Snowed In... Episode 20: Remember...

Kenyatta gagged and wheezed as she struggled to breathe around Keena's hands. I had to do something. I couldn't just stand there and let my best friend die. I ran over to them and pushed Keena off Kenyatta, sending her sprawling to the floor. Kenyatta sucked in lungfuls of air and looked up at me with tear-clouded eyes. She keeled over in pain and reached for her left ankle. I looked down and saw blood pooling around it.
" Oh my God," I breathed as I knelt to take a better look. Bailey was at my side in a matter of minutes. It was all bad! We needed to get Yatta to a hospital! Quick!
" Shit," Bailey swallowed hard. " It's the Achilles. If we don't stop the bleeding-"
" AAAAAHHH!" An aggravated shriek uttered behind us as the sound of cool metal whizzed by my hair. Luckily Bailey had heard it coming a little before me, or maybe his reflexes were just that good, but he pushed me out of the way and dodged the blow himself. I fell half on top of Yatta and she winced, but looked up at me through pained eyes.
" I'm sorry Am," She whispered in a watery voice. I just looked down at her, not knowing what to say. Her Achilles meant a lot of things, but one thing was for sure... she wouldn't be any use in this fight now.
" Gah!" Keena swung the metal object again and I'd had enough! I looked up at her, and found her swinging a metal shovel. Like the kind you clear out driveways with. But not at me, no. Her crazed attention was focused on Bailey now.Oh huh uh!? First my best friend... now my boyfriend? (The first one I'd had in years at that?) Hell no. It was time for this bitch to go.
" KEENA!?" I bellowed with a bass I didn't even know I was capable of. She looked at me over her shoulder as she raised the shovel again. " Your beef is with me... I owe you this ass whoopin," I told her serenely. It was a little eerie to me that my nerves were so smooth and calm... that I didn't sound angry at all... just dark.
" NO," Keena took a step toward me, lowering her weapon a little. " My beef is with your little lovesick puppy on the ground right there... but I think I've pretty much taken care of that," Her eyes narrowed in hatred, further illustrating that clearly she wasn't all there. " She thought she could take me... thought she could beat me up! And for what? For you?! Please!" She actually snickered and looked down at Yatta, who was propped up on an elbow and trying to reach her ankle. " Now I guess I need to show you, too, that I'm not to be fucked with!" It was my turn to laugh.
" You think I'm gonna let you stand around and hurt everybody that means something to me? Everybody that you're mad at... you're only mad at because of me! So like I said... Your beef is with me... come take this ass whoopin like the cretin you are!" I opened my arms to create a target.
" Am?" Bailey called cautiously.
"So be it," Keena hissed and swung the shovel. I side-stepped it and lunged for her, grabbing the long wooden handle and yanking it to me, bringing her with it. It had caught her off-guard, which allowed me to pry it from her grasp and then punch her in the mouth. Keena stumbled backward, holding her mouth.
" Bitch!?" She muffled over the blood. " Grrrrr!" Her intent had been to pummel me, but as I planted my heels in the ground with a triangle stance, it was more like her running into a brick wall. I caught her easily, only faultering a few steps, then turned and slammed her to the ground.

Something within me snapped because as I pinned her there, the blows began to rain, my fists pounding at her flesh, no particular target in mind. It wasn't until after the arms were snaked around my waist, and I was being lifted away from the mess of Keena I had made, that I snapped out of my blind rage stupor and saw the blood on my hands. Keena wheezed and coughed, nearly choking on her own blood. Kenyatta was sobbing, and everyone else was awake now... staring at me... halfway between terror and awe. Bailey slid down the wall with me in his arms, and I could feel his heart racing a mile a minute against my back. He held my fists in his own, and stared out at the scene over my shoulder.
" Breathe Am... just... calm down," He huffed, trying to steady his breathing. " Come back to us,"
" I'm here," I said, face contorting in confusion. " I am calm,"
" You snapped," He countered.
"What are you talking about?"
" You went into... blood lust or something," He told me. " Didn't you hear Yatta and me screaming at you? She was sobbing hysterically, Keena was begging you to stop... but you didn't respond."
" What?" I leaned to the side to get a better look at him. " I didn't hear anything," Bailey just stared at me, half in shock, half sympathetically. We sat there... looking at each other for I don't know how long. That was... until Yatta had finally made her way over to us.
" Am... I..."
" No," I shook my head. " Don't say anything."
" Not even thank you?"
" Not even thank you," I shook my head.
" I'll... give you guys some room," Bailey decided. He kissed my sideburn and then slid out from behind me. " I'm gonna get you a towel." And with that he disappeared toward the kitchen.
" Amerykah, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry that I didn't... I should have listened to you." Yatta sighed.
" It is what it is," I examined my stained hands. Yatta did too.
" I never seen you like that,"
" Bailey says I snapped. I don't even remember anything," I replied solemnly.
" You did. I was screaming for you... begging you to stop. So was she, and you just... kept going. Kept hitting her.... kept coming up with more blood." Kenyatta cringed. " That was scary Am. I didn't even know you were capable of anything like that,"
" Me either," I answered truthfully. "And to be honest... I could go back over there and keep tearin her ass up, cuz I don't feeel like she paid enough."
" Am, she spat up teeth!" Yatta stared at me horrified. I looked back at her, my eyes cold and harsh.
" SO?" She shrank away a little.
" AAAAWWW!" A voice yelled in agony. My heart skipped a beat. I knew that voice. All too well, and it didn't sound good.
"Bailey," I gasped and hopped to my feet, running to the kitchen. A deep, sinister giggle made me stop short, my blood running cold. I paused in the doorway to find Bailey holding his right forearm, blood dripping down it. Tre stood before him, holding the butcher knife, Bailey's blood scrawled across it. " Tre what are you doing?!"
" He fucked up my face," Tre turned and I saw the mess Bailey truly had made of his nose. It was definitely broken. And flattened on his face. He didn't even look the same. Yeah... Bailey had definitely fucked it up. BUT... he'd had it coming didn't he? " So it's only right I fuck up his!"
" With a knife??" I shrilled. Bailey looked up and then gave me a slight nod as he saw what I was trying to do.
" My fists wouldn't do justice," Tre seethed. Bailey made a lunge for the knife with his good hand. It was mediocre at best though, and I guess Tre sensed it, because he whirled to face Bailey with a wild swipe and landed another slice across Bailey's chest. This gash wasn't as deep as the one on his arm, but he still grimaced in pain and stumbled backward. " YOU Bitch!?" He swivelled back to me and pointed the knife. " You tried to distract me for your little boyfriend!" Apparently crazy was running in the water around here. He stalked toward me and trapped me against the wall, holding the knife directly below my adam's apple. ( Not that it was visible or anything, but I sure did feel it right then!?)" I should fuck your pretty little face up too!"
" NO!" I protested. " Please!"
" Oh don't beg now," Tre smirked.
" Tre," I swallowed hard and looked from the knife to him and back.
" Don't say my name all sexy-like now! You shoulda been sayin that while we were fucking on the floor!" He hissed and then leaned in so close that I thought he was going to kiss me. " I really liked you Am," He whispered in my ear. " Like, coulda even wifed you maybe... but definitely woulda been a better boyfriend than Nerdboy back there!"
" Maybe," I replied, then let out a small whine as the knife pressed dangerously closer to my jugular.
" Aww! Are you scared?" Tre grinned.
" Let her go Tre," Bailey staggered toward us.
" Or what?" Tre called over his shoulder.
" Or something bad will happen," Bailey replied. Tre pushed the knife closer to my neck. I closed my eyes and prayed this would all be over soon.
" What the fuck!?" Mike exclaimed as he came in and saw the scene. My eyes shot open just in time to see him grab Tre's free arm. I screamed in pain as the knife knicked me, and the struggle between the two football players began. Yatta hobbled to the door and then covered her mouth as she watched Tre and Mike fight for custody of the knife. Then she saw me and her eyes grew to saucers.
" Am! You're bleeding!" She declared and grabbed the nearest dish towel. It wasn't bad, I would later learn, but at this point, my eyes were simply locked on the knife that was entirely too close to either boy's chest cavity.

Mike yelped in pain as Tre kneed him in the groin, but he didn't let go of the knife. Somehow, in all that pain and glory, Mike landed a gut check blow and the knife clattered to the ground. Bailey swooped down to pick it up, and then Joe, Aaron and Mason flooded into the room as well.My what wonderful timing. After that... I can't tell you what happened. Everything went black. Because I'd passed out.

The events of that weekend still haunt us all. We were picked up by the school several hours later, and you can imagine the surprise on the faces of the Dean and our advisors when they found the scene they did. Tre tied up, Keena unconscious on the floor, me cradled unconscious between Bailey and Yatta, and damn near everyone all banged up and bruised. It was not a good look for any of us. They launched a full scale investigation into the events that took place over that weekend... but none of is would talk. maybe it was for fear of what happen to our own selves if everything came out... or maybe it was out of respect that we'd already handled it all. Either way, that weekend was never spoken of again.

Yatta and I are still best friends. We're not as close as we used to be. And I can't tell if that's because she revealed to me that she was in love with me some weeks later, or if it was because she finally got her wish and started dating Mason. She says she's not gay... maybe just a little curious now and then. I could care less... As long as she's happy then I'm happy.

Bailey and I are still together and as strong as ever. He's still perfection in every way, and I'm just waiting for the day the shit hits the fan. I know we can't stay perfect forever, but maybe it helps that we were such good friends first. Who knows?

As for Mike, well... he finally found someone. he keeps saying one of these days hes gonna try to steal me away from bailey, but we both know that he's joking (God I hope so). He seems pretty happy with this new girl. She doesn't go to the school though. He says he's done with campus girls. They're too crazy. He may be right...

The most amazing tidbit of all though, is that Tre and Keena actually ended up hitting it off somehow. That's right... the psychos are dating. Never saw that one coming. But hey, they can be crazy FOR and WITH each other. No one really speaks to them anymore, so now they're apart of a totally different crowd. But they never cease to throw a glance or two mine and Bailey's way. I don't mind though... because deep down, I know we can take them.

And now... every time it snows, Bailey and I stand in the window and we watch it. We watch, as he caresses the tiny scar on my neck, and I run my finger tips over the remnants of the gash on his forearm. We watch...as each little snow flake falls to the earth... holding a memory. And we remember those nights. That weekend... that we were snowed in...

Aberrant.... Episode 4: Lunch time pt.2: Luna Rising....

And just as soon as everything had stopped, it started again. The noise, the chatter, the slurping, the smacking... all of it. Luna stepped down the two stairs and started to make her way toward us. The only remnants of my old Luna were her square framed black librarian glasses. Everything else was all new and glamorous. She was wearing black tights and a long purple sweater that stopped mid thigh. The cleavage shot had even me fanning myself. Where in the world had those melons come from? She'd always been a little envious and more than generous in her teasing about my full D's, but now she had a rack of her own and they didn't look anything shy of a full C, perhaps even a D herself. The black, white and purple dunks matched precisely, and she was heaven all in her own little rite. Luna was now a show stopper, and not a reject for hanging with the dog boy, the dark and the only human girl in town, maybe on earth.
" Damn! What's Luna been eating?" Weiler declared as she approached. Poof elbowed him in the ribs mid burger 2 bite. " Oww!"
" Hey Luna!" Poof greeted almost dreamily as she sat next to him. So what? Just cuz I was Human and she had a new look she couldn't sit next to me? I studied her, chewing on my yellow straw.
" What's up guys!" She flashed her smile, and I realized the braces were absent. But not only that, there was something odd about her smile. It was... off somehow.
" You look... different," I replied, completely skipping the 'hellos' 'how was ur vacations' and 'what's goods'. Luna looked down at herself and then back at me. Her eyes flickered brightly.
" Well, y'know... senior year. Decided I should go for a change!" She shrugged.
" What? By embodying the 'Got Milk' slogan?" Poof blurted then looked away like he hadn't said anything at all. The liquid black of his eyes seemed to dance as he stared at me to keep from ogling Luna. It was my turn to look away. The only thing remotely ordinary about Poof were his eyes, save the fact that his irises were such a deep brown they looked black, and never mind trying to find a pupil in there. But Luna narrowed her eyes at Poof, then looked over at me. She sniffed the air oddly, then folded her hands on the tabletop.
"What?" She asked obliviously.
" Luna... dude! Cut the crap homie!" Weiler tipped his gallon of water. " You really think you don't look different than the last time we saw you?" She shrugged nonchalantly.
" I might be a little darker,"
"And?" Weiler pressed.
" A little slimmer," She added on.
" And?" I took over.
" I dyed my hair?" She frowned.
" When did the braces come off?" Weiler raised his black brow.He scratched his black tresses that were secured away into a ponytail.
" Eff all that..." Poof spoke up. " When did you grow those, and get thick in all the right places?" My mouth dropped and it was Weiler's turn to elbow Poof. He saw it coming however and disappeared then reappeared next to me. Luna laughed.
" I'm a late bloomer. So what?" She crossed her arms over her chest. " The ranch is a magical place... maybe it worked some of its magic on me," Her eyes grew a little more serious with that. And another realization came to me.
" Luna... why are you wearing frames with no lenses?"
" Huh?" She stammered and begrudgingly touched the frames. Weiler and Poof took a closer look now. " Oh. These... uh... well, I like my glasses! " She declared matter of factly, getting this new found swagger back. " I'm not quite ready to give up everything yet." I sat back. i wasn't too sure how i felt about this yet, but I was leaning heavily toward not liking it.
"Well... at least one of the rat pack decided to get some style!" Eva declared as she graced us momentarily with her presence. I cut my eyes at her. " Nice swagg Luna. Maybe you should stop by our table before the period's over. Ditch the zeroes and come sit with the heroes!"
" She'd rather sit with MagnaMolt!" I gagged. Luna just looked at her hands.
" No one asked you!" The Butterfly babe hissed.
" I swear, if you keep talking to me I'm gonna pluck your wings off and put em on display!" I exclaimed rising out of my seat a little. Luna reached across the table and grabbed my wrist. When she did it, I swore i heard my bones groan a little. I didn't yelp or wince in pain though. Couldn't show weakness after a threat like that! But I did sit back down. She didn't need to squeeze any harder for me to get the point. I'd probably have a bruise whenever she let go.
" Try it homo sapien!" She countered. " I dare you!"
"Keep it movin Fern Gully," I dismissed her with my non-captive hand. Poof snorted to keep from outright laughing. Did she really think 'homo sapien' was a diss. Please!
"Dandy, let it go," Eva advised. " Luna... the invitation still stands." And with that, the devil's babsiting club sauntered off. Did I mention how much I hated them?

Rubbing my temples, I pulled my lunch bag back to me. That sandwich was sounding wonderful to me right about now.This day was going to shit and it wasn't even over yet. And when I got home... there would be what? Nothing. Aunt Jennie was still somewhere trying to help save the Rainforest. Perhaps that made sense due to her being a Sprite. But sometimes a girl just needed her parents... mommy and daddy. But they were dead. Had been for 5 years now. Shaking my head I unwrapped the turkey breast and took a bite. Luna moistened her lips.
"What's for lunch 'Price?" Luna asked sniffing lightly. " IS that... turkey?"
" Don't tell me you've traded in being a vegan now too?" Weiler slapped his hand to his forehead. I felt my lip curl in suspicion.
" Luna.. what's going on with you?" I questioned sliding the sandwich to her. She dug into it hungrily.
" The doc... says... I'm.. I need more protein. Gotta start... eatin meat. Mmmm," She moaned almost orgsmically. "This is SO good!"
" Okay this is just weird," Poof shook his head. Luna continued to wolf the sandwich down. " Yo, so do we have ANY classes together?"
"Eh, I got improv and gym left for the day," I made another gag face.
" Hey, I got gym too! Last period?" Weiler asked. I nodded.
" Yes!" Poof cheered. Then we can all meet at Price's Caprice and get the hell outta dodge!" He and Weiler high-fived.
"Who said I had my car here?" I interjected. Everyone at the table gave me a side-eye. It was common knowledge I was NOT putting myself out there to be picked on, beat up, hit on or anything else in my state of being. I drove everywhere! Even across the street if I could! Okay, stupid question! But who said I was playing town taxi?"
" I could really use a ride home after school," Luna spoke up. " Gotta be home for- uh... Mom wants me to help her with this dinner party." We all gave her the 'sketch' eye. I wasn't sure I wanted this new and improved Luna anywhere near me.
" Riiiiiiigggghhhht," Poof rolled his eyes. He looked over at the door. " Yo, who's the newbies?" He nodded in the direction he'd been looking. we all leaned to get a better glimpse. Twins, identical... a boy and a girl. And not bad looking either.
" Haven't seen 'em til now," Luna shrugged and started rummaging through my lunch bag. I snatched it back with a look of appallment. She looked startled then gave me sad puppy eyes.
" Mi either. UUHHHH! LUNA!? Hello... I need to eat too," I scolded.
" Oh they were in my BioChem class," Weiler said. " Don't ask me their names though,"
" Weiler, what good are you?" I teased with a smirk.
" Well... I'm big... I'm strong... really loyal... and I can smellthings a mile away," He offered. " I also have threee forms!" He grinned. Luna's eye twitched at that.
" Hey, I'll be back," She informed and started to get to her feet. As if right on cue, Poof grabbed my arm and Weiler turned sharply. He reached for Luna and started to move her, but it was too late! The body was barrelling right at her!
" LUNA!?" He exclaimed grasping for her.

But as the rocketing body barrelled right into her, I cringed and squoze my eyes shut, not wanting to see the carnage that would lay before us.
" Hoooooolllllly Shit," Poof breathed.
" What the hell?" Weiler exasperated. I peeked through one lid, then opened the other. Luna was holding him. Holding the body. In her arms.. like she was about to perform the heimlich. THAT DEFINITELY wasn't the normal Luna.

Had it been the old Luna she'd have been crushed under the girth of the creature in her arms. It took me a moment to realize it was Brock the Boulder. His body was complete, 100% rock. And he was a BIG BOY! Like, even if he'd been human he'd have been massively overweight.
" WHOA! Did you see that?!" The cafeteria began to break into murmurs and chatter about Luna's feat. She set Brock down hastily and grabbed her bookbag.
" Umm.. I-I-I- I gotta go," Luna stammered as she scurried out of the cafeteria.
" Th-Thanks!" Brock boomed after her. Weiler, Poof and I all looked at each other.

Luna was back... and she was definitely different. She had some explaining to do...

TO BE CONTINUED......

Aberrant.... Episode 3: Lunch time pt.1....

The good thing about being a Human that hung out with big, strong brutes like Poof and Weiler was that even though they weren't the most careful with me in everyday situations... when shit hit the fan, I was always number priority to get to safety. Poof snaked an arm around my waist as we flew mid-air and he yanked me to him. Then in the blink of an eye we were on the other side of the hall, the opposite of where we had been, and where all the debris and damage was now. Carefully Poof set my feet to the ground, but he kept his arm around me to steady me.
" Uh... thanks!" I blushed and looked down at the ground, brushing off my baggy black sweats and fitted layered tees. The black tee read 'Bite My Swagg' and the white long-sleeved beneath it extended past my wrists so I could play with the thumb holes when I was nervous. Sheer force of bad habit. I was doing it now. Alot of my shirts were designed like this.

We turned our attention to the debris as a petite, tiger-printed prim and proper superhero climbed out of the rubble. She dusted off her leather skin-tight cat suit that showed just a little too much of her ass and thighs and knee high boots.
"OH! Hey Kitty Dolls!" She purred. " Just another day at work. Excuse me... MagnaMolt beckons!" She winked and then pounced back through the wreckage in which she'd come. But then her head popped back through the hole and she flashed her pearly whites at us. " Remember kids! Stay in school!" And she gave us the wink and the gun. The WINK and the GUN!? Was she kidding? UGGGHHHH! I hated this stupid city and this stupid life!
"Haha! Holy shit! That was Femme Ferocious!" Poof gushed. " Man she's SO HOTT!?"
" I swear! One of these days I really am gonna find that damn island!" I shook my head and started up the stairs.
" What Island?" Poof frowned. The tardy bell screeched in our ears.
" Fuuuuuuccccck! We're late!?" I threw my hands up. " Tar Mac's gonna flip a bitch!"
" Yo! What Island!?" Poof interrupted appearing right before me.
" DON'T... DO THAT!?" I shrilled covering my face to keep my nerves together. It was only 9:00am and already my nerves were shot. Say it with me everyone FML!

My day started terribly and didn't get that much better. This year, my classes were beast-like and I wasn't sure I'd make it. Advanced Calculus, Intro to Computer Science, Improv 101 (yes acting), Intro to Fictional Creation, Extra-Terrestrial History and PhysEd. Oh yes... PhysEd would be really fun! Luckily it was at the end of the day with Improv, so after lunch things would be pretty smooth sailing.
As I sat down at the lunch table with my turkey breast sandwich and macaroni salad, I glanced around at the plethora of colors, shapes, sizes and characters in the room. Of course no one was there to join me yet, and I'm sure all the bullies were just waiting to pounce on me. All I needed to do was give them incentive.

I jabbed my fruit punch Capri-Sun with the tiny little yellow straw and watched as the football team strutted through the cafeteria. It was kind of an odd sight to see because several of them were flying, most of them were loping, and even one of them was bouncing... well, hopping. He was a lot like the "Toad" character from X-Men. I shook my head as their gaze treaded in my direction.
"Heeeyyyyy! If it isn't Caprice!" The captain exclaimed. I looked up into his silver eyes.
" What do you want Otho?" I sipped my juice.
" SO when you gon let me take a ride?" He asked, leaning on my table. The silver under his skin glinted in the artificial light. Apparently Otho was like some sort of Cyborg or Robocop kid. He could manipulate machines, and they say he was part machine. But I would never find out. I couldn't stand the overly conceited jughead!
" This Caprice is one of the greatest antiques you'll ever lay eyes on sweetheart... you could never be worthy enough to take a ride on this," I shrugged matter of factly. The football team oohed and guffawed at the diss in Otho's face. Since he'd wanted to refer to me as a car (which was so played out by the way) I'd decided to diss him with the ride analogy! I mean Caprices were classic cars, and quite the antique since they hadn't been in production for over 30 years, but there were those with enough money who still had one around now and then. My father happened to be one.

Otho punched the table in frustration, and it dented under the force. I didn't flinch however. Funny how that worked. People who annoyed me... couldn't get a rise out of me. People who I trusted... scared the shit outta me. Hmmm....
"Fuckin flesh sack," He grumbled as he walked away.
" Whatchu do to Bucket O' Bolts now?" Poof questioned as he set his tray on the table. Junk! Nothing but junk! Oreos, Lay's, Chocolate cake, Skittles and a chocolate milk quart! Ugh! who could eat such junk? Suddenly my appetite disappeared. Weiler plopped down next to Poof with 3 Burgers and 2 hot dogs and a Gallon of Water. I pushed my lunch bag away.
" He was tryna 'ride' again," Weiler informed before inhaling burger one.
" Ugh! It took me a whole summer to forget about y'alls eatin habits, and here you've reminded me in just two seconds," I cradled my sinuses.
" Oh word?" Poof stuffed an Oreo between his jaws. " You gon let 'im ride this year?" Poof smirked. I flipped him the bird. He rolled his neck playfully. " Just askin!"
" You're gross!" I glared at him.

Suddenly the cafeteria grew silent. All eyes turned toward the double doors and every single breath drew in. I had to blink several times just to be sure I was seeing the correct thing. There... in the door way was the one person I'd been waiting for all day! The one person who understood me better than most in the whole wide world. Only... it wasn't her. At least, not how I remembered her.

Three weeks before school, my best friend had left to go and visit her grandparents on their ranch in Arizona. She went every year, and always came back like the day before it was time for school to start. She'd always be a little darker, and a little smaller or a little more muscled, but now... today? She looked like a completely different person. Her usually almond skin with red undertones was a deeper, richer tan, like she'd been sun-kissed by the Gods. And her chesnut brown hair normally stopped at her shoulders. Now it snaked down to the middle of her back, and even had blond highlights. And her eyes. Those grey eyes that normally passed for really dark thunderclouds now stood out as more silvery. She was also... Amazon-like. Her thighs and biceps were sculpted, stomach flat, abs rock hard (and showing!) and she had flawless skin. Like a super-model. This was not my friend. Not the geeky, brace-faced Proactive needing Native American scrawny skin and bones I had grown up with. So what the hell had happened?
" Luna?" I breathed as I took her in...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Aberrant.... Episode 2: Just Another First Day at Extraordinay High

" Caprice! Caprice! Did you hear about Lord Fearlin and Captain Heroism going at it on the news this morning!?" Weiler yipped at my heels as I strolled down the hall to my locker. I rolled my emerald green eyes to the ceiling and scoffed.
" Who hasn't!?" I snorted. " Don't they ever get tired of the superhero/villain antics? I mean, sheesh!" I shrugged and opened my locker. Weiler shut it, almost smashing my fingers in the quick gust. Sometimes he forgot his own strenght, or lack thereof, in regard to mine. I threw daggers at him and he actually began to whine a little like a puppy.

Oh, I'm sorry... I forgot to mention! Weiler is a 6'2", heavily muscled, incredibly handsome mutant that had the traits of a human and a Rottweiler. No, he doesn't resemble acclaimed rap star Snoop Dogg (who is long gone by now), rather his face held the strong, masculine features of a human's but was also accentuated by the beauty of the Rottweiler. He had those deep set brown eyes that told all of his emotions no matter what, paired with a rich brown skin so deep it almost seemed black, like the coat of his familiar. His smile was bright and predatory, even and perfect with the addition of canines on the top and bottom. Yes, he should have been frightening, particularly because he was more like a Werewolf, with his three forms, this one, a larger more brute form that expanded to 8 feet and combined the sheer force and fearsomeness of human and Rott, and then his dog form, which was actually just as you'd imagine your friendly neighborhood Rott to be... But he wasn't. He was my friend. And he had been for the past four years. I'd known him since 8th grade. And we were seniors now. Well, beginning our senior year anyways.

" WEILER!? Watch what you're doing dammit! That was almost my fingers you... you... mutt!?" He frowned at me and a low growl escaped his throat. He hated being referred to in any form of a dog. But I always called him mutt when he pissed me off. Especially when he damn near hurt me, and surprisingly that was often. Weiler was a loveable, huggable, greatly loyal and devoted guy... but he also had those moments. You know the goofy, "dumb dog" ones. Where he just wasn't as careful as he could be, or didn't realize his own size, weight, what have you.
"You can be such a bi-" Weiler caught himself. " I'm sorry Caprice, my bad, geez!" He huffed. " You should think about pouring another bowl of Cheerios though since somebody obviously spit in yours this morning and gave you that 'tude!"
" Don't start Weiler, okay?" I raised my thick brow at him and shook my head." It's the first day of school and I'm really not tryna hear about Captain Heroism or the Robots or anybody else who can damn near kill me with one glimpse!"

Just then, Eva sauntered by sashaying her hips in a raspberry plaid mini with a black halter top and thigh high pistol-engraved stilletto heels. Yes, the arch angel of hell had returned. My nemesis had come back to make a mess of my social life again... and Lord if she didn't have a fucking tan! Could this day get any worse? Eva paused and turned to glare at me, those red, orange and yellow flames licking around her pupil, because those flames were her irises. I gritted my teeth, trying desparatley to keep my temper under control.

" Oh look... Bland girl is back!"
" Evaleen," I called her by her full name because while it was soo befitting, she hated it. " How nice of you to rejoin us at Extraordinary High!" Yes, our school was really called Extraordinary High. Shoot the contractors and funders, not the messenger. (I'm not Super Girl you know!)
" If it's so extraordinary, and I should know, I mean... I do 'go' here afterall... but if its so extraordinary then... why are you here?" She raised that perfectly manicured eyebrow that just read completely deviant at all costs. I caught Weiler swoon from the corner of my eye.
" Because I'm the most Extraordinary of them all," I painted a sarcastic, sweet smile on my face.
" Yeah, an extraordinary waste of space!" One of her flunkies, a pixie-looking butterfly girl with Monarch wings giggled. I sucked my teeth.
" CAN IT Tink!" I spat at her. " Look... Team... Plastic Bitches! Its a new year okay? We're seniors now! Can we NOT play this little game? Everyone knows I don't have a power! Everyone knows I'm painfully human! Painfully... Different. Could we stop trying to exploit that little factor?" I was about ready to drop to my knees to beg... but I still had my dignity! Even if it was petty human dignity!

Butterfly girl hissed at me, and I had that moment to realize whatever she was, it wasn't just a butterfly. Eva laughed.
"We'll just find something else to," She looked me up and down harshly. " exploit you with," Her smirk showcased perfect high cheekbones, and I could have sworn that she had to be the daughter of the devil. Rumor had it she was running around town somewhere anyhow.

The trio sauntered off laughing and no doubt mocking me, and I couldn't help the irritated scowl that painted my, compared to other humans exceptionally gorgeous, but compared to superheroes, immortals and the undead, uncannily mediocre beautiful, face. It took me a moment to realize that I could actually hear Weiler panting softly.
"WEILER!?" I declared. " Put that damn pink thing away!"
" Huh?" He snapped out of his lucid thoughts, then blushed. " Oh." Luckily he was fully clothed like a normal being, but I knew Weiler. He was swooning hard, and he was still much like a dog whether he wanted to admit it or not.
" Where's Luna?" I frowned. " I need a pick me up!"
" I haven't seen her yet," Weiler shrugged.
" Well what homeroom do you have?" I asked, re-opening my locker.
" Umm," He removed a crumpled piece of paper from his back Levis pocket and then scratched his well built arm through the fitted black screen-print tee of the Black Widow. Another of his favorite "Heroes". Whatever... But my was his body looking right today! The way his muscles rippled and the fibers of his clothes hugged each piece of him... WHOA! Get ahold of yourself Caprice! Not the business! " Oh, I have Ms. Gunther. 412."
" 412?! Ugh! That's all the way in the Bio building!" Weiler shrugged again.
" Whatabout you?"
" Mr. Ptomac's. Upstairs." I grumbled. " I hate him!"
" Who doesn't!" A voice declared from behind me. I jumped sky high and cut my finger on my locker. " Oww! Sonuva-"
" Miss Nelson! No swearing in my halls!" Mr. Zuse exclaimed. He apparently was a descendant of 'THE ZEUS' and therefore had some control over manipulating storms or something. Maybe that's why his voice sounded like crackling thunder. He was also the school principal.
"Yes sir," I nodded and immediately began sucking on my pinky that was split open. " POOF!? You made me cut my finger!" I whined. It hurt like hell too!" Dammit!" I muttered around my finger. Weiler tried to stifle his laugh.
" My bad, dang!" Poof threw his hands up in a surrender. He really was black. Like... a shadow black. He could materialize and disappear at will, and blend into any thing dark. In fact, he was the dark, so if there was darkness around, he could be there. Thus the nickname 'POOF'. His real name was Percius, but he had grown accustomed to Poof, and that's how we all liked it.

Poof was gorgeous in his own right. Not quite as tall as Weiler, he was still huge. He had those wide, broad shoulders like football pads on a defensive player and... honestly he just looked like a slightly exaggerated football player. At 6 feet even, he weighed more than I cared to know, but in a good way, and he looked like the latest urban model on the runway of any SeanJohn show. (Yes, Mr. Combs was still around, but that was due to alot of surgery and partying) Those hot sagging jeans and the wonderfully fitted beater accompanied with a blue and black military jacket spoke volumes of his style and swagg. Truth be told, I had a small crush on him, but Poof was my boy and I'd keep him as a friend before ruining our great relationship with the b.s. of gf/bf madness.

" Caprice, you lookin good ma," He looked me up and down and then showcased the lightest part of his body. That disturbingly pearly white smile. " So we got The tar Mac together huh?" He offered his arm. I tried not to blush but I wasn't sure if I pulled it off as I brushed his arm away.
" Yeah I guess so," And then the bell screamed to inform us of our 4 minute warning before it was time for us to be in our seats.
" Welp! That's my cue!" Weiler threw up deuces and then trotted toward the Bio building.
" And... we're gonna be late if we don't get moving," I sighed.
" Relax ma," Poof smirked. " You forget who I am?" He held out his arms like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. My lip curled, partially in agreement, partially in annoyance.
" Poof, you know how I feel about-"

And that's when the lockers beside us splintered into a million pieces accompanied by wind and fire. Poof and I flew backward at the force of the explosion...

Yep... Just another first Day at Extraordinary High...

To Be Continued...

Aberrant.... Episode 1: Allow me to Introduce Myself...

I'm not normal. I'm never going to be. I can't tell you why. I was just sort of born that way I guess. But I'm sure you're thinking... well what's wrong with you? Right? What flaw do you have? A birth defect maybe? Some sort of magical power? Some sort of deep dark secret? Not exactly... You see... the problem is that I DON'T have one of those issues! What the hell?! I know, right? How can that be an issue? Well, when you live in this day and age, in the town that I do... its a major problem! Because without any of those things... you're incredibly too susceptible to the easy things. And survival is beyond tough!

Ever wondered what it would be like to be one of those innocent bystanders watching while Spider-Man web- slings Doc Oc? Or Batman chases all the Arkham Asylum escapees across the city? No? Well maybe you've thought about what it would be like to have Optimus Prime and Megatron whizz by your desk, debris and glass shards flying all around you? Still shaking your head. Then you might be one of those X-Men fans... one who thinks it'd be so awesome to be in the bar when Wolverine goes all snarly and grump-tastic, or that it'd be just wonderful to be playing at the park when Storm decides that its time to call in the tornadoes and fog! Well let me be the first to inform you... It's NOT! It's really not all its cracked up to be. Especially when you're like me.

So what makes me un-normal you ask? Well, right here and now... in this day and age... EVERYBODY has something special about them. A power, a mutation, an ability. Some can manipulate the mental... some are real live monsters, some can do things with the physical that you'd never imagine. It's like living in a comic book... or an episode of Heroes. Or even a fairytale. Everyone is abnormal... except me. I'm still... normal. Human... a plain old, boring, red-blooded, imperfectioned teenaged girl.

My name is Caprice. I'm 17 years old... and I don't have a special power. I'm just the typical, green-eyed, black-haired slightly thicker than I should be but completely okay with that(cuz its the least of my problems)high-school student on the verge of graduation.So here it is... a glimpse into the life of one of the last completely normal creatures on Earth... at least... Normal as you think of it...

Snowed In... Episode19: Sex, Love & Pain

I pulled Bailey's arms tighter around me. But that didn't stop the chill that ran down my spine as I felt Tre enter our atmosphere and hover above us. We both waited for him to disappear... but he didn't.
" My, my... how quickly we move on," Tre sucked his teeth. I felt Bailey push his chin deeper into my shoulder and it was just this side of being painful. But I understood. We were both trying our best to comfort each other and ignore him. Besides, at the rate my nails were digging into his wrist, I'd break skin in a matter of minutes.
" What do you want Tre?" I hissed sullenly.
" Don't Am," Bailey whispered in my ear. " Don't even give him the satisfaction," He advised smoothly, wrapping me that much tighter as if providing a protective cocoon to shield me from Tre's heavy gaze.
" Just admiring the cute couple," He chuckled bitterly. "Remembering that just a few minutes ago, that was us!" My eyes rolled up toward the ceiling and I knew that the coiling muscles in my legs and arms meant I was going to get up... and face him. Because of that, Bailey tried to hold me a little tighter. But it wasn't going to work. It was a wrap, we were going to settle this.
" NO! A few minutes ago you were FUCKING Rosie!" I spat as I rose from Bailey's arms like a Phoenix out of the Ashes. Tre flinched with how quickly he'd gone form having the upper hand to us being eye to eye, but he didn't back down.
" Oh, well shall I correct it? 30 minutes ago, it was us!" Tre crossed his arms over the swell of his chest. This time I didn't swoon.
" Look dude, why don't you just crawl back to whatever corner of hell you came from aight? Whatever happened between you and Am is a wrap now. You clearly moved on," Bailey wedged his way between us a bit. Tre let an evil, mocking grin spread across his lips.
" And look at you, the nerd boy failure... trying to play Mr. Hero. It doesn't suit you playboy... stick to gaming!?" He advised before turning his attention back to me. " You really like this kid huh?"
"Yo, fuck you human jock strap!" Bailey spat. " I'm a better man than you any day!"
" He's a much better prospect than you could ever be," I informed menacingly through clenched teeth. " And at least he knows what he's doing." I saw Bailey's face twitch with puzzlement.
"Does he?" Tre snorted. " Well you can ask Rosie if I know what I'm doing. Or better yet... You can come to the back with me and finish finding out yourself," My eyes narrowed in despise as Bailey glanced at me over his shoulder. Tre's face lit up in delight. " Oh you didn't know? Little Miss Amerykah didn't tell you?" He snickered. " Well here, let me..." He scratched his chin as if contemplating the right way to spill it. " If Am had finished what she started... there would have been no Rosie. SHE would have been 'Rosie'," He leaned back on his heels, awaiting Bailey's reaction like he'd just set the fuse to a demolition situation. All he needed now... was for Bailey to implode... like a building! A low, feral growl escaped my throat as Bailey swiveled slowly on his heels to face me. I didn't wait for him to open his mouth though. I lunged at Tre, and Tre laughed in my face. He was lucky though, because if Bailey hadn't caught me... he would have been gurgling blood.
" Fuck you, Tre!"
" Stop telling all your secrets Amerykah," was his simple reply. " You don't scare me! I play football remember?"
"Explains your... stupidity... then," Bailey struggled to contain my rage. " One too many... hits... to the head. I suggest... you move. Before she rips you to shreds," He pushed me backward and whirled to face Tre just as I collided with his back to try and get a better angle on Tre. " Or I do,"

Tre cocked his head quizzically at Bailey.
"What did you say Nerd Boy?" He took a step toward Bailey and me. " Did you just threaten me?"
"No, I stated simple fact." Bailey said, still boxing me out like a tie game at the with mere seconds left at the end of the 4th quarter.
" Aww, how noble of you! Fighting for your little hoefriend?" It didn't take much more than that. Everything happened so fast that if you blinked you missed it. It was almost like magic, one second Tre was standing, the next he was on the floor holding his face. Bailey had straight cold-cocked him in the nose. Blood poured from the crevices between his fingers.
" Holy shit!?" I exclaimed.
" Damn," Kenyatta murmured from the window.
"Say something else you stupid fuck," Bailey seethed, chest rising and falling rapidly. Something about an angry Bailey was sexy as all get out. God I had a one track mind!
" I'm gonna kill you!" Tre screeched through his hands and blood.
" I'd like to see you try it," Bailey sucked his teeth. He turned his back on Tre and looked at me for a brief moment, then pushed past me somewhat gruffly. I stumbled backward from the blow then followed.
" Bailey-" I reached for his shoulder but somehow he knew it was coming. Whirling he swatted my hand away.
" Don't touch me!" He declared in disgust.
" But Bailey, I-"
" NO!" He jabbed his index finger damn near into my forehead. " I don't wanna hear it!" My face contorted in shock, disbelief and fear.
" What? What did I do?"
" You weren't gonna tell me were you?"
" Shut the HELLLLUUUUUPP!" A drunken roar instructed. Somehow most of the sleepers had managed to cruise right through the drama and keep on dreamin'. Bailey grabbed my arm in a painful, bruising grip and dragged me to the back room. He slammed the door so hard the frame shook.
" You slept with that fuckin asshole and then came crawling back to me!? That's gross Am! Un-fuckin-believable!?"
" WHAT?!" Now I was back to hopping mad. " Bailey are you kidding me!?"
" Does it look like it?" He raised a thick eyebrow. I was so shocked I shook my head and threw my hands up in a surrender.
" Okay... whatever dude! Believe what you want! We didn't fuckin sleep together-"
" Then what was all that 'finish what she started' and 'coulda been Rosie' and all that shit?"
" Oh what-" I huffed fed up. " We started to sleep together ok?" Bailey looked crushed. "He was comforting me after my... whatever it was that happened with Kenyatta. Which... where were you by the way? But anyhow... I was vulnerable-"
" Wait, you and Kenyatta? You mean her sleeping with Keena and Rosie?"
" NO, Keena almost raping me,"
" What?"
" Stick with me here Bailey, were you not in the foyer when Kenyatta and I had our big blow up in the kitchen?" I cocked my hip out and placed my hands to rest there to keep from hitting him.
" NO!? Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a follower and I try to stay OUT of other people's business. I stayed in the back room. Trying to figure out why in the hell all this madness was happening anyways! Especially to you!?" I stared at him, trying to see the truth in his words. It was written all over his face. He wasn't lying. He chewed on his bottom lip for a second before speaking again. "Keena tried to rape you?" I looked away then. " Answer me,"
" Yes," I squeaked softly.
" How?" He pressed. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
" Please don't make me tell this story again. Something bad comes of it every time,"
" I'm not them," He took a step toward me. " How?" He repeated a little more firmly. I started recapping the turn of events slowly, painfully. I told him every little detail, and then explained the conversation between Kenyatta and me. By the end he was hugging me and I was trembling in a battle not to shed tears.
" I didn't sleep with him Bailey," I whispered in a quaking voice. " I was going too, the liquor and the moment made me want too, but as it started to happen, it just wasn't right. So I stopped. 'I' stopped. Not him. He started it... but I 'didn't' finish it." I swallowed hard. " I'm sorry."

Bailey kissed the top of my forehead. " I guess I can forgive you this time. You didn't cheat fully I suppose."
" Cheat?"
" You heard me," He pulled back to look down at me.
" But... Cheating requires a committed relationship," I raised my eyebrow suspiciously.
" Yes, and?"
" And.... we're not in a committed relationship,"
" Aren't we, now?" He frowned and raised his brow as well, smirking every so slightly. My eyes narrowed.
" What are you saying? We are?"
" Yes," He nodded.
" Umm, do I get a choice in this?" I couldn't help the building smirk.
" Emmmm.... nah," He smiled now.
" Well fine then," I hurrumphed. And since I didn't get a choice verbally, I made my choice known through my actions. My arms linked round his neck as I pulled him down into a quick kiss. " Heeeeeyyyy... you knocked somebody out for me,"
" I had to beat you to it," He shrugged. " Don't worry, you shouldn't have to return the favor."
" Good," This time he kissed me, and it was a bit longer, and a lot more heart-felt.

Outside in the foyer, a low hum of energy and tension had taken over. We could hear voices whispering fiercely, but we chose to ignore it. We both felt as though we'd had enough drama for one night.
" Can we sleep back here?" Bailey asked, mimicking a whiny 5 year old. " I'm tired of these people."
" As long as it's just sleep," I assured him.
" Good! Let's go get our stuff!" He smirked and stole another quick kiss before taking my hand and leading out to where our things were.
" Fuck you, stupid bitch!? I don't HAVE to tell you SHIT!?" Keena hissed. Kenyatta's palms flexed and clenched.
" Keena, I'm going to ask you one... last time... WHAT. HAPPENED. BETWEEN. YOU. AND. AMERYKAH?" She enunciated through clenched teeth. Uh oh. This was shaping up really badly. Bailey moved to get our things, but I froze. I couldn't leave now.
" I'M. NOT. TELLING. YOU!" Keena replied back MOCKINGLY. Kenyatta grabbed Keena by her hoodie, bunching it in her fist and slammed her to the wall almost effortlessly.
" You 'did' try to rape her didn't you?" She growled venomously.
" And if I did? What? You gonna defend your little girlfriend?" She mocked. Dammit!? why didn't villains fuckin learn!? Just shut the hell up sometimes and the situation wouldn't be that bad for you! But noooo, people always had to irk it to worst case scenario. Kenyatta swung her to the opposite side, slamming her shoulder into the wall. Keena yelped in pain.
" I shoulda let Am murk the two of you when she had the chance!?" Yatta declared. " But since she didn't get to... I'll make you pay... FOR HER!" Kenyatta grabbed her by the mess of brown tresses and slammed Keena's head backward into the glass. There was the sickening sound of a crack as the glass took the brunt of the force. Shit Yatta!

Keena groaned and reached to touch the back of her head, but Yatta didn't give her time. She plowed her fist right into Keena's gut and watched as the girl sank to her knees.
" Don't you ever touch my friend again!?" Yatta bellowed, kicking her in the ribs. Keena rolled over, grimacing in pain.
" Yatta stop!?" I shrieked as she went for the groin. She froze and looked back over her shoulder at me, eyes full of haze and bewilderment.
" Am?" She frowned.

And that's when things took a turn for the EVEN worse! Kenyatta went down... and Keena was on top of her trying to squeeze the life right out of her neck...

TO BE CONTINUED!?

Snowed In... Episode18: Like...

" Well I thought we were about to... get it in," Tre rolled back on his knees and stared at me, a tinge of hurt in his eye. I hugged my knees to my chest and leaned my chin on them.
" Yeah... But like this?" I muttered. " I mean... one minute you're comforting me for near rape... and the next your committing damn near the same act,"
" Ho,Ho,Ho... Hol' up! You were just as willing as I!" He countered defensively. I glared at him.
" Not like that... I meant you were comforting me because of sex and then we ended up almost having it!"
" Ah. Gotcha!" Tre looked down and realized he was still naked. He covered himself up modestly and blushed. I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head.
" Tre," I huffed. " I like you, ok? I really do... but this doesn't... well, didn't... it's not right."
" Am, I was rushing... I was excited. I was... being selfish," Tre reached over and stroked my hair. " Let me make it up to you," My skin tingled from where his fingertips rested. I wanted too... I really did. But I...

Tre closed the gap between us and lifted my chin, kissing me softly. Slowly my lips responded and I opened up to him, let my knees slide down and giving him room to straddle me. I was damn near pinned in place by the heft of his body, and the wall at my back. My hands slid over his as they cupped the sides of my face, and I squeezed lightly.
" I can't," I whispered over his lips. " I'm sorry Tre," He froze and looked down at me. There was a gleam of something in his eye that I couldn't quite read, but I knew it was far from happy. He stood without so much as a word and started getting dressed. What was I supposed to say? How could I comfort him? Was he hurt? Closing my eyes I felt a little sick inside. Would this weekend ever end?

About 20 minutes later, I picked myself up off the floor and redressed. The Jack bottle laughed at me from its spot on the floor. Would everyone else be laughing at me too? Going out and facing this crowd was about to be a doozy. But somebody had to do it! Might as well be me right? With a huff I sucked up my humiliation and walked out into the foyer. Everyone was either passed out or milling around. Bailey sat in a corner by himself, staring out at nothing. Kenyatta was over by the window, staring out at the buckets of snow that had returned. The only ones missing were Tre and Rosalinda. I got a sick feeling in my gut. Everyone else was passed out. SO where could they be?

I started toward the back room where Keena, Rosalinda and Kenyatta had been found.
" Am," Bailey called after me. I paused, but didn't turn back to him. The memory of what I had been about to do in the bathroom washed over me. How could I face him after something like that?
" What?" I responded hoarsely. Bailey would never forgive me for something like that.
" Don't," Was all he said. My head cocked to the side as I gave him a side glance now. " Don't go after him," He added on. My eyes narrowed. What was that supposed to mean? A muffled moan caught my attention, turning it back to the cracked door.

Before I could stop them, my feet turned into the little engine that could, carrying me straight to and through the door. The shudder that ran through me was violent. It was like having a defibrillator cleared on my heart as it was being wrenched out of my chest! There it was... in all its glory! The reason Bailey had warned me! The stupidity that I could only call my own for not listening, illustrated live in living color. Rosalinda bucked wildly as she rode Tre, the two of them looking like the swirled caramel and chocolate hard candies made by Werther's. She was completely enthralled in molesting his dick while Tre licked his lips and watched. However, he wasn't quite as ecstatic because he was fully aware that I'd seen them, was fully aware I was standing in the door, and even winked as my lip began to tremble. I refused to cry though. And I would NOT blame Rosie. Hell Rosie wasn't even aware I was watching. Her back was to me. My eye twitched with fury just as my nostrils flared. I closed the door behind me and trudged back to the foyer simply shaking my head.

How could I be so stupid? How could I really believe he was interested in me? Or that he wasn't a typical male? He was a football player after all. A jock. And a senior. He'd had his time to be shy. Why would he still be that way now? I felt like an idiot. I felt... used.

Crawling into my sleeping bag, I replayed the days events. Today had been worse than yesterday. I'd gone from potentially having everything... being the envy of the town... to losing everything. Kenyatta, Tre... Hell, Bailey too. So who was left... Mike? Mike would probably always be there for me. But romantically... I'd never be able to see him as anything more than... well let's not lie. The sexual chemistry was there, just.. the deeper stuff wasn't. So brother wasn't the right word... but you get the idea...

One imposing question lay heavy on my brain...

" Why didn't I just stay home?" I asked myself aloud in a shaky voice.
" Because you were supposed to be here," Came my answer as loving arms encompassed me and squeezed comfortingly around me from the back.
" Be here for this humiliation?" I snorted.
" NO, not humiliation... to learn a lesson... to make you stronger... and help me figure out how I really feel about you," Bailey whispered the last part.
" What? You hate me too?" I shifted slightly to try and get a better look at him, but the position he held me in pretty much didn't allow it. So instead he just rested his head in the crook of my neck.
" No... it's quite the opposite. Like... polar opposite." He responded simply, and planted a soft but quick kiss on my neck. " Why don't you ever just... listen to me Am?"
" I do listen to you Bailey," I frowned.
"NO you don't," He shook his head.
" Yes I do," I argued.
" Then why'd you go back there? Even when I told you not too?"
" I..." I was all set to argue. But I couldn't. WHY had I gone back there?
" Nothing coming to mind huh? It's cool," He chuckled bitterly. " At least now you know." He huffed. " I'm sorry he hurt you lady,"
" I'm sorry too," I closed my eyes and a tear escaped. But at least it felt right now. At least THIS was right. " Bailey?"
"Hm?"
"What's the polar opposite of hate?"
" Are you really going to make me say it?"
" Would I have asked?"
" Are you really asking because you don't know? Or are you asking because you just want to hear me say it? "
" Probably a little of both," I answered after a long moment of thought. " But certainly more of the first than the second." Bailey sighed against my neck and the air was warm and soothing. It sent a tingle down my spine.
" I don't know if I can say it yet, Am. Not that directly. It's too scary to admit and think about. But I think, deep down you know... you feel it too. Because everyone knows that the first thing you think of when someone asks you the opposite of hate is-"
"Lo- Oh." I stopped myself. That word froze my mind and heart with fear. I had never imagined myself ever feeling it... being it. And so, as usual and always... Bailey and I were on the same page again. " Well, yeah. I'm scared of it too."
" So for now, until we're both not scared anymore... and we grow the balls to be honest with ourselves... we'll just pretend. Pretend like its not there... or its still just a really, REALLY good like! Like two really good friends... who happen to be attracted to each other for all the reasons they shouldn't be." I had to laugh. Because it was soooo true.
"Like the fact that we think alike?" I smirked.
"And act alike,"
"And like the same things,"
"And can not resist touching each other in one way or another,"
"And make each other laugh, even when we don't want to laugh,"
"And we can't stay mad at each other,"
"And you always know just what to say?"
"And you're always just... so damn hott! No matter what!" He snickered.
" Whatever Bailey, shut up!" I poked his arm that was wrapped around my waist.
" Oww! What? Its true!" He shrilled.
" If I'm hott then you are,"
" You're mental," He disagreed. " Particularly if you think that!" He kissed my neck again and I shivered.
" Go to bed," I scolded.
" Only if it's right here,"
"Whatevs," I blushed.

Tre and Rosalinda eased back into the room. My body tensed as he approached. Bailey felt it and nuzzled closer into the crook of my neck.
"Let it go Am, relax." He encouraged.
"Promise me you're not going anywhere," I whispered back.
"I'm not," He whispered. " I won't let him hurt you again..."

TO BE CONTINUED...