, his long fingers brushing against his chin in thought.

            “Are you going to kill me for that?” I asked, because I couldn’t help it. I might as well know my fate and prepare for it.

            He peered at me through the side, as if he was thinking hard.

            “Maybe.”

            I froze and my eyes widened.

            “Just let my friends go and you can have me.”

            He narrowed his eyes, and he almost seemed surprised by my willing sacrifice. I knew that my decision was final; I wouldn’t have to spend hours pondering on this. Friends go before me. I didn’t even have to think about it. I wouldn’t let my friends die because of me. Much less by one of them.

            His face turned blank, almost calm, with no trace of suspicion or emotion left in it.

            “I don’t want to kill you, Ari,” he said quietly. “Or your friends.”

            He sounded sincere, but I mentally reminded myself not to buy into it.

            I raised my eyebrows, not even convinced. I decided to go along with it, to play along. I didn’t trust him.

            “Really? Why did you kidnap me then?”

            He laughed out loud, his shoulders shaking gently as he did…it seemed hysterical for him. Me? I was as confused as ever. Maybe he was joking the whole thing.

            “I’m not kidnapping you,” he said, as if it were obvious.

            “You forced me into the van.”

            “It’s for your own good, and you would’ve gotten in either way,” he stated. He leaned back into his seat a little farther. “Besides, if I had wanted to kidnap you, I would have gone the classic way – I like things like that – and duck taped you to your chair, bound your hands, taped your lips shut and all.” His teeth gleamed the way he talked about it. “If you hadn’t noticed, I left the door unlocked, your hands and feet free…you could have jumped out of this car if you wanted to.”

            “I would die jumping out anywhere here,” I reminded him. “It’s all highways, high speed limits,  and lots of cars.” I gestured out of my window at the bright lights standing out in the dark, the dozens of headlights in front and behind us. 

            “True,” he murmured in agreement. “But you could have jumped out in the parking lot.”

            “You could probably catch me,” I said, eyeing his freakishly long legs. He smiled humorously.

            “Probably.”

            I suddenly felt strangely comfortable here, talking to this stranger. I wondered if it was one of his illusions, a way to sneak me in the trap. I gulped hard and punched myself inside for letting my guard down so easily.

            He seemed to realize that I was still unsure about the whole thing – who wouldn’t be? – and he sighed slowly before talking to me.

            “I bet you’re wondering why I’m here,” he said.

            “Yeah, I’ve been kind of wondering that since you decided to invite yourself into my little group of friends,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest.

            His lips slightly upturned and he smiled slightly again.

            “I know that you see me as different, as a threat undoubtedly,” he began. “But…you see…. I’ve been looking for you for some time.”

            “Yeah, that sounds like a threat to me,” I muttered, somehow with a steady voice and a confident spirit.

            “It’s going to be hard for you to understand,” he began again. “But I’m not a bad guy. I’m not a threat to you, in fact, I’m protecting you by doing this.”

            “By kidnapping me?”

            “You’re still into that?” he smirked. “Okay, let’s look at it your way. So I…kidnapped you.”

            That sounded a little more realistic. To me, at least.

            “So…you kidnapped me, to protect me?” I asked, going along with his story. He somehow detected the doubt in my voice and shrugged.

            “I assumed that you wouldn’t have believed me at all…and I had to get you out of there. I still don’t think you believe me, but at least you’re safe,” he added, no humor in his eyes. 

            “Why would you care about my safety?” I asked him, with a bitter edge in my voice. I didn’t intend on making it that way, but after I let the words out, I myself cringed slightly at the harshness of them.

            “Because, believe it or not, you are valuable,” he replied calmly. “So valuable, that others want you.”

            I shuddered again at the thought.

            “What? There are others?”

            He looked up, surprised at me.

            “Haven’t you ever met a person like me before?” his voice sounded one hundred percent curious.

            “Well, I’ve seen a lot of you…but never in a group, or looking for me specifically,” I explained. “No one ever looked at me like I was valuable. They mostly were just curious.”

            He was quiet for a moment, his lips set in a straight line. I watched as his eyes flickered back and forth in thought.

            “When was the last time you saw someone like me?” he asked.

            I sighed, trying to remember. It had been awhile, for which I was grateful. I had seen several in my life, maybe even a hundred. It was hard to place my thoughts in chronological order, but I did my best. 

            “Maybe…six months ago,” I said, as a vague estimate. He relaxed an inch.

            “Well, that explains things,” he said, more to himself than to me.

            I noticed that his foot itched on the gas, and we sped up more. I wondered how fast this van full of teenagers could go. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

            “In a hurry?” I asked him.

            “Actually, yes,” he replied.

            I was about to ask him why, when I looked for myself to see where we were. The city lights were starting to get thinner, and I realized now that he was starting to drive towards the countryside of Indiana. The darkness enveloped us more than I thought possible, and after a couple of minutes, the only light around was the one coming from our headlights.

             I let myself sink farther back into my seat, and I listened to the conversations in the back of the van. No one seemed to be noticing that we were driving the opposite way than we had originally planned, but then again, he could have implanted another “memory” inside of their minds. Maybe they were expecting to go here. I wondered what his good reason for going this way was.

            As I took in the silence, I tried to make the best use of it that I could. My biggest problem was deciding whether or not I should believe him. I do admit, he seemed nicer than I would have thought before, but at the same time, I knew it could be a trick…

            My eyes flickered over to him now, studying his face carefully for holes or cracks beneath the surface…marks that showed if there was any trace of evil or darkness inside him.

            The first time I looked at him, I had recognized darkness in his face right away. However, when we were having conversation, his mask lifted off and he actually seemed like a normal seventeen or eighteen year old guy. I tried not to think of that too much though, trying to study him by instinct.

            My one instinct that could actually see through him still saw a dark side, one that I would not like to deal with. Even sitting here now, after our conversation, the shadows still clung to his face more than it would to an ordinary person. I couldn’t even see his eyes beneath them, except for the glint in the surface, where I could sometimes trace a spark, a slight movement.

            Because of that, my final decision was not to trust him, but to instead try and find a way to get out – besides jumping out of the car. (He did have a good point about that by the way, but I still decided to use it as his method to draw me in.) Maybe he was using reverse psychology on me.

            I knew that I could get away, if I planned the moment just right. I was mainly worried about the huge group of my friends in the back behind my seat, completely oblivious to what was going on. I realized that together, we could take him down, but how would I even let them when he’s messed with their brains, and with him right there?

            He had me trapped. Very well. I huffed in disappointment.            

             

           

            When Dante pulled into a dark, unwelcome driveway, I almost freaked out.

            Here I was, almost in a zone you could say, and the vehicle stops. In other words: this is where the bad part begins. I felt my body turn impossibly stiff, as if a rock molded itself around the edge of my body, not allowing me to move at all. I couldn’t even blink.

            I felt movement to the left of me, but I was barely aware of it. I was more aware of what was to come. Next.

            “You can get out,” he said, speaking to me like I was stupid.

            I blinked and looked at him, trembling slightly as I did. I didn’t want to get out.

            “I’m not going to force you like you accused me of doing, back at the McDonalds parking lot,” he added, giving me a half smile.

            I watched as he readjusted the cap placed securely over his head. He tucked an extra lock of hair underneath it, and got out eagerly. The cold air blew straight into my face as the car door opened. 

            I shakily undid my seatbelt, and slid out of the passenger door. As I did, the pile of fries that I hadn’t noticed before fell to the ground and scattered all over the passenger seat. I was sure now that the whole package was cold, especially if my body was scared the whole way.

             All of my friends were still in the van, though I noticed that Donovan and Cedric had taken our places, now sitting in the front seats. Cedric didn’t even notice the fries, and he smashed half of them with his shoe as he climbed on into my seat.

            I knitted my eyebrows together as I watched Donovan put on his seat belt, and shift the gear to reverse…

            I was too shocked to respond, or talk for that matter. I watched helplessly as they pulled out of the driveway and drove down an unfamiliar street in whatever unfamiliar town Dante had put us in.

            I was now alone, no, abandoned with Dante.

            I gulped loudly. 

Last December - Chapter One (Part One)

I didn't want to put the whole chapter in one post because of the length. This is a part of the first chapter of the book I've been working on. It's only two and a half weeks old. Tell me what you think!

One - Dante

December 1, 2010

         I saw him before I entered the building.

            My eyes were originally searching for the boring old McDonalds menu, not out of interest, but because there was nothing else to do, and they found a pair of wide black ones instead. They belonged to an unfamiliar face, to someone who I had never met before. However, in that instant, I happened to know one thing about this stranger, and it wasn’t good.

            A shiver automatically ran down my spine and I felt my whole body stiffen in less than a second. I threw my gaze off of him, like the way a hand would snap back from touching a hot burner. Though my eyes found their relief, his face was still ingrained into my mind, the cold, penetrating stare blinding my vision.

            I realize now, looking back at that day, that this was the moment – the instant where everything in my life turned around completely. I understand now, that because I had looked into his eyes, and he into mine, my whole future had changed right then and there.

            I wish I had known that then.

            Originally, I was traveling in a packed fifteen-passenger van with a large group of fourteen people, all of whom I know very well. It was dark outside, common for the early evening in the winter, and we finally gave into our grumbling stomachs and stopped by the nearest McDonalds.

            I was in the front of everyone – I couldn’t stand being out in the cold for that long, besides everyone else was taking their good old time – and I was walking at a good pace, trying to contain the only heat in my body that I had left. I was walking on the sidewalk, and I was close enough to the glass door that I could see my vague, undefined reflection. If I looked hard enough, I could make out the dark shapes of the others behind me.

            I had looked up only out of pure curiosity at the glass, when it unexpectedly happened.

            He was farther away, on the other side of the restaurant, but he was perfectly planted in my line of sight. Even though his back was facing my direction, he had his head perfectly turned backwards at me. I’ve always tried to convince myself that I couldn’t help but see him…because he was practically right there anyways.  

             In that instant, when my gaze met his, something snapped inside of me. I knew right then that he wasn’t normal, that he was dangerous. I knew that his eyes were black for a reason, and that it wasn’t by accident that he was alone, and that it wasn’t a coincidence that he happened to look at me when I looked at him…

            My body imitated a cardboard box, mostly as a common reflex, and I heard the intake of my breath. I kept my fists clenched inside my coat pockets, my two front teeth automatically biting down hard on my lip.

            Breathe.

            It was seasonably cold outside tonight, cold enough for a few frozen flakes to fall from the moonless sky. There was ice on the edges of the sidewalk I was walking on, and I had noticed that some had formed on the outer edges of the car windows. The cold didn’t help the fact that my feet hesitantly stopped on the sidewalk, not sure if I should turn around and go back, or somehow convince the others that there was another McDonalds to go to.

            However, I knew that I was trapped. He’d seen me now, and running away would give him proof that I knew what was going on. I shuddered at the thought. Even if I were miles away by the time he got out of this door, he would have no problem catching up or finding me for that matter. 

            He couldn’t know about my ability. He just couldn’t.

            I tried to act calm, faking the whole deal, as if it was a coincidence. Nevertheless, it was hard too, because I sensed his stare as I stood there hesitantly on the sidewalk. I’d swear I was shaking, too. I tried to make it look like I was waiting for the others, and I had to bite my lip harder in order for me not to scream.

            Luis opened the door for me when I hesitated. I casually tried to look up and walk through the restaurant, though my body was far to stiff to be considered casual. I looked directly ahead at the menu, even though I already knew what I was getting. Still, I tried to act normal for once.

            Ha. I almost snorted at the thought.

            The others shuffled in behind me, and while they did, my eyes flickered back to the spot where he was. I met his dark eyes, which were still trained on me. I flinched inside and returned my eyes to the menu, perhaps a little too fast. I exhaled quickly. I was so terrible at this.

            The worst thing about them is that they know when someone rare like me recognizes them. No matter how hard I try to pretend it. I shivered.                

            I’m not sure what part of me can differentiate them from ordinary people, because in all my life, I’ve never met or heard of anyone who can point them out so effortlessly. It’s more of a feeling – intuition, perhaps. But it’s really all a mystery to me. Then again, I don’t have time to ponder on that now. There was an edge to the air, and I didn’t have enough time to point it out to the others.  

            Still, I have to try, right? I kept my clenched fists in my pockets, trying to relieve my stress by squeezing them as hard as humanly possible.

            “Ari?” Kelly asked me from behind, noticing my stiff position. I turned my head slightly behind my shoulder to look at her face, and I noticed that his body was partially in my view now. Her light eyebrows caved in on her narrowed eyes in worry. “You okay?”

            “Fine,” I repeated, a little to fast. “I’m just really cold.”

            Kelly nodded, shuffling her legs together to keep her legs warm.

            “Yeah, no kidding,” she responded. “It’s like below zero out there.”

            I kept looking at her, trying to talk to her with my eyes, pleading. She, or anyone with me, needed and wanted me to tell them when I saw one of them, but how could I with him right there?

            Hmmm, we definitely needed a back up plan.

            “You’re bleeding,” she noted.

            “What?” I said, my voice an octave higher than usual. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw him adjust his position so that he could have a better look at me.

            “Your lip,” she replied, pointing to her own as she tried to explain.

            “Oh,” I muttered, embarrassed.

            “They’re just dry, I’m guessing,” she told me. “Trust me, it’s not that bad. The cold weather probably doesn’t help with it all.”

            “You’re right,” I told her. “My skin – and lips – get extremely dry in the winter. I have to put lotion on my legs every morning and evening, and I also put on lip balm whenever I can and I still get it bad.” I blabbered on, trying to think up of things so I could go deeper into the conversation. “The only time it’s actually healthy is during the summer.”

            “That must be terrible,” Kelly commented. “Summer is so short around here, when winter is practically half a year long.”

            “No kidding,” I replied.

            They started the giving their orders now, but I didn’t pay much attention to that. The suspense was killing me…I was never one for surprises.

            And because of that, I couldn’t bear not to look.

            He looked like he was maybe seventeen or eighteen years old. At the moment, he was hunched over in a black and red jacket. I got a good view of the back of his head, which was covered in shaggy, dark blonde hair. It was long enough to cover up half of his ears and a good majority of his neck. I noticed that he was twirling something in his long, bony fingers. A cell phone.

            I kept my eyes trained on his movements while he wasn’t looking, trying to take in the details of his defined cheekbones, the small, barely noticeable shadows growing beneath his black eyes, the slight twitch of his jaw…

            “Hey, Donovan,” I said, hurrying over to the leader of our group. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to the restroom.”

            “Of course,” Donovan said, not seeming to notice the edginess in my face or the urgency of my words. “Can I get you something?”

            “Fries are fine,” I said quickly, hurrying over to the bathroom so I could get some air. I almost died inside, having to walk to the large brown door slowly and calmly.

            Luckily, no one was in there. I walked up to the mirror and pouted out my lip, seeing two perfectly carved gashes engraved into the delicate pink interior of my lip. It wasn’t bleeding hard or anything, but it was leaking out at a good pace. 

            Wow, did I really bite my lip that hard?

            I noticed now, looking at my face, that I was as white as a sheet. Besides the blood, my lips hardly had any color to them. I brushed my ice-cold fingertips against the dips beneath my eyes where shadows were suddenly visible. I was so pale it was hard to make out my freckles.

             My gray eyes looked much too large for a face of my size, but that was mostly because of the expression I was wearing. I tried to narrow them, to squeeze them shut, but they stubbornly stayed as wide as possible.

             With my shaky hands, I threw my long, auburn colored hair up into a neat ponytail, and focused on breathing. I could feel the sweat beginning to gather around my hairline and the back of my neck. I suddenly wasn’t so cold anymore. 

            I walked into a stall and bolted the door. I sat down and laid my head in my hands, brainstorming as quickly as I could. Wow, I was a mess. Usually, I could handle encounters like these much better, but there was something about this one that made everything ten times worse.

            An odd sickly taste entered my mouth and I swallowed in response. He was out there right now, probably staring at the bathroom door, waiting for me to come out.

            To distract myself from the thought, I took in the details of the boring white bathroom, focusing on my breathing, my heart rate. I felt so helpless, hiding in here, trying to get control of myself. I wiped my forehead with my sleeve, in attempt to make the sweat go away. 

            I knew that I was shaking, and I took two deep breaths to calm myself down. I felt a spark of annoyance enter my chest at my reaction.

             Sure, there were some worse than others, but I had to figure out a better way to react to something like this. I knew as a fact that I would encounter them for the rest of my life – and chances are, there will be some as worse as this one – as a part of my life long curse.

            Still, the ones like him were rare. The ones that were more potent than the others, creepier, more aware of everything, darker…probably even more powerful… 

            I wiped the sweat from my brow, held my breath until I could get control of myself, and flushed the toilet to make it look like I went. He was probably listening, for all I knew. I turned on the faucet and made my way out of the bathroom. I knew that I couldn’t stay in there too long without catching the stranger’s attention.

            I walked out of the bathroom in a somewhat better state then what I had entered in and I instantly found the faces of the people I recognized. I kept my eyes trained on the crowd, though I was aware of the exact position of where the stranger was sitting.

            They were standing in a large cluster, and I guessed that we were easily the biggest group in the restaurant. They were already at the check out counter and I noticed that a few trays full of our meals were already set out. 

            I was nearing them now, when I felt my feet suddenly plant straight into the ground. I felt my eyes widen in panic.

            He was with them.

            It was more than I had feared. I knew that sometimes they made contact with people…but not one like him, who was one of the worst. I couldn’t imagine the look on my face, and I tried not to think about the fact that I had probably just exposed myself with my expression. People always did say that I wear my emotions on my sleeve.

            Standing up now, I noticed that he was taller than I had realized at first. His shaggy, dark blonde hair was now hidden underneath a cap that he wore, but his dark eyes looked oddly familiar as they met mine. Everyone else seemed so casual about the whole thing, like they didn’t realize who was standing with them.

            I knew this was typical, for this stranger had many odd, but dangerous talents. He could affect people’s emotions, and make them see things differently from what they really were…only I could see him for what he was. Only I could feel any spark of danger within a mile of him…

            “Ariel!” Donovan said, inviting me over. “C’mon over here, our order is just about ready.”

            I unwillingly walked towards him, the smell of McDonalds grease entering my nostrils. Stepping closer to Donovan only caused the atmosphere around me to slow down, and my body quickly felt much more pressured. His dark eyes never left my face as I walked over and stood in their line. The distance between us suddenly got much closer, and in response, everything became ten times more intense.

            Did they even notice him?

            He stood with us as if he were in our group. Even though I could see a significant difference between him and us, I could bet my life that everyone else in the restaurant wouldn’t even have noticed. He was behind me now, and the tension grew. It felt as though there was a live wire between us, electrocuting me in pain. I gritted my teeth, because it was the only thing I could do without going crazy.

            “Oh please, Dante. Don’t tell me you’re going to drive again! Ari, Ari! Listen to this!”

             I turned around, surprised at the new name mentioned and the calling of my own. I was expecting to see Carrie, because that was the voice I had heard…and took in a breath of horror when I found myself face to face with the stranger.

            “Oh,” I shuddered, the air knocked out of my lungs. I felt the blood drain from my face. His eyes were so dark, almost coal black, looking into mine as if he were staring into my soul. They looked oddly large on his face.

            “He’s driving again, can you believe it?” Carrie exclaimed. I saw that she was talking to me. “I can’t believe Donovan is letting him! After we almost got killed in Chicago…I don’t know how you got your drivers license. You’re much better off in the backseat away from that steering wheel.”

            “Yeah, but then I’d be near you,” he added, his voice deeper than I had expected it to be. He was talking to her like they were life long friends, joking around.

             “Wait, what?” my voice broke. I felt a sudden wave of immense fear crowd inside my chest. I could barely breathe.

            “Ha, very funny, Ari,” Carrie said, like it was a joke.

            “No, really,” I insisted.

            “Don’t be stupid,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. 

            I shut my mouth, shocked. 

            I knew that people like him had strange affects on other people, like my friends. Like I mentioned before, they could make people feel comfortable; make them see things differently from what they are. They even could plant memories in their minds effortlessly, memories that never happened. I knew for a fact that Carrie had never met Dante before…that he never drove with us…that he was never a part of our group.

            And even though I knew this stuff by heart, I could barely grasp the concept that they acted this way towards them. I had seen situations like this happen to others, but never actually to me. I felt as though I was going to snap.

            “Sheesh, Ari, you look like you’re going to pass out,” Carrie commented, looking at me oddly.

            Did she have to comment on my appearance?

            “She probably needs fresh air, you know how stuffy that van is,” I heard him say. I didn’t respond.

            “What do you expect?” Carrie muttered to him. “There are fifteen people crammed in there…” 

             “Ari,” Dante said, now actually talking to me. I lost the feeling in my legs. I knew that he didn’t need an introduction. He knew my name the first time I looked into his eyes.

            I looked at him, as if expecting a slap in the face. 

            “Let’s go wait out by the van, it’s going to be awhile,” he said hurriedly. Before I could even respond, he grabbed my elbow tightly and steered me towards the door.

            I numbly followed, my brain trying to catch up with what was happening. My left shoulder uncomfortably scraped against the wall when we both squeezed through the glass door on the way out. However, once the cold, wintry air hit my face, I woke up from my momentary trance.

            I tugged my elbow with force, suddenly fighting with him, but he had his hand securely fastened around it. I winced as he pulled me closer, towards the vehicle that my friends and I had arrived in. Man, he was strong.

            I shouldn’t be surprised.

            “Let go!” I hissed. A puff of air escaped from my lips as I spoke. I was about to kick him, when he finally let go. I felt my breathing accelerate, as I put my arm back to my side. There was no one out in the parking lot, but there were people in the drive through.

            He wouldn’t want to cause a scene.

            “Kelly was right,” he murmured softly, as he stood next to the white van. I kept my distance, preferably standing next to a red car two parking spaces away. “It is quite chilly tonight.”

            I knew that he overheard us, but how he knew her name…Why couldn’t he just leave them alone? Wasn’t I the problem? Wasn’t I the reason he decided to mess with their heads?

            I had to do something.

            “Look,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest, both because of the cold and because I wanted to look tougher. I laughed inside at my weak attempt. He turned to look at me, his dark eyes matching the night sky. “I know what you’re doing to my friends, and I want you to leave them out of this.” I tried to keep my voice strong, but it got shakier near the end.

            “Hmm, I’m not sure about that,” he muttered darkly, leaning casually against our fifteen passenger van. Out in the dark, he looked different. Shadows clung to his face, his form looked longer, leaner, and slightly more muscular. I knew that his long legs would outrun me anytime.

            “Look,” I repeated, feeling surprisingly frustrated. I talked through my gritted teeth. “What do you want?”

            He looked down at his hand, and slowly back up at me. He kept his answer simple.

            “You.”

            I inhaled sharply. That wasn’t what I was expecting. I hesitated for a second, before answering.

            “What?”

            “I’m Dante by the way,” he said, totally throwing me off topic. Wow, he wasn’t random at all. He held out his hand, waiting for me to shake it. I didn’t budge an inch. He nodded and somehow accepted my refusal.

            “What do you really want?” I asked. “And don’t try to throw me off topic…it won’t work.”

            “Ari, you know exactly what I want,” he said, and I shivered when he said my name. “I said it before.”

            “What?”

            “Don’t be stupid,” he said, and surprisingly smiled as if it were an inside joke. “Just kidding,” he muttered, a second to late. I recognized the words from Carrie’s mouth a couple of minutes ago…he couldn’t have possibly…

            “I don’t understand,” I said, my words slower.

            He readjusted himself.

            “You will soon.”

            I swallowed hard, my throat oddly dry. I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t want to.

            My answer came a second later.

            I turned around and saw that the others had piled out of McDonalds, hands full of our meals. My stomach twisted uncomfortably. The last thing I wanted was to eat.

            After spending a minute in the silent air, with nothing but Dante’s voice, I realized how loud of a group they were. There were fifteen of us now, including Dante. I looked back at him and saw that he had the car keys in his hand. He clicked the unlock button and the lights flashed.

            “Get in the passenger seat,” he said, now on the drivers’ side. “I’ll explain things on the way.” 

            The way to where?

            I didn’t stay put. Out of pure fear, I followed his instruction and nervously walked to the other side of the van. My fingers numbly stumbled across the handle and climbed inside. Dante already had the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. I snapped my seat belt on tight, aware of Carrie’s remark about his “crazy” driving.

            I listened as I heard everyone climb into the car, talking normally, joking around, as if everything were the same. I heard familiar laughs and giggles, torments and arguments.

            I felt sick knowing that they were unaware that this stranger was holding me hostage, holding us hostage, taking us to some unknown location…

            Someone threw the fries in my lap, along with a napkin, and it shook me awake. I noticed that Dante had a sandwich as well, but I didn’t pay much attention to that.

            Everyone settled in his or her seats. I briefly looked over my shoulder, and saw that Donovan, Luis, and Joelle were directly behind me. I bit down on my lip again, but not as hard this time.

            What was I going to do? What plan of action could I possibly think up of now? Most of the roadways around here were interstates and highways – I couldn’t imagine throwing myself out of a vehicle going a good fifty to sixty miles per hour – I wasn’t that desperate.

            Still…

            Several conversations were going on at once, people chattered about crazy random topics, and everyone spoke so loud that it left communicating to one another a very hard thing to do. 

            We pulled out of the parking lot. Even though Dante started off at a lower pace, I kept my hands securely fastened around the bottom sides of my seat. I pretended to be a rock, trying to be as still as possible.

            It was the best I could do.