If I could remember, Ciara hated the popular crowd. So, why was she hanging out with them? Oh yeah. Bryson.
Just my freaking luck.
I grudgingly trudged my way to the popular table with a slight scowl on my face. As I neared the table, Ciara looked up and saw me approaching. As promised, she saved me a seat to her left and Bryson was to her right, which might I add, did on purpose.
"Ciara, Ciara, Ciara... You are showing signs of an insecure and intimidated girlfriend." I thought.
I sat on the chair and smiled at her, "Thanks for saving me a seat." I said. I saw Bryson glance at me, then went back talking to his friend.
She shook her head, "No problem." She said and looked at my tray, "You still haven't changed, Reagan. You still like pudding." She giggled.
I chuckled, "Pudding will forever rock my world, CeeCee. You know that."
She nodded her head, "Yeah, I know. You said and I quote, 'I want to marry this son of a bitch when I'm old enough'."
I gasped, "You still remember that? Geez, I was like 10 years old and 'son of a bitch' was my first cuss."
"Of course I do. We were best friends since we were 4." She said.
Best friends. I am not so sure about those words anymore.
We became silent all of a sudden. I debated if I should bring up this question that had been nagging at the back of my mind, but I'm not sure. What the hell!
So before I could stop myself, I shook that awkward feeling and asked.
"So you and Bryson, huh?" I asked coolly. I scooped a portion of my pudding with my spoon and shoved it on my mouth, waiting for her answer.
She fidgeted in her seat and answered rather nervously, "Um, yeah. It sort of happened a month after you left."
So, Bryson moved on that quickly huh? I'll be damned.
"Wow. That was quick." I blurted.
Bryson all of a sudden snapped his head and furrowed his eyebrows.
Ciara became flustered, "Well, after you left, Bryson and I sort of hanged out since we were looking for you. We talked and got closer, then after a couple of months, he asked me out."
I grinned, "Must have been romantic. I mean Bryson is after all charming and irresistible. Who in their right mind would deny him?"
She smiled hesitantly, "Yeah. He is quite the charmer."
Bryson stood up, "Excuse me. I need to go to the bathroom." He said.Ciara meekly nodded and he walked off without saying a word.
I abruptly stood up, "Where are you going?" Ciara asked me, furrowing her eyebrows.
I looked down at her, "I need to go to the bathroom." I lied. I need to get out of here before I explode.
"Oh. Okay, well, come back when you're done."
I nodded, "I'll be right back."
With that, I left the room.
**********************
The sound of my footsteps echoed throughout the empty hallways. I needed to get out of there or Ciara's gushing would do my head in. Sure, knowing they were together didn't bother me but it felt like she was doing it on purpose like rubbing salt on open wounds.
Lost in my own world, I bumped into something - or someone - hard. I fell down to the floor with a loud thud. That was going to leave a bruise on my butt cheeks.
"Watch where you're going, stupid."
I looked up and saw Rebecca standing there in all her bitchy glory. She had her arms folded in front of her chest with a scowl etched into her gunked-up face.
And why was I the one who only fell to the floor? That, I had no idea.
"Well soo-rrry, your royal bitchiness." I hissed, rubbing my sore butt. I slowly stood up to her level and brushed myself off.
"What did you say?" she snarled.
I rolled my eyes, "God, not only are you dumb, but also deaf."
In a flash, I was roughly pushed to the locker with great force. The bang resounded throughout the empty hallway.
"What the hell?!" I growled.
"The only bitch here is you. Got it?" she snarled.
I scoffed, "Please, Rebecca. You are being a hyprocrite if I am the only bitch here."
She grabbed my arm and shoved me again hard on the locker. Her fingernails were digging into my skin. I'm sure that was going to leave a mark, "No one back-talks me. I rule this school, and if you ever try to mess with me, I'll make sure to make your life a living hell." She sneered. She was now grazing her fingernails on my arm making, me hiss from the slight prick. Damn woman, did you sharpen your nails or something?
"Rebecca. Let her go."
I snapped my head to that voice and saw Bryson. He stood a few feet away with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Rebecca.
He repeated again, "Rebecca. I said let Reagan go." He ground out through gritted teeth.
Rebecca glared at me for a while. With one last shove, she let me go and whispered, "This ain't over yet," and left.
I heaved a relieved sigh. What the hell just happened?
I looked over my arms where Rebecca scratched me. There were three scratch marks with a tinged of blood seeping out. Damn her sharp fingernails. Remind me to bring a nail clipper when I come to school tomorrow, just in case.
Bryson went over to me, "You okay?" he asked. He looked over my arm and his face hardened, "She hurt you." He said it more like a statement than a question.
I waved it off, "It's alright. It's just a scratch."
"Reagan..."
I held my hand up to stop him, "Bryson, it's cool. I'm okay."
He nodded hesitantly, "If you say so." He said then continued, "Reagan, about what Ciara said--"
"It's okay!" I cut him off, " I'm actually happy for you guys." I said then gave him a small smile.
"Reagan, I'm sorry if I had hurt you. You know you really mean very much to me." He said in a defeated tone.
"Bryson, it's alright. You've moved on. I've moved on. Be happy, okay?"
He raked his hair with his hands then dropped it to the sides, "This is all too screwed up."
"Tell me about it." I muttered then started backing away, "Listen, I have to get back to Ciara."
He sighed, "Okay."
I spun around and started walking back to the cafeteria. I paused for a bit and glanced over my shoulders, "Hey, Bryson?" I called.
"Yeah?" he asked. My heart ached when I saw his crestfallen face, which held so much sadness and regret, but I fought that thought away.
"Be happy." I snapped my head back and walked off with a heavy heart.
I was about to get in my car when someone called out my name, "Reagan! Reagan!"I spun around and saw Ciara walking over to me with a brooding Bryson in tow. It was funny to see him looking all doom and gloom, since he was the type of guy who could light up a room with a single smile. He had charisma and social skills. If he were to run for Student Council, he could win by a landslide. I'm pretty sure majority of those votes were from girls well, probably the one who shamelessly fawned over him. I shuddered at the thought.I leaned on my car, folding my arms over my chest and grinned, "Hey! What's up, Ciara?"She stopped when she reached my car and gawked, "Reagan? Is that your car?"I chuckled at her reaction, "Yeah. It was a gift. A bit flashy but hey, a car's a car," then end it with a shrug.She stared at me as if I had lost my mind, "Reagan, that is not just a car. That is a Porsche 918 Spyder. It's worth a whooping million smackaroos on the market."I rolled my eyes, "Like I wou
(Bryson's POV)"Bryson! Were you even listening to me?" Ciara yelled.I killed the engine and got out of the car, then slammed the door shut. I took long strides towards my house, like a raging bull who had seen a Matador flinging a red cloth. I was too furious to talk, too mad. I wondered, what the hell was wrong with me, snapping at Reagan like that? It was pretty clear that I had no business with what she does with her life and here I am, freaking out about her living with that douche of a guy named Drake... Dane... ah, hell. Whatever.I heard the passenger door open and slam shut, followed by frantic footsteps. Ciara could be relentless at times. She doesn't know when to drop the subject when it was crystal clear that I didn't want to talk about it. I hate it when she does that psychobabble bullshit about 'couples should talk about what they are feeling' and all that mushy gooey crap."Bryson! Wait up!" she shouted.I continued ignoring her then whipped the front door open with a
(Derek's POV)"I've talked with The Pillars about the incident at Treleau High. Unfortunately, that thing wasn't sanctioned. Not even a warning," one of the Elders, Marcus, said putting enough distaste on the word 'thing'. A few strands of his long black hair fell over his daunting coal black eyes as he scowled, crossing his arms over his chest, bunching up his taut biceps as he sat stiffly on his chair. His define cheekbones and strong jawline made his inhuman beauty refinely menacing. His predatory face, to back it up, redefined the definition of terror.The Elders weren't a big fan of them since the dawn of time. We were taught to loathe them, seeing they were the most soiled, degraded and worthless beings that ever existed.I fought a snort that was traitorously escaping from my lips as Marcus blabbed about how loathsome they were and what not, but I guess he heard me. Sometimes, having advanced hearing was an inconvenience. It was a never ending cycle, hearing the same lines over
(Reagan's POV)I heaved a big relieved sigh as the final bell rang, letting us know school was over for the day. I stuffed my books in my backpack and stood up, walking out of the room, ready to head out of this hell hole.Walking on a snail place, my mind drifted to Derek. He acted rather strange and aloof when he had taken me out for lunch. It was a sweet gesture but, the sudden change of his body language was unnerving. What had me baffled though was that it happened after he met Bryson. Especially the part where they shook their hands, and the way they stared at each other was as though they were having an internal conversation. I thought I knew what was there to know about Derek, since I had lived with him for two years, but I couldn't help but think he was withholding something from me.Not bothering to stop by my locker, I exited school and went straight to the parking lot. My mood had abruptly changed from brooding to irritation, as I saw Ciara and Bryson leaning casually at
If my ears were deceiving me, I thought I heard Derek said 'I love you, my darling' in French, as far as my knowledge of the language could go, since I had French when I was home schooled, but still. I was quite surprised with that bold yet endearing gesture.Why would he say that, anyway? Did he mean that in a brotherly kind or in a romantic kind? I would choose the first one since there was no way that he would get involved with a girl like me, common place and a drama magnet.But, what was not to like Derek. He was sweet, smart, intelligent which explains his vast incomprehensible knowledge of things in general and well, he was sickeningly generous, which I find sometimes irritating but adorable.Yet, his classic yet enthralling beauty enhanced that to an extreme level would make any woman weak on the knees.That, my friend, was all the more reasons that he was out of my reach, like a bright star on the sky. Only for my eyes to see, but not to touch.My sobs had quieted down and De
(Reagan's POV)My heart was pounding so hard. I held my breath, unable to believe what had just happened.I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't swallow.I closed my eyes and willed myself to take one big gulp of air and slowly opened my eyes, then let out a shaky breath.I stared at the spot where the guy who attacked me once stood; now a pile of ashes. I couldn't quite understand why he would just burn like that. Last time I checked, I didn't carry a lighter or anything that would ignite a flame. No, I didn't. However, the stench of burning flesh still lingered in my nostrils and made feel a bit nauseous.And my necklace.How the hell did it glow all of a sudden? And the liquid inside of it? Was my necklace the cause of the guys combustion? This was all too creepy for me.My eyes drifted back to the ashes. I sauntered towards it and stopped a few inches away, afraid that it might eat me alive or something. Could you really blame me for having a wild imagination? Of course not
(Derek's POV)Seeing there was no point berating myself with what I had done, I propped myself off from the wall, but there was static in the air letting me know someone was teleporting to my direction. The static grew stronger, then a blurry and fuzzy outline morphed into Cooper.I groaned and propped myself back on the wall. When he was done materializing, he took a few steps forward and put a hand on my shoulder, "I've heard." Like I said, advanced hearing had its disadvantages.I stared at him, not able to speak.He sighed, "I know something like this was bound to happen. So what did you do? Did you tell her?"I looked away not wanting to see his reaction, "I altered her memory."It was silent for a few moments. I guess Cooper left because he didn't want to deal with my selfish pathetic self. Maybe I deserved this abandonment for doing the unthinkable. I averted my eyes back and saw that he was still there. What shocked me was that he had an understanding expression on his face."
(Derek's POV)"Okay. See you guys in a few. Bye."I end the call and slid the phone back to my pocket. I shook my head, amused about Cooper. He has gone nuts again. He took Reagan to a supermarket? What for? I guess I could never keep up on how his crazy mind works, and if I do, I'd probably end up reviewing why I survived being friends with him.Leaning my head back on the reclining leather chair, I thought about my planned talk with my fellow Elders. When I got to the Headquarters, the four of them weren't there. I asked security for their whereabouts, and it seems Rockilian went to Germany to visit his clan, Talon and Connor went to California and Marcus, he didn't say where he was going.What had me baffled though was that my older brother, Darren, came out from Marcus' office. It was suspicious because unauthorized persons can't get into our office, unless cleared by the Elders and security. I'd wanted to ask, out of curiosity, but remembered I didn't want to do anything with him