"I'm glad to see you think about me sometimes," A familiar voice said mockingly from behind me.
"Well if someone hadn't influenced me to then I wouldn't have." I snapped back. I quickly stood up and serenely turned around to face him.
Stanton quickly lost his playful look and turned serious, "I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll be going now," I smiled politely and started to shadow. Before I could get away though, Stanton reached out and grabbed me.
"You're not going anywhere except back home," Stanton said simply. I rematerialized and glared at him.
"Let go of me." I could feel my powers build up, and when I got overemotional there was usually a bad result. There would be nothing that could stop it. Stanton was making me reach my boiling point.
I could see the electric sparks in the air as Stanton tried to use his powers to at least contain mine as best as he could. It felt like a heavy wet blanket was being wrapped around me. It was smart of him to do. It would dampen the effects of my power burst.
"If I let go will you at least let me talk to you for a minute? I can't have you running away so quickly…" Stanton loosened his grip as he waited for my response.
"Alright, but only for a minute." Stanton let go and I straightened my sleeve out, "You didn't have to hold me so tight."
"If I didn't you would have run away again," Stanton took a short step away from me to give me room.
We stood in silence for a minute before I asked, "So… are you going to talk or can I leave?"
Stanton looked at me curiously and replied coolly, "You know they'll never trust you. I just got back from seeing Serena. They aren't going to let you live if they find out who you are. They'll do everything they can to try and kill you."
"Let them try. I'm an immortal plus some. They couldn't even kill Lambert, what makes you think they could kill me?" I replied stubbornly.
"Either way, Melantha, they won't trust you. You can't turn to them for help. You'll have to just accept your life the way it is." Stanton took a step closer as if to comfort me if I needed it.
I backed away from him and turned, "You don't know what it feels like! You don't have that little linger of hope that there will be something more out there for you tomorrow! That maybe you could have a life outside all this and that you might be able to do something great for the world."
Stanton stood behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. He whispered, "I know more about that than you think."
I turned around and cried on his shoulder. I don't know how long I was there before I realized what I was doing. I quickly threw Stanton to the ground and shadowed out.
I reappeared at my apartment building and laid down for a rest before I went back to school tomorrow.
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The next day when I arrived at school I saw the Goddesses standing around in the hall before class. I rushed over to them and made a big smile appear on my face, "Hey guys! What's up?"
I could hear my voice oozing with fake happiness. After last night I just wasn't in the mood to be happy, but I wasn't about to let it spoil my plans.
They all looked at me surprised for a minute. Vanessa then said, "Hey Melanie." Everyone else said a quiet hi afterwards.
We sort of stood there in an uncomfortable silence. Finally I said with fake hurt, "I'm sorry did I interrupt something? Should I leave?" I looked at them all sadly yet with hope that they didn't want me to. I could feel Serena poking around my brain again and let her see a very cut version of last night and changed Stanton's image. I made it look like a normal boyfriend-girlfriend fight.
Jimena who looked like she was ready to get down to business said, "Actually-" and took a step towards me.
Serena interrupted her and said nicely, "you weren't interrupting anything."
"Serena!" Jimena whispered.
"Jimena," Catty whispered in return and gave her a look. Jimena shut up and crossed her arms, studying me.
"Oh," was all I said. I was going for the shy approach now. I didn't know what else to do to get close to them. I had to let them become my friend instead of push myself on them, although I was running out of time.
"Do you mind if I hang with you guys? I mean you all are so far the only friends I've made around here." I looked at them all hopefully. Jimena's eyes lightened but she still held the same stand-offy stance.
"Of course! I know how it feels to be the new girl." Tianna said comfortingly. Everyone shook their heads happily except Jimena.
Vanessa jabbed Jimena in the ribs so she said, "¡Claro que si!"
The bell rang suddenly and everyone started rushing to first class. Vanessa shouted to me before she left, "You can find us at lunch again, okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks a lot!" I replied and happily waved goodbye. I was getting to them slowly but surely. I just hoped they'd go along with my plan.
The halls were empty by the time I thought of going to class. As soon as I turned I ran into someone. Automatically I knew who it was.
"Stalking people is against the law," I told him. I looked up at Stanton expectantly.
"Well, surprise-surprise now I know where to find you in the daytime." He said smirking.
I took a step towards him to put us closer together, reached up and pulled him down to my level and whispered in his ear, "You've always known where to find me."
I stood there for a moment in that position, waiting. Finally Stanton couldn't take it anymore. He backed away and quietly shouted, "God! Why do you always do that to me? Why do you have to tease me like that?"
I smiled coyly and said, "Well, hun, it's the only way I know how to get you. I know you'll always back off after I do that because you're so much in love with your precious Goddess."
"Shh… you never know who might be listening." Stanton quickly looked around suspiciously and then covered my mouth.
I started laughing and so he took he hand away. Once I was done I said, "What are you doing here anyways?"
"I have to talk to Serena about something. I'm trying to keep everyone off your trail. It's harder to do with the Regulators. They've come so close every time. I can't keep hiding you. You have to come home soon."
"Please Stanton, just a few more days. Really, that's all I think I'll need. I just need to catch the Goddesses using their powers and then I'll be set," I said pleadingly.
"I don't know how much more time I can get. The Atrox is furious! You know that right?"
"Well of course Daddy's upset. His one and only daughter has escaped his clutches. What else would you expect? Him to be happy I left?" I asked him curiously.
"Just know I'm going through hell just for you," Stanton replied.
"There's only one other person you'd do that for," I paused. I could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Stanton heard it also, I could feel his powers starting to build up for shadowing.
I threw out my senses and realized it was Serena. "Well speak of the devil. Don't want her catching us together that would just ruin everything," I said sarcastically. I pinched his cheek playfully and said, "Toodles!"
I shadowed out but lingered to watch what Stanton would say. He could still feel my presence and watched my shadow. When Serena showed up she looked suspicious.
"Who were you talking to? I could've sworn I heard another voice," she asked as she gave him a quick hug.
"No one, there's no one here but me," Stanton said as he pulled Serena closer and shadowed them both out of the school.