Ultimate Temptation

~Chapter 3~

Aris woke up groaning with a pounding head. Blinking sleep from her eyes, she looked out her window. It was still dark outside and she decided this was the best time for a jog. Without the ever watching eyes of people.

She had slept in her clothes, too tired to take them off and she scrunched her nose up when she sniffed the arm of her hoodie.

Her single cabin consisted of a large room with a connecting kitchen and bathroom. The one room was a mess, clothes and books thrown askew. Most of her shoes were off its rack and the ones in sight only had one leg, the other lost somewhere around the room.

Picking up a tank top crumpled on her bed and a tight on the floor she quickly changed before picking up all the clothes all over the floor and dumping it on her bed.

I will just come back to it later.

Stepping out of her cabin, she took deep breathes inhaling the fresh smell of sea which always hung in the air. Even though she didn't belong here, she had come to love the island. Its beauty and serenity always seemed to awe her.

During the day, sun shone on the sea making it a very beautiful shade of green, the green palm trees scattered not far from the shore offered shade to passers-by while they enjoyed the clean crisp air from the sea and the coconuts which always littered the base of the trees. At night or dawn like this, the island was so peaceful and quiet, you could almost hear your heartbeat. The moon also reflected on the sea turning it silvery as the waves rose and fell.

Water lapped and frothed at her feet as she ran along the beach. Jogging especially in the morning cleared her head. For her, nothing could be compared to the feeling of the soft ground under your feet as your heart hammered in your chest. Feeling your muscles tiring but still pushing them forward everytime you felt like stopping.

Her dad had made her love running /jogging. Everytime she visited their kingdom, he always took her jogging with him. Side by side they would run till they couldn't anymore, only then would they rest before turning back home.

Taking a break, she sat on the wet ground uncaring if her butt got soaked and looked at the horizon. The sun was just beginning to rise at the east. It was time to head back.

The cabin was in the same state she had left it in. Sighing, she began sorting out the dirty clothes into two piles, one dirty and the other clean. The dirty ones, she dumped into the laundry bag to be washed when weekend came. The clean ones she began folding after which she carefully placed them in her wardrobe. Stretching her limbs when she was done, she peeled off her clothes before heading into the bathroom.

Taking her time to wash her hair and body, she finally came out sqeaky clean. Scanning her wardrobe, she found out she was out of clean hoodies. Picking out a baggie jeans and a long-sleeved black top pairing it with a black sneakers. Checking her reflection in the wall length mirror, she nodded with satisfaction. It wasn't her usual outfit but it would have to do.

Heading out of her cabin, her hand was already at her door before remembering something important. She hadn't worn anything to cover her horns!

Taking a beanie from her shelf, she yanked it on her head before rechecking herself in the mirror. Now she looked just like any other kid at school.

There was a time when she walked around proud with her horns out in the open but she had to stop when she noticed the stares and glares she got. Now years later, she still continued covering them with the hope that one day someone will deem her approachable and then she can finally make a friend on the island. But with each year, her hopes of any possible friendship dwindled.

She got to school at the same time the school bell rang. Rushing to her locker, she took her books and hurried to her history class which was her first class for the day.

Taking her usual seat at the back, she was about to set her books on the table when she noticed some scribbles on the desk. The word FREAK had been written in large letters and shaded on her desk. From her peripheral view, she could see Zach and Drew high five each other while looking at in her direction

She was about to scratch it out when an idea popped into her head. Taking her pen, she added hearts and tiny around the word. She chuckled to herself as she tried imagining the look on their faces when they see the hearts.

"Is something funny Aris?" Asked Mr Travis.

"Huh? No sir" she reply shaking my head, her laughter immediately dying down.

"Then would like to answer the question I asked the class?"

Shit!

"May I ask for the questions again?" She asked sheepishly.

"Learn to pay attention in class. I'd expect better from you" He says shaking his head. "Who would like to answer my question?"

"Sir" said a squeaky male voice.

"Yes Fred?"

"You asked how many years Queen Trix the first used to rule the Kingdom of Demonia. She ruled for about 50 years" Fred said beaming at the teacher. He threw me a smug look before taking his seat and I rolled my eyes at the back of his head.

Bookwise, Fred and Aris were rivals. Or to be more precise, Fred always viewed Aris as his rival but she didn't. Probably because no matter how he read or answered questions in class, her grades always came out better.

"Thank you Fred" he says to him. "Class, note that down"

"Your twin nerd" Zach whispers leaning over to Aris. The students at the back c***k up making Mr Travis peer around the class suspiciously.

"Will someone enlighten me to why there's laughter in my class? Who will let me in on the joke?" He asks looking around the class.

Of course the class had nothing to say to his question and the lecture continued in silence.

***

After a marathon of classes it was time for lunch and the students chattered noisily as they walked to the school cafeteria.

Taking a plate tray, she hurried to the back of the constantly growing queue of students waiting in line for food.

Fried chicken legs with bread, butter, cheese and  peas was the menu for today's lunch. No wonder the queue was this long. Slowly, she shuffled forward while her stomach rumbled in hunger.

A shout from the back drew everyone's attention as Kai, Drew, Zach and Vincent pushed a scrawny kid out of their way.

"Hey" He yelled as he fell to the ground but they simply stepped over him as if he was invisible.

The students parted from them and they cut in line few bodies in front of me. My stomach rumbled in protest and I huffed in frustration cursing in silence. I was really getting tired of their antics.

Couldn't they simply wait in line like other kids?

I was tempted to use magic to teleport them away but one of the rules of the school was magic wasn't allowed anywhere away from the classroom without supervision of a teacher.

"Two slices of-" Drew began.

'Get in line" says the chef who usually serve food. It was Mrs Coleman, one of the few friends I've made on the island, she was also Fred's mom.

"I am in line" Drew says looking at the woman.

"No, you're not. Go back to your actual place on the queue, you and your gang. I suggest you do fast about that, more kids keep joining the queue" She says gesturing to the back. "Next!"

They slammed their trays in annoyance kicking a trash can as they left the queue. I couldn't help clapping in awe at how cool Mrs Coleman was. Fred was a little ass but his mom was the complete opposite.

It got to my turn and I was served the menu, taking a yoghurt and few spoons of fruit salad, I go to my spot in the cafeteria.

The best thing about lunch was having a whole table to myself. No one wanted nothing to do with me because anyone who even dares glance in my direction was picked on by those four boys.

Taking a bite of my chicken, I close my eyes and savour the flavour. The food served in the cafeteria was top notch and I ate slowing to enjoy it more no matter how hungry I was.

I raised up my head in time to see those four pests walking towards me and I immediately began gobbling down the precious food in front of me as fast as I could.

By the time they reached my table, all that was left was the berries and yoghurt. I couldn't help the smile of victory which spread across my face even while I struggled to swallow the bulging mass of food temporarily stored in my cheeks.

Choking, I reach for the yoghurt only to have it snatched from my grasp by Zach.

Seriously?

I wanted to lung after the yoghurt but thought better off it. I was 5'9 and even though I was tall, Zach taller and all he had to do was stretch his hand high above his head and it will be out of my reach.

Using a bit of magic, the yoghurt shot from his hands and flew right into my welcoming hands. I quickly tore into it while he yelped in shock and gulped the whole thing down then threw the now empty carton on to the table.

"You can have the fruit salad" I said with the most innocent look I could muster. Their faces turn red from anger and I warily lean away from them. Just then the bell rang and I wasted no time dashing away from them.

The next class was AD. Attack and Defense and my absolute favourite. I hurried to the changing room and went to my clothes drawer there. Pulling out my grey sweatshirt and pants, I quickly change into it before heading out the large room used for AD.

It is like a mini stadium with rows of chairs arranged in a circle around the halls and in the center of the room, there is a raised podium padded with mattresses to break the fall of anyone who was thrown around during sparring.

"Okay, kids. Today's class is on how to flip your opponent using their body weight. We're witches  and out powers in basically from our mouth. Most of us use words when we want to make a spell. What if something happens and we can't speak at that moment? Would we remain helpless?" Mr Jareth asks the class.

"No sir" we chorused.

"Okay now, pair yourself and let us get started" He says clapping his hands for emphasis.

As usual, everyone one rushes to their friends and I'm left stand alone.

'I'll just take anyone who's left' I mutter indifferently to myself.

"Aris?" Mr Jareth calls looking around for me.

"Yes? I'm here" I answer raising my hands up as I came forward.

"This young man here as requested to be your partner" He says pointing at the bulky boy beside him.

Zach?!