"The rain really won't leave me alone huh?" I sighed, taking a small sip of my steaming hot black coffee, leaning back into my chair as I stare out into the rain outside the window.

I sat on a wooden chair, facing the balcony window with a mug on my lap. The sound of the rain hammering on the roof and window was quite loud. Others would find it annoying, but I think it's quite therapeutic.

Thank God, the place I got was cozy. It was a one-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a random apartment complex I found in this small town called Forks. The place was northwest of Washington State, situated somewhere within the Olympic Peninsula. It was quite a small place, so much so that practically every resident here is aware of each other's names at the very least.

It was lowkey, and that's what I wanted. I needed some place to hide from those people. Just for a short while. At least until I finally used up the last ember of vitality left in me.

Well, that was depressing. I shouldn't think too much about it. I have lots of time left, and I should enjoy it while I can. Don't want to cross the river Styx while wallowing in regrets.

I submitted my totally legal documents to Forks High School just the other day, and they responded back with a letter of acceptance the night after. The efficiency was impressive, but it's a bit of a given as there are only 357 students, now 358, in the school. 

I turned to look at the clock on the gray wall, squinting my eyes a little, noticing that it's quite close to 11 in the evening. 

"School starts tomorrow... I should get ready." I downed the remaining coffee in my mug, wallowing in the warmth it provided by entire being with. It was a sensation I grew quite fond of. 

I stood up, grunting during the process. I dragged the chair back to the small table in the middle of the small living room, humming a tune in the meanwhile. I also went and cleaned my mug as it's the only one I have. Haven't got the time to grab a few more.

After my chores, I went ahead and entered my bedroom. Sitting on the soft bed, I took off my glasses and put them on the dresser on the side. Lying down on my bed, I couldn't stop the moan of satisfaction that left my lips. It's my fifth night since escaping, but it still feels like a dream that I actually managed to pull it off.

"This time, let's enjoy what life has to offer."

Before I knew it, I was enveloped in a wave of soothing darkness.

I slept quite well last night. As I did in the past 3 days since renting this apartment. Having your own bed to sleep in, not worrying about being assigned to travel hundreds of kilometers in the middle of the night to stab someone in the heart turns out to do quite well for your mental well-being.

Anyway, today is special. My first day of school, yay. I sat up, using my hands to feel for my glasses on the dresser. I'm practically blind without them, unable to even count my fingers when I hold my arm out in front of me. Given, the lenses are thicker than one would usually see in most glasses.

With my glasses secured and my vision restored, I stood up from my bed, glancing at the clock. 4 o'clock. Quite early, as class starts at 7am. I could not be bothered to go back to sleep. Not that I can, anyway. Got too used to waking up at 4am that I'm practically unable to sleep past it, even if I tried to.

I stumbled to the bathroom, grabbing my towel from the hanger on the wall of my bedroom. Entering the bathroom, I took a quick, cold shower to wake myself up. Afterwards, I got dressed in the clothes I got from a mall I went to yesterday.

It was a casual long-sleeved white polo, topped with a grey sweater and black trousers. It was still raining, but not as bad as last night so I didn't bother to wrap a scarf around my neck. 

After tying my shoelaces, I went to take a short look at myself in the full-body mirror that the apartment conveniently came in with for free. In the reflection stood a young man, quite tall, but not overly so. Relatively lean, but still has a hint of strength hidden within. Messy black hair with an increasing number of greys being mixed in day after day, and deep, dark eyes behind the thick lenses of glasses.

"That's new." I continued to check myself out in the mirror. Not to feed my ego, but simply out of curiosity. I've never wore something like this before. I never really gave much thought about fashion or how I look in general. It was all about efficiency in my old occupation, and it took quite a bit of self-assessment to get rid of that mindset.

Overall, I look like an average student. Nothing out of the ordinary. I most definitely do not look handsome at all, but it's a bit of a stretch to say I'm quite hard on the eyes. The middle of the spectrum, some might say. Still, it's what I wanted. I don't want to stand out anyway.

After wiping my glasses, I went to have breakfast. Cereal and milk, nothing out of the ordinary. Following which, with a slice of bread in my mouth, I locked my apartment and prepared to head on over to Forks High School.

It was 5:30 in the morning, giving me an hour and a half to go do whatever. I didn't need to hitch a ride to school as it's simply a 15 minutes-walk away from my apartment. And I also want to have a morning walk, heard it's good for the body.

With my umbrella sheltering me from the soft drizzle of the rain, I let my mind wander while traversing the wet sidewalk. It's early in the morning, and it's also raining. It's hard to find other people walking around, so it shouldn't be an issue to be a little distracted in my brief journey.

Feeling the cold wind blow against my face, I took a deep breath. It was refreshing, despite the not-so-perfect weather. It's a good day, anyway. My first day of school, surely it won't end in a disaster.

Not that I'm concerned. I made sure to prepare everything. I got my notes and pens organized in my black crossbody bag and have finished reading all the books from the reading list I was provided. I made sure nothing would go wrong in my first day, and I hope that would be the case all throughout.

The road to the school was barren. It was quiet, courtesy of the early time. Trees and shrubs dominated the area beside the road, with leaves so green it's almost illusory. Forests and greeneries aren't new to me, having traversed many on my assignments. It feels relaxing, however, looking at them without the urgency of catching an escaping target.

Before I knew it, I was in front of the school. It was just off the road, with a sign declaring it to be Forks High School. It's a bit like someone made a house and copy-pasted them repeatedly. Every building is built with maroon-colored bricks, looking a tad bit aged and dilapidated. 

There were no cars in the parking lot as of the moment, which surprised me a little. I would've thought there would be at least a few before me, but well, different cultures, I guess. Walking inwards, I looked for the Front Office. The letter told me to head there first to get me sorted.

Finding the building was easy. It was the first building nearest to the exit. I knocked on the door once, before opening the door and peeking in.

The interior was bright and warm. Beyond the waiting area riddled with folding chairs, a counter split the room in half. Beyond which is a balding middle-aged man, focused on the stacks of paper on the counter. Well, I assume he was, as he's now looking straight at me with a questioning gaze.

"Good morning, I'm Chris Miller. I enrolled the other day." I closed the door behind me and bowed slightly as greeting. 

"Oh, the new kid. Good morning to you too, Chris." The man smiled and gestured with his index finger for me to come over.

I went in, standing in front of the long counter as the man went to grab something below the counter. He sat straight after a second, bringing with him a couple of folded papers.

"This is your schedule as well as a map of the school." He placed them on top of the only clearing on the counter, his smile gentle.

"Thank you." I smiled back at him, grabbing the papers on the table.

"It's quite early. I suggest walking around to familiarize yourself with the buildings and areas." The man spoke before turning back to his work. I took that as a sign of dismissal and left the office with my schedule and map.

Closing the door behind me, I went straight to the bench situated right beside the door of the Front Office. The roof extended to cover the bench from the light drizzle, so the seat was dry.

I unfolded the smaller paper first, which happens to be the schedule of classes I will be having for the next year or so. Going through the timetable, I made sure to memorize it. The schedule was, for lack of a better term, normal. 7am to 3pm classes. Nothing unusual, fortunately. 

Having memorized the contents, I went to look at the map afterwards. The school was small but was fitted with the necessary establishments. That's good, I mused. That only means I won't be missing out on the promised student life.

I also went and memorized the entire map. Afterwards, I carefully folded both papers and put them inside my bag. I'm a sucker for organizing, if it's not obvious enough. Zipping up my bag, I put my eyes on the empty parking lot in front of me. Not a single car or human in sight. It felt barren. But then, it is quite early.

Glancing at my wristwatch, the time presented was only a quarter to 6am. Did I come to school to early? Perhaps I might've. But it doesn't matter, I'm just excited.

While waiting, I grabbed a book from my bag. It was "The Stranger" by Albert Camus. I found it on a bookstore while buying clothes, so I went ahead and nabbed it. Turning the page to where my bookmark is, I engrossed myself into the book, tuning out the background noise of the light rain.

It was maybe 15 minutes or so since I started reading that another person had entered the school. Rather, it was a car. A brand-new silver Volvo. The car parked on the far left of the parking lot in front of the Front Office. Seeing the car doors opening, I raised an eyebrow.

A total of 5 people left the vehicle. Three women and two men. They look quite different though. They look too... good. Their appearance beats any supermodel I've seen. In addition, the cold vibe they exude simply separates them from the boring and damp sight of Farks. They're the type of people that you would see on the high-class streets of Las Vegas. Them coming to school in a small town such as Forks is simply strange.

However, that's none of my business. I'm here to be a student, nothing else. I'm supposed to enjoy my student life, and my gut tells me getting involved with these people would definitely ruin that plan.

Wait.

My entire being froze. My nose twitched, and I took a short breath.

I recognize that smell.

My grip on the book tightened a little.

My eyes moved towards the group of people walking towards the next building over. Seemingly at the same time, they also stopped and looked at me. It's like we both discovered something quite alarming. I don't know if that's the case for them, but it certainly is for me.

My eyes met one of the girls'. Normally, one would be ecstatic to have someone like her look at you. Her bronze-coloured hair danced with the wind elegantly. Her pale, almost sickly, skin formed a great contrast with her dark, brooding eyes that seemed to overflow with darkness. 

My eyes met hers, and in that moment, it felt like I was being sucked into a bottomless hole. My senses seemed to stop working and my brain can only register her eyes looking at my own.

It was like the world stopped, and it was only the two of us.

I know this feeling.

I'm familiar with this feeling. It was something I was exposed to on the daily basis back then.

Hardening my gaze, everything seemed to have gone back to normal. My senses are working properly, and the world was moving as usual.

This smell is unmistakable. Her eyes just confirmed it for me.

I went back to reading my book, and they continued walking away. It was like nothing happened of any sort.

That's definitely not the case for me though.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to prevent myself from chuckling.

Really? A vampire? On my school?

Ah~, there goes my normal school-life.