The Sheenite

Avoid me✓

Edville High.

7:00am.

I came to school, it was a new day, a new day with no fear of a case to win. School was so quiet and I didn't know why yet I walked in. I was welcomed with an applause. The whole students, some upstairs in the balcony while the others downstairs were clapping for me. I saw Mr Matthew and the other members of the school board, the teachers and our principal they all clapped for me too. I felt tears drop from my eyes, it was so emotional at some point I felt weak to my knees, they wouldn't stop clapping. Vanessa noticed and ran and wrapped me in a tight hug. There were cheers and screams.

"I didn't do anything, you did all of it."

"That's a lie, you did all the work." Vanessa retorted releasing me.

"That's how I felt too, so I can relate to that." She said and turned facing the crowd.

"Wait, they did this for you too?"

"Yeah, but yours is a little cooler than mine." We giggled. Soon the clap died down and everyone dispersed except for the principal and the school board.

"You did a great job Sapphire and Vanessa, keep it up." Our principal Mr Raymond spoke.

"Thanks sir." I replied smiling.

"You are going up your way of qualifying for independence. Till then." He said and left while the other teachers followed.

We entered after them to class. All the while during lectures, I tried hard not to talk to Vanessa as she sat by me, it was hard but I tried. I knew Vanessa was in a difficult dilemma even though she didn't tell me, I knew it, I could see through her. I felt I was the reason. And if I was, I needed to make things easier for her. I'll avoid her. That's the best thing I can do as a friend.

After class, I went to my locker when I heard a familiar voice call my name and I turned around.

"Matilda!" I yelled and we locked in an embrace. All eyes were on us.

"You are looking good!" I commented as we both let go of our grip.

"Thanks, atleast I don't look like a helpless chicken like I did before." She said and we both laughed.

"You resumed than I expected you to, I thought you would take a little break, I mean after the stress."

"That's why I'm actually here, to tell you I'm traveling to Thailand, I need to get some fresh air from all the dramas that had been happened."

"It's okay, but don't stay too long you know you need to come back to school."

"You sound a lot like my mom right now." Matilda said and we both laughed.

"Hold on." I fetched something from my locker. A paper and card.

"Here, this is freedom letter and your freedom card. Your case was a successful one. It's from the Justice department."

Matilda took it and smiled to herself.

"Thanks a lot." She said.

"Don't... instead you might have to leave so you don't lose your flight."

"You are right, take care, bye. And send my regards to Vanessa, I didn't see her." She added taking her leave. I nodded and my lips curved into a smile as I watched her leave.

It was sports time. Many hurried to the field to go watch the match. The three demons were playing today, so I wasn't surprised. I just roamed around not knowing what sports class to join when I came across Mr Matthew.

"Have it." He said and placed a gift in my hand and bypassed me.

"Fans." I muttered.

I came out of the gift room and walked to the field. I tried everything not to come across Vanessa.

Vanessa stood by the field pacing around talking to herself, when she finally saw Stacy, Zoey and Tatiana coming towards her direction.

"Vanessa, you can do this, do this for your dad. Just say hi! That's all." She soliloquiesed.

"Hi!" She waved to Stacy as they got by her, but Stacy just passed her and made her feel so insignificant. I saw this happen, but from a distance.

"Hey babe." Stacy said and planted a kiss on Jeffrey's lips.

"We'll be watching." Zoey said and wrapped her arms around Evans neck and kissed him.

"And cheering." Tatiana added running her fingers down Aiden's chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her closer to him and locked his lips with hers.

"I shouldn't be here." Vanessa said to herself and walked away. I hid and allowed her pass before coming out

I looked at Evan who still had his lips locked with Zoey's.

Zoey was my muse I always knew that. Our relationship wasn't official. I didn't ask her out and we weren't dating, but we ran things together. I just loved the way we were and wanted to leave it like that way. Suddenly I felt strange like I was doing something wrong. I Opened my eyes to see Sapphire who turned her back to me leaving. I pushed Zoey away slowly despite the fact that she didn't want to stop. I wouldn't have either if not for Sapphire. Why did I push Zoey away because of Sapphire, she didn't really mean anything to me but why am I so angry with myself?

"What happened?" Zoey asked trying to catch her breath.

"She... nothing." He said and gave her a fake smile.

"What happened?" Stacy asked after Jeffrey let go of her.

"Nothing, I think Evan saw something." Zoey said and looked behind her but saw no one.

"Then stop ruining things for someone else." Tatiana added as she and Aiden's lips parted.

"Sorry." Evan apologized.

"Come on dudes, to the field." Jeffrey said with a commanding voice and began walking away with his back. He winked at Stacy who bit her lower lip mesmerized by Jeffrey who grinned in such a charming way that could literally make anyone go mad.

I took a seat, the match was about to start. I saw Evan run his eyes through the crowd. I knew he was looking for me. Our eyes met, but I looked away. The match started. The crazy fans besides me kept yelling and yelling into my ears that I wished I could stuck a banana into their throat. My life was a mess right now and they were making it worse, I left.

Evan was happy knowing that Sapphire was there he felt a surge of energy with her around but suddenly felt something was missing in me. He looked at where she sat, but didn't see her there. His eyes searched round but didn't see her, he panicked.

"Evan focus!" His coach yelled.

I can't. There was no need trying when I knew I won't, I left the field, making everyone wonder. I ran round the school but didn't see her anywhere. I panted and placed my right hand on the wall and my left on my hips to support me. What did she do to me? Suddenly I heard the sound of the keyboard, it was coming from our music class. I slowly opened the door to see it was Sapphire. I stood there as I watched her skillfully press the keys, chords, minors, God, she was good. But she stopped as though she knew somebody was there.

"You play the keyboard?"

"Hmm.." I said and pressed my final chord.

"That's.. good."

"Why are you here, aren't you supposed to be in field?" I asked turning my seat around.

"Nothing... I.. just lost my way. I mean I was looking for something." He lied.

"Really?"

"Well I was just worried when you left the stadium."

"I'm fine, you can see."

"Yeah." He nodded and backed me taking his leave but turned.

"About what you saw..."

"Don't Evan, you don't owe me an explanation for kissing your girl."

"She is not my girl."

"Never hurt a girl who does nothing but gives you her all. She kissed you and you kissed her back, that settles the chemistry."

Evan nodded, I knew he was hurt by my words but he tried hard to maintain his cool.

"Yeah... " He said and left without another word. I cursed myself inside, why was i so harsh with words. Love wasn't my thing, yes, l loved my parents and my best friend, but the Eros love? I don't know. Vanessa always told me I was going to be single all my life I didn't feel offended by it because I also felt the same way. Eros love wasn't just my thing. I transferred the frustration in my head to the keys and stood up to leave, but I had this strange feeling that made me stop reaching out to the wall for support. That same strange feeling I had. I held my chest and shut my eyes tightly to fight the pain. I wanted to cry out, I couldn't breathe I opened my mouth but air wasn't coming in. The pain was too much. I leaned with my back against the wall and sat on the floor.

What's wrong with me?

Am I about to die?

Maybe something is wrong? I could feel my eyes glow gold.

Suddenly the pain stopped. It was like nothing ever happened. My eyes went back to normal after I blinked. I hurried out to go check if everything was okay. Maybe something happened to Vanessa.

Getting to the field, I saw Vanessa sitting just fine. The stadium was noisy and the students were angry I wondered what would have happened. I narrowed my gaze to the field to see it was Jeffrey. He was hurt on his arm, it was bleeding badly. He had been roughed by his opponent and everyone was angry, their loving Jeffrey was hurt. I smiled a little happy, atleast he would know what pain meant. Aiden was about the hit their opponent in anger but Evan held him back. A fight started. The spectators began cheering for the team they loved. But their coaches separated the fight, it was becoming violent.

Jeffrey was receiving treatment. Why did I have that strange feeling? Was it because of Jeffrey? The last time I had that feeling too, I knew that when I came to school, he had a plastered head and now this? Did I have some connection with him? No way! I shook my head to get rid of the thought. I watched Jeffrey as he got treated.

I felt like going right there to maybe heal him? But I didn't know how to do it. Yes I healed Evan but I didn't know how. But right now, I felt the urge, the urge to heal him, the urge to take his pain away. I shut my eyes, it glowed gold again. I was loosing control of my own body. I clenched my teeth to control myself but it wasn't working. I might do something mysterious before everyone if I continued staying here. I left.

•••••

Life was hard and boring without Vanessa in it. Its been days since I last I talked to her. All she did everyday was try hard to be in Stacy's good book, but it always ended like the first time. We were in our math class.

"Vanessa, repeat the last word I said?" Mr Mathew requested.

"Well... um.. I really don't know." She admitted.

"You were absent minded."

She was absent minded that's bad. I thought

"And you've always been this way recently." He added.

"Sapphire, what was the last word I said?" He asked.

I opened my mouth and closed them countless times but no words came out. Here I was blaming someone for being absent minded when I also fell short.

"You weren't listening also were you?"

I shook my head.

"Is everything okay between you and Vanessa?" He asked.

"Yes." I answered.

"No." She said at the same time.

Everyone's attention fell on us. I'm sure they were wondering what would have happened. I and Vanessa were inseparable. I could feel Evan's strong gaze on me.

"Something is wrong, what happened?"

"We are fine sir, you need not to worry." I said.

Seriously, did she just say we were fine? She has been avoiding me and here she is saying we are fine? Come on Sapphire why are you punishing me like this. Vanessa thought.

"You both are matured enough to sort your issues, I hope you do that soon."

He said and turned to continue teaching. I and Vanessa exchanged glances.

After class, I went to the rooftop, there I was with Valerie, she's been the one keeping me company since I and Vanessa's supposed break up. I perceived a familiar scent, it was Vanessa. Valerie went to her.

"You don't have to keep standing there." I said and she walked to me with Valerie in her arms.

"Hey." Vanessa said and sat beside me but still kept a meter distance between us.

"Are you ready to talk now?" I asked.

"Hmm.." She nodded. "Dad doesn't want us to be friends."

"Since when? Don't lie to me."

"The day we met."

"Go on."

"He says I should be friends with Stacy to help his business, so her father could partner with him. He said, I shouldn't be friends with a middle class."

"That explains why you've been trying to be in Stacy's good book recently and the reason you refused to introduce me to your dad all this while. Go on."

"He asked me to choose between the both of you."

I grimaced. All the while I blamed Vanessa but she was actually between a rock and a hard place. I had to make things easier for her, that's the least I can do as a friend.

"But don't worry, he'll calm down. dad never stays angry with me. I'll convince him, so we can be friends..."

"Avoid me." I interrupted.

"What?" She asked turning to me.

"You heard me. We should never see each other again." I said it despite how hard it was. I felt my throat burn and my eyes wet but I tried to act normal.

"How could you say that Sapphire? How can you just throw away our years of friendship so easily like that!"

"I won't have you choose between I and your father! I'm not that selfish" The stubborn tears fell off my eyes despite my restraint.

"Take care princess, it was nice being your friend." I said and stood up taking my leave.

"Sapphire come back here! Sapphire!" She yelled and broke into tears Valerie began crying with her too.

I ran. I felt my brains were going to bolt.

The three demons and their singers came out of their class when Sapphire ran past them.

"Did someone just pass? That was pretty fast, I only felt the breeze." Aiden said.

Evan looked at the direction the person ran to. He felt he knew this person.

"Come on guys, let's go!" Jeffrey ordered.

"Um.. you guys go on, I'm gonna catch up."

"Where are you going?" Zoey asked.

"I wanna get... somethings from my locker." He said and took his leave.

"I'm worried about Evan. I don't know what's going on in his head anymore." Zoey said helpless.

"Chill Zoey, you know Evan can be like that sometimes. He said he is coming, so he would come. Come on." Stacy consoled placing her hands around Zoey's shoulders and they all took their leave.

I entered my department and shut the door behind me. I sat on my chair and buried my face in my hands backing the door.

Evan opened the door. I guessed right, I knew it was Sapphire that passed us earlier.

Dude, what are you doing here?

This is stupid of you, she's nothing to you, but you keep running to her all the time.

No, I shouldn't be here. He thought and turned to leave when he heard Sapphire's sobs. It pierced through his heart like thousand needles. Did someone hurt her? The same feeling he always has whenever his father hurts his mom came to him with full acceleration. When it came to his dad, he was left with no option but to leave because of his mom. But now, he was going to slit the throat of whoever did this to her and give the person to chew.

"Why are you crying? Who did this to you?" He asked pulling Sapphire's hand away from her face looking directly into her eyes as he had crouched to her height.

"Are you hurt?" He asked and examined her arms and neck with his eyes but there was no injury.

"God knows I'll slit the throat of whoever did this to you and give the person to eat, who did this to you, tell me!" He yelled and shook me slightly holding my shoulders.

I saw so much fury in his eyes, yet it was mixed with some hidden pain I seemed not to understand.

"Will you do that to Vanessa then?" I asked and sniffed. His grip grew weak and he let go of me. "We are no more friends."

"Why, what happened?"

"Her dad doesn't want us to be friends, I had to make things easier for her." I said and burst out crying.

"I'm sorry." Evan said. Evan has never seen her like this before. She always acted strong even when she wasn't, letting her emotions show meant it really reached her to heart.

I needed someone to hold me, I didn't care who it was a demon or an angel. I wrapped my arms involuntarily around Evans neck and cried over his shoulders.

Evan froze in place, as Sapphire embraced him. He didn't know what to do he decided to just stay still until she was done crying. His mind was obedient, but not his body. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Shh..." He said and stoked my hair. I cried and despite how I wanted to pull away from him, I couldn't. I pulled away when I was done crying and then I felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry." I said wiping the tears off my cheeks.

"It's okay."

There was silence and it felt really awkward.

"I could be your friend." He spoke breaking the silence.

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself without a friend." I said and stood up with my bag.

Not that I didn't need a friend, but I was scared of me getting used to someone and losing the person like Vanessa.

"Really?" He asked getting up.

"Do you think something is wrong with me? Why do you always..."

The bell rang interrupting his speech.

"I need to go, goodbye."

I said as walked out of the hall. I saw Vanessa standing by the car with her dad. who had already come to pick her.

"Hope you are no longer talking to that girl."

"I'm not dad, we are no longer friends." Vanessa answered.

Despite the fact I was far away, I heard them clearly using my super senses. I'm sure Jeffrey's group would have heard, because they stood close to him.

I walked passed Vanessa like she was some stranger.

Home.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I know how close you are to Vanessa i mean you both were like sisters." Brenda said with her arms around my shoulders.

"But that's so cruel why would her dad do something like that." Davis asked he was seating opposite the table.

"It's fine mom, I'll get over her and I'll move on.

"Are you sure?" Brenda asked.

"Yes mom." I said after hesitating a little bit.

Our door bell rang. My dad went to get it. The kids ran into the house all greeting my dad and running to me.

"Darling Sapphire!" Heather screamed and they all ran around me.

"This is going to be the bestest night ever." Katie said.

"Yah! Look, I wore my favorite pyjamas!" Jennifer added pulling her dress.

My dad closed the door after talking to the grown-ups outside.

"Sapphire, you didn't tell me you were inviting the kids to sleep over?" Davis asked.

"Sorry dad, I couldn't bare to sleep alone tonight."

"It's alright darling" Brenda said and pecked Sapphire's hair.

"Thanks Mom, thanks Dad. Goodnight."

"Night." They both chorused.

"Come on kids, upstairs!"

"Goodnight!" The kids chorused and hurried upstairs with Sapphire.

•••••

School again. I hated the idea of school especially when I had to avoid Vanessa. The class was so noisy. Vanessa had her head on the desk while I was about to put on an ear phone when Jeffrey Logan stood on the desk.

"Good day! students, friends, fans and... beauties." He said and gestured to were the pretty girls sat and they all giggled with excitement. Gosh, this guy was a flirt.

"Yeah it's your favorite Jeffrey Logan. I just wanted to tell you all that we, the rocking wave will be presenting at the Aries concert that's gonna happen tonight."

"What? Really?!"

"You are not pulling out legs are you?" Another asked.

"I will never."

Immediately our history teacher McDowell barged into the class. But Jeffrey was smart enough to jump down quickly and the class arranged themselves. McDowell was popularly known as our school's policeman. He always snuck out on students to catch them red-handed breaking the school rules and report them to the principal. Sometimes I wondered if that was his job or if he was hoping for an award of the most disciplined teacher i guess.

"Who was standing on this desk?!" He asked looking outside his medicated glasses as he moved around with his belly. I'm sure a nine month old pregnant woman's tommy wouldn't even be compared. The class was silent.

"I asked a question, who was on this desk?!"

Still it was silent.

"No one wants to talk? Okay. Sapphire!" He called.

Me! Did he just call me?!

"Who was on this desk earlier? Don't lie to me."

Oh no! Not Sapphire, she doesn't know how to lie! Vanessa thought and placed her hand on her head.

"Well Sir.." Vanessa spoke trying to lie for Sapphire to help her out the situation.

"Quiet! I want it to come from Sapphire. Tell me." He said and got closer to me.

I could barely breathe as he crossed the distance between us, he looked like a demon who was gonna kill me.

I pointed to Jeffrey.

"Its him!" Was the little I could say. My eyes were shut while I pointed his direction.

The class murmured, I knew they hated me for betraying them.

"I knew it! I always hoped you'll fall into my trap one day. And here you are!"

He was right, no one had the boldness to tell on Jeffrey and his gangs what they were doing, how he was bullying students and the rest of it. He had never visited the principal office before but I knew now he would.

"Mr McDowell, don't you have anything to do than going around looking for whoever would break the school rules?" Aiden asked annoyed.

"How dare you? Now I think you'll escort your friend to the principal's office, because you broke rule 33 of the rule book. Never speak to your teacher rudely! Now the both of you, after me." He said and walked out. Jeffrey gave me a stern look before he walked out of the class with Aiden following.

"You better get ready blonde!" Stacy said and left the class with her friends.

"Why did you do that Sapphire?" Luke her arm mates asked.

"You are a joy killer, just when I started thinking you were amazing after winning Matilda's case, I didn't know you were still a fool."

"You are done for Sapphire." Another added.

"That's enough, it wasn't the girls fault so stop picking on her." Evan said and stood up. All the while, no one took notice of him. He gave me a reassuring glance before leaving. I felt my throat burn. I was really going to die. I stood up and left the class with my bag. I stayed at the rooftop all the while they where having classes imagining different ways Jeffrey was going to torture me. I cursed myself for coming to school, for being in class. I decided to stay at the rooftop till school was over and I planned to sneak out after the closing bell rings.

The bell rang, school was over. I hurried out of school clinging tightly to my bag.

A voice brought me to a halt.

"Going somewhere blon..de!"

Jeffrey, it was Jeffrey's voice. I slowly turned around to see Jeffrey, Aiden, Stacy Zoey and Tatiana standing a few metres away from me. Evan wasn't there.

"You had the guts to report me to McDowell and I went to the principal's office for the first time and got a query?" He yelled and kicked the bench besides him. I shrunk into myself and held to the book across my chest tightly.

Students started gathering around at the drama, soon I was crowded.

"Take off your jacket." Jeffrey ordered.

"What?" I asked trembling.

"I said take off your jacket!" He yelled and I took off my jacket immediately my bag and the book I held fell to the ground also.

"Let me take care of that." Aiden said and picked my jacket like it was some s**t and threw it into a ditch covered with mud.

"Take off your shirt." He said and I shook my head. But luckily for me Vanessa came to my rescue as usual. She stood between me and Jeffrey.

"Stop it Jeffrey!"

"Stay out of this princess." Jeffrey said and pushed Vanessa aside.

"Jeffrey don't do this!"

"You wont like to intrude into my personal matters princess, I know Mr Scott very well, he might be happy that I gave him a call." He said and tucked Vanessa's hair behind her ears.

Oh no, he knew, he knew Vanessa's dad didn't approve of our friendship. I thought. Immediately he turned to me.

"Take off your shirt!" He ordered and I immediately pulled out my shirt revealing my singlet. I knew he was going to ruin my life today, he wanted me to turn naked before everyone! I was panting, tears pouring my eyes uncontrollably.

"Take off your singlet."

At this point I looked at Vanessa and she walked out. She couldn't do anything to help me and she couldn't stand to watch. At this point, mumblings, murmurs and silent chatters rose from the crowd. I didn't know whether they were for me or against me, but all I knew some of them began leaving. Maybe they couldn't stand the sight also, or maybe they had something better to do.

"Take of your singlet!"

I took it off and it was left with my underwear that revealed my belly button, and if I took it off, I'll be left with my bra. I wanted the earth to open and swallow me, dieing was way better than this embarrassment.

********