~ALISON'S POV
Once the announcement was over and Daven was asked to pick a seat.
A smirk appeared on his face as he began casually striding towards me.
"Um... Daven." Brittany spoke up blinking her eyes seductively at him.
He stopped walking and turned to her.
"There's an empty seat right here." She stated, with a warm fake smile plastered on her lips.
He turned to me, eyeing me up and down with skepticism. Then he turned and walked over to Brittany. As soon as he got there they all began to giggle loudly.
A scowl appeared on my face. I should have known. I was hopeful for nothing.
I must wish to be called beautiful by someone of his calibre and for the first time which is why I imagined hearing voices.
SOME HOURS LATER
The sound of the bell going off made my head jolt up. My lids were heavy with sleep. I looked side to side to see my mates packing up their belongings into their bags.
"Classes are over for the day." Miss Aileen, the lecturer for arts history announced.
I stretched my numb legs and slung my backpack over my shoulder, ready to leave when she looked at me from the rim of her glasses.
"Not you, Miss Alison."
My stomach dropped. My mind raced, thinking about what it was she possibly wanted to talk to me about.
I swallowed hard and followed her as she walked ahead of me out of the class and to her office.
She gestured for me to take the empty seat opposite where she sat with her fingers intertwined.
"I noticed that your results in the last two tests were terrible."
My eyes shot open. "But I put in all my best."
Aileen looked at me. I was sure I wasn't hallucinating when I saw that concern dances in her eyes. What I thought about was...why?
She sighed deeply then opened her drawer. She pulled out some papers and slid them over the table to me.
"Those are your test scripts." Her voice was solemn.
My eyes darted to her serious face and my scripts in my hand. I glanced at it and realized that I hadn't written anything at all except one word over and over again.
I raised my head, my eyes fixated on her. "This can't be my work." I protested and shook my head.
She pointed at one top corner of my script which had a photocopied image of my face with my name in full on it.
I shook my head rapidly. "This has to be some sort of mistake."
"I was wondering the same thing because I can't seem to understand why the only thing you had written all through was Eden's name." She stated, eyes slightly wide in bewilderment.
She leaned into her table, eyes fixed on me and her face drawn together in deep concern. "I know that Eden's death was harder for you than it was for anyone else in this school but...she pursed her lips, "you have to let him go."
Her words were like a stinger which pricked her heart.
Of course I had let it go only that I hadn't seen his ghost anywhere and that was what worried me the most every time I thought about it.
It was said that spirits usually lingered around the one who had killed them but since it was a beast, it was hard for me to find Eden's ghost which I longed to see since his death.
Yes! I see and speak to ghosts which is why I am Darnville's worst outcast. Hated by everyone including my father; who blames me for the death of my mother who died as soon as I was pulled out from her.
My head fell and a deep sigh left my lips.
"Maybe you need to take some time off school and resume the next semester." She suggested. "Because the more your grades plummet, it'll be hard for you to graduate to the college for arts and Darnville High may be forced to advise you to withdraw."
My head shot up. "They can't do that." I protested.
"They can and they will if it gets to that." Aileen emphasized. Then she paused. "You also slept through class today and..."
My stomach growled loudly, cutting her words short. Her eyes moved from my face to my belly where my hand instinctively rested on.
Then she raised her eyes to meet mine. An awkward chuckle left my lips as my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Just make sure you do well on the next exam." She stated, "you may leave now."
I stood up and walked out.
Since Eden had died, I hadn't seen his ghost anywhere. So many nights for three months, I visited the forest where the tragedy had happened and still his spirit didn't linger.
Perhaps he blames me for his death and wishes not to come to me just like my mom lwhose ghost I had never seen.
It is true that I saw them, but it was their choice to reveal themselves to me.
I sighed and continued my walk down the hallway towards the exit. My grumbling stomach only made it hard for me to think.
I had to get a job as soon as possible so my stepmother doesn't starve me to death.
I was almost at the entrance when I felt a hand wrap around my backpack.
"Where do you think you're going?"
It was Brittany.
I rolled my eyes lazily and turned towards her.
"What is it this time, Barbie?" I asked dryly, sarcasm dripping into my tone.
I've always been known to have a sharp tongue and it was true I was bullied by almost everyone in school, I still didn't take any of them lying down. I always made sure to give them a taste of their own medicine.
"Shut your tongue." She snapped, eyes red and jaws clenched.
What was she so mad about? I thought to myself.
Brittany came up to my face. "I saw how you looked at Daven."
My lips curled and tucked between my teeth as frustration bubbled up inside me.
I shoved her hand away from my backpack. "So?" I dared to dare her.
She scoffed and blinked rapidly in surprise at my response.
"You dare to open that stinking witch mouth of yours to ask me that?"
I scoffed and smirked at the same time, ego seeping into the gesture. "What are you going to do about it?"
There was a lot she was going to do but it wasn't anything she hadn't done before so bring it on Brittany.
Her nose flared, "I'll show you." She practically shrieked and reached for my hair.
My hands flew to my hair where she had packed a fistful of it. It stung.
Her minions came over and held my hand, pinning it behind me while she pulled my hair. My scalp burned.
"I'll teach you not to mess with me." She yelled.
Then her minions let me go and just as I raised my head up, she landed a slap across my cheeks which sent me falling.
I tried to use my hands to support my fall but one of my hands received the impact of the fall more and it only made my wrist twist. I swear I heard it crack.
Pain shot up my wrist to the rest of my hand. I grunted and held my wrist. I felt the sides of my eyes sting as tears made their way to my eyes.
Brittany crouched near me. "That'll teach you not to mess with either me or Daven. Get it."
She stood up looking down at me with a triumphant smile on her lips.
I pursed my lips. I wasn't going to let her see me cry.
"What's going on here?" A soft manly voice filtered into my ears.
Brittany stumbled and moved aside in shock and gave way allowing me to see the person the voice belonged to.
Daven stood there in all his glory, looking very ravishing and brows knitted in a slight frown.
"Um...she fell and we were trying to help." Brittany lied.
Of course she would. That's the other thing she was good at asides bullying me.
He glanced at where I sat on the ground clutching my throbbing wrist. It hurt like crazy.
Daven made a sound in his throat. Then he took one step. Two steps. Then he was standing right in front of me.
A smirk appeared on his lips and my heart twisted, a lump forming in my throat. What was I expecting?
But then I felt hands wrap around my back and I raised my eyes which widened in shock.
Daven was crouched, one hand on my back and the other behind my knees. He pulled me up as he stood while I stayed secure in his arms.
He flashed me an arrogant smirk. "Let's get you treated."
With that he walked away with me in his arms. My eyes were wide with shock. My stomach grumbled and my cheeks flashed in embarrassment.
I buried my head in his chest and my nostrils filled with the scent of earthy yet manly fragrance.
Was he trying to be a reason I get bullied—even more? Was this even genuine?