Chapter 4 Meet Damian Devin

I glanced at the large clock on the class wall and sighed.

It was lunch hour, but the math teacher was still in class...

This is really frustrating!

I was damn hungry, and my stomach was already rumbling.

"So we will continue in the next class," I heard the teacher say, and I sighed in relief.

"At last!" I muttered.

The teacher soon left the class, and as expected, most of my classmates rushed out.

"Ghostie!" I called in a whisper, but there was no response.

I glanced beside me, but she wasn't there.

Looking around the almost empty class, I huffed when I saw her standing right in front of the cute guy... What was his name again? Erm... Dec... Yes, Damian.

She was staring into his face with dreamy eyes.

Is she for real?!

And without thinking, I stood up in a huff and walked up to her.

"Ghostie!" I called in a whisper, and she looked up at me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked with a frown, but instead of answering, she looked at Damian and then at me again.

"What is wrong..." I wanted to say but stopped when I got what she was trying to tell me.

Damn! What did I just do? Did I just talk to Ghostie in front of the hottie?!

I bit my lip and swallowed hard.

Turning sideways to look at the hottie, I met his puzzled gaze.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, and he huffed.

"Are you crazy? Who were you talking to? Who the hell is Ghostie?" he asked in a rush.

"I... erm... erm..." I stuttered, not knowing what to say.

"Just tell him it's D2," Ghostie said, and I felt like squeezing her invisible mouth.

"Who is Ghostie?!" he repeated.

"You've got to ask him, Ariel. He might have a clue to it," Ghostie urged on.

"Shut up!" I barked at her, and Damian scoffed.

"It's obvious you're crazy," he retorted in a huff.

He stood up from his chair and walked past me.

"Please ask him," Ghostie pleaded, and I sighed.

"Do you know who D2 is?" I asked, and he stopped.

He tilted his head a little before turning back to face me.

"What did you just say?" he asked with a calm voice.

"D2," I repeated, and his expression changed to one of anger.

"Who are you?" he barked.

"Erm... I'm Ariel," I answered with a trembling voice, and he scoffed.

"I didn't ask for your name! Who the hell are you?" he repeated, but I just stared blankly at him.

"I can see you're not only crazy, you're also stupid-just like her."

"What?!" I exclaimed in shock, and he eyed me coldly.

He walked over to his seat, picked up his backpack, and stormed out of the class in anger.

What the hell just happened?

I looked around the class and met the curious stares of the few people left inside.

I felt so embarrassed and wished the ground would open up and swallow me.

"I'm very sorry, Ariel," Ghostie apologized, but her voice sounded so distant.

Am I really stupid? Am I really crazy? I wondered as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Stop crying, Ariel," I heard Ghostie say-her voice was hoarse.

I looked at her and saw her tears. She was crying too.

"Please don't cry," she pleaded, and I nodded slowly.

Wiping off the tears with my palm, I walked over to my seat.

I sat down and placed my head on the table. My stomach was still rumbling, but I felt too abashed to leave the class.

"Newbie!" a voice called, and I looked up to meet the angry gaze of a chubby girl.

Why is she here? Did she also see me talking to Ghostie? I wondered.

"What did you do to our Damian?" she asked with a harsh voice, and I sighed in relief. She's just here to ask about the rude boy.

"And who are you?" I frowned.

"Do you think you can seduce our Damian just because you're beautiful?" she continued.

"What are you saying?" I asked in confusion.

"Quit pretending! I saw you seduce him. You even told him to shut up!" she retorted angrily.

I smirked.

"Is that why you're here?"

She tried to say something but stopped when Racheal walked into the class in a huff.

"Who the hell made Damian angry?!" she yelled to no one in particular.

"It's the newbie," the chubby girl answered, and I huffed.

Why are they all worked up because of a guy?! I wondered.

I stared blankly at Racheal as she walked up to me.

"Ariel! Is she saying the truth? Were you the one who made Damian angry?" she asked, and I nodded slowly.

"I guess I am the one."

"But why?" she continued.

"I didn't mean to... I was just asking him a question, but he flared up," I explained.

She stared at me for a while and chuckled.

"That's the way he is. He's so rude!" she remarked, and I smiled lightly.

"But what are you doing in class? Aren't you hungry?" she asked.

"I'm hungry, but I don't know the way to the café," I answered.

"Oh dear! I'm sorry for not checking on you before going," she apologized, and I smiled lightly.

"Come on, let's go," she said.

I stood up from my seat, and she took my hand as we walked to the café... and I smiled, knowing Ghostie was following behind me.

---

I stared in awe at the café-it was so classic and beautiful.

"I'll get the orders. Go and sit with Cory," she said, pointing to a table in the corner.

I dipped my hand into my pocket to bring out a few dollars, but she stopped me.

"The bill is on me," she assured with a smile.

"But it is-" I tried to say, but she cut me off.

"Pleaaaassse. Just for today," she pleaded, and I sighed.

"Fine," I agreed.

I walked up to the table and sat down beside Cory.

"Hi, Cory!" I greeted.

"Hi," she responded, trying not to meet my gaze.

"Is this about the necklace?" I asked, but she ignored me.

I smirked.

But what is so special about the necklace? Why did Damian flare up when I asked him about D2? Why did he say I was stupid just like her? I wondered.

I turned sideways to look at Ghostie-her gaze was fixed on Cory's lunch.

I smiled.

"Don't worry, D2. I won't stop till I find out what happened to you."

---

Damian Devin

After leaving the class, I walked hurriedly through the long hallway as tears rolled down my face.

I just wanted to be alone. I just wanted to go home.

"Damian!" a familiar voice called, but I ignored her and kept walking until I got to the taxi station.

I flagged down a taxi and got in.

"Petra Estate," I called, and the driver nodded before driving off.

I leaned back into the car seat as my mind drifted off to what happened in class.

D2. How did she know about her? Who the hell is she?! Why did she even have to remind me of that pathetic loser?

She's so strange... I mean, what kind of girl talks to herself? Only a strange and crazy one.

The driver soon stopped in front of my house. I paid him before getting out.

I walked towards the front door and pushed it open.

Entering the living room, I found my mom sprawled on the floor.

There were bottles of liquor scattered all around her.

I bit my lip in anger.

Opening my backpack, I pulled out my phone.

I dialed her therapist's number, and she picked up on the second ring.

"Hi Damian," she greeted.

"What happened? Why did you leave my mother all by herself?!" I asked harshly.

"I'm sorry, Damian, but I had something important to take care of," she apologized.

"Do you mean my mother isn't important?!" I asked in a huff.

"No, Damian, you need-" she tried to say, but I ended the call.

Damn her and her therapy!

I moved closer to my mother and bent to lift her.

"Mom," I called gently, but she just mumbled some words.

I smiled sadly.

I carried her bridal style and headed upstairs to her room.

When I got there, I used my foot to push the door open.

I walked in and gently laid her on the bed.

She stirred a little, and I smiled.

"I miss you, Mom," I muttered.

I pulled up her covers, leaned over to kiss her, and then walked out.

Closing her door gently behind me, I walked to my room.

Entering, I sat down on the scattered bed.

I felt weak and unhappy at the same time.

I picked up a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the table beside me.

I pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

I inhaled the smoke and held it in my mouth for a moment. Removing the cigarette, I blew out the smoke.

I kept smoking, but I still felt frustrated and empty... so I pulled out my stash from under the bed.

Opening it, I brought out a rolled-up marijuana joint and lit it.

Inhaling just a little of it brought me all the happiness I wanted.

I inhaled more and smiled when the image of a girl with black hair flashed through my mind.

"Daphne," I muttered before drifting off to sleep.