My eyes were spellbound as he moved across the room. It felt as though I had waited there for him a thousand times before. Keenly, I watched him. Each movement he made like a still frame in etched my mind.  

     Dark hair framed his face and his intense brown eyes were inviting. Unpredictably, his eyes locked on mine and I couldn’t break his gaze. Impulsively, I smiled and touched three fingers to my lips. Lost in the moment I blew him a kiss. Like a needle dragging across a spinning record my reminiscence screeched to a halt.

      Nick Hartman, star football player and most popular boy in school was headed my way. His once inviting eyes now seemed filled with rage and his lips were pursed in an angry line. Damien quickly stood up, pushing me behind him protectively.

     “What’s your problem?” Nick shouted. “Was that some sort of sick joke?”

     “Back off, Nick,” Damien ordered.

     “Or what?”

     “Or I’ll back you off myself!”

     Nick raised his hands in front of him and took a step back.  “My trouble’s with Sally, Jack.”

     “Jack and Sally . . . Hmm, that’s original… Don’t think we’ve been called that before, huh Lizzie.”

     “Nope,” I muttered.

     “Nightmare before Christmas is my favorite movie,” Damien said with a sarcastic tone.

     “I don’t care what you like, Jack! You and Sally are freaks!”

     “Freaks? Now that’s uninspired.” Damien touted.

     Nick glowered at me and snarled, “I’m not done with you, Lizzie! I’ll catch you later when the hound of hell isn’t around to protect you.”

     “Is that a threat?” Damien asked grabbing Nicks shirt.

     “I wouldn’t call it a threat . . . it’s a promise!” Nick said shoving Damien aside and walking away.

      Damien turned to face me. “What’s gotten into you? First you wave hello to Lila Hutchins and now you're blowing kisses to Nick Hartman! Have you gone completely mad or are you just trying to get yourself killed?”

     “Killed? Don’t you think you're exaggerating?”

     “Exaggerating? He looked as though he wanted to strangle you. Waving to Lila is one thing but flirting with Nick is plain crazy . . . He was Jackie's boyfriend!”

     “Hmm . . . Did I ever date him?” I asked.

     Damien laughed hysterically, “You and Nick Hartman? You must be insane. You’re joking, right?”

     “Joking?”

     “Yeah joking," Damien said chagrined. "Nick Hartman wouldn’t give you the time of day. He only dates cheerleaders and preps. I hate to burst your bubble but you’ve been disqualified from both categories.”

     “I was only kidding, don’t be so seious.”

     Telling Damien I was kidding and convincing myself were two very different things. When I saw Nick Hartman it was Déjà vu. Memories of that particular moment plagued my mind as though I was living them again. If  I never dated Nick, why did those memories seem so real? And why did his memory exisist deep inside the shadows of my mind? One thing was certain they were hauntingly familiar.