It was a dreadful, gloomy night as the miserable dark leaves that topped the humongous and spindly trunks of the forest clashed together in fury. The wind roared like an enormous lion, threatening to tear the small shivering eleven-year-old me standing by these terrible trees off her feet and into the damp, muddy yard next to it.
'Should I dare to set foot into these terrible thick woods? It looks dark and eerie there. But, what could there be that he ran to?' I thought to myself as I drew in my breath and heaved a massive breath of determination.
'I am going to follow him and discover the secrets concealed in the mysterious clump of dark green.'
My feet rose and fell towards the thick trunks; my figure soon completely swallowed by the darkness.
The moon was full and strong, casting a strange, lunar spell on the landscape. I walk down the darkened, tree-lined path. A heavy branch creaked in the wind, sounding like a creaking door. I felt a flutter of indigestion.
My gaze is caught by a movement on some sloping ground that runs down to a quiet end. I felt a quiet thrill. I started to run. I slowed down, thinking about what it could be. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I kept looking around, making sure nothing was there.
Every time I heard something, my heartbeat increased.
Suddenly I saw a blurred image of someone standing far distant in darkness. It was him, I was about to run towards him, but as soon as I raised my foot, from somewhere behind me, I heard the sound of a twig snapping. I looked back and saw a shadow lurking behind a tree.
At first glance, I thought it was a cat, but it was far too big to be a cat. A shiver of fear ran up my spine. My blood turned to ice. My heart took a bang against my ribcage, and my vision turned pitch black.
"Claire! Claire!"
I opened my eyes to someone shouting my name. I felt the wood under my head and espied Emily standing over my shoulder. Catching the sight of my high school classroom, the realization hit me. I was dreaming! It was the same dream; I have been seeing for as long as I could remember.
It always feels real like some lingering fear from childhood, probably, about following someone into the dark woods and fainting with fear by the sight of a horrible creature. It takes me a while to break out; break out from the angsty feeling and sense of apprehension.
"Wake up Claire, how long are you going to sleep."
Emily's word drew me back to reality. Noticing the worry spread across her face. I asked,
"What's wrong, Em?"
"I just overheard a few seniors gossiping in the cafeteria, that you might get proposed today by..."
"Ah, he's here already. Good luck, Claire."
"Who?"
As I stuttered, a tall, handsome guy approached me, and before I could say anything, he grabbed my hand and said,
"I like you a lot Clair, will you go out with me?" He simpered, looking confident with himself.
I shook off his hand, detestably. "Hey, are you crazy! How dare you? I have no intention of liking or dating you, so get lost!" My face turned red as I yelled. I stood up abruptly and left the classroom.
*****
Author's POV
All the kids in the class and hallway glared at her as she walked away, rejecting Ed, the most popular guy at the school.
"Are you sure she isn't crazy," whispered one girl.
"She got such a nice face, but she is weird," replied the other girl.
"Well, she rejects a handsome guy every other day. It's not a special day today", scoffed Natalie sitting down on her chair.
Claire had always been an extraordinary girl from her alluring beauty, fearless personality to academic excellence; she made people believe in the possibility of perfection. She was arguably the most beautiful girl in the school.
Her face was young without one blemish to Mar its perfectly pale complexion. Her coral, black curls tumbled over her shoulders. Her smile used to leave people breathless. And the one thing that made her so unimaginably attractive was her deep hazel eyes. She had a comely figure which was stem-thin. Her scrolled ears and her elegant nose were delicate enough to be noticed. Her brows were soft and serene with purity and wisdom.
It would be tough for a mortal to not feel something, something greater than an instant infatuation, something akin to respect and absolute wonder at the work of genes when looking at her.
Although her beauty was strikingly stunning behind that hid unknown and unspoken mysteries. Her appearance might draw people in, but her stiff and distant personality would push you far away.
She was desired by many, but never once did she get close to any.
She was untouchable, and that made some to envy her while others to reject her. She couldn't care less and lived her way, in her own world.
*****
"Why do they always embarrass me like that? It gets awkward every time for me to talk to other kids. Ah! I'm so sick of it", I sighed.
"Shouldn't you get used to it by now, I feel like you should just go out with one of them and shut everyone up. They spread nonsense rumors and keep gossiping about it", declared Emily, my only friend.
"Never, you know what their intentions are. They just want to go out with me to show off."
"Dating the prettiest girl at school who also is at the top of her class. I envy your future boyfriend more than you."
"I can end that jealousy for you. Let's date. It's the best way out."
"After I lose all my hope."
We walked towards the class, giggling.