Us by Arianna Joseph (reading tree .TXT) 📖

her mom and dad were violent, and she had made it her goal to avoid the abuse as much as possible.

Arelie decided that having friends could be ok, but she didn’t have the patience for it. Most girls would want to do stuff together, or chat, and some of them touched each other, trying to connect but Arelie didn’t go that way. Her best friend – Valoree – was one person she would probably have missed if Valoree hadn’t avoided her after the incident. Arelie hated the way she’d have to worry over someone – if she had a friend here. Valoree had proven to her that she was worth nothing when it came to true friends and that had broken Elie, being ignored by your best friend because you happened to be the wrong person in the wrong place . . . well, let’s just say it wasn’t nice.

Arelie had felt like a piece of her had broken, now that piece had stone walls around it, she knew how to handle the situation better, she knew how to take care of people like Valoree, and she wouldn’t go through that again.

She didn’t have to have a friend here. She just had to worry about herself, and the next day, and the next and the next.

“Excuse me.” Arelie looked up and saw, again, that she was about to walk into someone. Arelie observed her opponent – brown hair and brown eyes, ordinary, but the angle of her face and the way she styled gave her flare that Arelie admired. Arelie was about to walk away. She had no interest in girls like her! They were just idiots!

“Sorry.” Arelie mumbled, moving around her.

“Wait, it’s my fault, I just wanted to see if you were ok.” She asked hesitantly.

Arelie nodded, and started to move when the girl interrupted again. Seriously, Elie was starting to get frustrated; she just wanted to go home!  “Um, I’m not usually good – with talking, but I wanted to know . . . if you needed a friend, just to bug on or get angry at.” The girls’ eyes pleaded to not reject her – as if rejection had become too often and too expected.

That’s how Arelie met Victoria Brood.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

February 21

Two days after her first day at school Arelie gazed at the homework in front of her. That Monday had been a bit depressing, but Elie saw future. This was her new future, from now on she’d have to plan for the days ahead of her here – in Florida.

She was almost finished with her French homework. Miss Louie thought that preparing ahead of time for their French test two weeks from now was appropriate. Arelie thought otherwise. Without Tori’s help she’d pummel down into an F. yes, Arelie spoke some French, but she hated tests. Arelie glanced at the clock.

5:45pm.

Not to late to go anywhere. Arelie grabbed her phone. No text messages. She wanted to visit that new coffee place a few blocks from there, if she finished her homework in ten minutes she’d be able to make it home by eight. On that thought she quickly wrote down a few more answers on her sheet, finished her Biology homework and jumped off the bed.

She went into her closet and found her tights, she pulled them on with a tang-top her Aunt had bought her and a jacket. She pulled on her sneakers, and grabbed her keys. She paused to text Victoria.

Hey, on my way 2 new café. Wnt 2 join?

After texting her friend, Arelie grabbed her wallet, checked inside and satisfied herself with the fifty dollar bill and dropped it in her bag. Sooner or later she’d have to get a job, her Aunt wouldn’t always be able to provide for her. Arelie started for the door and paused, grabbing a sheet of paper she scribbled the place where her Aunt could find her if she arrived home early.

With that she left the house and got into her car. She put it in reverse and slowly backed out; after she did that she put it in drive. Her phone buzzed then. She looked at the screen, Victoria had texted her back.

Sure, c u in 5.

On her way to the café, she noticed a five member group on the sidewalk. They all wore the color red, either bandanas, wrist bracelets, t-shirts, or sneakers. She passed them, but couldn’t help noticing they all had a tattoo on their wrist, that was when she noticed the boy who had bumped into her on Monday. He didn’t smile, though.

She didn’t think he was capable of it. Then, as if he sensed her eyes, he looked up. Their eyes met and after five seconds, Arelie blinked out of her trance and zoomed away, looking at the rear view mirror she could see that he was still watching her.

Five minutes later she met Victoria at the entrance of the café. They went inside and ordered two sandwiches and two coffees. After choosing a seat, they started talking.

“So, how do you like the past two days so far?” Tori asked. Arelie shrugged.

“Its fine, but I didn’t expect to be loaded with homework.” Arelie replied. Tori nodded; there was a moment of silence between them.

“I . . . I noticed that you drive home right after school.” Tori said, breaking through the thick silence. Arelie nodded at her. “You . . . why don’t you, you know, wait for me or something? I mean, not that I mind, it’s just . . . unusual.”

Arelie chewed away the rest of her food before answering. “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just that I’m used to having to ignore everyone. It’s starting to become a habit. I . . . you could say I’m not really a people type, I don’t really find it comfortable staying at school for so long, you know?” Arelie explained. Tori nodded.

“I understand. Don’t think I’m the touchy type now, I just – I was curious.” Arelie nodded at her, and continued eating. Then as if she felt his presence, Arelie looked up and saw the same guy with the tattoo on his wrist walk in. Once she caught sight of him; it became difficult to look away.

Tori caught her staring and followed her gaze.

“No,” Tori said out loud, and Arelie snapped out of her trance to look at Tori.

“What?” Elie asked.

“No.” Tori repeated, Arelie gave her a curious expression, “I mean, no. Not him, Elie, out of all the guys in our school, or even out of our school, not him.”

“What’re you talking about?” Arelie asked.

“Trystan Levi.” Tori answered, Elie raised a brow at her, and Tori sighed, “Trystan, the guy you were staring at.”

“Oh. What about him?” Elie asked.

“I saw the look you gave him.” Tori explained, “He’s not the type of guy you need.”

“How do you know if he’s my type or not?” Elie asked, “You’ve known me for only two days.”

“Trust me, being observant helps a lot.” Tori retorted. “Just don’t get involved. I’m saying this as a friend.”

“And here a thought you were the enemy.” Elie muttered, Tori grinned.

“Either way.” Tori shrugged. She glanced outside; the sky was starting to dark with storm clouds.

“What’s the tattoo about?” Elie asked.

“Tattoo? Where?” Tori looked around, Elie shook her head.

“Never mind. Just, at least, tell me why I shouldn’t associate with him.”

“He’s rumored to be in a gang.” Tori said softly. “Have you heard any of the gang names down here?”

“A few.” Elie allowed. “What gang is he in?”

“Blood Lust.” Tori answered. Elie held back a gasp. Slowly she inhaled and exhaled. Rain, outside started fall, lighting flashed.

Blood Lust! That gang was the most famous one known down here. They were ruthless, they killed for pleasure, did anything violent for amusement. Not too long ago was it found that they got into some nonsense with the FBI.

“If he’s in that gang,” Elie lowered her eyes, “then why haven’t they arrested him yet?”

“They don’t have any proof, not only is Blood Lust callous, but they’re subtle. No one knows who’s in the gang. The only thing the police have on Trystan was a fight last week. He and this other kid – Devon, got into a hot argument, it started to heat up and Devon took a swing at Trystan. Big mistake, though, by the time the police got there Devon was unconscious, blood every where.” Tori paused, looking at Trystan as he said something low to the girl at the counter. It was obvious the girl – Millie – was scared.

“It would make sense, though, if he was in that gang.” Tori shrugged and looked away.

“What were they fighting about?” Arelie asked.

“Devon’s girlfriend. Lilly.” Tori drank a little bit of her coffee. “Devon thought Lilly and Trystan slept together.” Tori explained, wincing slightly.

“Did he?” Elie whispered. Tori shrugged. Outside had gotten worse. Thunder started heavy, so did the rain. Lightning flashed every few minutes.

“No one really knows, Lilly – the Chatterbox – keeps saying they did.” Tori smiled. “But Lilly lies most of the time to get attention. But I don’t believe it’s true. Trystan doesn’t even look at Lilly. He hates her.”

“How would you know all of this? He could’ve slept with her, even if he hated her. All men just want one thing.”

“Oh but I would know.” Thunder boomed again. “He was my friend.”

@>------

After eating at the café, both girls thought it best to go straight home, especially with the storm outside. Arelie was still reeling from what Tori told her. Tori and Trystan – friends? It sounded impossible. They were so different, but Elie didn’t know Tori that long. Tori had explained that when she first moved her, she was neighbors with Trystan, after some time they started hanging out. Tori told her of how she used to have a crush on him, until she met Trystan’s best friend – Joshua Torrez. Elie had relaxed then.

But still, Arelie thought as she was driving down the road, them . . . as friends? It sounded surreal!

All of a sudden lightning hit a street lamp light and the light went out. Elie groaned. She hit the headlights but remembered she forgot to fix them; she left that alone and moved forward. The wind outside was rocking her car; if she didn’t get home she’d most likely flip over!

The other street lights came back on and Elie breathed out a sigh of relief. Then her car stopped.

She turned the ignition, hoping it was just a play of her mind, but when it didn’t start up she wanted to cry out in despair. She took out her phone – dead.

“Well that’s goddamn perfect!” she yelled to herself. She threw the phone in the opposite seat and tried the ignition again. It stuttered a bit, she took out her keys. She would have to get out there and check the hood out – which was not a possibility with the lightning and rain and thunder.

She sat there for maybe about a minute when her window was tapped. She jumped and looked out, glad she locked the door. Out there in the storm, on the opposite side of her in her car was none other than Trystan Levi himself.