Chapter 20: Back to You

THIRD PERSON POV

Kane was strolling down the school corridor when he was dragged to the music room by a hand that gripped the back of his collar. His reflexes caused the table to swivel around, trapping the individual between his body and the door.

“What the hell? Get off me, we need to talk,” the girl said, pushing Kane away. Kane frowned and said, “Now you want to talk to me?” There was a lot of tension in the room because two hardheaded teenagers were fighting and no one else could stop them.

“Oh come on Ka—” Artea tried to start but Kane wasn’t having it “No no! Artea you avoid when we tried to help now when YOU need help that’s when you approach us? Approach me?” Kane's irritation was evident in his tone of speech, and Artea wasn't the best communicator in this situation.

“Would you like me to apologise? Is that it?” Artea attempted to approach him, fearing that if he became enraged, he would explode. Artea's mind replayed the events of the previous occurrence, fearful that one of the powerful beings might become enraged and harm someone close to her.

“Please accept my apologies, Kane.” Kane's brows furrowed and his brows wrinkling simply by staring at the apologetic girl. “Please Kane, you were the closest and were there okay...” Artea attempted to persuade Kane to listen to her by using a very gentle voice.

Kane examined her up and down, seeing the sincerity in her face but not in her eyes, which were dark, so dark that he couldn't see anything but his reflection in a dark shadow. “Hmmm...” he said, his furrowed brows slightly softened. “Hmmm?” Artea inquired as she peered at him. “What does ‘Hmmm' mean?”

“I will help you, or whatever it entails...” Artea didn't like Kane's smirk as he stared at her again. "What the fuck are you thinking?" she asked. “I'm going to wipe that smug grin off your face,” Artea said as he took a few steps back and Kane took a few steps forward.

~~~

With a thump on the lockers and a heavy sigh, Artea's back slumped on them, and Kaylee's gaze landed on her agitated friend's face, “Umm... “Are you all right?” When Kaylee questioned, Artea pressed her temple against the locker and shook her head no.

“This is the worst day of my daily existence.” Because of a certain hazel-eyed boy, Artea's face was filled with frustration. “Why can't some people do anything without expecting something in return?”, “Uhh… Would you do it? Do you do something for someone without receiving something in return?”

Kaylee had a point so Artea shrugged her shoulders but that got her also thinking, I mean she wasn’t a saint. She knows she’s a sinner but the whole thing with Kane got her so frustrated that her face stayed that way.

“Looking pissed Lenner” some students commented while she was walking down the halls so she shot them the meanest glare. She hurried to class but she was 1 minute late still and that did not seat right with the teacher…

Terror Teacher

“Well, well, Ms. Lenner finally decided to join us,” the teacher said accusingly, “I was late, yes, for one minute.” Artea retorted, but the teacher's mind had already been made up. “If you're still late, go sit down and stay after class.”

Artea suppressed an annoyed groan and went to a sit near Quinn, “Who is he anyway? Is he a sub?” She leaned towards Quinn and Quinn replied with a nod. Artea gave an annoyed look at the teacher’s direction when Quinn whispered “He’s that one hot teacher”.

Artea rolled her eyes and hoped that the class would go quickly. She wasn't looking forward to the punishment she'd receive later, but oh well. Her eyes glinted with annoyance whenever the teacher passed by her desk; she was irritated and bitchy as a result of her previous encounter with the hazel-eyed boy.

At the end of class, Artea stayed and waited for everyone to leave before answering the teacher's call, "Ms. Lenner," and going to his desk, "Yes Sir?" “What was the reason for your tardiness? It had better be a good reason,” the teacher said, his gaze fixed on the papers he was grading.

“It was just for a minute…” the teacher lifted his eyes and locked with Artea’s “…and I got held up by another teacher so…” that was lie, Artea panicked slightly when they locked eyes making her stumble out a lie.

“Hmm” he hummed, interlaced his hands and laid them on the desk “Well if that happens again make sure that my time won’t be affected or I’ll have to think of another punishment” Artea nodded her eyes still locked to his’ “You may leave”.

With that, Artea hurriedly left the room, and the tension inside was so severe that even Artea felt suffocated. Her legs led her to the bathroom to take a breather, but she ran into someone on the way.

“What's the deal with you running?” Her little brother's voice reached her ears and jolted her out of her trance. When the siblings' eyes met, Artea felt like she could breathe again, so she exhaled and replied, "Yeah... yeah, I just got scolded— by the teacher."

”Why?” Greg was intrigued because Artea had a clean record, no detentions, As and Bs, she was never late, she skipped school but was never caught, and she cheated on a quiz but was always sneaky about it.

“I was running late—” “Woah woah woah Artea Lenner was late?” her brother cut her off. “—for one minute,” Artea shot him a look, and he put his hands up, signaling surrender. “This place is changing you, Tea,” he said as he walked away.

“It is Greg… It is…” she mumbled, taking a deep breath and continuing to walk. Both siblings were unaware that their entire interaction was being observed. What are their intentions? Unknown.

~~~

“Did she come to YOU?” Kelani Vertrude was surprised that the Lenner girl went to Kane first rather than her; she and Artea had such a close friendship that she expected her to come first. “Don't sound so jealous Kel, the girl had some issues, which is why she turned to Kane,” Krisana snarked at her brother, her smug grin on her face.

“Oh haha Krisana, it's not like Artea would come to you anyway, you both are like vampires and werewolves” Kane didn't hold back his comments, both siblings had that similarity and still don't see how similar they are.

“Shut up both of you this is good right?” Kelani said breaking the mean joking remarks of the two, “Yes? I mean she isn’t trying to make her own path anymore” Krisana stated making the two agree with her, the siblings all confirmed that they should report back to their mother about Artea.

"Don't let her find out" Krisana made the two stop and look at her "If she knew it's gonna be harder for all of us" the three siblings looked at it each other and nodded, Kelani hesitantly nodded after all Artea was still her friend.

Many people appear to be interested in Artea's business and how it will affect the girl. And what about her family? After all, this is only the beginning, the beginning of doom, the beginning of a story, the beginning of redemption; it all depends on the people who make the decisions.

~~~

“If you feel like this is the end trust me it is just the beginning”

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A/n: Sorry for the late late late late late late update school has been crazy and I want someone to just stab me. -_- So this is the update and the 'unknown' people feel free to guess in the comments. I hope everyone have a great day even tho it is shit just go find a good book and tiktok:)

Votes and comments are appreciated~