"No..I..can't do this. I can't let you get into my head again." I stride away from Jake as I let the photograph slip from my shivering hands.

"Claire..."

"No! You have to STAY away from me." I warn him before I leave him standing in the shadows of the frigid corner of this filthy attic.

The next morning, I wake up to the aroma of hot coffee with a rich scent of roasted beans. I can sense a minor sting on the back of my head while I struggle to keep my somnolent eyes open and my sluggish body responsive. I decide to disregard any bizarre comments Jake might have for me today. A photograph doesn't prove anything. He could have easily edit the date to make me believe it was actually taken on the day of his birthday. It is petrifying how far he is willing to go in order to drag me down the path of insanity with him. I need mom to let me go away this weekend with Elena. I need some time away from him if I want to be mentally and physically stable by the time he leaves. Otherwise, I might loose it just like he already did a long time ago.

"Claire?" A gentle knock on the door startles me. It's mom.

"Come in."

"I'm leaving. I spoke with Elena's mother and....I trust you to be responsible. Elena's mother assured me the lake house is in a safe place and that it has a security system." I titter since I have been anticipating this moment.

"I will be responsible. I promise. Thank you so much, mom!"

"Well, you are only young once. You should have fun. Not too much fun. Just a little." I chuckle. "Anyway, I left you some coffee in the kitchen. Have a good day. I love you." She plants a warm and gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Love you too." I say and she's gone.

My first instinct is to call Elena and let her know I will be going to the lake house this weekend, but I decide against it since I will see her in school anyway. I wear my high-waist white shorts and navy blue long sleeve shirt before I run downstairs for some coffee since I will be walking to school today and I need all the energy I can get. I hope Jake isn't awake yet. It's too early for me to feel enraged.

I arrive at school to find Elena waiting for me just like she said she would when she called me while I was on my way here. I notice she's not alone. Easton is with her. I stride towards them as I try to perceive if anyone else is with them. I hear Easton whispering something to her but then he stops once I approach them.

"Hey." Now I'm agonizing in my head over the fact that I interrupted something. It's not the best place to be, but walking away will only make this situation even more cringey than it already is.

"Hey!"

"Hi, Claire." I can't help but notice a hint of gravity yet perky tone in his voice, which seems to create an eerie feeling in me that I can't grasp.

"My mom told me that your mom agreed to let you go to the lake house this weekend! Easton and Nolan have agreed to go as well. We only need to know if Raven can go. I know you have Chemistry with him, which is why you're going to ask him." I awkwardly chuckle as I feel the perturbation already detecting signs of a possible heart attack that I might have any moment now.

"Well...can't Easton ask him? You can, can't you? Please. Ask him." He chuckles, but I'm serious. They can't do this to me.

"Sorry. I think you should stop overthinking it and ask him yourself. My brother likes it when a girl is honest with him." He seems delighted and proud of himself for using the same line I used with him when I gave him advise about Elena.

"Fine." I bite my tongue since I know he's only going along with Elena's plan even if I notice he's enjoying this just as much as she is.

I notice Raven standing by Mr.Clark's cramped yet tidy desk as soon as I step inside the crowded classroom.

"Good morning everyone! Open your books and start reading. I will be right back." Raven walks back to our desk but I decide not to make eye contact with him. I need to find a way to ask him without making it awkward, which is my biggest problem since I always do.

"I..." I begin.

"Raven! I wanted to ask you something." Mia interrupts.

"What?" He responds naturally to her as she approaches our desk and I try to hide how edgy I feel.

"Everyone is going to a lake house this weekend from Friday to Sunday. It's in the woods. It's gonna be epic. I was thinking maybe we could go together." And just like that, I'm relieved from the humiliation of asking a boy for the first time to go somewhere with me, yet crestfallen since he will probably go with Mia now. I wish I could be more confident like her. She made it look so simple.

"Sorry. I'm already going with someone." My heart pangs.

"Oh. I guess I'll see you there then." I can see how dishearten she feels for being rejected. I'm not really sure she has experienced that feeling before.

"Do you want to go?" He acknowledges me once Mia is back on her seat but I refuse to believe what he's asking me.

"To the lake?"

"Yeah."

"I..I thought you said you were going with someone." My hands are quivering in agitation even if I have them hidden from sight.

"Easton told me you were planning on asking me, but there was a possibility you were not going to make it past the first word." We both chuckle and I notice his eyes lit up as he smirks while never taking his heavenly deep dazzling eyes off me. I bite my lip. I've never felt this contented with a guy before. They usually unnerve me and I get frightened so I end up saying the wrong thing. However, I feel like I can be myself with him. It doesn't feel real that we met just days ago.

"I can't believe he told you that." I really can't, but I'm glad he did and spared me the unpleasant situation I was about to get both of ourselves into.

"I do. He can't keep anything to himself." We both chuckle since I feel self-assured now that the agitation is gone. Perhaps his unforeseen persona has aid in my ability to feel serene around him. When I first met him days ago, he seemed intimidating. But, it's like a different person is seating right next to me and I like this person.

The remaining of the class is uneventful since we will not perform any electrifying experiments. Mr.Clark is speaking about the experiment options and I am glad he is involved and attentive about the project, unlike some professors who won't speak about it even if it is to make sure everyone understands. Raven watches and listens, but I notice the bewilderment in his eyes as Mr. Clark speaks. It reminds me of Easton and how he was perplexed about biology. Although he confessed later that he was only messing with me, something tells me that he wasn't. Perhaps this is their first time in a public school. I have an uncanny feeling that all of this is new to them, but to what extent?

Mr. Clark abruptly pauses to open the door when the crowded classroom is startled by the frightening blast of a fire alarm.

"Is this another stupid drill?" I hear someone shout and everyone agrees with him, but by the petrifying expression on Mr. Clark's face, I don't think it's a drill.

"This is NOT a drill. Please remain calm and exit the building in a orderly fashion way! Come on!" I notice Raven is perplexed by this whole situation as we both stand and follow the crowd outside.

"What is going on?" He finally asks.

"It's a fire alarm." His eyes dreadfully widen.

Mr. Clark guides most of the students from our class and other classes outside as he urges us to keep moving and to not look back. But, as I emerge myself in the crowded hallway where students are disconcerted and shrieking, I hear a remote voice that I can't perceive where it's coming from.

Help! Help! Help me!

I stand as I feel breathless. A girl.

HELP!

"Come on! Move it!" Mr. Clark shouts once again as the other professors let the students out of the building first as we approach the front door. But..

SOMEONE PLEASE!

The pulse thumping in my ear is blocking the outer sound of shrieking and frightening students surrounding me. But, I let my conscious guide me as I find myself turning away from the door and against the multitude of people.

"Claire!" Raven shouts but it's too late. I can't answer him now. Not when I'm racing against the multitude and he is by the front door. I need to find whoever is possibly trapped somewhere in this hallway.

HELP ME!

I notice a cloud of smoke deriving from underneath the door of the chemical closet in an effortless and smooth manner. It's where professors keep all the dangerous chemicals and experiments for the safety of students, which means no student is allowed inside since a key is needed to enter. I grab the handle but it's stuck.

"It's stuck! You need to try and open from your side!" I shout as I pound on the door desperately.

"I..I can't get up!" She squeals back in despair.

As I run out of ways to get this door open, an unforeseen motion startles me as I watch Raven thrust the door open with unearthly force.
The repulsive cloud of smoke is making me compellingly sneeze because of its repugnant odor, but I burst inside to find a girl leaning against the wall, looking frail and wobbly. I can barely depict her features as I stride towards her where the crackling and blazing fire beside her is intensifying it's strength. I approach her on her left side and hold her fragile hand.

"Edlynne? Is that you?" The girl whispers, but as the fire escalates, Raven decides to carry her outside while I follow him.

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