Darkness Falls

Chapter 1:

New Beginning

Today was supposed to be a happy occasion, to celebrate my twenty one years of life. Instead it now signified the passing of my father.

I had spoken to my father a few days before he passed away. He was so proud of the fact that I wanted to become a psychologist. He told me that he paid in advance for my junior and senior year. I couldn’t believe it; he had that much faith in me that I would make something of myself. I had the best dad a daughter could ask for.

He wanted to take me out for my birthday. I told him not to worry about it, because he would have to take a day off work. He didn’t seem too worried. It took awhile to persuade me, but I finally gave in and we had a nice brunch, talking about everything that was going on in our lives.

There was never any indication that something was wrong with him. He worked out at the gym and ate healthy food. I was confused when I heard from my mom that he had a massive heart attack. My day of birth will no longer mean anything else to me, but his death.

Four slow, long months later, I was a few weeks into my junior year at the University of Maine, which is in the heart of Orono. I felt more determined than ever to make something of myself, and that’s exactly what I set out to do.

I walked into my first class of the day: which was English. I took a seat in the back row beside my friend, Carmen. She was so caught up in texting someone that she didn’t even notice my presence.

I got my books out of my backpack, turning to the page where we left off the day before. I happened to look up and see an unfamiliar face sitting next to me. I gave him the once over checking out his perfectly jelled dirty blond hair and I caught a glimpse of his blue eyes. His clothes were brand new, with a pair of crisp jeans and a baby blue shirt that made his muscular arms stick out and be noticed. His body was proportioned exactly right. So right, that I got goose bumps all over.

Carmen whispered to me, He is good looking. He sort of reminds me of a Justin Timberlake knock- off. her brown almond eyes scanned him over: making sure not to miss a single detail.

Except he has spiky hair, I added.

So true, she sighed.

What’s going on with that guy you were seeing? I asked.

Oh…he’s so last week, Madison. It’s a new week, new man, she answered proudly.

All I could do was laugh. Carmen Smith had always been straight- out blunt over everything. She never held anything back. That’s how she became my best friend when I moved to Orono (when my parents got a divorce). My first week of middle school was horrible. She didn’t care what anyone else thought and struck up a conversation with me. We hit it off instantly and have been close ever since.

I watched her stare over at the guy. She kept messing with her light brown hair: hoping he would look her way. I tried not to lose it as the professor came in and started class.

Every now and then, I found my eyes wandering from the pages of my book to his flawless face. In a weird, unexplainable way I felt drawn to him. I’d never been a person to go solely based off of appearance as far as a person goes, but there was something different about this guy. I saw him grinning from ear to ear. Maybe he realized that all the girls were checking him out and loved it.

I over heard the girl in front of me say that the new guy’s name was Collin McKenzie. I heard some girls up front giggling. I rolled my eyes. This was going to get old quick. How could I pay attention when all the focus was on what kind of gel Collin had in his hair?

Soon enough class was over. I couldn’t take much more of hearing the other girls talk about him. I packed up my stuff and walked with Carmen to grab some lunch. She kept going on and on about Collin the entire way there. I tried not to listen.

I grabbed my food and sat with Carmen, Alex, my stepsister, Summer, and a few others. As I picked over my salad, I over heard Alex Bowers, who was also one of my closest friends, say something about the McKenzie’s. I looked across the table at him in his attire with his collar cropped up, so he was preppy, but bad boy. I wasn’t sure why he thought that was the cool thing to do. Maybe it was just a guy thing.

There’s more than one? I asked as I took a bite of my salad.

He gave me a funny face, causing a crease between his blue eyes. Yeah! Where have you been? There’s four of them. I heard that they moved here from Nebraska or something… he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair casually.

Carmen burst into the conversation as she usually did. Collin is so my type, the unattainable kind.

I swore that I saw drool coming out of her mouth in that moment. You knew she had the hots for him if she didn’t care about saliva running down the side of her face. I cringed, wishing I’d never even noticed.

I tuned myself out of the conversation. Everyone seemed to be making up their own stories about them at this point. Curiosity got the best of me. I scanned the room just to catch a quick glimpse at the rest of the McKenzie family. I found them a few tables over to my left. The girl that was sitting with them, which I thought was their sister, twirled her golden blond hair around her fingers staring right back at me. She rolled her eyes and then focused back on Collin, who was talking.

Summer must have seen her do that. She nudged my ribs with her elbow. She doesn’t seem very friendly.

I would say so. I shook my head in disgust.

I decided right then and there that I wouldn’t get wrapped up into this craze over them.

I walked out into the parking lot after my last class, ready to get home. I had so many books in my hands that I accidently dropped the keys to my explorer. As I went to bend down to retrieve them, someone picked them up for me. Our eyes met for the very first time. I stood back up to find, Collin McKenzie. He returned the keys to me.

Do you need some help? he asked in the sweetest voice.

Before I could answer him he took my books out of my hands so that I could unlock and open the door.

You’re Madison Connor, right? he flashed his perfectly white teeth as he smiled.

I smiled back at him. I think we have some of the same classes together. You’re that new guy, Collin, right? I tried to play it off like I wasn’t so sure.

He continued to smile at me. Yeah, our family just moved here from Nebraska. he sounded embarrassed about it.

I made a funny face not expecting that he really moved from there. Wow. That’s a big move.

I’m happy to be somewhere where there’s civilization.

I couldn’t help, but chuckle over the embarrassment of moving from a place where there’s not a lot of people to here where it’s very well populated.

He continued to talk, Really, our dad moves around a lot due to his job. We go where he goes. We’re a close family.

I almost forgot about my books, being too caught up with him, so I opened up the back door and threw them in the back seat. Do you need a ride home? I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. You give rides to strangers?

Not just anyone.

He pointed in the direction of a black shiny hummer. That’s my ride right there. Thanks for asking though.

That hummer is yours? I found it hard to believe.

I paid for it. I share it with my brothers once in awhile. he acted as if it was no big deal.

Amazing… I mumbled.

Collin’s brothers came over to us while his sister waited outside of the locked hummer impatiently with her arms crossed, starring in my direction.

Madison, this is Jackson and Xavier, my brothers.

The very first thing I noticed was how tall they all were. They towered over me like three huge sky scrapers. Xavier was a power house. He should be playing football with my step brother Jake, only because he was the most muscular out of the three of them. He had brown short spiky hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Then there was Jackson. His hair was brown and buzzed cut. His eyes were a dark green forest color. He was muscular as well, but nothing close to Xavier.

Nice to meet you guys. I said.

My words seemed to stumble together. I started getting nervous and my palms got sweaty.

Nice to meet you too. Xavier and Jackson said in unison, as they smiled at me.

Summer walked up just in time, before I could say something to make me look ridiculous.

She ignored the crowd of guys, due to the fact that she was such a nerd and rather be at home reading a book then to ever have a boyfriend. She looked straight at me. Ready?

In a minute, first I want you to meet Collin, Jackson and Xavier McKenzie. Guys, this is my stepsister, Summer West. They all said hi. Jackson remembered Summer from a class they had together earlier. They started chatting away. Collin stood in front of me observing my expression. I had a hard time breaking away from his eyes. He was so familiar to me, yet we’d only just met. I think I dreamt about them before they came here. I had this strange thing about me, to dream of things prior to it happening. I tried to ignore it as much as I could, being that it wasn’t normal.

Summer said something about my dad passing away and I broke my stare from Collin to glance over at her.

I’m sorry, Madison. I was just telling him a little about us.

She continued on with her conversation even though she just really ticked me off. I saw the guys continue to look over at me with pity on their faces. The last thing I needed was a party.

I’m sorry to hear about your dad. Collin said with empathy.

Thanks. I replied uneasily.

I should let you go. I hope to see you tomorrow.

Yeah… thanks for helping me out.

No problem. he smiled and took off with his brothers.

Summer and I hopped into the explorer and she immediately turned to me.

I’m really sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.

You know that it’s not your place to run around and tell people that kind of stuff. We don’t even know them. I stressed to her.

You’re right. I was way out of line. It won’t happen again, I promise. she stuck out her bottom lip all sad. She did this every time I got upset with her, trying to make me smile so I’d forgive her.

My stepbrother, Jake, opened the door and plopped in the backseat. No football practice? I asked him.

Not today. Have you seen the new family everyone’s making a big deal over? he said annoyed.

I met them. They’re not so bad I guess. I said.

Very hot. Summer blurted out.

Jake rolled his eyes, I can’t see what the big deal is. Everyone’s acting like they’re movie stars. That’s hardly the case. he scoffed.

I started the engine. Well they’re not. I’m not going to treat them that way either. I shifted into reverse and backed out.

I drove off down the road and looked up in the rearview mirror to find a black hummer behind us. Jake and Summer twisted their bodies around to see for themselves.

They better not follow us. Jake said.

Oh stop! They might live nearby. Summer said.

We pulled into the driveway at our home and watched the hummer pull in a few houses down across the street to a white empty house. All of us got out at the same time, still staring in the direction of the McKenzie’s.

See I told you Jake. It looks like we’re going to have new neighbors. Summer said.

I could care less. Jake stomped off into the house with his books in hand.

I can’t believe this! My friends are going to be so jealous!

I bet. I answered lamely.

You’re not the least bit excited?

No big deal really. I remained uninterested.

She bumped me with her hips. Lighten up! You know that this has to be the most exciting thing that’s happened around here in awhile. she smiled.

I suppose so. I sighed.

She snorted out of nowhere and we both burst out laughing hysterically.

Chapter 2:

McKenzie’s

Over the next few months the McKenzie’s began to grow on me. It was almost impossible to stay away from them at this point since they had a lot of the same classes as I did and lived right by me.

More recently I’d gotten partnered up with Collin for a project in our psych class. I had to spend a huge amount of time with him in order to get it done. That was when it started. I began to slowly let my guard down. Collin was so charming. I couldn’t think of one thing that I didn’t like about him.

One day after class, Collin walked over to me, smiling. Doing anything for lunch today?

No, why? I asked as I packed my things up.

I wanted to ask if you would like to hang out and eat with me?

I hesitated, surprised by the invitation. Since we’d completed our psych project together he’d seemed to take quite an interest in me. Why? I had no idea. I really wish I knew.

I bit my lower lip. Well…

Come on. You should know us well enough now. We won’t bite. I promise. he joked.

Before I could answer he had my things in his hands and headed toward the door. I caught up to him quickly.

Do you need me to hold your hand until we get there safely? he asked sarcasticly.

I smiled. Do you really want me to answer that?

We got out to the hallway and he took a hold of my hand. I got the biggest hot flash. I thought I was going to fall over. I had to keep myself composed so he wouldn’t sense that I was really freaking out on the inside.

Is this the first time you’ve asked a girl to lunch? I joked.

I’m honored that you’re going to sit with us. It’s great to see you smile. When we first moved here you were really distant and withdrawn. And now look at you, you’re happy. What a huge difference.

I’m sure some of that has to do with the fact that you’re holding my hand. In all honesty, I am happy again. I haven’t been this way for months. I almost forgot what it was like until you came along.

That’s sweet of you to say.

We entered into the huge cafeteria where hundreds of students were already gathered to grab some food. I froze when I saw his brothers at a nearby table.

Are you positive they won’t mind me sitting with them?

He looked down at me, Trust me, its fine.

When we got our food we had a seat with Xavier and Jackson. I noticed they already ate and had their leftovers sitting in front of them.

Xavier leaned over the table towards me, Good to see you again. How are things going?

Things are looking better. I said as I took a bite of my salad, savoring the taste of ranch dressing in my mouth.

My friends caught my attention and were smiling back at me, wondering how I got so lucky to be at the same table as the McKenzie’s. I could feel my face heating up from embarrassment. I turned my attention back to the guys. They tried not to laugh.

Are your friends trying to embarrass you? Collin asked.

Yeah, that’s what friends are for. I played it off.

They all