Camila's POV
Well here I am, standing in front of the school that hopefully won't kick me out.
Did I just really just jinx myself. With a groan and slump shoulders I mumble to myself, "Great..." As a small ghost smile plays on my glossy lips when I see the students running around with grins in their face. Some had smiles, some had frowns and others were already reading books make me frown but the smile never left.
Sunnydale High, wearing my pink sweater that had the word 'Fabulous' on and my black skater skirt, even though it is sunny, I couldn't help but feel cold from how nervous I keep denying I am. I didn't bother with my dark brown locks this morning as I just ran my fingers through it a couple of times making it as un-crazy morning hair as possible, I didn't want to be late on my first day.
Sighing as I wet my lips, I squeeze the straps of my black and brown backpack and took a step forward when I saw the students that were running around like wild animals few seconds ago are now heading in. When I was about to do the same, I was stopped by my mom, Sinu Cabello–turning around she has on her brown shirt and a long jacket with blue jeans.
"Honey–" She says from inside the white ford car, lowering her head slightly so she can have a better look at me. When I nodded at her for her to continue she did, "Don't worry about anything, I know you're going to make friends in no time. And–and." I know what her next words were which made me bite my lower lips and swallow thickly, "Try not to get kicked out." She says with a small awkward smile.
I chuckle just to lighten the mood as I scratch the back of my neck, "I promise." I say as confident as I wish to be, with a last awkward smile, I walk away from my mom as fast as I can so she doesn't end up saying other things that'll make this hard and unpleasant as it already is.
I walk in the white and orange hallway just as the first warning bell rings, students were hanging around, hugging and laughing with their friends. This only sends a pang of jealousy, nervousness and sadness as I remember my friends back in L.A. If I hadn't done what I have, I wouldn't be here at all.
Letting out a breath while running my fingers though my hair, I rolled my shoulders a few times to find as much confidence to help me through the day. "Let's not dwell on the past here Camila." I mumble to myself while looking around. "Okay." I whisper and nod to myself, I need the principal's office. Walking down the crowded hall with consciousness was not how I planned.
Minutes later with clenched jaws from tension and nervousness of not finding the principal's office is making me sick to the stomach. I was about to give up when my eyes landed in bold letters, 'Principal's Office Here' with an arrow aiming at the brown door on the right and I thought it would calm my sickness but I guess I was wrong when I felt my stomach twist in nervousness at this situation I am in.
Making my way towards it wasn't as easy as I thought but it did push the sickening feeling for a little while. Bumping my shoulders with edger students isn't as fun as it looks like. Specially when they're taller then you.
Once I finally reached the door I breathed out and swallowed thickly three times, "Here we go..." I mumble out with a shaky breath as I knocking on the door hearing a faint 'Come in' from the other side.
Opening the door, it's a normal sized office with certificates around, pictures of students and a small book place on the left side corner. He had a grey carpet and plain white walls. In the middle of the room sits his desk and the principle, which is Mr. Sandler. Looking at him, he has a short black hair, slightly tanned skin with brown welcoming eyes. 'He's cute for a principle.' I thought with a soft smile.
I didn't know I was staring until he cleared his throat making me jump a bit in my place while my eyes shoot up to his questioning ones and raised eyebrow. Feeling embarrassed for looking, I clear my throat as well before walking in and closing the door behind me, "I–I'm–Me–student–new." I couldn't help but blink repeatedly at what just came out of my mouth. Was that even English? I mentally slapped myself and bit my lips at the embarrassing moment.
He laughs at my lack of vocabulary before standing up with a warm smile putting me at ease slightly, "Ah, Ms. Cabello, please have a seat." He says with a bright smile that I hope stays till I leave this room. I sat in the black leather chair that sent goosebumps throughout my body from the coldness it radiates.
I sigh knowing I need to calm my sense or I'll go insane. Taking a deep breath, my eyes landed on the family pictures on his desk. One looked like they were in sea world and one looks like a huge dinner at someone's house that I am guessing is his, with his big family. It eases me and calmed my sense slightly and brought a smile to my face before he grabs it with gentleness and a soft smile playing on his own lips.
"I know, big family right?" Chuckling as he looks at the picture with loving eyes that sent warmth through me at how much he feels for his family, "She's crazy but I can never say no to her. Even when it came to kids." He said and this time I chuckled seeing as it is true since they both had 6 beautiful children.
"They're beautiful." I said softly with a gentle smile as I thought of Sofi, my sister who hopefully is doing well in her new school. Guilt pushed open a door in me but I shut it the moment it did, I can't feel this now, not here, not now.
Nodding in knowing at the picture before putting it back in it's rightful place and sits in his seat. Looking at me while crossing his arms on the table showing off his slightly strong muscles through his grey sharp suit. "So, Ms. Cabello–" He says with gentleness yet there is authority in his voice snapping my attention from his strong arms to his warm brown eyes. He grabs ahold of my transcript and did something I have never imagined anyone would ever done.
He tore it to four useless pieces of paper. I blinked repeatedly at the papers before me that are no use.
"C–Camila, you can call me Camila." I stutter swallowing hard as I look up at him with shock but a carefully smile. I look back at the papers that he shoved in my folder that is now...useless.
"Welcome to Sunnydale High; a clean slate Camila, that's what you get here. What's past is past." He runs his hand over my folder and smiles at me. "We're not interested in what it says on a piece of paper, even if it says–" He looks down at the folder and pulls out the paper he teared.
My eyes widen and my heart starts beating widely knowing exactly this is the moment of truth. I feel like as if I am on the red chair where ice and shock will shoot through me as I await his next words.
"–Oh... That's uh." He stutters, his smile no longer there, his warm eyes looking back at me with replacement of questioning once that I know I can't answer. He looks back down at the useless paper and this time he swallows thickly and I can see the nervousness flash as he scrubs his neat hairy jaw with tensed shoulder.
I freeze in my place, fearing if I move a muscle I'll mess everything up–or in this situation, make it worse.
I knew I wouldn't see the warm smile and gentle eyes after what he read which made me bit harder on my lower lips.
"At Sunnydale, we nurture the whole student, the inner student." I know he is trying to see through it, but I have a feeling it won't go into my favors unless a miracle happens. He smiles awkwardly as he starts gathering the pieces of the transcript as he talks and carefully places them together again. "Other schools might look at the incredible decline in grade point average, we look at the struggling young woman with the incredible decline in grade point average. Other schools might look at the reports of gang fights–"
I grab the hold of the armor and push myself to sit up straight, "Mr. Sandler–"
"All the kids here are free to call me Adam." He says with a smile towards me but I can see the questions going through his head.
"Adam–" I try again biting my lower lip hard when he cuts me off again. Making my already crazy nervous have nervous.
"But they don't." He says flatly with a bitter smile as he shoots me a look making me swallow audibly as I wet my lips. He pulls out a tape from the drawer and starts taping the transcript back together.
Shaking my head, I grinded my teeth together feeling control is being stripped from me as the nervousness took over, "Mr. Sandler, I know my transcripts are a little...colorful–" I flinch at my choice of word as I fiddle with my fingers.
"Hey, we're not caring about that." He fakes a smile before raising his eyebrow, "But do you think colorful is the word? Not dismal?" He gives me a questioning look but doesn't give me the time to answer as he nods his head at me, "Just off hand, I'd go with dismal." He says making my nervous run marathons.
"It wasn't that bad." I defended weakly while folding my hands under my knees knowing I just opened doors of questions for him to ask.
Looking up at me again with wide eyes and mouth agape, "You burned down the gym?" He questions more than answers while looking up and down on me, like he couldn't believe I'd do such thing. Trust me, me too.
Biting the inside of my cheeks, with guilt coming right back in with force this time that it's written all over my face as I stare into space. "I did. I really did–" I mumble with a frown knowing there is no out even though I need out. Looking back at him, I wet my lips as my ramble starts before I could stop it. "–But you gotta see the big picture. I mean, the gym was full of vamp... uh, asbestos." I tensed at what was about to leave my mouth as every cell in my body freezes like ice.
Looking at me weirdly with his head tilt to the side. I can see he is tryign to understand and it makes clench harder on hope. "Camila..." My name comes out as a sigh making me swallow hard.
I see him shake his head before looking at me and I could see the warmth I first saw when I walked in slowly coming back, giving hope that I know got be a real bitch right now, but still I cling to it.
"Don't worry. Any other school they might say 'watch your step,' or, 'we'll be watching you' or, 'get within a hundred yards of the gym with a book of matches and you'll grow up in juvie hall' but that's just not the way here." He's eyes fall to the family picture before he sighs and looks at me and I feel like I am about to fall of the chair with the tension in this room. "We want to service your needs, and help you to respect our needs. And if your needs and our needs don't mesh..." He shrugs and smiles blandly and slips the taped transcript back in her folder and slaps it on his desk making me jump a little, almost falling of the seat.
I blink, repeatedly at him trying to understand what just happened, how it went from cold to hot. "Right..." I say wetting my lips, understanding fully aware that I'll be kicked out if I did a small slip up. Nodding my head as I look at him while standing up with shaky legs. "Thank you, Sir–Adam–Mr. Sandler." I stutter at him holding my bag tightly, not wanting to stay in here for a second so he doesn't change his mind but his aura tells me otherwise.
He stands up with me and nods, "Don't let me regret my decision." He says as I smile at him one last time before bolting out of the office with a sigh of relief.
I couldn't help but let out a bubbly nervous laugh out at what just happened. I shake my head as a smile plays on my lips when I replay him shaking his head with a smile of his own too.
Leaning against his door for a few seconds to calm my nerves and heart and thank every kind of God up there that made him accept me and actually give me a chance.
Hearing the bell ring knowing I missed homeroom, I start rummaging through my bag while walking slowly towards my first actual class.
I was too caught up in search for my schedule that I didn't see the student that bumped into me making my books and stuff spill out. Clenching my eyes tightly in frustration and let a groan out as I kneel down and starts scooping it back in.
I shake my head when he didn't even stop to help or even yell a 'sorry' over his shoulder.
I grab some of my books just as someone hands me my bubble gum. Look up I couldn't deny the handsome guy with brown eyes and perfect eyebrows. He had beautiful soft, curly dark brown hair that reached his shoulder and all I wanted to do is ruffle it.
He has on a blue t-shirt that had strips with a grey jacket on and dark blue jeans. I'm impressed that he really knows how to dress. Sadly, I don't swing that way anymore.
"Can I have you?" He says still holding on the bubble gum that I have yet to take. Looking at him with raised eyebrows at what he said making his eyes go wild when he realized his slip up. "Uh–Can I help you?" He stutters, cheeks slightly red making me smile slightly. He shakes his head a little making his curly brown hair comes over his eyes and I wanted to aw at sight because he looks like a cute puppy.
Chuckling at the nervous nameless guy that I still want to ruffle his hair, "Thanks." I say, grabbing my things he's handing me.
"I don't know you, do I?" He says sweetly trying to calm his nerves with an awkward smile and small talk.
"I'm new. I'm Camila." I say flashing him a gentle smile as I bit my lips and focus on shoving my things in the bag.
He grins widely at me, like a kid in Christmas, "Robert Alexander the 3rd. Is me. Call me Moose. Hi." He stutters with his perfect eyebrows frowned at what he just said with an awkward wave.
I raise my eyebrow at him making him swallow nervously as I chuckle at him before grabbing the last of my things, "Thank you, Robert Alexander the 3rd aka Moose." I say with a teasing smile making him blush once more and chuckles.
"Maybe I'll see you around. Maybe at school, since we both... go there..." He stutters with a frown again making me think if his nervous made him vocabulary mush.
Smiling awkwardly at him while biting my lips, "Great. Nice to meet you." I say hurriedly strapping my bag before standing up and walk away from a very red-cheeked handsome guy.
But I couldn't help the giggle that left my lips as I heard him mumble, "We both go to school... Very suave. Very not pathetic." Looking back at him I saw him shaking his head with both his hands on his waist and looking down, no doubt embarrassed. Giggling at him as ease swept through me by his sweetness, nervousness and company. With a smile, I make my way to my History class but tense at his next words making my eyes go wide as I keep my head down and walk faster.
"Oh hey! You forgot your... Stake?" I could almost see the puzzled look on his face handsome face while saying that.
I groan and pick up the pace as I mentally slap me. Why did I even think of packing that? I really do hope I don't see him again, what will I say when he'll ask me questions? We use them back in L.A because they are better than paper spray?
I run my hand through my head and shake my head trying to get rid of the thoughts while rolling my eyes at myself, "Smart Camila, real smart." I mumble before letting out a shaky breath and walk into my first class of the day.
---
I was writing down notes as carefully as I can seeing as my handwriting isn't understandable, trying to keep up and give the teacher a good impression of me.
"It's estimated that about 25 million people died in that one four year span. But the fun part of the Black Plague is that it originated in Europe how? As an early form of germ warfare. The plague was first found in Asia, and a Kipchak army actually catapulted plague-infested corpses into a Genoese trading post. Ingenious. If you look at the map on page 63 you can trace the spread of the disease..." Miss. Vergara said, holding the book to her face with a small frown as she reads. Her thick accent makes me smile but also wanting to laugh and not the bad kind of way but the way where it actually makes me warm inside. She could be a comedian.
I sigh shaking my head for where my thoughts keep darting away, 'So much for trying to make a good impression.' I thought as I roll my eyes. I looked to my left and right for the text book that she's talking about but I don't seem to find it. My eyes widen when I realized I don't have it. With slump shoulders, I groan slightly.
Seconds later I felt a tap on my arm making me turn to a pale girl with long dark soft locks and big brown eyes, from what I can see she has on a killer white outfit. "Here." She says softly as she leans in with the book making me smile at her kindness.
"Thanks." I say just as soft, I grab my notebook and jot down the answer.
"And this popular plague led to what social changes?" Miss. Vergara said, waiting for someone to answer her, but no one had the opportunity to as the bell rang singling that class was over.
Students start piling up their books and leaving once the bell has rung. The brunette that saved my butt in class introduced herself to me with a firm handshake, "I'm Emma Watson." She says sweetly with a thick British accent before garbing her books and her very noticeable expensive black bag.
I do that same but mine is not so expensive. "I'm Camila, Camila Cabello." I say with an awkward smile as we walk out the class to God knows where.
She looks at me with wide eyes and a charming smile, "As in the Cabello CEO? The Cabello Enterprises Holding?" Her eyes widen as I nod slowly, wetting my lips from the nervousness that erupted inside of me.
Yes, my father is a very wealthy and well-known man around the world. It was stupid to think I'd actually go unnoticed, but it was worth a try.
"Wow..." I can hear the surprise and giddiness in her voice and I hope she'd just ignore it and talk to me as me and not as a person who her father nearly knowns everything in the world. "That amazing like holy..." She shakes her head before looking at me with a grin but I just smile awkwardly at her before looking down.
She clears her throat before speaking again, "Well, if you're looking for a textbook of your very own, there's probably a few in the Library." She says with a gentle smile making me look up at her to see warmth in her eyes and I couldn't help but relax and smile back at her.
We walk down the crowded hallway but I couldn't help and realize that mostly everyone is looking at us making me tense as my mind does a double take thinking someone might have heard what Emma said about me and now everyone knows. I clenched my jaw and looking at every and one of them with a hard gaze only to realize they are looking at Emma.
I sigh in relief, that no one knows who I am making me relax a little and look at Emma, "Oh, great thanks." I say with a grin before biting my lips, "Where would that be?" A nervous laugh bubbles it's way out as I ran my fingers through my hair trying to ignore the attention.
With a grin my way, "I'll show you." She says seemingly used to the staring. She takes a turn and I follow heading to the library.
"You transferred from High School of the Arts, right? In L.A.?" She said with curious eyes and cheery voice making me bit my lower lips with a shy smile even though I don't like where this is heading at all.
"Um, yeah." I say with a nervous smile. I really don't like talking about me, especially now that she knows who I am, kind of know who I am.
Her free hand grabs a hold of my arm and she jumps in excitement, "I would kill to live in L.A." She rolls her eyes in obvious, "Being that close to that many shoes... Why'd you come here?" She curiously asks.
Rubbing the back of my neck with a nervous smile, "Um, because my mom moved–is the reason. I mean we both moved. With my sister. But my mom wanted to." I stutter with nervousness making think of Moose. I swallow thickly as I look at her with a fake smile trying so hard to think of how to change the thine icy subject.
Looking at me with a frown but shrugs it off, "Well, you'll be okay here. If you hang with me and mine, you'll be accepted in no time. Of course, we do have to test your coolness factor. You're from L.A. and rich so you can skip the written but, let's see... Vamp nail polish." She asked with squinting eyes.
"Over?" I hesitated while looking at her. I really need to fit in here and if that's the questions I get to do, so be it.
She rolls her eyes and nods, "So over. Bradley Cooper." She asked again, making me at ease a little.
"He needs to call me." I say with a chuckle while holding on to both of my backpack straps.
"Trendy but tasty. Donald Trump?" She asks raising her eyebrows at me.
I scrunch up my nose in disgust and wet my lips as if I just eaten something that's rotten. "The devil!" I exclaim.
Laughing at me, "Well, that was pretty much a gimme, but you passed." She says with wink making me smile shyly.
"Oh, good." I say with relief as my body relaxes like warm water calming my nervous.
We stopped by a water fountain that is being used at the moment by a girl with blondish hair, she is wearing a oversized hoodie and black leggings, grabbing my attention. She was tall, pretty tall. I have yet to see her face but from the side she looks like she created the word beautiful.
"Dinah! Nice dress. Good to know you've seen the softer side of Sears." Emma says with a fake smile making my smile vanish almost instantly and so did Dinah's.
Looking down at what she has on as she whips her lower lip with the pad of her thumb before looking back at Emma with raised eyebrows. "Well I picked it out." She says almost sadly, looking at me then back at Emma.
In my point, she looks extremely attractive, even thought the hoodie is big on her. I don't know what Emma was talking about but I couldn't find my voice to voice out my thought.
"No wonder you're such a guy-magnet." She says with that fake smile. My eyes widen and I felt like I was being slapped repeatedly at that comment even though it wasn't directed to me. "Are you done?" She says with scowl gesturing to the water fountain.
"Whatever." Dinah says rolling her eyes before walking away slowly with her head down as a pang hit me right in the chest and slapped by a metal chair.
Emma turns around towards me and rolls her eyes, "You wanna fit in here, the first rule is, know your losers. Once you can identify them all by sight, they're a lot easier to avoid." She says turning around and bends to drink, but I couldn't care less what she was saying as my eyes lock with Dinah's who looked back at me with her sad ones and a sad smile before turning the corner. This for some reason sends shock of guilt in my bones making me shiver and for my skin to crawl.
Once we were done from the water fountain, we walked to wards the library and when I was about to walk in and just get out of the company that is Emma when she I was stops me, "Hey, if you're not too tried or busy with catching up you should totally come to the Bronze tonight." She says with a genuine smile this time. I wanted to smile sadly at her, I wanted to tell her why?
But I don't.
Looking at her with confused eyes, "The who?"
"The Bronze. It's the only club worth going to around here. They let anybody in but it's still the scene. It's in the bad part of town." She says with a chuckle.
"Where's that?" I ask since I still have no idea what address my house is.
"About half a block from the good part of town. We don't have a whole lot of town. You should show." She says while shaking her head softly at what she just said making me laugh a little, she is genuine and sweet but it seems not to everyone.
"I'll try." I say as a small smile plays on my lips.
The bell rings and she turns her head when she heard someone calling before looking back at me with wide smile and warm eyes, "Good. I'll see you at gym and you can tell me absolutely everything there is to know about yourself." She says before walking away.
"That sounds like fun..." I mumble in sarcasm as I awkwardly look around seeing everyone is in their own little world.
Turning around to walk in the library but of course, I have to embarrass myself by tripping on my own shoes making me yelp a little as I shut my eyes tightly and I wait for my face to coiled with the cold floor. Seconds passed and nothing came making me frown.
Opening my eyes ever so slowly, only to see that someone had their arms around me from preventing the fall to happen and the first thing I noticed was the smell of my childhood perfume, Angel, and a hint of something that is making my skin hum in bliss, it's toxicating, the good kind, the kind that makes me want to wrap myself around whoever is wearing it and just lavish myself in them.
Looking up slowly to my saviour, my heart does this stupid thing where it suddenly knew gymnastics and my breathing slaps my lungs with force making it hard to breath. "Oh my..." I mumble without even realizing that I said it out loud making her give me that smile that sent my head fuzzy.
My eyes couldn't help but lock with the most beautiful emerald eyes I have ever seen and dive into such warmth I have never felt.
Her skin pale which looks extremely soft that my fingers physically twitch on her black leather jacket that she's wearing and as soon as they do, I felt a jolt of shock even though she has on her jacket.
My eyes scanned her face, every single detail–her bushy yet perfect eyebrows, her long lashes, slightly pointy nose and when my eyes landed on her lips I couldn't help but feel heat rushing all the way to my face and ears. because I have never felt the need to have someone's lips on mine that way I do for her. They look so damn kissable and curse me for thinking this but also, fuckable.
Looking back at those killer eyes that I can't help but get lost in as it consumes my soul and I let it, I let her eyes do what they are doing because the feelings I am feeling right now is too much to ignore.
Clearing her throat, "Hi there." Oh my, my. Her voice, her voice is so raspy yet angelic that I'm in awe and my mind has never felt so fuzzy and light at the same time. 'Damn woman.'
Blushing even harder for staring long enough for her to raise those beautiful eyebrows that my thumb twitches to run over it.
Clearing my throat as well, with my heart dancing in my throat to it's rightful place. "H–Hi..." I stutter, it came out as a whisper not wanting to break the thick yet soft air between us. I blush which ended with me break the eye contact we just had, but the thick and soft air is still there even when I realize that I am still in her arms. Standing up fast for my liking that made me slip backwards but she was fast in grabbing ahold of my waist pulling me to her, as my arms held onto her shoulders. Oh my. This is so tense yet it's not at the same time.
"Wow there, careful." She says softly with gentleness in her eyes and a glint of humor–the kind that makes you blush and laugh with them–but I didn't, all I did was blush.
"S–sorry, I'm really clumsy. It was bound to happen sooner or later." I say with a nervous chuckle as I look away from her hypnotizing eyes. "Though, I did hope it'd happen later... Where no one can see me." I mumble the last part as I wet my lips before biting down on it.
Laughing softly and holy hell, her laugh is like music to my ears, raspy and angelic that sent warmth through my body and consumed my already thumping heart that is screaming with need. Need of what? I have yet to know, but I know it's something with this angel who's holding me. "Well, I hope it doesn't happen when I'm not around." She says softly when she was done laughing, a smirk–no, a wicked smirk plays on those pump lips making me want to push to my toes and kiss her ever so gently.
Looking at her while biting my lower lip to suppress the need to smile while at the thought of kissing her. "Why?" I say still holding onto her shoulders feeling the warmth that's radiating of off her, while she still has her hands around my waist. Not that I am complaining. No way, no Sir.
Smirking her wicked smile that has my knees weak and I wanted to roll my eyes at myself for feeling so much for someone I don't even know their name and literally bumped into them. "So I'll be the one to catch you." She whispers, her breath ghosting my lips making me ache in place I didn't know ache or can ache.
Oh my, my blushing isn't even going leave, is it? I honestly didn't know I can blush. Jesus. "Well good luck with that." I say with a chuckle as I lower my gaze and bit my lips again.
Smiling at me, she slowly pulls away which makes me frown a bit but I replaced it with a small smile and I mentally told myself to pull it together. "I'm Lauren." She rasps out extending her hand for me to shake.
This earned a real smile and I really felt like smashing my head against a wall, "Camila." I say, leaving my last name out, while shaking her hand. I shiver once our hands touched and wetted my lips when I felt electric jolt that I felt earlier when my hand was on her covered shoulder, but this time it came with force making me take a sharp intake as did she.
We stayed like this for awhile too long looking at each other and again, I am not complaining, her skin soft as melted honey, that only makes my crazy nerves both calm and leaping.
Clearing her throat again, she pulls away first before she starts speaking again in the raspy voice I want her to whisper on my skin with promise, "I haven't seen you around before." She says, eyes shine with curiosity that never seemed to leave mine and I am hypnotized by how I can see gentle shades of grey lurking in the shadows leaving me in awe.
"Uh yeah, I just moved here actually." I stutter, blinking to focus on her words and not those kissable lips that are making my head buzz with need. Her smile only seems to grow with my words making me bite my lips. "It's my first day too." I say wanting to hear that raspy voice my heart is yearning to hear.
"I can see that." She says with a chuck making me break into a wide grin as her warm laugh sends shiver down my spine.
"What do you mean." I say now with my own curiosity and a teasing smile.
It was her now who bit the side of her lips making my heart leap and my mind to fog. "You were heading to the library. No one goes in there but the students who don't seem to find a quiet room to study and work hard or the new kids who are searching for books." She says in matter–of–factly.
I smile softly at her with the choice of words she used making my heart melt like sugar.
Deciding to tease her a little, I raised my eyebrows at her with my own smirk, "Are you one of those, 'working hard' students." I say with my own smirk when I see her blush, I couldn't help but smirk wider. Two can play this game.
Shaking her head softly, while biting those pump lips that my eyes seem to always settle back to them, "No, no. I don't go here. I just came to take something to read." She said gently as if she knew that hearing those words made my heart sink.
She grabs ahold of the opening of her leather jacket and pulls it back showing me the small brown old book in the inside of her pocket but my eyes couldn't help but drink in her strong waist that I can easily see the V-line when her black shirt slightly pulls up.
I felt the heat return to my cheeks but my smile still flatters which she noticed but I quickly put on a fake smile.
What is wrong with me? I just met her and I'm being so...so stupid.
"Oh. Where do you go?" I say trying not to sound as sad as I feel.
She hesitates at first making me frown, "I uh–work." She says making my eyes widen at the new information.
"Oh wow." I say stunned looking down a little before looking up again as I rub both my hands together, to try and calm myself. "Not to sound rude or anything but aren't you young for that?" I ask since she does look young.
She laughs that sexy raspy laugh but it sounded different, nervous kind of different. "I–I'm 20?" She questions more than answer which makes my eyes widen again.
"Wow." I mumble but I knew she heard it, my eyes meet hers making my skin erupt with goosebumps, "So you work and go to college?"
She opened her mouth to answer but closed it straight away when her phone rang making her look at me with an apologetic smile.
Pulling out her phone, I could tell it was something not good by the frown that took over her beautiful features and how hard her eyes turned. She looks back at me for a second before answering the call. All she did was listen to the other end and nodding few times before saying, "I'm on my way." Tucking her phone behind her black jean pocket and looks at me but this time her eyes softens, "I'm sorry, but I have to–"
"Go." I finish for her with a sad smile, "It's okay, I hope to see you around though." I say not trying to hide the hope in my voice.
She smirks wickedly and her shine with something I have yet to find out, "Oh, you will." Her whisper dripping with promises as she wink at me making me shiver and blush and I can physically see my heart fanning it's self.
She walks away, but stops in her tracks before turning around with that same wicked smirk that I want to kiss of off her soft beautiful face, "See you around Camila." And she's gone.
My heart still seems to be having a problem to beat normally and my mind seems it's alright to imagine myself making-out with Lauren. To top it off, I have this feeling that there are things flying around in my stomach. Are they butterflies? I sure hope so cause if not then I don't want to know what else is in there.
Sighing while shaking my head to try and push the thought away. I turn and walk into the double wooden doors and as I do, I can smell Lauren's lingering smell making me stand on my toes for a few seconds before I blush and shake my head once more and look around the library.
It's elegant–full of dark wood, streaming sunlight and of course book. In the middle was small wooden double stairs at either-sides with just 5 steps that take you to the shelves that are stacked with what seemed like old books.
Taking slow conscious steps forward to the brown wooden check–out counter only to find a newspaper that grabbed my attention and spiked my senses, "Local boys still missing." I mumble softly with a frown. I swallow thickly, it's not–No. It's not. It can't be. I put it back and moved away slowly shaking my head. They might be on a road trip to–Alaska or the moon.
Rolling my eyes at myself and sigh at myself, "Really Camila, Alaska?" I whisper to myself before looking turning towards the shelves. "Hello?" I say now much louder and look behind the counter.
I was about to turn around but tensed when I felt someone tap my shoulders making me spin so fast the I almost knocked the tall guy in front of me, "Can I help you?" He said with his British accent making me smile a little. He had pale skin, looks like he's in his 30's; his hair is black, short, straight casual hairstyle. He has blue with a little mix of green eyes, but not like Lauren's emerald eyes.
Shaking my head softly for thinking of someone I just met, before looking him up and down, he is very fit for someone in his age and as a librarian.
Clearing my throat and looking up at his questioning eyes, "I was looking for some–well, books. I'm new here." I say a nervous chuckle that was followed by a small smile as I sway a little on my feet, feeling nervous under his tensed gaze.
"Ms. Cabello?" He says with a glint in his eyes and a smile playing on his lips.
Smiling nervously, "Good call. I guess I'm the only new kid, huh?" I say with a chuckle trying to feel at ease as I sound.
Chuckling as well with a grin, "I'm Mr. Somerhalder, the librarian. You may call me Ian if you like." He says his smile only seems to grow making me frown but smile at the same time.
Feeling awkward already, I put my hands behind my back and look at him with a small smile, "Great. So do you have, uh–"
"I know what you're after." He says cutting me of, leading me to the check-out desk by the door. I can see his office behind it. I stand with my arms crossed over the table and a soft smile on my lips as he bends down and pulls out a book and slides it toward me.
A huge leather bound with a single word set in gild of the cover making me tense, 'VAMPIER.'
The blood in my face drains, my smile disperses like a lightening bolt and I can hear my thrumming heart in my ears and not the good kind.
No...No. I take few steps back from the desk I was leaning on, before softly shaking my head, no this isn't real. Wake up Camila! Mila wake up!
My eyes can't seem to leave the word that is written on the book, "That's not–not what I'm looking for." I stutter, my voice dripping with dread, while I softly shaking my head. I can feel cold sweat start to form on my forehead as my hand shake by my side as I grab a hold of my skirt to calm them.
This can't happen, not here, not again.
Ian looks at me with confusion and concern, "Are you sure?" He asks me softly, gently like I'm a glass that is about to fall of the table and break into painful pieces...and I think I will.
"I'm waaay sure." I stutter and my voice crack. I felt tears well up but I can't let them fall. No. This can't be happening, please not again. Please.
Nodding softly, he licks his lips and looks at me with concern written all over his face and voice, "My mistake." He gently, but it felt like knives. He grabs ahold of the book before placing it down.
Tearing my eyes away from the book, I feel my body shake, I can't be here. I need out. Out. I feel suffocated. I'm suffocated. Everything feels like it's closing in me, my eyes are damp with tears that scream to fall but I hold it in, just like I'm holding in my scream even though my lungs seem dry.
Before he could even look up I was out the door running, I don't know where my legs were taking me but I kept on running.
This can't really be happening. This is not happening. I can't let this happen.
---
It was lunch as I made my way towards the fountain in the middle but someone caught my eyes. They were sitting alone, I think humming to some tune.
A smile welcomes into my dry lips and make my way up to her. Maybe she can take my mind of things.
Standing right in front of her I automatically felt comfortable. "Hi, Dinah right?" I say with a wave and a sweet smile.
Looking startled by my voice, her eyes widen. "Why? I mean Hi. Did you want me to move?" She says in a rush, already packing her things to move.
Chuckling at her, I put a hand on her shoulder making her look up at me with wide eyes, "One, why don't we start with 'hi, I'm Camila." I say as I sit beside her, putting my bag on my lap. "And two, I need a favor." She was about to move again when I added real quick, "It doesn't involve moving." She sits back down with a questioning look, "But it does involve you hanging out with me for a while." I say with grin with and a soft laugh looking into her big brown eyes.
Looking at me sceptic with a frown, "But aren't you, I don't know, hanging with Emma?" She says raising her eyebrow as I look at her with confusion at first before remembering who Emma is. Right, the mean one. I thought while nodding softly.
"Right... I can't do both?" I say with a frown.
Grabbing a hold of her sandwich, "Not legally." She says shaking her head like it's the most obvious thing.
I sigh and look at her with a sad smile, "Look, I'm sorry about what Emma said early–"
Dinah shakes her head with a smile, "Oh don't worry about, it's Emma, kind of used to it." She shrugs and bites down her sandwich and it made frown but didn't push,
I nod again softly before looking at her, "I really want to get by here. New school–Emma's been really nice–to me." I frown and look at her with a sad smile again, "Anyway...but I have this burning desire not to flunk all my classes and I heard a rumor that you were the person to talk to if I wanted to get caught up." I stutter at first but then ignore the Emma conversation completely.
Her face brightens up like a child on Christmas and just like that, I knew, I knew I found a friend. A true friend. "Oh, I could totally help you out! If you have sixth period free we could meet in the library–"
I jump and look at her with wide eyes, "–Or not! Or you know, we could meet somewhere quieter. Louder! That place kind of gives me the creeps." I say looking away feeling embarrassed.
She smiles seemingly unfazed at my outburst and nods in understanding, "It has that effect on most kids. I love it, though. It's a great collection, and the new librarian is really cool." She says with excitement written all over her face.
I freeze my action when something grabs my attention, "He's new?" I say swallowing thickly with a frown and wet my lips.
Nodding eagerly, "Yeah, he just started. He was a curator of some British Museum. Or The British museum, I'm not really sure. But he knows everything! And he brought all these historical volumes and biographies–" She cut herself of when she saw me looking at her with raised eyebrows and a smirk. "-–And am I the single dullest person alive?" She says making me laugh with a wide grin.
"Not at all!" I say as we laugh together knowing now she feels more at ease with me.
"Hey. Are you guys busy? Can we interrupt? We're interrupting." I hear a familiar voice say before I look up and tense when my eyes landed on Moose, taking a seat on the top bench facing us.
"Hey." I say slowly, with an awkward wave of my hand, praying he forgot all about what he found in my bag.
"Hey there." A guy says with ginger short hair and brown eyes, his smile friendly showing off his perfect white teeth.
Dinah smiles at both of them before turning towards me, "Camila, this is Thomas Sangster and that's Robert Alexander the 3rd, but we call him Moose." Dinah said gesturing to the two of who winked at me.
Moose grins happily, "Oh, me and Camila go way back. Old friends, very close. Then there was that period of estrangement, I think we were both changing as people, but here we are and it's like old times, I'm quite moved." Moose rambles making me look at him with raised eyebrows trying so hard to hold back my laugh as I bit down my lip.
With raised eyebrows and hands on his strong waist, "Is it me, or are you turning into a bibbling idiot?" Says Thomas and at that point I couldn't hold back my laughter that was also joined by Dinah giggles at a very embarrassed Moose who looked down at his show while shaking his head.
"No, it's not you."
I chuckle at their bickering, "It's nice to meeting you guys... I think." I say the last part while looking at Dinah questionably who chuckles and shrugs her shoulders.
With his charming smile my way with gentleness in his eyes, I couldn't help but feel comfortable around him–them. "Well, we wanted to welcome you, make you feel at home." He says warmly before his smile turns cheeky, "Unless you have a scary home." Thomas jokes earning a smile from me.
I opened my mouth to respond but was cut off by Moose saying something that made me shut my mouth instantly. "And to return this." He says pulling something out of his bag and even though I started praying silently not to be the thing that is in my mind, I knew deep down it is.
Once he pulled the stake out, I couldn't help but tense in my seat as I look at it with wide eyes before snatching it real fast and stuffing it in my bag with a hammering heart.
Raising his eyebrow in thought he says with confusion in his voice, "The only thing I can figure is that you're building a really little fence."
Nerves running wild as my hands dig into my bag to calm myself, "Oh–uh, no. That was for self–defense. Everyone has t–them in L.A." I say nodding my head repeatedly without making eye contact and hoped my ramble would stop there but as always, it didn't. "Pepper spray is so passé..." I roll my eyes before they turned wild at my choice of word, "Old. They are so old." I stutter with embarrassment as I mentally slap myself for actually going with that memo.
Frowning his perfect eyebrows at me for a few seconds before he shakes his head dismissing my awkwardness and rubs his palms together and wets his lips. "So, what do you like, what do you do for fun, what do you look for in a man... Let's hear it." Moose says clapping his hands once, his attention fully on me, just like Dinah's and Thomas's.
Thomas smirks my way, wiggling his eyebrows. "If you have any dark, painful secrets that we could publish..."
Scrunching up my nose in discomfort at the attention, "Gee, everybody wants to know about me. How keen." I say wetting my lips before biting them.
Moose chuckles at me with a wide smile, "Well, not a lot happens in a town like Sunnydale. You're big news."
Feeling embarrassed, I softly shrug my shoulders before looking around trying to find a way to doge the question. "I'm not. Really. And for your last question I'm ga-" before I could finish, Emma walks right towards us with a boring look as everyone turned towards her.
"Are these, 'sad excuse of people' bothering you?" She says looking at the trio with disgust written all over her face.
My eyes widen and the uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as the memory of her talking to Dinah rudely came back in a flash. "No!" I loudly in fear she'll say something else and when I was about to elaborate Dinah cuts in.
Stuttering over her words as she jumps from the seat next to me, "She's not hanging o–out with us." She says, rubbing her hands together and wetting her lips repeatedly indicating she is nervous, while looking at me with a sad smile and mouths 'sorry.'
I just shook my head at her with my own sad smile in understanding and move close to where she is standing to see that I do want to be her friend.
Fixing his hair with his charming smile, Thomas walks over to stand next to Emma, "Hey, Emma." He says flirtations-ly making me bite my lips at his attempt.
Emma rolls her eyes at him and scrunches her nose in utter disgust, "Oh, please." She says pushing his away with the same disgusting look on her face before turning to me and a soft smile appears, "I don't want to interrupt your downward mobility–" She says with a frown making me look at the others who looked down in embarrassment, "–I just thought I'd tell you that you won't be meeting Coach Foster."
I frown.
"The woman with chest hair." She elaborates like that summed it up before continuing, "Because gym has been canceled due to the extreme dead guy in the locker." She says with a shrug.
My eyes widen and I swear my heart stopped for a good three seconds, "What?" I swallow thickly as thoughts invaded my already clouded mind.
Shock was written all over Dinah, her body tensed as she looks at Emma with wide eyes. "What are you talking about?"
I couldn't move, my body is frozen and cold sweat starts breaking. This can't be happening.
Emma looks at her nails like the words mean nothing, she blows slightly at her nails before looking at Dinah with a boring look. "Some guy was stuffed in Aria's locker."
"Dead." I couldn't even recognize my own voice as I spoke.
Giving me her full attention now, she nods her head and says, "Waaay dead." Using her hand as an elaboration of her words.
Suddenly, I find myself standing up with my backpack clenched to me. "I have to go." I blurt and sprint away from them not giving them the chance to say something or come with.
This isn't real. Please don't let it be real. Please don't.
I walk up the stairs with me repeating it in my head as I walk down the white hall and all the way to the locker room, just as the bell rings for students to go to their classes.
When I reach, the hall was already empty, I try opening the wooden door but turned out to be locked.
Looking behind me making sure the hall is empty as it sounds, When I saw no one, I try again but this time with my strength, breaking the doorknob and walking in slowly to see if someone might be in.
When I saw no one, I took a few steps to see the dead, cold and extremely pale body on the ground.
Groaning with slump shoulders, I walk up to it, I crouch down and my hands land on his shoulder, pulling him towards me, I push his head up and look at his neck. Groaning again with tired sigh, I mumble. "Great." I shake my head and raise my eyebrows before standing up and walk to the one person that has the answers.
---
Remembering a certain greened hypnotizing eyes words, I walked in with my already tensed body. "Why are you doing this? Why can't you just leave me alone." I stop at the foot of the library stairs.
"I'm sorry, what?" Mr. Somerhalder, turns around to look at me as he runs his fingers through his black perfect shiny hair.
I raise my eyebrow at him with both hands on my waist. "You heard about him, haven't you? The dead boy." I say, clenching and unclenching my fist to calm my nerves.
Realization hits him, he lets out a breath before he looks at me with his tensed eyes. "Yes, I have. I was afraid of this." He says walking towards me but stops at the top of the stairs.
I shake my head slightly with hopeless wide eyes, his words hit a hot spot that I could not help but feel my own heart breaking. "Well, I wasn't! It's my first day. I was afraid that I'd be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I'd have last month's hair. I didn't think there would be vampires on campus. And I don't care." I say, my voice crack at the end of my ramble but he didn't notice.
I cross my arms when he frowns at me, "Then why are you here?"
Stunned at what he said, I stutter over my words, "To tell you that I don't care–which I don't, and–have now told you. So bye." Feeling unsatisfied earned a frown as I slowly make my way towards the double wooden door and for some reason I want him to stop me, I need him to stop me.
My prayers were conformed when he said, "Will he rise?" I turn towards him. He's still in the top of the stairs with a book in hand, his eyes holding mine with power making me swallow.
Shaking my head softly as I hug myself, "No, he won't." I slowly make my way to the wooden table in the middle of the library before hopping on it as I chew on my lower lip.
"How are you so sure?" He says with a questioning look.
Letting out a breath and dropping my arms from around me, "To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood and then you have to suck their blood." I frown and tilt my head slightly, "It's a whole big sucking thing. Mostly they'll just take all your blood and then you just die–" I say with my hands everywhere. I look at him and he has his lower lip trapped with a slight smile and a glint in his eyes making me straighten up, "–Why am I still talking to you?" I say with a frown.
I can't let him know that I care about what is or might be happening but I also want to be left alone, live a teenager's life.
He frowns at me, shaking his head. His smile no longer there and his eyes hard. "You have no idea what's going on, do you?" He walks down the stairs to stand beside the table, his eyes never leaving mine making me tense. "–Do you think it's coincidence you coming here? That boy was just the beginning." He says with seriousness dripping in his voice sending coldness all the way to my spin.
I look at him with sad and tired eyes, "But I–I don't want this." When he only looks at me, I felt frustrated and balled my fist. "I never signed up for this."
"You're the slayer. You're gonna have to want this." He says before standing in front of me looking at me deep in the eyes, cornering me with his tensed body and eyes as I swallow thickly, "–Into every generation a slayer is born. One girl, in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the–"
Rolling my eyes, I cut him off, "–The strength and skill to hunt the vampires. To stop the spread of their evil blah blah I've heard it, okay? I know what happens." I say now getting up when I felt suffocated by how his eyes. He move back as I go and sit by the wooden steps, wrapping my arms around my knees and lay my head.
He turns around with confusion clouding his eyes and voice as he speaks, "I don't understand this attitude. You've accepted your duty, you've slain vampires before–"
Licking my lips, I say, "Well, I have both been there and done that. And I am moving on." Feeling satisfied with my answer, I nod with a small smile playing on my lips, before I look at him again. My smile flatters and I shrink in my place from the glare. Well some isn't satisfied.
"What do you know about this town?" He says seriously, his eyes challenging.
I shrug, "It's two hours on the freeway from Neiman Marcus." I say with a sly smirk.
Glaring at me again, his voice turns thick. "Dig a bit in the history of this place and you'll find there've been a steady stream of fairly odd occurrences. I believe this area is a center of mystical energy. Things gravitate toward it that you might not find elsewhere." He says now crouching down so he is eye level with me making me sit straight.
"Like vampires." I say knowingly to which he took as a good sign that I'm on the same page as him.
He stands and ordering me with his eyes to follow, I do and he goes and grabs books from the shelves before handing them to me one by one.
"Like Hybrids. Werewolves. Zombies. Succubi, incubi...Everything you ever dreaded under your bed and told yourself couldn't be by the light of day." He said now with his hands everywhere, as he licks his lips.
Looking at him questioning eyes and a smirk, "What, did you send away for the Time Life series?"
Looking at me with slightly red cheeks, "Uh, yes." He says running his fingers his hair before scratching the back of his neck.
My eyes widen, "Did you get the free phone?" I say bouncing a little in my place as I bit my lower lip.
Chuckling at me with a grin, "Uh–The calendar." He says looking at me with the same glint in his eyes before.
"Cool." I say with a grin. Seconds later, I shaking my head to try and get rid of whatever just happened and looking at him with my narrowed orbs, "Okay... First of all, I'm a vampire slayer. And secondly, I'm retired." I say putting the books on the table before looking at him with a fake smile, "Hey, I know! Why don't you kill them?" I say snapping my fingers once before pointing at him now with my raised eyebrows.
He frowns his eyes at me with his head tilted, "I'm a watcher. I am not skilled for such thing." He says like it was obvious.
Rolling my eyes at him, I let a breath out and say, "Oh, come on. Stake through the heart, a little sunlight–it's like falling off a log."
He shakes his head at me and looks at me with a boring look, "The Slayer slays. The Watcher–"
"Watches?" I say cutting him off with a smirk.
"Yes! No! He–he–trains her, he prepares her–" He stutters to find the right word but I couldn't let him finish knowing he just hit a hot spot. I stand in front of him with my jaw set and hard and my eyes burning into his.
"–Prepares me for what? Huh?" I raise my eyebrow, but didn't wait for his answer, "For getting kicked out of school? Losing all my friends? Having to spend all my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because it might 'endanger', them? Go ahead. Prepare me." My voice cracked slightly but laced with acid that made him take a step back slightly looking stunned.
When he didn't say anything, I shook my head and lowed it slightly as I let out a bitter chuckle before looking at him with my icy gaze for two painful seconds and head out.
Once I reached the white hallway swarming with students, I hear him say loudly causing students nearby to frown in our direction. "It's getting worse."
I slow my steps and let out a breath and tuck the pain I reviled away for a while before softly saying, "What's getting worse?" With my arms crossed, hugging myself from the coldness I feel inside and out.
He looks around at the student and wet his lips before speaking as fast as someone running from their life but understood every word, "The influx of the undead, the supernatural occurrences. It's been building for–for years and now... There's a reason why you're here, and there's a reason why it's now."
Rolling my eyes at him, "Because now is the time my mom moved here." I say with obvious lace in my voice and boredom. I walk faster, but stopped when his arm blocks my way making me lean against the wall and roll my eyes, not giving him the attention he needs.
Looking around again, the place was close to empty, "Something is coming. Something is going to happen here soon." He whispers forcing me to look deep into his tensed eyes making me cold to the bone, yet, my stubborn self doesn't want to believe that.
"Gee, can you vague that up for me." Sarcasm drips from my voice.
He stands tall in front of me with his eyes hard and serious, ignoring my tone. "As far as I can tell, the signs point to a crucial mystical upheaval very soon–days, possibly less." He says as he rubs his forehead like all this is giving him a heading, well that makes both of us.
Looking at him in a boring matter and raised eyebrow, I say, "Come on. This is Sunnydale. How bad an evil can there be here?" Not giving him a chance to stop me this time as I walk towards my last class of the day.
Little did both know, Moose was listening into the whole conversation that happened between them.