Shades, different shades,
Hidden in layers, hard to find,
He is hard to get a read on,
On what’s in his mind.
Freya
Because I am nice.
This is the reason I have been giving myself for over thousandth time for offering Alexander my help. He bullied me, made me cry and said what not and I offered him help. I did it out of pure instinct nothing else.
But the worst part was he agreed. I dug my own grave and now we were meeting up at his place for studying. My mom would freak out if she found out but Alexander said that his house was the safest place or else anyone from school can see us together.
And that will naturally tarnish his image, not his words , just my thoughts,
I also didn’t want anyone from school to see us together after I slapped him. And now truthfully I was kind of worried. Boys don’t let go public humiliation easily, will he get revenge, was he angry.
It was his fault that he got slapped but how will he retaliate I still had to figure out. So far I was avoiding him in school. But now I idiotically agreed to tutor him.
“I am picking you up at eight, right?” Tessa asked breaking my thought process.
“Why?”
“For the dance, remember, the ball we have been working our ass off for?” She drawled out each word.
“Oh, yeah that. Okay , eight is fine.” I grumbled out not really in mood to dress up for the stupid masquerade party.
But I was the decoration team and also I was somehow listed in sound and light team. I am pretty sure Micheal was behind this since he was alone of that team and he might have assumed that I will help. Now , I had no other option.
My mom was informed by me and Tessa about the whole dance deal and she made no fuss when Tessa came honking her car horn at my door.
“You look really pretty Freya.” She said eyeing me in shock.
“So do you.” I answered truthfully.
She was still the gothic Tessa but she looked glamorous.
“Where is your mask?” She asked me looking around for something like a mask with me.
“Star Labs is making me one just like they did for Arrow.” I gave her an innocent smile.
“Haha, now where is it?”
“here” I lifted the purple white mask.
“What is this? This will cover half your face.” She gave me a disapproving look.
“That’s the plan. I don’t want people to know that Alexander’s bullying victim is here.”
“Fine, girl, we will have fun , that is more important.” I nodded at her enthusiasm.
I doubted very much that fun was anywhere in my list at this party. Dance and I don’t do well.
When we walked in the hall we decorated I was still stunned at the wonderful work light department has done. Michael walked in proud and happy.
“Come back stage with me I have your work.” He blatantly said.
“Umm...did I ever agree Mike?” I played dramatic.
“Please , this once I am in dire need and besides Tessa is also there.” He said pulling me along.
“And by the way you look gorgeous.” He said off-handily.
“You can’t even see my face.”
“I just know Freya.”
I was being pulled along rather harshly in between the crowd when I collided into a person with familiar violet eyes under a black mask. He looked at me and frowned.
Please don’t recognise me.
“Sorry.” I mumbled covering my voice with a slight cough as I was pulled away.
But before I could further, Alexander caught my wrist and Mike realised someone was stopping me from being pulled.
“Dude, I need her help.” Mike frowned at the masked stranger.
Alexander took off his mask and stated coolly, “Do you?”
Mike let go my hand and groaned.
I was left at devil’s mercy. He was dressed in black from head to toe and I was snubbing away the thought that he look really handsome.
“Name?” He asked sternly.
It took me a split second to give myself another name.
“F-Fiona.” I stammered out my answer.
“Fiona, from shrek?” He asked putting his mask back on.
“No, my name is Fiona.” I responded in a heavier voice.
Did he remember my voice? I hoped to God that he didn’t.
“Okay, Fiona I know there is no one by that name in our senior year. So who are you? Sister of a friend I invited?” He asked scrutinizing me.
I kept my gaze down afraid that he might see the lie in my eyes.
“You can say that. I am Michael’s sister.” I lied, white lie to his face.
Can you blame me for doing so? I don’t want him to humiliate me in front of adults as well.
“The guy that was pulling you along?”
I nodded a yes to his question.
“So, you have no date then?” He asked never letting go off my wrist.
His touch was kind of weird, unnerving, warm and electric.
“No.” I answered shortly and tried to free myself from his grip.
He stood silent for a moment and just gazed at me like I was an interesting species of animal.
“Dance with me?”
To say I was in shock would be right. I just stood there , mouth agape and wide eyed. He didn’t mean that.
Or maybe he did. He didn’t knew I was Freya, Tessa and few else told me , he searched for a new target each dance night so he thought I was a safe bet since I was not even from his school.
“Why?” I asked simply.
Surprise flickered in his eyes.
“You don’t know I am?”
“Yeah, I know you. You are Alexander Comhan the biggest jerk on planet.” The mask gave me the courage to say what was in my heart.
This time his eyes widened under his mask.
“What is this? Insult Alexander month?” His look was disapproving but not angry.
“Dance with me and this is not a question.” He pulled me closer making me gasp in surprise.
Warmth, a shot of heat flooded through me.
“Breathe.” He said with amusement and I realised , he was right, I needed to breathe.
I couldn’t say the word as we swayed together. I wasn’t sure what to say.
“You are pretty.” Alexander’s voice broke the silence.
“T-Thanks.” I avoided looking into those violet eyes.
“Look up Fiona.” He said and I ignored him.
He chuckled, “Ignoring , huh?”
“No, just nervous. As you might have noticed I suck at dance.”
“You are doing just fine,” He said in a soft voice I have never heard him use on anyone.
So this was how he trapped a prey, all sexy and suave.
“You know that I am not going to do whatever you are planning.” As soon as I said the words, I felt the blood creeping on my face.
“And what am I planning?” He was amused and mocking me now.
“W-Whatever you guys p-plan.”
That was not even a proper sentence, what am I thinking?
“And that is?” He was teasing me.
I pursed my lips together and gave him a disapproving look.
Suddenly , his one of his hand moved from waist to cup my cheek. I looked up shocked at his actions but he just stared at me, not in a creepy, lustful way. He was staring at me like I was an exquisite work of art, something he adored and would allow no harm to come to it. It is a look I never expected from Alexander.
“Getting me to sleep with you.” I blurted out loud.
And this time I was sure I annoyed him.
“Believe me, as surprising as it might be for both of us, tonight that is not my intention.” He gave me a soft smile.
This was not Alexander, this was a pro player smooth with his words and I have to remember that.
“So tell me about yourself Fiona.” He asked and I looked around again avoiding looking in his eyes.
Girls around me had the look of pure hate towards me . So this happens when one is too close to Alexander Comhan.
“There is nothing interesting.”
“I beg to differ. Something, tell me anything.” He smiled at me.
And for a moment I was dazzled. It was not the Alexander smile for Freya, evil, sly and insulting. It was a smile that made my heart skip a beat and see him in a new light. I have never seen him smile this way.
“Okay, a question for a question?” I proposed not sure what made me do that.
“Fine. Ask.” He agreed immediately.
I prodded my mind for a nice question.
“Do you read?” I decided on a question that made him grin.
“Not really, for school I do but not otherwise if you exclude super-hero comic books.”
I immediately frowned in disappointment.
He chuckled at my reaction.
“My turn. Your type of guy.”
What? Why? I don’t have a type, right? Do I? Does it matter? Why did he ask me that?
I thought for a moment and then sighing I answered, “Witty.”
“And?” He asked seemingly interested.
“Kind and caring.”
“Oh. And?”
“And , nothing else is that important.” I answered realising these are the important qualities.
“And what about good looking, sexy, rich?” He asked me with a bit of surprise on his voice.
“What good will that do me? That is good for him but if he is witty he can make me smile, if he is kind and caring, he can look after me and tolerate my flaws. And you cheated , you asked two questions.”
“Wow, that’s some ...nice reasons.” He sounded deflated and still surprised.
“Your type of girl.” I mirrored his question.
“I saw that coming.” He chuckled, “Slender, petite, selfless, brown eyed and beautiful.”
Alexander, the bully wanted a selfless girl. I had only one of those qualities, brown eyes and not that it mattered.
I wanted to ask why he was such a bully and why he had this cold exterior or was that grey Versace shirt mattered to him that much.
But I settled on something else.
“How many girls have you dated?” I always wanted to ask some playboy this question.
“Zero. Hailey is my kind of girlfriend because my parents and her parents are close. But dating her is dating from her side not mine. I have short period flings but no dating.” He explained without any guilt.
“That sounded really chauvinistic and arrogant.” I commented without any second thought and bit my tongue.
This mask was really making me brazen.
My words didn’t bother him, he just smirked at me.
“My turn, what is that mark on your neck?”
“It is a birthmark, not a hickey for your kind information.” I told him defensively.
“I never said it was hickey.” Amusement flickered his eyes.
Shit , s**t , s**t. I almost revealed myself.
“Well, everyone thinks that.” I mumbled and he nodded lightly tilting his head to look at me.
“Fiona.” He said ever so softly.
I looked up and I was pretty sure he wanted to say something but then someone interrupted.
“Can I steal her for a moment?” A boy asked, also masked.
Alexander’s hold tightened over me as if there was no way in hell he will let the other guy steal me. It was surreal and yet such a funny emotion to see from Alexander.
“Who are you?” Alexander asked sharply.
“Oh, my mistake. I am Haylien Duvan, new addition to this town and your school.”