Nixon Bronx

Mia’s POV:

I watched Davon go. I know I just met him, but I hope he’ll be fine and find what he’s looking for. However, I doubt if his pack still exists. This place has changed over fifty years. Even if they are still alive, I’m sure they moved somewhere.

Ding!

My phone beeps. I got a message from my mom. She’ll be home late. Great. I hate going home without her. Jaret will be bossing me again. Just be patient self. One more year, and I’m out of here. I’ll be free from Jaret. I know mom will understand.

“Ouch!” A soccer ball hit my arm, and I know exactly who did that intentionally.

Nixon Bronx. The famous soccer player in our school. Everyone adores him. A campus crush he is. But not me. I hate him. He makes my life miserable in school. He is such a bully and a dick. So what if he got his good looks? That is not an excuse to bully someone.

“Hey, Winnie! Care to pass the ball?” he calls me that. Because he said, I constantly whined during classes, especially about extra payments. Well, lucky for him, he was born with a golden spoon.

I threw him the ball and continued my way to the school building when again, my back was hit by a soccer ball. When I turned around, he was laughing with his friends. So I throw it outside of the fence. Let’s see if they can still laugh. 

Cheska and Theo were waiting for me by the hallway. I was grumping, opening my locker, and tossing my bag inside.

“Let me guess, did Nixon pick on you again?” Theo asked. I was about to say no because Cheska was insanely mad at Nixon and always avenged me, which always bounced back at me.

I nodded. Stuffing my books in my bag and covering the notebook with my extra shirt. Cheska doesn’t know about it, but I plan to return it one of these days.

“Well, brace yourself. He’s our classmate today. Chill, I got you.”

“It kind of makes me worried hearing that, Cheska.”

Theo laughed, seeing my worried face. Cheska never gets away with her avenging thing, and I have a lot of things on my mind today than worry about it. I hope Davon is okay wherever he is.

********

“Okay, class, our topic is about werewolves. Anyone believed that werewolves do exists?” Professor James Callahan. My favorite teacher in school. He empathizes with all working students like me and considers them concerning their projects and attendance.

I raised my hand, unknowingly.

“Mia, and why do you think they are real?”

Suddenly I regret raising my hand. It was the notebook’s fault. I saw Nixon’s friends whispering at each other and giggling. In contrast, Nixon stared at me sternly. I feel like he believed them too.

“Because I believed legends are real. They held true events that happened in the past. It wasn’t written if there weren’t any proven claims or shreds of evidence.”

For me, I am a hundred percent sure they exist. Although I haven’t seen Davon shift, the fact that he came out of the notebook was enough to prove that magic and his kind are real.

After our class, Cheska was curious about my answer. I regret hiding secrets from her and Theo. They are like my brother and sister, but if I tell her, she will get mad and hate me for stealing from her house.

“That’s just some random answer, Cheska. It meant nothing.”

“Werewolves are vicious, and they destroy everything. If you see one, run or kill them. Stay away from Nixon. He is no good for you. Anyone but him.”

Oh, God! Did Cheska get a hint about the notebook? I am so screwed! Why is she acting weird about Nixon? Is it as if he like me?

“Anyway, I got to go home early. Need to fix some things for my parent’s return.”

That was close. I thought she would curse me. No, she is not a witch. Dammit! This is all Davon’s fault!

Davon’s POV:

There was no one left in my pack. Everywhere I looked were huge cabins towering over me. This is not the same place I grew up in. Everything changed. But I know this is where my pack nestled. I remember the site, but it has forgotten me.

Where is my pack? My family? I didn’t stop and found a clearing at the back of an abandoned house. There lies a tombstone that carved my name and the year of my birth, and the year I was cursed. I knew this was my land! They thought I was dead. That’s why everyone left.

Next to me was Laura. Oh, my dear Laura. I found your future self, and she is as beautiful as you. I hope you forgive me for claiming her as my mate. Your death may part us, but now, the moon Goddess has found a way to reunite us.

Circled our grave are dried flowers. Maybe my people still came by to honor me and offered flowers. I should wait for them to return. Since the house was empty, I could crash inside to watch over for visitors.

Mia’s POV:

It was a slow month for the hotel. I have all the time off since I work part-time. The hotel will prioritize their regular employees and call us when they need more workforce. And by this time, I roamed the street of Amsterdam searching for other jobs, but I couldn’t find any job.

“Any luck in your job hunt?” Theo asked, sitting beside me on the bench while we waited for Cheska to arrive. It is implausible for her to get late since she has a car.

“No. Still searching,” I answered, feeling a prick of sadness. I need a job to support my studies.

“Well, I’m going to call some friends. I’ll ask if they know some jobs and let you know.”

“Thanks, Theo.”

Cheska texted us that she would be absent for a few days. Her parents are back from their trip. I’m sure they are spending quality time with her before returning to their business trips again. I decided to keep the notebook for a while until Cheska came back. I don’t want to intrude on her family bonding.

“You know, I realize how dull moments are without Cheska.”

“Yup! And we are both boring, so screw us,” Theo sighed.

“Not funny, Theo,” I cover my face with a book to hide my smile. He’s right about that, and I just realized it now.

“Worth a shot.”

Theo scooted a little closer to me and slowly elbowed me.

“What?” he elbowed me again.

“Mia,” his lips are pouting, pointing forward. Nixon was heading to us. What does he want with me again? I swear I’ll punch him if he comes near me.

“Hi.”

“Hello, Nixon, what’s up? I’m surprised your minions are not tailing you today. Did someone hit your head hard? What do you want?” I immediately rebuke him.

“You are funny, Winnie! I just want to see you.”

Oh, snap! See me? What’s got into him?

“O-kay,” my brows knitted, staring at him in disbelief, “Do you need anything? Why do you want to see me?”

“Nope, I want to see you, that’s all.”

Theo and I plastered a fake smile, but we were puzzled. As expected, he sat with us and conversed nicely. I am overwhelmed that he is now interested in my friends, especially me.

He asked personal questions about my family, favorites, and stuff that I did not answer. Some are too personal that I am not ready yet to share with him. Trust is something that my best friends and I value so much.

My eyes were wandering around for Irish to pop out somewhere, but surprisingly, she was not tailing him today. Maybe he talked some sense into her, or he found a way to get rid of her for good. She always followed him around and was very vocal about her feelings toward Nixon. She constantly flirts with him, which he always turns down.

“By the way, where’s Cheska? I haven’t seen her today.”

“Oh, her parents arrived from their trip. They are having some family bonding moments,” I answered promptly. Am I under his spell? Why am I being nice to him as well?

“I see.”

Nixon saw his friends and immediately left us. The nerve of that guy. I knew he was only playing with us.

“You should see your face,” Theo slapped my forehead.

“Huh? What?”

“Whatever it is, stop that! Cheska won’t like it. Remember, she warned you about that guy. There’s a reason she did.”

Theo is right. I should avoid Nixon if that is what Cheska wants. I don’t want her to feel wrong about our friendship. She means a lot to me more than some random guy. Besides, Nixon is a jerk.

I took my bike and headed home. It was so easy when Cheska was around riding in her car. On my way, I saw a figure, a shadow of a man from a distance staring at me. He was hiding behind the tree.

“Hello?” I was going to approach him and thought he was Davon, but he turned around and disappeared. Then a huge claw scratches the tree.

“What the heck was that!”