BLURB
Quiet average girl, Caitlin Davis is an only child living with her widowed mother in an apartment in Missoula, Montana. Having been homeschooled most of her life by her aunt, she has been encouraged to try out high school to find out what life is really like on the outside.
Hell’s Gate High School.
After a week of experiencing high school, Caitlin is known as the Grudge’s relative because of her long straight black hair. Though that’s the least of her worries; she meets the devil of the school – Leon Ashford. An ex-delinquent and a well known enemy to the good looking boys of Hell’s Gate High. With his good looks and a devilish grin to boot, Leon has something up his sleeve and Caitlin is about to find out what life is really like on the outside…
Hey everyone!
Welcome to my new story, uhm, my recent story - Vampish is currently on hold also 'Once Upon a Howl' has been removed as I felt that I could maybe do more detail on it and stuff, so yeah. I have writer's block on Vampish atm. =S I went blank when trying to update that story. So anyways, hopefully this one is okay. Kinda wanted to enter this story in NaNo but whatever, lol. XD
Feel free to tell me any mistakes, thoughts, etc. ^_^ Also, if you find anything confusing, let me know and I'll try my best to explain.
Azzy :m:
P.S. Banner was made by me & Chapter One will be posted right about now... ALSO, I will forewarn you that there will be words that may offend people (I come in peace; so please don't feel like I'm hating on a particular culture nor group, etc.), violence and possibly graphic terms. So, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!! I dunno if I spelt that right but anyways. Enjoy! ^_^
CHAPTER 1
“Oh my God,” whispered one of the popular girls as I passed by. “It’s the Grudge version 2.0.”
I heard them giggling, hoping my locker would be found further away from theirs. I had only started school a week ago and I’m already being judged. My mom and I have been through a lot to get this far. I’ve been homeschooled through thanks to my aunt Judith – she’s a teacher who used to teach here. I wondered how she could have survived in this school.
My mom didn’t have enough money for me to get into school like most kids so she did it herself. She worked part time and whenever she could. While I studied and did chores around the apartment – my mom has taught me so many ways of living my life independently that I wished I could be just like her - strong, caring, smart and beautiful.
Before she had me, she used to do a bit of modeling when she was young but she had to quit shortly since she was pregnant to my dad. I inherited most of my dad’s features only; I’m not as handsome as he looked. If you compare me to my mom, the only thing we’d have in common is well… nothing really. Sometimes my mom would remind me of how much I look like my dad. She would even mention how much I’m like my dad – shy, timid, sensitive and thoughtful. I remember I would get annoyed whenever she would tell me.
I can even tell when she’s feeling down when I go to my mom’s workplace. She had that longing expression whenever she looked at our family photo. We were at the park that one time, happy and free – it was one moments of my life. Actually, all moments when my dad was around were the best moments of my life. We were cut off from all our relatives, mostly my dad’s. His mom AKA my grandma didn’t like my mom very much from the moment she saw her with my dad.
Apparently she thought my mom was a stuck up pretty girl who only wanted my dad for money. No matter how hard my mom tried to be on my grandma’s good side, she thought better to leave it as it is and be happy with my dad. I’m proud of my mom for doing what she did. Though, sometimes I would think that maybe we should call on grandma for help – knowing her, she’d refuse it and no buts about it. I just wish they would both get along. My dad would be happy if they would, I know he will.
“Ow!” I yelped when something hit my head, interrupting my thoughts. Rubbing my head, I ignored the sound of giggles and closed my locker then walked down the hallway as if nothing happened. As I was thinking--
“Hey!”
I wondered if that person was calling out to me but thought better to just keep walking. “I’m talking to you! The girl with the tacky yellow cardigan.” I slowly stopped walking and looked down at what I was wearing. My shoulders dropped, annoyed and hurt at the same time. I heard the person’s footsteps getting closer. I was thinking that by the time that person got to me I would yell at that bully because my cardigan is not yellow, its beige.
“Geez, what’s wrong with you?” I heard him ask, finally reaching up to me. My hands were clenched into fists, making sure I don’t lose my confidence. “Look, I’m really-”
“My cardigan isn’t yellow,” I interrupted. Only, the stupid thing is, it didn’t come out as confident as I imagined it should be.
“What?”
I cleared my throat, slowly looking up to the bully. Damn this bully is tall, I thought. “My cardigan isn’t yellow,” I tried saying it again although my voice sounded funny. Mentally cursing at my fringe in the way of my eyes, I tried blowing them out of the way since I was holding my books with both my hands.
“Let me help you with that,” he said, sounding amused. I thought he meant my books but his fingers started at my fringe, sliding them behind each ear. The touch of his fingers tingled slightly down my spine; it almost felt like he was caressing the sides of my face. “You should really consider cutting your fringe. It’s a wonder why people think you’re probably the Grudge’s sister or cousin.” Realizing he had known about me, I looked away, blushing. The memory of his face was etched into my mind from just one look. “What? Is there something on my face?” he asked. Yes and it’s not hard to miss how good looking you are, I answered mentally.
I shook my head and decided to just continue walking. “Wait, hold on a minute,” he quickly said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “I just… you haven’t heard what I have to say.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I mumbled then walked off. What a handsome bully, I thought. I’ve never seen that guy around school before… maybe he’s a new guy. I stopped and turned around to find three girls surrounding him. By the look on their faces, they looked at him like he was their God.
“Hey Leon,” one of girls said in a flirtatious voice, without fail, made me gag slightly. “What were you doing talking to that loser?”
That’s my cue to leave, I told myself. “Hey, wait!” the bully called out. I couldn’t help but turn around to see him with his arms around the shoulders of the two girls. “Welcome to Hell’s Gate High School.”
Feeling stupid for giving him my attention, instead I tried to make a thank you smile but it only came out crooked. The look on those two girls obviously thought my smile looked more than crooked. I give up, I thought. I guess I’m not ready to get out of homeschooling.
“Awww, you’re so nice to the poor girl, Leon,” one of the girls cooed. I shuddered slightly and walked quickly to my first period. A perverted hot bully – that about sums him up from what I’ve seen and heard. I didn’t think my first few days of going to school would be like this. It was alien to me but it seems I was more alien to them. There were reasons why I didn’t want to go to school and there were reasons why I wanted to go to school.
Both my mom and my aunt thought it was good experience for me to get a proper education because she knows I love writing. Though at first, my mom was wary about that idea of me going off on my own. We were both too used to seeing each other everyday. But like aunt Judith said, “Its good experience for you to actually see what school life is like, Caitlin. Meet new people, make friends and find the one you love.”
I scoffed at the last example, because there was no way I would find a guy here that would inspire me or improve on my writing. My mom also thinks I lack reality in my writing because it’s basically based on what I see and how I view them. Let’s face it, I’m not even meant to be in school. I liked it better when it was just me in my own world, writing whatever came to mind.
“Excuse me,” interrupted a small voice. “You’re Caitlin, right?”
My eyes widened at the mention of my name, I turned my head to find a petite short girl standing in front of me. She had dark red curls, freckles on both cheeks, beautiful green eyes – she basically looked like a real-life doll. She’s shorter than me by a few centimeters but she looked really cute. “Uh, yes,” I nodded, clearing my throat, I nodded.
“I’m Alex,” she smiled, offering out her hand for me to shake to which I shook. “How are you finding it here in Hell’s Gate High? Better or worse than your old school?”
“Um actually, this is my first time going to school,” I answered, awkwardly.
“Oh,” she said, looking like she’s hurt my feelings. “So… I guess you were homeschooled, huh.”
I nodded when it occurred to me. “Uh, how did you-”
“-know your name?” she finished off for me with the same kind smile. “I was in the office a few days ago; you were with your mom signing off your form for something. She’s your mom, right?”
I nodded again, smiling sheepishly.
“Wow, she’s so beautiful,” she said in surprise. “Has your mom done any modeling before?”
I felt like one of those dog merchandises, bobbling their heads. “A bit but then yeah…” I stopped midway when I heard someone yelling outside. Alex jumped at the sound then made her way towards the window, looking down. “Oh, it’s him,” she said, sounding dead compared to how she sounded when she talked to me. “Have you met him?”
“Who?”
“The devil of Hell’s Gate High,” Alex replied, looking at me then nodded her head back at me to take a look. I had a pretty good guess of who might be the devil of the school but I was curious to find out more. “Leon Ashford.” I followed her gaze to where I spotted the popular guy, surrounded by five girls, heading towards his friends. “So, what do you think of him? I know he looks like he’s up himself there but, his looks.”
I watched in wonder and thought about what she said. “Um, I’m not sure,” I shrugged after a silent pause. “Why is he the devil of Hell’s Gate High?”
She glanced at me then turned her back from the window, leaning against it. She thought for a moment then exhaled a slow sigh. “Where do I start?” she asked herself. “Leon has been out with all the good looking girls in our grade, his only interest are a girl’s goods.” I folded my arms across my chest as if I were one of his victims. I doubt it, I thought, feeling stupid once again. Alex noticed this and laughed. “Anyway, he used to be a delinquent. So you would see why girls would flock to a guy like him.” I wondered if he had been with Alex as well but thought better not to ask. “He can sometimes do whatever he likes and no one would do anything about it nor would the teachers notice. His enemies basically consist most of the school’s sports teams.”
“Wow,” I murmured.
“I can never figure that guy out,” she sighed. “He can have whatever he wants and he’ll get it without breaking a sweat.”
A perverted hot bully indeed, I thought, finalizing my thoughts on Leon. I watched him laughing and whispering in a blonde girl’s ear; whatever it was he said to her, she seemed happy about. “How do you know so much about him?” I asked, watching him grin devilishly. Noticing that he realized someone was watching him from above; I quickly stepped away from the window.
“I’m the head journalist for our school paper,” she answered with a shrug, like, it’s no big deal. “I interviewed him and…” She sighed frustrated then shook her head. “I don’t know. He just got to me, his dark brown eyes were so alluring that it just made me tingle everywhere, and his lips looked so inviting that… oh God, I’m sorry. I’m rambling,” She gently smacked her cheek and rolled her eyes. “He’s not the only good looking guy in school, don’t get me wrong. Leon is just really popular in this school and it’s just something about him that makes you wanting more of him.” My eyebrow went up in wonder and ignored the yucky thought. “No, not like that. Like, you want to know more about him, get close to him… but, no girl has even gotten to know more about the guy or even kissed him.”
“I see,” I said, nodding. “Um, thanks for the uh… heads up.”
To my surprise, she laughed. “You’re funny,” she commented then noticed something. “Ooh, what’s that you have with your books?”
I looked down at my set of books and noticed I was carrying my journal. “It’s uh… it’s sort of like a diary. Personal stuff.” I hoped so bad that she wouldn’t ask to look into or ask about it even though she’s the head journalist and all.
“I understand,” she said with a warm smile. At that point, I felt happy that Alex wanted to be my friend and offered to show me around. Though I felt slightly bad for her that she had to suffer being with me, a girl with no taste in clothes and hairstyle – which was another thing about her, she never said anything about my looks.
After school, I wandered around outside around the school’s beautiful garden. I looked around to see if anyone was around so I could write in my journal. I settled down against the concrete seat instead of sitting on it since it was too hard to sit on. Feeling slightly comfortable, I turned to one of the pages of my journal.
“Benjamin ‘Ben’ Harvey,” I mumbled to myself with a smile. “The ideal guy.” Tapping the top of my pen against my chin, I began to think of some ideas of what to describe Ben. “Handsome, all-round nice guy, cute, adorable, understanding and… what else?”
“What is it you don’t like about me?” a voice asked from behind a wall of small leaves and vines. I peered over the concrete seat to find two figures from behind the wall. I quickly stuffed my journal in my bag and headed over towards where the voices were coming from.
“Oh come on,” a familiar voice said in slightly cocky way. “We just don’t have that kind of relationship, Jen.” Jen McCarthy – I remember Alex telling me about her. Head cheerleader and up and running School Vice President. I asked why she wanted to run as School Vice President and she replied that Jen and the other girls demand Leon be School President. Figures.
“Then what kind of relationship do you want, Leon?” Jen coaxed. “I’ll do anything for you – just don’t break up with me. I promise to be the girlfriend of your dreams and… maybe your wildest.” I gagged and shuddered. I quietly parted ways through the wall of leaves and vines with my hands to see Jen, her nicely done manicured hands on Leon’s chest. I wondered what it was like to do that rather than to write about it in my story.
“Now that would never happen,” Leon chuckled, taking Jen’s hands away from him. “As tempting as that sounds Jen, I think I’ll pass.” Still a perverted hot bully, I thought, shaking my head.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the look on Jen’s face. “Wh-what?!” she gasped. “Why would you pass?! We’re both the same! We belong together, Leon and you know it.”
I carefully watched Leon’s reaction who didn’t seem all that convinced by Jen’s love speech. “The only thing I know, Jen, is we don’t belong together. We never were. You’re only a friend to-”
“Oh don’t give me that let’s-be-friends bullshit, Leon!” Jen interrupted with a cold voice. “I know every other girl in school you’ve been out with has never been in a serious relationship with you and I know why.”
“Oh really?” Leon asked, clearly amused. “Care to elaborate that reason?”
By now, Jen’s nostrils flared, outraged by Leon’s calm expression. “Revenge.” Now this got Leon’s attention, his perfectly shaped eyebrow raised at the word. “It’s what you wanted, right? To get back at all those guys who’s fathers’ were involved in killing your father.” I gasped then quickly covered my mouth, hoping they didn’t hear. “… that was six years ago, Leon. But now that you’re protected by the authority, you think that you can abuse that and take girl’s hearts away. It doesn’t have to be this way, Leon. Let’s end this by being together and everyone can be happy.”
I felt sorry for Leon to have to hear such a bribe from someone like Jen. I looked down at the grass, feeling sad. “Ahh, let’s not,” Leon said after a short while. I looked back up to find Leon unmoved by the mention of his father but calm. “I have an extra class to get back to.” He turned his back on her but Jen quickly placed her hand on his broad shoulder.
“You don’t know what you’re missing out on, Leon Ashford,” she said in a serious tone.
He let out a small huff of laughter. “I think I do and it’s not worth it,” he said. “Besides, that little story of yours? I think you need to do a research on that one then again, you wouldn’t know unless you heard it from the actual source. By that, I meant, me.”
“I’m worth more than you’ll ever have,” Jen hissed loudly, hands clenched into balls of fists. I was amazed at her manicured nails – it didn’t seem to faze her when blood started to drip. Was this guy worth bleeding for? I wondered.
“Suit yourself,” Leon said with a shrug then walked away. “Later.” I looked at Jen who stomped her foot and expressed a dramatic, “Ugh!” then stormed out of the small maze of the garden. I sighed at the weird breakup and thought about putting it in my story.
“Spying on me, huh?”
I turned my attention around to find the perverted hot bully himself, sitting on the concrete seat in front of me. My eyes widened at the sight of Leon, looking at me with a smirk that defined hotness. “I-I-I… I didn’t mean to,” I stuttered, looking down at my scruffy looking sport shoes. “I was… I was just… I just overheard and I-”
“Forget it,” he interrupted. I looked up to see him standing, hands in the pocket of his black jeans. He looked different outdoors. His skin is actually lighter than my tanned skin. His mahogany colored hair gently wavered against the soft breeze. “Anyways, what I wanted to say was that I’m sorry the ball hit your head.” At first I thought he was talking to the wrong person when I realized the time I walked towards my locker and something had hit my head. So, that’s what he wanted to say, I thought.
“Oh,” I said, slowly nodding.
“And about your tacky yellow cardigan… well, it really is tacky,” he mentioned with an amused grin. “By the way, you really should consider doing something about your hair. I know someone who could do something about it.”
I wasn’t sure if he was serious or he was just teasing me but when the sound of my cell phone rang, I decided it was best to just run away. “N-no, thanks,” I quickly said and ran off.
“Hey!” he called out. “Wait!”
I ignored him and kept running. I have had enough of this and just wanted to be left alone. I didn’t want anymore of this outside world stuff. I wanted to stay inside my box. Away from certain people except for Alex, who pretty much and surprisingly enough, was my only real friend. My first ever.
Banner Disclaimer:
Original Image Name: Innocence
Original Artist: deadly-lilli (Ann-Katherine)
Submitted on: May 3, 2008
Image Adapted By: Suki
Image of Gaspard Ulliel in the white suit: http://brokenpledge...._ulliel_008.jpg
Image of Gaspard Ulliel in the black suit:[/i] http://i194.photobuc...l/gaspard25.jpg
NB: Images from deviantART have been approved for use by the original artist
This post has been edited by Ari-san: 30 June 2009 - 07:06 PM
Reason for edit: Banner added; Full banner disclaimer edited in
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