West Heights

Jealousy

Eleonore,

"This is surprisingly very detailed." I say as I skimmed through the notes that were neatly written on the notebook.

"I've read Shakespeare's works plenty of times." He said without looking up from his macbook. I nodded in amusement and continued reading his work.

On lunch, Vaughn came to me and suggested that we work on the city library instead of going to my house. He said he wouldn't want people to make wrong assumptions about our meeting. So I agreed. It was indeed very thoughtful of him to think of the situation plus it is better to work on the library because in that way we will have unlimited resources.

Mr. Jenkins asked us to do a research on every work Shakespeare have. Which is a huge pain in the ass given that he wants us to discuss the everything. From story motivation, history and the plot itself. It is like asking us to do a four semesters worth of research. Maybe even more.

Vaughn is surprisingly very good to pair with. He's smart and thorough with every detail. He works silently and impressively. At some point I was starting to think it was good that he was paired with me. He is as interested with Literature as I am. A part of him that I truly admire.

By 8:15 we decided to call it a day and started packing up. I didn't bring my laptop so I only have a pile of papers to bring back.

"Done with work already Elea?" I heard the librarian say.

"Yep. Don't wanna stay up late and sleep through first period again." I said with a light laugh. I've been spending quite a lot of time in the library for as long as my love for literature lived. Mrs. Rivera, the librarian was my witness for nine years now.

"Oh who is this?" The old lady asked curiously as he looked at Vaughn. "Is this the boyfriend you've been talking about?" My eyes widen when she stepped off of the counter to greet Vaughn.

"Nice to finally meet you young man, I thought you hated libraries." She said with a stern look and I held back a laugh.

"No, Mrs. Rivera. This is Vaughn my research partner." Mrs. Rivera's stern look melted into embarrassment.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry." She said with a laugh. "Correct me if I'm wrong, you are Samuel's son right?" To my surprise, Vaughn smiled.

"I'm Vaughn Demian. It is nice to meet you Mrs. Rivera."

"What a handsome boy." Mrs. Rivera smiled. "The pleasure is mine, and it's Janet for the two of you." Mrs. Rivera always say that to me but out of high respect I always end up calling her by her last name.

"Janet." Vaughn repeated politely.

"Better. Now, when will you be able to show this boy to me." Janet asked, raising a brow at me. I sighed and shook my head.

"Well, I don't know. But if he does manage to come here he won't be coming as my boyfriend." I said, covering the slight shift in my mood with a laugh. Janet looked at me and shock while Vaughn studied me with his mysterious dark eyes.

"Oh dear." I was caught off guard when Janet embraced me. It was a good thing it was just us in the library at the moment. I fought the strong urge to cry as I received a surprisingly strong sense of motherly love. "It's alright, he doesn't deserve you anyway. You are way too smart and beautiful for him." Janet pulled away and gave me a light pat. I laughed and we bid our goodbyes.

When we got outside Vaughn opened the door to his fancy gray car for me. Something he always do. Beat me in opening the door. I smiled and got into his car.

The ride was silent as Vaughn focused on the road and I look into the woods. Cars and other vehicles rarely pass by at this time of the day. After the series of hiking incidents, West Heights High Council implemented a curfew. People are mostly inside their houses by 9pm and wouldn't go out until morning. That way they can guarantee their safety or so they say but I highly doubt it.

Doors and walls will not stop a rabid animal from attacking.

"Are you alright?" Vaughn's velvet voice pulled me out of my train of thoughts.

I nodded and looked around only to realize that the car had stopped and we are now in front of my house.

"Yeah, do you want to come in?" I asked as I try to unbuckle my seatbelt but it was stuck. "Like have dinner with us or something." I was surprised when Vaughn leaned in and helped me unbuckle the seatbelt. He smells so good, something like mint and cinnamon with a touch of perfume.

"Thanks." I said awkwardly when he pulled away. I quickly got up and went out of the car. "You coming?"

"I'm good. Thank you." I shrugged and ran up to the front porch. I stood there and watching him drove off while waving goodbye.

When I opened the door Michael and Isabel welcomed me. Both with arms crossed and frowns plastered on their faces.

"Why are you out so late?" Isabel asked.

"Who drove you home?" Mike asked.

"Why didn't you call us?"

"Calm down." I begged, raising my hands up in defeat. "I was at the library with Vaughn Demian we were working on our paper which is due on Friday. He drove me home obviously because I have no car and its late." I pushed past them and collapsed on the sofa.

"It wouldn't hurt to call us." Isabel said sternly.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"You just got well from being sick, you could've at least went home early to rest." Mike half yelled.

"I'm sorry." I pouted. I don't know how long they went on lecturing me until I fell asleep on the couch. It was a long dreamless sleep. And when I woke up I wasn't surprise to find myself in my room. Mike must have carried me back to my room again.

This time I don't have the desire to call in sick nor stay at home. In fact I was looking forward to spending time on the library.

When I met Joey on the hallway she started pestering me about Vaughn. I swear this girl is obsessed with their family. She kept asking me about things I obviously don't know about the guy.

"What's his favorite color?"

"Do you know the brand of his clothes?"

"Joey seriously, where will you use this kind of information?" I rolled my eyes at her and continued staring up ahead. Casually smiling and greeting here and there. You could say that I'm popular. Given that I've been crowned Ms. West Heights for two years now.

"For my own satisfaction." She said.

"What do you even mean?" I asked.

"Nevermind, now. If you will just cooperate, I wanna know everything about those siblings."

"And why is that?" I asked curiously. Joey simply shrugged and smiled mischievously, telling me that she knows something I don't. Which proves true given how little I know about the Demians.

For the first time in forever I was thankful to be in Chem. I hate Chemistry but being here means I'll have less of Joey pestering me about the Demians. No matter how many times I've told her that I know nothing about them, they just keep pestering me.

Just as I was settling down on my seat Ms. Blakely walked in.

"Come in Mr. Demian." I frowned at the sound of the all too familiar name. I was a bit disappointed when another guy walked in. This one is Pierre. That I am sure of, how can I ever forget Joey's second favorite.

"Mr. Demian will be joining us for the remainder of the semester." Ms. Blakely said in her funny voice and by funny I mean high pitched nasal kind of voice.

I zoned out as I remember something I shouldn't have. I quickly shook it out of my mind.

"Mind if I sit here?" A soft and gentle voice said. I was surprised to see Pierre up close. He was so beautiful that I was caught off guard. It took me quite a moment before I've recovered. He lingered, looking at me expectantly.

I swallowed. "No, please." I said as I scoot over to make more space for him. Somehow, having him sit beside me filled me with relief. I don't have a lab partner. I occasionally fill up for someone when their partners are not around but that's about all of it. Ms. Blakely made me her assistant since I didn't have a partner. And based on her I was "too-smart-for-a-partner" kind of person so she let me be.

"I'm Pierre Demian." He said, his right hand took mine and placed a kiss on top of it. I pulled my hand away the instant his warm lips came in contact with my skin.

Lab was unbearable. It was the worst. I couldn't do anything without Pierre's skin grazing against mine and feeling his eyes fixated on me. When the bell rang, I couldn't help but runaway feeling suffocated.

I don't know what on earth was up with that guy but I'm sure that there is definitely something wrong with him.

As if my day wouldn't get worst. I bumped with the most unlikely person.

His blue eyes were on the verge of tears and it was as if it were filled with words he's been dying to say to me. Before I could brush him off he grabbed my arms and started explaining.

"Olivia was someone my dad wanted me to meet, I didn't kiss her. She kissed me. It was true I was busy with the games but that's all of it. Elea, you know I love-",

"Stop right there!" I yelled. Holding a hand in front of his face. Stopping him before he could spat another lie to my face. "Don't do this with me please. Do not lie to my face and say it wasn't like that. I saw it, I saw everything you look so-" I trailed off as my voice cracked. "Happy." I felt my eyes water as I tried to move away but he grabbed me right back. I was surprise with his vice like grip.

"No, no, listen to me." He begged but I couldn't read his face. It played between rage and sadness.

"Let me go, you're hurting me." I cried as I felt his nails dug into my skin. He didn't listen, his grip tighten as he begged for me to stay.

"No please, just listen!" He yelled, and I froze in fear. Mason never raised his voice at me. Tears started to fall from my eyes as I try to break free from his painful grasp.

"Let me go Mason, please." I whimpered, suddenly feeling helpless.

"Let her go." My head spun and I saw Vaughn standing at the end of the hallway. He took long strides until he was at a good distance. "You're hurting her." Vaughn said, his face softening at the sight of my vulnerable state. I choke down a sob.

Mason look down at me, his blue eyes now burning with rage.

"Is he the reason why you're being like this?" He snarled. I was flabbergasted. How dare he turn this to me?

"What?" His grip tightened as if it wasn't tight already. This time I ignored the pain and punched him in the chest. "Don't you dare put the blame on me. Let alone drag Vaughn into your mess." I angrily throw punches at him as angry tears filled my eyes. "You're the one who cheated on me, for f**k's sake you kissed someone else. You ignored me for more than a month and then you came back hoping everything will be alright? You are just like your father."

I tasted the metallic flavor inside my mouth as Mason's backhand touched my cheek. I was thrown back by such force. I was stunned for a moment before I realized what happened. Mason just hit me.

When I looked up Mason was taking angry strides towards me. I held my hand up and fear but before he even got closer to me. Vaughn stepped up and punched him right on the face. He was thrown back and I couldn't believe my eyes as he landed a few meters away from where he stood.

I didn't realize I was sobbing loudly until Vaughn scooped me up.

I cried, and cried for what seems like hours. I cannot fully comprehend what just happened. There was something painful squeezing in my chest making it hard for me to breathe. I never stopped, I couldn't stop. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't stop bawling my eyes out. Not even when Vaughn set me down on the infirmary bed. I cling onto him crying onto his chest as he stood there limply.

I didn't want him to see my face. I don't want anyone to see me crying.

"Please not here." I begged between sobs. "Please get me out of here." That was all it take for Vaughn to scoop me up again. I buried my face into his chest. Ignoring his now tear drenched shirt.

I almost complained when he put me down. But when I looked up I realized that we were in his car. I buried my face into my hands. As I still couldn't stop myself from crying. I was so scared. My left cheek hurts like hell, and so were my arms. I can still taste the blood in my mouth.

Vaughn drove off without even saying anything. The car was so silent that the sound of my own sobs were deafening.

I don't know how long it took for me to finally stop crying.

I didn't ask questions when the car came into a halt and Vaughn disappeared. When he came back he had a frozen juice pouch. He handed it to me and I looked at him puzzled.

"Put it on your cheek, to ease the swelling." He said before getting back on his seat.

"Thanks." I barely whispered and I doubt he heard it. He continued driving until we I couldn't recognize the place.

"Where are we going?" I asked.