Chapter 7: Sticks and Stones and Words
1035 Words
Waking up this morning, it all felt unreal. Brianna being so two faced and Amir with his confusing actions. I needed normal. I shot Kai a text. I hadn’t seen him in a few days and my broken heart felt like it needed some 101 Kai time. He always knew how to make me feel better.
After his response, I headed towards the coffee shop. I spotted him sitting in a booth near the window, his gentle face was like a beacon in my world of chaos.
He waved me over, a soft smile gracing his lips. My heart fluttered. He was dressed in a simple black t shirt, but it looked extra nice on him today. He must have taken up working out cause, have mercy. He was looking like a snack today.
No! Cut that out! We are just friends! I had to remind myself of that sometimes. No matter how handsome he gets, I can’t ruin us. He’s been my support system since the beginning. I couldn’t let fleeting feelings get in the way of our friendship.
As I approached Kai, a figure detached itself from a table beside me. Ugh, Billie.
"Well, well, well," Billie said, her voice laced with venom.
Ava, her ever-present shadow, hovered nervously behind her.
"Look who it is. Little Gabriella." I swallowed hard, my hands began to feel clammy.
"Kai is waiting on me." I mumbled, trying to avoid eye contact.
"Oh, I see," Billie said, as she looked over her shoulder at Kai.
"You’re here for lover boy.” Her head snapped back to me with a glare.
“Or is it that you’re desperate for an Alpha's attention.” I hadn’t realized that Amir and a few other alpha’s were in the coffee shop until she spoke about them.
My heart began to pound rapidly in my chest. The last thing I wanted was to be harassed by her or Amir for that matter.
“Please, Gabriella, we all know you'd do anything to get noticed by one of the 'big wolves'." A wicked smile spread across her face.
My heart immediately began to ache as Brianna’s phone conversation replayed in my head. The way she laughed as she talked about me behind my back. Her words stung and it sucked that she would recite them in a way to me like this.
Before I could stammer a response, Brianna materialized beside Billie. Her expression oozing a false sympathy.
"Honestly, Gabriella, you're embarrassing yourself at this point. You should know your place." I couldn’t believe I ever viewed her as a friend.
She was no better than Billie.
"Leave her alone, Billie," Kai’s firm voice bellowed out from behind them.
I was surprised by his boldness. He was becoming more confident lately with standing up to them. Billie let out a harsh laugh and she turned to face him.
"Oh, look at the little omega knight, defending his princess.” Brianna giggled beside her.
“How sweet, but it’s utterly pointless." She turned her attention back to me.
"Tell me, Gabriella, what is it you think you have to offer an Alpha?” She stepped closer to me.
“I mean, you’re not particularly attractive. You're timid as a mouse, and everyone knows omegas are only good for…" She let the sentence hang.
Her eyes raked over my body, as she flashed her perfectly white teeth. Brianna mirrored her.
The coffee shop had gone silent, all eyes were on us. I knew what she was insinuating and it made this anger grow inside of me. I wanted to stand up for myself so bad, but I knew that it would be useless. I had no wolf to lean on.
Billie stroked me as someone who wouldn’t hesitate to shift in a second if she felt challenged. I couldn’t afford that. Then everyone would surely know my secret.
Tears began to prick at my eyes. I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to disappear, to melt into the floor or for the floor to swallow me whole. I just needed to get out of here.
Suddenly, Ava stood from her seat. There was a flicker of something that took over her facial features. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but Billie shot her a warning glare, and Ava quickly clamped her lips shut, her gaze darting to the floor. I saw it, though. She wanted to go against Billie.
"I...I don't know what you want from me," I managed to choke out, my voice barely a whisper.
Billie smirked as she leaned into me, running her fingers through my hair. Once she had a good handful of it, she fisted it, yanking my head back in an uncomfortable position.
"I want you to know your place, Gabriella. And your place is definitely not anywhere near Amir." She stated as she turned my head to face his direction.
Amir just sat there, staring at me with cold eyes. A smirk pulled at the corner of his lips as he continued to watch me. After a few more uncomfortable seconds, Billie let go of my hair, pushing my head slightly and turned on her heel and sat back down in her seat. Brianna followed behind her like a loyal puppy.
The coffee shop slowly came back to life. The hushed whispers and side eyes were cutting deeper than any blade. Kai placed a comforting hand on my arm.
"Are you okay, Gabriella?"
I shook my head, tears were now threatening to streaming down my face.
“I need to get out of here.” I whispered and quickly turned towards the door.
I took off running, not bothering to look behind me. I needed to get away from this place. Anywhere would be better than here. I ran past the buildings as fast as I could. I could hear Kai’s voice in the distance, calling to me, but I didn’t stop running.
I kept running until I reached a clearing through the trees. Once I felt I was far enough away from campus, I crumbled to the ground. Kai arms caught me and held onto me as the tears spilled over and I sobbed into his chest.
- Writer
