Chapter 1

Selene:

I was still reluctant to go.

Yet, the outcome was the same but the reason had confirmed to a new region.

Now, the reason wasn't that I was a return student, or that about a month ago I had discovered that I was suffering from leukemia, niether was it because I was done with high school.

It was because of that boy, Jace Anderson.

We never conversed, never engaged, didn't even look at each other. Well, at least he didn't, I was always searching for a glimpse from him.

I actually passed out just thinking of our closeness when we accidentally bumped into each other near a dumpster. I could even look at his face which was above his stupid six feet high figure. That tall sexy, boy.

Ugh, annoying!

"Brian, does she really have to go?" Mom was whispering to dad as I tip toed down the stairs. It wasn't like I never heard them talk in that sympathetic manner ever since the doctor informed them of my disease. It's just every time they whispered, it hurt.

"Yes, otherwise we are killing her ourselves Lil. I love Selene and I know my daughter is a fighter, let's give her the chance okay?" Dad's rough and hard voice whispered back. I smiled at his words for giving me the chance I wanted. I wasn't going to to die like nothing. Not while giving up everything.

"Hey guys!" I called as jumping out the corridor of the stairs. I noticed how my sister was dining with them too. Dad smiled and walked up to me.

"How's it going girl?" Dad tried to work on his sass and I laughed. He had brownish black hair, giving Allan that, but now they were slightly grey. He had a perfect body, even at the age of forty two and always dressed sharply. He was dressed in a button up, white shirt and black dress pants.

"You're looking good." I commented. He cheered, kissing my temple.

"When are you two leaving?" My sister, Sydney, asked. She was a beautiful woman. She had the most chocolatey hair I had ever seen and blueish-gray eyes. Her cheeks were plump just like mine and her nose was small but a little puffy.

"I'm leaving-" I looked at my black watch which struck seven thirty, "-now."

"Why now?" Mom furrowed her brows.

"I feel like taking a train." I shrugged and she nodded. I loved the perks of being sick though. They listened to whatever I needed. Not that I took big advantage of that, but small ones; well who wouldn't.

I wore my black over coat, hanging open. Then, checked my appearance in the full body mirror on the coat cupboard door, and loved how my Captain America fleece jacket complimented my grey under shirt and black jeans. I pulled on my grey uggs and ran out of the house, swinging my open wavy black hair in the wind.

It was freezing outside. The snow covered every inch of my path but I wasn't upset. My way of high school was almost finished. Three more months of torture were left and nothing felt more good. I had been doing a little less than my potential to be honest but I was the person who blamed it on the spontaneous vacations I took because of my illness.

I took a deep breath and jumped up on the train, trying to stop the snow from clogging my nose and leaned against the pole near the door as I made it in. My head started spinning, so I shut my eyes and squeezed my eye lids. Suddenly, the world around me moved but then a jerk brought me back.

"Hey, you okay?" A guy with a British accent was holding my arm, holding me up. I looked around and everyone was staring at me. I stood up quickly and tried to move away. He instantly let me go. When my eyes looked him up, I was breathless. His blue orbs shook the life out of me.

"Wow." I gasped and he chuckled.

"You alright there?" He winked and I shook my head.

"Yeah. Yeah. Thanks." I whispered at him and guffawed. He ran his fingers through his short black hair and fixed his brown messenger bag.

"I'm Aaron." He forwarded his hand, "Aaron Blane." He introduced and I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Selene." I took his hand. He cocked his brow, "Arly." I laughed and he snickered. The train suddenly stopped and I realized it to be my stop.

"Well, that's me." I muttered and turned to wait for the door to open.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Probably not." I chuckled and jumped out of the train, not waiting for his response.

I took the second bus that was to take me to school from across the street but kept on smiling to myself for the rest of the way.

Jace:

I was dying to see her, that girl with the blue eyes, Selene. She had been on my mind since the day I saw her. Her black hair, her beautiful lips and her stunning eyes, everything about her was breathtaking. She was generous and kind and I had really strong feelings bubbling in an unknown part of me. I know I did like her.

Just the day before, when we bumped into each other, her scent made me lose my mind. It messed with me how she was scared of me. She quickly ran away, and I could feel her breath, laboring when she stood in front of me for a bare minimum of two seconds.

I was settled in my social class, conversing with my friends when there was knock on the door and Mr. Lancaster walked in. I smiled when Selene walked in behind him.

"Are you going to be alright?" Mr. Lancaster placed his palm on her shoulder as he turned to her. She nodded with a sheepish grin.

When both settled in their seats, Mr. Lancaster stood up and asked for the class to share any current events. Selene raised her arm high as her friends giggled with her.

"Stop it!" She hissed to her friend in the scarf, who was on the seat next to her. Mr. Lancaster chuckled.

"The presidential debate." She uttered and everyone turned to look at her.

"Seriously you guys, I'm just a girl." She waved us all off and there was an amusing laugh in the class. I turned around and tried to forget so my nerves would settles but when my eyes  turned again, they met hers. She smiled at me and then winked while biting her lip. I gulped quietly and swiftly turned around. That was so sexy and bold.

"Mr. Lancaster?" Her sweet voice danced in the air like an enchanting rhythm.

"Yes?" He replied.

"Did you hear about Haiti?" she asked gently and I settled. I knew what she was talking about. Hurricane Mathew, it went on for about three days, all the way through Cuba and Haiti. It was predicted to hit South Carolina but deceased by then.

"Yeah." He shook his head, "Really upsetting."

"Well Ms. Nish is having a donation directed for them. So um, guys? Anything... anything at all. Clothes, shoes, money, body acessories, anything would work. Room 405." She announced and then took her seat.

"Jace Anderson?" He called and my head snapped up.

"Yes?"

"Can I see you after class?" He looked stern. I nodded and for some odd reason, my head snapped back and Selene was looking at me with some question and... concern.

When the class ended, everyone left and surprisingly, I never noticed when Selene did.

"Yes, Mr. Lancaster?" I walked upto him as he sat on his chair behind his huge desk, in front of his wall-sized world map.

"Jace, what is going on with you this year?" he shook his head. I immediately understood what he meant.

Selene:

Whatever in the world, took over me, I had no clue. I didn't know why I winked when that boy, Jace, looked back at me. He looked tensed and scared. Was I a bad influence or something?

I picked up my pace as soon as the bell rang and ran out of the class room, trying to catch some air. Jace made me go wild, but sometimes, his state scared me. He was always so upset since the past month. I didn't know what happened, but Jace's attitude changed and he always seemed like he wanted to hide.

I mean, so far, I figured that Jace Anderson wasn't an ordinary kid. He had won honors last year, he was in the wrestling team for two years, one year of football team and he was the quarterback, but he left that because he was into rugby. Honestly, I still didn't know the difference when it came to idea of passion for those two games.

I wasn't going to deny that I liked him. I had a crush on him but one of my close friends slash ex-boyfriend told me it was a bad idea to be with such a popular boy, especially when the last thing I wanted right now was exposure to the world. Therefore, I kept my distance from Jace. Besides, I heard from a lot of my friends that Jace had a thing for Hailey.

I pulled out my phone and texted my best friend Sean Petrakis, as soon as I reached the student centre. My breathing was weighty for some reason and I felt the need for some rest.

"Hey I was in cl-" Sean smacked my head and came from behind me but his face paled as he noticed me coughing now.

"Shit, I'll call Mrs. Arly." He hissed and shuffled his pant pockets but I stopped and hugged him.

"You're an idiot, Sel." He hugged me lightly and we moved away.

"Where's Alex?" I asked about my other best girlfriend. She was Sean's friend and when Sean introduced us, we started loving each other's company, hence best girlfriends.

"She'll meet us in spare." He muttered, tapping on his phone.

"Sean I will kill you, if you texted mom." I grit my teeth and snatched his phone.

"Gimme my phone!" He yelled in his sort of Spanish accent. It was obvious he made it up. I knew th guy was born and raised in New York and came to Carolina a couple years back.

"Lemme see first!" I shouted back, running away from him. He was texting a girl named Jenny and she'd asked him to the senior ball!

"Oh you sneaky ass!" I laughed twirling around to find him tackling me. We didn't fall to the ground because he snatched his phone and moved away.

"Asshole." I muttered and he grinned.

"Oi!" I felt someone shake me with my shoulders but I recognized the voice. It was Tane.

"Tane!" I cheered turning around, he laughed. Tane was a Korean short boy. He had less features of that of an Asian and more of a white person. However his name stated otherwise. Tane was in grade eleven but we became great friends after he met me through Sean.

Yeah, I met most of my friends through Sean because Sean was sort of popular, given he was in the senior football team. He always said he wasn't a big deal because he only played the o-line or offense but seriously, he was good. Sean was a good looking boy. He was my height but he was bulky, which made him short but cute. He wore thick rimmed black glasses and always a snap back on his head. His Bose headset would always be either on his ears or his neck and he had the weirdest made up accent.

"Where were you yesterday?" He questioned.

"Busy." I winked and we started walking.

"So-oo, how was class with Jace?" He nudged my shoulder and I glared at him.

"I knew telling you was going to be my mistake." I rolled my eyes and he chuckled.

"Bitch." he laughed.

"Ass." I returned, "Where are we headed?" I exclaimed as Sean led Tane and I, to the back doors of the school.

"To meet Matthew Brock." he replied and Tane burst out laughing.

"Yup, it's gotta be him."

Matthew Brock was a player in the football team but he was a big time player, in the other lives of his as well. He had to hit on every girl and dating was when the girl would say yes. He asked Sean to give his number to me but Sean refused. Sean did tell me and I agreed with him.

I was about to turn in the corridor with Tane by my side when I bumped into a hard rock chest. When my eyes raised, I found them clashing with Jace's mesmerizing brown ones. He seemed really upset. Not angry, upset.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled and he furrowed his brows. He was sweating and his lips were in a thin line. He didn't say anything and moved aside to leave, which he did without any glance sideways. I watched his muscular back being flexed through his maroon T-shirt, as he walked away.

"I so dare you to talk to him." Tane uttered and I sighed.

"I want to, but he scares me." I gulped loudly.

"I heard he's really friendly." Sean came from behind us and stood next to Tane.

"But way too intimidating." I placed a hand on my chest.

"He seems to have some interest in y-"

"Don't!" I raised my finger in front of Tane's face, shutting him up. He looked at my finger that was inches away from his flat nose and I stifled my laughter at his crossed eyes.

"Come on." Sean tugged on my shoulder as we followed him out of the building.

"Hey guys." Matthew greeted us, as we walked through the doors.

"Holy-" I hissed as the chilly wind and the frozen drops of snow hit my face.

"Sean, it's freezing!" Tane shrieked, running back inside. I laughed loudly, before following him. Sean placed his headset and bag on the floor and wore his playing gloves.

"You guys are going to play in this weather?" I tried to reason, "It's freezing guys!"

"We've got practice. You go with Tane okay? I'll see you in spare." Sean replied while holding the oval brown football in his hands.

"Okay, be careful both of you!" I called back and ran inside. I brushed the snow off from my clothes and blinked a few times, rapidly, to find myself face to face with Tane.

"Come on, I want food." He took my hand and dragged me back towards the corridor that led to the student centre and cafeteria.

I gave Tane my debit card so he could buy whatever he wanted and waited for him outside the cafe. My eyes landed on Jace. He was talking to his friends. I noticed his face glistening and red. I wanted to go give him a bag of ice and cold water, but I had never conversed with him.

"Go talk to him. I dare you." Tane jumped from behind me. I looked at his hands which held a foil dish filled with pieces of chicken fries.

"What do I get out of it?" I raised my brow at him.

"I don't know." He shrugged. The bell rang and he stuffed another chicken fry in his mouth.

"Alright." I uttered sternly, "Let's do this."

"You're gonna talk?" He muttered with a stuffed mouth.

"Uh-huh." I sighed and cleared my head. He was alone now, leaning against a table, looking at something in his hand.

I walked behind him and stood behind the table he was leaning against. Gently tapping on his shoulder, I waited for him to turn.

"H-hi." I breathed as he looked at me with his sweaty face. His lips thinned and his eyes went sort of wide.

"I-I'm Selene." I forwarded my hand, feeling my face heating up to a hundred degrees. He didn't say anything.

"I-I don't mean to freak you out or something but my friend just dared me to come and talk to you, so I just wanted to say hi. So, hi." I babbled nervously. I looked at his hands which had a brownie in it.

"Are you scared of me or something?" I leaned a little closer and he shook his head.

"Are you going to say something?" I raised my brow, and felt dizzy at the feeling of dying in the moment. I was so embarrassed.

"I'm Jace." He raised his hand and I took it. We shook hands. His warm and big hand was rough and strong. I felt my body tingle at his touch, like warm blood pouring over my heart such as a waterfall. A shock, electrocuted my body as his fingers grazed slightly against my palm. I smiled at him and he gave me one back. We stood awkwardly for a couple of seconds until he opened his mouth again.

"So, why were you dared to talk to me?" He asked.

"Uh, my friend thinks that I have a crush on you, which I don't, so just to prove it... I'm here." I uttered vastly and he cocked his brow.

"Okay." He nodded with folded arms, which made my heart skip a beat as his muscles flexed against his bulky chest.

"Well, it was nice talking to you Selene. You have a good day." He raised his hand again, we shook hands, again and then I quickly walked away.

"I did it!" I ran to Tane who laughed as soon as I tackled his shoulder with a punch.

Jace:

My heart stopped when she popped in front of me, out of nowhere. I was already messed. I didn't want to ruin a conversation with her, just because of my mood, so I waited for her to talk.

When she did, I didn't know how to respond. It broke my heart, sort of, when she told me she didn't have a crush on me. I wanted her to like me, but she didn't.

I watched her figure run away as we bid farewell, and I couldn't help but stare at my own hand that held hers twice. It felt so perfectly fit.

In that one moment, I almost forgot my failure in social's test, just a couple minutes ago.

A challenging setback to my scholarship and future.