Chapter Two –Payton

It rotates.

Constantly. Obsessively. Every minute of every hour of every day. The world will spin and spin and spin till it blows up. Which, hopefully, is never. After all, humanity has only gotten so far. The invention of flying cars hasn't even been created yet. The world can't be destroyed until we've unlocked every secret there is to know about the universe. But I guess, once those secrets are unlocked, what would be the point of living?

I don't think Juliet's problem is her fault. Not entirely. She was dying. Of course, human instincts will choose to survive in a situation of life-or-death. She had no other choice. Killing her parents wasn't her choice either. And it- It wasn't my choice. I didn't- I didn't want them to die, okay? Of course I didn't. I loved them. It's just that- The world works in weird ways. It rotates. And even if the two most important people in your life die while on their way to pick you up from your friends' house, the world will continue to rotate. Because like us as humans, that is its role. Everybody, everything, has a role in this lifetime. And the world's role is to rotate.

Juliet didn't mean to kill her parents. It wasn't her fault. Just like how them dying from a car crash wasn't my fault.

… Right?

I drop the pen, looking down at the piece of paper in front of me, tainted only by the black ink on the top of the page, and inhale. How did I even come to this conclusion? How did I even get to this topic? A simple oral test results in me writing out an essay on the psychological problems of my personality. Nonsense. I flip the paper and bury it underneath my textbooks, hoping it'll be forgotten along with the rest of my homework.

You're gonna jump out of your pretty pink panties when I tell you what I've discovered.

That's what she said, but I still find it hard to take anything that dual-personality weirdo says seriously. For the past few days now, we've been neglecting talking about anything outside of Juliet's problem. Ever since that night when we first started working together, something happened between us. I can't explain it. It's like there's this hidden chemistry that sparks up whenever we engage in conversation. Or maybe that's just me. The fact that she's so intellectually mysterious gives me the impression that there's more to her than I'd ever care to realize. And the scary part is, I find myself wanting to know more.

Before you start getting any ideas, these 'feelings' of chemistry aren't sexual, okay? They're just pure curiosity.

Her idea of getting the demon to fess up, though I'd never admit it, is genius. The fact that we even managed to find out why it possessed Juliet is nothing short of miraculous. And dear God, the courage it took to face 'it' in that room. I've never seen eyes so evil. So when I looked into Juliet's ice blue ones, I realized that I truly have not seen the deepest, darkest depths of her human soul yet. At that moment, I was staring into the eyes of the demon. And I felt a fear I had never felt before creep into my throat and threaten to suffocate me. But then Amber took charge. She took a step forward and initiated an attack. An attack which gave me the confidence to fight the fear away.

I don't know how to put this. But Juliet put me up with her. I would've never have known her otherwise. And though my shallow conceited brain tells me not to go there, I can't help but feel relieved at the thought.

My eyes dart to the huge double-doors as they separate to reveal the girl I've been waiting for. Her shoulder-length auburn hair is tied high today. But like usual, she wears her baggy grey hoodie with the words LONDON UNIVERSITY on its front. I force my gaze down as she approaches, knowing eye contact with her is only a sheer sign of informality.

"Hey." She mutters, dropping down lightly on the seat opposite me. I look up to meet her gaze, but she's looking away. I can see the dark bags underneath her eyes.

"You look like shit."

She snarls at me. "Thanks." She bites sarcastically. "Was supposed to take nap just now but- I don't know, I couldn't. Somethin' kept me up."

"What was it?" I push the textbooks away in hopes of clearing the table a bit. But the sight of all the papers and pens lying messily around doesn't help my slight OCD.

"My oral test." She says, burying her head in between her arms. "Apparently, it's too heavy for a simple examination. Either that, or I'm gonna look like the biggest lunatic in the whole school with what I have now."

My curiosity is peaked. I was just working on my oral. It wouldn't hurt to take a look at hers. "Could I see it?"

Her gaze finally meets mine. And I can tell she relishes the sight of my orange eyes. "Really? You wanna read my oral?" She chuckles slightly. "It's not- It's not like a Grade A kinda thing. I mean, to a top student like you, it's probably complete and utter sh-"

"I asked for your oral paper, Cassion, not your reasons for it being trash to the human eye."

She laughs. I don't expect that. Normally when I say something like that, other people would just look offended. Except Juliet. But then again, Juliet's got a few screws loose.

You know what, I take that back. With the colorful list of characters Stefthen Academy has, I doubt Juliet is the weirdest one of us all. Katherine's clearly a little bit insane as well if she's able to stay with Juliet after all the bullshit she's putting her through.

"Okay." Amber straightens her back and takes out a notebook from her front hoodie pouch. "Remember, you asked for it." Wait, does she go around carrying that book everywhere she goes?

When I reach to grab it, our fingers brush against each other. We lock gazes. There's nothing inside of me. No overwhelming feeling to engage in a deeper relationship or to find out all her secrets. But then there's that zap of electricity. That jolt of sheer pleasure pulsing through my blood from just that one touch.

"Thanks." I mumble, looking down instantly at the book in my hands.

Seconds pass as my eyes run across the single sheet of paper stuffed in between two pages of the torn notebook she's been carrying around. It's a quick study. Not much to think about, not much to calculate on. All in all, it's almost as boring as reading my dad's old cryptology reports. Isn't she smart? Why are her words so hollow and mindless? There's no personal experience in it at all. And that's hard to believe, considering how messed up her head is. I look up at her once, only to catch her eyes darting nervously around the room, before guiding my gaze back to the paper.

I place it down in front of her without another word. When I look up, I have to stifle a laugh at the look of astound disbelief on her pale face.

"So-" She clears her throat. "What? No comment?"

I shrug casually. "Not particularly."

She seems a bit bothered by this. "W-Well, I mean, you have to have... some assessment of it, right? Whether it sucks or whether it's passable-" Oh, it's definitely not passable. "I know it's not the greatest but I did try."

"Really?" I snort, the sound escaping my throat before I manage to find the self-control to stop it. "You tried?"

She looks at me with dubiety, her lips pursing up in a manner of hostility. Oh, what? I pushed a button there? "I told you, it isn't some Grade A essay. If you're gonna get all snarky and bitchy on me tonight, then I'd better not have shown it to you in the first place!"

"Woah, okay!" I raise my hands as a sign of defeat, breathing out a loud exhale before shaking my head. "Someone woke up in the wrong side of bed this evening."

A look of guilt replaces the irritation etched on Amber's face. And for a minute, her defences fall, leaving her utterly vulnerable and completely raw. I'm not sure how I feel about seeing her so exposed. A little edgy, maybe? Skeptical? Curious? Then again, I have no reason to judge her because of it. She's exhausted, frustrated and humiliated, no doubt. So seeing her so- Well, weak, like this is inevitably expected. Nobody's perfect. Certainly not Amber. And no matter how hard she tries to hide it, she is still human.

I almost chuckle at the thought, before I realize what I'm about to be chuckling at, and stifle it down. Not before, unfortunately, Amber catches the hint of a smile spread across my face. "What're you smiling about?" Her voice is slightly coarse from keeping it silent.

I shake my head quickly and say, "Nothing. Just thinking about things." I connect our gaze and speak before she has a chance to question me further. "Didn't you say you had some... exciting news for me?" One that concerns Juliet?

She didn't specify that, of course. When I asked, she just retaliated by asking an embarrassing question that, to this moment, serves to fuel me with angry humiliation. I'm not one to mess around with words. Or flirts. I don't even know if what Amber is doing truly counts as flirting. As far as I know, she's straight. Then again, 'as far as I know' doesn't really count as much considering I barely know the girl at all.

"Oh, right." She says, staring blankly at the table in front of her. She snaps out of it soon enough, rolling her shoulders back for a while before propping her face up with her elbows. A lazy smile paints an expression; a sight that gives me the impression this isn't about Juliet after all. "So I got a contact who lives a flew blocks down from where Stefthen is. He's got this huge colonial mansion and he lives alone with his mom. Dad died in the military, see. Some stupid stuff happened and he got himself killed-" She dragged a finger over her neck to emphasize her point. "-So he was alone with his mom one day when they witnessed these two kids heading towards town from the direction of our school. And his mom didn't really pay much attention to them, said it was just some kids playing hooky and they shouldn't mind em', but see, my friend here is super observant, and he saw what those two students were doing."

She thrusts her thumb in the air and grins. "They were both chicks. Holding hands. Laughing into each other's shoulders. Clearly dating. Now don't ask me why or how we have so many damn lesbians in our school, but apparently, we do. Because Sophia Rodriguez and Vanessa fucking Rose are shacking. Yes." She leans back in her seat with her arms crossed, looking very much satisfied with herself. "That's happening."

There's a few seconds of complete and utter silence before the sound of Amber's rumbling stomach echoes through the room. Now, don't get me wrong. I get hunger, I do. Hunger is one of the many major world problems we have to solve but hearing that right now is not exactly the greatest way to get me talking. Because I have no freaking idea why Amber would ever think hearing this would possibly make me happy. I have no relations to either girls and I'm willing to bet neither does Amber. So why the hell does she care so much? God, why am I caring about her caring so much?

"Okay, let me get this straight." I say slowly, pointing a finger down at the table. "You found out Rodriguez and Rose are dating. And... So you decided to tell me about it, somehow creating this thought that I'd be 'excited' about it." My gaze narrows almost instinctively, registering the very unbelievable fact that she's somehow serious on this. "Why would you ever think any part of this news would excite me?"

A smile colors her face ever so slowly, almost smugly, as she leans forward in her seat to shoot me a very Cheshire smirk. "Because I wanted to see your reaction, you idiot." She laughs, almost chillingly. And then her hand finds it way on top of mine, and a shudder of lust runs its way up my spine. I pull away instantly, bringing my hand as far away from her as possible, refusing to look up into her gaze as the cold steel of the table in front of me greets my view. The warmth from her hand is throbbing in mine. Though it has no reason to. I mean, sure, it's been a while since I had actual physical contact with someone (if you exclude that kiss with Juliet) but it's not like my body's completely reactionary to the touch.

I hear Amber exhale through her nose. It isn't until I see her leaning back in her seat from the corner of my eye that I'm able to muster the courage to look up into hers. Her expression is... reserved. I can't read it. Not completely. Frustration, confusion- Do I have the audacity to admit I might even see a little hurt? It's not my place to poke into other people's emotions. But just this once, the thought of Amber looking hurt at my doing- It fills me up with an emotion I can't quite place. Before I'm able to fully read the tone in her face, however, the expression shifts. It shifts to one completely different. An expression of arrogance and smug superiority. One that makes me feel like slapping her straight across the face.

"You really do react so strongly to me." Her grin widens. "When're you gonna admit you have the biggest crush on me?"

Oh my Go- Can I just fucking slap her? Please. It won't take long. Just one slap. And I'll walk away. Then I'll feel better! So. Much. Better.

I glare at her. And though I hate to be anything but modest, even I can gloat about the intensity of my glares, because I've worked hard on them. Without intentionally wanting to. It's a long, uninteresting story. I dislodge my attention from her completely and grab a book from the side stacks, making sure it's the right one before throwing it in front of her. "Here." I say sharply. "Read it. We're here for Juliet. Nothing else."

Another loud sigh leaves Amber's lips. She rolls her eyes and dips herself back in a position of complete and utter laziness. But nonetheless she grabs the book and reads through it. Because she cares for Juliet, despite what she tries to cover up. She cares for her and she wants to heal her as much as I do. And at the end of the night, despite what this weird feeling in my chest is telling me, that's the only thing that connects us.

That's the only reason we're here together.

"So," His voice comes tumbling into my self-conscious without much warning. But I can't help my slight increase of heart rate. Because when I turn to look at him, I won't, and definitely can't, deny the warm feelings tugging at my insides from the sight of his face again. "I'm guessing this is one of those rare moments when you're not in the library."

The corner of my lips quirk into a smile. "It's crowded today. My class is spending their extra period there." I shrug. "Who'd want that kinda noise anyway?"

"Nobody." He says, smiling. But I notice he isn't making a move to sit down. He's just standing there, looking at the ground nervously, scratching the back of his neck, probably wondering why he came here in the first place.

I decide to just knock the ball out of the park. "You've finally decide to talk to me?"

His soft chestnut eyes widen in surprise. "Payton, I-"

"I don't blame you for it. But-" I hesitate. "You know I have nothing going on with her. It's kind of- It's a little hurtful that you don't trust my word for it."

"N-No! No. Payton," He sighs loudly and sits down. Right beside me. Under this giant oak tree I've seemingly found a few weeks ago after exploring the school courtyard. He runs his fingers through his brown hair and says, "You know how I am. You also know how much I- My negativity towards your... 'friend' isn't gonna lessen anytime soon. And though I don't wanna be that guy, it's only been two months. So, you can't expect me to be so trusting. Especially since-"

"Stop." I press a finger on his lips, silencing him. When he looks up into my eyes, all my worries about his doubts melt away. Because those eyes reveal everything I need to know. "You don't have to explain. Just kiss me." And he does.

Mikhail Daring isn't a bad guy, okay? Despite what the school thinks of him, he is a genuinely soft-hearted and sensitive gentleman who suffers from bad anger-management issues. And, yes, that isn't an excuse. He shouldn't have picked a fight with Juliet. He shouldn't have let his feelings take over his better judgement. But tell me, when was the last time you were able to control yourself in the face of someone who had an incredibly high potential of stealing your girlfriend away from you? Mikhail was just... aggravated. He had a reason. And I hate how the majority of the school's judging him before hearing his side of the story. Yes, maybe me dating him has gotta make me slightly bias to the discussion. But even upon first meet, Mikhail never struck me as mean. He wasn't antagonistic. He was just a misunderstood character who needed a little more room to stretch. And you know what? Being with him... has been better than I ever thought it would be.

When we part, he comes in again for a peck, before fully pulling away. A smile brightens up his face. A smile that I've grown to miss over the last couple of weeks.

"No more avoiding me?" I ask softly. "It's kinda hard dating a ghost who won't even talk to you."

He chuckles lightly, tilting his head and throwing me one of his infamous grins. "It was hell for me, you know. Not talking to you. But I just... I needed some time to think."

"And?"

He connects our gazes. "And I'm done thinking."

Without another word, he leans in to capture me in another kiss. Every cell in my body melts. He's just so soft. I don't know how to explain it. People say you can see someone's soul through their eyes. Well, you know what? I think you can see their soul through a kiss. And judging from my experience, Mikhail's soul is tremendously and inconceivably gentle.

He pulls away and wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in closer as I nestle my head comfortably on his shoulder. When was the last time I engaged in a relationship? Never, I believe. I was close once. Ron was the first guy I ever had feelings for. He was cute, sweet, affectionate and smart. And in love with my best friend. They dated till high school. And no, I'm not going to deny my intensely hateful feelings towards her because I know that it was wrong to hate your best friend. And I did. I did, up until we graduated middle school. And then we separated and went to different schools, and I was left alone in this strange, unfamiliar surrounding.

I have friendship issues. I guess it's also the reason I'm always alone now. I feared for when my next crush falls for my next best friend. It's selfish. But it's also natural. Because nobody wants to be hurt.

I sigh into Mikhail's cotton shirt. "How're your injuries?"

I can feel his chest rise as he inhales. He holds his breath for a second too long, and releases it gently. Just from that, I know what he's gonna say. "They're doing better." He lies.

Because I can tell he's in pain. And I know he's too much of a masochist to ever admit it. Tsk. Boys.

"The fact that you're hurting because my head is on your shoulder says otherwise."

He laughs out, flinching slightly and touching the spot Juliet knee-capped his stomach before pulling away. "You're too observant for your own good." He says, shaking his head. "Someone's gonna come knocking at your door asking for your brain in the next two years, trust me."

"Likely." I say. "And maybe by then, yours will be at least half the size of mine."

"Wow!" He exclaims, laughing. He pulls away from me and bares his pearly whites. "Just so you know, Madame Queen Brainy, Itotally aced my exam last week!"

I smirk. "Oh yeah? For what class?"

He stares at me for a moment, allowing the silence to sink in, before sighing shortly through his nose. "Gym."

"You muscled-brain idiot."

He grabs my neck and pulls me in, causing me to yelp in surprise. "Say that again! I dare you!"

I laugh, pressing my hands against his chest and pushing myself away. But his grip is deadly. It's not painful, no, just tight. He is a wrestler, after all. "See what I mean?" I exclaim through gasps of laughter. "Always your brute, not your brains!"

"Well I'm sorry, Payton, that I can't be a super computer like you are." He releases me and pecks me on the cheek. Honestly, this guy... He's a major idiot. But- He's the best thing to happen to me since meeting Juliet. And that's saying something. He makes me happy. Not something easily achievable, because of how high I've set my standards to be.

I chuckle, running my fingers on the fabric of his striped white and grey shirt. It suits him well. Makes him look less bulkish and more... boyish. For minutes, we just sit there. Talking about what's been happening these past few weeks. I don't tell him about our research. I don't tell him anything related to Juliet. Because I know by doing that, I'll only be dragging a dead fish back into the ocean. No point in bringing up a tense topic in our relationship. If I'm gonna be with him, I have to move on from her. I'll keep looking for her, keep searching for ways to help her, but beyond that she and I are nothing more than acquaintances. Even beings friends would rule out a lot of trust lines with Mikhail.

But it's not like... She'll even have a problem with that. Little miss popular has a band of girls following her around everywhere she goes. Plus, there's also Katherine. The love of her life. The girl she'll give up everything for. I admit, when I found out, I was more than a little jealous. This was before Mikahil, okay? So it doesn't count as cheating. I was jealous of Katherine. For being able to capture Juliet's blackened heart even at the state she was in. Overtime, however, I came to realize that I was not even a shadow in her world. I bore no competition against the illuminating light that was Katherine Phase. So, I told myself- You don't love Juliet.

You don't love Juliet.

You... You don't... love Juliet.

It worked a little. If I managed to find feelings in the depth of my darkness for this boy, then I'd like to think I'm slowly getting over her. So I continue telling myself this. Even in the midst of our conversation, my mind whispers to my heart. Repeating it over and over again like a satanic chant. By the time the period's over, Mikhail's fallen half-asleep, an arm slung over his eyes as the wind beckons him to slumber. We've run out of things to talk about. So we just sit here, enjoying the day. I wish it could be like this. For a while more.

I push myself off him and shake his shoulder. "Mikhail," I whisper. "Free period's over. Time to head back to class."

He groans a little, muttering gibberish that I barely recognize to be 'I don't like class'. Smiling, I lean in to kiss him on the cheek. And then slowly, I watch the corners of his lips quirk into a smile.

"Hah!" I say. "I knew you were awake!"

He chuckles. "It was a little hard to sleep with your head on my man-boobs and all."

I roll my eyes, and shove him off. "Seriously though, let's get to class."

It takes a little more convincing, but soon enough he obliges. He stands, stretches a little and kisses me one last time before bidding farewell and making his way to class. He's in a completely different academic stream, because his grades suck that bad. Outside of gym, we don't share any classes together. Instead, he bands in with a dozen or more other students who's grades match his. I can't blame him. He's all muscle, no brain. But I guess his dimwittedness was one of the reasons I liked him so much. It was a breath of fresh air in the ambience of seriousness I've clouded myself in.

I grab my book, tuck in under my arm and make my way to Chemistry. While walking, I read. Because hell, I hate looking at people as they pass me. Those judgmental stares and annoying forced smiles. I'd rather look at lifeless words than lifeless faces. But because I'm reading, I don't notice the person rounding the corner as I turn. Thankfully, we don't bump into each other, but she reaches out to grab my shoulders and stop me. Which is worse. Because the contact of her fingers on my skin sends a current down my body.

I snap my eyes up to meet hers. "Sorry." I mumble, before regretting it.

Amber's eyes are wide with- With, what? Disbelief? "It was you."

I raise an eyebrow and look at her weird. "What was me?"

"That. That laugh." She chuckles. "I've- I mean, I thought it sounded familiar but I didn't think it was you cause- Cause you never laugh like that."

W-What? Was she listening in? Or... Was she eating here the whole time? That can only mean she heard almost our entire conversation.

"Wow, I don't even-" She laughs and shakes her head. Why is she so surprised by this? You'd think someone laughing wouldn't be that big of a deal. "I heard you laugh before but it's always out of spite. I've never heard a genuine freaking laugh come out of your mouth. Shit, Pay. It's adorable."

Red spreads throughout my face, all the way to my ears. I've always been easily prone to blushes, but this amount of red is insane! I turn away, hoping to God she doesn't notice how vermillion I am, and wondering why that even affected me this much anyway.

… Because no one has ever called me 'adorable' before.

"Who were you even with anyways?" She wiggles her eyebrows. "Who has the magic to reap such an amazing laugh out of such a terrifying girl?"

Before I can respond, a friend of hers (whom she was eating with, I assume) appears from behind her and grabs her by the arm. "Amber! The girls and I are going ahead. You comin'?"

Amber throws her a gentle smile before nodding. "Just give me a minute, okay? I'll catch up to you guys!"

Wow, that's a really girly voice.

Her friend nods and, for reasons I don't even wanna guess, notices me. Her eyebrows quirk up. "You're the girl who was with Mikhail Daring!"

I purse my lips. Oh, really now? Don't be subtle about it. Scream it the world!

I don't notice Amber's whole expression change. No, I'm too busy silently glaring at her friend to see it. Too busy wanting to walk away in a huff of annoyance and irritation. But then I turn my head, and I do. And it takes me by surprise. Because I can't fully describe it in a sentence, but I can in a word; Completely, absolutely and wholly discomforted.

There's a pause that I'm not even sure happened. Her friend continues to stare at me, she continues to sport that expression and I continue to stand there wondering what in God's name is going on. But then Amber snaps out of it. Like a light-switch. Like she's used to it. Her eyes shoot up, not allowing me to move or make a sound. Because that gaze is like the one I've only ever seen once in my life.

"Hey Naomi, could you go on ahead?" I think anyone would be able to notice the tension in her voice. Or wonder why she'd want 'private time' with another girl. But my guess is, because Amber's voice is incredibly and undeniably different right now, her friend is willing to oblige. Out of understanding and out of fear.

Her friend, Naomi, does exactly as I expect. She looks confused for about a second, before looking a little frightened. She nods finally, saying, "Oh, sure, yeah." before racing off.

And then I'm alone with Amber.

She laughs and shakes her head. "Sorry about that."

I don't even know why she's apologizing. Or why she still looks a little... nervous.

"You and Mikhail, huh? I didn't think you two were still going."

I look away. "We never stopped. It was just... A rough patch, I guess."

"Yeah." She shrugs. "That whole thing with you, him and Juliet must be-" She laughs. A light laugh. A laugh that people use to lighten heavy conversations. But I don't find it funny. Instinctively, I glare at her. And that seems to shut her up. "Sorry. I didn't mean-"

"What do you want, Amber?"

She looks at me with surprise. Probably because I used her name. I've never used her name before. Although it shouldn't come off as such a big surprise. I don't understand her purpose of stopping me to make idle chit-chat. We have class. And as far as I know, she isn't exactly comfortable around me anymore. For reasons only God knows.

She inhales sharply. "You've never laughed like that before with anyone. Not even Juliet. It's a really-" She chuckles. "-unexpected sound. But it's nice. It's a nice unexpected. It's that kind of unexpected that makes you feel like you don't ever wanna get used to it. Because once you are, the magic will disappear... And you'll lose it forever." Her gaze narrows. "Yet still," She shakes her head. "I can't help but feel I'll love it anyway. That unexpected sound.

"That sound of light in the darkness."

How fast is my heart beating? Pretty fast, I imagine. Because I can't do anything else but listen to it thump in my ear. Thump loudly. Quickly. As if it's afraid of being devoured by a monster. I stare at Amber as she stares back at me- Orange meeting grey. I don't even know what my expression looks like right now. I don't even care. I can't think. Because she's so close to me, I can practically smell her scent. And her voice- Shit, her voice. Since when has a girl that small been able to possess such an intimidating voice?

She tilts her head slightly and says, "You're a mystery I want desperately to solve. A question I'm desperately wanting the answers to."

Seconds pass. Minutes, even. And still all I can do is stare.

But then without another word, her gaze sharpens, her expression changes and she turns around. I watch her back shrink, stepping further and further away from me, from this horrible ambience that's made its way up my throat and into my chest. I catch my breath, reaching up to touch my neck as if I've been physically suffocated. But I know she didn't touch me. I know she barely did anything to me. She just spoke. So why then am I so affected?

Because, shit, she's manipulating me and- and I'm falling for it.

I glare at her back before she disappears, feeling fury replace the warmth in my chest, and anger replace the confusion.

What the hell is her problem?