Chapter Two
The whole week passed and Angela did not come. Juliette didn't have her number or her address. She avoided Wesley and Xavion the whole week although they tried to talk to her many times. They still hated each other and didn't leave any opportunity to insult one another. Candice tried to have her way with Xavion but he simply avoided her.
Damian however looked like a ghost with a week's unshaven stubble, haunting depressed eyes and shabby appearance. He didn't hang out with Virginia anymore. He didn't talk to anyone much, just dragged himself on and on. It was clear from his behaviour that he was missing Angela, that he was in love with her.
On Friday, she couldn't take it anymore. She walked up to Damian and asked him, "Damian, can you give me Angela's address, I want to go and see her," she said as Damian looked at her, with a hollow, depressed expression.
"It's no use. They all left last Saturday night, I don't know where to," he informed and Juliette just sighed.
"Oh," she said,"thanks anyways." She turned around and went back to her seat before anyone came into the classroom.
Xavion came and sat beside Damian, watching her. He was too frustrated because of Juliette. She ignored him and he was at his wit's end about how to make her talk to him. So when the classes got over for the day, he followed her like he did everyday. However, this time he followed her to her door, instead of just seeing her enter her building and leave.
"You? What do you want, Xavion?" She asked, warily.
"You, I want to be with you. Please don't close the door, " he said, blocking the door to prevent her from closing it.
"Why do you hate me so much, Julie?" He said, unhappily. Everyone hated him except Damian. His uncle thought he was a hopeless, useless person with no future whatsoever.
No one tried to find out his deep hidden secret which caused him so much pain. He was lonely and depressed. Drugs, alcohol soothed his nerves and helped him sleep. Women pursued him relentlessly because of his good looks and the huge billions that his parents left him along with the business. He didn't give them a second glance after a night of fun.
He didn't want all this. All he wanted was to be loved. Ever since his parents died, five years ago, love was something which he hadn't found anywhere. No one cared for him except Damian although he too was broken ever since his mom walked out of their lives to remarry. They had supported each other through thick and thin and it was only because of their strong bond of friendship that they had survived the upheavals in their lives.
Xavion had promised to leave everything and he was honestly following it but now with Juliette's continuous disinterest in him, he was getting more and more depressed just like before. He never felt like this with anyone. He just wanted her to accept him, to like him a little but she didn't.
"Why, tell me?" He repeated.
Juliette tried to close her door but couldn't with his hands and feet blocking it,"Look Xavion, I don't know what you're expecting of me. I can only offer you casual friendship. That's all," she said.
"I don't want a casual friendship, I want all of you. I want to belong to you," he said, his eyes searching hers for a reaction.
"It can't happen," she said, looking down.
"Why not?" He asked. "Let me get to know you. That's all I'm asking of you. Don't push me away Julie. I don't want to live if you do that," he said, his eyes reflecting a strange sadness that touched Juliette's heartstrings. She remembered what Angela said that he was bad news. She didn't want to be another Candice in his life.
"Xavion, it's not happening. I can only be friends with you," she said stubbornly.
"No, I don't want to be just a friend," he said and left angrily.
Juliette went home to spend the weekend with her family.
On Monday, classes resumed as usual. Xavion came early and sat behind her, watching her. She avoided looking at him.
Angela came in and Juliette squealed with joy.
"Hey, what happened to you?" She asked, excitedly, hugging Angela tightly.
"My grandma died, so we all went to California to perform her last rites," she said.
"Oh, I missed you so much," Juliette said.
"Me too," she said, her face showed that she was quite unhappy. "I missed so many classes, can you give me the notes?" She asked.
"Sure," Juliette said and they sat together chatting like before.
Damian came into the classroom and his face brightened at seeing Angela. He purposely bumped into her while going to his seat, grinning mischievously.
"As*hole," she mumbled and his grin widened.
So again things were back to square one like before. During lunch break when Angela had gone to the administrative office, Wesley came to talk to her.
"Hey Juliette. I'm sorry. Can we be friends like before?" He pleaded with puppy dog eyes.
"Only friends Wes and nothing more," she said and he agreed, grinning. So they too were back to being friends like before. He pulled her hair and ran away. She ran after him and smacked him on his arm thrice in return. They went to the cafeteria, grinning happily at their childish antics.
She sat, waiting for Angela. Wesley went to get the food. Xavion stomped angrily upto her, "Why are you with Wesley?"
"He's my friend," she answered calmly.
"No, he has feelings for you, can't you see that?" He said agitatedly.
"He only wants to be my friend, " she explained, calmly.
"No, you can't be friends with him," he said, his face red with anger.
"Why don't you mind your own business, Xavion?" She said, irritatedly by him, dictating her all the time. Who did he think he was? Her boyfriend?
"You are my business, " he stated and pulled a chair and sat down with her. "I will also sit here with you both." She rolled her eyes.
Wesley returned and his eyes widened at the scene," Moron, what are you doing here between two friends?" He asked Xavion.
"Guarding what's mine, you d*ckhead," said Xavion.
"Enough, you two. I'm out of here, " she said and walked out of the cafeteria. At the door, she turned to see the two men yelling at each other. Some things never change.
She bumped into Angela on her way out. "What happened?" Angela asked and they went back to the cafeteria to eat something. Juliette pointed out the two fighting boys and explained everything that happened in her absence.
"Ooo, so you have two admirers, huh?" She said, making funny faces.
"Believe me, there's nothing great about it. It's a hopeless feeling," Juliette said, pouting. "Tell me honestly Angela, do you have feelings for Damian?"
"Yes, but don't tell him that, " she confessed.
"I think he too loves you," she said. She explained how Damian was in her absence, how he forgot all about Virginia and wallowed in grief.
"I know he does," she said and Juliette Juliette simply stared at her.
"Then why aren't you together?" She asked confusedly.
"You don't know these two. They are man whores. I don't want to be another conquest for Damian. They take drugs and alcohol and my dad and brothers will murder me if I even look at him," she said, with a hopeless feeling.
"Oh, why do they take drugs?" Asked Juliette.
"Damian's mom left him four years back to remarry and his dad is never at home. He only has Xavion in this world to call his own. Maybe when he can't cope up with the loneliness, he resorts to drugs or alcohol," she explained, looking at her sandwich without any interest.
"Oh, that's sad. What about Xavion?" She couldn't help but ask.
"Oh he is depressed after his parents died in a car crash five years ago. He was just thirteen and the accident happened before his eyes. He was too traumatised to save his parents. They died in front of his own eyes. He blames himself for their death. Maybe he resorts to drugs, alcohol to make him sleep. He lives with his uncle who's strict and orthodox. He shouts and insults Xavion all the time. He's a broken chap," she said and Juliette felt her heart clench at the information. He really was having a difficult time. Her mind unconsciously softened towards him.
She looked towards Xavion and Wesley who were now having a boxing match with the entire cafeteria cheering them on. She rolled her eyes and got up from her chair. "Just a minute, " she said and strode towards the two men fighting for each other's lives.
"Xavi, stop," she said. Xavion froze but Wesley punched him taking advantage of him. Xavion turned and looked at her with disbelief, he couldn't believe that she called him 'Xavi'. Only his mom used to call him that.
He stopped but Wesley kept on hitting him. Juliette ran and came between them. "Stop it Wesley, don't hit him, please," she screamed and Wesley froze.
"You're on his side?" Asked Wesley incredulously.
"No, I'm not on anyone's side," said Juliette as Xavion simply stared at her with blood on his face and a broken nose and a black eye and busted lips. Even Wesley's condition was the same but she couldn't see anything else than Xavion's face. Wesley stomped away, muttering curses at Xavion.
"Say it again," Xavion said when Wesley left and all the other students went back to their seats.
"What?" She asked, turning to leave.
"Say my name again," he pleaded. Juliette blushed and tried to walk away to Angela but Xavion caught her hand.
"Say it, Julie," he begged but she couldn't say it out of embarrassment. She saw that Angela was talking to Damian and she didn't want to disturb them.
"Let's get you cleaned up," she said and pulled him along to the medical room. Xavion just went with her as she held his hand and took him along. He was in a state of bliss. If she would give him a little attention this way, then he would be glad to get injured all the time.
She cleaned his wounds and he simply sat there and watched her helplessly. She applied medicine to his wounds. He loved the way her soft fingers touched his face, the way she stood between his legs and tended to his wounds, the way her chest heaved up and down softly revealing the soft curve of her breasts through her neckline. He just wanted to pull her flush against his hard length and kiss her passionately. He didn't know what changed suddenly and she softened towards him, but he was thankful that she did.
He would now have to watch out for Wesley as he knew that Wesley was a very shrewd guy and he too liked Juliette. His father was a police officer and Wesley would definitely take his help to get Juliette. Juliette might think it was a mere friendship but he knew Wesley too well. The guy had a very strong determination and always got what he wanted, by hook of by crook. He always used his father's vast influence to get what he wanted. Xavion hated the very existence of Wesley but now he had to protect Juliette from him.
"There, done," she said and after washing her hands and cleaning up, she left the room. He sat there mesmerised by what happened. Now he swore that he would pursue her till she gave in and became his. He was more determined than ever.
He would die if he didn't get her. Slowly he walked back to class thinking of a strategy to win her.