The Defectives

All These Questions (Part One)

The sun had just risen up from the horizon. It bathed the library in a gorgeous light that made even the bookshelves glisten. The rays of light morphed Velocity's eyes into pools of creamy chocolate. Her complexion radiated warmth as she gazed off into the brightening sky.

Her body was physically in the library, however, her mind was far beyond the four walls. She was replaying last night's occurence repeatedly in her mind. At the same time, she was trying to understand what that....that vision of hers was. Was that vision a way of telling her that she had to take action?

"Velocity!" The zoned out gal jumped at the sudden yelling of her name. The shout came from Margot who arched a brow at her friend. "I have literally been saying your name for like five minutes."

"Oh, don't exaggerate Margot, maybe like two at most. However, she was repeatedly saying your name. Is everything okay? You seem..off." Natasha gazed at her friend with a worried expression. The girls booked their spot in the school library so they could work on the school project that they were assigned. The three girls happened to be a few of the first to be at the library. Lucas, Bailey, Xander, nor Stella and Ulises were present yet.

"I'm sorry, but yeah. Everything is fine." Velocity lied right through her teeth. Natasha and Margot exchange a look, before rolling their eyes in response. They have known Velocity long enough to notice when their, rather kept to herself, friend is wanting to avoid discussing what is on her mind. Natasha sighed, perhaps Lucas could get her to talk. He was good at getting any of them to talk.

"Valeria, this is really bad."

"I know!" Valeria believed that was obvious. She was recounting the incident from last night in her basement. Not only was she terrified about her safety, but the safety of Lucas and her own family as well. Someone knew that she had Lucas's book hidden in her house with a spell. She brought the book with her, because for some odd reason the attacker failed to take the spell book with them. However, she did not want to take any chances.

Lucas felt his chest heavy with every breath he was taking. How could someone attack Valeria in her own house? He felt responsible for what happened to her, and he would be the only one responsible if her family got caught in harm's way.

"I have to take the book Valeria. It's the only way I can make sure you and your family remain safe." Lucas extended his hands out, wanting Valeria to hand over the heavy spell book. Instead, he received quite the opposite of a reaction than he expected. She retreated a few steps back, shaking her head.

"Lucas, either way, the attacker knows that I came into contact with the spell book. I know you want to keep me out of danger, but it's kind of too late for that."

"Valeria, these aren't games anymore. This is genuinely serious now. Someone came after you, someone knocked you out in your own basement. With a singular spell!" Lucas hissed, he almost raised his voice loud enough to be heard by anyone who would be walking by.

Valeria was not going to back down.

"I understand that Lucas. It is quite obvious that something is going on that we are not aware of right now. You're looking out for me and I appreciate that, but let me look after you too" She pursed her lips before forming a soft smile. Lucas always tried to take everything on by himself, and what she was saying she meant. She was indeed terrified, but she was very interested in magic itself. "Let me help you figure this out Luke."

Lucas's muscles tensed up to Valeria's words. He was usually the softer one with any situation, but a situation like this was not common whatsoever. He doesn't want to risk anyone's life in what could be happening. Yet, the certainty in Valeria's eye assured him that she didn't care about the danger. She was prepared to make her own sacrifices.

"Fine. But you have to promise me that as soon as it gets too dangerous, you save yourself."

"I promise to save us or go down together."

Lucas couldn't help, but let out a chuckle. "Let's go cast this spell."

Ulises held the door open for Stella who was arriving at the same time as he was. She thanked him with a smile, her blouse flowing a bit with the breeze outside. He returned the smile, following after her as they made their way in silence toward the school library. Ulises felt like he should apologize for the awkward interaction that happened yesterday at his apartment, but on the other hand Stella felt like she should be the one apologizing. She believed her presence caused the tension in the first place.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry."

They looked at one another for a brief moment before they both began to laugh. They may be awkward at times, but there was no denying the smooth chemistry between Ulises James and Stella Stars.

"Guess we both thought about the same thing huh?"

"It was my fault, I didn't mean to come in between you and Marissa.."

"In between? What do you mean?"

"I don't want to cause any problems is what I mean Uli."

"You never would cause me a problem Stell.."

Ulises gazed at Stella's pretty complexion, she always managed to take his breath away. She made direct eye contact with his ocean eyes, she saw the color rush to his cheeks. She didn't want to make herself cocky, but she had a love-hate relationship with entrancing a boy, such as Ulises. Though he was entranced by her as a person, and not just for her body. It took her a moment to realize how close he was to her, she could practically lay her head on his chest. She cleared her throat, and took a few needed steps back.

"Come on, we don't want to waste precious time." She tugged on his shirt as she continued their path toward the library. Ulises was kicking himself mentally, for his cowardness nature. However, why was he even being a coward in the first place? He was in a good place with Marissa.

Xander and Bailey bumped into Stella and Ulises just as they reached the library door. They waved over at Natasha, Margot, and Stella once they entered. The three girls gave a wave and smiled back at their other friends.

Valeria and Lucas held hands as they looked down at the crumbled piece between them. They looked at one another one more time for assurance, then nodded.

"Where's Lucas?" Stella asked as she took a seat across from Natasha and set her bag on the table. Ulises took the seat to her right while Xander and Bailey took the seats to her left.

"For those who want the truth revealed, open hearts and secrets unsealed."

"I'm not sure, he should've been here by now." Natasha remarked, beginning to become a bit concerned. She looked over at the sound of a door opening, expecting to see him come in with a rushed looked on his face. Instead, she saw their new brunette acquaintance. "Hey, there's Marissa."

"From now until it's now again, after which the memory ends."

Ulises and Stella looked over to see that Marissa indeed was here. Ulises was confused, for he didn't recall Marissa saying that she was going to work on her project in the library today as well. Stella shifted in her seat, she was beginning to feel uncomfortable again. The others took notice of her body language becoming stiffer, and glanced at one another.

"Those who now are in this building, will hear the truth from other's mouths."

There was a wave of energy that ran through the building, impacting each individual that was within the building at the moment the spell was completed. Everyone tensed up for a second, before returning to their normal posture. No one said a thing about the feeling, because they believed it was simply a chill. However, there was one person who knew that feeling. Marissa stopped in her tracks, though was it because of the wave of energy she felt like everyone else, or was it because she saw Ulises and Stella next to one another.

Lucas and Valeria unlinked hands, stared at one another before Lucas broke the silence. "Did it work?"