Information:
Genre: Romance,Fiction,Action
Main Characters: Faith,Jeremy,Gabriel,James
Setting:Keene,Tennessee-Present Time
Plot: Faith and Jeremy always had it easy in Keene,Tennessee.They have been friends forever and nothing ever strange happened until Gabriel comes. Gabriel is a hot-shot who wants Faith to himself,but Jeremy has other plans. Soon after an encounter with a monster they realized Gabriel's true identity. It is up to Faith and Jeremy to stop them,but something terrible goes wrong. Then a cute boy James comes and wins Faith's heart,but Gabriel comes to finish what he started.Can Faith save her hometown and herself and find what is true in her heart?
Dangerously Beautiful
Chapter One
The hot sun was beating down on my head as I walked down the dirt road kicking pebbles to the side. It was perfect weather in my jean shorts and orange tank top. I stop at the huge rock that I put there to mark the trail to my secret place. I sat on the rock and pulled out a book I was reading for school until I heard my best friend Jeremy walking down the path. Jeremy was seven-teen, like me, and we have been friends since the second grade. His long brown hair, pulled back in a ponytail, reached his waist and his black eyes were shining like Georgia stars. I was always jealous of his looks. I was a blonde-haired, nearly white, haired girl with grey eyes. I was small for my age and people would always pick on me for it.
Jeremy came up beside me and sat down. He looked at me with his never-ending eyes and smiled. “What are reading Faith?” I look at him and handed him the book. “The book for school, remember? The project we have to do.” Jeremy looked at me then erupted in laughter. After a second or two, I too started laughing. Jeremy rarely does his homework.
“Did you hear of the new kid coming from Austin, Texas? I think his name is Gabriel,” Jeremy said handing me back my book.
“No,” I said truthfully. Jeremy turned to say something more, but his little sister, Abigail, came skipping down the dirt road. Jeremy smiled and said, “Bye. See you tomorrow.” He got up dusting off his pants and took his sisters hand. Abigail turned and smiled, waving to me as Jeremy and her walked away leaving me alone on the rock.
I walked down the trail that led to my secret place pushing tall weeds away with the tips of my fingers. My secret place was a place Jeremy and I found when we were ten years old. Trees with a lonely tree in the middle with Jeremy’s names and mine scratched in it. Sweet Goldenrods surround the lonely tree. Jeremy and I love crushing their leaves and smelling their sweet aroma.
When I walked to the tree, I laid my backpack beside the tree and started climbing up the tree. When I reached the top, I sat down and started swinging my legs. My mind wondered toward the new boy moving here. Who would want to move from a place like Austin, Texas to Keene, Tennessee? He would probably be a nerd like the last kid who moved here.
The suns heat started to get uncomfortable so I jumped from the tree and grabbed my bad. I walked down the trail when I heard a rustling sound coming from nearby trees. I shrugged it off and began walking again until I heard what sounded like a growl. This time I did not shrug it off. I slowly walked toward the trees with my heart thundering in my chest. When I got close enough I was staring at two great big yellow eyes. My jaw dropped when I saw the eyes. As soon as they were there, they disappeared. I turned on my heels and started running. I did not stop running until I got to my house.
My house is a two-story yellow house with a white picket fence surrounding it. My parents were not home so I locked the door and ran up the steps taking two at a time. When I got into my room, I collapsed on my bed breathing hard. What was that thing?
After about five minutes, I gave up and told myself that I just imagined it. I went downstairs and grabbed a snack. My parents would not be home until I go to bed. I watched TV for a few hours until I looked at the setting sun and went upstairs to take a shower. When I was done, I went to bed lying on my back staring at the ceiling. I do not know how long I was like that, but when I started feeling drowsy, my parents came in. My father came up to my room and looked in, but I covered myself to make it look like I was sleeping. I closed my eyes and slept that night, but not peacefully.
That night I dreamt I was running through a never-ending forest. There was no light and it was so cold. Behind me was a beautiful wolf. He or she was huge. It was at least three feet taller than I was. It had bright yellow eyes, black fur and teeth like knives. The wolf jumped at me and tackled me to the ground. Its teeth trying to bite my neck, and its weight crushing me like I was a bug. I grabbed a stick and started hitting him, but it was not helping anything. It just made him a whole lot angrier.
I awoke to the morning sun pouring through my window. I rubbed my eyes and crawled out of bed. I grabbed a gray t-shirt and pair of jeans. My parents are teachers at the high school so they get up early and stay late grading papers. I got a bowl, spoon, pored milk, and cereal in my bowl. My cat, Cake, rubbed up against my leg as I petted her soft black fur.
When I was done, I put on a pair of tennis shoes, threw my backpack over my shoulder, and walked out the door. Summer days in Keene are usually hot while in the winter it is freezing.
It is the middle of May and the weather is at its hottest. When I look up from the dirt road, I stare at my high school. With its high brick walls and a fence, surrounding the schoolyard it looks more like a prison than a school. I slowly walk toward the double doors and open the door. There is a major difference between the temperature of outside and inside.
I pull my light jacket from my backpack and slip it on. Jeremy is already waiting for me by my locker. He grabs my books and turns around waiting for me. “Hey Faith, how’s it going?” He smiled as he took my hand. I smiled and said nothing until we got to our first class. Jeremy and I have the same classes. We took our seats and listen to Mrs. Apple talk about the universe. I doodle in my notebook and looked up at time to make it look like I was paying attention.
“You must be Mr. Gabriel White. Welcome to the class,” Mrs. Apple said to a tall handsome boy who was standing in the door. He had bronze skin, deep brown eyes, and raven hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt with a black wolf on it with yellow eyes. I gasped for air and suddenly the world started spinning. The strange boy looked at me a smiled while Jeremy steadied me with his hand. The boy kept staring and smiling and I wondered what my face looked like.
Mrs. Apple said, “Class, please introduce yourself.” The class started saying their names. I tried to catch my breath and get back to normal. I nodded to Jeremy letting him know I was all right and he let go of my arm. “Why don’t you go sit beside Faith and Jeremy?”
Gabriel walked over to my table with cat like grace and sat down beside me. “Hello, you must be the lovely Faith,” Gabriel said in a deep husky voice while he held his hand out. I took his huge hand in my pale shaky hand and shook. He looked at Jeremy with a grimace and said, “You must be Jeremy.”
Jeremy returned the grimace and shook his head, his fist clenched. I sunk into my sit and started doodling on my notebook avoiding the looks Jeremy and Gabriel gave each other. When the bell rung Jeremy took my hand and walked me to our next class. Halfway down the hallway Gabriel came running up next to me and said, “Are you two dating each other or something?” I looked at Jeremy eyes wide, but he just looked at Gabriel. I turned toward Gabriel and shook my head.
“So, the position is still open?”
I shook my head again.
“Why?”
“I don’t want to date you.”
Jeremy smiled and opened the door to Mr. Eve’s classroom.
Gabriel avoided me for the rest of school, which was perfectly fine with me. After school, Jeremy insisted to walk me home so I agreed. When we were walking down the dirt road to my house Jeremy asked, “So what was up with you and Gabriel?” I shrugged and said, “The dude gives me the creeps. Besides, why do you hate him so much?”
“I hate the way he looks at you, like he owns you.” I gave him a weary smile. Jeremy bent down and picked up a rock. He played with it in his hands for a while then threw it very hard.
After a while, Jeremy and I walked toward the big rock and Jeremy grabbed my hand pulling me down the path that led to our secret place. When we got to the place I saw the yellow eyes I froze, half-expecting a huge animal to jump out of the trees, but when I didn’t I moved forward. Jeremy and I found our secret place and sat down in the Sweet Goldenrod. We crushed their leaves smelling their sweet aroma. Jeremy and I stayed like that for hours trying to stuff the wildflower in each other’s mouth. I won, grabbing a handful of Sweet Goldenrods and tackling Jeremy to the ground stuffing them into his mouth. We rolled around in laughter until our faces started to hurt.
I loved when Jeremy and I did this. It reminded me of our childhood growing up. Our friendship was a great partnership. Because of my smallness and weakness, Jeremy always fought for me because he was bigger and stronger than I was. In return, I was his friend and helped him get through school without getting in trouble.
We met when a bigger boy stole my stuffed bunny and would not give it back. Jeremy, who was bigger than that boy was took back the stuffed bunny and pushed the boy down. He handed me the bunny and walked away. Three weeks later, he got in trouble for punching a kid in the nose. When I saw that, I told the teacher that the other kid started it and that I saw the whole thing, which was lie. The other kid got in trouble and Jeremy came over, patted my head and said, “You aren’t so bad after all squirt.” He has been my best and only friend after that.
Now, Jeremy helped on my feet, dusted the back of my shirt off, and took my hand and we walked to my house.
At my house, Jeremy and I watched a pathetic scary movie eating a bowl of butter-less popcorn. When the movie was over, I got up, setting the bowl down and walked out back. There I set up my telescope and looked up into the beautiful night sky. Jeremy sat on the grass and looked up at me with affectionate eyes. When I was done, I sat down beside Jeremy and laid my head on his shoulder. People at school would tease us, saying we were dating, but Jeremy said we know the truth and that is what matters.
I yawned and stretched then said, “Shouldn’t you be getting home?” Jeremy nodded and got up. I got up to and Jeremy gave me one of his special bear hugs then turned on his heels and left. When I got into the house the phone was blinking so I went over checked the phone number.
333-9045
I had no clue who that that was. I guessed it was one of my mother’s friends and went up stairs to bed.
In the morning, I went through my usual ritual and went outside to go to school. Today was the last day of school before summer break. I skipped down the dirt road today, strangely happy. When I got to school, I was about to turn and run the other direction when I saw Jeremy yelling at Gabriel. It was not nice to let someone you hate be murdered by your best friend is it?
I walked toward the two boys when they looked up. Gabriel smiled and walked over to me. He put his arm around my shoulders and looked at me with warm brown eyes and I smiled, melting under his touch. I forgot anyone else existed until I heard Jeremy footsteps. I looked up to see him walking away with his head down and shoulders high. A kid got in his way so Jeremy pushed him against the lockers. I ran, pushing Gabriel aside, to catch up with Jeremy.
“What’s wrong Jeremy,” I asked my voice cracking. Jeremy said nothing. “I’m sorry. Please look at me.” Jeremy acted as if I did not exist. Tears stung the back of my eyes. I turned and ran down the hall into the girls’ bathroom. I sat in the stalls until the end of school, avoiding Jeremy and Gabriel.
What did I do? What thing could I have done to make Jeremy mad? When I heard other girls coming into the bathroom I dried my eyes and came out of the stalls. I avoided the stares and pushed my way out. I saw Gabriel waiting by my locker smiling a wicked grin. “What do you want,” I growled. “Beside you, not much,” He said smiling. I pushed him out of my way and put my books in my locker, and walked for the doors. When Gabriel grabbed my hand, it set off a bomb. I turned around and kicked Gabriel in his groin. He dropped like a sack of rocks.
While Gabriel was on the ground rolling in pain, I saw Jeremy smiling. I guess I was his friend again. I ran outside beside Jeremy and he said, “Sorry for being a jerk.” I smiled and took his hands and said, “You’re forgiven.” Jeremy smiled and we walked hand in hand down the dirt road and into our summer break.
After Jeremy left to go watch his sister, I took the dirty dishes into the kitchen. When I was checking the water to see if it was warm I heard a large crack. I looked out the kitchen window into the dark woods behind my house. A large figure walked out from the trees and walked slowly toward the house. I started to panic. I could not call anyone. Who believe me? I could not go to anyone’s house. The nearest neighbor we got is a mile away.
My palms started to sweat and my heart was racing in my chest. It was the same wolf from my nightmare. It got closer and closer to the house. I could feel tears coming down my face. I guess this was the end. I never said goodbye to my parents and I wonder what Jeremy would do. I pushed the thought out of my head. My fear slowly turned into hate when I ran upstairs into my parent’s room. I opened their closet, took out my dad’s gun, and went outside. The wolf was very close now. I held the gun up and pointed it at the wolf. The wolf let out a snarl and jumped for me. I pulled the trigger and the wolf went down.
He started to twitch and move around, blinking his eye. He looked up at me as if he could not believe I did that. A soft whimper came from the wolf as he gave me one last look and darted into the trees.
I walked down the dirt road toward Jeremy’s house because I was afraid to be alone. The wolf tried to kill me. Shooting it was the best thing to do. The road was quite this time of night. The coolness of the temperature felt great after the harsh sun all day. There were no streetlights so the only light was coming from the full moon. I looked up to see millions of stars above my head. The stars shined down on me like millions of eyes leading me the way. The idea comforted me a little.
I heard a distance bark, and a growl, and my heart stopped. I picked up a nearby stick and put it back down remembering my dream. I froze staring ahead of me. A white German shepherd came running down the dirt road. I sighed in relief. The beautiful dog jumped up on me, his dirty paws ruining my favorite shirt. He had pure white fur except for the dirt marks and deep brown eyes. The dog had a scratch under his right eye and he looked as if he were starving.
I petted the strange dog wondering where he came from when a Volkswagen came down the road, which I recognized immediately as my parents. The slowed to a stop and I ran, pulling the dog with me, to the car and got in. My mother turned around and looked at me with her mad face and said, “What are you doing out here during the night?”
Saying, I saw a giant wolf and was scared so I decided to go to my friend Jeremy’s house so I wouldn’t be alone would get me in more trouble. For one, who would believe a giant wolf was in my backyard trying to kill me? In addition, my parents hated Jeremy because they thought he was a bad influence. “I went for a walk because I was bored and I heard this dog and wanted to check it out,” I said thanking God for the strange dog that showed up mysteriously.
My mother loved animals so I knew I just won the fight. My father, who usually does not talk said nothing as me drove home. When I got home my mother said to make fliers for the dog, bathe it, and feed it. When I was taking the dog to the bathroom, I prayed no one would claim it so I could get it.
Washing the dog was not hard. He looked like he enjoyed it. After I fed the dog, I got out a bunch of printer paper and turned my computer on. I grabbed my camera and said, “Say cheese!” The dog looked at me and I took the perfect picture of him. Two hours later, I had fifty fliers so I turned my computer off and climbed into my bed. The dog jumped up with me and I smiled, petting him for hours until I went to sleep. This was going to be an interesting summer.
Chapter 2 Is Next....
