"Err....." I looked awkwardly to the side to avoid the new kid’s gaze. What does he want from me? He was giving me an intense look that made me feel uncomfortable in my seat.
"Gabriella." He says.
I was surprised and yet curious about how he knew my name that I stuttered. "W-What?" Maybe I was just hearing things. No way can he know my name. Unless he asked someone about it.
"The killer smile. I am looking for a girl named Gabriella the killer smile." He said
I stared at him. I was trying to figure out if he was serious. But one look on his face, he is.
"I asked almost everyone in this room where I could find this Gabriella girl and they all pointed in your direction. I assume that you know who she is?" He raised a brow in my direction.
Is he serious? Is he seriously asking me that question? And killer smile? That's me! Gabriella the killer smile. My nerves were starting to become a jumbled mess inside of me.
But before I could say anything to him I wanted to know why he's looking for me.
"What do you need her for, new kid?" I asked.
New kid's eyebrow shot up. "My name is Tyrelle and not New Kid." He said. "And what I need of her is none of your concern."
Well, too bad. It is definitely my concern because I'm Gabriella.
I wanted to say this to his face but chose not to. Whatever he needs of me, I am not revealing who I am to him that easily without a clear motive.
Tyrelle seemed pretty irritated by my lack of cooperation because he suddenly pursed his lips in annoyance. "If you know where Gabriella is then tell me."
I rolled my eyes at him and ate my pizza.
"Are you ignoring me on purpose? Because that is seriously pissing me off. And you don't want me pissed at you. Do you know who I am?"
I sighed and rolled my eyes at his demeanor. The new kid appears to be a natural fit with the popular kids. He already has the essential self-important attitude for it.
Julie, carrying her lunch bag and a book, walked into the cafeteria as I looked up. I saw my chance and rubbed my hands in delight.
I looked back at Tyrelle and gave him my best convincing look. "See that girl over there?" I pointed to Julie. "That's your girl." I said.
Tyrelle followed the direction that I was pointing. I watch his expression change into relief and grimace before looking back at me. "Thanks." he mumbled as he got up and made his way towards Julie.
When Tyrelle approached Julie and began talking, I couldn't help bit my lower lip. Julie raised her eyes to Tyrelle. She merely gazed at him for a few seconds before stepping away and slamming Tyrelle with her book.
"BACK OFF YOU FREAK OF NATURE! BEGONE!! PERISH YOU EVIL SOUL!!" Julie screamed. Everyone in the room looked in their direction while I shrunk in my seat.
"But Gab-" said Tyrelle as he protected himself with his arms from Julie's attacks.
"I am not Gabriella, you mutt! I SAID BEGONE!" She screamed at him again. This time Tyrelle took the hint and walked out of the cafeteria. Julie watches him leave before making her way to our table.
I shifted in my seat and sat up straight trying to act normal and innocent. After what happened and finally seeing how thick her book was I don't need her finding out that I was the one who told Tyrelle that she's Gabriella.
"That guy was looking for you." Julie said as she opened her lunch bag.
"He is?" I asked, feigning innocence.
She nodded as she took her sandwich out of the bag, unwrapped it, and took a bite. "He thought I was you."
"Oh, really?" Well this is the longest conversation we've had.
"No worries. I chased him off." She said with distaste and either it's from the sandwich or for Tyrelle. "You should stay away from him. I have a bad feeling with that guy. If you ever run into him, run as fast as you can after hitting him in the balls."
"Isn't that a little harsh?"
"It won't hurt him that much. Trust me. People like him hardly feel any physical pain."
People like him? Does she mean Tyrelle?
"Is he an alien or something?" I joked.
"Far far worse. He and his kind are real." Sometimes I really like eating with Julie. And most of those times are when we eat in silence.
Lunch ended and we headed to our respective classes. What Julie said about Tyrelle made me cautious about him. It's not like I believe Julie. I'm just not taking any chances since I already know that a certain hybrid exists.
I found Tyrelle in my Lit class and in 2 other subjects. Honestly, I don't see anything weird about him. Save for the rising popularity. Also, that he is able to answer every question fired by the teachers. I don't see any reason why he won't be the next popular kid in school: smart, rich(heard from rumors), good-looking, and well built.
And during class hours, I often feel Tyrelle's gaze on me. I caught his eyes once and saw anger and irritation that I couldn't get why.
Could that be because I told him a little lie about Julie being me?
As soon as class ended, it was time for me to head back. I made Aelfric a constant reminder of why I should go home early while the sun was still up.
And speaking of which, I haven't seen any signs of Aelfric since math class and I have no complaints about that. God knows what I would do when I see him. I may not be able to kill him but I will make him suffer as well as I could.
I went to my locker first to put the books I didn’t need in there and only brought the ones containing homework. After that, I went outside. The bus isn't coming for another 15 minutes. I didn't want to wait that long because a certain creep could lunge at me at any moment.
"Hey." Someone called out. I turned around and saw that it’s Tyrelle leaning on the gate of the school as I was heading out.
Is he talking to me? Well maybe since he is looking at me. But just to be sure, I pointed to myself and gave him a questioning look.
"Yeah, you." Then he started to strode towards me. "We need to talk."
Talk. He knows that I'm Gabriella and whatever reason he has for me, I'm pretty sure that it ain't gonna go so well. What I did next was purely instinct.
And a little bit of Julie’s advice.
As soon as Tyrelle stood directly in front of me I swung my knee up and hit him in the birdie.
Bullseye.
I heard a disgusting crack that made me shiver. Tyrelle let out a curse as he cupped his family jewels in his hands while I took that opportunity as I bolted away from him.
Run Gabriella run! Save your pitiful butt!
I dared to look back and felt my heart skip a beat when I saw Tyrelle running after me while wincing.
He was gaining on me. Fast.
"Eeep!!" I don't even know why that sound came out of my mouth but I kept running.
"You're not getting away from me, Bryce!" He yelled.
"Watch me!" I challenged as I stuck my tongue out at him and quickened my speed only to trip on my feet and fall face-first on the ground.
Well, that was epic and embarrassing. I guess my karma from this morning finally caught up to me. I moved my face from the ground and blew my bangs out of my face.
"Bryce."
Oh crap.
I looked up and saw Tyrelle standing before me. He doesn't look very happy. I quickly jumped to my feet. Maybe I can still turn back and run back to school to hide in the girl’s comfort room until the bus arrives. I can always make an exit through the windows.
"Don't even think about it." He said.
"Think about what?"
"Think about running back because I can easily catch you."
Yeah, go figure. I can tell since he almost caught up to me a while ago. Maybe if I..- I looked at his jewel for a bit thinking of how hard am I going to hit it next.
Tyrelle must have guessed what I was thinking because he suddenly covered his crotch and glared at me. "Don't you dare." He said.
I looked away.
I heard him sigh. "Look, let us not make things difficult, okay? I just want to ask you something."
This time I looked at him. "What?"
"I want you to tell me where Gabriella is. And this time no tricks. The girl you pointed out to me earlier is definitely not Gabriella." He said.
I blink at him. Is he really that stupid? "Try asking the others."
"I did. And they all pointed at you. It means you know who she is."
They all freaking pointed in my direction because I am freaking Gabriella!! Is this kid even using his brain? I thought he was smart.
I wanted to scream the words at him but chose to play along.
"Yeah, I know who she is. She doesn’t give an F to strangers like you." I said and started to walk past him.
"Bryce!" He said in irritation and followed me. "You know who she is so tell me!"
I ignored him and kept walking. It's not my problem that he's stupid for not figuring things out. I mean, his logic makes me want to do a double facepalm.
"Bryce." he called again as I kept walking.
"Bryce!" I closed my eyes and pretended not to hear anything.
"Tell me, Bryce." He kept insisting. This encounter had already piqued the interest of a handful of other pupils.
"It's important that I find Gabriella the killer smile."
"You know I won’t stop if you won't tell me who or where she is."
"Bryce, I am starting to lose patience here."
"BRYCE!!"
"WHAT?!" I turned around to glare at him. "I don't know where Gabriella is, alright?! So will you please leave me alone!!?!"
There was silence as Tyrelle looked his gaze into mine. I think he was trying to figure out if I'm lying or not. "You're lying." He said and moved closer to me.
"No, I'm not." I said firmly and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Yes, you are." He said. "I can hear your heartbeat."
I looked at him. Slightly confused. "My what now?"
"Your heartbeat. You are lying. You know where Gabriella is. I need you to tell me now."
"Fine! You really want to know where Gabriella is? She's in the cemetery! Gabriella is dead and she walks out at night as a zombie! You know where the killer smile comes from? It's because she doesn't have lips anymore so her teeth are exposed in a killer smile!" I said it as calmly as possible. I thought for sure that it would enrage him. That he would demand of me to stop fooling around and just tell him. But right now he was gapping. Shock was written all over his face like he couldn't believe what he just heard.
"Gabriella is a zombie?" He asked.
Does he genuinely believe my story? What an idiot!
"Yeah, and if you want to catch her then stand by the cemetery at night. Bring dead flowers too. She likes them." I said and saw the look of horror and disgust in his eyes. I almost felt guilty for lying to him, but what else can I do? He's very persistent. "Well, since I already told you where to find her, I guess that means I can leave now. Tata~!" I said victoriously and have to fight the urge to laugh like a maniac and rub my hands together.
Just as I turned to leave someone called. "Gabriella poopy poo~! My wittle snuckums I've come to walk you home!"
At the mention of Gabriella, Tyrelle turned to Aelfric who suddenly emerged out of nowhere. He was skipping towards me when Tyrelle suddenly snarled at him.
Snarled?
I was suddenly pulled back behind Tyrelle as he glared at Aelfric. "You're the hybrid."
Aelfric stopped skipping when Tyrelle pulled me behind him. When he looked at Tyrelle all playfulness was gone from his face and was replaced by something dangerous. "Yes. And you're a mutt." He said started to approach Tyrelle and I.
Again Tyrelle snarled and I couldn't understand where the animalistic voice has come from. Aelfric snarled too. "Let Gabriella go, mutt."
"Gabriella?" Tyrelle asked and turned to see me making shushing gestures at Tyrelle as I ran a finger over my neck. When I saw Tyrelle looking I put my hands down. Oops.
At that moment Aelfric decided to talk making the situation go from bad to worst. "Oops. He wasn’t supposed to know, was he?"
I glared at Aelfric before giving my attention back to Tyrelle.
"You're Gabriella? Gabriella the killer smile?"
Stay calm, Gabriella. You got this. You can walk out of this. Alive.
I guess it's time for plan B: Act like a bitch and walk it off.
I held my chin up and countered Tyrelle's gaze. After that, I started to walk past him as I flipped my hair back. And as I did, I felt Tyrelle grabbing a hold of my hair and pulling me back.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" I winced.
"Don't you dare walk off without answering my question. Are you or are you not Gabriella?"
Just then Aelfric decided that it was time to intervene. He grabbed my hand and slapped Tyrelle's grip on my hair that made him let go. "Go find your own woman, mutt!" He said and stick his tongue out at him.
"I'm not your woman!" I yelled.
"You know the hybrid." Said Tyrelle. "So I guess you are Gabriella the Killer smile."
I turned my attention back to Tyrelle with a glare. "Yes, I am Gabriella and you don't have to put killer smile after that! That's offensive."
"Yeah. Put Gabriella - Aelfrics woman instead." Al added.
"Now that is even more offensive than the first." I said with a roll of my eyes.
"But I don't understand. Your name is Bryce." Said Tyrelle confusedly.
"Her name is Gabriella Annabeth Bryce." We all turned to look at Aelfric wondering how he knew my full name. He shrugged. "Research."
"Creep." Tyrelle coughed.
"Stalker." I muttered.
"Hey!" Aelfric protested, which he has no right because all our accusations are true.
"Gabriella." Tyrelle called.
"Let's go. I'll walk you home, Gabby poo." Aelfric tried to grab my hand but I moved it away.
"I am not going anywhere with you!" I told Aelfric. "And you" I pointed at Tyrelle. "Whatever you need of me spill it!"
Please don't let it be killing me.
Tyrelle suddenly walked up to me. As he got closer Aelfric is starting to turn like a pufferfish from pouting. Tyrelle then grabbed my hand and stared deep into my eyes. "Gabrielle the killer smile."
"It's Gabriella Annabeth Bryce." Corrected Aelfric in which we ignored.
"I am in need of your assistance." Tyrelle continued and he suddenly got on one knee as if he was proposing to me or something. "Please be my mate."
"WHAT?!" That was Aelfric reacting. It wasn’t me.
I was still standing there, frozen. Even though I am not a wolf, I am familiar with the term "mate" in werewolf lingo from all the weird mambo jumbo that I read from fictional stories. And based on Julie and Al’s insults towards him, that could only mean one thing, right?
I feel crazy for even considering that idea, but I already know that Al is half of what I suspect Tyrelle is. And Al is real.
Suddenly Tyrelle got up. "Gabriella, what is your answer?" He asked.
"I-I...."
"Of course, it's a no!!" Aelfric raged.
"I'm talking to Gabriella, hybrid. Show some manners." Tyrelle said calmly, which made Al snarl in a warning manner. "Gabriella?"
"I-I-I...."
"Gabriella."
"I'M NOT READY TO COMMIT!!" I covered my ears and let out a scream as I turned on my heels and made a run for it.