CHAPTER 7: CHOOSING HER

**

Callix 

Midnight returned to ours, grinning from ear to ear, holding popcorn and stuffed animals in her arms. 

"I saw my aunt. I gave her one of my stuffed animals, but she's still asleep," she said, her smile dropping quickly.

 "Did you have a nice time?" I asked, studying her.

 A smile lit up her beautiful face again. 

"The best, Romeo proposed and won me loads of cool stuff", she grinned, bouncing up and down like a little kid.

Her grey, stormy eyes flicked to Jasper.

 His face looked annoyed, and his body language was stiff.

 "What's wrong with you?" she asked, tilting her head.

 "You've got candy floss on my hoodie," he said calmly.

 But I knew Jasper.

 He was about to fly off the handle. 

He didn't let anyone wear his clothing for this reason.

 "Jasper, I didn't know. I thought this was Dexter's", she whispered, her face pale.

 Everyone was tense, as they came from the office, so were Axe and Dexter.

 Jasper studied her violently, his grey eyes shining.

His fists clenched angrily at his sides.

 "It's not her fault, Jas, I told her to help herself", Romeo lied.

 I watched him lie, and it was clear he was protecting her.

Jasper knew that, too, which infuriated him further.

 "Midnight does a lot of helping herself, doesn't she?" Jasper said deadly. 

"What do you mean" snapped Midnight, placing all her things on the kitchen island and staring at Jasper. 

"Firstly, you disrespected your superiors, and sitting with us in class was wrong. Axel felt sorry for you, and that's why you were summoned. I regret leading the boys to find you that day because you touched what didn't belong to you. Romeo was off-limits. Why do you think he liked you? Because you were a challenge, a change, but look at you, you're desperate. Dexter only wants you because you don't want him, and unfortunately for Callix, he fell for you. I feel sorry for him, you twisted, manipulative bitch" he managed calmly. 

All lies, everything he said.

 Jasper had lied to her because he wanted to push her away.

 She'd got too close.

 Had seen too much.

"How fucking dare, you", she whispered. 

Tears slid down her rosy, red cheeks.

 "He has a point. Ever since she walked into our lives, it's been nothing but fuck ups", said Dexter quietly. 

Anger coursed through me, and I shot up.

I'd fuck them both up, and nothing would stop me. 

I dived towards Jasper, smashing his face with my fist over and over.

 "Is that all you've got, lover boy" sneered Jasper, grinning at me, his teeth bloody.

I felt someone grab me away, and by the hold, it was Axe.

 Jasper spat out blood, watching me sharply.

 Laughing manically, Jasper still watched me.

"There must have been some truth in my words Callix, or your whore wouldn't have left", he smirked. 

Looking towards the door, I noticed Midnight had gone.

I growled, storming into my bedroom and slamming the door angrily.

 I'd lost my cool.

I loved her and the words he'd said, they both said.

 It was bullshit.

I had watched Midnight Ellison for some time and noticed two significant things. 

Midnight craved love.

 She wanted it more than anything because she'd had so little.

But that's all she wanted.

It's what I want to give her.

Because I'm in love with her, and I won't stop.

 She's mine; I'll share her if I must. 

 Staring out the window, I watched the lights of the buildings flash, and I turned to the sky, wishing upon the stars.

 Please, wherever you are, Midnight, know I love you and that you will be okay. 

The stars twinkled like they accepted my wish.

 I hoped Romeo had found her and she was safe in his arms because sometime soon she'd be safe in mine. 

**

MIDNIGHT

Sitting in my bedroom, I sobbed hysterically into my pillow on my bed.

Jasper's words haunted my mind and I was unable to think straight.

 I'd heard Romeo call after me, but I'd kept running. 

I'd run so fast.

 The glass shattering startled my thoughts, and my body fell alert.

 I heard the stairs creak.

I ran behind my wardrobe quickly.

The boys would have knocked, not broken in.

 My body shook as fear snaked through my body, making it cold and heavy.

Dread sat in the pit of my stomach, and I was utterly alone right now. 

"Oh, princess, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," said a voice as he spotted me.

 I screamed violently as my stalker wrapped my hair in a tight fist and dragged me.

 "Please stop", I sobbed as he laughed horribly. 

We battled as he held a knife to my neck.

 "Please", I cried as he gripped my body close to him. "Please", I begged again.

 Tears drenched Jasper's black hoodie.

 All of them flashed in my mind.

 I wouldn't get to tell Cal I loved him. Or Romeo.

Or tell them how much all of them meant to me. 

The intruder was grinning.

A mask obscured half of his face, though.

 "Your beautiful princess", he sneered, using the guy's nickname for me.

 "Please", I sobbed hysterically, begging him to let me go.

 A loud shot rang out, and my stalker dropped forward onto me, the metal knife clanging to the floor loudly. 

I slid from the body whimpering, and that's when I met Jasper's cold, hooded eyes.

 He said nothing. He just watched me.

 "I'm sorry for wearing your hoodie, Jasper, why are you here?", I whispered coldly.

 "I don't care about the hoodie; I care about you, I'm here for you", he growled angrily.

 His confession sat on me heavily, and I stepped forward.

 He beat me to it, moulding his perfect lips to mine in one brutal kiss.

 He kissed me like I was the last person on the planet. 

It burned my mouth with fire. Suddenly, he ripped away.

 "You need to leave. I will deal with this," he managed, not even looking at me. "But" I whispered, glancing at the man nervously. 

"Do as I say, Midnight," he spat, his grey eyes gleaming up at me. You can't say what you've said and expect me to leave," I shouted, clenching my fists angrily.

 I stared up at Jasper. He was tall. His dark curls fell in those beautiful eyes, and I gazed at him. 

He stepped towards me, and instinctively, I stepped back.

 This continued, his stalking forward until my back pressed against the wall. 

His old oak scent invaded my nostrils. 

As he stood before me, caging me in with his arms, he didn't let me go; he didn't touch me; he just intimidated me with his dark grey eyes, almost hovering near black. 

Panic settled through me as he suddenly stroked his nose up my neck, breathing in.

Fear grasped my heart, squeezing it.

 Holding my breath, I didn't move a muscle.

 Until the door downstairs slammed, and Jasper ripped away from me. 

I gasped out loud, and Jasper studied me darkly.

 My bedroom door was suddenly ripped open.

 And Romeo stood like a dear in headlights.

 His blonde hair was in disarray, and his green eyes were wide and panicked.

 "What the fuck is going on here" he bellowed.

 Then his eyes flicked to the body on the floor.

And pure horror shone in those emerald green eyes.