Maia ( Book One of The Time Bubble)

Chapter 2: A fool's betrayal

Third point of view

It was three weeks after Max held Nina against the wall and nothing had really changed for Nina. She went to school got bullied during school hours and after;  the only difference she felt was the will power to stay in her human disguise and not fight back, slipping. It was finally the middle of the school year and kids were busy studying for senior exams. These exams didn't really make a difference if the student in question would receive recognition for passing high school or anything. They were just there to pass time really; none of the teachers seemed to care for the test of the year.

This time around something happened to Nina that made her control snap.

She couldn't understand why the two boys who would be 18 soon, had such a great distaste for her. They were friends back in grade school but once they had hit middle school; it just seemed like a nightmare come true. They left her side to hang out with the "It" crowd. That's when the bullying started, it was words at first then slowly went to throwing frozen juice carton boxes at her head to what they did now. She simply didn't understand.

During the beginning of the year she made a friend. A boy and he seemed to respect her, even when the boys came around to abuse her. He stood up for her and helped her to skip classes that were shared with them. It was great until it wasn't.

His name was Leo. He had a cute face, his eyes a milk chocolate brown, his nose almost as small as a button and this guy was tall. He was so tall that he helped Nina reach for things too high up. He was always around Nina; even when he himself was bullied.

Something snapped in Nina when she saw Leo and her tormentors being all buddy - buddy with each other. She even heard the conversation they were having, it was about her.

                         (A week ago)
Nina was walking through the hallways of her school, she was looking for her best friend, Leo. She wanted to see if he'd like to come over to her place again this week. So she used her high sense of smell and found him in no time. He was with them.

Max Maroon and Mandory Coin.

She listened into their conversation,

"You guys know what you're doing is wrong, right? What if she finds out and decides to kill someone?" Leo complained silently, but she still heard him.

"Look man, you already agreed to it and she already thinks you're her friend." Mandory chuckled as he leans against the lockers.

Leo sighed with his shoulders hunched, his whole body language spelt defeat. "I didn't think she was gonna be such a good friend. She's so nice, it makes me wonder why you don't seem to like her." he breathed out, the pain of his betrayal already felt by he himself.

Max seemed to be angered by this "How dare you get close to her! We told you the mission and why you need to do this. You better not hesitate when we execute it, boy." Max stated as he took a threatening step closer to Leo.

"You know what to do, we need not to repeat ourselves, brother. If he can't do this simple task for us then we'll just make sure you disappear. Are we understood, Leo?" Mandory said as his ocean blue eyes grew darker. It was a warning and a promise.

Leo looked up at the two and glared at them, questioning if he himself was doing the right thing."Fine, I'll do it. After all, she's nothing but a whining brat. That's the one thing I never liked about her. Just don't hurt anyone I love."

"you know what to do then, don't you? Off you go" Max said in a condescending tone.

            (Back to present date)
Nina didn't dare act any different as that week went by. It was all the same this week. Same behavior of acting oblivious. However, it hit Wednesday and it all went down hill for her.

It's when her control snapped just enough for Leo to see who she really was.

~~~~Wednesday after school ~~~~
(Nina's POV)
I packed up my bag as the last bell rang, it was time to go home. Today would be different as I had Leo coming over with me. I just hope that non of my family is home since they love to scare and intimidate others.

I ran out the class room and zoom past the other idiotic students in the hallways. Not all of them are stupid just most of the students here. As I reach the side exit of the school, I see the person who is supposed to be my friend, Leo, leaning against the wall. He was nervous, more so than usual. I squinted my eyes and smirk as he squirms under my gaze. He's no idea it's me glaring, it was amusing to say the least.

"Hey Leo, you ready to head out? I'm planning on making food at my place, so I hope you have a big appetite!" I say letting my cold façade slip into a small but noticeable smile while pouncing on him. He relaxed under me and began to smile. I could feel his arms go around me tightly.

"So you're inviting me over to stuff me and roll me down the stairs after? Okay, free food is always good!" Leo said jokingly. He let me down and we started walking along the pavement toward my house. I could've sworn I heard two pair of different foot steps behind us but when I paused both of our movement all was silent.

"Nina, you good? Why'd we stop?" Leo turned back around as we started again.

"I just thought I heard other footsteps besides our own. So what are you envisioning my house to look like?" I asked to see what he was thinking since we weren't touching and I couldn't read his mind right now.

"I don't know, maybe an apartment or a one story house? Am I the first person you've invited over?" Leo was obviously nervous about the whole situation because of the task he was blackmailed to do. Nina was so nice and very beautiful; it was a wonder why the two guys weren't trying to make her theirs instead of hurting her.

Nina wasn't aware of two people listening as they followed behind the pair. Max did wonder if the apartment was actually hers, the direction was the complete opposite of it. Mandory angrily wondered the same question. If she did have others over; he would bring pure agony to her.

"well when we were younger, Mandory and Max use to come around all the time. We were almost inseparable but they hate me for some reason now. I wish I could have stopped time as a child; it would have been helpful indeed." Nina said as she began to remember the painful memories that made her become nostalgic. Leo was even more confused now, they sounded like the best of friends!

Max and Mandory were confused as well, they wondered when that was and why they would hang out with a rejecting human. She was obviously lying, was what Mandory concluded. Max thought back to his childhood and only remembered one person who he was always around. His beloved, Nina LiAnne; but that was highly impossible as his love stayed in homeschooling after grade school.

"I don't understand. You mean to say that you, Mandory and Max used to play at your house? And they don't have a clue as to where you live?" Leo asked trying to make sense of what Nina told him.

"I suppose they don't, it never crossed my mind that they wouldn't know. It should stay that way though. They'd harm me more if they knew such information." Nina explained in a calm tone that held sincerity. She was no fool however and knew that they were being followed.

The rest of the way to her house was silent and Nina seemed deep in thought. So deep in her thoughts, she hadn't realized they were walking in the gate until the gate keeper greeted her. Leo looked at the grand scheme of Nina's house and realized that she was very high in society. He wouldn't mess with her. Nina may actually be able to help him out of the situation he was stuck in, he'd have to explain before they made they're presence known.