The Struggle (2nd Book of Life Button series)

Evlewt

I walk back through the door the house. Cadmar is slowly nudging me in, "Why do you walk so slow?" He complains.

"To annoy you."

"I think you are just super slow." He puts his hand in front of me in the hall. His arms are blocking me between him and the wall.

"What're you doing?"

He leans in close to me and I duck. I knew he was about to kiss me. I don't wanna ever kiss anyone though! I know what happens to everything then! I can't! "Sorry Cadmar." I whimper.

Cadmar looks down at me, huddle against the wall. He offers me a hand up and I am pulled up into him. "I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"No it isn't you. It's me. I've never even been involved with someone like that before. I haven't even held hands with anyone, much less kiss anyone Cadmar. I just can't yet." I feel a tear drop down my cheek.

"It's okay." A finger brushes away the tear running down my cheek. "I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do. Now find something useful to do."

He leaves me alone in the hallway. I sit back, putting my head against the wall. "Hullo there love."

I look up to see Derrick, a rapscallion look on his face. "Are you crying?"

"No. My eyes decided to start sweating."

"Perfectly reasonable. But I don't believe a word you say."

"Well I don't believe your hair is that good without some of that hair crap that I found on my desk. You stealing it from me?"

"That made no sense."

"I know." I sigh.

"Well you can either stay here and weep yourself to sleep or come and hang out with my awesome friends and me. Which one?"

"I guess I'll come and meet your friends."

He smiles and starts heading back down the stairs. How many times am I gonna have to climb up and down stairs today?

"Coming love?"

"Coming. Stop calling me love. It sounds strange."

"I know." He laughs.

I follow him out the door and into the crowds of bustling people. "So I was wondering, do you know what the Out is?"

"Kinda. I made Jake the Out. Isn't he some social reject now?"

"Yes. The whole place hates him. But you can change who the Out is at anytime. You can even make the Out be the Leader. You could make Cadmar the Out."

"But why would I want to do that?" I ask while we are walking.

"Because you could become in power, make me your Second?"

"Nah. I like Cadmar as Leader. And I like being Second."

Derrick laughs, "Funny. You are very funny...FERNIS!"

I watch a huge burly guy start coming at us. I start to back away but he is coming at us with a smile. And he's bald with something through his lip...is that a nail?

"Fernis, I'd like you to meet Ethel. She's the Second."

"I thought you said you were bringing Females." He growls, glaring at me.

Derrick casually throws his arm around his shoulder, "Give her a chance. She can be as fun as Females. Can't ya love?"

"What'd I say about calling me love?" I shake his arm off my shoulder. I'm not sure I like the vibe I'm getting here. Especially since I know who they refer to as Females.

"Spicy. I accept spicy. Spike and Boone are waiting over here for us."

"So? I'll come when I say we should come over? Ain't that right Ethel?"

"No! Stop being so weird." I take a step back. "Why are you acting so strange?"

"Just come have some fun with us! You've been working so hard and I just need to see what Cadmar sees in you. You are so stubborn. Your curvy but that-"

"Sees in me? Excuse me! Are you trying to dissect me like some animal?!?" I yell.

Silence sets over our area. Everyone turns to watch. At this moment, I could accidentally make Derrick the Out. But I don't really want to, or else the other guys will be mad at me. "No. Of course not!"

Everyone stares at me, waiting for a reaction. "Sorry for doubting you Derrick. I'm tired though, so I'm heading back to the house. See you around."

I turn on my heel to leave and bump into someone I'm instantly comfortable with. Falon! "What just happened Ethel?" He whispers. "You almost made Derrick the Out instead of Jake."

"I know. But he said such awful things! He was almost dissecting me, talking about something Cadmar sees in me and he doesn't see it. What does Cadmar sees in me even mean? What does that phrase mean?"

"Potential." Falon says after a while. "He's talking about warrior potential." His voice cracks at the end.

"Okay. But why did he say something about me and Females and I could be fun like Females."

"No! He didn't say that did he?" Falon growls, "He couldn't have!  Not even Derrick is so low as to say that!"

"But he did say that. And I don't understand what he means. Or his friend...erhmm....Fernis."

"Fernis is a terrible person. Never, under any circumstance, be alone with Fernis. He will harm you. Do you understand me Ethel?"

He stops so he's in front of me, his eyes looking dead into mine. "I understand. I didn't like it Falon."

"I know, eats just head back to the house okay? I'll make some food and you'll feel better! Even better, let's have Xavier make some food! Ohhhh his cake is amazing!" Falon bounces up and down. He reminds me of a hyper younger brother.

"Okay. I didn't get breakfast so I'm all for that idea!"
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Bad Derrick! What do you guys think of Derrick? He's up to something isn't he?

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Stay beautiful<3