Just One Bite

Chapter 4: James' POV

Anyone who says they are not, in the least, a little bit intimidated by Em Jacobs are the biggest liars I'll probably ever come across. I've gone past caring and openly admit that I'm scared shitless of her. Because everybody has a reason. 

Whether it's from her immaculate grades in photography, her jaw dropping figure or just the fact that she always looks like she wants to kill everybody in sight, there is always a reason.

Always.

The girls just laugh it off and assure us that she's actually a nice person and despite her seemingly endless supply of sarcasm, sass and the occasional death threat, she wouldn't really harm a single hair on my head.

Well, I don't fucking believe them.

From what I see, this human lacks a soul. I don't think I have ever seen her display emotion other than anger.

We step out into the warm sunshine, squinting as we scan the car park for her. But it's dead. "I don't see her," I announce, not bothering to conceal my relief, "Are you sure she said she's here, in college, and not like five minutes away?"

Louise just holds up her phone, showing me the text as proof, before studying the car park again. "Maybe she's already headed inside," Olivia suggested.

"She told us to meet her in the car park," Amy states, giving me a glare for some reason, "Where it's quiet."

"I'll text Maria and Lauren not to bother coming out," Louise says, tapping away on her phone, "We have class soon, anyways."

I start to follow them back inside.

"Girls..."

We spin turn around in unison to Rebekah who was still standing on the pavement, her eyes fixed on the main gates. "What?" I ask a little impatiently when she doesn't say anything else.

"She's coming," she says, "I can hear her music."

I can't help to roll my eyes. God, these girls are so fucking weird.

"I can't hear anything," I say, wriggling my bag strap that was starting to dig into my shoulder, "Can we go inside now...?" But I trail off when a distant beat suddenly reaches my ears, and by the looks of the girls' faces, they heard it too.

We stand in silence as it quickly becomes heavier and louder, before finally whirling around the corner and through the main gates in the form of big black vintage Range Rover. I must have been staring at it stupid because I shortly realised my mouth was hanging open, watching it race through the main lane before spinning around and into an empty spot. It's giant wheels screeched to a halt, the electronic music still blaring out through the open windows and the entire thing taking up two spaces.    

I glance towards Rebekah to see her grinning from ear to ear. "There she is," she sings.

I groan quietly to myself. "Frigging fantastic."

The dark figure inside the car leans over the other side to grab her bag before the door swings wide open. A fairly tall girl with a purple pixie haircut and deep brown eyes steps out, dressed in ripped jeans, a grey sweater and, of course, a black leather jacket and boots. I hear she has a few admirers in college but pretty is the last thing I would call her; more like otherworldly and vaguely threatening with that black eyeliner and lipstick that always seems to match her hair. And don't forget the silver septum ring hanging from her nose.  

The girls are already walking up to her, so I sigh and follow them, already feeling the sense that I'm not wanted.

"Hey, Em," I greet half heartedly once I reach the Range Rover, the girls already in mid conversation. Her glaring eyes land to me and I can't help to flinch when she slams the car door behind her.

"What's he doing here?"

"Em..." Olivia starts to warn.

"Where've you been?" I ask, ignoring her last question.

"On business," is all she answers in a short tone. No one says another word as she wonders around to her boot and pulls out a bag which I knew contained her photography equipment. When she returns to the side of the car, she rams the key in the door to lock it, looking over one shoulder rather crossly to the rest of the girls. "I thought I told you to come out here alone," she says.

Subtle.

She's one of the very few girls I know that just say things as they are; even if it gets her into trouble, everyone knows she doesn't give two shits anyway and I have to admire her for it. Em's got to be the weirdest of the lot. No one even knows what Em stands for! It could be Emma, Emily or even Emelza. She a thin, almost lanky, girl with small curves, bony hips and broad shoulders. But when I mention her jaw dropping figure, I wasn't talking about her breasts or butt. It's the fact that she's so toned.    

Olivia, Rebekah and the twins are just as fit, but Em has bigger abs than some boys at college who are trying to get an A grade in PE! I can only conclude that it's the result of intense training. And although I have never actually seen her, I've heard rumours that she likes to pass her three hour break on a Thursday in the dance studio. 

"We didn't actually invite him," Amy replies, leaning casually against the car; she seemed to be the only one who was comfortable in this situation, while the others just stood there a little awkwardly with slight guilt on their faces.

Em's head turns to me again, her eyes gentle this time. "James," she begins and I'm surprised to hear her voice so calm. "Would you mind fucking off for a minute?" She asks ever so politely, "I need to talk with the girls privately."

I shrug, telling her it was no problem. "By the way," I add quickly before I leave, "I have your order you asked for in my rucksack."

"Thanks," she replies before slapping a £20 note on the bonnet of the car, "Here."

I take the money and tuck it into my pocket. "I'll give it to you before the end of the day," I inform before sauntering off towards the Art Department. I glance over my shoulder a few times, noticing the girls had circled closely together now. The boys and I always found it strange, and a little frustrating, how most of them threw on friendly smiles and handed out pleasantries but they were still distant, almost suspicious...

Just before I disappear around a building's corner, I look back again with a small frown. Maria and Lauren have just joined them, looking about like they had just done something wrong and were checking that nobody saw.

Seven girls. Seven personalities. None of them similar. The only thing they have in common is the fact that they are the only students in the entire college studying A-level in Supernatural Studies. Most would originally perceive them as just a bunch of social outsiders who hung out because there was nowhere else for them to go, but after everything that has happened these past six years, everyone is naturally a lot more cautious and observant. 

And these girls were all too secretive for their own good. It was going to catch up to them sooner or later.