CHAPTER Two

　　Ryland

　　I have been staying in a hotel with my mom for the last couple of weeks, just until our house gets ready, which thankfully will be tomorrow. I must say I am glad to be having my own space back. Currently I am sitting outside the said hotel, thinking about Gracie. Tonight wasn’t the first time I saw her. I had seen her a couple of times since we got in this town, however she never noticed me until tonight. I don’t know what it was but from the moment I first laid eyes on her, I was drawn to her. I know I sound like a crazy assed stalker right now, I can assure you that isn’t the case at all. I guess I was just lucky to see her around, and everytime I saw her, she happened to be laughing and smiling with her friends, though I knew straight away that it wasn't her, not the real her. I could see the sadness in her. I could tell she was keeping secrets. What secrets I do not know, but they are there.

　　How did I know Because a broken person can tell when someone else is broken too. As for her name, I heard one of her friends calling her. She will see me again very soon. I stayed in my car for another twenty minutes, or so, before heading inside.

　　“Hey son, did you have a good night Stay out of trouble” she added, raising her brow at me when she said the last part.

　　“It was fine,” I said, “And no, I did not get into any trouble,” I added annoyed.

　　“Then make sure it stays that way, OK We can’t keep having to move because you can’t behave,” she said.

　　Yes, I get into a lot of trouble, I don’t deny that, but it would be nice if my own damn mother had a little faith in me. In fact I don’t ask to move, I mean I could go to another school if or when I get expelled, it’s her who chooses to move to another town.

　　“I know mom, will you get off my back” I said, rolling my eyes.

　　I didn’t give her another chance to say anything. Instead, I headed into the bathroom for a shower. I stayed in there longer than I needed to, but I was hoping that would give her time to fall asleep. I loved my mother, she raised me practically on her own, but she can be a pain in my ass at times.

　　I got myself dried and dressed, heading back through and noticing she was still awake.

　　“Have you eaten Or do you want to order in” she asked.

　　“I am fine mum, go to sleep,” I said, “We both have a busy few days ahead of us,” I added.

　　“OK, if you are sure,” she said, and I nodded.

　　She got herself into her bed, and I went to mine. The sooner I got my own room back, the better. I never understood why we didn’t stay in our old house until the new one was ready for us to move in. My mother got told when she bought the new house that the current tenants weren’t moving out for a few weeks, but she insisted we came to this damn town straight away anyway.

　　I hated small towns like this where everyone knew everyone’s business. I got into my own bed, grabbing my phone and decided to see if I could find Gracie anywhere. I was curious about the life she lived. I started by looking at a couple of people on Facebook from the party who added me earlier, seeing if any one of them had her. It took a little time but in the end, she came up on my friend’s suggestion. That was handy. I won’t add her, though, not right now.

　　I was hoping her page wasn’t private, and luckily it wasn’t. I clicked on it, looking through, even though there was not much on it, she doesn't seem to post often, which was unusual for someone our age. There were a couple of posts and about ten photos. I clicked on one of the images, zooming in, the same sadness in her eyes I have noticed anytime I had seen her.

　　“What is your story” I whispered as I looked at it.

　　I knew from the moment I first saw her that she was different from everyone else. I don’t know why, I just did. She was beautiful, though, even with the sadness behind those brown eyes, they were still beautiful. I am not one for getting pulled in by the opposite sex. I prefer to only have fun with them, use them for my needs, but with Gracie, there was something, something that was drawing me in, like a moth to a flame.

　　I sat my phone aside, making sure my alarm was set for the morning for my first day at my new school. I was dreading it, and I hated school. It wasn’t for me, hence I am always getting expelled; three schools in the last two years, not so good. I don’t know why my mom keeps insisting I go back; nothing is going to change. I told her I’d rather go to work, but no, she wants me at school.

　　It isn’t like I can’t do the work, I am not stupid. I can do the work very easily, but it just isn’t for me, I hate school. There is nothing else to it. This new school wasn’t going to be any different, apart from the fact that it is my last year, and I’m gonna be eighteen in a few months, which means If I want to, I can leave. As I will be classed as an adult, my mother or the school can’t do anything about it.

　　Tomorrow is going to be just like all theother first days, pointless and a waste of my time. The only good thing about tomorrow is that we will be in our house and I will have my personal space back, rather than sharing a hotel room with my mom.

　　I am hoping to run into Gracie tomorrow, as I know she goes to the same school that I am starting at, why else would she have been at the Senior party tonight Plus, there was only one other high school around here, which is a good few miles out of town and private. I have the feeling she isn’t the type for private school.

　　At least with her around, I would have something to occupy myself. I wonder if she was still thinking about what happened, wondering who I was and how I knew who she was. I had a feeling she would be because it isn’t every day you have an encounter like that with a stranger, is it I will find out tomorrow when I see her reaction as she sees me at school. I don’t know if she will come to me or run from me,the same way that she did tonight in the woods.

　　I knew I was getting to her too, that is why she couldn’t take her eyes off me, that was why she disappeared trying to get away from me. I am just hoping that my behaviour around her hasn’t freaked her out too much; that was the last thing that I wanted. Even if that were the case, I won’t back off. I can be very persistent when I need to be.

　　I had to be at school an hour before classes started tomorrow, to see the principle and be told the rules. Someone telling me the rules is pointless because I don’t follow the rules, I break them, and this isn’t going to be any different. The principal wants to get me a “buddy” to show me around, someone who will be in all my classes. How old am I Ten I don’t need someone to escort me around, I can find my way around, I am not that stupid, but apparently, it is what this school does. Trust me, whoever it is, he or she will not last the full day with me, I will put them off escorting me within the first hour. I know it is usually the good girl/boy type they get to do these things, but around me, that is a horrible idea. I would be a bad influence on them, and the principal will learn that the hard way. Unless I can request someone, now that is an idea. I knew the exact person I would ask if that is allowed... Gracie! Hmm, maybe an escort for the day won’t be a bad idea, especially if I can get her to be that for me.

　　She may not like that idea, but I sure do. I smirked to myself, deciding that was the plan. I was going to tell them I would feel comfortable with someone that I already knew, even though technically I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me. The principal doesn’t need to know that though.

　　Maybe this first day isn’t going to be as bad after all.

　　“Goodnight Ryland, I hope that you have your alarm set,” she said.

　　“I do. Goodnight,” I said, trying not to sound a little annoyed.

　　“Good, then get to sleep,” she said firmly.

　　I rolled my eyes, not responding to her whilst getting comfortable for the night. Tomorrow was a new day, a fresh start. Yeah, right, it may be a different town, but everything else will be the same. The sooner I hit eighteen, the better, and then I can do as I please when I please without anyone moaning about it.