• As I made my way out of study hall, I coughed and grunted as my sore throat pricked with the pain of a cold. I sneezed when I arrived at my locker. I was completely miserable. I had caught a cold a few days ago and I still had it. I quickly got my stuff out of my locker and headed outside into the winter cold.
    I hated using the bus to get to and from school. The guys on my bus always annoyed me and made sexual comments about me. The bus driver never seemed to notice anything. As I stepped onto the long, yellow vehicle I grimaced at the sight of the boys. I found my friend Kelbryn and quick as I could and ran over to her seat. But I didn't get there in time to avoid a comment from a stupid boy.
    "Hey Sexy!" he said with a dirty look. I gave him a cold glare. I hated to be called that. That boy called me that everyday. I always wished he would die in hell for it.
    "Shut the ******** up!" I snapped at him and threw my cold pack from my lunch box at him. It hit him in the back of the head and he sat back down in his seat. Something told me I wouldn't be getting that cold pack back. I'd just tell my mom that I lost it.
    The bus soon started moving and I began to talk with Kelbryn. She was two years younger than me. I was in seventh grade, she was in fifth. Although in different grades, we got along really well. We griped about our assignments for the weekend and about school in general. We also conversed about what books we were reading. Kelbryn wasn't much of a good reader but she still liked to read. I, on the other hand, was a pretty fast reader and loved fantasy books more than life itself. But no one I knew seemed to share that characteristic.

    About five stops into the ride, I got off at my house. As I leaped off the bus, I bumped into something hard and fell down. As the bus drove away, I sat up and looked at what I hit. Then I blushed and quickly got off. I had bumped into a guy.
    This situation was embarrassing enough on its own. But it was made worse due to his appearance. He had chocolate brown hair that reminded me of brown silk. His eyes were a light, silvery color and seemed to see right through you. He had a pale complexion and was slightly muscled. You may not agree with me, but this guy was probably the most handsome guy I had ever seen.
    He smiled a lopsided grin and stood up. He was taller than me. I guessed he was eighteen or something. "Terribly sorry. I guess I should've watched where I was walking." he said politely. I stepped back, playing with my black hair nervously.
    "No, it's alright. I should've looked before I got off the bus." I apologized, my face blushing.
    The boy smiled at me. I felt intimidated. "You're going to your house right. Which is it? I'll gladly walk you there." he said, his silvery eyes gleaming.
    I shook my head. "No. My house is this one. I can walk up the driveway myself." I answered shakily, pointing to the house just up the driveway.
    Then without another word, I ran into the house. I hastily locked the door behind me and slouched down onto the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief, glad to be away from him. Despite how handsome he was, I couldn't help but feel so intimidated by him.
    There was a knock on the door. I didn't answer. That was a strict rule at my house. Never open the door for anyone. Nothing happened after the knock and I heard footsteps walking away from the door.
    I cautiously stood up and opened the door. There was nothing except a piece of paper on the door. I took it and read what was scrawled on it.
    []
    WATCH YOURSELF, SUCCUBUS

    I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is a succubus?" I whispered, rereading the paper. "My name's not Succubus. It's Cosima. What kind of a name is Succubus?" I asked myself in a rasp of a voice.