Chapter Three: Different personalities at home and school

In the evening

At the Mendes mansion

Mrs Mendes walks into the living rooom and drops her bag on the blue couch.

"I'm so tired", she said as she dives into the couch. "Alan I'm back".

"I'm in the dining. Go freshen up and come down for dinner".

"Sometimes i wonder if I'm still the parent in this house", she said as she gets up from the couch and walks up the stairs.

Minutes later she walks down the stairs and heads for the dining room. She gets there only to see Alan sitting and using his phone. There are a lot of dishes on the table. She stares at Alan wondering why he made so much food when it was only the both of them at home.

Alan looks up and sees his mom standing opposite him. "Why did you take so long to get here? I've been waiting for hours now", Alan nagged.

"Is someone coming over to have dinner with us?", she asked.

"I don't remember inviting anyone for dinner. Did you?".

"No i didn't".

"Take a seat mom", he said as she sits on the chair opposite him.

"Why did you make so much food?", she asked.

"You are always so forgetful mom", he said as he shakes his head.

"What did i forget this time?".

"It's that time of the year".

"Really?", she asked surprised by what he just said.

"Just forget about it. I'll take care of everything okay", he replied with a smile.

"I just realized how lucky i am".

"Yes you're really lucky mom. Having someone like me around is a rare gift".

"I didn't say that to make your egoistic head bigger", she said as she flicks his forehead.

"That hurt mom", he whinned.

"I love you Alan. I don't know what I'll do without you".

"The answer is nothing", he said with a smile.

"Your father would be proud of the person you turned out to be".

"I love you mom", he whispered as he places his right hand on her left hand.

"That sounds so weird coming from you".

"Just eat your food already", he said as he puts a forkful of food into her mouth.

"How was your day?", she asked with her mouth full.

"It went as expected. They tried to bully me because i wore glasses and i behaved like the bigger person and beat them to a pulp", he said with a smile.

"You mischievous good looking devil. You behave a lot like your father. I hope those boys are okay".

"Don't worry mom the doctor said they will be discharged next month".

"Next month? You say it so causally like it's a good thing".

"Mom i just had a talk with them but then things got out of hand so i had to handle the situation".

"You are just something else Alan".

"I get that from you".

"Anyways Laurel came over today. She invited you to her birthday party next week".

"I'll pass. I've got something important doing next week".

"I know things ended badly between you two when you decided to cross that friendship line but she's still your friend no matter what. You can't just throw everything away just because your romantic relationship didn't work out".

"And what about you mom? It's been almost sixteen years and you still don't want to date anymore. You've completely shut yourself from having any romantic relationship. You deny yourself the opportunity to be loved just because of him".

"You love me Alan and that's enough for me. Being loved by you feels the same as being loved by him. I know you think I'm being silly but you won't umderstand me Alan. You don't know what it is to love someone more than yourself ", she said as tears flow down her cheeks.

"I love you more than i love myself".

"That's not what i mean Alan. One day you'll find someone that makes you feel that way and then you'll understand me".

"That means I'll never be able to understand you because love isn't for me".

"One day you're going to take those words back".

"I can't wait for that day to come", he said as he wipes away the tears flowing down with his thumbs. "I don't like seeing you cry. It makes me feel like dad's going to come for me at night", he added as she laughs softly."Now there's the pretty face i love to see".

"You are such a sweet mouth Alan. I'm starting to get jealous of the girl who will win your heart. No one is going to be able to hurt her. As long as you're around,she will always be loved".

"You don't have to be jealous. You will always be the only one in my heart".

"I'm your mother silly".

"Who said you can't be more?", he asked with a mischievous smirk on his face.

"When did you become this bad?".

"I've been learning a thing or two from you".

"Okay you seriously need a girlfriend in your life".

"Really?".

"Yes when are you going to bring a girl home. I need you to get me grandkids I'm already getting close to my grave".

"You are in your mid thirties mom. You are nowhere near death".

"I may not look it but i am older than you think i am".

"Sure".

"Alan i need you to take this seriously. I want you to give me grandkids. I don't care about what kind of girl you want, i just want grandkids".

"Mom I'm eighteen and I'm not ready to be a boyfriend talk less about being a father".

"I had you when i was eighteen".

"Why are you being so stubborn mother?".

"How am i being stubborn? You don't want to date or get married and i don't have a problem with that. But i won't accept you not giving me grandkids.

"How did we end up talking about this?", he asked as he smacks his forehead.

"You're getting me a grandkid and that's final".

"I don't have a say in this right?".

"I'm glad you understand me", she said as she puts a forkful of food into her mouth".

"Sometimes she acts innocent and sweet. Other times she's worse than the devil himself", he thought as he smiles at her.

"What are you smiling about?".

"Nothing".

"Eat up or it will get cold".

"Sure", he said as he starts to eat.

5pm

At Sawyer mansion.

Nikki is walking through a corridor. The corridor is dark and has a scary aura around it. Each step she takes can be heard perfectly thanks to her shoes. She walks towards the end of the corridor and at the end of it she stops in front of a large brown woooden door. The door opens and she walks in with the door closing behind her.

The door leads to a room and litted candles are the source of light in the room. A particular wall has different kinds of weapons arranged on it. A throne is placed at opposite to the door. A lady is sitted on the throne and a girl is standing beside her.

"Why are you so late Nikki and why are you still on your feet?", the lady asked and immediately Nikki goes down on her knees and bows down.

"I'm so sorry mother. My father had called for me", Nikki answered with fear all over her face.

"Is your father more important than your responsibilities?".

"No mother".

"How was your first day in human school? Did you have any success?".

"Not yet mother".

"Do you know what that means?".

"Yes i do mother".

"Undress yourself ".

"Yes mother", Nikki said as she raises her head up and starts to unbutton her shirt.

"Alisson get the whip amd make sure you show no mercy or I'll do worse to you", the lady threatened.

"Yes mother", the girl standing beside her said as she walks towards the wall with weapons and takes a black whip from the wall.

"Position yourself Nikki", the lady said as Nikki bends down on her knees. She is only wearing her underwear and her skirt.

Alisson walks towards Nikki and then uses the whip on Nikki's bare back.

"This should help you remember that failures will always be punished", the lady said as Alisson continues to use the whip on Nikki.

An hour later

In the medical room in the Sawyer mansion

Nikki is lying unconscious on a bed. Amber is sitting beside her crying profusely.

"Nikki why do you have to keep doing this to yourself? Why do you have to risk your life to prove a point to her? Why can't you realise that there are people who love and care about you no matter who you are".

A tear from Amber drops on Nikki's right hand. Nikki's right hand starts to shake and then her eyes slowly start to open.

"Don't leave me. Please don't leave Lucian i want to stay with you".

"Nikki?".

"Don't leave me!", Nikki said as she wakes up.

"Nikki are you okay?"

"Lucian?", she called as she opens her eyes fully.

"It's Amber silly".

"Amber what happened? Why am i in the medical room?".

"You passed out again".

"Did i make it to the last minute?".

"Is that seriously what you're thinking about now? You almost died Nikki!".

"I'm a demon".

"Half demon in case you need a reminder".

"Amber please don't....

"Save it Nikki. I almost lost you today if not that Ryder came on time. Why do you always have to risk your life just to make your mother acknowledge you?".

""I'm the crowned princess of the middle chamber of hell. I have to live up to my mother's expectations".

"If you keep doing this to yourself then i promise I'll leave and you won't ever see me again".

"Amber".

"I can't bear to see you suffer everyday. It's better if i just leave I'll only be a burden to you", Amber said as Nikki hugs her.

"I already lost a close friend once I don't want to lose another", she said as tears run down her cheeks.

"You'll never lose me no matter what happens".

"Thanks for always sticking with me even if I'm being unreasonable and irresponsible. You're the best friend i could ever ask for".

"You're welcome", amber said as she puts her arms around Nikki.

The next day

Closing time

At Greenwood academy at the parking space

Alan is walking towards his ride home when he bumps into someone. The person falls down and so does Alan's glasses. He bends down to pick up his glasses when he sees a boy sitting on the floor. He realises that was the person he just bumped into.

"I'm so sorry i wasn't paying attention to where i was going", he apologised as he bows his head.

"Let me go", a voice said as Alan immediately raises his head up and sees Nikki on the floor with two boys surrounding her.

"Shortie?", he called as she looks towards his direction.

"What are you doing here?", she asked.

"It looks like you two know each other", one of the boys said with a smirk. The boy on the ground gets up and walks towards the others.

"What's going on here?", Alan asked as he assesses the situation. Why was she sitting on the ground and what do these boys want with her?, he thought as he stares at Nikki.

"Just mind your business and walk away nerd", another boy warned.

"Why do you always assume everyone wearing glasses is a nerd?", Alan asked.

"Does that mean that you aren't a nerd?", the leader of the boys asked as he pushes Alan who staggers back a little.

"Newbie just walk away. It's none of your business", Nikki said.

"Listen to the girl nerd".

"Fine I'll walk away", Alan said as he picks up his glasses.

"That's the best decision you've made since today", the leader of the boys said as Alan sweeps his feet off the ground. The boy falls hard to the floor on his bottom. The other two boys run towards him.

"Get away they'll hurt you", Nikki said as Alan charges towards the boys. He snaps the first boy's neck which makes him drop to the ground. He punches the second boy to the face and then gives him a spin kick which sends him straight to the ground.

"I can't believe i wasted more than a minute on you three", Alan said as he walks towards Nikki.

Nikki becomes a bit scared. How did a weakling like him beat up the most feared boy group in the school in less than three minutes?

"This is the first time I'm seeing the most popular girl in school being bullied".

"They weren't bullying me. I had it under control so i didn't need your help".

"I wasn't helping you. I was just pissed beacuse my mom bought those glasses for me and she would kill me if she found out i broke them. So in my own words they were nothing but punching bags I used to pass out my aggression", he said as he squats beside her.

"What do you want?", she asked trying to move away but she couldn't because she is too weak.

"I can't believe I'm doing this", he said as he carries Nikki in his arms and heads towards his car.

"Put me down".

"You act tougher than you are".

"What are you talking about?".

"You act all tough but deep down you know you're a weakling".

"Do you always underestimate every girl you meet?".

"It's actually the opposite. I overestimate them but you're the first that thinks I'm underestimating her".

"Why are you being so nice to me?".

"You sure do misunderstand me a lot. I'm only doing this because there are cameras around the school. If the school happens to find out about what happened, I'll get into trouble. So I'm only trying to save myself", he said as he smiles at her.

"You are the most self centred person I've ever met".

"I can't fake being nice to everyone. It takes a lot of tolerance to put up with people and fortunately for me i was born with low tolerance".

"Where are you taking me to?".

"I'm taking you home".

"I appreciate your selfish gesture but i can take myself home".

"Keep talking and I'll drop you".

"You wouldn't dare".

"Try me", he said with a dead serious face which makes Nikki keep shut while he keeps on walking.

He walks towards a red Nissan xtrail and sees Amber waiting by the back seat door.

"How did you know this is my car?".

"My car is the black one", he said as Nikki spots a black Ferrari SF90 Stradale beside the red Nissan.

"Why are you using a sport car to come to school?", she asked as he drops her gently on her feet.

"The next time you're getting bullied make sure I'm nowhere close to you", he said as he walks towards his car, opens the back door seat and enters the car.

"Well make sure you don't help me next time", she shouted as the car zooms off.

"Nikki", Amber called.

"Hi Amber".

"Where the hell have you been?".

"I was on my way when three boys got in my way and bullied. I couldn't fight because I'm still recovering from yesterday".

"I told you to be careful".

"I'm sorry for making you worry".

"How were you able to run away from them?".

"A boy helped me out".

"I guess not all of them are bad".

"He's the worst of them all".

"Did he do something to you?".

"Just forget about it. Let's get going or we'll be late", Nikki said as she opens the back seat door and enters the car while Amber does the same.