Darkest Desires

CHAPTER 2: EXPECTED ENCOUNTERS 🍃

Those words still played in my head. I never tried to act like a hero, I still didn't know what he was talking about. I was an outcast with one friend and he deemed that as me being a hero, sure I stood up for myself but that reign didn't last long because Natalie had spread rumors that I was a skank who gave free blow jobs and now every guy wanted to get some.

It wasn't true and defending myself only seemed pointless.

What didn't sit well with me was the fact that Ethan had left the very next day, his parents had him sign up for a special exchange program that had him gone for the rest of the year. Part of me was glad that he was gone because the threat he left had me looking over my shoulder and another part felt out of sorts for not seeing him anymore.

But Tobias had just brought back the feelings that already died out. He brought back the anxiety and fear Ethan had planted in me.

**************

After Tobias had dumped the news on me about Ethans’ return I became extremely agitated. I was only hoping that Ethan no longer had it out for me and forgot the threat he made. It was so abrupt and I hadn’t expected it.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around as to why he thought I was a pretender or a hero, I was neither one of those things.

Once school was over, Lily gave me a ride home, she didn’t engage me in a conversation which was odd, I figured she noticed how my mood had shifted.

She knew full well the threat that Ethan had planted in me, it’s one of the reasons I ultimately decided never to provoke Natalie again even though she had her fun of abusing my very existence at every turn.

“this is the first time I’ve seen you like this” Lily whispered as we drove into my drive way, finally breaking the silence.

“what, quiet?” I was always quiet well not around her though.

“no scared” she was right, I was scared I didn’t know why but I could feel it in my gut that nothing was going to go well for me.

“I’m not scared I’m just shocked is all”

“you can’t lie to me I’ve known you far too long. Plus maybe he’s forgotten everything”

“yeah I hope so, I still don’t understand why he thinks I’m a pretender or a hero”

“you seriously don’t remember do you?” What was she going on about now?

“remember what?” I turned to her as she parked the car.

“remember when you were new at our school, remember Toby Carmichael the weird kid who hunted for frogs, that day when you came we both found him in the corner of class crying and you went and asked him what was wrong he didn’t want to say but you kept urging him till he said Tobias and Ethan had stolen his pet frog”

It suddenly clicked, the memories of that day came flooding back in my head.

“so I figure by the look on your face you remember, that’s the very day you scolded and manhandled Tobias, you even made him apologize although you did avoid contact with Ethan”

“exactly I didn’t do anything to him, plus I wasn’t being a hero I was just helping”

“they are different definitions of hero Elena and trust me you acted just like one”

I rubbed my temples as a steady throbbing started to assault my head. This was just nuts he couldn’t have possibly held a grudge, what type of sick i***t does that?

“He’s seriously deranged if he threatened me for something that happened so long ago”

“Boys are just nuts” she shook her head. I felt like the advice was more for herself other than me.

“yeah, speaking of boys-

“don’t say it freckles” she held a finger warningly using the pet name given to me by Tobias, the very topic I wanted to discuss.

“he likes you, you know that right”

“no he doesn’t he’s an i***t who gets off on ruining my life, haven’t you been seeing these past years?”

“I have and that’s exactly why I’m telling you this” I groaned in exasperation. She started chewing her lip which became a habit for whenever she was mulling something over, or hiding something. I assumed it was both which only brought more questions in my head.

“spit it out flower” I shifted my position in the seat and narrowed my eyes at her.

She plopped her head on the steering wheel, whimpering.

“Lily” I urged.

“he kissed me” my eyes widened and I could feel my jaw drop to the floor.

“he what?! And you thought of telling me this now”

“forgive me, I was still trying to wrap my head around it. Plus I didn’t want to boost your ego by saying you were right”

“of course I was right stupid, when did this happen? How? Where?”

“right after P.E when I remained behind to help pack the volleyballs, I was making my way to the showers and he appeared from nowhere then groped by waist I was ready to knee him real hard in the nutsicles but it happened, worst part is I kissed him back”

“oh Lily, did you like it?”

She nodded as embarrassment flooded her features.

“well I think you two go well together, despite the constant torment I saw how he looked at you I’ve seen it for years”

“it doesn’t matter, I slapped him after and ran off” she slightly pouted.

“I still think he wants you either way”

“enough about me I don’t want to discuss him not right now”

“fine, but I’m not done questioning you” I threatened as I got my back pack from the back seat.

I didn’t want to insist, cause I understood her uncomfortability.

“so what’s your plan tomorrow?”

Did I really need a plan, I was praying to the gods he’d just ignore me and even forget what I did to his precious Natalie been this long the least he could do was forget. Right?

“to go about my life the usual” I answered honestly. I didn’t have a plan and even if there was a sense of anxiety filling up in my stomach I wasn’t going to let it show. I wasn’t supposed to be the cowering weakling, my mom taught me better than that.

So then why was I so scared !?