Guarded

Chapter 3

"Barbosa" I said to myself trying to get the feel of the word but I couldn't say it like he did. I couldn't seem to recreate the depth with which he said it or the way his tongue flicked over the syllables. It must be Italian or maybe Spanish "Barbosa, Barbosa, Barbosa"

"Who looks like a cobra?"

"Anya hey" I wrapped my arm around my friend.

"What are you doing here I thought Mr. H was taking you to the museum" she said falling in time with my step.

"Yeah" I mumbled "there's been a change of plan"

"Well I guess you're stuck with me and Jacob for the rest of the day" I was just about to ask where he was when she suddenly squealed and Jacob head popped out between ours.

"Look who decided to show up" Jake teased pushing his full body between her and me. I looked over to see a blushing Anya "now that you're here I won't have to listen Anya's rants about how our parents and every other rich family are running this country into the ground"

"Hey! My rants are perfectly fine. I make good points in a politically correct way. That's something not many can do, you are just bias. When you are blessed with the gift of hearing me rantin-"

"Blessed? Really"

"Yes and don't interrupt me" I laughed at their bickering. At least I could find some good in my messy life in my two best friends. "Well we can't have this can we?" Anya looked up at Jake. She denied it but I knew she liked him.

"No we can't have this at all" Jake said with a knowing smile.

"What are you two talking about" I glared at the pair accusingly.

"You being here. Look at your face. You look depressed and that's even with 'the blessing' of Anya's rants" Jake rolled his eyes.

"Well I can't leave. My new guard is outside"

"New guard?" he probed.

"Don't ask"

"New guard or not there is a way to sneak you out of here" he whispered as other students started filing in the halls.

"Tempting but nah. It's been so long since we've hung out anyway"

"We're gonna see you at the party though, right Tori?" Anya's gentle voice reached out to me.

"Um yeah"

"Well then don't sweat it, Jake the great will get you sorted" he said with a smug look plastered on his face "you can land on your feet right?"

...

I looked up at the hundred year old painting whilst rubbing my back bone. I landed right on my ass. Had Jacob and Anya really thought I could land on my feet from a seven foot fall out of the bathroom window?

"One-hundred and thirteen-year-old paintings do make asses sore" I jumped at the voice but was so happy when I saw who was standing there.

"Kelsey!" I flung my arms over the girl and squeezed.

"Where have you been Tori?"

"Just around you know. I've been at work and college a lot lately and I went up north to visit my parents" the lies burnt my throat. I hated lying to such a nice person but I had no choice. Every time I made 'normal friends' the moment they found out who I was they always either dropped me or tried cosying up to me for money so I stopped telling people.

"I've missed you so much I swear you're always up north"

"Yeah" I bit my cheek.

"Well now that you're here I'm not letting you go" she linked arms will me and gave me a toothy smile.

I looked down at my watch. School ended in four hours and it took me an hour by bus to get there not counting however long it would take me to climb back into that window "I've got a couple hours to kill. Why not?"

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