Chapter Twenty Six

This week has been hell. So is the unbelievably cold weather of Seattle. I'm putting on a grey hoodie with a black overcoat on it, paired with a black jean trouser, and black ankle boots, with gloves. And even with that, I'm still a freezing mess.
I walk into school and everyone's going about their activities like they don't feel a thing. Lucky them. I guess cause most of them have lived here their whole lives, they have already gotten used to the cold.
I'm heading towards my locker after parting ways with Jasper and James when something, or rather, someone, catches my eyes.
It's Torin, casually leaning in a dark corner observing everyone. Not that that's new. What intrigues me is that, even with the arctic weather, he is wearing just a t-shirt and jeans trouser. Now that isn't even humanly possible. Maybe he's not human, I think and end up laughing at my ridiculous thougts. When I raise my head, I catch his eyes staring at me intensely. Like he doesn't trust me but is also trying to figure me out at the same time.
"Hey." Kayla says from beside my locker, startling the shit out of me.
"Holy crap Kayla. You scared me." I say.
"Sorry." She says nonchalantly. "Just wanted to ask you if you brought your English notes. Mine was in a terrible accident." She says sheepishly, making me chuckle.
"Yeah, I did. Let me get it for you."
As I'm rummaging through my locker, I decide to make conversation and get some info and Torin.
"Did you notice that Torin doesn't have a thick layer of covering like everyone else?" I ask her casually. Avoiding eye contact and acting disinterested.
"Yeah, it's nothing new. Boy doesn't feel an ounce of this cold. Heard that he has a health issue that causes that. But I see it as more of a blessing than a curse. Imaging how good I'd look in summer clothes during the winter."
This makes me laugh and I hand her the notes.
"Thank you." She says and collects it. "I'll see you in class." And she turns around and leaves.
Health issue hmm. I'm so curious, I'm going to research about it.
***
I feel like someone's watching me. And it's not just Torin's intense stare. Sometimes, I wonder if he likes me. That could be a good explanation as to why he behaves the way he does around me. But even this time, it's not just his stare making me cautious. I feel like there's someone else watching my every move. Even when I sleep at night, I feel the person's presence. But I can't even prove it cause there's always no one around. Maybe I'm just paranoid, or the cold is getting to my head.
I was home alone the other day for instance. Mum and dad were out, Jasper and Kevin too, and all the doors were locked. Like key and bolt locked. I heard a sound in the kitchen, and when I went to check it out, there was a fresh dozen of flowers in the flower pot. Now,I know what you're thinking. Maybe my mum or dad, or even Jasper put new flowers in the pot. But the thing is,my family only ever buys lilies, even before we moved to Seattle. Always lilies. But those were roses. White, yellow and red roses, all mixed up in the bunch. And what made it even creepier was that the back door was unlocked, but I could have sworn I locked it before going to the parlour.
I've been getting a lot of random gifts ever since I woke up from fainting at that mysterious tower. The most annoying part is that I still can't remember jack. Like at all. And the gifts are becoming so much, I wouldn't know what to tell my parents when they start asking. I also feel like Torin knows what's going on. But so far, he's keeping his lips tightly sealed and if you think of approaching him, his brooding appearance is enough to send you running the other way.
"You good?" Kevin asks as I get to an A.P class I take with him
"Yeah. I'm fine." I reapond, settling down on the seat beside him.
"You sure? You seem like you're in another world. And you have deep lines on your forehead."
"What?" I ask, confused using my hands to feel my forehead.
"Here." He says and uses his thumbs to smoothen my forehead and he drags his thumbs down my face to my cheeks,before pulling them in opposite directions making me chuckle.
"That's better." He says smiling. "Stop worrying so much. You're still so young and you have your whole life ahead of you. High school is where you should have fun." He says. If only.
"Coming from?" I ask teasingly.
"Coming from the guy who's about to graduate, go into the big world, and be inevitably worried about a lot of things for the rest of his life." He says and leans in his seat. "Lifeis short Chels. Try and enjoy it. Especially now."
"Yes sir." I say with a mocking salute and we both laugh. A figure behind him, outside, catches my eye. The person is wearing all black, with raven black hair that is so long, and he's standing under a tree, staring directly at me with an unreadable expression on his face. He looks vaguely familiar. Like I've seen him once before.I just can't seem to put my finger on it. I'm still staring when the bell rings, startling me. By the time I peep back to where the man was standing, he's gone.
"What were you staring at?" Kevin asks, glancing behind him.
"Nothing really. I just sort of zoned out for a minute." I say unconvincingly. I don't even sound convincing to myself talk more of him.
He gives me a knowing look and I shake my head. I'm about to tell him to shut up when the teacher walks in.