+ Midnight Secrets + Chapter 1

My name is Nikki Brooke. I am sixteen years old and a junior in high school. I live in a simple town and all by myself. I bet you're wondering, why I live by myself instead of with my family. Well, my parents were killed in a terrible car accident when I had turned twelve years old. I really don't like talking or thinking about it and I don't remember it too well. It's all a blur. I had no family left to take me in so that's why I live alone. Most of my neighbors look after me though. My hoobies are reading, listening to music (I can't do anything without music) and sometimes I like being in the woods (even though it looks creepy, especially at night)

As I'm walking to school, I take out my phone to check the time. Damn! I'm going to be late for the first day of school! Great. Late on the very first day of school. What else could go wrong? Whatever. I don't care either way. I never cared. It's just the first day of school. I bet a lot of people are going to be late too or be lazy and not even show up.

As I'm looking down at my phone, I don't notice where I was going (Stupid!) and I almost bumped into a guy walking out of his front gate. Good thing I did because if I hadn't looked up, it would've been very embarrassing.

"Oh. Sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." I say putting my phone into my back pocket.

"It's okay." He said smiling a bit.

"You might want to hurry. You'll be late for school."

"So are you."

He had a point. I looked at his appearance. He had dark brown hair and it was semi-long and dark amber eyes. He was also a little taller than me (I hate being short). He was wearing a black shirt and jeans and a grey sweater and either I was blind or he had his right ear pierced multiple times and had earrings. He also had a necklace that had like a jewel and a bead on either side of it. It was a light bluish color.

We both start walking to school together (don't ask how or why). We didn't say anything to each other, considering that we didn't know each other. When we enter the school building, the hallways were empty. Guess that's what I get for being late for school. We separate and I go to my locker.

I take out my notebook from my book bag and put my book bag in my locker. I didn’t need to carry extra stuff. I close my locker and start walking to my first class of the day with a notebook and pencil in hand. First day meant no notes and no homework so I'm going to doodle. Once I enter, I noticed that the English teacher wasn't there yet. Good, that means less time for class. I don’t like English. I also noticed the guy I had almost bumped into when I was coming to school. He was leaning against the wall talking to some other guys there. I could tell he was one of those guys that never care about anything. Turning to me, he smiles. I felt weird when he smiled at me. I ignored it and walk to the back of the class, to the last desk, next to the window on the left side of the classroom. I take my seat, sit down and look out the window, towards the woods. For some odd reason, I feel as if someone was looking at me from the woods. I shake my head. I think I'm just going insane. I look back inside the classroom. Once I did, I notice the same guy I had almost bumped into walking towards me. Weird...

"Can I sit next to you?" he asks.

"Uh... sure...?" I say questionably, slightly raising an eyebrow.

"Thanks."

He sat down and turns to me.

"Uhh... what's your name?" he asks.

"I'm Nikki Brooke." I say.

"I'm Kaito Knight."

"Nice to meet you Kaito. Is your last name night as in day and night or a knight in shining armour?"

"A knight in shining armour."

"That's a cool last name."

"Thanks."

Our little conversation was cut short when the teacher comes in the classroom. At least she was late. I didn't want to be there and I was still sleepy. The whole period, since it was the beginning of a new school year, she was telling us about how to behave and act and some other stuff but I don't remember what they were because I decided not to pay attention after that. I was doodling the whole time. It was soooo boring!!!! When class ends, I go to my locker to put away the stack of papers the teacher gave us. Ugh, I swear... I seriously hate English with a passion. I close my locker and when I turn to the right, I see Kaito standing there in front of me.

"AHH!!! Oh, it's you." I say putting a hand to my chest.

"Oh, did I scare you? Sorry..." he said.

"It's okay but why are you here and how did you know where my locker was? And shouldn't you be at your next class?"

"My locker is right around the corner and I wanted to walk with you to your next class."

"Why?" I'm getting suspicious.

"I want to be friends with you."

Say what? "You... want to be my friend?" I ask raising an eyebrow a bit.

"If it's okay with you... um... yeah, I want to be your friend."

"Okay, we can be friends then."

"So what's your next class?"

"I really don't know."

"Can I see your schedule?"

I take the folded piece of paper out of my back jeans pocket. I give it to him and he looks at it.

"We have some classes together." Kaito said

"Eh? What?" I say.

"We have some classes together. We have the same next class right now also."

"Really? Then what's our class?"

"Uh... Math."

"Okay. Let's go."

We start walking to class. The teacher said we could sit anywhere. I pick the desk in the back. The same as I did in the other classroom and like I always do in every class. I don't like being in the front. I just feel like if I'm in front, everyone is staring at me and I won't be able to stop them from staring. Kaito picks to sit next to me (for some odd reason). The whole time we waited for the bell to ring, which felt like an eternity, so we could go on with class (I wanted the school day to end already). When the bell rings, the teacher does the same thing as the other. Ugh... procedures. Could someone just shove scissors in my ears if I'm going to hear the same thing over and over for the whole day?! Man I wish I ditched! Or better yet, stayed at home. Thirty minutes before class ends, the teacher passes out homework. Homework? On the first day of school?! This is crazy! I try to do one problem, but I didn't understand it (I wasn't really paying attention). I turn to Kaito. He was actually doing the homework (I bet he paid attention).

"Do you understand it?" I ask looking over at him.

"Yeah, why? Don't you understand it?" he said turning to me.

"Nope. It's confusing."

"Did you pay even attention?"

Shit... I'm caught, "Um... No...?" I said with a nervous smile.

He laughs a little, "Well, I'll help you then."

Before he could even help me with one of the damned problems, the bell rang. Great, now I have to spend the rest of the day trying to figure it out for myself. Just what I needed.

Art class was next, which was my best subject. I had always love do draw since I was little. It calms me down when I’m mad or when I just wasn’t to be alone and it relieves my stress. All we had to do was draw whatever came to our mind. I just doodle random things on the piece of paper we were handed. I look over at Kaito, who seemed deep in thought. This wasn’t even a pop quiz or anything. It didn’t really require much thought.

“What are you so deep in thought about?” I asked.

“I don’t know what to draw.” He said still looking at his paper, tapping his pencil on the table.

“Seriously? Just draw something random. It doesn’t have to be perfect or anything.”

“I still can’t think of anything.”

“Then I don’t know what to tell you.” I said going back to my paper.

After art was science class. That class was second on my favourite classes list. Ever since fourth grade, I’ve watched a lot of science programs on T.V. that interested me. Anything from plants, animals, stars, and planets. Since then, I’ve been at the top of my class for those subjects. Most people thought I was a nerd or something because of my knowledge of these things.

The other class I had was Social Studies, which was boring also. In Social Studies the teacher was talking about what we are going to learn in the class for the whole year. For me it was a heads up on when I had to pay close attention and when I could sleep or do something else.

In every class I have with Kaito, I sit next to him (Uh... I should say that he sits next to me, which is weird and invasion of my personal space!). I wanted to yell at him, but there were two things stopping me from doing that. One, the teacher would of yell at me for yelling at him (If they hear me, which I bet they will. I can get very loud when annoyed) and two, it wouldn't be nice of me to... wait... me nice? Please! I ain't nice!

Lunch was next. I go to the cafeteria and get my lunch. I find an empty seat at a table and sit down. Before I start eating, I hear a voice behind me say, "Is that you, Nikki?"

I turn around. It was one of my best friends, Isabella. I stand up and she walks up to me and gives me a hug.

"I can't believe it's you! It's been so long!" she said letting go. It had been so long, even if it was just summer vacation. It had felt like an eternity. I remember Isabella having her black hair shorter. Now, it was a bit longer and she had red highlights in her hair. She was wearing a pretty light bluish shirt and a black hoodie with grey skinny jeans and black boots.

"It has been long, huh?" I say.

"Yeah." Isabella said.

"So, how was your vacation?"

"It was pretty cool." she said sitting down. I also sit down. Before I start eating again, I see Kaito with a girl some feet in front of me. I thought it was his girlfriend at first, but I wasn't so sure afterwards because it looked like they were arguing about something. Kaito says one last thing to her and then he leaves. I ignore it and went back to eat. I was so hungry! I didn't eat breakfast, so yeah. Wait... I just now remembered about my Oreo cookies! But they're in my freaking damn locker! Damnit! Then I feel someone sit next to me on the right. I look with the corners of my eyes to see Kaito sitting next to me. I didn't care. I just went back to eating. Isabella leans over to me and whispers, "Do you know him?" Why would she ask me that?

"He's just a dude in some of my classes. Why?" I whisper back to her. I grab my juice and take a sip from it and look at her.

"I think he likes you."

I almost choke, "What?!"

"Oh come on. A cute guy sitting next to you? I think he does."

"Sure..." I say facing forward.

"Are you two friends?"

"Sort of..."

"Hey! Are you friends with Nikki?" Isabella asks Kaito. Someone just please kill me right now. She's going to embarrass me in front of Kaito!

"Yeah... barely..." Kaito said turning to us. I giggle a little.

"What? What's so funny?" Kaito asks me.

"You have a little bit of..." I say pointing to his lip.

"Oh!" he wipes it off, "Sorry about that."

We all laugh.

"So, you met Nikki?" Isabella asks.

"Yeah. Why do you ask?" Kaito asks.

"Oh, no reason. I just wanted to know."

I turn to Isabella, who is smiling. Wait... why is she... oh no! She is not thinking that! Is she? Kaito starts eating again and I do the same. Isabella leans over and whispers again, "He likes you."

"Whatever..." I say rolling my eyes.

"Oh, can I go over your house today?"

"Not today. I have this hard homework assignment that might take me all night. Stupid teacher... Giving us work today..."

"I can help you." I hear Kaito say. I turn to him.

"Yeah! Why don't you invite him over too!?" Isabella said excited.

"What?!" She can't be serious. I just met him today and she wants me to invite him over? Should I or should I not invite him over? I mean, he can help me with my homework, but at the same time, it's a little creepy. I don't know what to think.

"So, can we?" Isabella asks.

I start to think. Part of me says 'Yes! Invite him over! Come on!’ The other part says 'No! You can't'. 'Yes' and 'No' are having this huge ass war in my head while I try to think straight.

Finally, I say, "Okay."

"So we are going to your house?" Isabella asks.

"Yeah." I say hitting my head on the table.

"So what time do you want me to go over?" Kaito asks.

"Why don't we just all walk over there?" Isabella asks.

"Isabella!" I hiss looking up at her.

"It's not far from here anyway."

I hit my head on the table again. I feel someone's hand on my shoulder and then I hear Kaito ask, “Are you okay Nikki?"

"Yeah, thanks to Isabella!" I say lifting my head and turning to Isabella. She just smiles innocently at me. I just glared at her. How I wanted to wipe that smile away with a smack to the face. She wasn’t even innocent! I could feel the worst to come later that day. Ugh... I hate my life now. I don't want this day to end like this because of her now.

After lunch, I go to the class that remain. When the final bell rings, I eagerly leave the classroom(Why are we in a classroom when it’s P. E?). Finally, I can go home. It was hell in there. I go to my locker to get my homework, the one Kaito is going to help me with, and put it in my book bag. I'm about to walk out of the building when I see Kaito with the same girl from the cafeteria. He looks angrily at her as she tells him something. Kaito says something to her and then walks away. He then sees me. I try to make it seem I wasn't looking at them (which I bet I failed at doing). He starts walking towards me and I could see his anger fade away and says "Hey Nikki."

"Who was that person you were talking to?" I ask.

He sighs, "A girl that wants to go out with me."

"Did you say 'yes'?"

"No."

"Why not?" I look at the girl (She was a few feet behind us and she was giving me an angry look as if I had done something wrong. WTH did I do?). She had blonde hair and was a semi-long, which is shorter than mine because mine's above my butt (I want it cut though. It's becoming a big pain in the ass, no pun intended there), and she looked like a cheerleader (I don't know. I'm just guessing. She looked the type of girl to be one). I turn back to Kaito, "She's pretty." NOT!.

"Because I already like someone." he said looking down as if he was just rejected.

Whoa! Already?! Damn! Oh wait, he could have like that person for a while, so it doesn't mean that he started to like the person today. I wanted to ask him who he liked, but I think it's a question for another day. I mean, I just met him today. I don't know a lot about him and he doesn't know a lot about me either. He might tell me later, if I ask. And if I remember, which I bet I won't.

"You coming?" He asks me. I shake my thought off and say, "Y-Yeah. Coming." and walk up to him.

"Where's Isabella?"

"I think she's still inside."

We wait for Isabella outside to come out. The whole time we were waiting, we didn't say anything to each other (It was a VERY awkward silence). She came out minutes later and she looked at us embarrassed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting long." she said.

"It's okay." Kaito said.

"You know I don't care if you’re late." I said.

She smiles. When we start walking to my house, I feel Isabella tap my shoulder. I knew it was her because she was on the left side of me. I turn to her and she points at Kaito. I ignore her. She really has to stop with this whole 'Kaito likes me' thing. Halfway to my house, Isabella tells us about her vacation. The two are behind me as I walk faster. It's not that I'm trying to be mean or anything, it's just that Isabella would want me be in the middle of them, for certain reasons, and that will never happen. When we get to my house, I get my keys out of my pocket to unlock the door. Then I hear Kaito ask, "Do your parents mind us being at your house?"

"No." I say.

"Why not?"

"Because they're not here."

"Where are they then?"

"Nikki, you didn't tell him?!" I hear Isabella yell from behind.

"No."

"Why didn't you?"

"I don't need the whole world to know about what happened, Isabella." I say turning to them.

"Well, then I'll tell him."

"Tell me what?" Kaito asks. Isabella turns to him.

"Her parents died in a car accident when she had turned twelve."

He turns to me and says, "Sorry... I didn't know-" I cut him off, "Don't be."

We go inside and Isabella says, "Let's watch scary movies!"

"No we aren't. I have homework to do." I say. I know what she's trying to do. She's trying to make me scared so I can cuddle with Kaito. NOT GONNA HAPPEN! Kaito and I sit at the dining table, while Isabella sat on the couch watching T.V. When Kaito goes outside to get some fresh air, I hear Isabella say, "Tell him you like him."

"What?!" I say turning to the couch. I could only see the back of her head. I glared daggers at the back of her head, wishing they would come true. Not to kill her, but to like go to her head and smack her.

"I said tell him you like him."

I turn back to my homework, "Hahaha... No! I don't like him like that!"

"Why not? I bet you do."

"No I don't!"

Kaito comes back in and we start the next problem. My pencil breaks and I have to get a new one from my book bag, which unfortunately, was next to Isabella. I walk over and she whispers, "Why not?"

"Because I don't like him like that and because he already likes someone." I whisper taking a pencil out of my pencil pouch.

"Who?!"

"I don't know!" I say and walk back to the table. Once I sit down, I hear Isabella say, "Nikki, I have to tell you something!" I walk over and she whispers, "Who?"

"I don't know! I didn't and I won't ask him!" I whisper and walk back to the table.

"It's so boring here!" Isabella said.

"We're almost done. Just one more problem." I say.

"Okay..."

When we finish, Kaito said, "That wasn't hard, was it?" I had my head on the table so I turn my head to him, not lifting it off the table. It was hard!

"What do you guys want to do now?" Isabella asks.

"I don't know." I say.

Kaito and I walk over to where Isabella was. Kaito sat on the couch, while I sat on the rug (Isabella would start again). We didn't say anything the whole time, we just watched T.V. When it's time for Isabella to go, she gets her stuff and says, "See you guys tomorrow." and walks out. Now this is a little weird. And by weird, I mean... WTF?!?! I mean... Kaito and I... just there... alone... I bet I know what Isabella is thinking right now. I get up and sit on the couch, two feet away from Kaito. I feel weird, and I mean WEIRD!!! I feel as if I did like Kaito, which I don't. I mean, he is cute, I'll admit that, but I don't like him. I'm not like those girls that like any guy that's cute. We're just friends, nothing else. We're only going to be friends. Or will we be something more? What am I saying?! We won't. I'm starting to think like Isabella now. Great. Just what I needed. Thoughts that aren't mine in my head.

"I should be going now." Kaito said getting up and getting his stuff. Before he walks out the door, he turns to face me. I turn red because I feel like I'm in one of those teen movies when the guy tells the girl he loves her before he walks out and then kisses her.

"See you tomorrow." he said and walked out the door. I look out the window and see him walk to his house. I close the curtains and walk to the door. I lock it, turn away from it, and fall to the floor, my face in my hands.

What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like this?

I get up and turn off the lights. I walk up the stairs to my room and turn on the light (I don't want to trip over something in there. Yes, I’m that clumsy). I go to my closet and pick out something more comfortable to wear to bed. As I'm getting ready to go to sleep, I look at myself in the mirror.

Why did he want me to be his friend?

As I looked at my reflection, I hear a noise outside. It sounded like a coyote or wolf howling or something. I walk over to my window and look outside. All I see is the darkness of the night. The moon shines above the woods. The now looking scary woods. Then I hear the noise again. I grab my hoodie and run out my house. Why? I'm not so sure why I am doing this.

I run into what appears to be like a scene from a scary or murder movie. I run into the woods, not knowing what will happen to me next...