1. Fresh Meat

I pulled my jacket tighter around my neck and flipped the hood over my head. I loved the rain, but the top I was wearing that morning was white. You'd think since I lived in Seattle my entire life, I'd learn my lesson. It may make me seem like an idiot, but I'm my happiest when I'm dancing in the rain.

I walked into my school, like I had for nearly a whole school year. Today was Friday, the end of another week. School was almost done. Shaking out my jacket, I opened my locker and pulled out my math book. As I turned away from the locker, someone said, "Yo, fresh meat!"

I looked at the upper classman, wide eyed. "Dude, my name's Bree. Bree Wilson."

He pushed a piece of paper in my face. "Have you seen this guy?"

I gently took the paper from him. The face staring at me was vaguely familiar. "I think we had the same English teacher back in 7th grade. Why?"

"His name is Riley. He's my brother and he's missing. Have you seen him?"

"No. I haven't seen him outside of school. How long as he been gone?" I passed the photo back to the boy.

"Six months." Riley's brother looked anxious. "The cops won't do anything because he's run off before. He's never been gone this long before. Not that anybody cares about Riley anyway."

"Dude, if I see him, I'll look you up."

The upper classman walked off, and I headed for class. Amanda Reed, a blonde junior, was talking loudly when I came in. She had the 'I'm better then thou' look that usually came with someone who got too much allowance and a high grade point average.

"There's a burned body in a dumpster about two blocks from my house. My mom says they found one downtown last week. That makes 32."

As I sat down in my normal spot in the back, I muttered, "Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll be next victim."

"Shut up, Wilson. The world would be better off without you."

"At least I'm one of a kind. You're just a carbon copy of a carbon copy. They'd all shed crocodile tears and then find the next Paris Hilton wannabe."

The girl glared back at me, eyes like daggers, but the bell rang before she could speak. The morning announcements came over the PA system. "Morning, Wolverines. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance."

Someone groaned as we forced ourselves to our feet. I stood like everyone else, but with my legs shoulder-width apart and my hands behind my back. "I pledge allegiance to the flag," the class recited, while I was silent, "of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all." The senior class president seemed as excited as I felt. The class fell back into their seats, and the senior class president continued to bore us out of our minds. "Today in the Cafeteria: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn and a cookie. All students are reminded that eating is not allowed in the school hallways. Anyone with information on the recent vandalism of our priceless statue of President Kennedy should speak to Officer Jameson as soon as possible. Auditions for the play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde are today during lunch. Tonight's game will probably be canceled do to rain. Since I'm probably being too optimistic, so show up anyway. I'd love to see you all soaking wet."

Someone on the other end of the the PA interrupted him. "Just kidding, Mr. Woodford! Ha-ha!" Another pause. "There will be a school wide required assembly today, right now. Please go to the gym."

Another bell sounded and the class scrambled to pick up their stuff and run to the gym. I lagged behind, and managed to walk right past Officer Jameson, and back outside. There was no way I was staying inside that day. Too bad I didn't know it would change my life forever, I might have suffered thru the stupid assembly.

I had made it to one of the Seattle's rundown sectors, where my mom lived. I usually lived with my dad, but since my stepfather was in jail, I had an opportunity to visit my mom for the first time in a while. I knocked on the door. "Momma, its Bree! Let me in!"

It sounded like Momma was moving a dresser or something. She poked her head out the barely opened door. "Bree! God, it is you!" She stepped back. "Get in here!"

I squeezed in the opening and crawled over a dresser. "Why do you got the place barricaded, Momma? The Feds got Tommy."

"It's that stupid serial killer. Where's your coat? I made sure your daddy got you a coat."

I rolled my eyes. Now that the state wouldn't let me even visit her, she fussed over me whenever I could get to her. "Momma, I left in my locker."

"You skipped school to see little old me?" Momma clapped her hands. "Oh! You didn't have to! They'll notice you're gone."

"People at the school don't give a crap, Momma. Can I stay here 'til nightfall? Daddy won't think too mad about school if I'm home after he's asleep."

Momma was studying me. "You're still so skinny and small. You don't have meat on your bones at all. Let me get you something to eat."

I left Momma's house happy, the warmth of condensed soup settled in my stomach. The sun had set half an hour before, and I knew I was home free. I spun around in a circle, "I'M SINGING IN THE RAIN!" I sung in my loudest, off key voice. "JUST SINGING IN THE RAIN!" I slipped in puddle and landed on my butt, laughing.

"You okay?" A white hand reached down. "Looks like you had quite a fall."

I pushed my inky black hair away from my face. He was beautiful, pale like glistening marble but his expression was still somewhat soft. "I'm fine." I stood, shaking the water out of my hair like a dog. "Just on the way home."

The pale boy gasped for breath. I think I heard him curse under his breath. "Come on. I'll walk with you."

We walked in silence, until I heard something behind us. "Good job, Riley. You've brought me fresh meat. A new body."