Red Riding Hood

Chapter 9

I was not even halfway done with school but I already felt emotionally exhausted. The events of last night haunted me in my waking moments. Still, I tried to keep it together and not fall apart. I had to keep moving and looking forward.

I inhaled the scent of the red jacket I was wearing, trying to calm my nerves. It smelled mildly of laundry detergent and home. But even the jacket wasn't giving me comfort that day.

I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder, and my heart hammered in fright. I immediately looked behind me, aware that my eyes were bulging om fear. I was so ready to scream my lungs out, but stopped when I saw Alexei. He was smirking down on me, but when he saw my expression, the smirk fell.

So much for not living in fear, a voice in my head scoffed.

"What happened to you?" He asked with a concerned face.

I bite the inner of my mouth, not knowing how to make myself look normal again. "Nothing," I lied.

His right eyebrow rose as if he didn't believe me. But instead of forcing me to tell him, he simply nodded. Then thankfully, changed the topic. 

"You forgot, didn't you?"

I felt my eyebrows furrow together. "Forget about what?"

He raised his right eyebrow the second time, then look downed at me with a barely-there smile. "Our deal."

Images of us running together and making a deal surfaced in my mind. I slapped my head and groaned. After everything that happened last night, you can't blame me for forgetting about a stupid deal!

"Of course not, I'm so totally prepared," I lied.

"Uh-huh, sure you are," was his rejoinder. "Anyway, I'll meet you in the parking lot tomorrow after class. Then we go to our date."

Then he winked down at me.

I didn't know it was possible to choke on your saliva until now. I blame it on the wink. Or the fact that he announced we had a date. Or probably a little bit of both.

"Date?" I exclaimed. "When did we agree on a date???"

A small smirk played around his lips as he watched my reaction. "That bad to date me?"

No... actually that good. Too good to be true. I mentally slapped myself as I realized what I just thought. I cleared my throat. "We never agreed to a date. We agreed to dinner. Dinner and date are completely different things."

He rolled his jet-black eyes. "Really? Both involve food, and both involve two people. I don't really see the difference." He cocked his head to the side, his hair following the movement. But he only achieved to look even better. Ugh. How annoying.

"Whatever," I scoffed. I let my eyes wander over his gorgeous features quickly, before completely looking away. Then that's when my eyes landed on a familiar set of charcoal eyes. I noticed his eyes were watching me intently, and then his eyes flicked to Alexei.

"Jasper!" I called out to him with a smile on my face.

Jasper walked over to where we were standing, his eyes never left Alexei's dark eyes. I quickly introduced the two but felt something weird swirling in the air. Was it just me, or was there tension between them...?

"So," Jasper started, his voice conversational. "You're the new guy, aren't you?"

Alexei didn't look like he was up for a conversation. "Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

Jasper smiled, but it was a cruel one. "Actually, I've got tons. And one of them is that you're spending way too much time with Belle."

"Whoa," I backed up. "Jasper-"

Alexei cut off whatever I was about to say. "Nope can do, chaser. She made a promise she needs to fulfill."

This seemed to anger Jasper. He clenched both of his hands to his side and gave me an irritated look. "What did you promise this hound?"

"She promised me a date," Alexei stated. I couldn't help but notice the challenge in his voice. I gave Alexei a hard look, hoping he'd foam with my stare alone. But instead, I only manage to earn one of his barely-there-smile.

Jasper's charcoal eyes narrowed as he took a menacing step forward. "Stay away from Belle."

"Jasper, chill." I immediately tried to wedge myself between the two. I may never have personally experienced one, but I knew the makings of a fistfight when I see one.

Completely ignoring me, he continued glaring at Alexei. "If I see a scratch on Belle, I'll kill you. Understand?"

Alexei looked completely unfazed. Instead, he cocked his head to the side as he observed Jasper. Alexei's eyes seemed to be calculating and analyzing Jasper. After some seconds, he said, his voice dripping with accusation, "you haven't told her."

At this, Jasper's whole body went rigid. I saw anger flash in his dusty eyes as his hands form into hard fists. "She doesn't need to know anything."

I divided a baffled look between the two. "What are you guys talking about?"

Alexei, still not looking back at me, laughed mirthlessly at what Jasper had said. I noticed that his dark eyes were turning a bit of yellowish. "Seriously? You're going to hide the truth from her for how long? Forever?"

This time I couldn't help but look at Jasper accusingly. "Jasper," I said, my voice full of distrust, "What are you guys talking about?"

Jasper's pained eyes flicked in my direction. "You know I'm doing everything to protect you, right?"

Protect me from what?

Alexei gave Jasper a disgusted glance. "So you're protecting her with deception? 

At one second, I saw murderous intentions in Jasper's eyes. Then the next second, Jasper's fist collided with Alexei's face. Alexei's head jerked backward at the force. I gasped, oblivious to the hushed murmurs starting in the hallway. I looked at Alexei's face and saw a blue bruise where the punch connected.

I couldn't help go ballistic after that. "What the fuck was that for?!"

Jasper was about to open his mouth, but suddenly, Alexei launched at him. They fell to the ground, and they started punching each other.

People in the hallway started to watch the growing commotion, and the murmurs had turned into a loud chatter. Meanwhile, I tried my best to get Alexei off Jasper.

"Alexei!" I screamed, "get the fuck off my best friend!"

But Alexei ignored me. I was frightened when I saw his fists colliding with Jasper's face. He punched with so much power, which scared me. I begged Alexei to stop, but he didn't. I knew if I get in the way, I could get hurt. But I couldn't just stand there uselessly while watching my best friend took a beating. So, I grabbed Alexei's fist.

The instance our skin touched, I felt his anger seep away. He looked up at me, with confused yellow eyes. Then slowly, the yellowness of his eyes disappeared, until it was back to its normal shade. He pulled his fist away from me and stood away from Jasper.

Jasper coughed out blood, which brought tears to my eyes. I immediately sat beside him and tried to help him up. Jasper gave Alexei a dirty look.

Alexei returned the glare with equal venom, but when his eyes landed on me, his eyes softened. Then he simply said, "don't forget the deal."