My first instinct is to run to Crystal Keep, but after what happened last time I change my mind last second and end up running into an academic building. I saw a staircase and went to hide under it but someone beat me to it.
"You aren't going to cry are you Darko?" a few big-looking guys said.
I stop and duck behind the corner.
"Why can't you guys leave me alone!?" Darko shouts.
I recognize the voice and when I peek, I see it's true. The same guy that picked on me in the cafeteria, is actually a victim of bullying himself.
"You don't belong here; everyone knows your family is a lie," They hold him down before punching him in the gut.
I wince.
"Shut up!"
"You should ask your mom who's really your dad," One guy taunts.
They all laugh and drop him on the floor before kicking him and running off upstairs.
Darko breaks down, curling up into a ball and sobbing silently to himself. If I didn't feel bad before, I certainly feel worse now. Looks like Caster schools have bullies just like regular schools.
I move closer to him, slowly. Then I sit next to him. He jolts upright and eyes me. Only then do I see his soft blue eyes because his hair is brushed out of his face.
"You," he spat.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"What do you care, get away from me!" he pushes me, and I fall on my back. Then he got up to run away but tripped over his untied shoes and fell on his face.
He grunts in frustration and pounds his fist on the ground.
"Sorry, I was just trying to help!" I snap at him before getting up and moving to leave.
"I never asked for your help!" he spat at me.
"Fine! Then I won't offer it! Jerk!"
I turn to leave but I hear him curl up in a ball again and start sobbing.
I turn back to him but considering how he's treated me so far, I think better of it and walk away. I look around and realize I'm completely lost. I sniffle and slowly walk back to where I was sure I came in, but the door I was sure was there before, is gone.
I look around and keep walking until I find a little bench to sit on next to what looks like a lounge area. It is on this bench that I collect myself. I run my hands through my hair several times and push my tears back down.
What the heck have I gotten myself into?
I don't want to be here.
I don't want my dad to hate me.
I don't want to look over my shoulder every second wondering who I can or cannot trust.
I don't want to lie and keep things from people or wonder if they are keeping things from me.
But most of all I don't want to think about how this might all be pointless anyway. That sometime in the future, possibly the near future, I'll die in an explosion.
I whimper and bring my knees to my chest, resting my forehead against them.
"I see London, I see France, I see Emery's underpants," Someone sings.
I look up and meet the eyes of Vega. She is standing in front of me, her whole posture just radiates confidence. Or maybe it's deviousness I sense.
Just great, exactly what I needed. One half of the evil duo.
Also, I hate skirts.
I sit right and glare at her.
"If looks could kill," she smirks before sitting next to me.
I sigh and get up to leave, she grabs me by the wrist and forces me to sit back down.
"Where are you going? I just got here. That's rude."
"Leave me alone, I'm not in the mood," I pull my wrist free.
"How was your meeting with the elders?"
"How did you know about that?" I look at her.
She smirks and shrugs.
What is her deal? At least with Dariyah, I know what to expect. This girl is a snake. Who knows what she's up to, or when she'll strike?
"What is your deal with me? Is this about the movies because if so, I'm sorry okay. I'll leave you alone if you leave me alone. I don't want trouble."
She chuckles lightly.
"What?" I ask.
"You may not want trouble, but trouble found you. Deal with it my love, deal with it." she pinched my cheek before getting up and walking off.
"I don't even know your name!" I call after her.
"But you will!" she calls back.
I huff and get up and leave.
I turn the corner and bump right into someone.
"Hey, watch it!" she snaps at me.
I just have bad luck.
"You watch it," I shot back.
Nerissa rolls her eyes before picking up a box she dropped. Speaking of people that rub me the wrong way. Just being in the same room as her, makes my skin crawl. I don't know what it is, but I don't like it.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"How about I tell you when it becomes your business," she looks around to make sure no one saw us before pushing past me and quickly walking off, box in arms.
I was about to shrug it off and go find Cyrene when I see someone turn the corner, looking around. I duck behind the corner and watch as they follow after Nerissa. It's a woman, around Cyrene's age.
I can't get a good look at her because she's in such a hurry.
She doesn't even notice me standing there as she rounds the corner and goes after Nerissa.
Despite my better judgment, after a moment, I go after her.
She rounds the next corner and I wait a few seconds before doing the same. I watch her speed walk down the next hallway, and I follow. When I turn the corner, no one is there. I look around in confusion.
"Can I help you?"
I yelp and whirl around.
How did she do that?
"I—I'm lost," I quickly spit out.
She has dark caramel-colored skin to go with her straight dark brown hair. Her lips are bright red from lipstick, and she is dressed like she could be a fashion model. Not in a school uniform. Her dark brown eyes needle into me.
"Emery, you shouldn't be wandering around like this."
"How do you know my name?"
"Come on, I'll take you back to Cyrene," she sighs.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Lorelei or as my students call me, Ms. Zapata. Cyrene just calls me Eli." She shrugs.
"You know Cyrene?"
"I like to think so," she chuckles.
When she sees me eyeing her in confusion she says,
"I'm her girlfriend of two years."
"Oh!" it clicks.
"I guess she hasn't gotten around to mentioning me."
"She still hasn't even told me what the heck energies are or if I can teleport," I complain.
She laughs.
"You two are going to get along just fine," she ruffles my hair.
I smack her hand away and run my hands through my hair to fix it.
We exit out a door and into the student courtyard.
"What were you doing before?" I ask.
"So you were following me," she comments.
"I wanted to ask for help," I lie.
"Word of advice, Star Caster's suck at lying."
"Why?"
"Their energies give them away. And I am an expert on energies."
"Joy, more stuff I don't know."
She laughs.
"There you are," Cyrene jogs over to me.
"I believe this belongs to you," Lorelei pushes me towards Cyrene.
"Hey," Cyrene smiles at her.
"Hey to you too," she pecks Cyrene on the cheek.
"We still on for dinner later?" Cyrene asks.
"Of course, do me a favor and keep this one on a leash for me. Her curiosity will get her in trouble."
I frown at her.
"She's a handful, thanks, Eli. Try not to work too hard," Cyrene says.
"Back at you, see you later babe." They peck each other on the lips before Eli walks back into the building.
She didn't tell me why she was following Nerissa or how she knew I was lying.
I'm going to make a note of that.
"You okay?" Cyrene turns to me.
"You have lipstick on your cheek," I point out.
"Come on, let's go. Like I said before, we have much to go over," She sighs.
"So that's your girlfriend?" I eye her.
"Yeah, why?"
"I just sort of thought you and Asherah were a thing." I shrug.
She laughs a loud boisterous laugh. She laughs so hard she tears up.
"What!? You always call her Ashy and the way she looks at you and snaps at you. I thought you two were a thing."
"Close, used to be. That ship sailed a long time ago kid. Here's some advice, never date the know it all. She'll always win the argument, no matter how much you think you have the upper hand."
"Noted, so who broke up with who?" I smirk.
"Okay, let's focus on academics." She grabs me by the shoulder and forces me to face forward and walk with her.
"She broke up with you, got it."
"It's going to be a long day," she sighs.
Cyrene has interesting taste in women. I wonder if she knows her girlfriend was stalking a student through the halls. Then again Nerissa didn't exactly look innocent. What was in that box?
You know what Cyrene is right. I have enough on my plate without worrying about other people's issues.
For now, I'll just focus on my academics.
The faster I get the hang of all of this, the faster I can get out of this place.
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