I approach the entrance to my new school…
And glance around at the other students.
I hope I can find someone friendly to introduce myself to…
But my eyes are drawn to a serious-looking boy.
He’s leaning against the wall of the reception hall…
That I feel my heart skip a beat.
He has a chiseled jaw, chestnut-brown hair…
And the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
Before I allow myself to feel nervous…
I stride towards the boy as confidently as I can…
But I’m so focused on him…
That I don’t see the small step in front of me…
And I trip, falling awkwardly onto my right arm.
I feel my face go beet red…
As all the other students start to laugh.
The only one who doesn’t laugh is the boy.
He approaches me and bends down.
Serah
Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.
Serah
Aside from making a complete fool of myself on my first day.
But before I can even get to my knees…
The boy lifts me to my feet…
As if I’m as light as a feather.
For a moment, we stand there just looking at each other…
And I notice that his aftershave smells like mahogany.
I decide this is as good a time as any to introduce myself.
Serah
And my mom and I have just moved to this town.
I expect the boy to return the introduction…
But he stares at my arm instead.
I look down to see a smear of blood on my right forearm…
And I resist the urge to faint.
He reaches into his satchel…
And pulls out a Band-Aid.
And presses the Band-Aid firmly over the wound.
I flash him a grateful smile.
The boy doesn’t smile back.
Instead, he just glares at me.
Boy
Make sure you clean that cut when you get home.
Boy
It could get infected.
And walks away before I get a chance to say anything else.
As I stand there feeling bewildered…
Girl
Don’t get your hopes up, new girl.
Girl
That’s Jaden Jacobs…
Girl
Carsdale High’s most sought-after student.
Girl
Everyone here wants to date him…
Girl
But he’s not interested in any of us.
Girl
Your fake fall might have gotten his attention today…
Girl
But don’t expect it to become anything more.
The girl giggles and walks back to her group…
And I mutter under my breath:
Serah
It wasn’t a fake fall.
I head into the main building…
And when I find it, I gasp.
Jaden is taking things out of his own locker…
And it’s situated directly next to mine.
I approach him and hold up my locker key.
Serah
How about that for a coincidence.
Serah
It looks like we’re neighbors.
In fact, he doesn’t even look at me.
Serah
You didn’t have to help me back there.
Serah
If there’s anything I can do to return the favor, just let me know.
Jaden continues to ignore me…
And I suddenly feel anger bubbling up inside me.
Serah
Why won’t you look at me?
Jaden slams his locker shut…
And slowly turns to face me.
He stares into my eyes for longer than is comfortable.
Jaden
You’re not like the other girls here, are you?
I frown, holding his stare.
Jaden
There’s something more to you.
I open my mouth to say something…
But Jaden cuts me off before I can.
Jaden
If you really want to return the favor…
Jaden
There is something you can help me with.
He pulls a crumpled piece of paper from his back pocket…
On it is a rough sketch of a strange pattern.
Jaden
A fortune teller gave me this.
Jaden
She said someone who has this scar…
Jaden
Will kill me before my 18th birthday…
Jaden
And it’s my 18th birthday in three weeks.
Serah
You don’t really believe in that kind of stuff, do you?
Jaden looks deadly serious.
Jaden
But when you’re told someone is going to kill you…
Jaden
It’s amazing how quickly your beliefs begin to change.
I nod slowly as I realize…
That if I’d been given the same prophecy…
I would probably be just as paranoid.
Jaden’s wary personality begins to make sense…
But something about the prophecy doesn’t.
Serah
Why would anyone want to kill you?
Jaden
I’ve been asking myself the same question all summer.
Jaden
And I don’t have the answer…
Jaden
So I want you to take this.
He folds the paper and shoves it into my pocket.
Jaden
And I want you to keep a lookout for anyone bearing that scar.
Jaden
If you find out who they are…
Jaden
Tell me immediately.
When I get home that afternoon, I cup my head in my hands.
My first day at my new school hadn’t gone anything like I’d planned…
And all I want to do is get straight into bed…
But I know I should clean my cut like Jaden insisted.
I slowly peel the Band-Aid from my wrist…
And then stare at it in horror.
With my left hand I pull Jaden’s prophecy from my pocket…
And hold it up next to my right forearm.
I want to believe that the similarities don’t exist…
But there’s no denying it.
The scar in Jaden’s prophecy…
Is identical to the wound on my arm.
The one who is destined to kill Jaden…
