THE WITCH AND HER ALPHA

Chapter 10

Raquelle had never gotten that much negative vibes emanating from one person. Drake didn't seem to notice though because he gave her a smile.

“Sorry, I'm just really clumsy", the girl said, in a saccharine sweet voice.

The girl was dressed in a short pink skirt and a yellow blouse paired with floral pink heels. Her hair was a curly bright orange and her only piece of jewelry was a necklace with a purple stone.

It felt like the necklace was calling to her somehow. The stone was definitely unique as Raquelle had never seen anything like it before.

Even with how perfect the girl seemed, Raquelle could tell that there was something off about her.

“It's alright", Drake replied with a chuckle and then he actually had the effrontery to casually run his hands through his hair. She gave him a surprised look at that but Drake didn't notice.

His attention had been captured by this mysterious new girl.

“I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new?" Raquelle asked, attempting to break Drake out from whatever trance he was in.

“Oh yeah. I'm Esme. I just moved into this town", the girl answered, extending her hand forward for a shake.

Before Raquelle could respond, Drake took it and let his hands linger a couple seconds longer than necessary.

He and Esme were busy locked in some sort of staring contest, both smiling at each other. It was disgusting to watch.

“So if you're new here, would you like a tour of the school? I'd be happy to give you one", Drake offered, surprising Raquelle even more.

Since when did Drake like people enough to start generously offering to be a tour guide? Heaven knows he wasn't that nice to her when they first met.

“I'd love a tour", Esme replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a flirtatious giggle coming out of her throat.

Raquelle gagged in her own mouth at the interaction.

“But I didn't quite catch your name", Esme added causing Drake to chuckle.

“Right sorry. I'm Drake. I guess I just got distracted looking at you", he said.

Esme chuckled. Raquelle rolled her eyes. She didn't want to process all the feelings she was having. Maybe this was what her dream was about, watching Drake fall for another.

She thought she might cry but she was stronger than that. Although she doubted either of them would notice if she cried. They both seemed to have forgotten that she was there. Luckily she didn't have to endure the interaction anymore because the school bell rang.

“Let me walk you to class", Drake said as he lead Esme away.

Squaring her features, she decided to head to her own classroom too but she stopped in her tracks when someone called her name.

She turned to find Diane running to catch up to her. “What just happened? Who was that girl?" she asked.

“Oh you saw?" Raquelle replied.

“Well I didn't exactly see much. From where I was standing it looked like Drake blew you off for her".

Hearing someone else say it made it sting a whole lot more especially after she felt like she and Drake had gotten closer that morning. He had told her about his parents and how he felt loosing them and she was glad he trusted her enough with that. Apparently, that didn't mean as much to him as it did to her.

“He was just showing her around. I've gotta get to class though. See you later Diane", Raquelle said, rushing off to avoid any further questions.

The rest of the day, Raquelle spotted Drake with Esme. He was taking his job as her tour guide very seriously because Raquelle was sure she had seen that at every part of the school already.

Something was definitely wrong somewhere. She just couldn't figure out what it was. And her negative feelings were only growing and it wasn't helping her feel any better. It felt like every negative emotion in the world was swirling around her and she couldn't control it.

A part of her felt like she should have taken her mother's advice and just stayed home that day and yet the other part felt like there was a reason she was in school that day, almost like the universe or fate wanted her to be there. Although so far, it seemed like fate wanted her to save herself from falling even deeper for Drake because he clearly didn't feel the same way about her.

Eventually, it was time for lunch. Her class was let out late so she arrived to lunch a little later than most people. She bought her lunch and headed straight to the table with her friends.

She glanced at Drake's table and saw him laughing it up with Esme and she rolled her eyes at the scene.

“Hey guys", she greeted, taking a seat.

“Hey Raquelle", they all chorused in reply.

“You feeling okay? You're looking a little pale", David commented.

“I'm fine. I just haven't had the best day", she replied.

“Oh well I hope that turns around soon", Mia said, from her position, all cuddled up on Mike's arm.

A small smile broke out on Raquelle's face at that sight. She felt a little proud that she had been part of the union that finally set them up.

She hadn't known Mia and Mike for very long but it was pretty obvious that they liked each other although it was easier for Mike to disguise his feelings with his incredibly flirty nature.

The two of them had been inseparable since the party and all was right with the world.

“Aren't you two looking all cozy together?" she asked in a teasing voice.

“Oh you know me, I just can't get enough of my girlfriend", Mike said, placing a kiss on the top of Mia's head.

“Sheesh you two, get a room", Diane joked and they all laughed.

“But seriously though, we'd like to thank you guys for literally forcing us together", Mia said.

“Oh don't thank us. It was literally all Raquelle's idea", Diane said.

“Well thank you Raquelle", Mia said.

Raquelle waved her off. “Oh you don't have to thank me. Just doing my job as self appointed Cupid. Although, if you really want to thank me then you make sure I get an invite to the wedding".

That again brought another bout of laughter from them.

That little interaction was enough to distract Raquelle from her problems until the sound of Esme and Drake's laugh sounded in her ears again causing her to wince.

“Hey you guys", she called, “does that new girl Esme seem weird to you?" she asked.

“No".

“Not really".

“Nah. Why?"

“I'm getting really bad vibes from her", Raquelle said.

“Are you sure you're not just jealous?" David asked, looking at her pointedly.

Raquelle scoffed like he just said the most impossible thing ever. “Of course not. Why would I be jealous?"

“Um maybe because you like him", Diane said, “or because usually he's only ever hanging out with you and now he's hanging with her. That would make anyone jealous".

“Well I assure you, I'm not jealous. There's just something off about her and about Drake too", Raquelle said.

“Hello, he's Drake Hart. Everyone in this school has known there was something off about him. You're the only one who didn't think so", Mike mentioned but Raquelle ignored him.

“Oh come on guys seriously. He offered her a tour of the school and now he's laughing it up with her like they're life long friends. He wasn't even that friendly with me when we first met. Doesn't that seem even the strangest bit weird?"

They all shared a look before looking back at her. “Well, you did sorta bring him out of his shell at that party. Maybe he's just more open with his feelings", David said.

“And I know it might hurt but maybe you should be open to the knowledge that he might actually really like this girl which is why he's like that with her and that you're just jealous?" Mia added tentatively, almost like she was scared something she said would set her off.

Drake stood up from his seat just then and Raquelle watched him go wondering if they were right. Was she just... jealous?

Something deep in her gut told her that they were wrong. She wasn't just jealous. Something was definitely going on and she was determined to find out what.

“Excuse me for a moment guys", she said standing up and following Drake.

She caught him on the hallway, on his way to the boy's bathroom but she stopped him before he could enter.

“What the hell Drake?" she asked slamming her fists into his back in anger.

Startled, Drake flinched, his sunglasses falling off his face and he immediately bent to pick them up.

“What is your deal Raquelle?" he asked, sounding furious.

Raquelle gasped when she caught a glimpse of his eyes and suddenly the vision from before flashed before her eyes again, very quickly.

Drake's eyes weren't their usual silver. They were purple! Suddenly it all seemed to make sense.

“Drake. What did she do to you?" Raquelle asked, touching his arm but he flinched out of her hold.

“Esme didn't do anything. Honestly, your obsession with me is becoming too obvious".

“Drake, you don't understand. Esme isn't who you think she is".

“She's exactly who I think she is and I think you've butted enough into my personal life", he replied, glaring at her.

“Drake listen to me. You've been spelled. You're under her spell", Raquelle said.

Drake gave a dry humorless laugh. “And even if I was, how would you know? You're just a human".

Even though she knew he was right, that still hurt. She didn't know how she knew but she was sure he was spelled.

Speak of the devil.

“Drake, are you coming? We have to go", Esme said, appearing from the lunch room.

“Coming Ezzie", Drake said.

Ezzie? Raquelle repeated to herself. “Where are you going?"

“Frankly I don't see how that's any of your concern Raquelle", he said, looking at her with venom in his eyes. He put on the sunglasses again and walked towards Esme, taking her hand in his.

“Let's go", he said and they strutted out of there looking like some kind of power couple.

Raquelle knew Drake was in danger but alone, she couldn't do anything to stop them. After all, like Drake said, she was just human. She knew someone who could help though and luckily after their last conversation, they had exchanged phone numbers.

She took out her phone from her pocket and called Joanne. She picked on the third ring.

“Hey girl. What's up?" Joanne asked, sounding peppy.

“Drake's in danger and I need your help to save him".

“Woah. What kind of danger? What's going on?"

“Come pick me up at school and I'll explain. And Joanne hurry".

“I'm on my way".

Raquelle went back to her friends table.

“Hey guys so it turns out I am sick so I'm just going to head home". She added a cough for dramatic effect.

“Oh. Well are you gonna be okay?" Diane asked.

“Yeah. I just need a little rest. I'll see you guys tomorrow", Raquelle said.

“Wait. How are you going to get home? I just saw Drake leave with Esme. I can take you home if you'd like", David offered.

“No thanks David but someone is coming to pick me up. I gotta go. Bye".

She grabbed her stuff and headed outside the school to wait for Joanne. Thankfully, she didn't have to wait that long.

She got in Joanne zoomed off. “Where to?" she asked.

“Uh...I don't exactly know". Just then she had another vision. This one was different though. It was as if she was seeing through Drake's eyes.

“This way", she said, directing Joanne.

“Okay. Start talking".

“I think Drake's under a spell... from Esmeralda".

“What how do you know?"

Raquelle went on to explain the bad feelings she'd been having, Esme and her visions.

“I knew something was off but I wasn't sure until I saw his eyes. They're purple not silver".

“Okay that is definitely strange. How do you know it's Esmeralda though?"

“Well she did say her name was Esme and Drake only started to act weird after he bumped into her. I'm thinking since Esmeralda is such a powerful witch, turning herself into a teenager might not be so hard".

“You make a mighty good point but how do you even know all of this? How are you able to have visions and if they didn't tell you where they're going then how do you know?" Joanne asked.

“Listen Joanne, I'm as confused as you are. I don't have any answers but I do know that I'm not wrong and hopefully after we save Drake, we'll all be able to get answers".