the wolf ; rigel wilde

x. shirts and skirts

❝ Granting our wishes is one of fate's saddest jokes ❞

present day
Rigel

I hated the way I had spoken to Amaya at school, especially since she seemed so happy to be finally out of the orphanage. She looked like she was on the verge of tears when she told me to go fuck myself, and honestly, I deserved it. My heart felt tight in my chest as I watch her walk away from me, leaving me to contemplate my terrible comment. But I couldn't get close to her, so I had to make her hate me; even though there were surely easier and less harmful was to go about doing it.

The more time she spent near me, the more I would ruin her, she had already suffered at Grave because of me. When Mrs. Margaret had noticed that the one thing I loved was Amaya, she tortured her to tortured me. Killing two birds with one stone. Sometimes I wished she would have hurt me physically, so I could feel the pain Amaya felt when she was locked in the cellar, surrounded by flames. I soon became immune to he mental maltreatment Margaret imposed on me, and I simply learned to live with it. But I had never learned to live with the guilt that coursed through me every time I heard the girls screams.

The drive back to the Cuttermills house was quiet, the only words exchanged being 'hello', 'how was your day?' and 'it was okay'. Natalie nor Raymond pushed any further, noticing that I wasn't in the mood to talk. I had thought that my adoption trial would be simple and quick, but the moment I stepped foot in that classroom, and my eyes met Amaya's, I knew I was in for every different situation.

Once we had arrived home, and I went upstairs to get changed, Natalie came to knock at my bedroom door. "Rigel, did something happen at school? You've got a bruise forming on your cheek that wasn't there this morning." Amidst everything that had happened today, I had completely forgotten about my fight with the douchebag in the school hallway. My mind was plagued by a brunette girl with pretty eyes and an exasperatingly sweet personality.

I'm screwed. So, so screwed.

"I just got into a fight with a guy. I'm okay though." I reassured the woman as I buttoned up my shirt. She stepped further into the room, analysing my face. "I know you've only been with us for a day, but if something were bothering you, you would tell me wouldn't you?" The concern in Natalie's voice was quite evident, and a smiled gratefully at her, "Of course."

With that, she left the room so I could finish getting ready, leaving me to my thoughts.

After a few minutes, I came downstairs to find Natalie and Raymond at the door, waiting for me. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting." I apologised as we left the house and both of them reassured me that that was not the case. In a matter of steps we were at our neighbours front door. Raymond rang the doorbell, since Natalie's hands were full with the casserole she had made. The voice of a young girl spoke as the door opened, but I couldn't see from where I was standing behind the couple. But I didn't need to see who it was, just the girls voice made me spine tingle as I cursed under my breath. I knew exactly who had answered the door, and now I was dreading this dinner more than anything.

Natalie and Raymond stepped inside, and I followed behind. The brunette woman introduced me, but I was only focused on the girl at the door that had now come into view, and had confirmed what I already knew. She was wearing a short white t-shirt and a long navy blue skirt, and all of sudden I felt like I couldn't breathe. I tried not to look at her for too long, but her curves were accentuated by the fabric of the skirt and I could see the her waist, and I found myself transfixed by her.

Once I had snapped out of what ever haze had fallen over me, I spoke, "Amaya-" I was going to apologise for my behaviour earlier, but she simply closed the door behind me, and walked back into the house, completely ignoring me.

Okay I deserved that.

I followed her into the kitchen, where she sat on a bar stool, listening to the two couples conversations. Noticing me walking in, the couple turned to look at me. "Ah you must me Rigel. It's nice to meet you. I'm Anna and this is my husband Norman. And I'm sure you know Amaya." The blonde woman gestured in her direction, making the brunette look at me for a mere second before looking down at her lap.

I nodded, "Yes, we knew each other at the orphanage." The woman nodded, content with my answer before she went back to pouring drinks and talking with the other adults in the room.

"Amaya, can I talk to you?" The brunette girl looked me dead in the eye, emotionless. "What, so you can call me a hopeless, broken, reject? I don't think so." She hopped off the bar stool, and started walking towards the stairs. She rounded the corner into the hallway, and before she could escape upstairs, I lightly grabbed her forearm, making her spin around to face me. She bumped into my chest, but she quick to distance herself, her back pressed against the wall opposite me.

"What do you want, Rigel?" She had to tilt her head up a bit to talk to me, which made heat spread up my neck to my cheeks, but I disguised it well. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. You're not hopeless, or a reject. Admittedly a bit broken, but we all are. I do hope this trial goes well for you." She huffed as she took in my words, looking down at the ground as she shook her head.

Running a hand through her hair, she spoke, "I don't know what kind of messed fate this is, or simply a coincidence, but for the sake of my adoption trial, we need to get along."

She was forgiving me? Wait- did she say fate?

I nodded in understanding, and she seemed satisfied with my obedience. In reality I looked like a dog kneeling at their owners feet, and I'm sure she could tell. "But don't think this makes me like you, or that I'm going to be nice to you."