The journey back to school was a long and quiet one. The school authorities had been informed about Garry's death, and a message was sent across, stating the withdrawal of the school to pay respect to the dead and perform the normal rites.Nico and the pack howled all night after the death of Garry. I could feel the hurt, the pain and the sadness they felt. It was not a delightful experience losing one of your own, I know this because I lost Mom.Everywhere I turned on the bus, sorrowful faces. Nico faced the window and Lola had her headsets on as usual. Richard and Thomas, the other guys whom I found out their names the night Garry died, had their eyes closed and their heads rested at the back of their seats. Ariana and Claire were ignoring me, most especially Ariana.She had gotten super upset about me not staying to celebrate with her and had assumed I wasn't happy with her win. I hadn't seen Micheal since the last time at the auditorium. What was supposed to be a blissful vacation
Under the soft glow of candlelight, the school paid their respects to Garry, a beloved friend to some, a classmate to some and a bully to others. The air was heavy with grief as they shared stories and memories of Garry. Who would have known he had a good side….I stood silently amidst the flickering flames, my heart heavy with sorrow. I still couldn't believe Garry was gone. Nico stood over the other side of the crowd and held up his candlelight in deep remembrance and agony."He wasn't so bad after all," Ariana let the tears form in her eyes as she listened to the students talk about Garry. I knew she reminisced the other day on the bus when they were on each other's necks.I reached out and held her hand. She wasn't the only person who felt bad about not being able to see the good side of Garry, I was too.Although the gathering was spearheaded by family, friends and acquaintances, I somehow still had an eerie feeling that the hunter was close by and he was going to act again. "I
Silence hung heavy in the air as Nico and I were bound to chairs in the centre of the room. I had no idea how we got there but I knew when I opened my eyes, I was dizzy and was tied in a room filled with weapons.Nico was still unconscious from the hit. I struggled to free myself from the chair, but then the hunter walked."In a hurry to leave are we?" he mocked. "The party has not even started yet."He moved closer to Nico with a bucket filled with liquid inside. "Stop!! what are you doing?" I screamed at him, scared of his next act on Nico.He splashed the liquid on Nico and I realised it was just water. Nico came back to consciousness in an instant."Let us out of here Crazy man," I yelled.He turned and gave me a cold look that sent shivers down my spine. "Crazy man? You are the crazy one," his voice pitched with bitterness. "You are crazy to follow the likes of this when you know what they can do to people."He looked at me in disgust. "Does your friend know about your secrets an
8 months ago…….in Trento"Forget about such feelings girl, guys like Josh only hang out with hot chicks like Diana." Kelvin wasn't helping issues by indirectly telling me I wasn't cool enough for Josh but he wasn't trying to paint it to my taste either. He was right, Josh was out of my league and I had no chance with him."You don't have to be so blunt you know," Clara glared at Kelvin "Gabriella is as beautiful as Diana, if not way more beautiful."I smiled at Clara who had my back ever since huge Harwy played a prank on me by pouring red sauce on my chair in grade five."No, Kelvin is right…I am not as classy as Diana. I shouldn't be way ahead of myself. Wishing for things that are out of my league." I closed the door on any possibility of being with Josh, severing every thread of hope."Nonsense," Lucy walked into the cafeteria with her tray of food. "You are as good for Josh as Kelvin is as good for Barbara.""Hey," Kelvin intercepted "I never mentioned anything about liking Barba
Present-day New Orleans…. "So you knew all along." It didn't seem like Lola was asking a question and I wasn't ready to speak about the past night.I tried to empty the books in my bag, ignoring the presence of Lola, but she stuck like a tattoo."Who have you told huh?" she pushed my shoulders."No one.." I said, already getting scared of what might happen." I always knew there was something about you," she spat "How you like butting in other people's business."I was in no condition to judge how she reacted, seeing that a lot had happened this past few weeks and just a few nights ago, she almost lost a pack member, an Alpha for that matter."I understand how you feel Lola…" I consoled "You don't!!" She yelled. "You don't know what fear or rejection feels like, you don't know what being different feels like." Maybe a flashback to my past would give Lola the feeling that she wasn't the only one who suffered rejection and fear because the past months had been nothing but excruciatin
My fingers trembled as I dialled my Dad's number for the umpteenth time. The relentless ringing echoed in my ears, each unanswered call deepening my anxiety. My heart pounded like a drum against my ribs, its rhythm echoing the unanswered questions that plagued my mind. Why had Dad gone to Trento, their former home, without telling me? Why was he avoiding my calls?A wave of frustration washed over me, momentarily drowning out my worries. I dropped my phone down on the table and decided to take things one step at a time. I would visit home and then I would speak with Dad.My thoughts drifted back to my recent conversation with Clara. She had gone on and on and on about how she thought Nico might be my soul mate. I had advised her that she shouldn't keep her hopes up, not even for me because the boy in question didn't think of me in that manner. She assured me that she knew true love when she saw one. It wasn't a conversation to debate because I didn't want to put my effort into it, I w
My stomach somersaulted as I rode the bus home to see Dad, my mind replaying the events of the past day. The kiss with Nico had been unexpected and electrifying. But instead of feeling joy, I had run away, consumed by shame and guilt. But amidst the guilt, there was an undeniable truth, my body had responded to Nico’s touch in a way I couldn’t ignore.I had always prided myself on being sensible, logical, and in control of my emotions, sometimes. But the kiss with Nico had shattered that carefully constructed deceptive appearance, revealing a raw, untamed desire within me.I remembered the way Nico’s lips had felt against mine, soft yet firm, sending shivers down my spine. His touch, his scent, and his very presence had ignited a fire within me, a fire that threatened to consume me.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memories, but they were relentless. I could still feel his hands on my waist pulling me closer, his breath warm against my cheek. And I could still hear his
"Who is she, Dad?" I asked him as we got onto the bus heading back to New Orleans."The woman back at the cemetery?" I nodded. "She is no one, just a person that likes meddling in other people's business. She does that to everybody. She is more like a mental case." He said dismissively.His eyes gave him away, his mouth and the rate of how his breath paced all gave him away. He said a lot of things about the woman but failed to mention the truth. I could tell he was lying. It was the way he stared into space as he looked out the window, it was the way he repeatedly shook his head and clenched his fist, it was the way he took deep breaths now and then and also avoided meeting my eyes.Something was bothering Dad, and it was here in Trento. I had recalled how he sent this same 'Elena' out from the house when people came to give their condolences. She had said something about me finding out something soon no matter how Dad tried to protect me.What was he trying to protect me from? Or ra