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I traced the jagged scar on my shoulder, a ritual that had become second nature to me.

The sensation of the uneven skin beneath my fingertips brought a strange sense of peace amidst my nerves.

Despite being a senior, the first day of school never failed to stir up anxiety within me.

Familiarity with the halls didn't erase the fear of losing my way, prompting me to reach my first class half an hour before it began, determined to sidestep any chance of confusion.

My encounter with Ms. Parker this morning was a bit uncomfortable.

She was in the midst of her breakfast when I stepped into the room, forcing me to stand awkwardly as she rummaged through her papers for the seating chart, all while trying to chew her food.

Once she managed to find it, she gestured towards my designated seat and I took my place silently, not wanting to intrude on her mealtime further.

As I awaited the arrival of my classmates, I read a book to pass time.

It felt like they all burst into the room simultaneously around five minutes before the bell signaled the start of class.

As my classmates started to head to their seats, I looked through the faces to see if any of my friends were there. Soon I saw Amelia come through the door. Her brown eyes made contact with mine, and she gave me a bright smile. Once she got her seating assignment, she ran over to me.

"I am so glad to see you!" She said as she embraced me.

"I'm glad to see you too." I smiled at her.

She sat down in the seat next to me and pulled her curly black hair into a ponytail. "Where were you all summer?" She gave me a concerned look. "Every time I tried to make plans, you were busy."

My face flushed as I tried to come up with an excuse. I didn't want to tell her the real reason I ghosted everyone during the summer. "I- I stayed at my cousin's house in Texas all summer so I could help her take care of the kids." I stammered out.

"I thought it was your sister that lived in Texas?" Amelia challenged.

"Yes, yes it was my sister. Sorry, I'm just out of it this morning." I explained.

The tardy bell for the class rang, and everyone got settled into their seats.

I was glad that I did not have to continue my conversation with Amelia.

She probably would have pressed me for more details that I was not prepared to give.

I did not have any evidence of being in Texas, and I realized too late that I would have to keep this lie going until the end of the school year.

"Good morning class, I am..." Ms. Parker was cut off by a student walking in late.

As he walked in I noticed that he looked familiar to me.

Though I could only see his back as he received his seating assignment from the teacher, I could swear that the new student's presence shifted something in the air.

It was as if a subtle energy had changed, and a strange tingling sensation ran down my spine.

As he turned to face the class, our eyes met, and a shiver crept through me.

He had an intense gaze, with icy blue eyes that seemed to pierce right through me.

His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead as he scanned the room, his presence commanding attention without him even trying.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of unease wash over me.

I knew him. His eyes suddenly changed color.

It was just for a second, but I didn't miss it.

They turned gold, and his gaze never tore from mine.

Amelia nudged me gently, pulling me out of my trance. "Elaine, are you okay?" she whispered, concern evident in her voice.

I tore my gaze away from the new student and nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine." But I wasn't fine. There was something about him that unsettled me in a way I couldn't understand.

"That's my seat."

I jumped when I heard his deep voice. He was addressing Amelia, who did not move an inch.

"Find a different seat." She commanded, giving him her signature death glare that usually convinced people to do what she wanted.

"That is actually his seat." Ms. Parker interjected. "Your seat is in the back of the class." She pointed to a seat that was four rows behind me. Amelia sighed loudly, and dramatically made her way to the back of the class.

I dropped my head into my hands in embarrassment.

I really did not want any drama this school year.

Especially not even fifteen minutes into my first class.

I kept my head down, not wanting to look at the young man sitting next to me.

I felt uneasy the entire class. Though I did not actually see him, I could sense him staring at me the entire class.

However, that could have just been my anxiety playing tricks on me.

I never looked up to actually confirm my suspicions because I was too scared to acknowledge him.

When the bell rang, I quickly packed my bag and rushed out of the classroom. Amelia had to run to catch up to me in the hallway. She grabbed onto my bookbag to stop me in my tracks and pulled me off into a corner that we could talk in.

"Was that who I thought that was?" Amelia gave me an incredulous look.

I nodded because I was pretty sure she knew what had happened back then.

"That was the freak that bit you in 7th grade!" She blurted out.

I nodded again, the memory coming back to me. I rubbed once more at the scar on my shoulder, the one he left.

"I can't believe they let him transfer here after what happened! Let alone put him in the same class as you." Amelia continued, clearly upset by his presence.

I took a deep breath and let myself process the situation.

We were only thirteen at the time, and that was five years ago.

Maybe he has changed. Though, I never really knew him in the first place.

We rarely spoke. He moved to my middle school in 7th grade, and he bit me two weeks into the spring semester.

I was talking with my crush at lunch time one day, and that's when he came up to me all of a sudden and bit me in the area between my neck and my shoulder blade.

I remember it hurt like hell, and I almost passed out when I saw my own blood rushing down my arm.

The only thing I remember after that was being escorted to the nurse's office. I never saw him again, until now.

Perhaps he was going through a tough time back then. Boys can be quite childish when they hit puberty, maybe it was just a phase of aggression he needed to outgrow. Even though biting someone is really strange, I didn't want to dwell on it any longer.

"I'm sorry Amelia, but I really need to get to class. You know I hate being late." I gave her a weak smile before slipping by her.