Unique ~ Chapter 1

So here I was in the middle of nowhere. Nothing to see. Nothing to do. But think. About everything. My whole life and how it was going. I didn't see how anything mattered anymore. What with my dead mom, missing dad, and my overprotective brother, I pretty much had nothing. Sure dating had crossed my mind once or twice but I never seemed to find the right guy. Sure I was the prettiest girl in school and everyone paid attention to me like a celebrity but I hated attention.
Attention was my worst enemy. I never talked to anyone really and I guess that's part of my problem of why people want to get to know me so much. I never shared any secrets, never told anyone about my likes and dislikes. Because to me, if you share your opinion on things it only gives you haters or lovers. So for me, not telling anybody anything was the right thing to do if I didn't want to start trouble.

Since no one hates me I have less self stress. Plus, people like me for being "mysterious". I don't get involved in cliques or fights, so most go to me for advice on things or just to pour out their souls to vent. In response, I'd be sympathetic, put what their opinions are in my own words, then feed it back to them so they're happy. I do this so that I'm agreeing with them yet not taking sides. Pretty simple.
But the reason I'm out here in the woods now is because I'm sick of it all. Sick of cliques. Sick of hypocrites. Sick of people who think they have the best personality and act like everyone wants to be like them. Sick of obnoxious people mostly. A synonym for obnoxious should be obvious. I actually want to keep to my self in seclusion. That way I don't have to be like the rest of those clone freaks worrying about the same things day and night. And I certainly don't want to be those outgoing people who constantly crave attention like its air or something.

It's not like going out in the woods is unusual for me. I do it all the time. Of course it freaks my brother out, but I don't care. Here in the woods I know myself. It blocks out the rest of the world.
All there is, is the woods and I. Me and the trees. The woods is so inviting too. Always a fresh clean smell with giggling trickling streams. The forest is never judgemental. It accepts me for who I am. I don't have to pretend like I care here.
I looked down to the creek, my reflection stared back at me. My medium length white-blonde hair cascaded to my shoulders and my grey-green eyes looked curious yet distant. People always ask why I'm so pale and how is my skin so perfect. I simply reply that I don't know. In the summer I try to get a tan but it never works out.

Another weird thing is that my skin is like indestructible. It never blisters or breaks out for some reason. Sure I'm thankful but it's still weird. Oh, and I also don't gain weight. It's true. I have something called a high metabolism.
I laid back on a patch of grass, daydreaming. Slowly...drifting...to...sleep........hearing the mellow twitter of the birds....just drifting.......drifting..... A sharp buzz shattered the blissful moment. I took my phone out of my pocket and groaned as I read the message:

Brook, time to come home.
From: Bro
Sent: 8:00 PM
Received: 8:35 PM

Sighing, I lazily got up and brushed off my clothes. Walking home, I spotted a shadow at the corner of my eye. Quickly, I spun around to see what it was. Nothing. Just darkness. Feeling a sense of unease, I sprinted home.
Nathan was waiting for me and opened the door before I could touch the knob.
"Where have you been? I texted you like half an hour ago!" He exclaimed angrily. I sighed, Nathan had always been such a worrywart since my mom died. A fatal car accident killed her on her way to work one day when I was just 8 years old and when Nathan was 15.
I think maybe once I had a dad too, but mom never mentioned him so I just kept my mouth shut and never asked. After my mom's death we lived with our Grandma Clarice for about 3 years until she died of a heart attack. By then Nathan was 18 and had a good paying job, so he moved us back into our old neighborhood. Anyway, since all of my relatives were either dead or missing, Nathan took up the responsibility of being my legal guardian and even kept me in school. I felt like I owed him and didn't want to be anymore of a bother to him so I kept my grades up and stayed away from close relationships and drama.

Being on time was a thing I certainly sucked at though, and since there was basically no cell phone reception in the woods, I usually didn't get his texts till later. Plus, I was too busy daydreaming and getting lost in my thoughts to remind myself to check the time. I mentally scolded myself and took note to set an alarm later. Nathan was almost done with his rant when my head came back to reality.
"You're 13 now going on 14 and you should be able to keep track of time!" He growled. When I didn't say anything, his fiery blue eyes stared at me in disbelief and he questioned, "Well? What do you have to say for yourslelf?"
I usually didn't space out during his rants but my mind started wondering back to why I felt so uneasy before when I was outside. What was it about that shadow that I was freaking out about? I probably didn't see anything anyway. "Sorry," I mumbled and averted my eyes. Nathan didn't say anything after a while so I glanced up at him. He had his arms crossed and was glaring at the floor.

A few seconds passed and his features softened. He finally looked up at me and sighed, running a hand through his long dark hair, making him look a lot older than 20. Leaning forward, he embraced me in a firm hug and said, "It's okay. I'm not mad, I was just worried about you. Sorry for being a little overprotective. I know you're a strong independent girl, but promise me that you'll try not to be late next time?" His voice was filled with so much remorse it made my vision get all watery. I hated when I cried, even though I didn't cry often. It showed my vulnerability. Vulnerability is weakness. I hated weakness and helplessness.
"I-I promise," my voice cracked and wavered. Pulling away, I wiped away all of my tears. God, I hated emotions.
"Oh, I didn't mean to make you cry," Nathan quickly said apologetically.
I glared and him and replied defiantly, "You didn't. It's my, um, allergies."

He smirked. "Right. Allergies." I stuck my tongue out at him playfully and he laughed. "Ok, ok. I think we've had enough drama for one night. Probably enough for a whole lifetime."
Of course my brother chastised me for being late but I was used to it and after that I just took a shower then went to bed. But as I lie there deep in thought, all I could think about was that shadow. You may think it's silly but it was something interesting to think about since my life was extremely boring. Little did I know that, that "shadow" was about to change my life.