L U R E

Nine

Chapter Nine

I stare at Trevor and Chris. We were seated at the dining room table, It had already been a week since mother told me about the move to Hilton. Time was passing so quickly and I had to tell them sooner or later.

"Why is she looking at us like that?" Chris says trembling. "Maybe she's possessed." Trevor whispers. Chris stares at Him in horror. "By what?" He says slowly. "A demon." They both stares at each other in fear.

"Boy the only thing possessin people around here is the father the son and the Holy Ghost." Mom whips around the corner setting a stack of boxes on the ground. "What's with the boxes Mrs.D?"

"I assume that's what Amaya is over there beating around the bush about. Tell these Boys already! And stop looking at me with those eyes!" She squints. "Maybe she really is possessed." She mumbles loudly. "Oh lord I've got to call the church." She rushes toward me putting her hand on my head. "Don't worry baby we gon exercise them demons right out of you!" She rushes off. "Damien! Call the pastor our baby got the demons!" She frantically yells from the hallway.

"She what!?" I face palm.

"Listen guys,"

"She doesn't look possessed." I look behind Trev and Chris only  to see my parents peaking around the corner. "Go get the holy water just to be sure." I shake my head. I squint in their direction and the hide behind the wall.

"Pops got a new job."

"Really that's great! Where?" Trevor smiles. "Hilton academy." I sigh. "And because he works there they've offered me a scholarship."

"What?" Chris says his entire mood changing.

"So you're moving schools?" His tone held sadness. "Not just moving schools." I stare at the empty boxes on the ground. "What do you mean?" Chris tilts his head.

"Don't you get it idiot?" Trevor finally speaks, his eyes downcast on the table, fist clenched. "She's moving there too."

"What? To Hilton? How?" Chris's eyes were wide. My father steps from behind the wall. "It's not her choice, she wouldn't go if it was..."

"I know." Trev says, his eyes still on the table. "But it's a good opportunity for you, it can really open doors." He finally lifts his head to reveal a sad smile. "And I would be a bad friend if I didn't support that."

"B-but Maya." Chris sniffles. I kept forgetting that he was only fourteen, he was super adorable. It made me sad seeing his face, it may seem dramatic to those foreign to Hillside because it wasn't like I was moving far away, but not everyone would be as accepting of the fact that I was moving schools.

Jordan is a prime example, he'd hate me because he hates them. The deep rivalry between our schools would make me appear as a traitor to others. "I only just got to know you." His puppy dog eyes almost made me cry myself. "But I mean it's not like you're moving to another city." He wears a hopeful look.

"Might as-well be." Trevor shakes his head. "C'mon Chris how dense are you? She won't be accepted back here, she could still come around of course, but once you leave Hillside for Hilton you're considered scum. An outsider."

"So you're saying she can't come back?" He frowns. "Nobody can control where anybody lives or travels to but once you're a considered a traitor you're not treated the same, and not just at hillside high, at stores...the diner. They don't look at you the same. It's not just the HS students it's the community."

He was right, this has happened a few times actually, on occasion Hilton will gift an individual a trial scholarship, to see how they do, how they fit in, if they can pass the classes. The first person to accept was Brendan Thomas, he had lived on the north side his entire life he was a star student, a great football player, and he was liked by everyone. But once he left and word spread he had taken the scholarship his name was tarnished, and once he flunked out of the academy and tried to come back he was looked at differently, treated differently. Hilton was problematic of course but Hillside had its problems too. It wasn't until he was jumped and his house was vandalized that his parents sent him away to live with distant relatives.

"And if you continued to hang out with me it would be a bad look for you." I sigh.

"I honestly don't care though...I'd come see you. The whole thing is childish and I already don't give a fuck about what people think about me." Trevor leans back in his seat. "Me too!" Chris smiles. "But I don't think Jordan will feel the same." He mumbles.

"Speaking of, I think it's best that we're around when you tell him..." Trev gives me a look.

"Fine. Then let's go now."