Diana
"Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?... Young Miss..are you..."
"Of course not," I said shaking my head those words going over and over in my head and I felt like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water over me. "A-are you sure about this?"
"100% Young Miss. They are mild but nevertheless drugs for the cancer. Miss, if I may be so bold, are you possibly sick?"
"Shouldn't you be the one to diagnose that Dr Chen?" I replied and the male on the other side coughed in embarrassment.
"Forgive Miss."
"Sure. Just answer me; what are the chances of a successful pregnancy with the cancer?" I asked in a rush holding my breath as I waited for his response.
*********
Gym.
I read the short text and I nodded absentmindedly biting my lip nervously. Usually I was nervous whenever I was around Ryder, but this time round it was way worse. I was potentially supposed to lie about someone he cared about. After Ryder left and leaving me napping in his bed after one long make out session since I had woken up to early, I'd found Kaylee taking pills that she had immediately hid when I came to two hours after my nap. Being the observational bastard I was and having a budding career in bullshitting, I had distracted her long enough to take a sample of the drugs and I wasn't exactly pleased that my intuition that they weren't just vitamins was true. When I confronted her, she had explained that her she just wanted the best for her baby. I couldn't judge and I couldn't exactly understand why she wanted to keep it from them, but I respected her wishes. At least I could understand why she was barely home. It still shocked me she stayed at home despite needing to be kept under close observation. The hard part, at the moment, was keeping it from Ryder. I could lie well enough but the ability seemed to fizzle out whenever he was around. I actually dreaded this more than have him stare at me with that heated gaze whenever we were in an enclosed place or just anywhere...no, I still dread that. I was afraid to lose myself, I thought before my trail of thought was interrupted when someone suddenly bumped into me and I watched my phone crashing onto the pavement and a crack formed on the screen and I narrowed my eyes before lifting them up to the blonde culprit in front of me.
"Watch it witch," Heather said regarding me with an irritated expression and I harrumphed inwardly. She had the nerve to look irritated. "You aren't blind."
She said and I refrained from rolling my eyes.
"Unlike you obviously," I scoffed and she narrowed her eyes at me confused.
"Excuse me?"
"Seriously, the path is wide enough for you and your cronies to walk on without rubbing on me. Not to mention, you did bump to me on purpose. I need my phone," I said holding my hand out and she looked as if I'd asked her to kneel before me. Which might as well be true.
"Of course not. You weren't watching where you were going and you bumped into me," she said defensively and I pinching my brow.
"Do we have to do this, right now? I have places to be. Even Henley would do it if she didn't have her head stuck in her ass."
"What did you just say?" Henley asked not exactly amused I'd dragged her into the conversation.
"Are you picking my phone or not?" I asked ignoring her and from the corner of my eyes I could see a crowd gathering.
Didn't people have anything better to do? I wondered as I saw a muscle twitch in her cheek and I refrained from grinning.
"Seriously, Heather, I know you missed me, and I'm seriously considering a perfect attendance just for you, but I have places to be. You didn't have to corner me just for this," I said maintaining a innocent face and I watched satisfied as her face gradually turned red at the implication. "Not to mention, I do swing the other way."
"Oh no, she didn't."
"Yes she did," the excited murmur reached my ears and I bit down my laughter, not wanting to double over so soon.
"Don't flatter yourself."
"Really? Are you saying I'm mistaken? You are indeed the first person to welcome me back. Even my friends haven't gotten here yet," I said and she seemed at a loss of words. It was true in the least and I was coming from the parking lot with nothing more than my phone and car keys.
"Shut up. You cannot talk to her like that."
"Oh dear, Henley love. Don't you seriously know how to choose sides? Here you are defending someone who could care less about you," I said and it was her turn to flush red in embarrassment.
It was true. After the scandal with my education, Heather had been more ready to kick her out of her clique. It was only the mere fact that she was still a cheerleader that allowed her to hang about.
"Aren't you tired of being used? Anyway, I won't let my mind toss at the dumb foolery. Skip along, lassie. The adults are talking," I said and she took a step backwards retreating. It was harsh, but the girl needed an awakening. And soon.
"Oh shit. Lassie like a dog. Good one."
"Burn!"
"And you," I said stepping forward and Heather took a step back before she remembered she wasn't supposed to be afraid of me. As small as the movement was, with how surrounded we were, many eyes caught it. "As soon as you realize you're not as important as the Queen of England or just anyone that deserves to be bowed to the better."
I said and if she could release blood lust, I'm sure I'd be ready be sharpening my knives and polishing my shield...wait I'd have to get one first, I thought as her face darkened.
"You actually believe you are, don't you? Well, it can't be helped," I muttered conscendingly as a figure stepped in front of me and picked up my phone.
"Here you go."
"Thanks Jared," I said patting his cheek and I stepped forward to leave shoving past her. "You wouldn't be as stupid as to send someone after me. Watch it. You aren't blind."
If possible, her face darkened even more but it was the least of my concerns as I walked into the crowd that parted way for me as I continued my way to the gym.
"There you are. What took you so long?" I heard his voice behind me before a pair of arms wrapped around my waist as he kissed the side of my head.
"Oh it's nothing. I just met an annoying bug that I had to squash," I said turning around in his arms.
"Hmm, should I be worried?"
"For now, no. Though it would help to be on the lookout for daggered glares. Making enemies is a lot more easier than I thought," I said and he let out a laugh pulling me into his embrace.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Swear your allegiance to me and take the brunt of the worst, not that I expect you to do that. High school drama is more tiring than I thought," I mumbled sinking into his embrace.
"You could always graduate early. You already qualify enough to," he said running a hand through my hair.
"I could." But I'm not sure I want to.
As tempting as it sounded, I'd have only one year of freedom left once I actually turned 17. I could choose never to go back home but that would grant me just a few years away before they'd take me back. I may not like the dealings our family gets involved in but it was still my responsibility to my family as orthodox as it sounded, I thought when it suddenly hit me a semester from now he'd be getting ready to be leaving for college. Something I doubt, I'd be able to enjoy, I thought broodingly before snuggling closer to him.
"I'll think about it. For now I'm just going to enjoy high school or at least the fun part of it," I said and he chuckled as we stood I each other's embrace, in the empty gym for a couple of moments.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I hate hugs but oddly I love yours. So warm and cuddly. I could stay here forever."
I let a sigh in content before I heard a strangling noise making me look up when he chuckled and I looked away embarrassed to find I'd said that out loud but I didn't fail to notice the red tips of his ears.
"Come on let's go," he said kissing my forehead and leading me towards the exit with the arm placed around my shoulder. "You never told me. Is Kaylee alright?"
"Mostly. She'll be alright," I reassured though it sounded like I was trying to convince myself.
Despite my downer mood about keeping Kaylee's illness from him, I could finally laugh by the end of the short walk towards the cafeteria that exceedingly felt like a stroll in the park. For the most part, I felt lighter and had managed to convince myself that she knew what she was doing.
"Are you having lunch in here? The cafeteria?" I asked
"Yeah. Why?" He asked when I gave him a skeptical look.
"You normally don't have lunch in here."
"Call it a change of scenery," he said and I rolled my eyes amused at his awkward defensiveness but I was flattered. The few times I had seen him in here was because he was always stopping by. He and the rest of the uh...privileged kids usually came by the cafeteria usually to keep up appearances. As far as I knew, the group of a selected few took full advantage of the open campus policy for the seniors, and went out, something that still surprised me that everyone seemed really content with the food provided. It was either that or they were really ignorant to the extent of not knowing about it.
"Sure," I muttered under my breath when the phone in my hand vibrated signalling an incoming call.
"What happened to your phone?"
"Annoying bug? I have to take this... brother," I said and he raised an eyebrow in question. "He's the only one I'm in contact with. Ray.. you would tell me if something suspicious happens? My brother, Dylan...he can be a little extreme when it comes to his big brother role."
"Of course," he reassured kissing my forehead and I moved from him.
"Dylan?"
"Finally. I was beginning to wonder if something happened."
"Not exactly. So?"
"They are both clean. I mean as far as it's concerned legally."
"What do you mean?"
"The Wallace couple appeared 8 years ago. Tony Wallace at the peak of his studies. A year later opened his clinic. They applied for adoption for Darius Theodore Wallace, off choice of names, have two other adoptive kids namely Logan and Tessa and now you as your host family. They seem clean nevertheless. The only strange contact was with Dad. He sent over a credit card, 10 million dollars, lucky bastard twin," he commented and I rolled my eyes at that. "Anyway, I'm still working on it but there are two conclusions to this. Either they are really clean or there is someone powerful behind the scenes."
"What do you think?"
"I haven't met them but if your instincts say something is up then we shouldn't take a chance. You still have your guards behind the scenes, right?"
"Surprisingly, yes. They are around. I haven't had enough time to be worried about people trailing me " Not to mention Ryder being, Ryder and getting someone to keep an eye on me after yesterday's break in. If I wasn't so worried about Dylan doing something stupid to Ryder, I believe they'd be good friends.
"Good. Do you need me to get dad involved? You know I'm not the only one missing you here."
"I have enough high school drama on my plate. Involving dad means mom too. Dad promised to let me live alone."
"Trust me, he's regretting it. If they could they'd put in a dress and make me do all the things you used to do together. I just hope you are keeping out of trouble. You are in Black Dragons' territory, remember."
Black Dragons. Crazy name, by the way? A frenemies of a sort with my father. I didn't really get it but all they did was sabotage each other indirectly. As if they were playing a game, which in itself was disturbing. As much as it was occasional that people lost their lives in this unpredictable field, it wasn't any different when these two gangs clash. They'd call it minimum damage but if you looked closer it was obvious that about half an year of these games they lost a lot of people and resources. Nevertheless, if they managed to find out there was a daughter, much so that I was in their territory, it would read trouble for everyone.
"I know. I keep safe. I cover my tracks and no doubt I could take care of myself." And I have you to make sure they are covered.
"I'm sure you can but being Tony Wallace's daughter is bad. You are exposed to all sorts of danger if anyone recognizes you. I'm surprised they haven't caught on yet. Nevertheless I have your back like you have mine. Be safe," he advised before hanging up and I frowned.
From his statement, they didn't have anything to do with the fact that I was being protected. Tony might have connections but I didn't think they were enough to make sure not even a trace of my photos was found. I know. Even with my hacking skills and the fact that even the school records were encrypted and with a failsafe. You could hack and succeed but they could hack you back without your knowledge. Good thing, I had some extra skills I picked up from Dylan, the real computer geek in the family. Could Mason be helping me? But why would he? Mason was and could be a problem, if he wasn't really sincere about becoming an ally. I had already brushed up my memory on the potential enemies and allies occasionally before and after I moved to the state. He was an illegitimate heir of the infamous crazed Rhett Guerrero Huerta. Mostly appeared in New York and the worst of the worst dealers you could ever deal with. His son, Mason was a complete opposite. From just a glance I had the idea he wasn't fully in support of the mafia life. I was yet to figure if that was good or bad. I still didn't have an idea of why he wanted us to be friends, as he put it. And how exactly did he know Ryder? They definitely seemed to have something going on between them.
"Sunshine, over here," Ethan's voice pulled me out of my reverie as I re-entered the cafeteria and my eyes snapped in the direction of the voice to find it at the jocks' table and I raised an eyebrow in question.
To be invited to the table was obviously an honor but even if I was a cheerleader of sorts I'd never made a move to sit there. But these three musketeers seemed right at home at the front of the table. It wasn't anything special but a series of tables joined together where all kinds of athletic people sat. I hesitated for a brief moment as my eyes darted over the faces to find Heather's dark and glaring at me. To my utmost surprise, she was particularly a safe distance from Ryder who had a couple of males flunking him on both sides apart from two seats beside him. I was well aware that didn't just happen and something fluttered rapidly in my ribcage as I spotted Alice and Kyle, who seemed to have suffered the same fate as Heather and I refrained from chuckling. For someone who seemed so sure of himself, it was obvious Kyle hit a sore spot.
"Hey, I thought you were bringing the pizza," Ethan whined with a pout as Ryder pulled me down beside him.
"It should have been here already," I said and as if on cue the cafeteria doors opened and Wilder and another male walked in with a couple of boxes announcing the pizza and spread them out before sitting down beside me.
"You know, I may not hate you so much witch," he said and I refrained from rolling my eyes as he set down a box beside me.
"And I might not curse your dick to shrivel and fall off, brat," I whispered and I could see him flinch before scooting away slightly.
"Are you two ever going to start using each other's names?" Ethan asked.
"No," we both answered at the same time and he looked lost.
"Glad you agree, witch."
"Same here, brat," I said before Ryder let out a sigh beside me. "What?"
"I'm obviously asking for too much if I tell you to try and get along."
"We do get along."
"Yeah. I'm even planning to discard the plans of setting her on fire at midnight," Wilder said and I chuckled squeezing Ryder's hand.
"We are not killing each other, for now anyway."
"Couldn't have said it better," Wilder agreed as we high-fived and Ryder shook his head helplessly.
"And you think our relationship is weird," Ethan said before the attention came off us, well not entirely, but apart from the occasional glares towards me and the surprised glances because for some reason Ryder doesn't just touch any girl, everything was okay. That was until another familiar face showed up and was pulled onto Wilder's lap and I lost my appetite.
"Hey babe," Wilder called with his voice uncharacteristically sweet that I could feel a toothache coming on, and the need to vomit but I didn't want to waste such good pizza, as Jordan threw herself around him. Yeah, lunch was ruined and it stayed like that for the rest of the lunch as Ryder plastered me to his side as if consoling me.
"You are coming to the game tonight, right?" Wilder asked as we started out of the cafeteria.
"Oh she's not missing it, trust me. Your poms terribly missed you," I heard Alice say as she turned to me before a pair of poms poms smacked me right on my face and I glared almost playfully at her when Ryder grabbed my arm, pulling me back to him.
"Are you sure you are up for it?" He asked brushing a few strands behind my ear and cupping my cheek before pecking my lips and my cheeks burst out aflame.
"Yeah," I whispered, well it was more like I croaked, not expecting the sudden display of affection when Alice cleared her throat.
"Umm, guys, you do realize that I'm just part of the small group of people who think you are totally relationship goals, right?" Alice said and I spotted a look of triumph on her face as I followed her gaze where I met Kyle's first.
On his face was an ugly scowl. I wasn't naive enough to think people didn't have their bad sides but it was still surprising. When he met my gaze, his expression softened, only slightly before he picked up his bag and left through another entrance. I was wondering if I should follow him to clear things up between us when my gaze met Heather's. Honestly it was nothing special from whatever looks as she'd given me so far so I was mostly unfazed as Ryder drew my attention to him and pulling me even closer.
"And? Why should we care what they think?" He asked looking at me and I decided not to answer that. As far as he was concerned yesterday's ordeal was to be kept secret. Not sure why but I was mostly 100% sure the brothers in the company of two friends were plotting something.
"Exactly. You know I hadn't thought about this before. You get a girlfriend and I get my personal cheerleader. It's a win-win," Wilder input ignoring the female beside him scowling at me and I refrained from rolling my eyes. I wasn't happy about this development and knowing Tess, she was going to be mad. But this wasn't a major concern as I glared at him. "Sheesh, you two are more scary together than your individual selves. Can't you take a joke?"
We didn't reply and from the corner of my eye I could see Ryder roll his eyes before he pulled me along as we started out of the cafeteria.
"Should I be worried?" I asked as we walked towards the lockers and he looked at me questioningly. "Jordan?"
"I wouldn't. Knox has a track record for taking pussy without worrying about repurcussions," he said nonchalantly before wincing at the end but it wasn't my concern.
"She is his senior."
"And she's just another p.. territory to put his mark on. Don't stress about it. Do what I do."
"Decide not to dictate his life and whatever pussy he plunders," I said and he looked at me shocked before he chuckled.
"On the contrary, I'd wait to talk his ear off for upsetting my girlfriend."
"Your girlfriend?" I asked surprised when I remembered what he'd done moments ago in the cafeteria. However innocent it might have seemed he was just staking his claim and I knew it. "But I..why are you.. ?"
I started but he shook his head tugging at my arm that we were standing chest to chest and the words at the top of my tongue dried off.
"Why on earth would I need a reason to do anything when it comes to my future wife?" He said nonchalantly and I choked on my breath as I froze watching his back as he walked away.
Maybe if I looked closer I'd have seen how tense his back looked but I was trying to wrap my head around this new information. Future wife!? I wondered staring blankly before realizing that I had gathered the attention of most people around and I started after him realizing he was already far gone. Despite my former distress, I hugged his arm as we made our way to his locker and I felt him relax against me.
Whatever bad joke that was, I'd get him later for it.