The Misadventures of Chloe Saunders
Chapter 11
Shift
She noticed it when they were talking during lunch.
She'd watched Derek and Ramon, broad shoulders straining against their shirts; it was odd seeing two boys, both massive and dark, who revolved around her look so strangely alike. Aside from the skin tones and eyes and lip shapes, they could've been siblings.
Was there something in the genes here?
Ramon, as confirmed, was not in any way romantically inclined towards Chloe, which she was thankful for because, hey, one less drama ridden high school romance.
"It's not that you aren't beautiful, you are; just not exactly the right girl for me, per say. Although Derek can't ever seem to take his eyes off you," mused Ramon's deep voice as Chloe washed her hands. He was standing outside the bathroom when she headed out.
"Liam alert," he said flippantly, running his thick fingers through his curls. He looked dark and beautiful, like crushed leather and he had a killer smile; girls seemed to flock but he never hinted at interest, unlike like Liam. Just the thought of him touching her sent shivers up her spine.
"I'll rip his teeth out if he so much as breathes on you," Ramon told her, his face darkening with a hungry, bloodthirsty shadow as they brushed past the dingy blonde, who grinned wolfishly and licked his chops, reminding Chloe all too much of a starved dog.
"I know," she whispered, burying her face in his side.
"Do you have anyone you like?" she asked, peeking up at him over his chest. She'd always wondered what his type was, a friendly curiosity.
His jaw twitched as he shook his head. "No," he bit out and that was that.
"Ramon," sighed another voice, deeper than Ramon's and thicker too, gravelly, "The cops arrested Royce this morning." She spun around and saw Derek standing there in a dark black sweatshirt and grey jeans, hair slick from the rain outside, the tip of his nose and cheeks pinker than usual, his acne brighter, eyes gleaming and watching her.
"What for?" Ramon pulled away and Chloe was struck by how alike they looked, both tall and broad and intimidating, black hair and pale skin, dangerous slink to their walk, the swing of their arms against their sides.
Ramon looked catlike in his black leather jacket and tight black jeans, his boots thumping with every step he took.
Derek looked more wolfish, hair ruffled and lips chapped and cracked, boots silent when he walked.
She sat down on the bench and watched them talk. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rae. Something cold replaced the blood in her veins when she saw the darker girl limping, wincing with every step.
Under the harsh fluorescent lights, Rae's makeup looked sickly almost, part of her cheek puffy and hair hanging in wet clumps around her face; her mascara was smudged and eyeliner streaked to one side. She looked like she'd been through hell and back.
She sighed in a tired, exhausted way and Chloe got to her feet, making her way to her ex-friend. Rae glared and quickly turned tail. "Rae," the blonde whispered softly, "what happened?"
For a moment, her lips quivered and her eyes looked glossy, ready to cry. "Nothing." Her voice was hoarse and raspy, like someone had choked the life from her and dropped her before she blacked out.
"It was Royce, wasn't it?" Chloe murmured, reaching out.
Rae flinched as the fingers made contact with her cheek, thumb wiping away the foundation. "No," she bit out, head turning away. Locks of hair fell over her eyes. "Please—"
"I'm gonna kill him," growled a dark, dangerous voice. Chloe turned. Ramon was vibrating with rage, eyes cold and hard, his entire frame taut. "I'm gonna kill him," he spat, darkening face turning towards the front doors.
"R-Ramon, pl-please—" Rae started, sounding weak and fragile as she limped closer to him. He stared down at her with a frightening intensity, only half as intense as Derek's, but enough to suck the breath from Chloe's lungs just imagining being the target of those eyes.
"Don't worry," he whispered, stroking pieces of hair from Rae's face, thumb rubbing away her makeup, revealing a dark green bruise that was turning purple at the center, blotted on like zombie makeup. "He'll get what he deserves," he continued in that calming way, his thick Russian accent slipping through, running his fingers through the clumpy locks of dark copper.
A massive hand wrapped around her arm and, as soon as they were in an alcove away from everyone, Derek pulled her into his chest and she breathed in his scent. Pine needles and perspiration slid into her lungs like a delicious toxin, making her close her eyes. His hard arms were roped around her back, pressing her into his chest.
"I c-can't believe h-he di-id that," she squeaked, eyes wide in shock, brimming with tears.
He shushed her, stroking his fingers through her curls. Shockwaves ran up and down her nerves, relishing in their closeness.
"He's a monster," she murmured, pressing her face into his chest. She could feel his pulse against her cheekbone. "He's too far gone to be human anymore." She shivered, bringing trembling hands up to his back, digging her nails in, her entire body vibrating with tremors.
He pressed a hand into her curls, tangling her hair between his fingers, leaning against her, from their chest to their knees pressing, every one of his planes and sharp edges digging into her bumps and smoothness, a contrast like blood against white paper.
She pressed her face into his chest. She clung to him and breathed in his familiar scent, warmth lulling her pounding heart into a calmness that she'd never really had; at least, to be honest, in the two years that her mother had been gone.
It got so bad that Aunt Lauren had pushed her into counseling and then berated her for being so dark and angry at everyone, picking fights with her aunt, trying to make her see that she had just lost her mother; it never happened.
Aunt Lauren liked to blame Dad; Dad blamed himself; and Chloe blamed everyone in turn.
"Don't be, Chloe," he whispered, pressing his lips into her hair. He was hot, like fire, burning against her, sending shockwaves up and down her body.
All hell broke loose.
