Flustered and embarrassed, I got up so quickly that I knocked down my chair. If some people weren't paying attention to us before, I had their attention now, but it didn't matter to me as much as what the principal would do to me if he found out. Principal Hart was not known for kindness or being an understanding principal. In fact he ripped the 'pal' right out of principal and tore it apart. How could I have forgotten something so important? This wouldn't look good on my report.

As if noticing my rattled state, Xander said in that soothing, honey-sweet voice of his that made my senses and back tingle, "Don't worry; I haven't told the principal about it."

I started smiling appreciatively, thinking that maybe he wasn't so bad after all, but then immediately changed my mind one-hundred and eighty degrees when he uttered the word, "Yet."

My smile fell. I took in the taunting smirk that slowly formed on his face and that strange emotion in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher, something akin to amusement. I bristled with anger. Was he threatening me?

Before I could voice my heated thoughts, he said, "I had Britney show me to my first classes instead." 

I winced at the name.

From behind him, Britney Leonard, this school's number one bitch, captain cheerleader and my worst enemy appeared with that same cunning smile she always wore, that same smile that fooled people into thinking she was nice and sweet when she was anything but. She was a despicable being bent on turning her rivals and opposer's lives into living hells so she could feel better about her own. It was ironic how the captain cheerleader brought only despair and distress into the hearts of those she deemed unfit to be part of her 'clique' or not near her social status. Since day one, she and I had been at each other's throats for a reason now lost to me.

"Why, hello Carly." I resisted the overpowering urge to shudder at the sound of her hideous, overly sweet, high-pitched voice and plastered on a smile we both knew was as fake as her nails and hair instead. I didn't bother replying, knowing full well any act of courtesy and friendship was pointless since she was probably already thinking up insults about my clothes, hair, shoes etcetera to faze and hurt me, not that I cared what she thought of me and my attire.

I watched as she laid a manicured hand on Xander's shoulder and leaned toward him, putting little distance between them, as if hinting to me she was claiming the new boy as her new boy toy. Xander didn't seem to mind her action. Deep inside at the pit of my stomach, something stirred and raged as a bizarre emotion rapidly consumed me, filling me with a sense of anger, hatred and betrayal. Why I felt betrayed was beyond me.

"You can go now. I can take him to the rest of his classes and around the school; it's my job." I mentally slapped myself at the possessive note in my voice and the obvious contempt I displayed toward Britney. It was so childish of me, and so strange.

Britney's façade fell. "Why don't you let me continue? It's clear you're unfit anyway. I'm sure Mr. Hart wouldn't mind. Be glad, I'm doing you a favor." She spat venomously, glaring at me. Funny how little it took to ruffle her feathers.

Frankly, I was dumbfounded by the malice she projected toward me. 

Xander said, "It's alright, Britney. Carly can show me around." And then he simply strolled away, expression neutral, hands in his jacket's pockets, and said while still in audible range, "I'll be waiting by your locker. I've got Art after this."

I was stunned, eyes wide and mouth slightly gaping, and I wasn't the only one. Everyone in the cafeteria had been tuned in to our conversation, so they must've heard Xander turn down Britney's offer for me. But he he did, for which I was secretly deeply grateful. The look on Shitney's face was priceless.

After that, time seemed to fly by faster than I would've liked and it was soon time for Art class and time to play escort to Xander. I had been dreading the piercing sound of the bell ever since I had turned my back to Britney, picked up my chair off the ground and sat down after all the commotion had somehow quieted down. For Xander's mere presence was enough to cloud my judgment and mind, stir feeling within me I never knew lay dormant, so I didn't want anything to do with him.

"You've been quiet ever since that new guy waltzed in with Shitney." My head whipped up to see Trey standing and picking up his books, ready to head to class.

"How about we ditch school for the rest of the day?" I suggested, hopeful and willing to commit the unthinkable just to avoid Xander.

"Can't. I've got football practice."

Unbelievable! The one time I'm actually willing to skip school without him bugging me about it and he turns me down for football practice. I thought, my mood turning gloomy and unrepairable. There really was no escaping it, it seemed.

"Just face him like a man." Trey said, annoyed, before walking away, leaving me sitting alone and desperate in the cafeteria, inwardly contemplating why I was showing this sudden cowardice and anxiety. I couldn't possibly let Xander know he unnerved me! There was no other choice. I had to show him around.

****

"Where is he?" I grumbled to myself, annoyed and a little pissed. The bastard said he'd meet me at my locker! Here I was, standing before my locker with my sketch book in hand, patiently waiting for Xander to show up. Ten minutes from the period has passed already and there was still no sign of him! I thought of ditching him many a time, but I had already unknowingly done that for the first periods and I couldn't afford to do it again. Not if I didn't want the Principal to find out about it. Xander had made that very clear.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I leaned against my locker, wondering why I had been chosen to practically babysit him when there were hundreds of qualified, apt students in the school who'd do a far better job than me. I stared –more like glared- at the tiles around my feet with an intensity that could've melted them. Maybe I'd get lucky and find out Xander decided to skip the rest of the day!

My back started tingling.

"Did I keep you waiting?" His deep voice drifted to my ears just when he materialized next to me out of thin air. Startled, I yelped and pressed into my locker harder, heart thumping wildly against my ribcage, eyes wide and alert. Had I been that deep in thought that I didn't notice Xander approaching?

When I composed myself and calmed my frantic heart, I finally replied, "Yes, actually. We might as well skip the period now." Before I could step away from the locker, Xander put a hand on either side of my head, trapping me against the locker like a cornered prey. A crimson shade painted my cheeks and travelled down my neck as my heart accelerated once again, my rate passing the limits labeled as 'accepted'. Flustered, I pressed even harder into the cool metal surface behind me to put as much distance between my face and Xander's beautiful one, as well as to quell my back's uncontrollable tingling which was quickly getting out of hand and morphing into something very close to pain.

"W-What are you doing?" I was surprised I only stuttered and actual words came out, for my mind was very close to shutting down, a million incoherent ideas and thoughts floating through at once followed by another incoherent million.

"You're right, maybe we should skip. I know a quiet place we can go to." The heavy insinuation in his voice and words was as clear as daylight, making my heart stutter. I hadn't noticed how close his face had gotten to mine as he spoke until I felt his cool, fresh, minty breath fan my face. I fought the urge to close my eyes, focusing instead on getting myself out of this situation.

"I didn't mean it that wa-" I stopped protesting when I looked into his eyes, my tongue knotting. I was immediately taken aback by the brilliant shade of golden his eyes had turned into, a shade so vivid and dazzling his eyes looked like they were glowing. He stared at me –or into me- with an intensity and concentration that left my tongue knotted and my heart beating in my ears like a drum. His eyes held so many powerful emotions that it became hard to read him, almost impossible, his face becoming expressionless. He was so much taller than I was, almost a head taller. I marveled at the beauty of the hard edges and angles of his face, wondering how someone could be so perfect-looking. And I didn't so much as move a muscle or protest when he trailed a finger down my right cheek then stroked it, his touch too warm –almost scorching-, yet comforting and soothing in a way nothing had ever comforted or soothed me before. My back even stopped its unbearable tingling, giving way to shivers of delight as they skittered up and down my spine. No one had ever touched me so fondly and intimately before, his caress soft and delicate –as if he was afraid I'd crumble in his hands like a sandcastle.

So, the question was: Why was I letting a perfect stranger touch me this way?