C19 19

I enter the institute with the face of few friends and try to go unnoticed among the people to go to English, but as always, I fail in the attempt.

-Lailah, do you know if something happens to Jason?- Gigi asks, catching up with me.

I don't bother to stop walking and I don't even look at her. Being in a bad mood in the mornings is a normal thing for me, and my friends, they have to accept that.

-Good morning to you too- I murmur.

-Not seriously. It's that he's been avoiding me since yesterday. This morning I went to say hi to him and he got weird.

Then the memory of Jason behaving strangely a few days ago comes to mind.

-Weird like making weird gestures and being in a hurry? - I ask a little more interested.

-Yes. Why? Do you know anything?

-No, but I want to know. A few days ago he was like that too, and he wouldn't say anything to me- Gigi lets out a sigh and we both walk into the classroom to sit at our desks.

-Well, at least I know it's not because of me, I thought I had done something wrong.

I decide not to answer and take out my books instead. In the relationship that Jason and Gigi have, I don't like one hair, and it's not because of me, it's because of them. Jason has a lot of family problems and now more than ever, personal ones. And Gigi, has more, not to add the fact that she is pregnant. From another boy. So that would not be a good combination at all.

The teacher comes in and we start class. I don't even know what I'm paying attention to, we already gave this last year, and the year before, and the year before. And what is worse, is that almost no one in this class knows it, and no wonder, they must have burned neurons from so many parties and alcohol.

- Lailah ...- Gigi whispers. When I turn around, his face is whiter than the wall, his hands are shaking, and suddenly two lines of purple have grown under his eyes. I see something rise her throat and she tries to hold it back by puffing up her cheeks a little. So I already know what comes next.

-No no no! -I exclaim. I try to avoid it and get up, but it's too late.

All of Gigi's vomit has splattered all over me. And the whole class is watching us.

Gigi stands up abruptly rattling her chair and runs out of the classroom, I guess to keep throwing up in the bathroom, and not on me. The sound of mobile taking a photo of me is the only noise heard in the room.

-Lailah Gazt. -the teacher speaks.- Please leave class and go clean that up. Hygiene comes first, and nobody wants a girl with bacon scraps and pancakes nearby.

Stupid professor... Stupid Gigi... Stupid I throw up... Stupid Mark for getting her pregnant... And stupid bacon.

I get up and hold my breath, because if I breathe I know I will vomit too.

I walk through the corridors that are luckily empty and go out to the soccer field to go to the changing rooms. The guys from the team who are training see me go by in the distance and they start to whistle indecent things at me and laugh at me, so the referee scolds them and makes them do push-ups. If they only knew that I was full of leftover food with stomach acid...

I go into the girls' locker room and put the password to my locker to check if I had any clothes that I left here in case I ever forgot to bring them. And when I open it, I find that there is not only that but also several towels with shampoo.

I go into the showers and undress, then I rub the dirty clothes under the water so there are no traces of vomit and I put them in a bag. And then I take a shower. I dry myself with a towel and roll my wet hair into another. I walk through the empty locker rooms to my locker, where I begin to dress in gray sports Mayas and a short-sleeved white top. I know I'm going to freeze to death as soon as I get out of here, but it's all I have.

I remove the towel from my hair to put it back in the locker and turn to leave the locker room.

Holy shit.

I let out a cry and was startled. Azael is leaning against the doorframe of the girls' locker room, shirtless.

Deep breath.

Wait, is that nipple piercing?

-What are you doing here?- I ask uncomfortable. He sits up and starts walking towards me. And as always, I go back and forth, as he advances, and I am again stuck against one of the locker room lockers, but this time, I come out from under one of his arms and I turn around.

- I've come to greet you- he mutters, turning around. Then he looks at my neck- I see you liked my gift -Her seductive smile makes me want to run and get out of here without looking back.

I don't know how he has the balls to talk to me normally after the row the other day. I don't even want to look at him.

Well, look at him yes. But not talking to him.

-How long have you been there? -Just thinking that he may have seen me naked makes my limbs shake.

-Enough to see that you are very hot- He licks his lip and looks me up and down, biting the bottom one.

I feel the color rise to my cheeks and I lower my gaze to the ground so it doesn't show too much because I don't want him to see the power it has over me. But he picks her up with his index finger and makes her look into his eyes.

- Let me go- she muttered seriously. He raises his hands, as a sign of innocence, but he is still planted in front of me, blocking my possible exits, positioning himself in front of the door.

-No one's holding you back. Go away- he says as if it doesn't matter. I try to move, but my feet don't respond.

Damn you Lailah! Move on! Nothing.

I see how he adjusts his sight, narrowing his eyes and with his big hand, he takes the other pendant with the little daisy that I wear around my neck.

-Why do you have two necklaces? Do you have a lover? -He says highlighting the letter A. I roll my eyes and when I go to push him, I stop, because he is without a shirt, and it makes me very difficult to touch his chest when he is not wearing a shirt.

Yes, I would? Well yes, it is tempting. But I decide what is better to leave my hands where they are.

-It belonged to my best friend, Alison. - I let go with some resentment in my voice. He says nothing and his gaze darkens.

- Get over it at once.

I blink several times in disbelief. Suddenly his attitude has radically changed.

-Forgives? What the fuck do you think you're going on? It hasn't been two months since I found out, and you want me to forget it?- I say crossing my arms- You're repulsive- The blood starts pumping faster through my veins, and instantly I just want to hit him. Although I know that would not do much either.

- That's what I said- His haunting gaze does not leave mine. Her eyes are so black that I can't make out the end of her pupil.- I hate that you look at me that way every time you talk about her.

- Maybe if you hadn't killed her, she wouldn't look at you like that- I lift my chin defiantly.

-Don't touch my balls, Lailah- He takes a step forward, approaching me with his fists clenched in a warning.

-You wish more, Azael. -I can feel his heavy breathing hitting me.

I hate him. I fucking hate him so much!

We both looked at each other defiantly. His gaze rests on my lips and the vague memory of our kiss at the bar appears in my mind.

How can I hate him so much, and at the same time feel so bad to kiss him?

A few steps interrupt our conversation, which I don't even know where it was going to end.

-Well, well ... Who would say that the bad guy Azael Grimm was involved with the geek Lailah Gozt? -Cara Styles enters through the door of the changing rooms with a denim mini skirt and a long-sleeved top that reveals her navel piercing.- What an illusion the poor thing- she murmurs looking at me. Without a doubt, if Cara were an animal, she would be a viper.- She thinks you're caught by her. -This time look at Azael. Then he lets out a poisonous laugh.

-Hey, shut the fuck up. -He spits in disgust.

- You didn't say the same thing two days ago when you were naked in my bed- I gulp. Azael clenches his fists and the vein in his neck swells as he turns to look at her, and then I realize that what Cara said is true, and I just want to cry.

For having been so foolish, and despite having tried with all my might, having fallen into their nets.

-I think there is plenty here- I say with my head down, trying to slip away. I feel a hand grasp my wrist and I'm instantly glued to Azael. I hear Cara laugh in the background.

-I can explain- he whispers.

-Let me go, you make me sick- I mumble before giving myself a lug and turning to leave the locker room.

A sob escapes my throat helplessly, and my hand struggles to wipe the tears from my cheeks as quickly as possible.

-Lailah- Azael's voice comes from behind me. Are you following me? - Lailah, listen to me please. -If I didn't know him, I'd say he seems hurt.

I stop short. Luckily there is no one on the football field anymore, why is that the last thing I was missing?

-I don't want to hear any more lies. I don't want to have anything to do with you, ever again- I blurt out firmly. Another sob escapes me and I shrink.- And I hope, that if you have ever cared even a little, you know how to accept it and leave me alone. Because yeah, I've been stupid and dumb, and yes, Azael you've got what you wanted, congratulations-I spat out with resentment- Now don't bother me.

A silence where only my sobs are heard settles until he speaks.

-Look into my eyes and tell me that's what you want. -I lift my eyes off the ground and I can see their black eyes full of guilt, but I'll never know if they are telling the truth.

I shake my head, I can't lie to someone if I look into their eyes.

-Bye, Azael -I say turning around. This time he doesn't bother to hold me back, he just lets me go, and a part of me appreciates it.

The other is my selfish part.

XXX

AZAEL

With each step he takes, more anger settles within me. I need to distract myself with something, and this time, it won't be with Cara.

I leave high school and get on my motorcycle, then I start and press the accelerator with all my strength, feeling all the air hitting my naked torso, but inside me, there is still that knot in my chest that I had rarely felt before.

Hopefully, by now, almost everyone is working, so not many people will see me that they will call the police saying there is a madman without a helmet and a shirt speeding down the main road. Luckily my injuries are almost healed, otherwise, it would be the last straw.

But what the hell am I doing now? At this time there are no motorcycle races, the gym is closed and clandestine fights, which are my last option, too. Also, Scott is in high school and he's the only person I can talk to.

I pull the bike to the side of the road and take a deep breath. Why the fuck does a girl I don't know for more than a month provoke this on me?

Lailah is getting too much into my head and there is nothing I can do to prevent it because if I just let him be, I know he will testify against me. And my plans are not to go to jail. And if I continue with this, I won't make what I feel stop either. So I am trapped.

I take my phone out of my pocket and dial the number of the only person who can help me get rid of this feeling right now.

-Dad. I say as a greeting.

-Hello son- Her voice sounds cold and hoarse, and as soon as I hear her, memories of my old life come to mind.

Memories that I want to forget completely.

-Tell me about that assignment you wanted me to do.

That my father is one of the most powerful tycoons in the country is nothing new, and it is something I have had to live with all my life, but it also has its advantages. One of them is money.

-Come over here and I'll explain everything to you in detail. -My father's voice has always been neutral, without expressions, and without feelings, just like him.- I'll just tell you that you have to deliver it around the area so you shouldn't move too much.

-To who?

-To a certain Jason Cooper.