Yuree
Why is he here ? I thought desperately .
I looked from behind Bee and saw Terry walking towards us from the edge of the parking lot .
Just great , I thought wryly , this would not end well .
I sighed and moved from behind Bee to take the full wrath of my friend .
Terry stormed up to us with a dark glare . When he reached us he looked at me from head to toe .
" Who did this ? " He asked in a deadly voice .
" Hey Terry , how is your day going ? " I said trying to avoid the question but Terry would have none of it .
" Yuree , who did this to you ? " Terry asked again and then he glanced at Bee . " And who is this ? "
" This is Bee . " I answered ignoring his first question , " He's my ... " My what ? future boyfriend ? - No definitely not that . " He's my friend " I said instead .
" I've never seen him before . " Terry said walking around Bee who was also staring at Terry .
" We met ... last week ." I answered and Terry paused .
" When you got those wounds ? " he asked pointing at my arm and then he turned to Bee , " Bee , was it ? Do you know what happened to Yuree ? Was it you who did this ? "
I opened my mouth but Bee answered before I could speak .
" No , I would never hurt him . But yes , I do know who hurt him . "
" Please tell me ." Terry said in a very calm voice that belied the rage in his eyes.
This was Terry , one moment he was studying a guy and the next he was asking questions I rather not bring up .
" It's nothing , Terry . " I said quickly , " I just got hurt and I'm already getting better ."
" Who hurt you then ? " he asked and I scoffed .
" Who said anyone hurt me ? " I lied and he tisked his tongue .
He turned back to Bee , " Do you know who hurt him ? " he asked again .
" Yes , I do . "
" Who was it ? "
" Wait , why do you want to know ? " I asked desperately , I knew the answer and it wasn't pretty . Terry had a temper like no one would believe .
" I just want to know . " Terry replied and he raised a brow at Bee , " The name , of the person who hurt Yuree , please ."
" Nymph does not seem to want you to know though ." Bee said softly while looking at me .
" Wait , who's Nymph ? " Terry asked confused and I blushed crimson .
" Yuree is Nymph . Because he is beautiful like a nymph ." Bee explained and Terry was momentarily thrown off his centre .
He looked at me with wide eyes , " He ... calls you ' Nymph ' ? "
I nodded my head feeling slightly embarassed . The name had stopped bothering me at home but out here . It felt so ... embarassing again . We would need talk about this at home .
" Well ... that's something . " Terry said shaking his head , " So Bee ... you think Yuree is ... beautiful like a nymph ? "
" Yes , the most beautiful person I have ever met . It is one reason I wish to be near him . " Bee answered and Terry chuckled . I was grateful , he didn't say he loved me , Terry would have swooped in like a vulture and pried Bee apart .
" Okay ,okay ... That's wow . Anyway , you seem really interesting but I still have to know who hurt him . "
" Does Nymph want me to tell him ? " Bee asked me and I shook my head .
No I did not want him to Terry who hurt me !
" You sure about that ? " Terry said narrowing his eyes , " Because I have ' other ways ' to find out . And when I do ... I'll make that guy know the meaning of PAIN . "
I sighed , it was true . Terry had a variety of connections and a little questioning would eventually lead him to Steve . He would be ruthless when he found him .
But even if I told him , he would still hurt Steve so badly I didn't want to think about it .
So there was no roundabout .
" Okay , fine I'll tell you ." I said sighing again, " Remember that guy, Steve ... from the cafeteria ? "
Terry thought a moment and then realised who I was speaking of . His face became like thunder .
" The guy who acted like he was doing you a favour by asking you out ? That Steve ? " Terry said vehemently and I nodded my head .
" Yeah ... him and a bunch of boys chased me around until I fled into an alley . I climbed a barbed wire fence just to get away from them . " I explained slowly , " Which is where I got all these cuts , this cast and my sling ."
" Why was he chasing you ? " Terry asked and I swallowed , I was condemning Steve to a fate worse than death.
" He ... was mad because ... I refused to go out with him . " I answered and Terry growled .
" The bloody cocky bastard ! I'm going to... I'm going to ... " Terry breathed out and shook his head , his rage rendering words useless . But I had a good idea what he had in mind .
" Terry look , he already apologized to me when I came out of the hospital and - "
" You were in the hospital ? " Terry asked and I realised I had not mentioned that .
" Umm yeah , but only for a day and a half . " I said like it was nothing but Terry's face grew even more angry .
" He sent you to the hospital ... He sent my bestfriend to the hospital . " Terry shook his head and smiled .
It was a deadly smile , the kind given by snakes when they are about to bite .
" Well then ... I guess I'll have to return the favour ." Terry said softly .
" Wait ... don't tell me you mean what I think you mean ? " I said apprehensively .
" You know what I mean . And as for his apology ... to hell with it . " Terry said , " Honestly , how could you not tell me about this ? It has only been three days . "
" I thought about telling you ... but I was afraid what you might do . " I confessed and he chuckled .
" Smart , but how were you going to hide your scars or that cast at school ? I was going to find out eventually . " Terry said and then he looked at me dubiously " Or what , you were only coming back when the evidence was gone ? "
" Well , I just ... I just didn't want to cause a problem . I hate confrontation , you know that ." I said and he groaned in exasperation .
" This is why you need friends like me . Because you are a pushover sometimes ." Terry said , " Is this why you said you shouldn't tell your mom about Mrs Wen and her blog ? Because you didn't want a ' problem ' ? "
" No , I want to handle that on my own . " I said defensively but Terry shook his head .
" Really ? Then what about what I heard , about you getting stuck with an actor from Trix High ? It was Mrs Wen's idea and I'm guessing you didn't say a thing . "
" I ... was having an off day . It's just she made me the main actor and changed the whole play ." I said vehemently , " I saw a girl just lose her position because of that . Nobody said anything but I'm sure they think it's my fault ! "
That had been the reason I ran away crying at school . I couldn't believe Mrs Wen had done such a thing and changed everything .
It was only because of who I am .
" I heard alot but it being your fault is something I didn't hear . " Terry retorted, " In fact , it is the fault of that selfish old woman . And you should have stood your ground . "
" She's my teacher ." I replied
" So what ? " Terry demanded , " Because she's your teacher , she can use your photos without permission ? Because she's your teacher she can create a social website that leads to you being accosted by random men ? Because she's your teacher she can get away scot free while you're in a cast ? "
" I ... I ... I'm sorry ." I said looking down but Terry groaned again .
" Apologizing for what ? You're the victim . You are ALWAYS the victim ! " Terry said and then he turned to Bee who had been quiet this whole time , " You , Bee , Tell me . When those boys came after him and hurt him , did he fight back or just comply ? "
" Hey I fought back ! " I said instantly and Terry turned back to me .
" Exactly ! Right there !" he said pointing at me , " You just got angry and stood up for yourself right now . Why can't you do that with Mrs Wen ? "
" It's complicated . She ... means well - "
" I don't believe that ." Terry folded his arms , " I think she just takes pleasure in people's suffering ."
" Stop talking about her like she's a demon . " I said and he sighed .
" Fine , you don't want to fight her then that's fine . " He turned behind us and smiled again .
What was he looking at ?
I turned around and saw mom coming with the car . Why was he smiling ? I wondered and then it hit me .
He was going to tell her !
" No , no , please , she'll freak out ! Don't tell her ." I said but Terry kept his smile until the car came up .
" Oh , Terry . How are you ? " mom said getting out of the car . She talked using sign language and Terry answered back .
" I'm fine , Mrs Rosi . I didn't know Yuree got hurt . " he said and mom shook her head .
" Yes , but because of Bee over there , he got to the hospital in the nick of time . " mom said , " He was bleeding out and if Bee hadn't been there ... oh , I'm just glad he's okay ."
" Me .Too ." Terry said softly but his eyes had the dangerous look again , " I wanted to know if you knew who hurt him ? "
No ! I thought and looked at mom .
She smiled softly and ... nodded her head .
What !
" Yes , I do know . I know all nine boys . " she said , " I went out with the police and found them . Turns out they had already reported themselves . The leader , Steve , a juvenile delinquent , is getting therapy . I wanted to beat him black and blue but I knew Yuree wouldn't approve and it would make things worse , so I left him ."
" You knew ? " I said moving into her eye view and she chuckled .
" I always know when you're lying remember ? You looked to the side at the hospital when I asked you . " she said softly , " Did you really think I would just leave it at that ? You're my son and if anybody hurts you , I will know . And that day at the hospital when I saw you talking to him , I just wanted to see what you would do . I'd already seen him earlier that same day . "
I looked at the ground , she had known . She had known this whole time , I thought numbly . Of course I should known she would find out . I had to curb that looking to the side habit !
" That's nice to hear , Mrs Rosi ." Terry continued , " But do you know why he got in that situation in the first place ? "
" No , do you ? " mom asked and I bit my lip .
He was going to tell her and it would be a catastrophe . Mom would hound Mrs Wen and I would have to face her wrath on stage or worse get tossed out of the play all together .
" Oh , no . I just wanted to know if you did ." Terry said and I looked at him .
He was smiling slyly but mom didn't notice . She shrugged her shoulders .
" Okay , well we better get home . I have work to get to . " she said and went to open the boot of the car .
" Why didn't you tell her ? " I asked as soon as she turned her back .
" Why would I ? You say you can handle it ... so I will just have to wait for you to handle it . " Terry answered but he raised a finger , " But if that witch does something that lands you in trouble again , I'm telling your mom about everything . Agreed ? "
" Okay , I agree ." I said as mom came back up .
" So Terry what are you doing here ? " mom asked and Terry shrugged his shoulders .
" I was just walking around . It's a good thing I was here , I wouldn't have known about Yuree otherwise ." Terry said and mom nodded her head .
" Well , I'm glad he has you for his friend . I hope you can come visit when you have time ." she said softly but I gritted my teeth .
I never let anyone back home . With Gus drinking and watching TV , or when the guys showed up for card games , or mom and Gus playing drinking games ; I just couldn't face anyone of my friends seeing that .
" I'd be happy to but I have alot to do . I'll try though ." Terry answered , then he turned to Bee , " I'll see you later . I'm curious about how you and Yuree ... act around each other ."
" What does that mean ? " I asked and Terry chuckled .
" You blushed when he called you Nymph but you didn't say for him not to call you that . Which means he calls you that alot ... what else does he call you I wonder ? "
" I don't understand . Should Nymph have many names ? " Bee asked and Terry shook his head smiling coyly .
" No , I just wanted to know if you call him ... your lover or boyfri- "
" Shut up ! " I told him and he laughed .
" I will only call Nymph what he permits me ." Bee said and Terry chuckled .
" Wow ,You have him wrapped around your little finger , don't you ? You have never dated but this is golden ." Terry chided and I glowered .
" We are not dating , we are not lover's or boyfriends . " I told him .
" Not yet they're not . " mom put in and i gaped at her . She chuckled good naturedly , " What ? Am I wrong ? "
" Yes ... no , I don't know ... it just sounds weird coming from you mom . " I said , " And when did you start thinking about me and Bee ... like that ? "
" When he put his arm around your waist and practically carried you . There are other things I've seen , but I rather not talk about it . " mom said and she pointed to the car , " Time to go . I have to work ."
" The groceries - "
" Put them in and hurry up . " mom said getting in the driver's seat .
" Wow , I'm shocked, stunned and flabbergasted . I can't believe you actually have a boyfriend ." Terry said but I glared at him .
" He is not my boyfriend and will you get back to walking around ? " I said in a huff and then I turned to the trolley filled with all the goods we bought . They were each in plastic bags and about four bags . I reached for two but I never got to lift them .
" Nymph , let me help you ." Bee said instantly rushing to my side and taking the bags of goods .
He lifted all four bags as if they weighed nothing .
" Thanks Bee , " i said smiling at him , " You can put them in the boot and close it . "
" In just three days ... WOW ... " Terry said looking at Bee as he walked to put the bags in the back of the car .
" He just ... helps me , okay ? " I said softly and Terry smiled .
" Okay , whatever you say . But he looks hot though . Really hot stuff ! " Terry said looking at Bee up and down , then he turned to me " Anyway , I'm going . Bye ."
He turned around and started walking away . A thought struck me .
" Where are you going ? " I asked him and he turned around .
" Here and there . " he answered and then he started jogging away .
I groaned , I had seen his eyes . He had had that deadly look again and he had been smiling , it was the smile of a cobra as it bares it's fangs .