Pursuit of the Whole

XL. What the World Has to Offer

Natalie rolls up her sleeve.

"What are you doing?" Brenda asks.

"Showing her what's up."

Vicki took off her earrings, "Count me in."

"Yo. Yo. Yo," Eric intervenes. "I know you guys are upset with what happened, but a school fight is not the answer."

"I say: Go for it. Rip off her face," Rosario says. "Unless someone wants to say something else." She looks at Lucio. I give the girl credit, she can hold a grudge.

Lucio was staring at Lana. Then, his sight went towards me. 

He better not pick now to confess his emotions. 

"I will," Vicki responds. "And you. You should be angry," Vicki says to Eric. "I mean, Julia got punched in the face!"

Eric looks at me before he exhales heavily.

"Guys." I guess it's time for me to step up. "I appreciate the kind, violent gesture. I really do. But, Lana is still the chosen one of the werewolf community. You think it's a good idea to gang up on their chosen one?"

"If we all surround her. They won't know which student beat her up," Brian says.

I look at Brenda.

Brenda smacks his head.

"I'm saying. We barely have half a year left. We don't want to get expelled or create a war. Are any of you down for a world war?"

Everyone stays quiet.

"That's what I thought," I said. "So, leave her alone." Even when I said that, I know there are still negative thoughts out there. But I don't want them to use me as an excuse to beat her up. That would somehow get me in trouble, and I don't want that.

While Lana walks down the hallway with Nisha, everyone is giving them the side-eyed glare. Werewolves already earned a bad reputation in our community, but it worsened with what Dylan did.

Behind Lana and Nisha were a few others. They look like students, but not ones I saw before. After Lana is given the status of the chosen one, she seems to have more protectors around her. Not werewolves probably hired guards who can pass as high school students. Or maybe, they are my age but were trained to become bodyguards.

I'm not surprised if there is a company out there that does that.

Lucio left the group and walked towards Lana.

"What do you want?" Nisha question.

"You saw what happened yesterday," Lucio says. "And you still want to hang out with these wolves?"

"Why are you so surprised?" Rosario raised her voice.

Everyone was quiet.

"I mean, she climbed into your bed for your status here, so what's stopping her from climbing into someone else who has more power?"

Lana ground her molars, "He's my soulmate."

"Which is the only reason why he tolerates someone like you."

"Someone like you-" Lana glared at Rosario, "who left their other half wouldn't understand."

"I left because I have dignity and pride."

"And here I thought you were going to change yourself."

"Disappointed that I didn't bow down and kiss your feet?"

"That's enough," Nisha intervened.

Rosario scoffs, "Please, we all know you're kissing up to her so daddy can accept you."