Deadly Obsession

Chapter 17

(Helena's POV)

I literally ran out of my bedroom only to see my mother outside my door.

"W-what are you doing here, mum?" I asked her.

"I just thought that you might like to eat dinner early. I know you're tired from the trip but you need nutrients." She said softly.

"Uh... Okay." I said awkwardly and followed he downstairs.

We ended up sitting face to face on our rectangular dining table. Plates of my favorite food filled the table and yet I cannot find the urge to lift up my spoon and fork.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" My mum asked me wearily.

"Nothing." I just said and started to eat.

There was a minute of deafening silence between us before she finally broke out her news.

"Honey, you need to go back to Jacksonville high. I already talked to principal Smith and she is more than willing to help you make up for the lost months. She told me that someone already volunteered to teach you."

My eyes widened. "I don't want to go to school anymore."

"You need to finish your education, Helena. What about your dream to become a teacher?" My mother's voice is actually full of hurt.

Yes, I want to be a teacher. Funny, right? That an outcast like me wants to teach students like the ones who bully me. But I want to change them. I know it is next to impossible that I can change those kind of kids but I don't want someone to end up like me. Shunned by everybody just because I don't wear lipsticks and miniskirts. But that seems impossible now because I can't even tell who is my psycho stalker. But I guess that I still need to face the world so I need to go back to that hellish place that they call a school.

The day after...

"Look who's back to school! Its the freak weirdo!" Julian Aschcroft's voice echoed throughout the entire hallway.

I kept my head bowed and avoided them as much as possible but they just kept on laughing and calling me names and murmuring about the murder incidents that happened here and in Brooklyn.

"Did you also kill those men in Brooklyn and blamed their deaths to your 'Stalker'?" Riley said sarcastically and Julian just smirked. I thought that I saw something dark and menacing pass through his eyes but I just ignored it. He's just being his usual self today. I told myself.

"Stop it, Riley." Michael's voice rang in the hallway too. He's clearly pissed off. "Your witty remarks might bring you trouble. Keep your kitty cat on a leash, cousin." He glanced at Julian.

"You just gave me an idea." The latter grinned while Riley glared back at Michael.

'So the two of them are still a couple. Wow, that's a record." I mentally concluded that Julian may have already found his love with the siren, Riley Keenan. 'Good for him.'

I entered the classroom and found my favorite teacher, Ber Lin Wang, sitting on the teacher's table and drinking the coffee as usual.

I smiled brightly at him.

"Lao Shi! Zhao Shang Hao!" I greeted him a good morning. If there is one person that I like in this school, that is Ber Lin because he just doesn't give a damn unlike other people.

"Good mornin'" he greeted me in English with his heavy accent and offered me his coffee just like what he does every morning.

Minutes later, the classroom was filled with chattering students. I kept silent on my seat and started taking notes.

Mandarin ended and I almost felt relieved because none of the bullies hasn't bothered to attend classes yet. Soon, Physics class came and that signalled the continuation of my everyday life at Jacksonville high.

"So... The freak is officially back in class." Amanda entered the classroom like a queen, uncaring if she is very early... Early for the next subject anyway, her equally bratty followers behind her. For some reason, all of them were wearing black ensemble. Black mini dress, black scarves, black nail polish and even black silk or lace gloves. I tried hard not to roll my eyes at them.

"I bet she's going to kill somebody again and she'll blame it to her nonexistent admirer." One of them commented and the whole class started to talk in hushed voices.

"Why don't you just leave me alone and go gossip about something else, or even better, go back to whomever burial that all of you have been attending." I growled.

I heard some giggling coming from some of my classmates but they immediately stopped after earning a glare from Amanda and her minions.

"You're just jealous because you can't afford to buy Chanel or Prada. You're forever stuck on wearing those cheap band shirts." Amanda eyed my Fall Out Boy shirt with disgust.

I bit my lip. What's wrong with wearing these kinds of shirts?

She raised one perfectly arched eyebrow and flipped her long straight strawberry blonde hair.

"Whatever, you're still a loser." Then, she grinned like a she-wolf and went to her seat.

Mr. Goodman continued his lesson as if nothing happened while I gritted my teeth throughout the class.

God... This is really as annoying as f**k.

English with Ms. Mendes is almost over when the speakers suddenly came to life and principal Smith's wheezy voice rang throughout the whole Jacksonville High.

"Students of Jacksonville High... Halloween is already approaching and I am pleased to tell you that we will be having our first ever Halloween ball on the 1st night of November, which would be two weeks from now, at the Jacksonville High Gym. Everyone is required to attend and wear a costume. That's all for now... Happy Halloween..."

I groaned inwardly. I almost forgot about that Halloween is already approaching. Why would I really care anyway? It wasn't as if I go around trick-o'-treating. I stay at home most of the time. Even aunt Del doesn't have any Halloween decorations on her posh restaurant. I looked around the classroom and for the first time, I noticed the spider, witch, broom and web decorations hanging around.

And now, I'm expected to attend the darned party along everybody else. f*****g hell!