Seeing that I was at the center of attention, I almost wished that Leonard was nearby. Almost? Scratch that. I wished that the grumpy fellow was around. If he had been with me, the girls wouldn't have dared that. Since my best friend had sponsored them by his silence and offensive staring, and had turned useless, why not dump him? I thought in the fit of rage, shrugging away from his grip the third time.
"Olivera…" he called, and I felt like slapping some sense into him. Doesn't he understand simple English any longer?
"Leave me alone." I shouted this time around, not feeling a tard guilty as I watched the shock expression form and stay on his face. Turning away from him, not wanting to see him again, I tried to stand up on my own, but failed. Was the fall that bad? I wondered, taking note of my legs which were coated with patches of blood and scars. Well, it seems it was; after all the ground was rocky.
Jeremy tried to hold me again, but the glare I gave him right at that moment stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey, are you okay?" a voice asked, and I turned, furrowing my eyebrows as my eyes met that of the guy whom I had noticed earlier.
Who was he?
"Do I look like I'm okay?" I retorted, feeling guilty the next second for my rudeness. What was wrong with me? Was it just seeing Jeremy flirt with the girl that had turned me into an irritative human?
"I am sorry." I apologized. "I'm not always like this." I added, hoping that he will understand and not rank me below his list-not that I cared, but still, I don't like being in the bad books of people; you never know what tomorrow holds(mom's slogan.)
"It's okay. I understand how you are feeling." he said, and I almost snorted but for courtesy. But how could he say that he understood how I was feeling? What does he even know?
Outwardly, I just nodded, allowing him to hold me around the waist and lift me up.
I bit my lips, holding in a smile, as I felt Jeremy glare at the new boy. I could feel his gaze on me too. He must be wondering what was wrong with me? Well, what was wrong with him too? I thought he had given up on his playboy antics. Why resurrect them in this pack of all places? For fudges sake, we were still slaves! Wasn't he thinking about that? And I would be taken by the infamous ruthless alpha today-shouldn't he be talking over this topic with me rather than flirting with other girls?
Damn him! I thought, feeling tears bubbling in my eyes.
"Thank you." I muttered, now standing erect beside the boy.
"It's alright. Let's try walking." he said, and I nodded.
We tried, but I failed. The pain was so much. I will get that girl who was responsible for this. I promised whilst gritting my teeth. I will get Jeremy too. That betrayer, I thought, turning around to glare at him. He looked like a lost puppy but I didn't care at the moment, I just wanted to be out of here.
The guy tried to take me up again, but it wasn't working. The only option left was for him to carry out. I didn't think he would want to do that, until the next minute when he squatted, and gestured to me to hop onto his back.
"What do you think you are doing, Lyon?" I heard Jeremy ask, and sighed. Was he blind too? Couldn't he see that the guy, Lyon was his name then(I thought), was trying to take me away from here, from this humiliation.
"I'm taking her to the doctor. Can't you see that she can't walk properly?" Lyon asked, and I patted him fondly on the arm unconsciously, proud of his reply, since Jeremy wanted to be blind.
"Don't bother, I can do that." Jeremy said, but I shook my head before he could even get closer to me.
"Don't." I muttered, feeling suddenly weak.
"Get me out of here." I whispered to Lyon as I got onto his back.
**
Nick balked as he saw me on Lyon's back.
"Olivera, what is wrong? Where is Leonard?" He asked, as he directed Lyon to drop me gently on the sofa.
"I fell." I stated simply, as I fell into the softness of the cushion.
"Thank you." I muttered to Lyon, and he nodded, about to walk away when Nick stopped him.
"Where are you going, Lyon? Won't you stay for breakfast?" Nick asked, and I raised my eyebrows. It seemed to me that the doctor wasn't just kind to me but to everyone of the slave. Such a good man. I thought, staring at them both.
"Well…" Lyon was saying but Nick waved his words away.
"Sit. I have already made the pancakes." He said, causing my mouth to salivate.
I wanted some too. Perhaps, this fall was for the greater good. I thought, reasoning that I wouldn't be here having some of those pancakes if the girl hadn't made me fall. Good then. Anything to have pancakes in the morning.
"Olivera, give me a minute. Let me get the medicine bag." He stated, and walked into the passageway, leaving me and Lyon in the room.
"Why did you help me?" I asked Lyon, after some beats.
"..because it was the right thing to do. Do you know Jeremy?" He asked.
"Yes, he was my best friend." I replied, a stubborn resolve welling up within me. How dare he act so promiscuous in front of me?
"Was?" Lyon queried, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Why?"
"Nothing." I replied, not in the mood to talk with my savior.
"Thanks again. I don't know what would have been my lot if you hadn't come through." I stated rather, closing the topic of bestfriend-ship or so I had thought.
"I see. What's your name?" he asked. "I guess you already know mine. I am Lyon."
"I am Olivera." I replied, dumbed momentarily by his next question.
"Can I be your best friend?" he had asked.