My heart is in pieces he just walked away after 2 years. It meant nothing, didn't even look back. He walked straight to her car, her arms and leaned over the console to kiss her, closer the door and sped off.

What happens now? I walk into the house and straight to my room to hide underneath the covers for just a little bit.

A little bit turned into 3 days.

On Monday, I slowly got out of bed. Seriously considering telling dad that I am sick just to stay home but he won't understand mom would have but she isn't here and she will not ever be here again. Thinking about it just makes me want to stay in bed even more, but it won't happen because I am starting a new school today, at mom's request. She wanted me to start going to this special school after my 16th birthday. I don't know why and I am not sure dad does either.

I finally push myself the rest of the way out of bed and head to my bathroom to shower and get ready for my senior year in a new school. I know most people are only in there sophomore year but I was bumped up entering junior high.

Dressed and ready to go I head downstairs to meet dad, except he isn't there instead there is a not on the bar,

Cass,

Got called in to work early. Don't worry car will be here at 7:45.

Love Dad

I look at the clock on the microwave, 7:44. How could he do this to me, I mean I know he has been distant since mom died but can a girl get any kind of support on her first day at a new school.

I step outside right as the car pulls up. I notice that it is a black BMW. How did dad get this hook up? I look closer at the door and there is a decal there but I have to look really close to see it. It looks like some kind of crest but that is as much as I get before the door opens and I lose sight of it.

The person that steps out of the car is....gorgeous, in his late teens early twenties, maybe and wearing a tailored designer suit, causing me to look down at my own appearance; I hope I am dressed up enough. In my black skirt and a mint green blouse, my mom said went so well with my coloring, and a pair of white converse. At 5'10", I don't need to draw any more attention to my height, and I have my strawberry blonde hair pulled back out of my face. I felt comfortable until now, too late to change.

I walk over to the car and the gorgeous guy opens the rear passenger door. I pause a minute to look at him, then the door and back over to him with a questioning loon on my face. He only nods toward the back seat and at that I slide in and he shuts the door. When he is seated in the front seat, again we are off.

I have no idea where this new school is or even why it is so special. I want to ask but the silence in the car tells me I shouldn't. I stare out the window watching the houses then the city and now the trees pass by. I look through the front window just as we slow down to take a turn on to a private driveway. There are trees running down either side. As I look further down the driveway I notice what looks like a house at first but the closer we get the better I see it and the more I realize how wrong my assumption was about it being a house. It's a castle with a freaking drawbridge, as soon as we drive over the drawbridge and I am dumbstruck. This is a freaking school not Hogwarts, right? I am about to ask to ask one of them when we slow down and stop, the younger guy gets out and opens my door, motioning for me to exit the car.

I do as he ask but I have but as I stand up right outside the door I realize I left my bag in the car, I lean back in for the forgotten shoulder bag. As I turn around, I notice the young man has already made his way up the stair and is almost at the door. I hurry to follow him and not paying attention to where I am going run in to him as I enter; I feel the heat of his body through his clothes and can feel the muscles hiding beneath his perfectly tailored suit. He tenses and I quickly back off.

As I hear the car takeoff, I realize no one spoke the entire way here, odd especially for me. I had questions before I arrived and now the list is just getting longer. I hope I am on my way to someone who can answer them.

We end up in front of a door with a plaque that reads 'Headmaster'. He knocks and a deep baritone voice calls "enter". I step back from the door a little confused but more nervous. I look to the young guy, he just nods. I am beginning to trust his judgment, I don't know why but I am. I take a closer look at him before entering the Headmaster's office, he is younger than at first glance, his hair kind of sticks up on the right side but is looks so soft, and silky I want to run my fingers through it. It's in such dismay it makes his stern face handsome. My eyes trail down to his all too kissable lips, my tongue trails over mine when I think about how he might taste. Ugh stop just stop, you don't need this; I shake my head and walk up to him.

"Hi, my name is Cassandra" I say with my hand held out to shake his, he stares at me for a minute, I return his stern looking expression.

"Hi, I am Seth, nice to meet you Cassandra" He says still standing there with his arms behind his back; his eyes soften just a little, good. He looks better this way more approachable. I walk past him without shaking hands and into the Headmaster's office.

When I enter his office, he is sitting in his chair, bent over his desk writing something. I must make some kind of noise because he looks up. When he sees me, he smiles like seeing an old friend. He has glasses on and looks like the general professor type receding hairline, but a kind face. I return his smile and he gestures for me to take a seat in the chair in front of his desk, so I sit not wanting to appear rude and I want answers.

He stands and says "welcome to Alfred Nobel's school for the gifted and talented."

I just blink not expecting a word of that. Alfred Nobel as in Nobel Peace Prize, something is not adding up. I am willing to bide my time, hopefully the right answers with come.

"Hi" I say tentatively, "I am Cassandra."

"I know," is all that he says.

Hmmmm is that all I am, come on give me some more please, think to myself. And surprisingly he does causing me to stare in confusion and slight awe. He can read minds I think and then quickly dismiss it because that is impossible.

I hear him chuckle, "You are here because of you mother and her talents but more so because your own growing talents." Cryptic but I will take it for now. This all has something to do with my mother but, she didn't go here did she?

I think back on the times my mother talked about her childhood, that's when it hits me I don't remember her mentioning anything about her childhood after she turned 13 or so. Holy Crap!

I think about what he said about talents, ok I realize my mom was awesome but, what does that have to do with me? I mean my grades are average I am not into sports but I do rock climb almost every afternoon after school. I can't for the life of me figure out why they want me to attend here.

"Why me? Why here?" I ask him with a deflated look on my face.

"Well that should be obvious; you are special, like your mother." At this, I got mad.

"What has my mother to do with any of this? Why does any of this have to be about her?" My eyes are burning with unshed tears, I am so mad at my mom for leaving , I shut my eyes to shut out those feelings, I need my mom but she isn't here and it's no her fault I remind myself.

He sees the look on my face and know exactly how I feel. " I am sorry for your loss. She was a sweet and kind person m, not unlike yourself, dearie" he pauses recalling a memory. "you are here because of what you can and will do, more than you are for who you are or who you are related to, child"

I don't know how he can read me so well but it leaves me in awe "I'll have someone show you around, ok?" he rings a bell that was sitting on the side of his desk before I can answer.

A figure appears at the door, broad shoulders, and muscular arms. As he steps in to the office I can tell he is just as good looking as Seth. I wonder if they are related. I stand up from my chair as he steps in to the light; I gasp and fall back down into the chair. Wow. The Headmaster tilts his head looking from me to the guy that just walked in. This guy inclines his head as he acknowledges the Headmaster's request and without saying a word extends his elbow which I wrap my arm around and we walk out into the main hall.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK AND IF THE TITLE FITS!

thanks for reading!