An Eventful First Day
1296 Words
HEINA
"I'm sorry you had to witness that." His apology was sincere.
I managed a nod, still feeling a bit sick. "It's okay."
He had offered to drive me home. I'd accepted for obvious reasons; one, I didn't want to receive more bullying from Sirra on the way home. Two, Falin scared me and he also didn't like me.
It was only natural I felt safer with Aslan despite what had happened later in school today. And he had a really nice car.
It looked quite expensive. Maybe he was from a rich home.
"My dragon can be a handful sometimes...well, most of the times. He's mean and..."
"And powerful." I completed, shaking my head at the mental image of what had happened back in school. "Quite intimidating. Does it...he do that always?"
"What?"
"Crushing people to death."
He shook his head. "Not unless necessary. He's hot tempered."
"Are you...hot tempered, I mean?" I threw at him.
He passed me a brief glance. "Enough about me, Heina. We should be talking about you. Why? Why did that girl come for you?"
That was exactly the discussion I'd been trying to avoid. I didn't want to even think about it. It scared me. Shook me to my very core.
I shrugged. "I have no idea."
I wanted to tell him about last week but decided against it. No need scaring him away with tales of creatures wanting my head for reasons I couldn't understand.
"That pissed my dragon off." One of his hands left the wheel to absentmindedly massage his left thigh that had been wounded in that unforeseen attack.
"I'm sorry. It's because of me." My eyes stationed on his thigh.
He caught me staring, removed his hand to put it back on the wheel. "Don't worry about it, Heina." A small pause. "You know, Heina, I have a feeling there's a lot you're not saying. You're not totally human, that's what I'm guessing. I might be wrong...or right. But whenever you're ready, I'm here. You can tell me. Where's your house?" We were nearing the community of buildings.
The school was far from any other establishment and I could correctly guess it was because of the kind of activity that went on there.
"I... I'm staying with the Dragon Kings." I said, wondering if I hadn't said too much since Sirra had warned me about telling anyone from school we lived together.
"Ryso and Ryno?" He quirked a surprised brow, an indication he hadn't been expecting that.
"Yeah." I confirmed, disinterest coating my tone.
They had been horrible to me. Not physically, of course. Not caring of my existence, never talking to me unless they felt like it or unless absolute necessary. And if they did, it was some scathing remarks that ended up bruising my fragile emotions.
Letting their sister treat me however she liked. The only nice person was my personal maid, Azila. I wish I had another home to go to.
"Sirra must be giving you a hard time, I guess." He threw another glance my way.
"Nothing I can't handle." I ended it at that, paying attention to the trees, the deep woods and the unknown that lurked within.
I had a flash of that night I'd been attacked while running away from the house, I shivered and looked away, facing the road ahead.
"My dragon likes you." He suddenly said, breaking the silence that had ensued when there was nothing else to say.
"Oh. And you know this because?" I paid him a stare, adjusting my glass on my face.
"Well, he's me and I'm him, isn't that right?" His mouth curved slightly, a little humor dancing in his winter grey.
The tiniest smile played on my lips, not wanting to believe what that meant. Did this mean he liked me too? No. The smile disappeared. I was getting way ahead of myself.
Look at him. Look at me. There wasn't any compatibility. I wasn't the kind of girl he went for. I should be grateful he was nice to me.
"I guess so." I responded, keeping a straight face.
As he neared the huge building that was my new home, nerves knotted.
"Is living with them that bad?" He questioned.
"What?" I hadn't heard him the first time.
"I mean living with the twins and their sister, is it that terrible?" He gestured to my fingers nervously knotting the strap of my bag.
I had no idea I'd been doing that, I untangled my finger from the strap. "I'm good."
"Are you sure? We could go to my place and you know, spend time until you're ready to go home."
If my cheeks could flame any hotter, I'd be on fire. Was he indirectly asking me to go to his place? Was I that good of a company he wasn't relieved to be dropping me off.
His car stopped and when I looked, I saw the cobblestone stairs. His offer was tempting but also awkward for me.
I'd never been invited anywhere before, especially not by school mates.
"What do you say?" He pressed, keeping his gaze steady on my face.
"I..." I frowned, feeling like someone was watching me from one of the windows. "I... raincheck?"
He nodded, not in the least offended. "Alright. See you tomorrow."
I paused, the door opened halfway, looking over my shoulder, flashing a smile. "See you tomorrow. Goodbye."
"Do you have a phone?" He asked.
I shook my head. "No." I used to. It was embarrassing answering that question. I'd find a way to get another one. "I don't have one."
"Why?" He was genuinely concerned that a college student didn't own a phone.
"I...I can't afford one yet." I told him.
"Hm. Alright. I'll be expecting you tomorrow, Heina. Should I come pick you up in the morning?"
"I...I already have a means of transport. Sorry." I immediately flashed an apologetic smile.
"It's okay. I get to drop you after school. That's cool too." That wink that never failed to draw a coy smile from me happened again.
Did he know the effect that had on girls? Or was it just his signature? Anyways, that wasn't for me to find out.
I stepped out and closed the car door. "Thank you for the ride home, Aslan. And for everything else."
"Friends always look out for each other." He waved, turned his car around and drove away.
I waited until it was out of sight before climbing up the stairs. Nerves returning in full force as I propelled my feet that had suddenly become lead forward.
I entered the living room and there were the twins.
Not knowing if I should greet them or just walk past, I stood silently, watching them watch me. The silence deafening.
It was too awkward.
I decided to do the latter, I'd barely taken two steps forward when one of them somehow was able to reach me from the sofa some distance away.
The twins' speed never failed to leave me out of breath.
I was looking into a pair of sapphire orbs. And boy, they were heated. I gulped. "D-did I do anything wrong?" I shot a glance over at the other twin who couldn't care less. But his eyes were on me.
"Who dropped you off?" Came the cold question.
"A-a friend." I stammered.
A stiff brow rise. "Someone wants to be your friend?"
"I wonder who'd want to be friends with someone like her." The aloof twin with topaz blues uttered, the mockery wasn't unnoticed.
Their words had my eyes filled. "I guess being mean is a family thing." I spat through quaking voice.
I hurried out of there, heading for my room before I fell apart crying and earn more taunting statement.
- Writer
