-Chapter Two-
-Continued-
"Oomph!"
I landed on Desmond awkwardly. My forehead smacked into his mouth with an audible crack and my foot twisted, straining my ankle. He caught me with one hand on my arm and the other on my waist. "Hey, are you okay?"
Clumsily, I scrambled up, kneeing his stomach in the process. "Sorry," I mumbled, tilting my head down so that my bangs hid most of my face, "T-Thank you."
"No problem," he assured me as he tried to catch my eye. "You…look kind of familiar. Have we met?"
"No!" I didn't sound very convincing, but Desmond seemed to buy it.
He looked over his shoulder and waved to Jules and Danet, "Well, I got to go. Maybe I'll see you around?"
I nodded. For God's sake! Please leave!
Desmond led them toward the exit, glancing briefly at me over his shoulder.
Then they were gone. Just like that.
Sora came over to where I stood, rooted to the spot in shock. She wiggled her thin eyebrows at me. "Oh my God! Who was that?"
I gave her a scalding look before letting it go.
"It doesn't matter." I peeked at the door again, no sign of them. "Come on, we need to get back to work before Kimber scold's us."
She groaned, shooting me a disappointed look before getting back to work behind the counter.
I followed behind her, ignoring the throb of my sprained ankle.
-Desmond's POV-
The accident kept replaying in my mind. She'd looked so much like her, the girl that saved me back then. Yeah, sure, that was in grade school. But I never forgot her; instead I kept an eye out. In case I saw her again.
This happened to be sooner than I thought, because I saw her on the first day of school that next year.
You see, when I was a kid, I was…different looking. My arms and legs were too long, I wore gaudy glasses, and thick metal braces lined my teeth. And all too often, I was bullied. It continued for a few months, until she came in. She jumped in front of me, trying to block the small rocks from raining down. Leave him alone, was all she said, standing as tall as her small legs would allow her.
I was pretty pathetic.
But the next year my braces were removed and I switched to contacts. It made a whole lot of difference. I instantly made friends. Then, by the time I entered high school, I had grown into my arms and legs and then some. My hair was no-longer greasy looking; it didn't even need any styling products. So my confidence with people grew insanely high.
Despite all this, I've never got up the nerve to talk to her. You'd understand if you knew her true personality.
Delilah wasn't much of an outgoing person, with her silver-blue eyes and unwelcoming stare.
What would I say? Hi! I know you don't remember me but, like, ten years ago you stood up for me. So thanks!
Yeah, right.
-Delilah's POV-
The house was dark when I got home. Dad and Trent were already in bed, like usual. Three Oreo's sat on a small plate on the coffee table. I'd already crammed two into my mouth by the time I reached the fridge. I grabbed the apple juice and chugged straight from the carton before putting it back and eating the other cookie. The clock on the wall told me it was way past eleven, so I tip-toed to my room.
"Delilah?" Trent yawned from his side of the room. Moonlight flittered through the window, illuminating were he sat on his bed.
"Yeah," I whispered back. "Go on back to bed Trent. It's really late."
"I-I know. Don't be mad, I got worried."
I walked over and sat next to him, "I'm not mad…but you need your sleep."
"What about you? You always have to work late."
"I know kiddo but that's different. Okay?"
He nodded and I kissed his forehead. Immediately, he wiped at the spot with the back of his hand, "Eww!"
"Oh, whatever," I bumped his shoulder with my fist. "Now sleep."
Trent crawled under the covers, but not before sticking his tough out at me.
I burped, and it smelt exactly like Oreos mixed with apple juice.
-The next morning. At school.-
"Okay class, today were going to be learning about-" Ms. Peat's voice droned on and on about some lesson that very few students were even listening to. I'd already read this chapter, unlike all the other zoners, so I tuned out to surveyed my classmates.
The cheerleaders were sitting in the back of the room, obviously passing notes. Fay flicked her oh-so-perfect blond hair over her shoulder and tilted her head to show off her long neck. Three guys, the ones from her fan club I presume, drooled openly. She didn't mind of course, she enjoyed it.
Sasha, one of Fay's followers, leaned over to whisper to Fay. Instantly, her gaze snapped to mine and she scrunched her nose. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes and flip her off, I turned back to Ms. Peat's lecher.
Okay, not working, I groaned inwardly. We still had five minutes of this torment. I crossed my arms on the desk and buried my face.
Desmond wasn't in this class, but I had him in science the next hour. Oh God, what if he recognized me? What'll I do?
Threaten him via blackmail?
With what?
Briefly, I thought of exposing him and snapping a picture. Ohh, I could see it now. I'd be standing there, waving a half-nude picture of him and throwing threats. Because I'm sure that would help my case. Not only would that be cruel, but that'd just prove me even more of a freak.
Although I didn't care about others' opinions, I scratched that idea.
The bell rang, making me jump.
My ankle protested as I stood. It had gotten worse overnight and was badly bruised. I shook it off, limping all the way to science. Maybe I'll be a bit late today.
-Desmond's POV-
I sat down in the back of the class, no one was here yet. Mrs. Roland glanced at me, "You're early today Mr. Rye."
I shrugged, fixing my eyes on the now opening door.
Delilah stepped inside, letting the door close with a soft click. Her dark hair was pulled back into a loose pony-tail. Only her long bangs framed her face and round eyes. She froze when her eyes met mine; Mrs. Roland started to write on the board.
Is there something on my face, I thought as I rubbed my chin absently.
A silent question churned in her eyes that I didn't quite understand. Before I could figure it out the door opened once more, and she broke eye contact with me. She walked calmly to the closest seat near her, sat, and began to read.
Something panged in my chest. Was it disappointment? I thought she was going to talk to me for a second there… My legs turned to stone when she openly continued to ignore me.
All I could hear was my conscious chanting at me. Coward! Coward! Coward!
I jumped up and sat next to her.
Delilah peeked at me from the corner of her eye, then continued to read.
"So that's how it's gonna be," I mumbled, sounding like a little kid. "Fine, two can play that game."
When it was clear Delilah wouldn't give in, I slumped in my seat and waited. Students entered the classroom just in time before the bell. Jules patted me on the shoulder before sitting in the back and sending me a thumbs up.
I gave him a confused look and caught Delilah watching me. Resisting the urge to smile in triumph, I stared back.
"Finally-" I began.
She looked back at her book.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I grumbled, "So stubborn."
Her lips twitched upward and she covered it with a little cough.
Had I imaged that? No?
Delilah: 3
Me: 1
Well…it was a start.
-Delilah's POV-
My ankle was throbbing all through science and it was getting worse. And as if that wasn't enough, Desmond wouldn't stop staring at me with that amused expression. Oh how I longed to smack that look right off his face. But, of course, I didn't.
Curse my well being.
I reached down and rubbed my ankle, only making it angry and irritated. Ugggh.
"Hey- Are you okay?"
Crap, did I say that out loud?
I turned to Desmond, shocked to see true concern on his face.
"Delilah?"
Pressing my lips together, I nodded. Otherwise he'd have everyone in class gawking at me. He still didn't look satisfied, and opened his mouth again to – I'm sure—protest.
But I beat him to it and hissed, "Nothing serious."
"It doesn't look that way. You're so pale. Are you sure—"
"Yes!" Damn my vague patience.
"Ms. Faith, do you have something you'd like to share?" Mrs. Roland asked, her face a mask of anger.
"Actually-" I told you, THIN patience.
Desmond cut in, surprising me into stunned silence, "Actually, I was rudely disturbing Delilah. Sorry Mrs. Roland, it won't happen again." He flashed her one of his brightest smiles-
-but she didn't fall for it, "That's a lunch detention." Mrs. Roland glared, "For both of you."
The class did one of their signature Ohhh's toward Desmond.
He ignored them and turned to me, giving me a 'look'.
A look that clearly stated its meaning.
You owe me, and I'm not going to forget it.
I almost screamed in frustration.
-Desmond's POV. Detention-
Delilah walked in just before me, going to the nearest desk and sitting down with a relieved sigh. I sat next to her, smiling at her immediate glare. She pulled her thick book out again causing annoyance to flicker in my chest.
I snatched it away from her, holding it just out of her reach.
"Hey!" She exclaimed in surprise and jumped up. "Give it back before the teacher comes! Do you want another detention?"
"Ah, so it speaks," I said. "To bad I have to hold your precious book hostage to get your attention."
Delilah stepped up next to me, reaching for the book. I underestimated her height and her fingers brushed the spine. So I quickly raised it higher and met her impatient eyes. She was taller than I had originally thought; her head was even with the top of my chest when we were both standing. Her eyes were, as usual, bright. The blue seemed like it was mixed lightly with the silver. But the closer I looked, the more I realized that it was the silver mixed into the blue. It was hard to tell even if you stared.
"Give it to me," she snarled. "Desmond I am not in the mood for this crap!" Delilah jumped, just missing the edge of her book. But when her feet hit the ground again she cried out and half-fell, half-collapsed onto the floor. I stood there for a shocked moment before crouching next to her.
"Delilah? Are you okay?" I asked her, panic detectible in my voice.
For once she didn't glare or snap back, "Yeah." She sniffed. Was she crying? But when she looked up at me her eyes were dry. "It's just my ankle. I hurt it the other night. It'll heal on its own." She stood up again but it obviously pained her to stand on it.
"You need to go to the nurse," I told her sternly.
"No, it is fine." Delilah said, placing a little weight on it and wincing. "See?"
"Right."
Before either of us knew what I was doing, I scooped her up into my arms. One arm was hooked under her knees and the other supported her back. She protested, "Hey! Watch it! What do you think you're doing?"
For a second I thought about putting her back down. But she needed to go to the nurse and I was sure this was the only way to get her there. I looked down at her in my arms and laughed outright.
Delilah's cheeks were uncharacteristically beat red as she stared at me in shock. "PUT ME DOWN." Although her voice was firm and angry, I could tell she was more embarrassed than not. It was an expression I had never seen on her, and one I'd like to see on her more often. The thought and the way she struggled kept a cheesy smile on my face as I carried her to the nurses' office.
Students watched us with open curiosity, the occasional girl leaning to whisper something into her friends' ear. I felt a fierce protectiveness come over me. Delilah, on the other hand, placed on hand on my cheek, pushed, and struggled even more when I couldn't see her. I tightened my grip and flipped her over my shoulder so she would stop.
"You crazy bastard! Put me down!"
I shifted her in my arms, giving her some space and walked faster. She grumbled a small protest, and then followed it by a brisk 'whatever'. One ignorant person couldn't have cared less about Delilah's swollen ankle and bumped into it mercilessly. I could hear her stiffly a groan as I hiked her feet out of the way.
"Sorry," I mumbled guiltily, feeling like it was my fault.
The second we got to the nurses office she twisted in my arms sharply and I lost my grip. She landed with a grimace and glared at me before storming into the room, letting one more inappropriate curse escape her lips before the door shut completly. You could probably hear the door slam closed all the other way on the other side of the hall. I chuckled, getting a few weird looks from passerby's.
Ignoring them, I left for the cafeteria. Maybe they still had some pineapple pizza left.
-Delilah's POV-
The nurse, Ms. Gina, had her bright red hair pulled into a tight bun. She was in her early twenties with a boyfriend she spoke of often. One look at my ankle and she tsked me the whole time she was wrapping it in gaze.
"Kids these days," she mumbled to herself. "I never hurt myself like this when I was a kid."
I nodded along as she rattled on, to busy trying to forget about Desmond and about how furious I was with him. How dare he just waltz around with me in his arms. So embarrassing. Now I felt as though I owed him even more than before.
Ugh.
After leaving the nurses office, I headed to lunch. Maybe I could relax a little before the next class. Then again that was before Danet and Jules rounded the corner in front of me. Jules looked nervous, and had a tiny pony-tail on top of his head to keep his bangs out of his eyes. Danet, on the other hand, looked determined.
"Is this really her?" Danet asked Jules. Jules nodded in answer, causing his pony-tail to bob. "Interesting…"
He stepped closer to me, studying me from head to toe. I crossed my arms over my chest when his eyes lingered.
Danet laughed, not kindly. "I don't see why he's so obsessed with her. She isn't anything out of the ordinary." He stepped even closer. I was proud to say that I held my ground, craning my head up to stare him in the eye.
Jules grabbed Danets' arm, "Don't. Des will be pissed if you even lay a finger on her."
Danet shook him off causing Jules to look hurt. Danet turned to me again, "What's so special about you little girl? You've got my best friend talking about you 24/7."
Desmond talks about me? "Nothing special. Just an ordinary girl, like you said."
He narrowed his eyes at me, "Right. Just a stupid kid messing with Des's head."
I stood on my toes to get in his face, keeping my voice at a whisper. "Okay, now you're pissing me off. So let's get something straight. I am not a 'little kid', in fact, I'm in the same grade as you. And as for the 'stupid' part, my I.Q. next to yours is like a mountain next to a pebble."
"Excuse me?" Danet fumed, Jules clutched at his arm again.
I smirked still about an inch away from his face and snarled, "You are excused."
His face turned beat red from anger, "You know, normally I'm against hitting girls, but you make me want to change my mind."
"Awww how sweet."
Danets' fist drew back just before someone grabbed my arm and dragged me into the nearest janitors closet. There was a click as the door locked. Jules clicked the light on so I could see him.
"Are you bonkers?" Jules exclaimed, shaking me by the shoulders a little. "He was really going to hit you!"
"I'm not afraid to take a punch," I informed him.
He ruffled his blond curls, "Fine, whatever you say, but I may not be there every time you have a suicidal plan in progress. But before you go tell a teacher- let me say that the only reason Danet is like that right now is because he's really been really stressed out. So don't hold this against him, he's actually a good guy underneath that brooding shell of his. And do me a favor? Don't tell Desmond about what just happened-"
"Like how you don't tell Danet certain things?"
Okay, I admit it, that was a bit cruel and unnessicary on my part.
Jules eyes got wide and filled with tears, making me feel bad. "Oh please don't tell Danet-"
I held my hand up to stop him, "It's cool, really. Your secret is safe with me. It isn't my place to say anything. I shouldn't have even mentioned it just now."
"Maybe not, but it was true." He opened the door a crack, "He's gone." Jules turned to me with clear, pleading eyes. "So…you're not going to tell Desmond or Danet?"
"Nope," I said cheerfully. "I'm not exactly a snitch." I looked back at his gorgeous face and sighed, "Why do all the lookers either have motives, a girlfriend, or a bad attitude?"
He scrunched up his eyebrows, "I don't have any of those…but you're not my type."
We laughed as I punched his arm before leaving the janitors closet. "See you around Jules."
He called down the hallway after me, "You know, Desmond doesn't have any of those either!"
My cheeks heated a little and I shrugged without turning around.
Note: Hey guys- this is the start of another story I'm thinking about making. So PLEASE review! I accepted anonymous ones too. P.S. I've been picking songs that she sings at random and might take any suggestions- as long as they are appropriate!
