Everyone was watching her. She stood frozen in place as she watched the tall black haired boy storm out of the cafeteria without a backwards glance. His violent temper scared her more than the bullies had. He was not someone she wanted to cross. She contimplate what he told her when they met at their lockers and decided she would rather deal with any trouble herself if it would get people killed. That monster had nearly strangled the poor girl to death.
"Are you alright?" A soft feminine voice murmured quietly. The girl gently took her by the arm and guided her past a large group of burley students that were glaring at her suspiciously. Clarity shuddered. "Don't look down and say nothing. Keep your eyes forward and keep walking. Everyone is staring at you. You can not break down here. Shut it down until we are somewhere safe." The girl whispered so quietly in her ear that she almost didn't hear it. she did as she was told and walked through the hall to an empty bathroom where Clarity's new friend locked the door. "It's okay now. You are safe here. You Can cry if you want to."
"He tried to kill her." Clarity choked out. "And nobody tried to stop him."
"Desmond is harsh and a little cold. my guess is Alicar was pushing him to act." The names almost didn't pass the pretty girls lips. it was almost as if she was terrified that she would be heard saying them and get punished for it.
"She's a bully sure but that doesn't mean she should be killed for it. Just expell her." Clarity whimpered. "Killing is extreme."
"No. Desmond would have killed her a long time ago if he had a half decent reason to. He and Alicar hate her so much." The girl sighed heavily. "What is extreme is that Desmond and Alicar didn't stop you from intervening. That was extreme."
"What are you talking about?"
"If anyone else tried that they would be sporting new welts as punishment." She sat next to Clarity on the floor. "It makes me wonder why he allowed it."
"He was going to kill her and nobody cares." Clarity wailed.
"Yeah not really. Her died four years ago making her a ward of the pack. And she's kind of a bitch so nobody really likes her." She sat with Clarity until her sobs died down.
"Thank you for sitting with me." Clarity sniffed when she calmed down enough. "I don't even know your name."
"I'm Tracy. It's nice to meet you." The bell rang, signalling the end of lunch. "We should get to class. I really don't want to get in trouble."
Clarity entered the office and tapped on the open door. "You wanted to see me sir?" She asked the principal and he motioned her to a seat across from him at the desk.
"I understand that there was an incident at lunch today and you were involved." It wasn't a question but Clarity felt compelled to explain.
"I was being targeted by bullies. That's all."
"I don't really care about that." He said bluntly. "What I care about is that you seem to have made a powerful friend. And I use that word lightly."
"Tracy? She's nice but I don't see why my relationship with-"
"Not Tracy Owens. I'm talking about Desmond Drake." He paused and let it sink in. "Listen you are a smart and talented young lady, Ms. Smithers. So I will warn you this one time. Stay away from Desmond Drake. He is nothing but trouble."
"He is not my friend. He just intervened when nobody else would." The principal held up his hand to stop her.
"You have a bright future ahead of you Ms. Smithers. Don't throw it away for someone like Desmond Drake. He skips classes regularly to....How do I put this delicately? Sully women....In the bathroom. And that is when he bothers to show up. He is not a good person. I urge you to rethink any association with him or any one who is connected to him. That includes Ms. Owens. We are done here. You may go back to class. And think about what I said." He waved her away. She stood up and left the office. As she did she saw Desmond leaning against the wall just out side the door.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"Fine." She answered shortly. She wouldn't give in to him. Not now she knew he was only trying to get up her skirt.
"Are you though?" She needed to get out of here. His deep masculine voice was doing things to her that she couldn't explain.
"I don't associate with killers.". She said coldly and he seemed taken aback, And hurt, by her statement. She flipped her long red hair at him and stalked off with her head held high. She would have no further association with Desmond Drake. She would make it known that she wanted nothing to do with the rough trouble maker. Even if it meant giving up her only friend to do it.
After the last bell rang Clarity was approached by another male student. He had a warm smile and seemed to be nervous about something as he introduced himself as Timothy Sanders. He chatted away about nothing in particular not even noticing that she wasn't listening to him. It was nearly ten minutes of worthless dribble before he finally stammered out a question.
"So, how bout it?" He was smiling expectantly at her as she now realized she had no answer to give him. She hadn't been listening.
"How bout what?" She asked in return, hoping beyond hope that he would give her an answer.
"My friends birthday party? I got an invitation and I have a plus one on it so I'm inviting you." He didn't seem to care much that he had to explain a second time.
"Um...Sure. Why not? It's a birthday party after all it would be rude to turn down an invitation. Should I bring a present?" She asked.
"Don't worry about that. His parents got him a car for getting a full ride scholarship to Yale. So he said that we don't need to bring anything for him."
"Alright." She hoped that she wouldn't regret this. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she would. At the moment she tried to push it down by telling herself that it was the perfect way to let everyone know she was not connected to Desmond Drake. She would show up at the party with Timothy Sanders and everybody would know for sure that she had nothing to do with that girl nearly dying.