Shadows
Chapter 13
Annalise's POV
I glance around as I walk to my car, searching for someone who could be watching me. The paranoia is really eating on my nerves. I barely slept last night, only able to shut my eyes about 45 minutes ago. I rub the sleep from my eyes and smooth my hand over the top of my hair nervously.
"Annalise!" I turn towards the shout and feel myself flush when Harry bounds towards me. "Let me drive you," he says warmly.
"Oh no that's okay," I stutter out and yank my keys out of my pocket. "I can drive myself."
A look of hurt flashes across his face but is quickly replaced with confusion. "It's really not a big deal," he says. "You shouldn't have to drive with all that's going on."
I let out a forced laugh and his eyebrows furrow even farther into confusion. "I think I can manage driving," I say harshly. I quickly hop in my car without another word and peel out of my driveway, leaving Harry standing there staring. My hands shake as I try to focus on the road. Way to go Anna, he's totally suspicious now. I can't let him find out about the notes but I need to cut him off to protect him. The thought leaves a sharp pang in my stomach. He's been so nice to me lately, I'm actually beginning to consider him a friend. Cutting him off is going to hurt like a bitch. And I am really bad at confrontation as it is.
The car ride ends much too soon as I pull up to the bustling school, Harry's range rover right behind me. I pull into a spot without another open one near it. I'm going to have to talk to Harry eventually, but not right now.
"Annalise!" Maggie shouts from across the parking lot as I climb out of my car. I give her a small wave as she jogs over to me. Before I can say anything she throws her arms around me. I stiffen in surprise at first but quickly drop my backpack on the ground and hug her back. Maggie somehow always knows what I need.
"I heard about the funeral and everything," she mutters into my ear. I tighten my arms around her in response. "It'll be okay Lisa, I'm here with you through everything."
"Thank you so much Maggie," I find myself choking up at the words, my voice cracking. I pull away from the hug and quickly wipe at the tears pooling up in my eyes, not wearing makeup today was definitely a good decision.
"I like that sweater," she says lightly. "Especially with those boots."
I glance down at my outfit and smile. "Thanks mags."
"Anytime girlfriend," she loops her arm through mine and pulls me up to school. The staring has lessened since news of Catherine has slowly faded to the background, now I only get a few glances and the occasional lingering stare.
"I guess my fifteen minutes are up," I remark to myself. It seems as though I am well on my way to becoming the nobody that I was before all of this happened, and I definitely welcome that. Being in the spotlight is exhausting, especially when you aren't there by choice. I don't know how Catherine did it, but I have a newfound admiration for her and girls like her.
I tune back into what Maggie is saying about some test that we have today. I completely forgot to study and a surge of panic rushes through me but it's quickly extinguished. What does one test really matter anyways? I mean, sure it could have an affect on my grade, but what university is going to think "well she's perfect except she failed on one AP civics test." Certainly not any university that I want to go to.
"So do you want to study after school?" Maggie asks.
"Yeah sure," I agree, grateful for an excuse to avoid Harry. This will prevent us from getting home at the same time which could easily keep me from any interaction with him for the rest of the day.
~
"Shit," I mutter and slam my hands against the steering wheel, my car puttering to a halt. The rain slams against my windows fervently. I attempt to force the old car to a start again but it's useless. I knew I should have told my dad about the check engine light that's been blaring for the past week or so, it just didn't seem like that much of a pressing issue at the time. I glance out the windows, I'm definitely not close enough to walk home, but the familiar store fronts are comforting. People duck into stores to avoid the rain and cars race by me. I yank my phone out of my backpack and scroll through contacts. The screen freezes. You've got to be kidding me. I bang it against my hand a few times and try to force it off but the same image is burned into the screen. Tossing it aside I duck out of the car, shielding my head with my hands as I jog into the nearest shop. Of course the one closest to me would also have to be the creepiest one on the block, just my luck. I take my chances anyways and a bell over the door jingles as I push into the musky store. I cough as I inhale the dusty aroma. I can't quite pinpoint what it smells like in here, just old.
"Hello?" I ask cautiously. The store is some sort of spirit place, my dad says that all they sell is junk and has warned me multiple times not to waste my time in here. Actually seeing it now, I can see why he didn't want me to come here.
The place is crowded with shelves filled to the brim with disorganized objects, candles, books, herbs, papers, glass figurines, you name any weird spirit thing and I bet they have it. Everything is crammed onto the dark wooden shelves that could use a good dusting. The lighting is dim and it seems like they rely on the light that the glass store front would let in, even though a shelf is crammed in front of one of one of the windows and the other has thin paper masking it.
I take a step forward, drawn in to the warmth radiating from the small store.
"Hello?" I ask again, louder this time. Silence is my only answer. With a sigh I begin walking to the back of the store, if nobody is working then there must at least be a phone at the check out counter. Wherever the hell that is. The shelf I'm walking down is occupied with candles of all sorts of colors and shapes, some promising peace and serenity while others are supposed to bring lust or violence. I stop immediately in front of a wide red candle, unlike some of the others this one is perfectly cylindrical, the only anomaly being an intricate design carved into the wax. It looks really familiar. I run a finger along the indented pattern, it's a snake eating it's own tail. Ouroboros. I've heard about this somewhere and I wrack my brain to remember where. I how do I know what this creepy symbol is called?
"Ouroboros," a gruff voice says from right behind me. I jump in surprise and turn to face what has to be one of the most gorgeous guys I've ever seen in my life. And he's standing close. Really really close. I back up slightly and my back presses against the old shelf. There's maybe a foot of space between us now. I can feel his breath hitting my face. He looks amused at my reaction and I blush.
"What?" I stutter out. I knew that it was called an Ouroboros, does he work here or something?
"Ouroboros," he repeats with a smirk and reaches out to grab the candle off the shelf, my heat stops when his hand brushes along my cheek in the process before he pulls back, the deep red candle clutched in his hand. "It means infinity, or eternity. Whichever way you choose to look at it I guess."
Mustering some sense of confidence I stand up a little straighter. "I think it means something else," I say with as much strength as I can.
He raises his eyebrows and looks at me, amusement playing at all of his gorgeous features. "Do tell," he says, his voice running over me like silk.
I take a deep breath, trying not to let him get to me. "The snake is eating itself, I think it shows that we are the makers of our own destruction."
"I see your point," he approves. Score one for me. "I'm Adrian by the way," (A/N picture added to characters) he smiles, his bright eyes twinkling as he takes in my appearance. "And by the looks of it you didn't come in here to look at funky candles."
I glance down at my damp sweater and hair and feel myself blush. I guess I'm not the type of person who usually shows up in this store. "Uh yeah my car broke down and my phone died," I explain, nervously scratching the skin at the back of my hand. "I was wondering if I could use your phone to call someone to come get me. That is if you even work here," I add quickly. If he does work here then maybe I should have been stopping by for candles a long time ago.
"Work is a relative term," he says flippantly.
"That's awfully vague," I respond in a streak of bravery. I guess hanging out with Harry is making me more comfortable around gorgeous guys. Speaking of which, why are there so many in this freaking town?
"We have a phone that you can use," he says with a smirk before stepping away from me. My chest tightens as I follow him through the winding store. "I didn't catch your name," he says lightly over his shoulder.
"Oh um Annalise," I stutter.
"That's pretty," he smiles back at me and butterflies run rampant in my stomach.
"T-thanks," I manage to choke out.
He steps behind an antique looking desk and pulls an ancient dial up phone out from behind it. I run my fingers along the smooth black surface and twist the dial to my dad's number. Adrian watches me intently and I nervously wind the cord around my fingers, looking anywhere but at him.
"Hello?" My father asks over the phone.
"Hey dad," I say. "My car broke down and my phone is freaking out."
"Where are you?" He asks and I can hear him searching for his keys.
"Um," I look around for a store emblem before just asking Adrian.
"Blood Moon," he says seriously, looking at me intently.
I relay the name and my father voices his negative feelings towards the store before hanging up to come get me.
"How long till he's here?" Adrian asks and leans his muscular forearms against the counter between us casually.
"Um about 15 minutes," I guess though it will probably be a little longer than that.
"Well since you're here I could show you around," Adrian suggests.
"I thought you didn't work here," I point out confused. He doesn't seem like he would work here, he seems too young and too attractive. I figured a creepy old woman would be what I would find walking into this store, not a hot 20 something yes old with a five o clock shadow and swoon worthy eyes.
"I didn't say that I didn't work here," he smirks and walks out from behind the counter to face me. "My aunt owns the place, I help her out when I can."
"That's nice of you," I stutter nervously and he walks to a nearby shelf cluttered with books of every shape and size.
He shrugs and pulls a tattered paperback off the shelf before turning back towards me, a twinkle in his eyes. "She's kind of eccentric," he gestures around the cluttered store.
"I can tell," I observe the store.
He flips through the book before placing it on a different shelf and gesturing for me to follow him down a different aisle. I turn and see all sorts of weird shaped bottles and vials filled with multicolored liquids.
"This is supposed to be a love potion," he says and picks up a small vial filled with dark purple liquid.
"How does it work?" I ask and he hands it to me.
"You put some of your own DNA in it and then the person who you want to fall in love with you has to consume it," he explains and looks at me intently.
"Does it work?" I ask curiously, shifting the vial around so the deep violet splashes against the sides of the glass.
"Even if it did a gorgeous girl like you wouldn't need a potion to make someone fall in love with you," he says seriously. A red blush rises in my cheeks and I focus on the floor in front of me. I've never been very good at accepting compliments, especially from really hot older guys. Actually, I think this is the first time a hot older guy has complimented me.
"Thanks," I mutter, handing him back the love potion.
"Your dad is probably almost here," he says finally and I follow him to the front of the store where we can see if any cars pull up. The rain is still pouring down violently against the pavement.
Adrian observes me before pulling something out of his pocket. "Here," he hands it to me, enclosing the heavy object in my hand.
I pull my hand away and open my fist to reveal a dark blue oval stone set in a silver placing. A black cord runs through the top of the setting, making it a necklace.
"What is it?" I ask, running my fingers along the smooth stone.
"Lapis Lazuli," he says and I glance up at his dark eyes. "It helps with inner healing and finding truth."
"It's beautiful," I say, acknowledging the pretty stone.
"It's yours," he says and I immediately snap my head up.
"I can't accept this," I say, thrusting the necklace back to him.
He wraps his hands around mine and smiles at me warmly. "I want you to have it."
"I can't-"
"Yes you can," he says softly. "You seem like you need it more than I do."
At that moment my dad's shiny black car pulls up and I don't get another chance to refuse the necklace anymore. I shove it up my sleeve and glance back at Adrian once more before jogging out to the car.
I glance around as I walk to my car, searching for someone who could be watching me. The paranoia is really eating on my nerves. I barely slept last night, only able to shut my eyes about 45 minutes ago. I rub the sleep from my eyes and smooth my hand over the top of my hair nervously.
"Annalise!" I turn towards the shout and feel myself flush when Harry bounds towards me. "Let me drive you," he says warmly.
"Oh no that's okay," I stutter out and yank my keys out of my pocket. "I can drive myself."
A look of hurt flashes across his face but is quickly replaced with confusion. "It's really not a big deal," he says. "You shouldn't have to drive with all that's going on."
I let out a forced laugh and his eyebrows furrow even farther into confusion. "I think I can manage driving," I say harshly. I quickly hop in my car without another word and peel out of my driveway, leaving Harry standing there staring. My hands shake as I try to focus on the road. Way to go Anna, he's totally suspicious now. I can't let him find out about the notes but I need to cut him off to protect him. The thought leaves a sharp pang in my stomach. He's been so nice to me lately, I'm actually beginning to consider him a friend. Cutting him off is going to hurt like a bitch. And I am really bad at confrontation as it is.
The car ride ends much too soon as I pull up to the bustling school, Harry's range rover right behind me. I pull into a spot without another open one near it. I'm going to have to talk to Harry eventually, but not right now.
"Annalise!" Maggie shouts from across the parking lot as I climb out of my car. I give her a small wave as she jogs over to me. Before I can say anything she throws her arms around me. I stiffen in surprise at first but quickly drop my backpack on the ground and hug her back. Maggie somehow always knows what I need.
"I heard about the funeral and everything," she mutters into my ear. I tighten my arms around her in response. "It'll be okay Lisa, I'm here with you through everything."
"Thank you so much Maggie," I find myself choking up at the words, my voice cracking. I pull away from the hug and quickly wipe at the tears pooling up in my eyes, not wearing makeup today was definitely a good decision.
"I like that sweater," she says lightly. "Especially with those boots."
I glance down at my outfit and smile. "Thanks mags."
"Anytime girlfriend," she loops her arm through mine and pulls me up to school. The staring has lessened since news of Catherine has slowly faded to the background, now I only get a few glances and the occasional lingering stare.
"I guess my fifteen minutes are up," I remark to myself. It seems as though I am well on my way to becoming the nobody that I was before all of this happened, and I definitely welcome that. Being in the spotlight is exhausting, especially when you aren't there by choice. I don't know how Catherine did it, but I have a newfound admiration for her and girls like her.
I tune back into what Maggie is saying about some test that we have today. I completely forgot to study and a surge of panic rushes through me but it's quickly extinguished. What does one test really matter anyways? I mean, sure it could have an affect on my grade, but what university is going to think "well she's perfect except she failed on one AP civics test." Certainly not any university that I want to go to.
"So do you want to study after school?" Maggie asks.
"Yeah sure," I agree, grateful for an excuse to avoid Harry. This will prevent us from getting home at the same time which could easily keep me from any interaction with him for the rest of the day.
~
"Shit," I mutter and slam my hands against the steering wheel, my car puttering to a halt. The rain slams against my windows fervently. I attempt to force the old car to a start again but it's useless. I knew I should have told my dad about the check engine light that's been blaring for the past week or so, it just didn't seem like that much of a pressing issue at the time. I glance out the windows, I'm definitely not close enough to walk home, but the familiar store fronts are comforting. People duck into stores to avoid the rain and cars race by me. I yank my phone out of my backpack and scroll through contacts. The screen freezes. You've got to be kidding me. I bang it against my hand a few times and try to force it off but the same image is burned into the screen. Tossing it aside I duck out of the car, shielding my head with my hands as I jog into the nearest shop. Of course the one closest to me would also have to be the creepiest one on the block, just my luck. I take my chances anyways and a bell over the door jingles as I push into the musky store. I cough as I inhale the dusty aroma. I can't quite pinpoint what it smells like in here, just old.
"Hello?" I ask cautiously. The store is some sort of spirit place, my dad says that all they sell is junk and has warned me multiple times not to waste my time in here. Actually seeing it now, I can see why he didn't want me to come here.
The place is crowded with shelves filled to the brim with disorganized objects, candles, books, herbs, papers, glass figurines, you name any weird spirit thing and I bet they have it. Everything is crammed onto the dark wooden shelves that could use a good dusting. The lighting is dim and it seems like they rely on the light that the glass store front would let in, even though a shelf is crammed in front of one of one of the windows and the other has thin paper masking it.
I take a step forward, drawn in to the warmth radiating from the small store.
"Hello?" I ask again, louder this time. Silence is my only answer. With a sigh I begin walking to the back of the store, if nobody is working then there must at least be a phone at the check out counter. Wherever the hell that is. The shelf I'm walking down is occupied with candles of all sorts of colors and shapes, some promising peace and serenity while others are supposed to bring lust or violence. I stop immediately in front of a wide red candle, unlike some of the others this one is perfectly cylindrical, the only anomaly being an intricate design carved into the wax. It looks really familiar. I run a finger along the indented pattern, it's a snake eating it's own tail. Ouroboros. I've heard about this somewhere and I wrack my brain to remember where. I how do I know what this creepy symbol is called?
"Ouroboros," a gruff voice says from right behind me. I jump in surprise and turn to face what has to be one of the most gorgeous guys I've ever seen in my life. And he's standing close. Really really close. I back up slightly and my back presses against the old shelf. There's maybe a foot of space between us now. I can feel his breath hitting my face. He looks amused at my reaction and I blush.
"What?" I stutter out. I knew that it was called an Ouroboros, does he work here or something?
"Ouroboros," he repeats with a smirk and reaches out to grab the candle off the shelf, my heat stops when his hand brushes along my cheek in the process before he pulls back, the deep red candle clutched in his hand. "It means infinity, or eternity. Whichever way you choose to look at it I guess."
Mustering some sense of confidence I stand up a little straighter. "I think it means something else," I say with as much strength as I can.
He raises his eyebrows and looks at me, amusement playing at all of his gorgeous features. "Do tell," he says, his voice running over me like silk.
I take a deep breath, trying not to let him get to me. "The snake is eating itself, I think it shows that we are the makers of our own destruction."
"I see your point," he approves. Score one for me. "I'm Adrian by the way," (A/N picture added to characters) he smiles, his bright eyes twinkling as he takes in my appearance. "And by the looks of it you didn't come in here to look at funky candles."
I glance down at my damp sweater and hair and feel myself blush. I guess I'm not the type of person who usually shows up in this store. "Uh yeah my car broke down and my phone died," I explain, nervously scratching the skin at the back of my hand. "I was wondering if I could use your phone to call someone to come get me. That is if you even work here," I add quickly. If he does work here then maybe I should have been stopping by for candles a long time ago.
"Work is a relative term," he says flippantly.
"That's awfully vague," I respond in a streak of bravery. I guess hanging out with Harry is making me more comfortable around gorgeous guys. Speaking of which, why are there so many in this freaking town?
"We have a phone that you can use," he says with a smirk before stepping away from me. My chest tightens as I follow him through the winding store. "I didn't catch your name," he says lightly over his shoulder.
"Oh um Annalise," I stutter.
"That's pretty," he smiles back at me and butterflies run rampant in my stomach.
"T-thanks," I manage to choke out.
He steps behind an antique looking desk and pulls an ancient dial up phone out from behind it. I run my fingers along the smooth black surface and twist the dial to my dad's number. Adrian watches me intently and I nervously wind the cord around my fingers, looking anywhere but at him.
"Hello?" My father asks over the phone.
"Hey dad," I say. "My car broke down and my phone is freaking out."
"Where are you?" He asks and I can hear him searching for his keys.
"Um," I look around for a store emblem before just asking Adrian.
"Blood Moon," he says seriously, looking at me intently.
I relay the name and my father voices his negative feelings towards the store before hanging up to come get me.
"How long till he's here?" Adrian asks and leans his muscular forearms against the counter between us casually.
"Um about 15 minutes," I guess though it will probably be a little longer than that.
"Well since you're here I could show you around," Adrian suggests.
"I thought you didn't work here," I point out confused. He doesn't seem like he would work here, he seems too young and too attractive. I figured a creepy old woman would be what I would find walking into this store, not a hot 20 something yes old with a five o clock shadow and swoon worthy eyes.
"I didn't say that I didn't work here," he smirks and walks out from behind the counter to face me. "My aunt owns the place, I help her out when I can."
"That's nice of you," I stutter nervously and he walks to a nearby shelf cluttered with books of every shape and size.
He shrugs and pulls a tattered paperback off the shelf before turning back towards me, a twinkle in his eyes. "She's kind of eccentric," he gestures around the cluttered store.
"I can tell," I observe the store.
He flips through the book before placing it on a different shelf and gesturing for me to follow him down a different aisle. I turn and see all sorts of weird shaped bottles and vials filled with multicolored liquids.
"This is supposed to be a love potion," he says and picks up a small vial filled with dark purple liquid.
"How does it work?" I ask and he hands it to me.
"You put some of your own DNA in it and then the person who you want to fall in love with you has to consume it," he explains and looks at me intently.
"Does it work?" I ask curiously, shifting the vial around so the deep violet splashes against the sides of the glass.
"Even if it did a gorgeous girl like you wouldn't need a potion to make someone fall in love with you," he says seriously. A red blush rises in my cheeks and I focus on the floor in front of me. I've never been very good at accepting compliments, especially from really hot older guys. Actually, I think this is the first time a hot older guy has complimented me.
"Thanks," I mutter, handing him back the love potion.
"Your dad is probably almost here," he says finally and I follow him to the front of the store where we can see if any cars pull up. The rain is still pouring down violently against the pavement.
Adrian observes me before pulling something out of his pocket. "Here," he hands it to me, enclosing the heavy object in my hand.
I pull my hand away and open my fist to reveal a dark blue oval stone set in a silver placing. A black cord runs through the top of the setting, making it a necklace.
"What is it?" I ask, running my fingers along the smooth stone.
"Lapis Lazuli," he says and I glance up at his dark eyes. "It helps with inner healing and finding truth."
"It's beautiful," I say, acknowledging the pretty stone.
"It's yours," he says and I immediately snap my head up.
"I can't accept this," I say, thrusting the necklace back to him.
He wraps his hands around mine and smiles at me warmly. "I want you to have it."
"I can't-"
"Yes you can," he says softly. "You seem like you need it more than I do."
At that moment my dad's shiny black car pulls up and I don't get another chance to refuse the necklace anymore. I shove it up my sleeve and glance back at Adrian once more before jogging out to the car.
Notes
Sorry it's been so long since my last update so here's a long one . What do you think of Adrian?
Hopefully he isn't some creep or apart of the notes and stuff
2/12/14