Moonstruck

Prelude

Four year old Liana Lachey held Mrs. Peter’s hand as she looked up at the stern looking woman who was her new guardian and also her aunt. She had been staying at her best friend Millie’s for the past week, ever since her parents car accident had taken their lives. She didn’t really remember her aunt but had been told she was her daddy’s sister and that she would now live with her.

“Hello Liana,” Aunt Carol said, eyeing the little girl for a moment.

“Hello Aunt Carol,” Liana said softly.

Aunt Carol glanced at the woman still holding Liana’s hand. “Thank you for bringing her,” She said briskly. “And for letting her stay with you this past week. I had things to arrange now that she will be staying with me.”

Mrs. Peter’s nodded, her eyes sad. “It is no problem, we all love Liana. My daughter Millie and her are best friends, right Liana?” She smiled.

Liana nodded.

“I’m sorry you weren’t able to attend the memorial for your brother and sister-in-law,” Mrs. Peters said. “It was very nice. They were cared about by a lot of people.”

“Yes, well. Like I said, I had things to arrange,” Aunt Carol said, looking briefly at Liana before focusing back on Mrs. Peters. “I appreciate you handling the details for me.”

“I was happy to help. Mike and Lyndra were wonderful people.” Mrs. Peters said, her eyes slightly shiny. She gave a sigh. “I should go, there will be a lot of traffic back,” She gave Liana a big hug. “You’ll be just fine, sweetie. And you and Millie can stay in touch, all right?”

Liana’s eyes filled with tears. “Bye,” She whispered. She wished she could have stayed with Millie and her family, they had always been like a second family to her. She watched sadly as Mrs. Peters drove away and then hugged her duffel bag to her chest as she followed her aunt into her apartment.

“I’m very sorry about your father’s death, he was a wonderful man.” Aunt Carol said as she led Liana to her new room. “He was a very good brother to me.”

“I miss him,” Liana sniffled. “And my mommy.”

Aunt Carol pursed her lips. “Yes, well. It is very sad. But I will take care of you now.” She went to the small desk that was next to the bed and picked up the small gift bag that had been sitting on it. “I have a present for you.” She handed it to her niece.

“A present?” Liana’s jade green eyes brightened a little. She reached in and pulled out a necklace. She ran her fingers over the pendant. “It looks like the moon!” She said excitedly.

“It’s a very unique necklace, Liana,” Aunt Carol said sweetly. “It will protect you from harm. I got it special just for you. But you must never, ever take it off. Promise me? I don’t want anything bad to happen to you too.”

Liana slipped the necklace over her head. “I promise, Aunt Carol.”

13 years later

*Liana*

“Have you finished unpacking everything?” Aunt Carol asked, her eyes roving around the living room. The small house we had just moved into was slowly starting to come together. “Push out the coffee table a little more, and I want the books arranged on the shelf in alphabetical order. Fluff up the pillows on the sofa and then vacuum. I want the kitchen floor mopped as well.” She gave a big sigh. “I need to rest, moving always takes a lot out of me.”

I wiped my brow, my muscles protesting from all the cleaning and lifting I had been doing. I pulled my long blonde hair up and tied it into a messy bun. I resisted rolling my eyes as my aunt spoke, the only room my aunt had unpacked was her own, I had been doing the rest of the house. It was hard because I got tired out quickly and wasn’t that strong physically. I hadn’t been most of my life, although no one knew why. My aunt told me it was probably vitamin deficiency or something but no matter how many vitamins I took, I still got winded so easily. I was also clumsy and bruised easily, and was always slightly peaky looking. So, no school sports for me, and P.E. classes were always a nightmare. I had a feeling this school would be like my past one, in no time I would the weak girl everyone made fun of.

“I need to take a break,” I said quietly.

Aunt Carol rolled her eyes. “Fine. I suppose I’ll go get take out for dinner since you obviously won’t have the energy to make anything.” She grabbed her purse and keys. “Go ahead and rest, I’ll be back soon with some food.”

“Thanks,” I sighed as I flopped onto the couch. I needed a rest. I was used to my aunt having me do most of the housework and cooking, it was just the way it was. We weren’t exactly close and I never thought of her as a second mother or anything. But she had taken me in when I had lost my parents, she sometimes told stories about my dad as a kid which I loved to hear. She had even given me a necklace with a cloudy looking stone that was supposed to represent protection. Never ever take it off, my aunt had told me. It’s so nothing bad happens to you too.

It touched me that my aunt had given it to me, that she was so adamant about me wearing it. It was a silly superstition but I appreciated the sentiment behind it. My aunt had lost her older brother and didn’t want to lose her only niece so to please my her, I had never taken it off. It was why even though we weren’t close, even though I sometimes felt more like my aunt’s maid than her niece, I did my best not to complain. Besides, in a year I would be off to college, hopefully majoring in art history.

Echo Falls was our new home, for now anyway. My aunt worked in human resources of a popular stationary company and we have moved around a few times over the years. I was resigned to spend my last year of high school in a place where I didn’t know anyone but the truth is, I didn’t really have any close friends I was leaving behind. Besides, there was something I liked about Echo Falls, although I hadn’t checked the small town out yet. But our house wasn’t far from the woods and I was eager to explore them and do some drawing. I wasn’t expecting much of my senior year and was content to be a loner. I could just work on my sketching and stay under the radar at school. By senior year, cliques were formed and I doubted anyone would care to befriend the new girl. But that was okay with me, a quiet year suited me just fine.

I was running through the woods, feeling completely carefree...the smell of the woods calmed me, soothed me. I was finally where I belonged...

Suddenly the woods disappeared and I felt trapped, caged...there was only darkness...

Free us...we need to be free before it’s too late...

I woke up with a gasp, my heart pounding. Dreaming, I realized. I ran my hand over my face and glanced at the clock. It was time to get up anyway, it was my first day of school. I groaned. No wonder I was having weird dreams. Starting a new school was enough to cause bad dreams, I should know. Only one more year left, I thought with relief. I got up and stretched before taking a quick shower and getting ready for the day. Jean shorts and a white tank top, with my long light blonde hair hanging loose around me. I usually didn’t bother with my make up but today I put a little on and slipped into my sandals. I grabbed my book bag and headed to the kitchen to start some coffee.

My aunt had informed me that I would have to walk to school as she didn’t have time to give me a ride. Used to walking, I left early to make sure I was on time since I still had to check in at the office. Once at the school, I gathered my class schedule and studied the map of the school to see where my locker was located. I was aware that I was getting curious glances as I walked down the hallway, being the new kid was definitely not fun and especially being the new kid who started school after classes had already begun was even worse. Thankfully, I found my locker easily and turned the combination to the correct numbers. I pulled and then...nothing. The locker wouldn’t open. I tried turning the combination again and this time pulled even harder and finally the locker popped open, startling me and I fell back a few steps, bumping into someone. “Oh!” I gasped, turning to the girl I had bumped into. “I’m so sorry!”

The girl gave me a friendly smile. “No problem.”

I returned her smile, relieved that I hadn’t actually knocked the girl over. I tended to be pretty clumsy. “My locker was giving me trouble,” I explained with a rueful look.

The girl laughed, her hazel eyes sparkling. “Been there. Are you new? I’m Hanna Braden.”

“Liana Lachey. Yeah, today is my first day here.”

“Are you new to the town?” Hanna asked curiously.

I nodded. “I live with my aunt and her job transferred us here.” I explained.

“Welcome to Echo Falls. Downside is, it’s a small town.” Hanna said with a shrug. “But there’s a lot of pretty scenery, a watering hole that makes for a good hangout, a mini golf place that is really popular with the teenagers here and a club for those under twenty-one that is pretty cool.”

I perked up. “Those places sound like fun.”

“I’ll show you around,” Hanna promised.

I smiled, happy to have made a friend already.

Hanna and I met up again at first break. I had been watching in amusement as a group of girls kept walking down the hall and then back up again, clearly trying to get someone’s attention. “Who is it they are hoping to impress?” I asked with a laugh. The girls kept giggling and flipping their hair over their shoulder. Two of them were batting their eyes at someone across the hall.

Hanna turned and grinned at the sight. “Ah, yes. Monica and Suzanne, cheerleading co-captains and their minions. They are trying to get the attention of the ultimate clique. They hope to get any of the guys to notice them. Won’t happen though.”

“The ultimate clique?” I asked curiously.

Hanna nodded and gestured to a small group standing by a locker across the hallway. “See them? They pretty much ignore anyone not in their clique,” Hanna gave a grin. “They’re seniors too. Trust me, all the girls tried to be noticed by the guys or try to befriend the girls, hoping that will get them close to the guys. They especially want to be noticed by Zev.”

“Zev?”

“Zev Hunter, the one putting on the leather jacket,” Hanna sighed. “So hot, right? And then there’s Rafe...”

I casually glanced over as Hanna talked and from what I could see, yes the guy shrugging into the black leather jacket was extremely good-looking. He was tall and lean with midnight black wavy hair. The three other guys were also good-looking and the two girls standing with them were beautiful but it was Zev who stood out.

Suddenly he looked up and locked eyes with me. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut, I couldn’t breathe as I gazed into his shockingly blue eyes. He was absolutely gorgeous.

“He’s looking at you!” Hanna said excitedly.

I licked my lips nervously and could have sworn that his eyes darkened as he continued to watch me.

“I, uh, I think I should get to my next class,” I whispered, turning away from those piercing eyes. I felt strange, as if something was in my chest clawing to break out. I took a deep breath to calm down.

“But-”

“Chemistry class is this way, right?” I walked quickly, causing Hanna to have to jog slightly to keep up with me. I didn’t look back but somehow I had a feeling that he was still watching me.

“You’re so lucky,” Hanna said as she caught up with me. “I wish Rafe would look at me like that.”

“Which one was Rafe?”

“Zev’s best friend, the one with the amazing brown eyes in the blue t shirt. He’s gorgeous but he’s never once looked my way and we have no classes together,” Hanna sighed. “It’s a heartbreaking tale, isn’t it?”

I laughed. “You poor thing.” I teased.

TBC: