• “Yo Mira, where ya at?” my good friend Markie called from one of the roundtables, our free mod spent together on Thursdays usually unless there was an emergency or something.
    Markie was a fairly pretty girl even if she did have a little bit of excess poundage on her person. Her blond hair fell over her shoulder in wavy lengths and her green eyes were covered by a pair of thin glasses with the black frame. Her skin was pale but tarnished by the occasional blemish that was normal on any teenage girl.
    “What, are we suddenly in the fifties?” I asked, rolling my eyes. Ever since the fall play had ended nearly two weeks ago, she had become obsessed, quoting each of the characters and occasionally belting out a simple cord from the songs.
    “Naw, I only wish,” she sighed, “so tell me, you comin’ with us to the movies tomorrow? I heard there’s a good action film out.” Ah, good ol’ Markie. Her leads to the main point were always so funny. But then again they always tend to get me into some kind of trouble and I knew this one was no different.
    “So who do you think I should go with?” She lit like a Christmas tree on Christmas day or fireworks on the fourth of July. Never really got the metaphors but they were fun to use anyways. I had to sigh since I knew it was coming and I wouldn’t like it.
    “Well since you asked, why not with Layton? I mean come on Mira, everybody likes him and I heard he’s a real gentleman!” Markie replied. I couldn’t help the growl that came out due to the moron's name. I had always hated the guy.
    “Are you fricken kidding me? That boy is just like every other male pig in this school or even in this town,” I replied with a disgusted look. I had had my experiences with pigs and I really didn’t feel like repeating them. Mariah, another of our groupies had become infatuated with him and ended up on her butt thanks to him and his groupies. Ever since I’ve hated anything that had to do with him entirely.
    “What about pork sausage?” a voice behind us asked. That’s Lia for you. Always thinking about the only thing a male is good for. I couldn’t help but laugh at the remark.
    “Mira won’t go to the movies with me and Alec while she goes with Layton,” Markie pouted like a small child who couldn’t have candy. It was always her way of getting something she wanted even if it never really worked with me. I didn’t do cute.
    “Isn’t he dating Rosa though?” Lia asked. Thank you, there is a God. Oh wait. I sighed and decided to get a drink. Nothing like some caffeine to keep me up and flatten the stress level. Or kill you in a few years, if that was possible for me.
    As I walked down the semi-quiet halls to the school store, a growling mutter came to my ears. I stopped and perked my hearing just a bit. I wasn’t one to barge into a conversation, that was more of Anna’s job, but I always liked a fight and there seemed to be one going on just around the corner.
    It was something I could always get into even if it was petty like a couple fight in the hallways. Usually it got pretty bad before it got better and I loved how it spun out of control near the end. If the female was mad enough, she’d go for the slap and stop away, the scent of metallic anger and gassy frustration wavering as she passed by. Then his name came to my ears and I had to grumble. Not him again.
    “I understand,” responded a baritone male voice. His voice. Great, there was no way of escaping this boy! He was everywhere. His name on the lips of my friends and the other girls, his name in the announcements for football, his friends always walking around the commons. It sucked.
    I continued around the corner only to hit what felt like a brick wall. I didn’t remember one being there so I was a bit knocked from my senses and had to remember, gain my senses once more before I continued on. I also didn’t remember a wall smelling like a peppermint.
    “I’m sorry, are you okay?” someone asked as I felt gentle but large hands grab my biceps to keep me from falling on my butt or bashed my head against the wall. Whichever one would have happened first.
    “Yeah, I’m fine,” I growled. I shook my head a little and looked up only to meet Emeralds. They glowed with a soft eeriness that flashed across my system straight through my veins and to a part of me I had known existed only once before.
    “Oh, Layton,” I grumbled before I could catch myself. A smirk seemed to press coolly on the corners of his mouth at my words as if I had praised him some how for something he had done for me. Yeah right, me praise him?
    “So you know me?” he asked, little surprise in his low yet high tone. I scarfed at his question. As if he didn’t know.
    “Of course. No one will shut up about you although I don’t exactly see what the fuss is about since you’re pretty small for a football stay. But I can say you have many in line and I see that the next number is up,” I replied, looking at the blond girl who glared at me from behind him only a couple of feet away. She must be the one that was left in the dirt this time. She huffed before stomping off in the opposite direction. What? I wasn’t even in line for this guy. Why get mad at me?
    “So are you in line? If so, maybe I can give you cut into the front since you’re pretty cute,” he chuckled as he leaned forward. His face was too close to mine for comfort and I had to step back a little. Only he stepped even closer. Augh, this man was so unshakable!
    “No, I have no trust nor interest in your species,” I growled, looking into his eyes which seemed to draw me in, something laying behind those deep pools that made me want to take a deeper look but I knew I shouldn’t. I looked away from his eyes and to the wall behind him in hopes that maybe he’d take a hint.
    “Oh? Are you sure about that? Surely there’s a little compassion for my so-called quote species unquote,” he said as he made the quote motion with his fingers.
    “No, men pretty much used and threw me away. All they’re good for is the occasional... well you get the idea,” I laughed even though my eyes were cold. He stared for a bit, tilting his head to get a better look, making the moment uncomfortable. He made me want to scream at him and walk away this time.
    He almost looked intelligent as I returned my sight to him. His emeralds sparkled lightly, looking like green fire as it danced to unheard music. His brunette hair lay in different directions, curling lightly. His skin was bronze ivory, evidence of his time out in the sun. His lips were drawn out, puckered slightly while it revealed white teeth. My glare softened for a split second before it returned with double the force.
    “You have beautiful eyes,” he finally said softly. I scoffed at him and walked away, giving a quick wave over my shoulder.
    “Go find a different girl to charm, I’m not interested.” He stared after me, I knew by that being watched feeling and it sent shivers up my spine and goose bumps across my skin. Funny, never had that happen before, especially with a guy like him.
    I went and got my drink, a large coffee with extra sugar and crème that would make an addict even cringe, gulping half of it down swiftly. He had gotten to me and irked me. Not cool. It had angered me so much that such a man existed but even worst, he was in MY town. I just wanted to slap that pretty little smile off his face and extinguish that fire in his eyes in one swift motion. Then my mother’s words rang in my head and I had to chuckle and shake my head a little.
    “Never let them see that they irked you, they’re just looking for a reaction to feed off of like snakes on pray.” Good ol’ Madre, always coming up with ways to make a bad situation into at least a little bit of a pleasant one. She had helped me a lot through thick and thin before she died so long ago.
    I made my way back to the table to find Jonathan and Colin had joined the others there. They looked at me and gave me a knowing smirk that made them look stupider then ever. I narrowed my eyes as I drew closer, my stride a little hesitant. They were up to something and it wouldn’t be pretty.
    “What is going on?” I asked as I sat down, glaring. John and Colin looked at each other before they both burst out in laughter while Markie sighed and Lia seemed stung.
    My eyes swung quickly over to her, her brown eyes avoiding me completely like I was the Black Plague. Seemed strange since she never held anything back and had the potential for peeving everyone and anyone off.
    “So how was your talk with Prince Charming?” Colin asked. I glared so hard I thought he’d go up in flames. I should have known it was something as simple and completely stupid as this. Although I wondered how they had known about my little run in with the school pig but my guess was their specialty of spying.
    “He came onto me and I turned him down so hard I thought he’d fall straight to Hell,” I replied sourly, remembering the encounter and hoping to put it behind me now.
    “Oh come now, you didn’t let me down that hard. I thought it was more like teasing,” his voice chuckled behind me. A bristling shudder ran up my spine at this light, joking tone.
    I spat curses under my breath perfusaly, refusing to turn and look at him. So much for the forgetting part.
    “Mind if I sit here?” Layton asked. Markie nodded blankly with her mouth open in awe and I growled at her. She tried to avoid eye contact as her mouth snapped shut. I knew her game and I was none too happy with the moment she decided to play it. She had played the card once before then it had been my turn to be played.
    He sat right next to me and gave a smug smirk. I took a swig of my coffee like it was a hard liquor, my eyes hard and staring at a downward angle towards the book titled “Moon Called” that Markie was reading, the girl on the cover untouchable and taking crap from no one. Just like me. That’s how people had come to know me. A witch, a woman who took no bull and hated men so much that I wished I could castrate them and never care. People, most of them anyway, steered clear of me and I liked it that way.
    “So why’re you sitting here?” Colin asked, a little curiosity slathered over the chuckle and ever so annoying knowledged tone until neither were apparent. He too was playing a game.
    “Yes, that’s a good question. Don’t you have some tail to chase after in that area across the commons away from me?” I growled, glaring at him now. He smiled, almost a little too warmly and I had to face forward before the urge to hit him became overpowering and I got suspended once more. There had been a time when I beat one of the druggie boys for trying to screw with me with his fingers under the table. I had been wearing a skirt that day and the teachers hadn’t believed me.
    “I’ve found a little vixen with a bite and she caught my attention,” he replied with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes in pure disgust, feeling like I should throw up. The others looked at me knowingly and I glared, making them look in a different direction. Luckily they weren’t stupid so there wasn’t many times I had to throw punches their way.
    I looked up at the clock and gave a sigh of relief. I grabbed my book bag and Markie followed suit. It wasn’t time for our next class but it was passing time, which meant I was able to go somewhere else away from the males who had made my day that much better. Sarcasm. It’s a beautiful thing.
    “I’m going to the RCC to study, talk to you losers later,” I said, my words directed to the males, especially Layton who stared after me once more. He better not be looking at my rear, I’ll murder him in no time flat.
    I didn’t even glance back as Markie and I made our way to the RCC to get away from Layton, plus it was one of the very few ‘silent study please be quiet’ places where we could talk without being yelled at. Usually Senora Weber was there to do her class papers or prep time.
    “You seriously turned down Layton Canaan, the hottest and most wanted guy in this school?” Markie whispered as if surprised as soon as we sat down. I grumbled, knowing exactly what would come of this.
    “Yes I did and I’m glad. That player goes through more females in a week then I go through song choices in a month and you know I’m a big music fan,” I replied. It was true. I knew most of the music players from Deezer to the simple ol’ 127 since I went to the library to study. Music always helped and Markie and Lia knew some pretty cool music players.
    “You don’t even want to try? Come on Mira, just for tonight, then you can dump him off a cliff if you want,” she begged. There was something up and I could smell it from miles away.
    “And why are we so bent on having me go with him?” I asked, my chin resting on the back of my hands and my eyebrow raised. She stiffened a little and my eyes narrowed. Yeah, I knew that reaction and I wasn’t going to like the answer at all. She never was good at keeping her secrets to herself or keeping her pain from her expressions. Well, here goes.
    “Well, um, you see. I um, sorta told Alec that you guys were coming tonight. Other wise he won’t go with me,” she replied softly.
    “Then get rid of him. A guy who won’t take his own girl to the movies without his buds isn’t worth it. Next he’ll be wanting to have a casual romp next to his best friend,” I sighed. She fell silent and looked down and to the left, my left. Something was up. If she had looked to my right it would have been in defeat that she was admitting to, but she wasn’t.
    “That’s not the whole story is it?” I asked, the intent to kill in my voice far too apparent. I hated when people kept things from me and I could always find a way to get it from them.
    “No. He keeps asking me to bring you along on our dates and gets mad when I refuse,” she replied softly, closing her eyes as if she knew my outburst was to come.
    “The sick son of a...!” I snarled, slamming my fist down. She jumped at my force, then cringed. I receive a few hushes and some glares while a few others snickered.
    “What’re you looking at four eyes?” I snapped at one of the well-known nerds in our school and his eyes widened as he quickly turned back to his work, his glossy blond hair tossing from the force.
    “I don’t know what to do,” she said softly.
    “Screw him, then leave. That’s lust, not love you’re feeling for him, trust me,” I growled, leaning back in my chair with my arms crossed. She looked at me with wide eyes as if the idea appalled her. She never was the type to do so and in the past, she had gotten shot down because of it. Naive little girl.
    “I, I could never do that!” she replied almost in a whining tone.
    “Then you’re the one who’s gonna be screwed in the end,” I replied simply with a shrug. She went silent for a while, wouldn’t look at me nor even glance my way. It was understandable, I had just told her to leave the man of three years.
    As if on cue, Alec came walking in, his bag slung over his shoulder and the usual bright puke colored shirt and jeaned shorts which made even me shutter since it was late fall, a chilling 22 degrees outside. If I were anyone else it’d be freezing. His dirty blond hair was pretty flat, cut short in the back but a bit of bangs to frame his somewhat ovaled face, complete with a strong set jaw, chocolate brown eyes and a pursed almost puckered mouth. He was a bit on the heavy side but that was bulk from weight lifting and football, both a pass time he enjoyed. Just looking at him peeved me off.
    As if he felt my glares, he looked over at us and made his way over, sitting next to Markie but never once touching or even acknowledging her. It made me sick to my stomach how he treated her. He had a grin on his face like he had done something great or like he was up to something. I knew it had to be that he was up to something.
    “So Mira, you coming tonight with Layton?” he asked. It took everything I had to not curl my lips and punch him right between the eyes. I glanced over at Markie, her expression deeply hurt and I sighed. I had to do it for her. I may be a tough son-of-a-gun but for some reason I had a soft side when it came to her. Almost motherly sadly.
    “Yeah, just tell him when and where,” I grumbled. I hated myself for it. Markie looked up at me, surprise in her Ivory features. I gave her a ‘you owe me’ look and she gave a short nod.
    “Alright, cool. I’ll talk to you guys later and I’ll see you later babe,” Alec said to Markie as he gave her a kiss on the neck, then got up and walked out. Markie was now glowing, a grin on her face, a giggle escaping her form.
    “I’m gonna die,” I grumbled, leaning my head back so that I stared at the ceiling.
    “Thank you so much Mira. I’ll make it up to you, I swear,” Markie said, pure happiness in her voice. A growl left my throat, followed by a sigh in an angry tone.
    “You are SO lucky that I care deeply for my friends,” I growled, sitting up and shaking my finger at her. She chuckled.
    “I know.” Was her reply.

    As I walked home, my heavy bag hanging at my side and the Autumn wind blowing across my form, I could feel myself being followed, a presence drawing closer. It was one that reeked of malicious evil and putrid filth, a fresh kill mixed within. It was nothing new in my daily routine, just another trashed filth to dispose of. It wasn’t too bad though, made my blood boil with the enriched excitement as I tensed for the killing pounce, my eyes wild with my amusement and need to kill. I slowed slightly, ready for what was to come and shaking with excitement. I could hear it, smell it and soon, I could see it.
    It wasn’t far from me, a small creature compared to some of the sizes I had seen before but just as ugly. His hollow sunken eyes were set in the middle of his grey, wrinkled head, his nose deteriated to just two holes that flared with each breath and his ears pointed on each side of his head. I could see the caged ribs as they stiffly rose and fell with each falling of his lungs, taking in the air around him. I knew he was searching for my scent, dispatched to dispose of me like so many others had been before him. Sad that this is what they came up with.
    I was hunted, that I’ll readily admit. By humans, demons and angels alike. Bet you didn’t see that one coming so swiftly. They exist alright, in your neighbor, in the darkness that allures few and scares many. I’m their death angel just as there’s an Angel of Death for humans, bringing it swiftly even if I am a sort of demon myself, my skin and soul cursed. Never would I see the sweet golden gates of Heaven, that I knew, but at least I’d have fun with my time on this filth filled Earth. I had killed Angels. They despised me for my strength and my unexpected connections to their world but I cared little. I still prayed to the goddesses, the gods weak in my eyes.
    The wolf was a sign of damnation in the Gods’ eyes, hunted and slaughtered mercilessly until very few were left to run and howl to the pale autumn moon. When I was but a babe who hadn’t lived this life yet, I would listen to the wolf howls as they poured their souls out for hours, wishing to be able to run so freely with them someday but I was not left with that blessed privilege as the hunters of the Gods murdered them one by one. I am such a creature and I am one of few left in my area if not the only one.
    No one knows, no one ever will. I’ll make sure of that. Blood stains my quick hands in thickness but I care not and that is why I will never take some one too close to me. No matter how close Markie is to me, she will never be close enough to endure this life that I live and will never know of it. Never.
    His flaring snout obviously finally led him to me as his sunken Devil’s eyes fell upon me, a gurgling laugh, or at least I think it was a laugh, deep in his throat as he began towards me, slow and limping like you would see of a zombie in the horror films, but his steps weren’t dragged or slow, they quickened until he was nearly running hungrily towards me, those blood stained, yellow teeth waiting to dig into my warm flesh and rip my heart in two.
    I produced a steel knife from my pocket, a Swiss knife that I always kept on me for an instant such as this one. My Grandpapa had given it to me before he was murdered by a powerful foe, one who despised my kind far more then any of the other Gods.
    The knife was specially made by a Goddess who despised her murderous husband for joining in his pass time of killing the wolves since her own glowing throne was the proud moon itself and she enjoyed the haunting songs we sent to the moon, to greet her with an unwavering devotion. Allais, the Moon Queen, Goddess of Wolf song. It was said that the Milky Way was her splendid dress, spreading out across the night, the stars glitter in the cosmic fabric. Her own face seen in the moon at times in which she wished to reveal her beauty to her worshipers. She wanted us to fight back and now we are and winning slowly.
    The creature leaped, only to be impaled through the weak heart, his sharp, jagged claws just barely nicking my neck as I ducked his gaping jaws. He hissed viciously and struggled the death that quickly consumed him before his form fell limp and he disappeared in a dark cloud that seemed like black sand in my hand. I sighed.
    The imp, a lesser, more disgusting and pitiful demon, had been an easy target and it disappointed me so. I hoped for a challenge, something that would make me shake with the excitement I might have if a God came for me or a stronger demon beyond my imagination. Oh how I wanted to test my true strength! The higher demons looked human, their powers hidden beneath flesh of pinks, ivories and golds, just as mine is. They’re hard to decipher but with my keen nose and experience, I can depict human from demon but not foe from friend.
    I sighed and looked down at my clothing, now dusted slightly, the black grayed. Blood dripped from the wound on my throat but I knew it would heal quickly. An annoyed growl sounded deep in my throat as I went to the river to wash off, disgusted as the remains fell from my body. I didn’t like the idea of that little imp, barely skin and more bone, all over me in dusty remains. Plus I had to go to the movies tonight with Markie, Alec and, Goddesses save me, Layton.

    I arrived at the theater about a half an hour early, a tradition that Markie and I always shared. We’d play in the arcade until the movie started, then sit as far back as we could so we could throw popcorn at the people we hated. Tradition amongst friends I guess.
    Markie was playing the horse races, a game she was good at while I sucked horribly at it. She was wearing the tight jeans that slid across her butt and down her athlete thighs then they gave a little room for the calves before falling over her tennis shoes, something that only she could pull off. Her honey blond hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, falling over her white shirt that showed a bit too much of her tan skin. Luckily there was a built in bra, hiding most of her breasts. Other side I would’ve killed her for dressing like a tramp.
    “Having fun?” I asked with a slight smirk. She ignored me until she came in second place, then climbed off and returned my smirk, breathless and her cheeks slightly flushed from the energy she had used.
    “Yes actually, I’m having lots of fun.” Her smile, painted just barely with a slight red, was flashed at me. Her cherry chap stick wavered sweetly over me. She was pretty while I had just worn a pair of loose jeans that were held up by a silver studded belt and a T, with a large wolf on the front, which hugged my curves slightly. The finishing touches were a ring, twisting silver, on my right hand and my curly brunette hair lying in all directions. Drove me insane, like my hair had a mind of its own but it was crazy, like me.
    “Shall we shoot some boys?” I asked with a grin. She laughed and nodded. We placed in our coins and took up the guns. We were both experts, but I died last each time. It started and we shot, her with the gun close to her body, tucked under the arm protectively while mine rested against my shoulder, my line of vision straight down the barrel of my gun, my shot perfect. I had shot a couple of guns in my day.
    We kept firing until we came to level three, a grin on both of our faces. We loved this level due to the action and the violence that was increased. It started and we shot away until I felt arms wrap around my waist. I jumped nearly getting shot by a missile as it went speeding past.
    I turned to find Layton looking at me with a large toothy grin planted, like a stupid expression on some monkey’s face. Anger coursed through my veins at his boldness but I kept my cool. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of a reaction from me since it seemed to fuel the urge to touch even more.
    “Do you mind? I’m playing a game here,” I growled. He took his hands off of my waist in a quick surrendering motion as he stepped back, that stupid grin still on his mouth.
    I turned back and shot the b*****d who nearly killed me, imagining it was Layton who went up in flames rather then some computer animated sniper. Markie didn’t seem to mind or even notice when Alec placed his hand on her shoulder and watched each shot go off. I looked for a split second before continuing to shoot and kill.
    Well of course she wouldn’t mind. This boy had been her boyfriend for three years so she’s gotten to know him and his touching while I hadn’t kept a boy around for longer then maybe a couple of months since sixth grade. Which is pretty sad if I’m a junior in high school. In anger I shot a man right in the package.
    The next few rounds were brutal and on the fifth round, I was on my own. We had gotten this far before but a sniper off of the fourth floor had killed me. Kind of funny when that level is near a loony bin. This time I searched for the jerk-off and found him near the furnace stock. I had only caught a glimpse of his head.
    Aim. Fire. Down the sniper went and the game had been completed. I smirked as I put the gun down and gave Markie a high five, then I looked at the clock and grumbled. The movie was about to start and my date was the guy every girl in the school was after. Tomorrow is gonna be fun. I can just tell. I sighed and looked at Markie.
    “Let’s go see your movie,” I told her. She gave a nod and a slight giggle until I shot a glare at her. Then she just smiled up at Alec, clung to his arm and her head rested on his bicep.
    At least Layton has manners, that’s one tiny thing going for him but that wasn’t saying much. He opened the door, allowing Markie and I to pass before he and Alec followed us in. I sat right in the middle of the top row, Markie next to me and Layton on my other side. He did well to keep his hands off of me, another point for him. Congrats.
    “We forgot the popcorn,” Markie whispered to me. I cursed silently, then had an idea. I reached into my back pocket, getting my wallet and a ten from it. I looked over at Alec with the best gentle smile I could conjure up.
    “Layton, Alec, could you please get us some popcorn and drinks since you guys are on the outside?” I tried to hand the ten to Alec but Layton placed a gentle hand on my forearm.
    “We’ll get it. Keep your money,” he smiled warmly, looking into my eyes. The fake gentle smile on my face dropped instantly.
    “I don’t like owing people, take it,” I warned. He just chuckled and got up, Alec following without even looking at the bill in my hand. I growled and put it away, royally peeved that neither of them listened.
    “Well at least we’ll have enough for a drink later,” Markie chuckled.
    “Shut up,” I murmured, crossing my arms and kicking the chair in front of me.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    “I dunno man, she seems pretty uninterested in you.” Alec was speaking of the young fox I had cornered and on guard back in the theater. I just shrugged at his words, a grin on my face. I liked playing this game of cat and mouse with her. Made me feel like I had to earn her rather then just have her fall into my arms like some damsel in distress, just like every other girl in the school who tried to get my attention before they decided they didn’t like me. Plus she was different, like she was mysterious, luring me in.
    She was gorgeous with her wavy brunette hair falling across her shoulders in a way that I felt I could reach out and feel feathers greet my fingertips and her crystal blue eyes, dancing like soft water, were brought out by a faint trace of eyeliner, just enough to emphasis the color rather then hide everything. Her skin held the natural sunned tan that told me she was an outside girl rather then the type who spent all her time in the mall or at home which wasn't the type I liked. She was one that I could relate to.
    Those jeans she wore made me want to take her in my arms, those thighs tight against my yearning body as if in a dance with no music. That tank didn’t help any either. Showed off just enough cleavage that it made you wonder just how much breast there truly was pressed inside the soft cloth and tight against her strong, well-built figure.
    She played off as untouchable, on a pedestal with those Van’s on her feet. Very few men were able to touch her ever since freshman year and no one knew why and few really cared. They just dismissed her as a broad that would rather kill you then screw you. Sad really. If she was a bit more sociable towards males, she’d have everyone of them after her. Although that was probably best. I’m known for being the protective, possessive type and I didn’t like other men messing with my girl.
    My thoughts kept on her as I bought four Cokes and two bags of butter-soaked popcorn then brought it back to the girls. Mira had her head laid back against the seat, her arms crossed and her hair fallen back from her face, slightly revealing two cartilage piercings, one a blue crescent moon and the other a small golden loop, and hanging black opal crosses from the lobes. As I sat down and handed her her soda and popcorn, it took almost all of me to not reach over and bite her ear and feel the shiver run down her body before the punch would come my way. I wouldn’t’ve cared, she was probably worth it, at least her taste.
    A smirk spread across her slightly wetted lips as she reached in, taking a few and throwing them into her mouth, pausing as if to savor the sweet buttery taste. So innocently until she lightly elbowed Markie and nodded in a general direction. All the innocence was suddenly gone. Both the girls chuckled, making me wonder what they were doing until they grabbed a couple pieces of the wettest popcorn they could find and threw it at a row of girls four rows ahead. The popcorn hit a couple of the girls squarely in the head but by the time they realized and turned around, the two girls were back to eating, talking and watching the movie perfectly as if they had never thrown it. They were pros and I could tell. I had to chuckle to myself at how well they did it. Wasn’t the first time, that’s for sure.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    I had to chuckle to Markie as the two stupidest blonds, Mariah and Jamie, turned back around with a huff. They whispered to each other angrily, probably talking about how they were gonna come back and ‘show us’ how tough they are. Yeah, what ever. They couldn’t win a fight unless it was a popularity contest. I know, I had taken a few of them out a few times and I was willing to do it again. Throughout the movie there had been five different times before finally one of the girls came up, anger lines on that pretty, fake tanned face spotted with globs of make up that I had to laugh at since it couldn’t hide the ugliness nor the acne that overwhelmed her. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her as she teetered on those hundred dollar stilettos that she didn’t even know how to walk in. She was about to yell, but Layton came into her view first. I remember her as one of those girls who was after him all the time.
    “Oh my gosh, Layton, what are you doing here?” she gasped, smiling warmly but I could see through it just as well as I could see the yellow eye shadow and black mascara. She was thinking, those rusty wheels in her pretty but empty head turning. Wasn’t often that I got to see this girl actually think so I was interested.
    “I’m here to see the movie with Mira and some friends,” he replied, patting my knee as if I was some little child that he considered a daughter. I had to roll my eyes. The girl, Sky was her name, flicked her gaze at me for only a second with hatred and jealously in her eyes before her eyes went back to him. I threw up my hands mentally with a disgusted look on my face. Don’t know why though. Maybe because the ugliest girl is trying to dis me?
    “Why not come down by us for a little while?” she asked. So that’s what that small mind came up with. Not bad. I smirked and slouched some more in my seat, awaiting him to get up and leave me the Heck alone. Surely he wouldn’t refuse a group of girls rather then just one such as myself.
    “No thanks, I came here with her, not you. So I’ll stay here and watch it with the person I came with,” he replied smugly. That caught both of us off guard and I had to run it through my head a few times to make sure he really said that.
    “Huh?” came out of both of our mouths. We looked at each other for a split second before I looked at the movie screen, not comprehending what was happening in the movie since my mind was reeling at why the Heck he wanted to stay instead of being with the girls who actually LIKED him. This could become a potential and unexpected problem on my part. Now she was looking at him with eyes that could possibly kill or was disgusted. I couldn’t tell.
    “Are you serious?”
    “Yes I am, now go back to your friends,” he replied. She gave a huff as she shakily turned and stomped back down to the group who had turned to watch her. They were in just as much shock as I if not more. Then He turned to me and smirked. I didn’t even dare to turn to look at him although he proved himself well so far. So far that is. Peeved me off too.
    “Not a word out of you little boy.”