Chapter 1

Caitlyn Edwards sighed as she slid into the tiny desk, shifting and moving until she found a semi-comfortable position, not an easy feat at her height of 5'8". Her shoulder length blonde hair fell forward, hiding the soft features of her face; her grey eyes focusing on the book lying in front of her. "The Literature of Shakespeare" she read the cover, groaning softly. Advanced English literature was not her choice, she'd only agreed to take it because her mother believed that it would help her college choices. Even though she already knew what college she was going to, not to mention she'd already applied everywhere she wanted. So taking advanced English class wasn't going to matter, not her senior year anyway. She sighed as the teacher began calling roll, raising her hand briefly in response to her name being called out. The teacher finished his roll call and began his introduction and welcome when the classroom door swung open. Caitlyn looked over with the rest of the room and watched as a group of students walked in. Propping her chin in her hand she watched as a tall blond boy walked up to the teacher and handed him some paper. He read the note and nodded, adjusting his glasses he looked over the classroom. "Well, it seems we have extras today. Apparently Ms Corvall did not show up for class, and we have no substitutes available for the moment." He motioned to the new students, "Find some empty seats and those who can't, take a seat against the back and side walls." Caitlyn watched as the blond boy walked straight towards her. She turned slightly in her seat to watch the boy seated behind her immediately stand and yield his desk to the boy. Caitlyn smiled as the blond slid into the desk, his long legs sprawling out from under it. "Welcome to Advanced English Mr. Carter."

Nick Carter grinned back, running his hand through his hair and leaned forward, "Why thank you Ms Edwards," he smirked as he placed a kiss on his girlfriend's lips. As students shuffled to find places to sit, Caitlyn leaned over to talk to Nick. "So, Corvall didn't show today?" "Nope." "Don't you think that's kind of strange? I mean, she's like the "Teacher of the Year", obsessed with Shakespeare, I don' t think she's ever missed a single day of school Especially the first day." Caitlyn raised her eyebrows in surprise. Nick shrugged and grinned his infamous lopsided grin at her, "Ok Detective Edwards." Caitlyn stuck her tongue out at him as he continued, "I never much liked her anyway, she's a bore and I'm kinda glad she's not here. That way you're blessed with me sitting behind you all year." "If you call never-ending torment a blessing then oh yes, I'm truly blessed this year." She giggled as he leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head and stuck his tongue out at her, then turned her attention to the teacher.

As the teacher again began his "first day of school…yes, you're seniors, but that doesn’t mean I'll be allowing any slacking off in my classroom from any of you…" speech, Nick tuned him out. Focusing on the back of Caitlyn's head he watched as she jotted down notes in her notebook, her head bobbing up and down as she looked from the teacher then back to her notebook. Nick couldn't help but smile as he imagined her face. Her grey eyes darkening as she concentrated, chewing on the corner of her lower lip as she listened intently. She was such a bookworm, so different from him. Nick managed with decent grades, even high ones, but he sure didn't enjoy school like Caitlyn did. He could think of a thousand other things that he'd rather be doing right at that moment.

As the teacher's voice droned on, Nick casually glanced around the room. Catching several girls sneaking peeks at him. He winked at a couple, just to watch them blush with the knowledge that they had been caught. It happened a lot, he was used to being looked at. He wasn't arrogant about his looks, but he knew he looked good. Standing at the height of 6'2", muscular with a natural tan, deep oceanic blue eyes and the perfect smile; he knew he was a catch. Captain of the basketball team this year was his biggest achievement and dating the student body president was something he was very proud of. He knew there were girls jealous of Cait, but it didn't bother him. He loved her and that was all he cared about. He let his eyes travel across the crowded room, over the bored faces and was about to turn his attention back to the teacher when the eyes stopped him.

Green eyes. Dark, emerald green eyes. Staring straight at him, straight into his eyes, almost past them it seemed. They were the deepest green he'd ever seen, but so incredibly bright. Standing out under dark lashes, staring at him. The colour reminded him of a photograph he'd seen once; fields and fields of the same colour green, deep and dark, but shining in the bright sunlite, in Ireland.

It wasn't until she blinked that Nick realized he'd been holding his breath. He exhaled slowly, then blinked 3 or 4 times. The girl's eyes remained steady, locked on him. Her face calm, but Nick saw something underneath the calmness. She had a startled look in her eyes. Nick felt himself leaning forward slightly, then suddenly the room seemed to be moving as students reacted to the bell sounding the end of class, standing and grabbing books, jackets and backpacks as they started filing out the door. Nick remained in his seat, his eyes still locked on the girl across seated against the wall on the other side of the room, until a body stood. Moving in front of him, blocking his view. "You planning to sit there all day or are you going to walk me to my next class?" Caitlyn's voice broke through the haze that seemed to have settled over Nick's mind and he looked up at his girlfriend, a confused frown on his face. "Huh?" he mumbled, then glanced around her quickly. The spot where the girl had been sitting was empty. He looked towards the door and stood up to see if he could catch a glimpse of her. Caitlyn poked his shoulder affectionately to get his attention, then looked towards the door. "Looking for someone?" Nick shook his head, both in response to her question and to clear the fog in his head. "No…" he turned to Caitlyn and took her books from her arms, shoving them into his backpack and then slung it over his shoulder. Grabbing her hand he headed for the hallway, trying to push the green eyes from his head as he absentmindedly listened to Caitlyn talking. Several friends gathered around the two as they walked to their next class, but he found himself remembering her eyes; remembering the startled look she'd gotten when he looked at her. The way her face had tried to remain calm when he could tell that she was spooked. Not scared, but curious and surprised. And he wondered why. She almost looked like she was surprised to see him, except that Nick hadn't recognized the girl at all. He'd lived in Paterson his entire life and knew everyone in the small school. She must have moved here over the summer he thought to himself. He didn't know who she was, or why she looked so surprised to see him, but he was determined to find out.

And soon.