My Secret I Never Knew

Feel the Love

Candice POV

My ears were ringing and my head was dizzy, what the hell happened? I thought to myself. I sat up slowly and realized I was in a bed, I let out a soft moan.

“Oh good you’re awake “, I heard my mother’s voice and opened my eyes confused. “You had a fall, you slipped while running up the Monroe’s stairs and fell backwards down them giving yourself a concussion. Why is it that you have to be continuously told to walk indoors.” I just looked at her, and sighed. I looked around my bedroom then decided not to get out of bed, I pulled the covers over my head laying back down.

“No no no get up, get cleaned and get ready for school you’re NOT laying in bed all day!” She yelled at me

“Woman it’s Saturday I don’t have school now leave me be, I have a concussion remember.” I replied with a tone

“First off I’m NOT Nicole’s mother so watch how you talk to me, secondly you HAD a concussion you’ve been asleep since fell Saturday, today is Monday and you have two hours before school so get moving.” She said calmly as if what she said was just ok and made sense. I pulled the covers down slightly, staring at her, she was completely serious, I couldn’t believe it. I'm just supposed to go to school like nothing happened, wow. The realization hit me and I jumped out of bed frantically.

“What’s wrong with you “ she asked me confused and concerned 

“You said today is Monday, which means yesterday was Sunday. That means Athena is probably worried out of her mind. I didn’t stop by yesterday. I’ve never missed a day with her, I need to go check on her.” I said while walking towards the bathroom with everything in my hand for my shower.

“Go after school, she’ll understand” my mother simply said as she walked out of my bedroom door before closing it for her.

I took a deep breath and showered, I couldn’t skip school because she would know, she knows everything. I got dressed and headed to the kitchen to grab something to eat before Neesh arrived.

“Hi, Love how are you feeling? “ my dad asked and grabbed a few granola bars, some fruit and 2 apple juices before responding.

“I’m slightly dizzy, my head still hurts a bit and I feel like someone hit me in the chest with a truck.” 

“Well you gotta man up or if that’s too sexist, woman up. You’re coherent and have all your motor skills. You have 4 AP tests today, so focus. Your mom told me you have plans after school to see Athena so that’s fine, just be sure not to stay out too late. Your brother comes home today” he responded 

“Why aren’t the triplets being here hard on me enough.” I said 

He chuckled and responded,” you’re 18th birthday, he wants to do something special for you since he missed the last two.”

I looked down. I was a little sad. My big brother has been distant these last couple of years but he’s 20, and he has a life and I understand. I smiled at my dad before leaving the kitchen. I jumped after hearing a loud bang, then slowly the smell of smoke invaded my nose.

“DEMARCUS, DEAON, DERRELL. YOU WERE WARNED ALREADY NOW IT'S TIME TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!!” I heard my dad scream as I ran out the front door into fresh air. As I closed the front door Neesh pulled up, blasting music. I could see her head moving to the music slightly through the tinted window. I slid into the passenger seat of her black Jeep and she turned the music down with an amused look on her face.

Neesh had a light caramel completion and her hair was usually in afro but today she had it in two giant puffs on either side of her head. Her sea green almond shaped eyes always amazed me. She rarely talked about her dad and I figure that’s where she got her eyes. 

“Is your house on fire, HA, what did the Frankenstein triplets create now?” She asked

“I have no idea, I ran for cover. Dad seems pissed for now though. They just destroyed the den on Saturday so you’re  staying at my house tonight.” I told her.

“Fine by me, I have no life anyway. Plus I could babysit you and protect you from stairs.” She laughed at my clumsiness.

I grunted as we pulled off towards the city to go to school.

We arrived at our school and she parked, we quickly gathered our things and hopped out. Our ID badges were scanned and we proceeded to the lockers to meet up with everyone. 

“Heeellllooooo hottie with the body.” Anthony  said, he was wiggling his eyebrows at us, well that is until he bent over in pain from Eric punching him in the stomach. I laughed. The guys were identical twins, handsome Puerto Rican guys. Both 6’3 both very much in shape, both have flawless skin but Eric had brown hair while Anthony  had blonde hair. He lost a bet and had to dye it pink and blonde last year, he decided he liked the blonde and kept it blonde since then. I could always tell them apart even when they had the same hair color. Eric was another BFF of mine since the fifth grade when the guys transferred to the school. They lived further from the city then we did and I’ve never been to their house due to their strict parents but we spent a lot of time together during the week and every other weekend.

“Hey Athena missed you yesterday Candice are you ok?” Eric asked

“Yea Candy cane we heard that you went tumbling down after Jack broke his crown.” Anthony said, earning another punch from his brother and a giggle from Holly who came walking up beside us.

“Holly Dolly nice to gaze upon you this morning beautiful.” Anthony said, winking his eye. Holly was beautiful on the outside as well as in. She had the most mesmerizing ocean blue eyes, but I swear sometimes I would see them flash yellow for lil a nanosecond. She had dirty blonde hair that flowed in waves down to the tip of her butt. And body, a GORGEOUS body, just the right amount of everything and a 6 pack ab. I had a flat stomach, I wasn’t motivated enough for a 6 pack.  Neither was Neesh. All of us ladies stood at about 5’6 and had similar body types minus the abs. Holly was the only one with abs.

“I’m going to see Athena after school Eric, uhm do you want to give me a ride? I rode with Neesh today and she has cheerleading practice plus she needs to go home and grab some clothes before meeting me at my house.” I said

“Yeah no problem” he replied while his brother was whispering in Holly’s ear making her blush. The bell rang and we all proceeded to class, I turned around staring down the hallway feeling like I was being watched. I shrugged my shoulders when I didn’t see anything and walked into class.

“Hey Superstar, how’s the head.” I heard an irritating whiny voice say

“I’m doing just fine Tierra, considering I somehow manage to only get hurt when you’re around.” I said to her,

“Not my fault you’re a clumsy i***t, maybe you should go back to preschool and try learning the basics or walking again sweetie.” She said wickedly while grabbing my wrist and squeezing it before pushing me back and causing me to stumble. I almost hit the floor but a pair of hands caught me and helped me stabilize myself before the person spoke.

“Not all of us can be built like a linebacker honey, how about you go suck a sick d**k somewhere. Isn’t that what you’re best at? I bet the only class you’d ever be able to get an A in is d**k sucking 101. Oh wait, you'd do excellent in the biggest b***h class as well.” The class laughed and I turned around wide eyed and excited to see Nicole. She was expelled our sophomore year for well multiple things, but the biggest being her slamming this guy through the cafeteria table after he called her thickness and squeezed her butt. No girl likes to be touched without permission especially not Nicole, her eyes would hold an expression I didn’t understand then she would get aggressive.

“NIKKI what are you doing here!.” I excitedly yelled while jumping up and down hugging her, I was one of the few allowed to touch her.

She was 5’8 her body curvy like mine but waaayyy more thickness in her thighs, and butt. She was a beautiful ebony complexion with flawless skin, and her hair was in Locs that hung down to her butt. She had the tips of her Locs purple and most of her hair was pulled into a ponytail. She winked and smiled at me.

“Well I caught a ride in with Donzell after my car broke down on the Eway , God your brother is  soooooo irritating. Kept bugging me about just leaving the car there and not calling for a tow geez. So when he stopped for gas I left him with my bags and hopped on the bus heading this way since I figured you would be at school.” She explained then her facial expression changed dramatically and she slowly turned to Tierra who was in some guy’s face, before I could I as what’s wrong she said, “that reminds me”, then took off running between the desks and grabbing Tierra by her shirt slamming her to the floor. She then climbed on top of Tierra and screamed “b***h DID YOU PUSH HER?” I stood there in shock wondering where the hell the teacher was, I was just frozen as Tierra screamed no and Nicole called her a liar demanding the truth. The class was screaming FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, suddenly Nicole was lifted with a bear hug from behind  off of a frightened Tierra. At first she fought against it but then Eric whispered in her ear and her entire body relaxed, her face was calm and there was no trace of rage in her eyes. What the hell just happened.

Eric placed her down gently beside me and let her go, she smiled, gave me a hug and said, “See ya at home Candy Cane I gotta get a little shopping done before you get home. Oh and I’m cooking dinner sooooo have an appetite.” She sang the last part as she left the classroom. The girl has always been unpredictable and she’s passive aggressive at times, but she’s never full on offensively attacking someone, anyone.

I looked at Eric and he just shrugged and walked out of the classroom. The rest of school was uneventful, there were whispers about what happened this morning. There was even concern from staff members since a few of the teachers never showed up this morning but no one seemed to think anything bad happened.

I got into Eric’s car and we started heading to Athena while listening to Thinking out Loud by Ed Sheeran. I turned down the volume and looked over to Eric.

“What’s wrong with Nikki and don’t lie” I asked him straight to the point. I knew my BFF even though I hadn't seen her this past year. She had left a week after her 16th birthday. I still talked to her everyday, video calling every night. We even text while in class, I missed something and judging by what happened in class he knows what.

“She’s just Nikki being overprotective, she panicked when she couldn’t get in touch with you Saturday. She had something she wanted to tell you and you weren’t responding. She called everyone and no one had heard from you besides Mrs. Lee and that was hours ago. When she called your house the Frankenstein triplets answered and made you seem worse than you were. Like a coma worse. I had originally missed her call and called her back. The girl was walking down a dirt road when she answered, she was going to try to walk here from Georgia,” he chuckled at the last part

“You know she's a passionate and protective person Candice, I think more than anything she was afraid. She’s not going to admit it but I could hear it in her voice. She didn’t want to lose you and she blamed herself for going so far away.” He told me. I looked down and she's been through a lot in her life more than people know, I’ll talk to her tonight.

I came out of my thoughts as we entered the Animal Sanctuary and parked, I jumped out of the car running to the willow tree. I climbed the tree and saw her, Athena. She was beautiful, a White Tiger with one bold line of black stretching from between her shoulders to the tip of her tail. She was so unique, and as she slowly climbed to me she inspected my body as if to make sure I was ok then licked  me.

I found her when I was 12. She was a day-old cub and the owners of the Sanctuary allowed her to stay here. I have volunteered here since that day to help take care of her. I don’t know what happened to her parents but I’m glad I have her.

I worked and played for a bit with her then went to check on the owl nests. Once I checked on Coco and her babies, the owl family, I got the feeling of being watched again. The hair on the back of my neck was standing, I quickly turned around to see no one there. I reached in my pocket for my phone but then realized I left home without it today. I decided I needed to find Eric and started walking towards where the aquarium was. He loved the outside aquarium. It was small but he didn’t care, saying he loved underwater life and wanted to introduce them to other wildlife. I remember laughing at him but amazingly none of the animals ate the fish.

I heard a twig snap and I turned quickly but too late, I was thrown against a tree. I looked up and saw a man with one blue eye and one brown eye. He had short black hair and was about 5’7 with a VERY muscular build. He was shirtless and his honey colored skin glistened with sweat.

“WHAT. ARE. YOU” he growled at me, growled he freaking growled at me. “ATHENA!!” I screamed. Why the hell did I call her? She wouldn’t be able to hear me, not with how far away she was. I opened my mouth to call for Eric but was grabbed by the throat before I could. The man sniffed my neck, “hmmmmm what are you” he asked again and squirmed unable to break free then I was thrown to the ground. I looked up to see he had dropped me and was fighting with Athena. What the hell type of drugs was he on to fight a Tiger. I wanted to run but couldn't. I didn’t want to leave Athena. A found a rock and ran over to the fight to help her but arms grabbed me by my waist pulling me back. “It’s too dangerous, let her take care of him” Eric said into my ear. 

My heart raced and I forced myself to watch, out of nowhere the man pulled out a knife, “ATHENA WATCH OUT.” I screamed and reached out to her.

My eyes widened, shocked at what I saw.