Her Decision

Hot Cheetos

Amber

I couldn’t believe Jamar. I felt like he was a good guy and then he had to break my trust. He had a girlfriend, but was telling me I was beautiful and that he’d never seen anyone like me around school. He explained to the girl that I was his new friend and new at school. I felt conflicted. I didn’t owe this girl any loyalty and yet she looked like she was ready to rip my head off for even looking in JD’s direction. So I did what I thought was best. I squared my shoulders and looked up at him “see you around Jamar DeLeon. Thanks for talking to me.” I said and walked away. I could feel his eyes still lingering but kept my focus on the hallway ahead. I turned around just in time to see Jamar’s hand interlock with the girl’s as they walked into the cafeteria. Was he trying to play me?

The rest of the day flew by in a blur, but all I could think about was JD. I wanted to be mad at him and never talk to him again. I began to impatiently tap my foot as I waited in the snack bar line during study hall. My mom had forgotten to pack my hot Cheetos and I needed a water for the rest of my classes. Suddenly I felt myself lurching forward as someone attempted to push me down. What the f**k? I thought to myself. “I’m so sorry I didn’t see you there!” An insincere voice from behind me said. I instantly recognized the voice: the girl from earlier. I hated being embarrassed in front of other people intentionally. I felt myself blacking out and getting ready to throw a punch when someone else grabbed me.

Wtf? What is with the people here touching you without our permission? There goes that voice again. But who? I looked around and found myself still in a stranger’s arms. But he smelled so good and his arms felt like he lifted weights on the daily. “Who are you?” I asked. “Me llamo Sayed” he replied to me in Spanish. Now I was just dumbfounded. I hadn’t told anyone I could speak another language just in case they decided to get bold. “Aliana, what’s your problem? Jamar already told me you staked your claim this morning! So why are you trying to start more problems? Leave her alone. I’m warning you this one time.” Sayed said as he addressed the female dog that had pushed me down for no reason. So Aliana was her name? Jamar and Aliana? I didn’t have time to think because I wanted to make sure I listened to everything she said. I knew at one point, Jamar would double back and try to talk to me so I wanted to have my receipts ready.

“I’m just letting the thirsty trick know who and what is mine Sayed. You don’t need to be captain save a ho all the freakin time.” Aliana replied as she mean mugged me. Now I was really burning up. This girl had pushed me down and tried to humiliate me based off of a conversation she didn’t even hear fully? “Maybe you should be checking your man and not me. He was whistling and calling me pretty girl until I gave him the opportunity to learn my real name. Does that make you feel better? You may be completely gorgeous on the outside, but man that heart is ugly as hell on the inside.” I stated angrily. She began to speak, but I interrupted her. “The next time you push me down, you better be ready to fight. I don’t tolerate disrespect.” I said and walked away. Damn! I forgot my hot cheetos and water. Oh well.

Jamar

I decided I was done for the day after seeing Aliana push Amber. My blood was boiling and I didn’t know how to handle it. She had never been pushed to physical violence before so why now? What was it about Amber that made Aliana feel like she had to claim me in such an aggressive way? We weren’t mates. At least not yet. Gideon had called Amber my mate, but she wasn’t of age yet so she would not know. “I’m not even sure she knows that she has a wolf” Gideon spoke from the back of my mind. What? I thought back. “Her wolf is still dormant. When she turns 17, Amari will wake up and present herself.” Amari? How did I know Amber’s wolf’s name before she did? “I can’t tell you any more than I’ve already told you. You will have to be patient and now re-earn her trust.” I sighed. I knew Amber wasn’t gonna be checking for me after that stunt Ali pulled.

“Yo! JD!” I heard my friend Sayed and gave him a weak smile. “What’s up man?” I slapped hands with my closest friend and gave him a hug. Sayed always knew when I needed a pep talk and I’m sure he was about to give me one. I just couldn’t stop thinking about Amber. Gideon had retreated to the back of my mind and refused to talk to me until we made things right. But that was the problem. I didn’t know how to fix things if she wasn’t willing to talk to me. Sayed had begun snapping his fingers in front of my face to get my attention. “What’s up with you man? I was asking if you wanted to take Ali and Simone out tonight? Simone was Sayed’s girlfriend and they had been together since 8th grade. They were mates and knew already because Simone’s mom received visions. At the mention of Aliana’s name, my anger flared again and my fists balled. “Yeah. Let’s take the girls to dinner.”