Chapter 9

I was losing every single round. I began to get frustrated at how bad I was compared to him.

"Don't beat yourself. It's just a game. Plus I'm sure I've played way more than you have in your entire life" he told me with a thin smile. "I believe you owe me some food. I don't know about you, but I'm starving"

"You don't have to say it twice" my stomach growled at the mention of food. I crossed my arms around myself avoiding eye contact pretending my hunger did not just speak for me.

"ohkay. I know a great spot around the corner" right, I forgot that I was buying him food per our agreement.

I don't have much money on me, but hoping it's enough for one person. I followed him to the exit, noticing the Harley bike from yesterday parked. Geralt got on it adjusting his helmet. My mouth was hanging open in awed that the bike belonged to him.

"What are you waiting for? Don't tell me you're afraid" he said, handing me the extra helmet.

"Hell no" I exclaimed, snatching the helmet from his hand. Without wasting time, I adjusted it on my head, taking Geralt's hand for support, I hop onto the back seat. The engine came to life, vibrating across the parking lot even though I felt inside my core.

"ready?" Unsure if he's asking me or announcing it.

"You should hold onto me. I don't want to be responsible if you fell off"

I moved forward, my legs touching his, resting my hands light on his waist. This is awesome I thought as we rode. I didn't realize we stopped from my excitement of riding into traffic, cruising, cutting through cars. While getting off the bike, I underestimated the distance to the ground almost landing face down. But Geralt was quick to catch me before I could lose footing.

"You ok?" He asked in a worry tone holding my arm and with his other hand my waist.

"Yeah" I replied, moving away from his hold. The friendly atmosphere changed to an awkward silence.

"So this is the place?" I finally said breaking the quietness. It was a fried chicken street cart. I am glad he didn't take me to some expensive restaurant.

"They got the best wings in town for the best price. Eight for $8". He then ordered eight mild wings, pussy for not having the hot ones.

"she's paying. Its winner wing" I couldn't help but smile at that lame joke handing the old man a ten bill.

"Umm keep the change" I said hesitant of tipping two dollars. I grew up with no family, possessions or money so, tipping it's not a habit I often practice.

"Thanks for the wings" he said, taking a bite off, and after a few more tiny bites throwing it away. I was appalled by his way of eating, leaving most of the meat on the bone.

"You okay? Take some" he offered, handing one to me.

"Is that how you eat? At least show some respect to the chicken who died by not throwing away an entire good wing!" I scolded him and took the wing from his hand.

"Let me teach you how to eat a wing THE PROPER WAY" I stuck the entire thing inside my mouth, cleaning out the meat off, I pulled it out of my mouth leaving only bones.

"Impressive. Never seen a chick devour a wing so fiercely"

"That's cus they don't know the proper way either," I shrugged, taking another wing.

"Like this?" he said proudly, eating the way I showed him cleaning the meat off.

"Eh keep practicing. Feels good to be better at something than you" Geralt let out a soft chuckle taking another wing inside his mouth.

"It's crazy how we're in the same class, and never spoke before today. How come you stopped coming to school?"

"I had some health issues. But now I'm all better" I expected this topic to come up sooner or later so I rehearsed the answer before leaving the hospital.

"For three months?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Well yes. I was born with a heart condition, so I spent most of my time in the hospital" I said, sitting down on the grass crossed leg. Looking down, I picked up a small dandelion flower from the grass. Geralt flopped down beside me. The sunset was a beautiful orange pink descending to purple. I blew the dandelion out into the air.

"When I first saw you, I thought you'd be a conceited girl because of your high GPA and rank in school..." he ripped a dandelion from the grass, twirling it around. "I was wrong, you’re actually alright person"

I bumped his shoulder "Hey. Just alright?"

"Fine. You're pretty cool, Lee" he said.

"Except I suck at ping pong" I said eating another wing still hungry. He didn't respond guessing he agreed with me.

"Hey If you're not going to finish them wings, can I have them?" Geralt didn't answer again instead focusing on something or someone. I followed his gaze hardly able to see from afar two figures, all I could make out was a boy and girl. He was already on his feet walking toward them when I got up chasing after him.

"Wait- where are you going?" I hurried behind him then turned back, grabbing the rest of the chicken wings.

"What are you guys doing here together?" Geralt asked a shocked Rebecca and Rye.

"Why is that your business?" Rebecca snapped back standing in between them while Rye took a defensive stand.

"You told me you had a pending matter. I didn't know that matter was HIM" Geralt said, glaring at Rye who remained straight face.

The tension between these three was intense. Oh gosh, am I witnessing ... a love triangle? How exciting. I shoved the entire wing in my mouth, chewing the bone dry. My chewing was loud, grabbing their attention and everyone's focus suddenly on me.

"uh don't mind me. Go on. I have to get going anyway" I started walking away with no clue where the nearest bus stop.

"Hey. You need a lift?" Geralt called from behind.

"Thanks. But I'm going take the bus" I waved back to him.

"It's getting late, it's not safe for you to take public transportation" Geralt insisted while those two wore blank stares.

"Really, I'm fine," Stubbornly I replied.

"For fucks sake. We'll take you home, I have to go too and we live nearby" Rebecca asserted, walking toward the car.

Rye cleared his throat, "You can follow Rebecca to my car" the tension was thicker than a bowl of oatmeal.

"I'll get the girls home safe, go home Geralt" Rye didn't strike me as the guy to fight over a girl he was always collected and well put together. But Rebecca wasn't any other girl, she's beautiful and intelligent- every man dreams. Rebecca slid in the passenger seat staring out the window in deep thoughts. I pity Geralt getting on his bike alone. He's actually a nice dude, actually nicer than Rye, why did Rebecca treat him so harshly back there. Rye took the driver seat turning on some grudge rock music surprised at his choice. Now that I'm noticing his car was an old Camaro model with worn out leather seats unusual for some rich preppy boy to drive.

"Thank you for the ride" I said, anxious to get home already and away from this awkward interaction.

"No need to thank me. We were heading this way too" We drove in silence each of us buried in our own thoughts.

We arrived at my main entrance, while getting out I accidentally slammed the door too hard startling Rebecca.

"Sorry I didn't mean to slam your door. Okay, Bye now" I practically ran upstairs unknowing bumping into someone.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you there" it was an old lady with big glasses with a head full of grey hair.

" Ah let me help you carry your grocery to your apartment" I offered as consolation.

"It's alright dear. I am old but still strong enough to carry my own things. I don't need some clumsy teenager help" she was very blunt for an old lady.

"Ok if you say so mam' " I tried being nice. She stared deeply into my eyes as if she could see my soul. This lady is giving me the heebies jeebies, pulling away from her gaze and moving toward the stairs going my way.

"Thank you for the offer-" she called, pausing mid sentence.

"Alexa." At the hearing of that name, I stopped mid track spinning around, giving her a puzzled look.

"What did you just call me?" I exclaimed positively that I misheard.

"You heard very well what I said. You need to take care of that body of yours before its original host return" I froze in place for a moment.

Once I snapped out of it, the old lady was gone. How did she walk away so fast, how did she know my name, what the hell did she mean by the original host returning!

Ugh my heart started beating fast again. Inhaling in deeply and out I rested my back against my apartment door before walking inside.