CHAPTER TEN(UNPREDICTED ATTRACTION)
1569 Words
MERLINDA POV
The notification didn’t stop. One ding turned into twenty. My phone vibrated so hard it almost fell to the ground.
Everyone froze for a second.
Last night’s hangover headache got replaced by a different kind of migraine that seemed to have a mission.
“If this is one of those silly human group chat memes, I swear am having someone’s head—” Mia said, already reaching for her phone.
“It’s not.” Harper’s voice was flat as she lowered her eyes. “Look.”
I reluctantly unlocked mine.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Good morning bitches. Saints or rather sinners. Did you sleep well?
Check the news girly’s. You’re famous
You guys owe me a thanks
Attached was a link.
Below it was a single photo.
All of us passed out in a very awkward stupefied positions. Chloe’s hand on my thigh, Mia’s pyjama short a little too up.
Sadie mid-puke with Asmodeus holding her like some bride.
“Who took this?” Layla asked, quite unbothered.
“The better question is who sent it,” Asher said from the doorway.
None of us had posted anything. None of
us even remembered taking photos after the music started.
Chloe snatched my phone, scrolling, boredom
written all over her face. “It’s already
online, and kinda trending. #SadiesParty”
“Guess am pretty enough to be in thousands of phones,” she added, dumping the phone beside me.
I picked it up, my stomach dropped, not
because of the photo
But because of what was right under it,
a second message just for me,
I looked at everyone’s faces and I seemed to be the only bothered one.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Those hickeys suits you quite well
Merlinda? Wouldn’t it be a shame for everyone to know who marked you.
My fingers went cold.
WRITERS POV
It wasn’t even half past eight, it was gone.
Every post, every share, every repost of
#SadiesParty vanished like it never
existed. Screenshots vanished, saves deleted, links led to an error page.
Anyone who tried to talk about it in the group chat either got cursed to silence or automatically got kicked out with a single line: User removed by Admin.
When there arrived in school Moonlight
College looked normal or perhaps too quiet.
The hallways were quiet in the worst way.
Even footsteps had faded to silence. No
morning groans and gossip. This was the kind of quiet that happens when everyone knows something but nobody dares say it out loud because they were scared.
Eyes flicked to the front when they entered, first Sadie. Hair falling down her waist, outfit perfect black, expression blank.
Then one step behind her on each side was Asmodeus and Darcy, looks like there decided to partner up to win a b***h,
They weren’t touching her, neither were
they looking at her but they didn’t have to.
The space they kept was deliberate. Three feet of empty space that no one crossed. A warning without a word.
Asmodeus looked cold as they passed a
group of juniors who went dead silent.
He didn’t raise his voice because he didn’t need to.
“Keep staring and you’ll forget how to blink”
Everyone suddenly found the floor very
interesting.
Darcy didn’t speak at all, He just opened
Sadie’s locker, put out her books, and
closed it despite her glare. His eyes
scanned the hall once. Everyone understood.
SADIE POV
I hated this. Every single, the two beings who wouldn’t let me be, the attention, the way everyone noticed my presence in a whim not like there didn’t in the past, this is different,
“You didn’t have to go on a rampage in the internet” I muttered, voice low, cold and calm.
Asmodeus took my bag from my shoulder like i hadn’t said anything.
“I didn’t, i just politely asked it to forget”
“And if it doesn’t listen?”
Darcy’s mouth twitched. His annoying version of a smile. “Then it has to learn”
Mrs. Kline started classes ten minutes late. Her hands shook when she called attendance. When she got to my name, she skipped it. So did she Asmodeus and Darcy’s name. No one corrected her,
It would have been better if this two roasted brains stayed in their private class, f*****g glue.
---
MERLINDA POV
Chloe sat three rows behind me. I knew because i could feel her, her gaze hot yet wrong against my back. Impossible to ignore
I choosed a seat by the window. First time all year. The scarf wasn’t part of my dressing but no one said anything, at least that’s a good thing
“Merlinda”
I didn’t turn. I knew that voice. Low, cold from sleep or from last night. Probably both.
“Merlinda, look at me”
I stared at the algebra problem on the board. Nothing seemed focused. Numbers swam.
Mr. Hale stood up and stood in front of the class once again, i breath a sigh of relief because that was my only escape from Chloe’s presence
I was already out of my seat before Mr. Hale finished talking, out the door. Down the hall.
I didn’t run, it will be too obvious
But i walked fast, very fast.
“Leaving so soon?” Chloe was suddenly beside me, matching my pace. She wasn’t even breathing hard as i was "We didn't get to talk last night"
"There's nothing to talk about" my voice was smaller than i wanted it to be.
She stopped walking, I kept going.
Then her hand caught my wrist. Gentle, but I stopped anyway. This was certainly my body working before my brain did
"Take the scarf off" She said quietly "Let me see" She added
"No"
"Merlinda"
"Don't", I Pushed my wrist back. She let go immediately and i felt a pang of disappointment, but her eyes did something awful. They softened. It looked so weird on her.
"Why"
"Z i guess,- wait, why what?"
"Don't Play dumb"
"It doesn't seem right" i said
The hallway was empty. A sign i had a class to be in, in less than five minutes. We were both going to be late so i left.
LATER
The cafeteria was full but silent. Only the sound of forks, tray and footstep. No one talked afraid their mouths may be cut off.
Our table was in the back corner. Me, Mia, Harper, Layla and Ayla. I sat at the end two seats away from me. The gap felt safe but i was kinda not happy with it,
Sadie walked in five minutes late, Asmodeus pulled her chair out. Darcy set her tray down before she could even reach for it.
Neither of the two boys sat, they stood behind her like guards,
Mia talked first "Okay, this is creepy. can you two atleast pretend to be normal"
No one answered.
Darcy took a grape from Sadie's tray and tested it, then put it back.
"Dude" Ayla said "She isn't going to get poisoned by cafeteria fruit"
"You can't be so sure" Asmodeus replied cooly, while Sadie pinched the bridge of her nose "I'm going to loose my mind"
"You won't" Darcy Smirked.
They ate and chatted happily unaware of the tension and stolen glances between Chloe and Merlinda.
CHLOE POV
She was avoiding me,
Merlinda was good at it too. Turning corners before i saw her. Sitting with her back to me, disappearing through the crowd of people.
She shouldn't be regretting because once i see someone, they never disappear.
I hated it that she was avoiding me.
I caught her after school period, she couldn't escape this one. I smirked
"You're wearing the scarf again"
She flinched a little "It's cold"
"It's not, Merlinda, it's seventy degrees"
She finally looked at me. Just for a second
"Please we can't do this here"
"Where then?" I stepped closer but not yet touching her "When are you gonna stop running"
"I'm not running" She avoided my eyes
"You are" I kept my voice "And i get it.You are an angel and was suppose to act like one, but even angels have their own desire"
"Well am not an angel, Uhmm - I am part angel because I grew up there, i don't even know what to say"
"Just tell me, do you feel anything even in the slightest bit, for me. It's okay if you say no and i will stop bothering you" i said reluctantly.
She finally looked up at me
MERLINDA POV
She was giving up so easily, i couldn't help but feel sad
This was what i wanted but why the hesitation now,
"Uhmm..." I mumbled, finding it hard to form a single word
I didn't have to think more because Asmodeus and Darcy appeared few distance beside us,
"Cool couple spot" Darcy said and i felt flustered a little, wasn't i suppose to be screaming no and rushing to his side to explain, why was i suddenly being flustered,
Looking at Darcy i didn't feel the usual surge of happiness instead i just wanted him to walk past so i can have my time with Chloe
"Where's Sadie" Asmodeus asked
"Some people got ditched" Chloe scoffed
The boys walked away, their sudden alliance is weird,
I looked at Chloe and coughed a little, to get her attention before walking closer,
I hesitated a bit but i -
- Writer
