Should have just went to Eastwood

"I was never one for English." Fera sighed while shoving her books into her bag. "I'm so glad it's over."

"Really?" I asked, with a small chuckle. "What has English ever done to you?"

"Well..." She pauses, swinging her panda bag over her shoulder. "Let's just say my dog liked it way more than me."

"Your dog ate your homework?" I guessed with a smile.

"Yep." She popped the p displaying all whites. The tip of her lip curved at one side revealing a dimple. It was small, and while not so noticeable, I still felt myself thinking it was cute. I wanted dimples. "Imagine my surprise in the morning when I had to go to school empty-handed on the day it was due. So you can't blame me for hating it after that."

"Damn."

I knew someone was looking at me when little shivers travelled down my spine. Scanning the room immediately, I locked gazes with glare queen two rows below. My heart seized in my chest briefly at the reality that she had her eyes on me, but I couldn't see her. Now that I stared into her chocolate brown eyes, my heart was able to calm down completely. They narrowed at me beneath long eyelashes. Almost like sizing me up.

That didn't go well with me at all. I was more unappreciative with the grimace plastered on her full lips. I felt my eyes harden as I slipped my bag onto my shoulder. The material dug into my skin but I ignored it, preoccupied. My expression must have communicated the sick feeling in my stomach because her lip twitched in annoyance when I slipped my bag onto my shoulder.

"That girl has a real problem," Fera clicked her tongue making no effort to hide her pity. She treated it like the girl was beyond helping. Maybe she is, I thought humorlessly. "Don't worry about it." She patted my shoulder, "Come on."

Following in pursuit, I made it my mission to dodge tables and chairs with her before we exited the class. The classroom was made filled with three rows and two available walkways. Fera didn't take the path, which would have been the logical answer, but went through the rows instead. We emerged into a hallway bustling with students.

Conversations bounced off the walls, students littering the space as they zipped past each other to the cafeteria. The one thing I liked about Skye-West was the old structure. Inside, the walls were made out of cement and painted in light grassy green. On the exterior, it was bricked walls and cobblestones for pathways. Glare Queen chipped at my brain every second Fera told me not to worry about it.

"Who is she, anyway?" I blurted.

"Who?"

"The girl from before."

"You mean Electra Soulsberry?"

I still preferred Glare Queen better. "Yeah... her."

She hooked her arm around my shoulders suddenly. I felt my eyes widen in surprise as I looked at her. Blue stared uncertainly at me, not knowing if her actions were appropriate or not. When I didn't squirm from her hold, deciding I quite liked it, we picked up the pace again. From the corner of my eye, Fera wore a proud grin. Everything about Fera so far told me she was an easy-going person. From the warm expressions, sweet voice filled with enthusiasm, and playful nature; she made you want to be around her.

"Electra Soulsberry is only Striker's new conquest."

She rolled her eyes like it was all overrated. As for me, I was attempting to wrap my head around the conquest part.

"You make it sound like it's a common occurrence."

"Because it is," she said matter-of-factly. "But not that it can bother many people here. Girls love to swarm to him, and boys have to let it go. Whether they like it or not. Story sold short, Striker Cunningham is this schools leader."

Striker Cunningham, the school leader. Well, how about that. This all felt like some kind of ridiculous movie scenario. I had the urge to just break into a fit of historical laughter.

"Talking about Striker." She pointed her chin in the direction of the wall just before the double doors leading to the cafeteria. A group of seniors occupied the space along with Electra. She stood beside the guy against the wall in the centre, one leg over the other- owning his comfortableness. He wore black skinny jeans that hugged his bronze skin; a white singlet under a leather jacket that complimented his lean body, and black Nike shoes.

Something about the way he carried himself in the space stole my attention. As if he knew nothing could hurt him. It was unnerving. Butterflies began to reside in my chest.

You should stop looking now, Verona. I'd been staring for a good four minutes now. Reaching where they were, it made it easier to see him through the opening more closely.

Striker felt my gaze bore into him, and there was no time to regret my actions when his head lifted to find me looking at him. Should have stopped. Dark brown-like wet bark- studied me calmly. Striker kept his expression neutral-not giving any hint to what he was thinking. My gaze kept strong, not faltering or trying to avoid the deepness his eyes seemed to possess.

Soon his friends seemed to copy noticing his distraction. They all stared silently, shattering my eye contact with him."Where not desserts you can eat, Bailey." Fera's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I suggest diverting your eyes."

A guy with ash-brown hair and a smile plastered on his olive skin flickered his eyes to Fera. From my perpetual vision, Fera challenged him with a glare while we walked. "I could eat you up all the same." He replied, clearly amused. "How about it doll?" He sent down the hall as we passed them.

"Yeah"- A slender finger pointed the middle finger at them over her head- "over my dead body!" oohs could be heard above his chuckle. Feeling her arm tighten around me, she dragged me into the cafeteria rolling her eyes at their exchange. Communicating one thing with her eyes, her secret grin she tried to contain said another.

############

Fera popped a scoop of strawberry yogurt into her mouth. We sat at the back of the cafeteria less populated with people. "Mmm," she groaned in glee, dying a little more on the inside. It was impossible not to be fascinated by her love for yogurt across the table. Fera was the first I encountered who enjoyed yogurt to the point of worship.

"Is it that good?" I asked with an incredulous tone. Today the cafeteria offered salad, lasagna or fish and chips. Of course, I went with the chips option. Fera went with salad and yogurt that she brought especially from home. Taking a fry, I brought it up to my face, studying it for a moment, before dipping it in tomato sauce and popping it in my mouth.

It was a habit I took up after mom died. I'd come to admire the little things around me, studying them and just appreciating that they belonged to my world. Having gone through grief, you tended to find a way to cope with everything- for me, it was this method. I wouldn't take anything for granted ever again. That's why Noah was one and only precious brother which would have my protection for as long as I lived. I wonder how his lunch is going?

"Ummhah," she spat out best she could with the spoon in her mouth. "Itsdabwesttingever."

"Ahh huh," I replied slowly, pretending to agree with her. Fera gave me a dumbstruck expression. Taking the spoon out of her mouth, she pointed at me with such seriousness.

"Your loss. One day you'll come apologizing on your knees when you realize what you're missing out on."

"I doubt-"

"Are you Verona Bridon?" Someone squawked in a high pitched voice. Expecting an unfriendly encounter, I give Fera an uneasy look. She returns it with a tight smile. Turning our heads, Electra hovers next to our table with two other figures. They cloud her sides, hands planted on their hips while she takes the fore-front.

"Who's asking?"

"This has nothing to do with you." Her palm raises to face Fera. "Stay out of it." At the quick dismissal on Electra's part, the snickers from the barbies behind her start to cloud my hearing. Eventually, it's all I can hear, the sound exploding in my ears irking me the wrong way. I may have only met Fera today, but the need to protect her against their obvious attempt to embarrass her was most important right now.

"What do you want?" I asked angrily. My anger was directed at the platinum and crimson barbies behind her. Noticing the darkness in my emerald eyes and the tick in my jaw while I glared at them, their snickers seized to exist. I managed to make them shrink back in fear from what I'd do to them. Electra briefly looked over her shoulder at them. She was clearly displeased at how easy they crumbled.

"I've got something to make real clear." She announced, her gaze burning the side of my cheek.

"Do you now?" Fera countered sarcastically.

Electra sent her a glare, before focusing back on me. Placing a hand on the table, she supported herself while she leaned down to meet me face to face. Our noses were at touching distance, her breath fanning over my face. It was an attempt to scare me, but it was nothing compared to my uncle. "I saw the way you looked at Striker." She whispered with disgust. Her eyes studied for my reaction. "Don't think for a second that just because he gave you a little look it means anything."

"Never. Even. Crossed. My mind." I replied nonchalantly. Electra's eyes darkened at my indifference to Striker. Retracting from me, she returned to standing regaining from what little I gave her.

"It better stay that way." She pointed a finger at me, resulting in threatening.

"Aw!" Fera babied in a low voice. "Is liddle widdle Electra nervous that she won't be Striker's favourite pet anymore?"

"Seriously!" Electra blurted, whipping her neck in her direction. "You never seem to mind your own business. Don't think that your all that just because you hide behind your cousin. He has a life to live as well."

My intuition shouted that there was history between her and Electra. The air was tense with their silent friction. Fera formed a fist on the table at Electra's retort. A raged storm brewed in her eyes, while she exhaled a breath.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I choose who becomes my business. And in this case, Verona Bridon is my business. So. Get. Lost."

Electra tensed, caught off guard by the steely edge in her voice. I naturally held my breath while she spoke-hanging onto every word. I was seeing a new side of her today, and this one scared me the most.

"Anyway." She swallowed and cleared her throat. "Stay away from Striker if you know what's best for you."

"Stay away from me if you know what's best for you."

Fera interjected sharply. Electra avoided direct eye contact with her, settling her attention on me instead. Not daring anymore confrontation with her, she turned away quickly and tried to escape.

"Oh, and Electra."

Electra halted in her footsteps as if we whipped her. Her posture turned rigid every second that Fera didn't speak.

"At least my cousin loves me. Does Striker love you?"

Fera was out to draw blood at that jab. I saw Electra's hand grip her skirt tightly. And even though I didn't see her expression, I could imagine it was hurt. Fera waited patiently for her answer.

"I thought so," She commented when Electra stormed off keeping her silence. At that moment I genuinely felt sorry for her. I couldn't imagine what I'd do if my brother didn't love me back. It was an unimaginable thought and I was shutting it off before even thinking about it. Everyone deserved to be loved- even someone like Electra. It wasn't right for Fera to use that as a weakness, but there was much more to the story that I didn't know.

Then I became to this conclusion: Skye-West was filled with dangerous people. Should have just went to Eastwood, Noah.