Readers Of The Future

8. Second hit.

I'm wearing my father's diamond watch and Mother is for the first time is taking me to school. The burden of covering my eyes all the time has been lifted off my shoulders. I should be happy. But I feel tense instead.

I can't shake of the overwhelming feeling that someone is watching us.

"Do you have a best friend at school?" Mother tries to make a conversation.

"No." I answer, still distracted by the relentless feeling of fear for something I can't see.

"Really? Everyone has a special friend, Alena. It's okay if you don't feel like talking about yours. Is there anything you want to tell me regarding your studies?" She carries on with the questions.

"Nothing for now, perhaps I'll have something in the evening." I answer. Maybe I should add, 'If Dean McDonald won't have slit my throat.' But I don't want Mother to toss me out of the car for saying crazy things.

"Whose that red car behind us? It looks very imposing!" Mother says, her eyes on the side mirror. My blood picks up speed!

A red car? Please let it be someone else!

I turn and look out through the back window. "No s**t!" I exclaim, eyes wide.

Dean's red sports car is right behind us. He is driving slow while typing a quick text on his smartphone. He looks up and winks at me, like he knows I can see through his tainted windows.

What the f**k does this guy want?

"What do you mean by 'no s**t'?" Mother asks.

"Nothing, I just didn't expect to see him today." I answer still watching Dean's car.

His gaze has shifted from my face to my hand. More specifically, my wrist. I see him clench his teeth in anger.

I look down at my wrist and realise that my sleeve was no longer hiding my father's diamond watch. I quickly pull the sleeve back down.

I look back at him and I'm shocked by the hatred in those eyes glaring back at me.

"I'll f*****g skin you alive!" He threatens without shouting. He knows I can hear him.

"Psycho!" I mutter in a voice lower than a whisper. I'm astonished when I hear him answer.

"What's more psychotic than stealing a kid's watch?" He asks. "I'll make sure to break your hand before taking it back." He adds before his car picks up speed and he overtakes us.

I don't know the best words to describe that man's level of madness. Why does he have a problem with everything mine? Yesterday it was my eyes, today it's my watch. Not to mention the other things he has said that don't make sense.

I relax back in my seat. Even if Dean doesn't kill me, the shock he is causing me will soon give me an heart attack and I'll end up dead anyway.

"You know the owner of that car?" Mother asks.

"It's belongs to Dean McDonald. He just joined our school." I answer.

"That's his car! Your sisters have been talking about him all the time, they say he is a good person." She says excitement evident in her voice. "Do you talk to him?" She asks watching my reaction on the rearview mirror. I look down so she can't see my face.

"No, we don't talk." I lie since I want this conversation to end.

"He's in your class and you don't talk to him? You should try being more confident, say something to him, anything. He may find up liking you, who knows. She advises, hope in her voice.

"Okay. I'll try." I lie one last time.

She pulls up in the school parking and we both step out. Dean's car is parked close to us but he isn't around.

Mother gives me an awkward hug. "Find yourself some friends, life is a lot easier when you have people yo talk to." She urges taping my back with her palm.

She climbs back into her car and drives off. I hang my backpack on one shoulder and heads for the hallway.

"Walker!" A mature female voice calls from behind. I stop and turn. It's the principal, in a knee-length, official, pencil dress and black heels. She stands near her car which is parked a bit away from those belonging to students.

"I have been waiting to see you." She reminds me. "And I heard that you missed several classes yesterday" She adds. Now I'm getting a suspension, how could a day be worse?

"But Richards Rollins came to my office after everyone had gone home, he reported that he heard Dean McDonald insult and threaten you during a chemistry class." She pauses as if waiting for me to confirm it.

Jefferson Rollins is our school's best football striker. He is popular and goodlooking. He and Tracy used to date before but she dumped him the moment news of Dean McDonald joining our school began circulating. He may be blaming Dean for ruining his relationship with the prettiest girl in the school.

That's the only reason Jefferson would have wasted his time reporting Dean to the principal. I'm happy he did it through.

"What did you do to Mr.McDonald to make him so angry?" She asks in a shaper tone. She's going to take his side now!

"Nothing. I think he just doesn't like me." I say.

"Doesn't like you? Who said he has to like you? You girls are so sick! Can't you accept that he is here to learn and not to please every stupid girl that can't control her hormones?" She roars angrily and steps even closer to me.

"This is the last time I'm letting you get away with this, try it again and you get suspended for s****l harassment. You hear?" She threatens and I nod.

"Billionaire McDonald is funding a lot of big projects in this school, I won't sit silent in my office while you stalk his good son everywhere he goes!" She roars in my face.

"Now go to class and stay away from Dean. Don't talk to him, unless he talks to you first." She orders and I nod again. Sometimes it's best not to argue.

I turn and make my way to my first class. I'm so angry and humiliated that I have to blink severally to keep tears from escaping my eyes.

I turn a corner and meet with flying chocolate liquor. The thick, brown thing coats my hair, my face and the collar of my shirt. What on earth is going on?

Laughter fills the air around me. Did I just get attacked?

Tracy's uncontrolled laugh is coming from not farther than a step away from me. She did this? What for? I'll cut her head and roast it, wait until I find a way out of here!

I use my hands to wipe off my eyes. I need to see the way to the washrooms at least. I can't wash away the embarrassment, but I can't stay the way I am.

So I ignore the laughing and giggling and make my way to the washrooms.

"You succeeded in throwing it right in her face! He'll kiss you!" I hear Lyndia praising Tracy's work as I make a rush for the washrooms, my head bowed in in effort to hide my face. How do they get so evil?

I still hear their laughter and sniggering even after entering the washroom area and locking the door behind me. I walk to the nearest sink and start soaking my hair.

It takes me almost ten minutes to get the chocolate off all the strands. I splash water on my face before standing to face the mirror.

I notice Dean's reflection first. He stands in a relaxed pose right behind me, a contemptuous smile on his face. How did I not hear him walking in? But I locked the door!

I should scream. But what if I'm seeing things? I can't afford to embarrass myself again.

I turn to just to make sure he is really here. His hands move too fast for me to react.

I feel his fingers get hold of my neck, then I am lifted off the ground. My limps thrash about as he squeezes. I attempt peeling his fingers off but it's like they have become part of my neck. He has the strength of a bull!

"They didn't teach you how to fight? You're defense tactics are so pathetic!" He scorns. He is truly mad!

"Hand over the watch!" He hisses. I cannot respond as air has been blocked from getting through my trachea. I wish I could tell him to go f**k himself! He can squeeze life out of me but he is not getting my watch.

I start passing out, my body weakening with the lack of oxygen. I can't die like this! Not when I haven't found Mike and made sure he is okay! I can feel life slipping out of me! I can sense the cold embrace of death engulfing me!

Dean suddenly withdraws his grip. I collapse to the floor, gulping in air. He doesn't wait for me to recover from the assault before he takes hold of my right hand and twists. I let out a low cry as my throat is unbearably sore.

"Give me the watch or I break all your fingers, one by one!" He threatens, narrowing his steely eyes at me.

"Go to hell! I'm not giving you my father's watch! Never!" I mutter through the pain, he snorts.

"Your father's? I don't think so. Where would your rebel father get a watch belonging to a dead member of Readers Of The Future? Who is your father? Give me a name!" He further twists my wrist as he demands answers.

I feel like my bones are going to snap very soon if he doesn't let go. He is a crazy psycho speaking insane things! Who the f**k are Readers Of The Future?

"I don't know who the f**k Readers...Readers Of The Future are. But I do know my father gave the watch to my mother before I was born. He wanted me to have the watch and I'm not giving it up, you can kill me...Kill me if that's what pleases you!" I manage to say despite the excruciating pain in my wrist.

Dean steps back, letting go of my hand. Somehow, my words seems to have caused him shock. He retreats backwards until he is leaning on a wall. I rub my aching wrist with my palm.

"You didn't have the watch yesterday or the day before, you stole it!" He accuses in a desperate voice. Why is he suddenly looking as if he is going to have a heart attack?

"Mother didn't give me the watch until yesterday night. She hates me because my stepfather won't accept me." I explain, honestly. That seems to make him even more restless.

"Who is your real father? Give me a name!" He orders in an angry tone.

"I don't know. Mother said he paid her to have his child and disappeared. But he did leave her with the watch. That's why I'm not giving it to you." I tell him, now less afraid as he doesn't seem interested in killing me anymore.

Dean straightens and walks back to where I am seated on the floor. I move a step back. He doesn't bother closing the distance. Instead, he squats so our faces are at the same level.

"Where was the watch before your mother gave it to you?" He asks in a less angry tone than before.

"In Mikes room. I mean... my little half brother's room. He disappeared when he was a kid." I inform. Why is this important to him anyway.

"Did you say, 'Mike'?" Dean questions.

"Yes, I said Mike. What's wrong with your big ears!" I confirm. Does he know Mike? No of course. Maybe another Mike but not my lost brother.

Dean nods his head and stands. "If you're lying, I'm gonna find out before today ends. And believe me I'll make you suffer more pain than you can imagine!" He threatens before storming out.

How did he get to be so insane and so attractive at the same time?