Priority

They were in the living room. Natasha had made sure to switch on all the lights, she didn't need anyone telling her that Riley might not feel comfortable in a dark or dimly lighted space.

They sat across each other, both holding a can of coke in hands.

"So, do you want me to go first, or do you want to?"

Riley asked as he dropped the empty can on the table.

Natasha looked at him a bit puzzled. Just what was it she had to say?

Riley smiled when he noticed her confused face. She really looked cute with her pouted lips as she probably thought of what she had to say.

"Julian, Max, Tharn."

"What about them?"

"I'm still yet to know the full story of how they got involved in this case."

True, he knew nothing of how the trio got involved, all he heard was that they dropped a video as evidence and they also served as Witnesses. That was just all he knew, he never got to know the story behind their action.

Natasha smiled as she thought back to that day.

*****

The Day at the Rooftop

*****

Just as Natasha was about to leave the roof, since she was not planning to wait for them. Her plans were ruined, she had actually planned to ambush them. Since they were yet to arrive, she planned to leave the senior's building, and come back later, and if she still didn't meet them, the next day was also visible.

She was just a few distance from the door, when she heard and saw it open, and walking out were seven tough looking boys or rather maniacs.

She chuckled, but inwardly, she was cursing herself for having such bad luck.

"Are you lost pretty lady?"

She scoffed when she heard him say so. If she could have her way, she would beat the maniac out of him and have him humbled, for being the one to have touched Riley down there, in the video.

"I'm very sure I'm at the right place." she replied, looking him right in the eyes, with anger written all over her face.

Well, this was just what she had imagined, she facing them off with words, but the position was just not right. According to her plans, if she had met them up there, she would be the one closest to the door and could easily escape once it escalated to a fight, well, if it ever did. But in this situation in which she found herself, she could not even tell if there ever was a chance she could come out is this unharmed.

"Be a bit nicer Carl."

Hearing his annoying voice again, Natasha only got annoyed the more.

"What are you doing up here alone?"

She felt like throwing a punch to his face. If not for the fact that those five boys had walked out of the bathroom back at the basketball court, the so-called Henry, who seemed to be the leader of the group, was the one she had planned to hit with the ball. She saw this as an opportunity to take out her pent up anger on him, since he was near her.

She moved her right hand from her side with the aim to land a blow on his face, but it seemed as though her hand was frozen in place. She tried moving the other, but it refused to bulge. It was like her body was no longer listening to her. Then she heard a silent voice whisper in her head.

"No Natasha, use your head, not your fist. It could end in a disastrous way."

"Go on Natasha." said another voice, but a loud and annoying voice it was.

"Go on, fight, beat the crap out of them, vent out your anger. Was that not what you did to those who assaulted Carrie. Beat them up, let them know not to mess with you, release all of your pent up anger. Forget why you came, let your anger take a hold of you, just as it did before."

Natasha calmed down. There was no way she was going to repeat the same mistake that cost her her friend's life.

"Why did you do that to him?" she finally said. Doing her very best to remain calm, as she looked at his face, which looked pissed off.

He scoffed and looked past her, and settled his gaze on the cloudy sky.

Hearing him scoff aroused the anger she was fighting so hard to keep off.

"Did you want something from him. It definitely was not just sex, since you didn't go all the way. It also was not a warning, if not, you would have only released the pictures, or you could have blackmailed him with the pictures and videos, and you would continually have your way with him whenever you want to. But you didn't. So why exactly did you do that to him? Or do you just make stupid decisions without thinking it through?"

She was doing her very best not to flare up in anger. She was not used to this type of questioning, she preferred beating the answer out of people. But she had to endure this, she was not ready to lose another friend because of her rash actions.

Henry smiled as he watched a fleet of bird fly above them.

"Do we just make stupid decisions without thinking it through?" he said, asking no one in particular. Then he returned his gaze at Natasha. "Do you?"

"What!"

"Don't you make stupid decisions without thinking it through?"

She remained mute, not planning to answer such a question. She could not count the number of times she had made such decisions, without a thorough thinking.

"Are you just doing all this as his friend, or are you using him to make up for something wrong you've done?"

She still does not answer, and he really was not expecting an answer.

"We all have done that stupid thing without thinking of the outcome. How can you live your present when you are in constant fear of the future?"

"How does all these relates to you assaulting Riley?"

"I thought you went dumb, finally found your tongue?"

She scoffed, doing her very best to hide the menacing look that wanted to display itself on her face.

Henry laughed it off, loving every look that delicate face of hers displayed.

"Just taught your little buddy to appreciate the love being offered to him genuinely, than go after that which will never be his."

"And how is that your business?"

"Oh, hold on dear. It is our business, since the genuine love came from one of us."

"What!"

This really came as a surprise to her.

"Oh please, don't tell me you think we are incapable of love."

Of course, she thought so. Cause if it really was love, the one who loved him wouldn't had sat back and watched his friends do such a thing to the person he loved.

Her eyes scanned them all, as she thought of who the person might be. The one she concluded to be the person was James, not Henry. Back at the basketball court, James and Henry were the only ones who took no part in it. And she heard James mention Henry's girlfriend when she met them. So Henry was out of the question, even though he was the one doing all the talking, as though he was the one who got heartbroken. It definitely must be James. He didn't partake in it, cause he felt too guilty, knew he would not had been able to watch his loved one suffer.

"Then why do that to someone he loves?" she said as she now directed her gaze at James.

"Loved. Correct yourself."

Her face stiffened when she heard his voice again. She really wanted to beat him up, and here he was, adding more fuel to the fire. She swore to herself to break his fingers.

She turned to face Carl, and the anger on her face was very evident.

"Why loved?"

"He broke my heart in a very cruel way, so the love replaced itself with hate." he said and tried to laugh it off, but it was obvious he still felt hurt.

"So it was you." she said with teary, yet annoyed eyes.

"How could you do that to someone you loved." she unconsciously raised her voice.

"Then why don't you ask him why he chose such a way to turn me down." he also replied in an agitated voice.

"What?" she was a little bit conflicted at the moment. Why did he keep on insisting on the fact that Riley turned him down in a very cruel way? Was there another path of Riley she didn't know of?

"I wrote letters, delivered flowers, chocolates, candies, cakes, even bought us pairing things like necklaces and wristwatches, whatever I could to get him to like me. He never replied me, gave out all what I got for him to others, except for the letters, which he kept. I saw this as hope. The very first time he agreed to meet with me, was just to tell me to stop sending things to him. As one madly in love, I obeyed, like a good dog. Haha. "

After that, I never heard from him again. He avoided me completely. I couldn't bear that, so I resumed my usual process of sending things to him. And he agreed to meet me again. I got so damn happy, bragged to my friends. I was the happiest man that very moment. When I got to him, I saw him with a box, I was all smiles, as that particular day was my birthday, so I assumed it was a gift. He wasn't smiling at me, but I did my best not to overthink it. Guess what he said next?

'I'm sorry Carl, but you see these letters, I can't accept them.'

I was too dumbfounded to utter a word, and my mouth was just left open

'I'm not ready for a relationship. And even if I am, I have no such feelings for you.'

I could have still beared all what he said, if that was were it ended. But I got what I never saw coming. He opened the box, and threw each and every letter I wrote, which he kept there, into the trash bin, and when he was done emptying the box, he threw the box into the bin also. Just what the fuck did he mean by that. It took me weeks to recover. I was absent from school for over a month. I really was going to forgive him, but all that changed when I resumed and saw him hanging out with Everett, a guy who was already in a relationship. My jealousy knew no bound. Did he leave me, who wanted a serious relationship with him, for someone who just wanted to f**k him. Was that really what he wanted.

Your good buddy ain't ready for a committed relationship, all he wants is just sex, which is what I'm gonna give to him. I'm just surprised Everett never did him. He's still a virgin down there, but it won't be for long though. "

Natasha could see the pain in his eyes and hear the hatred in his voice. She didn't need anyone telling her that he really would raped Riley sooner or later. And she also got to know a bit of Riley's past, but the name Cole wasn't mentioned, whatever happened to Cole must have happened before all these.

As for Carl's plans, Natasha was not gonna let that happen. Cause she was going straight to the police station to have them arrested, and charged to court, and she had gotten the evidence to do just that.

Henry already confessed that they did it to teach him a lesson, and Carl backed it up with the story.

She moved backward, trying to figure out how to get to the door without starting a fight she would lose.

"Hold on beauty."

She finally heard James speak.

"You do not think we would let you go so easily, do you?"

She scoffed as she stared at him.

"And you do not think that I would be an easy prey for you to feed on, or do you think so?" she really was pissed off, and she made it evident on her face.

"You could spend the night in my room, while Riley spends the night with Carl. Or am I not good enough for you?" he asked with an obvious smirk on his face.

Natasha was not planning to listen to such shit without giving him a piece of her mind. Just as she was about to speak, a sound came from behind the door. They all looked in that direction, and saw two students through the window, run down the stairs.

They all turned to look at Natasha, thinking she was the one who sent those students to video them. But seeing her looking just as surprised as they were, they got a bit conflicted. Carl called the other four boys along and chased after those students.

Natasha placed her two hands in her pockets. In her pockets was sand. She had taken some dry sand earlier, before entering the seniors building. She didn't need anyone telling her that she would never be able to face just these two, not to then speak of the whole group. Why fight fair if you know you will never win, and your safety is on the line.

As soon as they turned to look at her, Natasha poured the sand into their eyes, and ran away while they tried to clear their eyes. She ran down the stairs and out of the building, she ran out of the school as fast as her legs could carry her. And at the roadside, was Adrian ready to pick her up from school. As soon as she got in.

"To the station" she said with ragged breaths.

Just as Adrian started the car, she saw three bikes ride past them, and she caught sight of a cloth she was sure she had seen somewhere.

It suddenly dawned on her. Back when those two students ran down the stairs, she caught a glimpse of a blue sweater which had yellow horizontal lines in the middle of the sweater. And here she was, seeing the same sweater on a student who seemed to be riding with speed as though he was in a race or was being pursued.

Adrian noticed her stare at the students on bikes.

"Do you still want to go to the station now or should I follow them?"

"Don't worry." she said, averting her gaze from the students.

"The station is my first priority."