by E. M. Bernal
“I have a dress that I thought might suit you. Want it?” She ran over to her gym bag. I followed.
She opened up a zipper and in a plastic bag there was a red dress. It was absolutely gorgeous.
“Do you like it?” It looks funny on my hips. I figured it would look better on you. Want it?” Melissa asked and explained.
“Sure!” I grabbed it from her hands.
Melissa closed up her gym bag and placed the strap on her shoulders.
“I really appreciate you helping me out with my work in class when I ask. I wish I was as smart as you.” She went in a little more depth about why she was giving it to me.
“Oh yeah, no problem.”
Melissa grabbed her bag to lift it onto her shoulder. “Alright, got to get back.” She said, pointing her thumb towards the locker room. I put slightly waved my hand up as a goodbye and turned to race back.
I was planning to meet Robert after class in the hallway when I got back but I needed to pick up the project piece from my previous class. I realized too late that they were missing. I wasn’t going to be able to meet him on time by his locker. And, I didn’t have my phone to text. I’ll have to catch him later, I thought.
After another class, I thought about finding him but I decided to head to my locker first. However, Robert was waiting for me there. I smiled and I went over to hug him with the surprise look on my face.
“Hi… Slowly…” He joked and said when he kissed me on the cheek.
“Behave.” I smiled and looked into his gray eyes.
He pulled me towards him. I guess this was our first move in public, but the hall was empty.
“I have to do it.”
“You have to do what?” I said when I slightly drew back from his face. He leaned over and put his finger over my lips for me to be silent. “Please don’t move.” He ordered.
I got nervous but he suddenly planted a big kiss that I didn’t expect, and I slightly opened my mouth. To be honest I didn’t want to move back. I wanted to embrace it, but we were in the middle of the hallway and I softly pushed him off to stop.
“Behave.” I stated playfully in a whisper.
“I’m sorry I can’t help it. A kiss please?” Robert lowered his neck to get closer to my face and stare in my eyes.
“What do you mean? I give you kisses all the time.” I rebutted.
“Not real ones.” He argued.
“Can’t we wait till tonight?” I insisted.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
He looked at me with disappointment in his face to explain. “My little sister, Nevaeh, has an appointment that she has to go to, and she asked me to take her. I leave early today, and I don’t know how long it is going to take.”
“What, like a doctor’s appointment?”
“I don’t know, I don’t ask questions.” He said and leaned back on the lockers, peeling away from me.
The bell rang and the halls started to fill up.
I was a little disappointed that he wasn’t coming over, but I stayed silent. He gave me a hug and turned around to head back to his locker. When I walked off, I suddenly noticed Drexy was watching from the corner at the end of the hall. She had a straight face, but I could feel her anger vibrating unexplainably. She walked off with an evil gesture but looked away and didn’t utter a word.
******
When I finally got to lunch, she wasn’t there, but to be honest, I wasn’t worried. The day went smoothly to my surprise and nothing was mentioned to me about it. But secretly, I was hoping she wouldn’t spread the rumor. Lunch also went by quickly and Robert had already left school for the day.
******
I offered to do some tutoring after school since Robert wasn’t going to my house. A young beautiful girl, named Bridgette was eager to learn and listened carefully as I showed her how to so some calculus. The time flew by, and I hadn’t received any text from Robert. I was surprised.
“Thanks for all your help.” The ninth grader stated with appreciation.
“Yeah, no problem… I love to help. Do it again?” I asked.
“For sure…” She waved and rushed off.
The hallways were pretty empty when I reached my locker, only with the exception of a few squad girls who were leaving practice. I was glad the day was over; I had a lot of homework to do. I contemplated on which books I needed while staring at the inside of my locker. Those girls were laughing and conversing, walking by, until the hallway was completely empty. I started to gather some of my books and supplies slowly, but while in a daze, I suddenly felt a sharp tap to my right shoulder. I turned and Drexy was standing there with a blank look on her face. I looked around instead of directly at her with some anxiety, considering she hates me and caught me with Robert earlier.
“When did you start seeing Robert?” She demanded.
“Were friends Drexy.” I tried to shut down the conversation, but she was angry.
“You can’t be friends. You can’t be friends with us and be friends with them at the same time, you know that right?”
“Why… Tell me why?”
“Because he’s a piece of shit.” Drexy stated while getting closer to my face seriously annoyed.
“You don’t even know Robert.” I said, trying to stay calm.
“Yes, I do. I know him better than you think. You don’t know about us is what is really happening.” Drexy argued and flushed my thoughts down the drain.
“Did you guys have something going on?” I finally asked, considering the intensity of this conversation.
I didn’t have the guts to ask Robert. I thought maybe this was my moment to get it out of her. But before I could ask anything else she grabbed my arm and slammed me against the locker. She was a lot stronger than I expected. I tried to push her off, but my strength didn’t compare to hers. She grabbed both of my arms and squeezed tighter. Her eyes became mid evil, almost red. She suddenly with anger, moved her hands towards my neck, starting to choke me when out of nowhere something pulled her off and slammed her into the lockers from behind. The bang was a shockingly loud boom that vibrated across the hall! Trisha stood over Drexy, pinching her face with her fingers as she held her against the locker. She slowly whispered something in her ear and then quickly let go. Drexy looked frazzled and angry but stopped moving. She started quickly fixing herself, trying to completely stand back up. I immediately noticed a dent in the locker behind her where Trisha slammed her head into it. Or, was that already there?
I stared at Trisha wanting to thank her, but I was trying to shake off the shock first.
“Thannkkss…” I stuttered under my voice box, still sitting on ground against the lockers, but Trisha barely looked at me. They both walked off in different directions with complete silence. I stayed frozen, attempting to convince myself to get up off the floor, while trying to figure out what just happened.
******
When Trisha arrived home, Robert was standing outside by his truck putting some stuff in the back of it. She walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder with anger.
“What’s going on?” He asked and stopped what he was doing to pay attention.
“Well, why don’t you tell me?” Trisha asked in a very strong and demeaning tone.
Robert decided to continue putting the rest of his things in his truck, knowing she might be confronting him about dating Veracity.
“Well?” Trisha grabbed him to stop.
He quickly looked down at his boots, wiping them off as if the conversation wasn’t serious, but he knew it was about to stir.
“So, you’re going to tell me you don’t know what just happened your girlfriend?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend. What are you talking about?” Robert stood up to finally face her.
“You know what I’m talking about Robert. Stop playing dumb.”
“I’m not playing dumb. Would you please just tell me what you’re getting at?” Robert stated his words with frustration.
/> “You’re going to tell me you don’t know why Drexy just attacked Veracity? She could’ve hurt her!” Trisha continued with a demanding voice.
“What!?! Where??? What are you talking?” Robert stated with confusion and surprise.
“I already took care of it! You are going to get into us into a lot of trouble you know that? If Drexy figures out or understands anything at all, she will use it. She’s already figured out that she is strong. And you having a human girlfriend is not a good idea because of that.” Trisha said speaking over him.
“Trisha do you forget we protect humans when we can?”
“No, I don’t! But they’re not like us Robert… for Nacromacian sakes! And, you don’t know anything about her. I’ll never understand how you can pick her over our family. Why would you want to put us in jeopardy?” Trisha asked with anger.
“You’re over reacting Trisha…”
“You have no business being with her Robert.”
“Do not tell me what I can and cannot do with my life Trisha!” Robert’s tone rose.
“This is not just about you Robert. This about protecting her and us, not just her.”
“We’ve been interacting with humans for centuries.” Robert argued.
“Yes, and what is some of the history that we have behind us? Do you forget about what happened just a century ago?” Trisha sarcastically argued back.
“Humans have evolved Trisha.”
“You need to stop seeing her now.” Trisha pointed to the ground, demanding discipline trying to get back to the subject.
“Do not tell me what I can and cannot do with my life Trisha…” Robert repeated and stepped closer to her.
“You don’t have any idea who she is or what she’s about.”
“I’m going to introduce her to the family, and you’ll see everything’s going be fine. I’ll protect her.” Robert wanted to stop fighting.
“So that’s why I stepped in today??? Which I shouldn’t have to be doing for these weak-link human problems!” Trish yelled out.
“Would you stop saying stuff like that!” Robert said while grinding his teeth.
“Robert I love you because you’re my brother, but you’re being stubborn about this.....The four corners, The North, The South…”
Robert interrupted and raised his voice. “Do you think I’m stupid Trisha?!?
“No, I don’t think you’re stupid, but I do think you’re making some stupid choices.” Trisha answered.
“Don’t we all Trisha? Do you remember yours? Robert recanted. Trisha stared at him with disapproval.
Robert realized his harsh words and tried to calm his energy. “Look…”
Trish interrupted him, staying mature about it even though Robert wasn’t.
“I’m trying to talk about the present and how to make sure we’re safe.” She responded calmly.
“I’ll make sure we’re safe Trisha. I’ve always made sure we’re safe. Everything is under control.” Robert tried to assure her to regain his composure.
“Do I have to make this any clearer Rob? Mom and Dad is going to hear about this.” Trish threatened.
Robert became angry. His jacket seeped a speck of lucent light, mostly in faded white color from the back of his neck. He walked up to Trisha in a fast and angry motion. Faster than normal humans can actually move.
“Don’t you ever threaten me sister. I don’t fear our parents!” Robert’s tone was harsh and serious as he stared into his sister’s eyes with anger. Trisha backed up quickly from him, walking away slowly, staring back. She shook her head to the left and right but stayed silent. She decided to turn around and walk off, quite aware that the conversation was over.
Robert realized how angry he had become unexpectedly, and that he overreacted. It was Nacromacian law that it was forbidden to use powers against each other in families. He yelled out to apologize, but she put her hand up and waved him off with a peace sign.
“Shit! Veracity….” Robert thought frantically in his mind and quickly jumped in his truck to find me.
******
I went upstairs to study, but in the back of mind, I was trying to piece together what just happened over and over. I swear Drexy’s eyes turned red, but maybe it was an adrenaline rush I was feeling, and it made me hallucinate. I was definitely shaken up. And… how did Trisha come around the corner that fast and handle Drexy like a little rag doll??? It was almost as if she had superhuman powers. But even with that, Drexy’s strength was almost unreal too. Nothing was making sense.
I couldn’t study anymore, there was no use. I decided to close my book when I heard a knock at the door. The shadow outside was unfamiliar from the door’s windowpane. But, I looked through the side curtain quietly, realizing it was Robert.
“Hey…” I open the door confused because he didn’t tell me he was coming over.
“How are you? Are you OK? Trisha told me what happened.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Come in.”
“I’m really sorry.” Robert said and hugged me with his heart racing.
“No, don’t be. It was unexpected and I didn’t provoke her, I swear.”
“No, I don’t think it’s your fault…” He said, but decided to stop him from continuing.
“Yeah, Robert, why don’t you explain that to me now…” I asked with no hesitation this time.
Robert looked at me with silence. But then he pointed to the sofa to sit down.
“Listen, nothing’s going on with her and I. Nothings ever been going on with her and I. Along time ago, a couple years back, around 11th grade she tried to get with me but she had a boyfriend at the time, that was “her type” but she indirectly kept hitting on me everywhere chance she got. Her boyfriend got jealous and started provoking things in the hall, but I tried to ignore him as much as I could.”
“What would he do?” I asked with curiosity.
“He kept calling me weak-link and so forth. And I didn’t want to fight him because I had no interest in Drexy. But, he wouldn’t have believed me. And, no matter what I did, she wouldn’t get the hint. My sister, Trisha, eventually threatened her but she still kept coming at me when we were alone. One day, she came into the locker room. She went in when everybody left for day… and I don’t do sports, but I promised the coach that I clean up after school because of some mischief I had gotten into.
“Like detention?” I interrupted.
“Yeah.”
I guess Drexy got wind of it… She’s nothing but trouble Veracity, and I knew that right away when she wanted to cheat on her boyfriend to make matters worse.
“Did something happen that day between you guys… after all?”
“No, not at all…I promise. But, I didn’t have my truck yet back then, so Trisha had to pick me up. Anyways, I had taken off my shirt because it got kind-of-hot when I was cleaning up outside in the field, then headed over to lockers to pick up. When I turned around she was standing right behind me. I know she’s attractive… but I also know what she is about. I pulled away as quickly as I could. I didn’t want to touch her, not to even push her away, knowing she would take it another way. I did ask her to stop, but she just kept coming in closer. For a second, I thought, screw it, because I didn’t have a girlfriend then, but I came to my senses as I always do and kept pushing her off.”
Robert continued to explain, looking frustrated as if he was there. I stayed silent and listened carefully. I may have only known Robert a few months now, but he seemed genuine. I put my hand on his leg to let him know I trusted what he was saying. He heart seem to calm when he let out a sigh and grabbed my hand.
“Ultimately, I told her to back off, but she got closer and closer to me. She then tried to kiss me. I had to push her off hard this time because I was getting upset that she wouldn’t stop. I guess I don’t know my own strength because she hit the ground pretty hard. Trisha must have been waiting outside and came in to find me. I didn’t hear her coming in and the scene looked strange, but my sister knows me, a
nd she knows Drexy all too well. She sided with me without asking any questions. Trisha grabbed her by her arms and warned her. Drexy didn’t challenge it, and left. But the next day, Drexy accused me of trying to kiss her forcefully. She is attractive and that is why everyone believes her. She made it seem as if I hit on her and that she had to get me off of her. She also made up a lie that I lied to Trisha to cause a fight between them. It became a big battle between their group and ours. Her boyfriend came looking for me the next day and we had a verbal match in the hallway but then he lunged at me. I ended up breaking his jaw and his nose. I put him in the hospital. But, everyone blamed me for him not being able to play the next few games that came up for the football season. That, plus the rumors just made everything worse. We keep separate now and that’s the way it will always be until graduation. But this is our last year and we don’t have anything else to worry about.”
“She never knew anything until she saw us today, but she has hated me before this Robert.”
“Well, she knows I like you.”
“How’s that?”
“I think she caught me staring at you when you first got to Cotter.”
It made me feel good to know I was wanted by a man who was wanted but I didn’t want any problems with Drexy either.