I sit at the dining tables of the cafeteria with my friends and the rest of the teams, oddly enough. The leaders haven't shown their faces yet today, not that I mind or anyone else here, I'm sure.
Then I hear a dinking sound and see a bowl of food in front of me and I sit up straight. It's Avery l and she gives me a smile and then... "Look out, blondies!" I hear Samantha call which wakes up Louis and Kelsey who stand up, catching two water bottles that were sailing towards them. Samantha casually places a bottle down for me and Cloud normally.
"Don't call us that." Louis and Kelsey grump at which Samantha just laughs. I take a bite of food and turn my head to look at the Guards. They're all sitting around too. It's rare that we all go a morning without a daily, morning 'pep talk' which is just Sebastian and Rain taunting us, then us being ordered to train.
This all feels strange and I decide that I can't take the anxiety this is causing me and stand up. "Sit down." I hear Ricky say. "No." I say under my breath, fists curled.
"I said sit down. This is your second warning, shortcake."
I say nothing and I hear Ricky stand. "Do you want me to fetch the leaders? Cause I will."
"Haha, don't make me laugh! You don't got the guts for that. I know you're just some softie on the inside, Ricky and you're just as much as scared of them as we all are. I also know about your little 'thing' with Samantha." I taunt.
"Oh, why you little..." Ricky grumbles. I hear Samantha slam her fist, standing up and walking away from the table angrily. "Valerie, what has gotten into you this morning? This isn't you!" Avery pleads, standing up and taking my arm to which I turn around and push her to the ground.
"Ow! Valerie!" She cries with tears in her eyes. "I know all about your thing too with Shelby, so don't try. Question is... What else do I know?" I say, crossing my arms and glaring at the Guards.
"What is up with you? You've been behaving weirdly... But I have no doubt something is going on to cause you to aft out. Is their anything you want to know? If so, ask anything you like. You've proved your worth." Paige speaks up, intervening on behalf of Ricky. For a second, her face softens. "But remember...
The people is this room might be who you need to fall on when times get tough, Valerie. Push them away and you'll fall...
We all know the leaders are bullies enough as it is, so please don't start down that path!" She warns, tears almost filling her eyes. "Valerie...." Kelsey trails off looking at me shocked with Louis and Cloud. I slowly sink to my seat. What am I doing? This isn't me...
"W-where are the Lead-" but I don't get to finish.
"Right here, Sprout."
I flinch upon hearing an unexpected voice. "Seems someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." I hear Rain taunt.
Sebastian and Rain stop in front of the cafeteria. "You got guts this morning, Valerie. Can't say I'm too impressed that you're pushing your fellow comrades around. Our Guards are one thing, hehe." Sebastian says. "But..." He trails off.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Kelsey yells standing up. "Sit her down!" Rain yells to which Paige forcing Kelsey to sit down by pressing on her shoulders. She yelps in pain. Sebastian cracks a toothy grin.
"I must say, you Guards are pathetic if you can't deal with one rebellious competitor community member, geez!" Sebastian grumbles.
"Right, food & water and then do whatever you want under the watchful eye of our Guards. Training is canceled and for the rest of you, work is suspended." Sebastian says, walking off alongside Rain.
"What...?" I whisper, gently standing up. I've had enough of everything! "Hey!" I yell going to run after them, but Paige stands in my way.
"What?" Sebastian grumbles, turning around, his arms crossed. "You would never let any of us off so easily, any day of the week. What are you up too?" I challenge. Sebastian jumps back a bit, not expecting my words.
"What is up with ME?! You don't have the audacity or right to ask and know the answer! What is up with you, hmm?" He challenges back. I just glare.
"Cute, real cute. Alright, I'll play, but I will level the playing field, you hear me, Valerie? Now go sit or I will make your regret it. Go back to bed if you have too, provided it brings fourth an attitude change." Sebastian says walking off.
"Sebastian, come on. We gotta keep searching for her." Rain whispers, signalling to him. Her?
"You mean, Shelby...?" I ask and both Shelby and Rain both turn around in shock. "Right, it seems you are not going to stop being a thorn in my side today!" Sebastian says loudly. "What do you know?"
I shrug. "Tell me!" He yells, gripping me by collar and lifting me up off the snow covered ground. I gulp. "That's what I thought, Valerie." And he throws me to the ground. I cry out in pain a little.
"Another Angel!" I cry. "WHAT. DID. YOU. SAY?!" He yells. "Another Angel!" I say again, cowering. "I don't believe you, Valerie. She doesn't know any other Angels, but ie. What, is the cold air getting into your head?" He mumbles, turning away.
"I'm telling the truth!" I cry. "Sure, you are." Rain responds sarcastically.
"Please, you have to belie-" but I don't get to finish as I feel Sebastian's boot come into contact with my ribs and I scream in pain, curling into a ball, shaking.
"Well, that shut you up. Next time, don't. tell lies." Sebastian says, walking away and then my vision darkens as I pass out, but not before seeing my friends bend down to me, but no words come from their lips as I watch them speak.
---
I groan, trying to roll over, but it's not easy. I can feel a pillow under my head. I slowly open my eyes seeing I'm on some kind of camper bed in a white tent. I sit up, but quickly fall down feeling pain.
"Did that teach you not to anger the leaders when they are already pissed off?"
I look and see a woman I've never seen before. "You're not a Guard..." I whisper. "You're right, I'm not. My name is London, Doctor."
I nod. "Good." She says, standing up. "Your ribs aren't broken, luckily. I will tell you, you know it could have been so much worse for you if Sebastian wasn't preoccupied. If He had used more force, you might have needed minor, emergency surgery."
"And I'd die..." I trail off. "What? Oh, no, no! Owen would perform it. I don't like doing surgery and in some circumstances Sebastian does, but not that often.
He doesn't care for us as much." She trails off. "And, I heard you upset Ricky and Sam! For what it's worth, the Guards all still really care about her, you know?
Anyway, get out of here. You can go! And if you feel like you're having trouble breathing or any symptom that scares you... Uh, call for a Guard." She offers me her hand, quickly shakes mine and retracts hers.
I stand up, wobbly on my feet, but leave the tent, seeing a red medical plus symbol on the tent as I exit it. When I step out, the sky is a dark blue and the stars are out. The temperature has dropped to chilly.
Was I out the whole day?
"Valerie."
I jolt hearing a voice and look up to see Avery. She's rugged up and has a cup in her hands. "What are you doing here?" I ask. "Waiting, for you." She responds.
"Listen Avery, I-"
"I understand, Valerie. You don't need to say, 'sorry' At one point or another... This entire situation were all in gets the best of us and we snap. Today was that day for you. I must say though... it could have been much worse for you if Sebastian and Rain weren't proccupied. So please promise me you'll never to do that again.
I really care about you and I hope we can be friends!"
She gives me puppy eyes.
I nod. "Listen, um. About what I said about you and Samantha..."
"My old friendship with Shelby? It's true, we used to be friends, but we quickly fell out of love if you know what I mean. And Yes, I said, 'love', this wasn't just something simple.
Seeing what happened to you today, really scared me, but it's amazing to also see someone so confident who will stand up to the leaders time and time again. You're an impressive and beautiful soul, Valerie."
"Thank you." I respond, looking down. "Are you in pain?" Avery asks, concerned as she approaches me.
"A little, but it will heal..."
"Yes, it will. You're right."
"Do you want to know about, Shelby?" I ask. She nods. "She's in a better place. Another Angel snatched- Well, not snatched." I say.
"You're telling the truth? I'm glad, it will be good for her to get away from here..." She responds.
"You know, you didn't have to wait out in the cold for me to awaken." I tell her.
"I wanted too and... Someone needed to be here for when you awoke. Your yeam and my team are having an ally meeting. Come on, I'll show you." She says, starting to walk and I follow.
"Want a sip?"
"What?" I ask confused. "Rain came out here and gave me a cup of hot chocolate. I waited hours in the cold and she actually felt guilty and bad for me. She doesn't want to admit it, but she does have a good side to her, but sadly tries to exchange it in for staying Sebastian's wife.
They fight all the time, like alot. Anyway, have a sip. You're likely hungry and thirsty. We'll get you something proper to eat when were back at the dorms."
I nod and we walk in silence. Avery hands me what's left of the cup. "Valerie."
"Yeah?" I ask, turning my head and I feel a pair of lips on the side of my cheek. Avery smiles at me warmly.
We both turn our heads slightly, trying to hide the blush that's on our cheeks.
"You don't have a boyfriend, right?"
I can see she's internally panicking...
"Uh, no, no. I don't, you don't need to worry about any competition..." I panic too.
"Uh, that's good! Valerie, I care alot about you. You mean the world to me and I like- No, love you."
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