......off to the medical room we go. On reaching the nurse room, we find that the nurse is not here. As a result, Drake decides to cater to my needs. He paces in the room in search of the various requirements. As soon as he finds them, he sets them down and begins to tend my wounds. He starts with brushing the blood off my face. I suck in a deep breath trying to ignore the tingles I am getting due to his touch. I feel like I am on fire, the good kind, if that makes sense. I take in his masculine yet soft features that give him a kind of sophisticated look. Like he is that expensive toy that you want to play with but are too afraid to touch in fear of damaging it. I hear him chuckle, "Like what you see?"

"Very much!"

The words tumble out of my mouth without my permission. Around others I don't bother to filter what comes out of my mouth. I usually flirt a lot but....with Drake it is always like I am walking on eggshells. I am always scared that I will say something wrong and he will push me away.

Why do you care?

I don't know. I don't bother denying. For some reason his opinion matters a lot to me. It always did. I just never acknowledged it until now. He finishes what he has to do then wraps a bandage around my head. "There, you are now as good as new." I roll my eyes, "I am not a commodity, Drake. I can't be old or new. Oh! No wait I am a a commodity, you know a tissue paper? Yup, I can definitely be old but never new. I mean with my face caked in make-up I can hardly be classified as unused commodity, right?"

"Trice, chill! That is just a colloquial phrase that's it. I don't mean anything more or less. Remember day before yesterday I blamed you for everything?"

I nod.

"Well, Emily gave me a nice scolding at home. Then she made me sit down and talked to me. She helped me see everything from a different point of view. From your point of view. To be honest, Julia, I couldn't have done what you do everyday. Face your harsh reality. I would have crumbled. Having my heartbroken for once, left me shattered. But you......you have your heartbroken and insulted countless times and yet you stand."

I turn my head away and whisper, "Trust me, Drake, I cry countless times."

He catches my chin and forces me to face him and says with a smile, "Crying is not weakness. Crying in front of those who don't value your tears is weakness. Ones who cry their heart out in front of those that value their tears and then stand up get ready to face the world with a smile, challenging life to hurt them again, they are strong. And you, my dear Trice, are one of them."

He stands up then commands,"Don't try to leave the medical room. I will go get the nurse, she might want to run some tests with you."

I nod. He then leaves.

I sigh in content.

Just then Austin saunters into the room and leans against the door. He stares me down and I stare right back. He frowns and I roll my eyes. He let's out a sigh and says, "Who are you? Or more like what are you?"

"I am Julia Archer. I am female homo....homo..."

"Homo sapien."

"Yes. A female homo sapien."

"Why do I have a doubt?"

"Because you think I am female dog?"

He grins, "That I think. But really, who are you? I get Francis didn't put an effort in fighting you or he would have definitely won...."

I roll my eyes. Yet again.

"....but that's what he does. He never puts an effort with humans and definitely never a girl. So how did you manage to defeat him so easily? Francis is always on alert so even your technique shouldn't have bothered him. It was as if he was in a trance. Like he wanted you to defeat him. Why? And how come you saw his fangs? You thought about it. Didn't you?"

"One, you speak too much. All your words are hurting my brain. Two, just because Francis lost doesn't mean I employed fowl methods. Three, I told you before and I will tell again. You. Cannot. Handle. The. Truth. At least not yet. Or ever for that matter. So please let it be."

He stares at me so hard, I can't help but feel exposed. No not in the sexual way, more like in the spiritual way. Like he can see inside my soul.
I stare right back with all the confidence I can muster. He let's out another sigh and says, "So...., Julia. I wanted to ask whether you want to help us find both Charlotte and Emily? You see, we, Francis and me, are doubting they are missing due to supernatural intervention. So....."

"No."

"But..."

"No. I know, Emily can manage on her own. She will find a way out in whatever situation she might be in. As for Charlotte, I couldn't care less if she died. So you can shove your proposal up your ass." He glares at me.

He then walks away wordlessly.

I get up and out of the room.

Outside I see a couple of jocks. I smile at them, and they almost faint. Walking up to the brunette, I slam my lips on to his. He kisses me back with ten times my fervor. I pull back and he looks dazed.

Why the hell did you do that?

I needed to release my anger. The brunette tries to pull me back for another round but Blondie steps in and claims my lips, groping my butt all the while. I let my anger show all in the kiss. After we are done, brunette shoves a paper in my hand and gives the classic 'call me' gesture. I smirk and wink at him then walk away.

Word has already traveled that Charlotte has vanished. Since Emily is suspended and missing, Melinoe and Landon are absent, I am pretty much on my own. Almost everyone is looking at me with suspicion. The fact that Drake stood up for me did nothing to allay their acid stares instead it seems to have heightened their suspicion. I ignore them and go through my classes.

At lunch time, I sit in my usual seat at the popular table. The Knights as well as Candace are here too. Austin stares at me. Francis and Candace glare at me. And Drake smiles at me before all of them go back to eating. I begin to suck faces with some random jock. A few seconds later, Drake leaves the table looking annoyed. Candace smirks at his back. I feel a sharp pain shoot through my body.

What the hell?!

Yep. It totally hurts like hell.

Did Drake do that?

Dhat! He can't do that? Or can he....

The speaker croaks and then the booming voice of Principal Ethans announces, "Julia Archer of Senior year is requested to come to my office. Now." And then the speaker fell silent.

All eyes are on me.

I grab my things and walk to the principal office.

As I walk, I can see the few students lingering in the hallways instead of the cafeteria are all whispering and pointing at me. No doubt they think I have something to do with Charlotte being missing. I ignore their stares and silent accusations. I have been doing this for all my life in RiverDale High, just that this time I am really innocent unlike other times.

I reach the office and knock on the door.

"Come in." , comes the deep voice of Principal Ethans.

I open the door and walk in. Principal Ethans gestures to a man sitting on one of the visitor's chairs. I can only see the back of his head. The man turns around and smirks at me. He probably knows me, I must have slept with him sometime, he does have the looks of the kind I sleep with. I shoot him a seductive smile. I hear someone clearing their throat.

Oh! Right, Ethans is here.

I look at Principal Ethans and ask, "You called for me, sir?"

"Yes, Miss Archer. I want you to meet Detective Palwin. He is here to investigate Charlotte's case and......"

"I am the prime suspect, right? So he is here to interrogate me?"

Both the men nod.

I sigh and look at my nails and reply, "Make it fast. I have classes after this."

"As if you care."

I raise my left eyebrow at Principal Ethans as he continues to glare at me. Hmm! He doubts me as well.

"Take a seat, Miss Archer. Principal Ethans could you kindly excuse us while we are talking?"

"You want me to leave my own office?"

"Pretty much. Or else we can find some other place. It is your choice, I don't mind. Do you mind, Miss Archer?"

I shake my head.

"Fine, take the gym."

A scraping noise of a chair being pulled out is followed by another such noise and both Detective Palwin and me stand up.

"Lead the way, Miss Archer."

I open the door and get out. A soft slam could be heard after me. Both of us silently walk into the gym.

As soon as we are in the gym, I head towards the bleachers but stop short when I hear a click.

Did he just close the door?

I guess so. I spin around on my heels and come face to face with Detective Palwin, who is inches away from my face.

"Detective Palwin?"

"Oh, come on, Julia. You couldn't have forgotten your beloved Dustin so soon, could you?"

Dustin Palwin. Dustin Palwin. Who is this?

"I am afraid so, Dustin."

He walks towards me and pushes me on the bleachers. I sit down, my seductive smile intact on my face. Jeez, how I hate doing this!

Then don't!

What makes you think I can fight this man?

The fact that you defeated Francis Johansen like he was a newbie!

He couldn't take legal actions against me. This man can. I can't assault an on-duty officer!

On-duty officer my foot!

Cut it, conscience.

Mature alert! Don't read until I say it is okay, if you are below 16 ( I know, some of you will read anyway.😁)

The man lifts my skirt and pulls the zipper of his pants down.

"You know you can tell me if you want. If you have really kidnapped...."

Slam!

Mmm! I let out a moan.

"...Cha...cha..How are you so tight?"

"I have my ways ba....by!"

Slam!

"As I was saying, you can tell me the truth. I ca.....can he...help you!"

Slam!

"I di...didn't. Move fasterrr. I swear I ha...have no clue. Can't you move FASTER?"

"Shh....don't scream. I am close."

"What will you te....tell. I me...mean re...report?"

He pulls out of me and cleans us both with a paper towel and then throws it in the dustbin.

All right now it's okay. You can read with your innocence intact.(That is if you stopped reading.😁)
I sit up and fix myself. He does the same.

"Considering what you did for me..."

He leans in and whispers "I am letting you off the hook. But you see since almost everyone we interrogated gave your name, you might have to satisfy a few other officers. I guess it's okay with you?"

"Yes!"

Keep up, slut!

Shut up! I need to protect myself.

And this is the only way?

What else?

Detective Palwin grins and mock salutes me and then motions towards the door. "Send the next one in."

I nod and leave as fast as possible.

As I get out of the gym, I keep my head down and say, "Go in. You are next....Drake?"

I come face to face with Drake as I lifted my head up while speaking.

He smiles sadly, "I went to nurse room but you weren't there. It's okay, I guess. You could have protested, you know?"

He knows.

I hang my head down and say, "Let me be, Drake. You won't understand. Unlike Francis, he is human. He wouldn't have given up that easily."

I expect Drake to look at me weirdly and ask what I meant by Francis not being a human.

He simply nods and replies, "Next time, call for me. I train with the same trainer as Emily."

"You won't ask?"

"About Francis? No. I figured I will come to know, if and when I am supposed to know. Just so you know, you don't disgust me anymore."

He smiles at me and leaves.

Suddenly I feel dirty and disgusted. He didn't say anything, but that is what caused me to feel this.

I run to the washroom.

As soon ad I reach the ladies' room, I get into one of the shower cubicles and strip down to shower.

I need to clean up.....

************************************

Heya, buttercups!

1)How many of you read the gym scene of Julia and Detective Palwin?
2)For those of you didn't read, Julia had quick sex with Detective Palwin. Now how many of you hate our Siren?
3) Why do you think Drake said, he isn't disgusted?
4)Why do you think, Drake's statement make Julia feel more disgusted?
5) How do you think Drake knew?
6) Who loves Drake? (I do!)

Please, answer one or more (if possible all) the questions. I would love to interact with my readers.

Until next time.

Comment. Vote. Share.

💞💋💞Reina.