Chapter 1
Rae tapped her foot quietly, impatient for the bell to ring. She didn't have any classes with Anthony, her boyfriend, so lunch was quite enjoyable.
'Ok, gotta concetrate. What is he babbling about anyways?'
Her attention shifted from the clock to her teacher, Mr. Jesperson. He was a rather strange character. If you asked her, he was way to concerned about her well-being. But then again, after her break-down last spring, and the news that her mother was a murderer came out, most of everybody treated her like a freak.
Rae didn't care though. If everyone else couldn't deal, they weren't worth her time, including her ex-boyfriend Marcus. She had better things to do, such as save her life from some creepy government agents. Rae was a fingerprint reader and therefore the agents were after her so they could study her and use her for their purposes, whatever that was. But Rae wasn't going to let that happen. The agents had been responsible for framing her mother as the murderer of Erica Keaton, another women in her mother's new agey group who also had powers and also her mother's best friend. Obviously, because they had powers they didn't seem like human beings that deserved human rights. It was the government that had given them injections for them to develop powers in the first place.
"And that concludes our discussion for today. Umm, Rae, Alyssa, can I quickly talk to you," Mr. Jesperson said.
What is this about? Rae wondered. Rae glanced over at the new girl, Alyssa. She was beautiful. Her pale face was framed by very dark brown hair, with light brown strands that seemed to be highlights, but weren't. Her figure was perfect, slim yet not too slim, curves where needed. She could probably snatch Marcus if she wanted him. You would expect the girl to be stereotypical, pretty, popular, smart, yet a major snob. When Alyssa had gone up to introduce herself, she had been very vague and mysterious, as if she had something major to hide.
"Rae, as you know Alyssa is new here. Would you please show her around?" Mr. Jesperson asked.
Ok, why am I always stuck with the new kids?
Rae thought but she mumbled an "ok". The two girls left the classroom.
"Ok, so the cafeteria is that way," Rae said pointing in the general direction.
"Where do you spend your lunchtime?" the girl asked. Her tone was a bit icy.
"Umm, I go to the art room with my boyfriend, or I'll go out to eat," Rae replied, and then added "Would you like to join us? But, I might want to warn you. Many people think I'm a freak so it would be bad to be seen with me. If people saw you with Rae Voight, freakshow, you'd be freak by association.You see.."
"Do you think you're a freak? Wait, voight. You are Rae Voight?" Alyssa interrupted.
"Well other people do, yeah, I'm Rae Voight" Rae said.
"I already know that. People have talked to me. But do YOU think you're a freak? Do you think you're mentally insane?" Alyssa asked.
"No, I think I'm sane. Besides that one break-down there hasn't been any indication that there's anything wrong with me," Rae blurted out.
"Well, if you don't think you're physco, or a freak, then you aren't. I believe you. Umm I'd eat my lunch with you, Rae, but I'm kinda looking for someone. Maybe you know them," Alyssa said, with a smile, the iciness had faded once Rae had mentioned her last name. Now Alyssa seemed almost, friendly.
"Ok, shoot. Who is she?" Rae said.
"Actually it's a he. Anthony, Anthony Fascinelli," Alyssa said.
Chapter 2
I wonder who she is. Old girlfriend? Distant sister? Cousin?
"Hey Rae," Anthony said when she reached him, and he leaned in for a quick kiss. After kissing her he looked up, and Rae couldn't help noticing how his eyes widened considerably. "Alyssa?" he managed to utter out, remembering how to work his vocal cords.
"Yep, the one the only, the mud-pie queen," Alyssa said smiling and gave him a tight hug.
Ok, don't be jealous. Mud-pie queen. That means they were childhood friends. They probably haven't seen each other in a while. Argh, if only she wasn't sooo darn beautiful.
"It's so great to see you. Where have you been all these years? When did I last see you again, when we were 3 years old? What have you been doing the last 13 to 14 years? Have you moved back? Where are your parents?" Anthony gushed on, like a little girl seeing her best friend after a summer vacation away from each other.
"We'll talk about that later. Now it's time to eat lunch. I think I'll take you up on your offer Rae. Oh let me see," Alyssa said, and then stood back, "oooh you got good taste Anthony. You two look sooo cute together."
"Thanks," Rae said feeling guilty for the twinge of jealousy she had felt earlier.
See. She approves. They are just friends. Nothing to worry about.
"So, since I'm new here and all. Maybe you two could give me a tour of the town? You could how me what's changed since I last lived here. What do you say?" Alyssa asked.
"Sure," Anthony answered for the both of them.
Chapter 3
Rae plopped down onto her bed, exhausted from giving Alyssa the entire tour. But it had made Anthony really happy. Obviously, Alyssa had been really close to him when he was just a kid. There was something about Alyssa that bothered Rae though. Why had she been so unfriendly before Rae's last name had been revealed? It wasn't only that. Something on top of that made Rae feel like she should be aware of something, but she didn't know what.
It's just because your afraid Anthony will like her or something. There is nothing wrong with her.
But she still got the sinking feel that something was. The phone rang
