Chapter 9 when two lives intertwine
March the 25th 2025.
12:56 pm
Ka-chk.
Sound of a firearm being cocked.
A cold barrel tapped the side of my ribs.
Travian
"Yeah, I'm gonna need all that. Hurry up. Beat those pockets, Xavian."
I raised my hands slowly, keeping my voice calm. "Yeah, yeah, man. Chill out. So... Travian when did you upgrade to using guns now?"
He grinned wide, gold tooth glinting . "My pops gave me this beauty. Looks clean, don't it? These streets are crazy, dawg. He told me to keep this thing on me to avoid ending up in situations like the one you're in right now."
He sneered.
"You painted pig."
(Internally): Painted pig.
That was his favorite insult in high school. He got the entire school calling me that because of my weightand my little old vitiligo. He turned my skin into a nickname that the whole school now.
But what the hell is he doing here?
Wait...Please...please don't tell me.
Travian
"Oh yeah, I bet your bitch-ass didn't expect me to go here, huh? Eleanor Academy, baby. One of them 'big' colleges. Future doctors, scientists, engineers... and me."
He laughed, a thick, gurgling sound like he was choking on his own ego.
"Who would've thought, huh? A guy like me in what's basically hood Houston? But what I never expected? A butterball like you showing up here. After all those times you helped me with my homework, you couldn't help yourself into a better college?"
I sighed. "I'm only here because of two very persistent friends who dragged me into this. If it was up to me, I wouldn't even be in college right now."
Travian
"Let me guess… those fine-shit Quinley. Zelina."
My jaw tensed. "Don't talk about my friends like that."
He stepped in closer, breath reeking of weed . "Man, shut your punk ass up. You know I'm right."
Then, surprisingly… a flicker of honesty.
"I'm not even gonna lie. I was mad jealous of you back then. I went to church just to talk to Quinley. The girl didn't even look at me."
His voice dropped to a bitter growl.
"And Zelina? Same. I kept applying to jobs I knew she worked at just to talk to her. Nothin'. Cold shoulder. But you? Fat-ass, weird-skin you they laughed with you. Talked to you. Looked at you like you mattered."
He spat to the side.
"Life's just not fair with stuck-up bitches like that."
He raised the gun again. "Anyway back to business. Empty your damn pockets."
I sighed and opened my wallet for what felt like the hundredth time. But before either of us could move further, something caught both our eyes.
A car pulled up if you could even call it that.
It was long. Sleek. Black. The kind of thing you'd see in a music video or rolling up to a movie premiere.
But the backside window was shattered, glass webbed like a spider cracked its home across it. Dented panels. A few bullet holes riddled the side.
What the hell happened to that car?
I braced myself for some massive, muscle-bound mob boss to step out maybe with a cigar and a lion tattoo.
Instead...
Two girls. Both around my age.
The first one hopped out of the car barefoot like she was late for class. Dark-skinned, short curly hair, wide light-brown eyes that sparkled despite the fact she had visible cuts on her arms and legs. I could swear there were still tiny glass shards stuck to her clothes.
And yet, she looked... almost excited.
Hazel
"Hurry your butt up, Selene! We're gonna be late for orientation!"
The second girl stepped out a moment later, far more composed.
Long ginger-red hair shimmered under the sunlight. Freckles like little constellations dotted her pale face. One eye was a striking green; the other… still green, but with a hint of brown, like a leaf changing in autumn.
She was… still. Too still.
Not expressionless. Not cold. Just... unreadable.
She had a few scratches, nothing like the other girl. But the thing that threw me wasn't the cuts.
It was her presence. Something about her felt off.
Not dangerous—not yet. But definitely not normal.
Selene
"Hey, hey, slow down. I swear, I can't take you nowhere. We just got here and you're already making a scene."
Hazel
"Oh please, darling you must take me everywhere! I am literally the life and blood of the party everywhere I go."
Selene
"More like the death of the party.
You get drunk and start biting strangers when they're not looking.
Hazel
Oh don't get jealous babe be happy I always bite you when I'm sober
Selene
If life is a pain, then that's the only thing you'll bring anywhere."
I sighed, rubbing my temple as she looked at Hazel's smug grin.
"But anyway… just give me the note inside the box Ma gave us.
It's probably something important."
Hazel
"Oh-ho-ho, you mean this note?"
Hazel held up a small folded paper between her fingers like it was a winning lottery ticket. The smirk on her face stretched mischievous, teasing, almost glowing with that chaotic energy that always meant trouble.
Selene
When Hazel held that note with that stupid smile she's always wearing, something felt off
the kind of off I've grown used to from her whenever she's about to do something insane.
My body tensed instinctively.
My muscles coiled, and my eyes narrowing, watching every twitch of Hazel's hands.
I was ready to spring forward to snatch the note before Hazel could even blink.
But the bastard was faster.
Not only that she must've anticipated the move, because Hazel tilted her head back, opened her mouth wide, and...
Selene
"…Did you just?"
Hazel not even a single chew She just swallowed it whole opening her mouth sticking out her tongue to find nothing there.
My jaw almost dropped.
Selene
"Hazel, you disgusting glutton!"
Hazel
She patted her stomach with a satisfied hum.
"I haven't eaten much since we left to come here. Those words on that note should fill up my belly nicely."
Selene
"In other words… you're not going to tell me what's on the note."
Hazel
She gave a sly wink.
"Not until the plot requires it, I fear."
Selene
I groaned, dragging my hand down my face.
"Asshole… I swear.
Well, I guess you are what you eat, right, Hazel?"
Hazel
Hazel's grin vanished, replaced by mock disgust.
"Ew just ew, Selene. I almost barfed up the note.
I never knew you could be so vulgar."
Selene
I just stared at her blankly for a moment before muttering under her breath,
"Unbelievable…"
Travian
gave a low whistle. "These girls are batshit crazy I can just tell... but it's my lucky day. You see that old limo, they pulled up in their pockets gotta be deep."
He turned toward me with a grin. "You're free to go, Xavian. I'm gonna get my paper up with those two."
Xavian (internally)
Oh yeah. This is definitely going to go well.