Jake follows suit and comes to sit beside Kimberly. He actually wanted to sit beside me but when he saw the flowers on the chair, he plopped down on the chair next to Kimberly.
Melissa still has tears streaming down her face and I wonder if she would talk when I ask her what really happened that night. But I muster courage and wipe my cheeks.
"Melissa, since you are the.....the only witness( sniff) can you give us......a....I mean....can you tell us what really happened"I say in my rough and scratchy voice.
Melissa sniffs as everyone have their eyes fixated on her.
" it....it all ha....happ....(crying)"Melissa begins but bursts into tears again and Claire hands her a tissue.
"It all happened so fast" Melissa finally says taking in a deep breath making the heavy weight on her chest diffuse.
We all urge her to continue.
"Aaron came up to me at the party hall........he was furious and he told me he wanted to go home or else he would create a scene if he stays longer"
My stomach flutters as I listen. He was furious because of me.
"I asked him the reason why he was ....(sniff) he was in such a bad mood but he just told me he doesn't want to talk about it"
I see Jake shift slightly in his seat.
"So he told me to come with him and that....he wanted me to be with him at that moment and I followed but he was drunk"
I swallow a thick saliva and continue to listen.
"We went to the parking lot and Aaron told me to get in his car. He said he is taking me home....(sniff)Â I didn't like the idea that he was going to drive home drunk but I couldn't drive the car anyways so I just hopped in knowing he is a careful driver"
Melissa takes a gulp of her Chocolate drink in front of her as we all watched her.
"He began driving recklessly and he was somehow dozing off. I got scared"
I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat.
"And when we got to the high way, his recklessness became excessive and then before I realised it, we had crashed into a double decker bus. The car somersaulted"
We all gasp in unison.
"And then everything went blank and .....when I woke up, I had a few wounds and my body ached with pain. And then when I recovered, I was stupefied to know that Aaron is dead" she concludes with fresh tears soaking her cheeks.
I feel tears trickle down my cheeks too and I place the apple in my satchel. I just lost my appetite. I am to blame. Its my fault! I was so careless!
"That is strange because Aaron hardly gets furious! Especially on Halloween!" Troy suggests.
"I wonder what got him so upset to the extent that he got drunk" Alec states and I feel guilty the more.
"I don't know! " Melissa says
"Its very strange. There is something missing " Danny speaks up frowning slightly
"Yes because he was very happy when I saw him at the party" Kimberly adds up.
"What if it was Tigress?"Danny says in realisation happy he finally got the clue but Jake and I know very well it wasn't her. It was us! I know they will be disappointed in me if I confess it.
" Tigress? No I don't think so! Besides, he was happy after we all quitted and when I announced 'let's go party', he exclaimed with us"Kimberly points out.
"Yeah you're right" Danny says
"But its possible that Tigress could have upset him after that! Maybe she did something" Claire spits.
"Yeah, maybe"
"Who is Tigress?" Jake asks confused.
"Tigress is just a Kentwood History psychopath who gave a lot of trouble and was the first female alpha before Nikki" Alec spits and I chuckle a bit. He called her a psychopath?
"I heard she is a drug dealer" Claire spits and we are all dumbstruck.
"Yeah! I also heard it. She is part of a syndicate that deals in drugs" Jenna confirms.
"Me too. I heard she takes cocaine and those stuff you know! That's why she behaves abnormally sometimes" Alec adds up with a slight snigger. I remember she told me to escort her to a place some months ago and she went to meet some men. They gave her a paper bag and she gave them a bundle of cash. She told me it was a transaction but all along, she was a drug dealer! She's so horrible. And I have a feeling that, that paper bag contained cocaine. What a monster!
"I never knew we were friends with a drug dealer! Its good we quitted" Danny admits.
"Because she deals in drugs, she is filthy rich! I heard she moved out of her parent's house and has her own house with an indoor pool. Her house is elegant and high tech"
We all gape at Claire with our jaws almost touching the floor. Claire smiles and bites her chicken nugget.
"I didn't know that!" Alec admits
"Me neither" Jenna adds.
"Have you been there?" I ask Claire
"Yes. Actually her house is four houses away from mine to the right and her parents live on another street! They just gave up on her" Claire says with a shrug.
"I want to meet this Tigress" Jake states amused and I feel a pang of jealousy.
"She has been to Troy's party many times! She even came on Halloween" Melissa says finally joining in the conversation
I'm a bit relieved that they stopped talking about that missing piece that got Aaron angry. I was close to confessing but I know I would have to one day.
"I have a few pictures of her! Lemme show you" Melissa adds taking her phone.
"So she lives alone in her new house?" Kimberly asks Claire. She still hasn't recovered from the shock she just had. I watch as Melissa shows Jake pictures of Tigress and I growl inwardly at how Jake looked at them with interest. Why am I so jealous?
"Yes she does. But I'm sure she has friends who go over to visit and maybe sleepover" Claire replies to Kimberly's question.
"She is hot" Jake compliments after Melissa shows him the pictures and my stomach churns. Does he like her?
"Yes she is! But her brain is twisted a bit" Troy says and we all laugh.
"I would like to see her personally" Jake says.
"Don't worry! You will see her personally soon" Alec convinces and I growl inwardly again.
"But does she know she can get arrested if the police find out?" Jenna cuts in.
"I'm sure! But I think she is secretive about it and really alert" Alec replies.
"Yeah! She's got twisted brains but she is very smart" Troy adds up
"Why? Was she a straight As student?" Jake asks with a beam.
"Errr.....kinda. Sometimes she gets straight As and another time its disgusting" Troy says.
"But Nikki has always been a straight As student since I met her in 8th grade" Kimberly compliments and I smile gratefully.
"Well that's another requirement! To be an alpha, you need to get straight A's" Danny says whiles taking a sip of his big red drink in front of him.
The tocsin goes and we all head to our next class.
ððð
The next day, I felt better. Jake and I got closer now that Aaron wasn't there but once in a while, we would talk about him and Helen.
We were in the middle of November getting to December in a few days time.
"Do you think they will find out that I got Aaron upset?"
"I doubt that cause, they knew the two of you were really close"Jake says.
I sigh "I still feel guilty "
"Miss Nicole Anderson! Please report to the principal's office" a voice says through the speakers all of a sudden as I was walking with Jake to my next class in the hallway.
"I didn't do anything" I tell Jake as he gives me a look.
I leave to the principal's office.
"Miss Anderson!" The principal states angrily.
I swallow hard.
"Yes ma'am"
"What is the meaning of this?" She asks showing me a video.
I was in it beating up a freshman. I do not remember doing this. Besides, I do not bully freshmen.
"I'm sorry but I have no idea" I reply hugging my books tighter.
She glares at me.
"Don't play dumb with me Miss Anderson! You did this earlier today! I just got it from Jake Winters! One of the law abiding students in the school"
I didn't do this today or any day! Its a frame! I have only been with Jake. Did he betray me? To overthrow me! He deceived me and made me lose my best friend in the process. Tears fill my eyes as I stand there. He betrayed me! He won! I hate him!
"I swear to you that I am not the one in the video"
"Apparently you are and you know what will happen to you. You broke one of the rules of the agreement!"
Tears roll down my cheeks
"Please believe me! I swear I didn't do this"
"Don't lie to me! Your friends too have cases and will be punished severely! But now, you are out of the school! Don't come back here again"
"What? No I beg you! I didn't do it I swear!"
"Get out Miss Anderson!" She states coldly with a glare.
"The girl in the video is in the operating room right now because of your cold heart! We cannot tolerate you anymore! You are vicious!!!" She yells at me and security guards grab me.
"Leave me alone! I'll go but I will tell you one thing....I was framed! I didn't do it! Its not true" I yell at her. Tears flood my eyes as I leave the office and walk swiftly down the hallway. I never knew my legs could even move that fast. People were giving me weird looks but I didn't care. I was betrayed by Jake and that was what mattered. I'll just go home and sulk in my bed as usual.
"Nicole!!!" I hear Jake call behind me but I don't stop.
"Wait! Nicole please" he says and races until he catches up with me and stands right in front of me.
"Nicole! What happened?" Jake asks and without thinking, my hand makes contact with his cheek. I just gave him a resounding slap and everyone is looking at us. He is stunned and his mouth hangs open but my blood was boiling right now and all I could think of is to pounce on him like a lion and beat him up. He rubs his cheek to soothe the pain and I'm happy.
"You framed me! Now I got kicked out! Are you happy? You are now the new Alpha!!You won! And you deceived me you liar!!!" I yell at him.
"What are you talking about?"
"About the video you sent to the principal!!!" I yell back. He furrows his eyebrows in confusion
"I didn't send any video" he yells back gaining attention from students. I shake my head. I don't believe him anymore. He has always lied and deceived me. My heart is broken and it aches so bad.
"Stay away from me! I hate you!!" I yell and walk away. My dad always told me. His words ring in my head.
It is better to have an enemy who slaps you in the face than a friend who stabs you in the back.
He was right! His words are true! Tears threaten to fall as I head to my car.
"Nicole wait! I didn't do anything" He hollers after me but I get in my car and drive as fast as I can home. Tears roll down my dry cheeks. I can't believe Jake did this to me. I should have chosen Aaron. Maybe everything would have been different! I hit the steering wheel. He lied to me! He deceived me! Aaron is gone and I have no one! I sped on the road and l could hear the tyres screech against the asphalt.
I finally spot my house and pull up in the driveway.
I get down and mom is in front of the house with my things and my dog.
"Mom what is this?" I ask looking at her serious expression. Trina is peeping through the window crying. I think mom picked her up early from school because school isn't over yet.
"Mom don't do this!" She yells whiles hitting the glass.
"Get out of this house Nicole! You are not welcome! " Mom states coldly.
"What?" I blurt.
"You heard me Nicole! Get out and never come back!" Mom seethes angrily with tears stained cheeks and I furrow my eyebrows.
Where is dad? Is he a part of this too?
"Mom please! I did not do that! I was framed."
"Just leave Nicole! I'm tired of you! I cannot tolerate your behaviour anymore!!!" Mom yells back exasperatedly
"But mom...." I trail off as I watch her. She enters the house and locks the door.
"Mom! Mom don't do this! I didn't do anything!" I say knowing that maybe the principal told her I got kicked out. I cry harder as I see Trina crying behind the window. This is all a disaster. Mom drags Trina away from the window and drapes the curtains. I knock on the door.
"Mom please open up!" I yell knocking the door with all the strength in me. The neighbours look on with sympathy and some were giving me disgusting glances.
I knock harder
"Mom! Trina! Don't do this to me! I'm still your daughter!"
She doesn't open up and I just give up. I go to the backyard of the house and my window is shut with the curtains draped. I checked Trina's room and its shut too.
I sigh and just walk back to where my things were.
I grab my belongings and shove them into the trunk of my car still crying. I placed Aaron on the passenger seat beside me and drove whiles crying. I felt like committing suicide. I lost everything. I speed down the road not knowing where I was going. I just didn't know. I played Juice World's Lucid dreams in the car to soothe my bleeding heart.
I finally made it to where Alec took me to some weeks ago. The place where he called his personal adviser. I just hope a bear would come out and eat me up.
"I guess its only you and me Aaron! "I tell my puppy as I get down and lock my car leaving it inside.
"I'm sorry Aaron! But I think its best if I join the real Aaron in heaven" I apologise to the puppy who was barking loudly in the car. I give it a small smile.
"I love you! I know you will get another master who would love you like the way I did......after I'm gone"
I release a deep breath and begin
to walk on the grass heading to where the cliff is. When l get there, l look down at the raging waters. I'm just gonna drown myself. I release more tears.
I'll just die and no one will know about it! Its better that way. I sniff. I begin to wheeze and cough. I think I'm having an attack but I don't care. Suddenly, I feel scared to jump. Its so high and I'm afraid I'm really going to drown.
The attack worsens and my chest aches. I cannot breathe and my inhaler is in the car. I turn around to go back but then I slip and fall down the cliff. This is it! I should just drown. Its over!
I swallow hard as I splash into the water. Water enters my lungs and I struggle for air. Then everything went blank.