Bonded [SLOW UPDATES]

Chapter 1

She watched everyone pass by, their arms always linked with someone. Their bonded. Someone she didn't have. Someone she didn't think she'd ever have. She walked down the hall, her eyes straying to look at different bonded.

She glanced at one pair, their mouths locked together. He had her pushed up against someone's locker. She quickly looked away. Most bonds between girls and boys ended up with them being lovers, or at least being best friends. Bonds between two girls or two boys ended up with them being best friends. Always.

A girl brushed past her, mumbling an apology as her bonded pulled her past. She winced slightly, trying to ignore that ache in her chest. She hated not being bonded with anyone. She hated not having that best friend because all of her friends had that best friend.

Laena often spent her nights in her bedroom, alone. Even with her striking light blonde, almost white hair and unusual gold-ringed, purple eyes, she never had interest in finding a guy. She never wanted that right one. Deep inside, she secretly wanted a bonded. She wanted her bonded to be a guy. To be that guy for her. Her lover.

Usually the bonded looked relatively similar. All bonded pairs had a marking that marked them together. But she had a mark that no one else had. Tiny angel wings, outlined in black on the back of her shoulder. Most of them had the same eyes, though many bonded had the same kind of eyes. Blue, green, brown, black. But she never once saw someone that had the same kind of eyes as her. Never someone who had those gold-ringed, purple eyes. Sometimes a light purple when she was happy and daydreaming, sometimes a dark purple when she was frustrated or upset.

She swallowed hard as she forced herself to look straight ahead. She was used to constantly looking at the floor but her mother told her to look up and look straight ahead. To face the future head on. To not look down and hide from what will happen.

She met up with Parker before heading out with him on their walk home. They lived near each other and often walked to and from school together.

Laena gave a quick scan of their surroundings before deciding he was without his bonded. The girl that would never stop clinging to his arm... She was downright annoying and Laena didn't bother hiding her anger. He was one of her closest friends and could never get him away from her during school hours-

"Parker!" A familiar voice squealed.

Laena winced. She spoke too soon. Here she was. With him.

"Hey Alina," he said softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Laena glanced over at them. She was clinging to his arm again at off school hours. She guessed that she understood that they were bonded and in a relationship together, but did she really need to be around him all the freaking time? It was pissing her off.

"So..." Alina said, her voice too suggestive for her liking as she looked up at Parker, a glint in her eyes. "What are you two up to?"

"Lae and I are just heading home, actually," Parker replied.

Alina turned her head to narrow her eyes at Laena before looking back up at Parker, returning to her sultry tone. "Do you want to come home with me today, Parker? I'm free..."

Laena resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She absolutely hated how provocative this girl could be.

Parker gave Alina a small smile. "Maybe another time, princess, I'm walking home with Laena today."

She let out a high-pitched whine. "But Parker... You promised me."

Parker glanced over at Laena, giving her a hesitant smile. "Oh... Sorry, is that okay, Lae?"

She rolled her eyes this time. "Sure. Go for it."

"Sorry... Thanks Lae," he said. "I'll make it up to you later."

"We're going to be late," Alina said, scowling at Laena. She pulled Parker past her, nudging her with her shoulder. "Stay away from him. I mean it."

Laena simply bumped her back with her shoulder. Hard. "No promises..." She bit back a foul word.

"Hey tiger," a voice said, coming up from behind her.

She didn't have to turn around to know it was Arthon. Only he dared to call her that. Her temper was wild and untamed. She didn't know who she was bonded with and it troubled her. She wasn't able to control her emotions or share them with her bonded.

His hands held onto her arms firmly. "Calm down, tiger..."

Once, she thought she was bonded to Arthon. Until she met his bonded when he moved into the house. Micah. Also a great guy, definitely more shy compared to Arthon. Micah was quiet and usually shadowed Arthon. They shared the same tribal cross mark on their right bicep.

Sure enough, as she turned to look at him, Micah was there, standing a step behind to his right. Almost like a bodyguard. A second in command.

"Hey Arthon," she said before pausing and adding, "Hey Micah."

Micah simply gave her a small nod.

Arthon smiled at her apologetically. "Sorry, he's been in a bad mood. His apple pie didn't turn out perfectly."

Micah scowled at him as Arthon grinned.

"Well... I'm sure it tasted fine," Laena replied, giving him a smile.

The corners of Micah's lips turned up in a small smile. "Thank you."

"We'll be sure to have you try Micah's pie sometime," Arthon said. Micah's smile disappeared.

Arthon laughed, nudging his bond. "Just a joke, Micah. Don't worry."

Micah simply shook his head and turned away. Laena shared a house with Arthon and Micah. Most bonded lived together. She silently thanked the Bonders that Parker and Alina didn't live together.

"Heading home?" Arthon asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, and you?"

"Same with us. Join us, you look like you could use some company," Arthon said.

Laena glared at him. "I do not!"

Arthon grinned as he leaned over to ruffle her hair. "Someone ruffled your fur the wrong way today, tiger."

She leaned out of the way of his reach, grumbling. "Just Alina."

Arthon grinned again. "Knew it."

She rolled her eyes. "'Course you did."

Arthon glanced back to grab onto Micah's arm, pulling him forwards. "Come on, Micah. We're heading home now."

Micah grumbled again, pulling his arm out of Arthon's grip.

Arthon sighed. "I know you're mad, but it was just a joke. Just a joke, okay?"

Micah nudged him with his shoulder and Arthon grinned as he pulled Micah in for a hug. "That's my boy."

Micah smiled. "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Arthon looked over at Laena and winked. "Whatever Laena wants."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever's easy, Micah."

Micah smiled. "You got it."