CARLA"What are you talking about?" I fought back my tears, with my hand on the spot where she hit me. It was stinging a lot. Students piled up, already forming a crowd, taking photos and making videos. I hate moments like this the most. I hated being the center of attention. That was why I always avoided being on anyone's bad side."You don't know?" She scoffed, amidst tears. "You really don't know, or you're pretending not to know?!"She yanked my hair, bumping me into the locker. Gasps and shrieks erupted in the hallways, as she viciously pinned my face against the locker. I cried out in pain, but she only went harder on me."What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Smith demanded. I wasn't looking at him to know how upset he was. But from his voice, I could tell he was almost getting feral. "Stay out of this, Smith!" She barked at him, tightening her grip on my hair. Tears stung my eyes as she slammed my face into the locker again. "Stop it!" I cried. "Please!" "It's all y
UNKNOWN Watching her cry was quite a sight. She was making a huge mess of herself, cussing out loud at Dawson and swearing to get her revenge on him. She was emotionally and psychologically fucked up. At this point, she was ready to do anything, however dirty it would be, just to get back at Dawson for the humiliation he had just put her through.It made her the perfect target for my plans. Destroying Dawson was my reason for existence. Bringing him to crumble was my destiny. But I could never achieve that alone. I needed allies. Folks that had as much resentment as I had for him. Or even more.Bittered folks who wouldn't mind doing anything; going to any length; shedding blood, just to have their revenge.Anger was the strongest emotion ever, and it tended to blindfold its victims. It made them easier to manipulate. Just like her. She was oozing with murderous rage. It wouldn't be hard to convince her to join my quest to destroy Dawson. But to convince her, I had to reveal myself
CARLASmith was absent in the remaining classes we shared. And so was Dawson. When it was time to leave and head to the café, Brian came to find me. "Let's go, Carla. I'll drive you to your workplace." He took my books and my bag and led the way out of the building. "What about Smith?""He left early.""He's still mad at me, isn't he?"Brian didn't answer, so I took that as a 'yes.'My shoulders sagged. Today sure was one of the worst days of my life First, I got humiliated by Tricia, and now, Smith wasn't talking to me. It was all so depressing. I hated fighting with Smith. We rarely did. But the few times were always so suffocating and painful. Like a part of me was brutally cut off. It was the worst feeling ever. The ride with Brian was quiet. He did try to start up a conversation, but I was too drained to keep it going. So we just fell silent. I was trying to reflect on what I did that had Smith mad at me. He wanted me to stay away from Dawson. He wanted me to stop enterta
DAWSONRick Taylor, my Beta, had suggested that I play nicer from hereon. Ditch my jerk attitude and try being polite and very gentlemanly. All day, I've tried to stick to that advice. When Smith came at my face, accusing me of manipulating my friends and flings to come after Carla, I should have forgotten my fist on his face, but I held back my rage. As hard as it was, I walked away. God, it was hard. But my decision to be a better guy was the only thing that kept me walking until I was out of the school building, into my car, and heading back to the apartment.I couldn't linger around. The chaos in school had my nerves at an all-time high. I needed to cool off in my haven.Hours later, I wanted nothing but to see Carla. Be sure she was alright. Tricia had pulled her hair and did a couple of shit. Had to see those things didn't leave lasting damage on her. Also, I had to clarify what happened between Tricia and me. She had to know the real story and why Tricia was blaming her for
DAWSON The noisy honking caused my ears to buzz, forcing me awake. I yawned sleepily, looking out the window. Geez, it was dark already! I rummaged through the car for my phone. I found it and checked the time. It was almost 10 p.m. How long did I sleep? Another yawn and stretch got rid of whatever trace of sleep that was clinging to me. Carla should be getting off work any second. Would Smith be picking her up? I checked the parking lot and there wasn't a sign of his car. Was he on his way? He had better be here soon. She shouldn't take the subway. Not at this time of the night. If only she would love to ride with me… "Goodnight!" Her giddy voice squealed as she pushed the revolving door, stepping out of the café. She looked around, maybe in search of Smith. No sign of him, so she sighed and took the sidewalks. Obviously, heading to the subway. Would she let me give her a lift? The question churned my mind. 'You'll never know unless you try,' my wolf echoed
CARLA"What?" Blood drained from my face, leaving me pale. My lips went dry, and I almost lost my voice from how shocked I was. "It has to do with you, Carla. That's the truth. The whole truth."His confession was mind-boggling and exciting at the same time. Ever since I heard of his breakup with Tricia, I always suspected it had to do with me. But hearing him admit it felt a lot more exhilarating. It felt so unreal. My heart raced like in a marathon. Butterflies attacked the hollow of my stomach.His words repeatedly echoed in my head until I was almost smiling. Almost.He tilted his head, giving me such a dreamy look. "You have got to say something at this point, Ma'am." I gulped, rubbing my clammy hands on my dress. His stares were unnerving. I couldn't dare to look at him for too long.He chuckled lightly, and I glanced at him. He sucked in his lower lip, and goddess, it sent a definite tingle between my legs."You don't seem too surprised. I guess you already suspected it ha
SMITHLoving your best friend has always been one of the most popular and romantic tropes in books and movies.I recall sitting in front of televisions and going 'awwn' as they finally realized their feelings for each other in the last scenes of the movie or the last pages of the book.No matter how much agony and pain they go through, it all gets sorted out in the end, and they admit their feelings for each other.It was fiction, but it was nice watching them. Until it became my reality, and I had to realize how different reality was. It sucked. The fights you have with your best friend might not strengthen the bond or make her realize how much you love her in the end. On the contrary, it might push her away into the arms of the guy you hated the most."You didn't come to get me," She explained, nervously grabbing my hoodie. "Smith, please…""Right. So I'm absent for a second, and he's already taking my place. What the fuck?""No one's taking your place. All he did was give me a ri
CARLA "Hurry up, Carla!" My impatient roommates yelled from the bedroom. "Coming!" I yelled back from the bathroom. I was almost late for my first class. Just ten minutes more and I would be late. I slept past my usual time, so I had little time to prepare for school. I had already dressed up when I felt the wetness dropping into my panties, and then the slight ache in my lower abdomen was all the signs I needed that it was that time of the month. How did I forget? I'd been so busy with school and work that I didn't remember to buy some tampons. Borrowing wasn't my forte, but I had to, and thank Goddess, my roommates were kind enough to give me a couple of pads. But I needed painkillers, too, for the pending vicious cramps. They didn't have any. Now, I am scared of going to school. The pain was already brewing. It might worsen in school, and I wouldn't know what to do. I thought of skipping school today, but even that scared me the most. I had important classes, p
CARLASmith demanded that I stay and I did. Right next to him. On his bed. It made me a teeny bit sad that I couldn't stay next to Dawson this way when he got injured. I did wanna go to him. But his clique would have lashed out at me. That's why I stayed away. Smith hasn't said another word. His eyes were shut. But I could tell he was awake, cause he was holding my hand and his thumb was repeatedly caressing the back of my hand. It was soothing and got me dizzy. I kinda dozed off. When I woke up, he was sitting up and running a hand over my hair. My head was resting on his shoulder. I quickly leaned up. He chuckled softly."Morning, princess."I gaped. "Morning?" Did I spend the night here?"No, silly. It was a joke." His chuckle was light and had a slight wince.Oh, thank goddess. I looked around briefly. It was just us in the cubicle. There were no background noises from the hallway. It was all oddly silent. "What time is it?"He glanced at his wristwatch. "A minute to 6.""Eve
CARLA"That guy is weird as fuck." Brian scoffed, as we shuffled through the pile of students cramming the hallway. "Weird. Crazy. Obnoxious. You name it and you'll be right. He's all that and more." Smith replied. He had his arm around my shoulder, keeping me from brushing against any of the students. A single strapped bag hung off his other shoulder and his gym shirt was hanging on the same shoulder too.We just got off the field. After Dawson's interruption, Smith and his teammates stayed and practiced an extra hour. As much as I wanted to go find Dawson and maybe talk to him, I couldn't leave the field. I had promised Smith I would watch. I didn't wanna break my promise. Also, Dawson just might not appreciate my concern. With the way he's been ignoring me, I thought it was best I kept my distance. "I don't understand why he came to the field. It was certainly not to play. He's not healed yet." Brian continued, still pissed about the argument they had with Dawson earlier. It
CARLATrudging into the deadly quiet hall, I had a book in one hand and my bag in the other. A couple of students walked in just the same time I did and they went ahead to take their seats. I was in a sad daze. Last night's agony was yet to wear off, and I was still as doleful. And I just might remain this way, until—My steps slowed as my eyes slanted and paused at the farthest corner of the hall. The crazy thud of my heart was a result of the excitement hijacking my insides. I let out a soft gasp, as tears burned my eyes. They were tears of joy. Just like the swelling of my heart being a happy reaction to the sight I had taken in. Dawson. He was in class, sitting next to Liam. No Nick. No Michael. Just the both of them. He didn't look as pained as he did yesterday. No, on the contrary, he looked more handsome than ever, with the black hoodie and blue denim pants.The hood was over his head, and a hair strand peered from it.Liam was also wearing a hoodie, a brown one with the
DAWSONIt was the toughest, most torturous, painful, and most disconcerting thirty-minute wait of my life before Rick Taylor finally decided to get his ass out of the café.Wait — I glanced at my watch— make that thirty-one minutes. About damn time! What the fuck was he doing in there? Taking a shit?He got into the car, slamming the door behind him. "Your coffee?" The cup was stretched to my face. I looked at the cup and then at him. "I'll fuck you up if you don't get that shit out of my face."He smiled, retrieved his hand, and began sipping it. Yeah, either he drinks it or he throws it away. I don't care. I wasn't craving coffee. A lot of questions lined up in my head. But I had to ask them more naturally. To avoid getting him suspicious. "I saw Smith go inside the café. Did he say anything to you?" He shrugged, crossing a leg over the other. "He was being a jerk. But I ignored it. Not like I could fight him."Stupid jerk. Why wouldn't he let my people be? The guys. Rick Taylo
CARLA I arrived late at work and I was almost scolded by my boss. Brian had to step in for me and tell him about the incident that happened in school. It was enough to get me off his scolding list and then he put me to work behind the counter. It's been hard to smile at the customers with how heavy and gloomy I was feeling. Still, I tried to let out faint smiles and picked my words carefully so I wouldn't come off as rude and unreceptive. But in every idle second and minute, I found myself thinking of Dawson. Rewinding that moment in that hallway where he walked right past me like I was some stranger. Being bullied and having my face bashed into the lockers didn't hurt as much as watching him ignore me did. The pain was another level and it was depressing. If I got this affected by his action, then there was no more living in denial or downplaying it. Because it just became clearer that somewhere down the line between hating him and entertaining his naughtiness and cockines
DAWSON "Was that really Carla Jason back there in that hallway?" Rick Taylor asked with a heavy tinge of excitement. I ignored him, choosing to look out the window instead. With the crazy level of rage piling up inside me, I was an inch away from venting it on someone. Lucky him, he could be that someone if he didn't stop getting on my damn nerves with his questions! Rick Taylor was the worst choice of guy to be around right now, that I was in a snit. He was too innocent and clueless and might just tick me off without knowing. And if I did lash out, then I would feel guilty about it all my life, because he didn't deserve it, logically. He shouldn't be next to me right now but I was down to my last option. I needed to leave that stuffy infirmary and I needed a ride for that. I already argued with the guys so I couldn't get them to take me. There was no one else to do it. Except him. So I had to call him to come over and bring a few clothes that I could change into. I hadn't
CARLAWaking up to Smith's low and husky conversation with Brian felt like the most natural sound to wake up to. Except, I don't recall taking a nap. So why do I feel so woozy?I opened my eyes to a plain white ceiling decor. Turning my head to the side, I realized it wasn't just Smith and Brian. There were two more of them and they weren't wearing the soccer practice outfit anymore. They all changed back to their normal wear.What happened? Did the practice end already? Why don't I recall any of it happening? And again, where am I?Brian was laughing at something Smith said, but then his gaze found me and he grinned. "The princess is finally awake."Smith turned sharply and hurried to me. "Fuck, Carla. You gave us quite a scare. Are you alright?" He rubbed his warm hand on my forehead. "I feel fine. Where am I?" Even my voice had the grogginess that came with sleeping for so long. What really happened?"You don't remember fainting out in the field?" Smith started."And Smith bring
SMITHIt's bad enough that I started the day making a mess with Dawson. Worse, I got a week of detention and I now have a taint in my incredible school record.Even worse now, I've got the whole school thinking of me as an assailant and psycho out to kill Dawson Walcott.Even more painful that Carla was also judging me for my brutality against Dawson. She might not say it. But I could feel it. And she had every right to judge me.I was wrong. I know that. Giving him a fractured rib was a bit too far. But help me, goddess, it's just so fucking hard to see her giving me those judgy stares and making me feel like shit. It hurts to see her worried about that jerk. Overlooking the fact that I did what I did for her. Because I love her. If only I could make her understand that. But I can't. So I'm stuck. This whole rambling narrows down to the fact that I've had a crappy day since I drove into the parking lot today. I was looking to end it on a nicer note, with the soccer practice and Ca
CARLAI stepped into the hall and took a seat in the middle row. Placing my books on the desk, I glanced around the half-filled hall. It was a habit now. First, I sit. And then I check if he's here. If he isn't, then I keep glancing at the door, anticipating his mind-seizing entry.I already looked around before I stopped myself, recalling that there was no chance for him to be in here. He was at the infirmary. My eyes were fixed on my feet as tears welled in them. I've been spilling those tears ever since he got carried away from my sight.Watching him hit the ground so hard and groaning in pain felt like a wicked stab to my heart. Watching them carry him away felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. The unexplainable pain created a sad chaos inside me.I had to run off to the restroom to bawl my eyes out. It didn't make sense that seeing him get hurt would make me feel so sad. But then, I wasn't just sad. I was broken. There was this low-key, innate kinda anger that