The Clairvoyant

Thirteen | 67 days, 18th hour

“I can’t believe him!”

I pull away from the water fountain, my tongue still tasting that metallic flavor of blood. Spitting the remaining water onto the dirt, I spin around and face Audrey. She’s sitting on an empty wooden bench, cross legged.

“Can’t believe who?” I ask, although I know who she’s talking about already.

“Cain! Of course I’m talking about Cain! I mean, one moment he’s helping me save you – next he’s like, ‘who the f**k are you?’!” The female delinquent screams to no one in particular, pulling at the roots of her auburn hair.

I tilt my head slightly towards her, frowning. “He never said that?”

Audrey gives me a disapproving look. “Did you even see what he did?”

And then I look up at the sky and remember.

Remember since it was practically only three hours ago:

Audrey and I had been invited to a fight again, in some local park this time. We couldn’t call for Colton, her boyfriend, or Chace and Tristan who were apparently either attending a law degree class, or working.

So Audrey went to look for Cain, and I’d found them half an hour later practically screaming at one another. Of course, it was Audrey who was doing more of the screaming, with Cain practically just nodding his head off.

“What is up with you?” She had shouted at him.

“What’s up with me?” Cain replied nonchalantly.

She reached for a punch, but he dodged it easily. “Are you seriously going to pretend like none of this happened? Are you actually pretending that we’re not even cousins? What about Stella – you were always following her around a week ago!”

“I’m not pretending,” Cain sighed. “We just haven’t talked to each other yet.”

And this was an outright lie.

Before their fight, Cain and I had passed each other several times. And Bri and her girls had even witnessed to see it (of course, Audrey wasn’t there at the time). We’d barely even said ‘hi’, much less spare the other a glance.

Then as if on cue: Audrey had seen me, then pulled me into their fight.

“Go ahead. Talk like you guys do. Besides, I was only looking for you because I want you to excuse me from council work – Stella and I have a fight to attend to right after dismissal.” She told him straight away.

And then I noticed Cain’s painful expression.

I didn’t want to, but I did.

“Why don’t you leave us alone to talk? I’ll follow,” I tried to make Audrey leave. Not that I’m saying nothing would have worked out if that happened. It just seemed more reasonable just talking to him alone than have him listen to Audrey’s screams.

His cousin of course, left without a word.

She accepted it.

You’re ignoring us, Cain. I sent to him right away, our eyes meeting. Ever since that time in Blake’s hideout – you’ve been doing nothing but ignore me. And I think it’s only fair you tell me why since I didn’t tell Audrey you were.

She’s noticed either way, His tone was bitter, his eyes were sad. I owe you nothing.

To others we might have looked like we were staring at one another, but to us – that was a crisis. Ever since the fall, we’d never even fought. Not once. And even before that, we’d never fought much less talk to one another.

He raked a hand through his black hair, sighing. “Let’s go sit down over there,” He pointed at a bench not far away from where we were. And we went. “Stella, look, what happened that day – I think its best we forget about it.”

“F-forget?” The words had left my lips in a stutter.

I couldn’t believe what he was saying.

Are you serious?

I am. “And if you don’t believe me, getting into these fights – you’ll only get hurt more. Can’t you see you were kidnapped for God’s sake? Why can’t you just be a good girl and let the police take care of this like civil adults?”

I didn’t know what to reply then.

I still don’t even after fighting the delinquents from Blake’s gang.

“Y-you knew I was a delinquent, Cain. You know these things happen all the time around me!” I scream with such frustration that even I had surprised myself. Don’t you believe in me? I can protect you guys…

Then he rose quickly. Up from the seat.

“That’s where you’re wrong!” He screamed at me, causing people to look at us. “I don’t want you to protect me if it means you getting hurt! Why can’t you just understand that, you stupid ignorant girl?” Can’t you see how worried I am?

I was about to console him.

Was about to tell him I can see how clearly he is.

But Blake had warned me: I’m not alone anymore.

I’m no lone fighter.

I have people to protect.

I can’t do that Cain… I sent to him, suddenly feeling my fingers are interesting to stare at. I have to defeat them before they get to you. I… I don’t want you getting hurt. “I don’t want to see you unconscious again like before.”

He gritted his teeth. “Then tell the police goddamit!”

“If I do that, even Colton, Chace and Tristan would be called for integration, Cain.” I fought back, trying to make him understand at that moment. But of course, everything was futile and I understood all too late. “People’s daily life is at stake if I do call the police.”

Then you’re saying you’d rather get hurt, get into fights, than call the police?

I stared at his hazel eyes. If you put it that way, then yes.

He raised his hands in the air. And I’d thought he’d given up like always.

But I was wrong.

“Then if you don’t call the police – I’m not talking to you. Isn’t that better? If Blake sees we’re not talking – then he has no reason to harm me.” His voice was quick, his actions faster. He was already slipping away from my hands by then.

“N-no! Blake’s already seen you!”

“I can protect myself,” He answered, his face expressionless. “In ways that I consider my own.” Stella, choose now: me, or Blake. Who are you willing to let go?

By choosing him, he’d resort to calling the police. Colton and the others would be in danger. Then there was the choice “Blake”, I’d fight the delinquent style – but then Cain would stay away from me. From us.

“You don’t have to do this,” I found my voice shrinking. Let me protect you.

“I’m a guy,” Cain replied, turning around and gripping my hand. “Choose me, Stella. You’ll be out of harm’s way if you do that. I would be more than glad to call the police, and even strengthen security around the school for you.”

But his eyes soon turned into anger.

He’d read my mind. Cain relished my hand and stepped away, eyes hurt and angered. “I can’t believe you.” He said, his tone eerily cold. “Fine, if that’s what you want, Stella – I won’t stop you. Take care.”

It slipped from my mind that I chose Blake.

We’re walking home, Audrey and I. She tells me that the guys are alright, that they’ll make it up to us if ever there’s anyone willing to attack us during school – but of course, that would be stupid. They’d get caught.

They’d be put into jail.

“I hope you’re okay,” I frown quickly, turning around to face her as she’s already passing my mailbox. “I should have sent Colton a message – to walk you home after all. I can’t imagine the idea of you going home alone, and it’s late already.”

“Stella,” Her tone’s cheery. “I’m fine. The only problem I have is Cain.”

The mention of Cain’s name is like a thorn to my chest. I’d chosen Blake over him – but I only did that because if I hadn’t, Colton, Chace and Tristan, these guys I’ve now considered people who look up to me, would be in danger.

And for me, it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like that.

Of course, it wasn’t chosen by votes or anything like that that I was leader of this little pact of ours, but it was obvious enough since Blake’s my target – not that I’m saying not everyone has the same in mind.

“Don’t give me that look,” Audrey suddenly speaks up, surprising me from my thoughts. “I’ll send you a message right away when I get home. I promise. I’ll even take a picture of our dog! You should come over sometimes and see him!”

The dog reminds me of that early swim Cain and I had done.

Another hit to my chest.

“I-I’m not really much of a dog person,” I admit, frowning. “But I’ll see.”

And then we bid our good nights and I enter my home. It’s a bit early and I know that for a fact – Vincent works as a bartender in a bar (obviously), and Chey and Ian have these extracurricular classes that last until half past seven.

But the person in my kitchen surprises me.

My hand must have lost its blood quickly because I’d unconsciously dropped my bag onto the floor with a sickening thud, making that person turn around quickly as she’s cutting up slices of tomatoes and carrots.

“You’re home early,” She says, her voice sweet as I can still remember. “How are you, sweetie?”

She still has that same blonde hair I have – of course; it used to be long like hers until the day before yesterday. I’d gotten my curls from dad, but not his brown hair. Her turquoise colored eyes mirrors mine and Ian.

This woman gives me that same model smile she gives around the world, but of course it’s warmer. It’s meant for me at the moment after all. She pulls me into this huge embrace as if I were only a small child; I hug her back.

“I’ve missed you so much!” She squeals in my ear.

“Is that you, hon?” I hear dad’s voice upstairs. “Be there in a sec.”

“Y-you guys came back?” I ask, my voice shaking.

“Oh my God. Oh my God!” My mother suddenly squeals yet again, touching my hair. “You cut your hair for the first time in a year! I thought you didn’t want to cut it short! But it’s so pretty – unlike that tomboy hair you had before!”

And by tomboy hair, I knew she meant about that delinquent hair I used to wear.

And then it hit me like an atomic bomb.

Oh God, I think to myself, the blood draining from my face. Or I just feel like it. I see my father coming down, his brown curly hair as curly as ever before, his face breaking into a wide grin. He hugs me as my mother lets go.

“I missed you, Estre,” He calls me that name.

Only dad does. After all, my name’s Estrella leBlanche.

“I missed you too,” I squeeze the hug, my heart pumping loudly in my rib cage.

How ironic, I think aloud in my head, the whole kitchen-semi-living room – oh wait, make that “the whole place” – beginning to spin like crazy before me. The last time I met them, I told them I'd stop fighting.

Now that their back - I'm gonna get into a bigger fight than before.