A STRANGER OR FRIEND.
1920 Words
Chapter 02.
A STRANGER OR FRIEND?
Kara's POV.
“Dylan! Dylan!” I called, going after him. “Stop right there!”
Perhaps, he had no idea what he'd done by rejecting me. But I refuse to believe that. Rejecting me meant that I'd to leave the school with immediate effect. I mean, how could he do that to me? Why would he have to reject me on the night that I won an award?
It's not like we've had an argument in the past that would have caused him to reject me as a way of getting back at me. In fact, if he hadn't mentioned his name earlier, then I didn't even know his name.
He was just that kind of guy that would rather not say a word during class. You'd barely notice that he was present, so why in the world would be choose to reject me?
“Dylan!” I called, gripping his arm as I held him back. “What the hell is wrong with you? I have been calling you!”
“Leave me alone!” a flash of amber lighted his eyes as he growled, taking back his hand from me.
As I saw the look in his eyes, every nerve in my body seemed to shrink.
“You heard me, didn't you?” he asked with ice in his voice. “You can't be my mate.”
“I–I don't understand.” I stuttered, shaking my head while blinking back tears. “Why would you reject me as your mate?”
“That is because I hate you.” he said, speaking through his teeth. “I hate everything that has to do with you. So, you can't be my mate.”
“I don't think we've gotten into a fight before, or have we?” I asked, trying to quell the sob rising in my throat. “So, why do you hate me? Where's all this coming from?”
“You want me to tell you, right?” he asked, taking a step towards me with a cold gaze.
I took a step backward.
“You are too intelligent for my liking.” he said, looking me straight in the eyes. “I don't want someone who's as intelligent as you as my mate.”
“Pardon?” I crinkled my face at the words.
“You heard me, Kara.” he said. “You are too intelligent for my liking. I don't want a mate that'll me feel less of myself.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” something in between a laugh and sob escaped my throat. “Is this supposed to be a joke or what?”
“It is not a joke.” he said, shaking his head. “It is always you. I'm sick and tired of seeing you get every prize there is.”
“This… this doesn't make any sense.” I said, trying to steady my voice. “I mean, how can you reject me because I am intelligent? It is not my fault that I am.”
“And it's not my fault that I've rejected you as my mate.” he said, his voice matching the hardness of his gaze. “I have made my decision, and that's it.”
He turned his back to me to leave the hall.
“You do realize that by rejecting me as your mate, I'll be asked to withdraw from the school, right?” I asked as tear trickled down the side of my nose. “Is that what you really want? For me to go?”
“Yes, that's what I really want. That's what I've always wanted.” he said, looking over his shoulder. “I don't care what happens to you; I just need you to disappear from this school, and from my sight.”
“Look, we really don't have to do anything together.” I sniffled, wiping my face with the back of my hands. “Please, don't reject me. I don't want to leave the school, please. I've come to far to be asked to leave now.”
“And I've endured too many insults.” he said. “I can't endure anymore. So, it's best that you leave.”
“Perhaps, it doesn't mean anything to you, but it does to me.” I said, blinking back tears as I went on my knees. “My whole life depends on this school. So, please don't reject me.”
Just seconds after Dylan rejected me as his mate, Sarah told me that while I was away, Mrs Doyle, who happened to be the moon goddess had matched the names, and given everyone their mates. You can only imagine how I felt.
When I asked why she didn't tell me about it the very moment I returned in, she said she had no idea how to break the news to me. Although, I was mad at her. But then, I knew they weren't at fault. So, I'd to go after Dylan who rejected me without a reason.
“Poor thing.” he bent down, and stroked my face with his hand. “It is so sad to see you this way, but this is how it has to end. You've to leave.”
“Can't you take back those words?” I asked, lifting my face to him.
“I am sorry, but I can't.” he said, taking his hands off my face. “It is too late for that now.”
“Maybe it is, or maybe not.” the voice came from behind.
A gasp from the crowd rippled through the air. I looked past Dylan, and found a young boy standing at the entrance. Although, I had no idea who he was, but those in the hall knew who he was.
They kept pointing a finger at him, and murmuring some words to themselves while covering their mouth with a hand.
“I want to believe that I'm not too late.” he said, coming my way. “Or am I?”
“What are you doing here, Nathaniel?” Dylan stood upright, and turned to face him. “You aren't supposed to be here.”
“Maybe I am not.” he took an half filled wineglass from a table, drank the wine in it, and dropped the empty wineglass on the table. “But here I am.”
“What are you doing here?” Dylan asked, forming his hands into a fist. “I reckon that you leave now else you'll only make a fool of yourself should the school authority realize that you're here.”
“Take it easy, Dylan.” Nathaniel said, patting him on the shoulder. “I didn't come here for you; I only came here to celebrate like every other student.”
“Are you kidding right now?” Dylan asked.
“Come on, it's the 61st student award giving night of the school.” Nathaniel said, spreading out his arms as he walked past Dylan. “You don't expect me to miss it, do you?”
“What the hell do you think you're doing here?” Dylan asked, grabbing his shirt. “This isn't a place for someone like you to attend.”
“Take your hands off me.” Nathaniel said, dropping his arms. “Do so while I'm still asking nicely.”
“And why should I?” Dylan asked, raising a brow. “You know exactly why you were asked to withdraw in the first place; something terrible always happens when you're around.”
“You think?” Nathaniel asked.
“What is going on here?” the soft voice came from behind along with the sound of heels against the tiled floor.
As I turned around, and found Mrs Doyle approaching, I stood up from the floor, and wiped off the tears on my face with my hands.
“I warned you, didn't I?” Dylan said, taking his hands off Nathaniel's shirt as he took a step back.
“Why are you here, Nathaniel?” Mrs Doyle asked. “Who invited you here?”
“No one.” Nathaniel said with a smile. “Tonight is a big one; I couldn't afford to miss it.”
“You are creating a scene here, so I need you to leave.” Mrs Doyle said. “You are no longer a student of this school. So, I need you to leave this minute.”
“Uh, you might want to check again.” Nathaniel said, shrugging a shoulder. “Who knows, you might be wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Mrs Doyle asked, taking a step towards him. “What do you mean by I might be wrong?”
“Check the list again, and when you do, check for the name Brian Barton.” he said. “I am sure you'll find something.”
“Mr Vincent, the tablet.” she said, snapping her fingers. “I need it now.”
“Just a moment, please.” he said.
He hurried to fetch it. Meanwhile, everyone in the hall had gathered around to know what was going on. Although, a few people knew what was going on, but I had no idea.
Mrs Doyle had mentioned that he wasn't a student of the school anymore, which meant that there was a time that he was.
However, what could have possibly happened to him? When I joined the school two years back, he wasn't here. So, whatever happened, must have happened three years ago, or so. Before long, Mr Vincent arrived with the tablet.
“Here it is.” he said, giving it to her.
She received it from him, and then began to go through the names on the list by swiping up on the screen. Suddenly, she stopped, and tapped the screen with a finger. Staring at the screen, she scoffed, and lifted her face to Nathaniel.
“Well, I'm sure that says it all.” he said as a smile curled up his lips. “It is good to be back home.”
“This isn't home for someone like you.” she said, her voice as hard as steel. “Be ready to leave just like you did before.”
That said, she stomped out of the hall.
“Well, it's such a pity you rejected her as your mate.” Nathaniel said, walking up to me.
“What do you think you're doing?” Dylan asked, watching him.
“You are always going to feel inferior to anyone who's better than you.” Nathaniel said, turning to face him while standing in front of me.
“One more word from you, and I'll make sure to take out one of your tooth.” Dylan threatened, forming his hands into a fist.
“Now, that you've rejected her,” Nathaniel paused, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear with a smile. “I will take her as mine.”
“Good luck with that.” Dylan said, walking away with a smirk.
Nathaniel bit his palm, and it began to bleed, then he raised his hand.
“Ouch!” I cried as a drop of his blood fell on my forehead.
The sizzling feeling was as if my skin was being seared.
“I have marked you.” he said, dropping his arm. “You are mine, Kara.”
- Writer
