Chapter Fifteen – Threats and Hooded Figures

"So meet me here at five, alright?" Ray asked his girlfriend.

"Okay, I'll see you then," she said, giving him a quick hug and a sunny smile.

Ray made his way to the gym alone, thinking about how much he liked seeing Zarine smile. He wouldn't mind spending his whole life to making her happy.

"So you're the new guy on the team?" someone questioned.

"Yeah," he answered, turning around to look at the speaker. The guy was around his height and had brown hair with blonde streaks in his hair.

"Hey, I'm Peter," Peter said, sizing Ray up with his dark green eyes.

"I'm Ray. Nice to meet you," said Ray.

When Peter heard his name, he grinned. "So you're the one that the girls framed as the second hottest guy in the school? It's a great honor. It'll guarantee you loads of girlfriends."

They began walking again. "I already have a girlfriend," Ray said.

"I'd love to go out with someone," said Peter wistfully. "I haven't dated in two months."

At the beginning of practice, the coach, Mr. Frank, introduced Ray to the rest of the team. By the time practice was over, they were all sweating like pigs.

Mr. Frank complimented, "Great job. Next practice is on Wednesday. Don't miss it."

The other guys were all patting Ray on the back, praising him. "You were amazing out there, dude!"

Ray thanked them all with a smile. Leo was the only who didn't speak to him at all.

"Hey, Leo, didn't you think that Ray was incredible out there?" one of them asked.

"Yeah, sure, he was good," Leo said, faking a smile.

"I got to go now, guys," Ray said.

"Hang around with us, we usually go and hang at someoen's house and then go and have pizza afterwards," a guy named Jason urged.

Ray said apologetically, "Sorry, I can't. I've got to meet someone. Maybe next time."

"All right then," Jason shrugged.

"See you around," Ray said before leaving. He went up to his locker, little did he know, Leo had followed him.

"Ray Kon," Leo said coldly, sneering.

"What do you want?" Ray asked, annoyed.

Leo grabbed Ray by the collar and shoved him against the lockers. "Stay away from Shea, and my friends, get it?"

"No, why should I? You can't control who I associate with," Ray said. Who the heck did Leo think he is?

"Oh, but I can. You never know what I might do if you push me over the edge," Leo warned, smirking. "I advise you to do what I tell you."

"What makes you think that?" demanded Ray.

Leo felt irritated. He vented his anger by punching Ray hard in the stomach. The black haired boy groaned. Leo released his hold on Ray, and he doubled over in pain.

"Now tell me, do you want that to happen to one of your friends? Or even your girlfriend?" Leo asked pleasantly.

"You keep your hands off of Zarine!" Ray said angrily. "She's not involved in this!"

Leo's smirk only grew wider. He knew he had hit a nerve. "Well then, do as I say and stay away from Shea and my friends."

Ray held his stomach, trying to regain his breath. God, that Leo was strong.

"Hey, Ray, what's wrong?" Peter asked, walking towards him.

"Leo," Ray answered shortly.

"Oh, that rich snob," Peter snorted. "Whenever something isn't to his liking, he gets really pissed. Watch out for that guy."

"Don't say anything about it when we see Zarine. I don't want her to fret over nothing," Ray said to Peter.

"Yeah, all right," his new friend said.

Zarine waited by the front doors, getting impatient. Where was Ray? He was supposed to be there ten minutes ago. She didn't want to leave to go and look for him, in case he was coming. She decided she would stay there, even if it took Ray two hours to get there.

Then, a crowd of five guys emerged from inside. "Hey guys, look at what we have here," one of them said, checking her out.

"Um, can you...can you tell me where Ray is?" she asked timidly, feeling uncomfortable with five guys looking her over.

"Are you the someone he's supposed to meet?" a guy with blonde hair asked.

"Uh, yeah," she answered. The door opened and she turned to look at the people coming out of the school.

"Ray!" she said, going over to him and gave him a hug.

"Hey, Zarine," he said.

"Gosh, Ray, is that chick your girlfriend?" Jason asked in surprise.

"Yep, she is," Ray replied, smiling. "Well, we gotta go now." He put his arm around her and they strolled off into the direction of the ice cream parlour.

"What took you so long?" Zarine asked.

"Sorry, the coach let us off a little late," he lied.

"Oh," she said. "Hey, what do you think of Hilary and Tyson as a couple?"

"I think they'll be cute together," he replied.

"Cute?" she questioned, and arched her eyebrow. "I didn't know cute was in any guy's vocabulary. Carrie was just telling me how we should play matchmaker and set them up with one another."

"Really?" he asked, distractedly. He wasn't paying much attention to his girlfriend's chatter as they walked. Occasionally, he would say, "Nice," or "Oh," and one word phases like that to act like he was listening. He was thinking about what Leo said. He still couldn't believe that bastard threatened to harm Zarine.

"Ray!" Zarine said, shaking his arm.

"What?" he said, confused.

"I said, 'What favor of ice cream do you want?'" she replied

"I'll just have vanilla, today," he answered.

"How many I help you?" the salesman inquired.

"I want two medium ice cream cones please. One chocolate mint and one plain, old, boring, vanilla for my boyfriend," Zarine said.

They ate their ice cream cones silently. The petite girl studied her boyfriend with a frown on her face. He was so quiet, and he had a scowl on his face. She wondered what happened at practice.

She took his free hand that was resting on the table in hers.

Ray looked at her in surprise, and found a pair of soft blue eyes looking up at him. He had almost forgotten that she was there.

"Ray, is there something wrong? You seem so quiet today," she said worriedly.

"Nothing is wrong," he lied. "I'm just tired after practice."He felt bad not telling her the truth, but she really didn't need to know about Leo's threats just yet.

"You didn't have to take me here if it was too much trouble. I could've gotten Carrie to come here," she said.

"I wanted to," Ray assured her. "I like spending time with you."

"Me too," she said, her face breaking into a smile.

"I know you weren't really listening to me on the way here...so...wh –" she said.

"How on earth did you know that I wasn't?" Ray asked incredulously, cutting her off in mid-sentence.

"I have my ways," she answered mysteriously. "So do you think Kai and Jewels would make a good couple?"

Ray teased, "Is discussing about others' love lives the reason why you wanted to spend time with me?"

"No," Zarine denied. "Tell me, do you think they would?"

"I don't know," he replied. "They used to be good friends."

She asked curiously, "Why aren't they anymore?"

"I'm not sure," he answered. "Ask Carrie."


"Sir, the people you have asked for is now here," a guy in all black said.

"Tell him to come in," a guy with dirty blonde hair said, sitting on the 'throne' in the room. On either side of him were two other in black sweaters and had the hood up, hiding their faces.

A tall, muscular man with spiky hair came in. He was dressed like a punk. "Sir," he said respectfully to the sixteen year old, bowing.

"No need for formalities," the boy said. "Just tell me, can you guarantee that you will have Jewels Satsuki here by this time tomorrow?"

"Yes," the man said, peering intently at the figure sitting in front of him, trying to make out the features of his face in the dim light.

"This girl is extremely strong. Make sure you really can do this before promising me. Or else our master will punish you," one of the hooded figure said in a cold voice.

The man declared confidently, "I will stake my life on this. Do not worry about the ability of me and my men."

"Good. I'm pleased to hear that," the 'Master' said. "You will be rewarded greatly when you deliver the girl here tomorrow. Make sure you don't hurt her too much."

"Yes," the man said.

"You may go now," the boy dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

The man bowed again before leaving. He couldn't help but shiver when he was outside. The one on the throne was freaky enough, but the hooded ones were even worse. He couldn't see any one of the faces. He got a grip on himself as he got into his beaten up truck. He was getting big money for this, so who the hell cares what his employers looked like?
Short chapter, I know! I didn't want to take a day off without finishing another chapter, short or not. Don't forget to leave me a review!