Everything I couldn't tell you

Chapter 3

She catches up with Feliciano after english, the last class of the day. She's been thinking. There's gremlins by the river, but there might be bruises on Feliciano. She doesn't know. She has to know. What kind of best friend is she, if she doesn't know?

"Let's hang out, I'll do the essay for you."

He raises his eyebrows. They look better than hers ever will and he doesn't even pick them. Bastard.

"Aren't you busy?"

Fuck Rod and his jobs, he didn't push her this hard last year, he'll manage.

"Not today, it's fine."

Feliciano seems to turn this over in his head, glancing over at Blade, who is talking to Sam and the other idiots.

"I'm afraid I got other plans today, cara."

Is he serious?

"Come on Fel, I know I haven't been there but-"

He smiles. Feliciano has a thousand different smiles and she recognizes this one. The patronizing one. Cara. He places a hand on her shoulder.

"It's ok, do what you have to do. I'll see you tomorrow."

He heads out the gate, without even looking at Blade. Unbelievable. He'd rather spend time with someone who doesn't even want to be seen with him in public.

The sun gleans in honey blond hair, as Blade laughs at whatever Nico said. People flock around them, drawn to him like a magnet. And she gets it. Of course she does. She doesn't like this Blade, the one that holds court after school. There used to be another one, the one that skipped school and ate donuts with her in the park. Ksenija looks at him, tries to see if that Blade is still in there somewhere. Sapphire eyes catch hers and all she can see is this version, the one that manages to piss her off in new ways everytime their paths cross.

He breaks from the group, says something and saunters up to her in his expensive sneakers, wearing stuff that the boys collectively agreed are cool this week. The black puffer jacket looks like it could double as a trash bag and she knows it's worth more than her entire outfit combined. At least there's another use for it when it goes out of style.

"If you keep staring at me like that, I might catch on fire."

If he only knew. And what would he do, if he found out? Would he still talk to her, still look into her eyes with that smirk?

"What are you doing with my best friend?"

"So you remember him after all? I started to wonder."

Honestly? She misses a class... a couple of classes... and all of a sudden everyone acts as if she stopped talking to Feliciano for weeks.

"I'm sorry that I have responsibilities, I'm sorry that I actually give a shit about my family and want to be there for them-"

Blade doesn't hit girls, but it's a near thing. He clenches his fist, jaw going tight. Sometimes she wishes he would.

"Fuck you Ksen. We don't get to choose who brings us into this world. Not everyone is as lucky as you."

At Least his parents aren't literally throwing him to the wolves. Or the werewolves, as in her case.

"Yeah, whatever you say."

Blade frowns, drawing thick eyebrows together. He should get Feliciano to pick them for him, if they keep insisting on hanging out.

"What do you mean?"

Fuck, she's letting it show. It can't show.

"Never mind. Just leave him alone."