Alpha Braxton

CHAPTER 4

VIRGINIA POV

I always thought that my mom would be there for my graduation day, but fate had another plan that left my life in hell! I can't help but think about how things have changed in my life as I wait for my name to be called to receive my diploma. Had my mother not died, I wouldn't be living in fear of my stepdad on a daily basis. I just really miss her, she has always been my rock and now I have no one but myself to lean on. I am brought back to reality when I hear my friends' names being called. I smile at knowing that they are my besties, but guilt creeps in at the knowledge that none of them know that things have gotten worse with Neil. i don't like keeping things from them, but I know that if they find out, Neil will take it out on me, and I know for a fact that nothing will be done to him. I learned that lesson the hard way. I want to tell them about what happened to me this morning, but I can't, mostly because I am still trying to process it myself and every time, I remember I feel disgusted and dirty. I can't help but feel this weird feeling that crawls up my spine. I have this little voice in my mind warning me that something is coming that is very detrimental to my survival and to be alert. I try to shake the feeling, but it just won't go away, which makes me more anxious. I am brought back to reality...again by a guy sitting next to me. He gently elbows me in my side, to get my attention. I looked at him, confused.

He sees my look and quickly nods his head to where the principal is standing at the podium. "Principal Adams called your name."

My face flushes with embarrassment and I mouth 'Thank you' to him as I stand up and head to get my diploma. Once I have received it, Principal Adams moves my tassel and I suddenly feel an uneasy feeling and quickly look in the audience and see that Neil has a very dark look on his face. I noticed that the look was directed at the principal, and I furrowed my brows in confusion. I have no idea what he did that would make Neil angry at me. I am still pondering that thought when I see my friends wave me over to where they are.

Cheyenne threw her arm around my shoulder when I sat next to her. She leans closer to me and whispers into my ear. "What the f*ck was that all about?!"

I just looked at her and shrugged. "I have no f*cking clue!" I am alarmed that Neil even reacted that way.

Paulette looks at me with concern. "Is everything okay?"

I looked into her eyes and saw worry in them. I quickly looked away, knowing that I couldn't bring myself to put any of my friends in jeopardy with all the sh*t going on in my life. I plastered the best fake smile on my face. "Yeah...everything is fine, I just miss my mom, that's all."

I am wrapped in a warm embrace by all three of them. "We love you and miss her too!"

"I love you too." I quickly dabbed the tears away that had escaped.

"We are heading to the diner after this. Do you want to join us?" Cheyenne asks with those most pitiful puppy eyes.

I chuckle. "I would love to, but I need to run it by Neil."

Paulette wraps her left arm around my right arm and leads us to where Neil is standing. "Then let's ask him."

I don't feel as nervous as I normally would. Maybe it's because I have my friends with me. "Okay." I hope that he will let me.

Neil sees us headed his way, so he meets us halfway. "Are you ready to head home?" He asks with a slight edge to his voice.

My nerves skyrocket at the lust I see in his eyes and that prickly feeling I had earlier is stronger. I swallow, trying to put as much calmness into my voice, so I don't make a scene. "Cheyenne and Paulette invited me to go have dinner with them, so I came to ask if it's okay to go with them."

The atmosphere suddenly becomes cold, and I see an emotion cross Neil's face, but it is quickly replaced by indifference. "Sure, I can drive you there and join you for dinner."

I quickly became alarmed but tried to hide it. "That is okay, I can catch a ride with Paulette. You don't need to interrupt any plans that you have made. I will be back home by 10 pm."

He glares at me with a warning. "Keep your phone on and with you at all times and update me every hour!" He doesn't even wait for me to reply as he walks away from us.

"What the hell is his deal?! It's not like you are a minor anymore!" Cheyenne states, clearly annoyed with him.

I simply shrugged and breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't know." I smiled at them. "Come on, let's go and get a good booth because you know that the majority of this graduation population will be heading there!"

We all squeal in delight as we practically run to the cars. Cheyenne and Mandy head for their own vehicles and Paulette and I head to hers. Her parents gifted her a purple 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport Soft top 4x4 for graduation. To say that I am jealous is an understatement! Once we are in, and she starts the car, we quickly put on our song 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' and head to the diner. I can't help but smile, this is the best I have felt since my mom died. I plan to completely enjoy myself tonight, regardless of the unease that has not gone away. It only takes us 10 minutes to arrive. We all headed in and saw a booth in the far back corner that was available, so we headed for it. Before we even get close enough to sit, someone sits in it.

"Hey! We wanted that table!" Cheyenne complains.

I can't see who it is because he is blocked from view. When he spoke, I could hear a slight annoyance in his voice at Cheyenne. "I didn't see your name on it."

Cheyenne scoffed at him and rolled her eyes. "Whatever man, you obviously are not a gentleman!" She was about to turn around to leave before he spoke again.

"And please enlighten me as to how I am not a gentleman." He asked, clearly intrigued.

She flips her hair over her shoulder and waved her hand at us. "A gentleman, having seen that us women were heading for the table, would have given it to us."

He chuckled and the sounds pleasant to my ears. "Women? I see teenagers, but you have a point...a gentleman WOULD have given up the table." He smugly replied. "Of course, I NEVER claimed to be a gentleman!"

I tried to keep my laughter to myself but obviously failed when Cheyenne shot me a glare. "What? He has a point and, instead of causing a scene, we can always find another both or even another table." I can't help but be a little snappy, all I want to do is eat and have fun with my friends.

Paulette quickly agreed. "Come on Chey, let's get something to eat!"

Cheyenne reluctantly concedes. "Fine let's go."

I stay where I am and wait for Cheyenne to find a table she likes. Once Chey, Paulette, and Mandy are out of my way, I get a good look at the man sitting in the booth. He looked to be in his early twenties, he is definitely above 6' tall with piercing emerald eyes and black hair. He has sharp features, and I can feel an air of confidence exuding from him that has a predatory feel to it. I can tell that he is well-built under his tight shirt. He looks like a UFC fighter, and I bet he is just as deadly as a UFC fighter!

"Are you done checking me out?" He smirks.

I quickly looked away. "Sorry." I turned to head to the table that my friends were at. I stop when he speaks next.

"Don't be, I like it when a gorgeous woman checks me out!" He flashes me a seductive smile.

I smile back at him, but I also notice that while this guy is obviously hot as hell, I don't feel anything for him. In fact, it almost feels like he could be my brother. I haven't really had this kind of connection with anyone before. It was weird but comforting.

"My name is Christian Sampson." He says as he extends his hand towards me.

I instantly shook his hand. "My name is Virginia Elliot, but my friends call me Rae." I couldn't help but enjoy this feeling I had with him. It was comforting.

He c***s his head to the side as if he is trying to read me. "I feel like I have met you before, but for the life of me I don't know where."

I giggle at his confusion. "Yeah, I was about to say the same." He releases my hand and I shrug. "Oh well, it was nice to meet you Christian, I need to get to my friends."

He smiled at me. "Like wise Rae, maybe we can hang out sometime."

I was about to answer when someone rudely bumped into me. I turned to see a pair of glaring blue eyes. The woman is really quite beautiful, but the hostility coming off of her has me instantly hating her. "Excuse me, but if I was in the way you could have politely asked me to move instead of being rude."

If it was at all possible, her face scrunched even more, making her beautiful face resemble a troll. "How dare you talk to me like that!"

I just rolled my eyes at her and turned my attention back to Christian, who was grinning from ear to ear. I noticed that an older gentleman had seated himself opposite Christian. "I am sorry for disturbing you sir." I smiled, then looked at Christian. "I would love to hang out sometime." I turned and took at seat with my friends who had already ordered for me.

Mandy leaned towards me. "Dude, are you interested in that douche?!"

I glare at her and have this urge to defend him. "Mandy, as far as I am concerned, he did nothing wrong. He reached the table first and I would have reacted the same way if someone talked to me the way that Chey talked to him." My anger was slowly rising, weird that I was getting protective over someone I just met. "As for your question, no I am not interested in him that way, I would just like to be his friend."

All three of my friends are staring at me in shock. I am starting to feel uncomfortable now. "Can you all stop staring at me, please?" I ask as I shove some friend into my mouth. "So, what are the plans for summer for all of you?"

Paulette cleared her throat. "My family is spending the summer in Greece, so that is where I will be until college starts."

"I am so freaking jealous!" I am happy and jealous of Paulette. "You have to send me pics of your trip!"

"I will." Paulette says as she takes a big bite of her greasy bacon cheeseburger.

Mandy takes a sip of her soda. "Devon and I are heading to Eugene to look for an apartment close to the university."