Beyond Good and Evil

Chapter 6: Phantom Shadow

"Alicia!"

Elsa launched herself at her best friend, throwing her arms around Alicia. Both staggered back into the classroom door, giggling and grinning uncontrollably. Alicia embraced her best friend, sighing in content. She was relieved to see Elsa, given the confusing and confronting day she had experienced yesterday.

"Andreas has offered to give both of us a ride home," she said, holding Elsa's shoulders. Two matching navy blue ribbons weaved thorugh her long glistening blonde waves, her braided fringe pulled back from her soft-featured, curved face. She had a beautiful, radiant complexion that Alicia was jealous of from time-to-time. "Robert has turned Big Brother on me, sorry."

Elsa's eyes widened. She screamed at the very top of her lungs, the high pitched sound ringing through Alicia's ears. She covered her mouth with both hands, then lowered them, gasping at Alicia in immense shock. She was fan girling worse than Alicia had when she had met Robert at the CD signing.

"Don't say sorry!" She exclaimed, grabbing the sides of Alicia's blazer and shaking her like a rag doll. "Al! this is so-so-so..." Elsa trailed off, squealing into the cover of her hands this time. "Oh my god! I owe you everything!"

Alicia raised an eyebrow, pulling gingerly away from her hold. "Robert isn't what I expected him to be, so it's not like I asked him to do this."

Elsa paused as she was about to turn, narrowing her thin eyebrows at Alicia. "What do you mean?" She seized her by the blazer once more. "He hasn't hurt you, has he?!"

Alicia breathed a sigh, pushing Elsa back gently. Not physically, yet, she thought to herself. She was stll uncertain of what to tell Robert. She had intended to bring it up when he had been in her room, but yet again he had distracted her.

"Fuck!" Alicia exclaimed, gripping her hair firmly by the roots. She groaned, allowing her head to fall back.

"Al," Elsa shook her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

She exhaled a calm breath, attempting to collect herself. "Nothing, I just told Robert something that I wanted and he didn't stick to it."

The borderline. He had violated her wish, and had sex with her in her room. Christ, what if Jody and Frank had heard them?

Clutching her books to her chest, she took Elsa's hand and led them both down the corridor, into their classroom. Debra was ticking names off her clipboard as they entered, sinking down into their seats. She looked like she was out of a black and white movie - a simple grey dress hugged her lean frame, cut at the knees, and her hair was styled into a messy bun. Students murmured amongst themselves as they worked, all blue blazers and shiny hair.

"Ms Stellar," Debra inclined her head, checking her wrist watch. "You're on time," her face fell into an unimpressed line. "For once."

Alicia swallowed, and scuttled near the rear of the room alongside Elsa. She dumped her books on the bench, and began to rummage through the overhead lockers for her piece.

She groaned, elevating herself into tippy toes, her neck craning up as she felt around for the material.

"Looking for this?" A male voice sneered.

Alicia spun on her heel. Standing a metre from her was Dandy, one of Sean's delinquent friends. His blonde hair was styled over one side of his head, his bleach blonde fringe falling against his temple. Blue eyes burned into her with acidity, his mouth quirking up into a smirk. In front of himself, on a coat hanger, was Alicia's purple velvet dress. In his other hand, was a lighter.

"No!" Alicia yelled, lurching forward.

But it was too late. Her dress went up in flames. She bared her clenched teeth at Dandy, who wore a smug expression and was laughing. Before she could stop herself, she launched her body at him, effectively knocking him to the ground.