"Hey, let us hear it! Gonna high gear it! 'Cause we've got spirit!" Maria and two other new girls twisted their bodies as they cheer chant. They ended with a beautiful tumble and stunt.
"Let us hear it!!!" Maria exclaimed in excitement and the other two girls gave her a bitchy look.
Ashley gave a tiring sigh, closing the book at hand.
She was seated with Denise, who is originally the captain of the Whittier Vixens.
"I need girls who are physically strong and confident in my squad. You're faster than your shadow, Maria. I need girls with fire and positive vibes in my squad! Somewhere you'll never fit in." Ashley hissed with pride.
"But, I did my best. Didn't I, Denise?"
Finally, Denise, who was busy with her phone, rose her gaze at her. She crumbled the bubble gum and gave an exasperated sigh. "Your best is not enough, girl. You can leave."
Maria looked at them, stunned. She'd spent weeks practicing, and she had a well flexible and stretchable body, unlike others.
"Go now." Denise twitched her fingers, signaling for her to leave.
Maria grabbed her cheer bag and water bottle, hurrying out of the practice room. It was kind of annoying, but Maria concentrated on her studies instead. She just wanted something outstanding on her result by the end of the year.
Although Maria was in 10th grade, she spent every spare time with Adrian. Studying, eating and chatting. And during sports, Adrian still had his eyes on her. He loved Maria so much that Ashley decided it's time to play a trick on him. She sat close to him in class and realized that he was chatting.
"Hello Adrian." She heaved out softly while he took off his earbuds. "I see you're busy with...."
"Maria. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes, you know you can help me with a lot of things. I just don't think that you'd want to help me."
He turned to her, paying more attention.
"We still haven't exchanged contact. Is your girlfriend against it or you just don't want to?"
"I just feel there's no need."
"Okay, if you say so, then I agree. Thing is, Mr Okinawa asked me to work more on my mathematics and physics. I can easily ask someone else, but you're the best science student in our class. And most of all, we are neighbors. Would you tutor me, please? Next year is our final year."
Staring at her pleading eyes, Adrian nodded his head as his long fingers ran through his raven black hair.
"Umm, you'll have to give me time. I'll think about it."
"Okay, fine. But don't take too long thinking about it." A smirk formed on her lips as she walked away.
At weekend.
A message popped on Adrian's phone screen, and he checked on it. It was #Ashofficial. A new user from Twitter. Opening the profile picture, he realized it was actually Ashley. He flushed at his phone screen and send a message.
"How tf did you get my contact?!" He started a conversation.
"Let's say I'm desperate. Since you won't ask for my contact. What are you doing?"
"Preparing for the upcoming tests. What about you?" He peeped through his window. It's been a while since Adrian last checked.
"Nothing... I wish you could explain geometry and calculus to me. Those topics are hypertensive." She peeped through her window and saw him staring. A soft blush reddened her cheeks.
"They're actually fun. Should I come over?"
Without waiting for her reply, Adrian dropped his phone on the bed and rushed down. He gently knocked on her wooden door and she opened up.
"It's so unfortunate that it's the first time I'm coming here." Adrian muttered while she pulled him in, closing the door behind them.
"Where's your mum and Maria?" she asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"At the groceries." He replied in a fierce tone as his eyes focused on hers. As if realizing how beautiful she was for the first time. Adrian held her shoulders.
"Ashley, I am sorry for the way I treated you. For the disappointments and.... I am really sorry. I just can't fake my feelings, it would crush you. We would ruin it all! We wouldn't be like the cute couples in movies where we just end up together. I mean, I've found my mate." As Adrian tried explaining Ashley pulled closer.
Her lips tumbled to his words.
"But you're originally human, Adrian. Just like me. Don't you love me at all?" Ashley's eyes burned as she tried to keep her tears at bay.
"Of course, I love you, I really do, but not in that way! Not like-" Ashley cut him off by placing her lips on his. It started slow but passionate.
Adrian willingly returned the kiss. Holding her curvy body against his. His head tilted against hers and she dig her black polished fingers into his raven hair. Ashley dipped her head, getting a better angle of his mouth. They fought for their lower lips but eventually calmed down. He gently opened his black eyes when he pulled back. Breaking the kiss.
"I shouldn't be here." He said in a hushed tone. "I belong to someone else... But why do you smell like her? You're driving me crazy, Ash."
"Please, just stay with me. For one moment at least." Ashley murmured into his mouth with more tears, dropping off the corners of her honey-brown eyes. "Did I meant nothing to you?"
"Ash..." Adrian softly purred to her ears as his hand grabbed her by the nape. Feathering wet kisses to her neck while she clung her neck to his rocky body for support.
She muttered an incantation into his earlobe, and Adrian's eyes instantly turned yellow. As if wanting to transform him into his wolf self. He no longer saw Ashley in front of him. She was now Maria, his mate. Adrian held her wholly. A soft moan escaped her lips as he focused on the kiss. His fingers pulled down her back zip, and her dress dropped off at once. Ashley couldn't help but clinging her tiny legs onto the small of his back, leading him upstairs.
Maria just stepped out of the grocery store when the shopping bag dropped from her hand. Jessica turned back and held her in a jiffy. Maria held to her head, as she could heard a loud, distant scream. And howling.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?"
"My head..." Maria held onto her head. Her veins laced with black instead of blue, as if she would wolf out.
As it is, Marian and Adrian could bond and read each other emotion and thoughts, so she knew, she heard, she saw. Her brown eyes had blue around her pupils, which was very rare.
"What's wrong, Maria?" Jessica cried, holding her closer.
"Mate... Mate... Owwwooooo!!!" she couldn't help but to howl. "Adrian is in trouble. Owwwww!!!"
Some passersby outside started at her, shocked to the bones. While the customers inside the grocery store were turning back at them.
Jessica quickly covered her up. She left the premises, pulling her into her car and putting her dark shades on Maria's face so no one would notice. She sped off into the road till they got home. Worried, Jessica rushed her inside to calm her down, but she threw away the dark glasses.
"What's it, Maria? What happened to you?"
"Adrian... Where is he?" She drooled around, trying not to wolf out.
Jessica rushed upstair and realized his room was empty.
"Adrian.. Adrian!!" She called on him, but there was no reply. Jessica rushed downstairs to Maria.
"Where the hell is He?" she scrolled through her phone and dialed his contact. His phone was ringing on his bed. Jessica got it, baffled about his sudden disappearance.
"Did he go out or something?"
Maria looked around. She could see a cloud of his scent, like smoke. She could perceive him. Her nose sniffled in the direction, and she rushed upstairs. Pushing through his transparent window, she realized it was coming from Ashley's house, even though her window was locked.
Meanwhile, Ashley injected Adrian from behind and he suddenly passed out. A malicious smirk formed on her lips, pulling him out of bed to the ground. She opened a drawer and brought out a silver handcuff. Under Ashley's bed is a dark, underground pond. In it, no one can perceive anything from it.
"No one will find you now. You belong to me, after all." Ashley voiced out her thoughts.
Opening the pond, she chained his hand together and kicked him there. Like a pit, she closed back the pond, adjusting her honey-brown hair.
Ashley walked to her window, peeping through the dark curtains. Her eyes met with Maria who wore a bitchy frown at her as if she knew all her plans. Ashley closed the curtains, choking on her own laughter.
"We should have done this for long, Maria. Now, let the fight begin."