Chapter 3. The Birthday Party

Ray’s POV

Getting to my house and relaxing in, I told my mom everything that happened in school that very day and all she did was brush her fingers through my hair telling me not to overthink it too much.

That was a bit weird but as long as she was not scolding me for making a student faint I’m ok with it.

We talked for a while before I finally told her about the birthday party I have to attend on Saturday and she gave me her permission to attend without asking further questions and that really made me happy.

***

Finally it’s Saturday and strange things have been happening these past few days, I also tried staying away from David as much as I can but sometimes it was just impossible because he was always around me.

But despite the hard week I was focusing on having fun today without thinking of anything else, I just wanted that one day when I’ll just be living without thinking of anything bad happening.

Justin, Heidi, Eddie, and Natly came over to my house that afternoon in order for us to attend the party together.

It was almost summer time and I think that’s why they were having a pool party which was awesome!

I wore purple shorts, flip-flops that were blue in color, a blue sun hat, a green colored singlet and a purple shawl, I just like mixing my colors as much as possible because that’s my thing. I wore my hair in a bun.

Then the four of us went to the twins’ house.

When we got there I saw many of our classmates, some were in the pool, while some were hanging around and a few were eating, drinking and dancing to the loud music.

The four of us went to the pool to swim since that was what we all decided to do.

Shortly as we were having fun in the pool with my friends having less worries, I was summoned, more like called out of the pool.

I came out and dried myself with one of the towels hanging beside the pool.

Moonlight was the one who called me out she told me her cousin Shawn wants to see me, I was so excited when she told me that, I have always wanted us to cross paths and that day this wish was going to be fulfilled.

Moonlight directed me to where he was and I wore back my shawl before I rushed to meet him.

The thing is, almost every girl in school is also crushing on him ever since he was said to be an exchanged student and I won’t lie, I myself have been crushing hard on him ever since the day I saw him walk down our school hallway.

Shawn’s appearance is so mesmerizing, he has a pale skin, a set of perfectly white teeth, his hair is as white as snow, he has a calm voice, he also has this unique bloodshot lips and his charming hazel eyes are so captivating. Talk more of his lashes which are so long, he is a typical example of one with a devilish charm, and he also have long and pointy canines just like Dave’s but more pointy and outstanding.

Oh, he is so so dreamy.

“So, you’re Raven, right?” he asked me and immediately I stopped daydreaming about him then nodded like a happy lizard.

“Em, my name is Shawn,” he added.

“Yeah, I know,” I said as I tried to get myself together.

“At least come closer or am I scary?” he said to me with a devilish smile on his face which made him look evil especially with his long canines and to think of it that smile registered in my head for so long as I couldn’t get over it even after that day.

“It’s okay, I’m good staying over here,” I replied a little bit nervous and scared too.

“Come on, I’m not gonna bite you or anything, are you shy?” he grinned.

“Shy, do I look shy?” I said as he came closer to me.

“It’s beautiful,” he said then smiled.

“What is?” I asked lost.

“Your amulet,” he replied as I blushed.

“So you called me, may I know why?” I asked.

“Yeah, actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but I’ve not been able to get your attention, so I asked my cousin to call you for me instead,” he replied.

“Okay, so what’s it you wanna talk to me about?” I asked boldly.

“First, I want to say, you are very beautiful,” he said then smiled at me.

“Thanks,” I said wondering.

“So… would you like to go out on a da…”

“Ouch! Aahh!” I screamed in pain.

“Are you okay?” he asked with a concerned look on his face.

“I’m okay, please excuse me for a second,” I said as I quickly left for the bathroom.

Oh no, not again! Ouch! It hurts more than before, I took off my shawl so that I can get a better look at the mark on my collar bone.

When I was seven years old, I honestly can’t remember but my mom told me that I fell down from a tree which led to a deep cut on my right shoulder, I believed it then but at some point when I was growing up it sounded impossible because it left a mark on my shoulder, a mark that looks like I was beaten by an animal, but I don’t know why I can’t recall the main incident, the mark hurts sometimes and other times the pain makes me dizzy or uncomfortable, I do tell my parents to take me to the hospital but to no avail. They would just bring up another topic and wave that one off.

Even Heidi and Justin have told me that it needs to be treated to avoid serious damage to my skin but my parents just don’t see things that way.

I’m always wearing clothes that cover my shoulders because I don’t want people to stare at the mark or call me a freak.

Well, right now I don’t know why it’s hurting me more than before but I just have to endure it and go back to the party so I can at least forget about the pain if possible.

When I got back to the party Heidi and Justin were worried because they had seen the way I left for the bathroom in pain.

“Hey, it’s hurting again, isn’t it?” Heidi asked concerned about me then I nodded.

“Can’t it be treated?” Justin asked worried then I gave him a hug as tears gathered in my eyes.

“And what about me?” Heidi asked a bit jealous but I extended my arm for her to join in the hug.

“It’s going to be fine, okay?” Justin said to me.

While hugging them Shawn came by to know what was wrong with me.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked concerned, then I stopped hugging Heidi and Justin to answer him.

“It was nothing, just a slight headache,” I lied.

“Okay, if you say so.”

Also did I forget to mention how bad I am in lying? Well, I’m horrible at it so using headache as an excuse was so lame, I know but I couldn’t think of anything else.

Just as we were all standing Dave came by and informed us that our presence is being needed at the pool side.

“Why?” Heidi asked.

“It’s time to sing the happy birthday song to the celebrants,” he simply answered and left and immediately Heidi and Justin and I exited the place leaving Shawn all by himself.

***

Third person’s POV

“Well, well, well, Shawn, or should I say Shadow?” Dave said.

“It’s good to hear someone call me by my old name again. Question: how did you get to know my real name?” Shawn asked.

“You’re one of the remainders of your kind, soon you’ll vanish like the rest,” Dave said with a devilish smile on his face. “Now about how I got to know your real name. I wasn’t spying on you but I overheard when your cousin sister called you Shadow,” he added as he gave him a hard glare.

“Okay, but why does it feel like you hate me? I mean we are not enemies, are we? Or do you want me to be your enemy?” Shawn said.

“I’m not in the mood to talk about our differences, but I’ll give you one warning, stay away from Raven, okay?” Dave warned with this firm angry tone.

“Woah there, are you guys dating?” Shawn asked.

“Not exactly,” Dave replied.

“Weirdo,” Shawn said then laughed at him mockingly.

“Whatever, but I’m warning you now, stay away from Raven,” he stated as Shawn yawns.

“I’ve said enough, bye, never wanna see you again,” he added as he left for the pool side.

When they were done singing happy birthday to the celebrants, Shawn held Raven by the hand just to make Dave more angry and, of course, it worked.

“Hey, can we go for a swim?” he asked Raven who was already about to leave.

“I would love to but I have to be back home now, it’s almost sunset,” Ray replied.

“Em, it’s okay, can I at least drop you of?” he asked.

“Actually, I’m going back home with my friends.”

“How many?”

“They are three.”

“Okay, I’ll drop the four of you home if that’s ok by you.”

“Wow, that’s okay, thanks,” she said with a sweet smile on her face.

Dave was about to move over to Raven, but she had already entered Shawn’s car. He glared at the car as it drove off.

“What is this guy up to?” Dave said to himself before he got on his car then drove off.

Raven sat down at the front seat where she continued to admire him. She saw his handkerchief lying there alone so she decided to take it. She stretched her arm hoping to grab it without Shawn seeing.

“Are you stealing my handkerchief?” Shawn asked her with his eyes still on the road.

“No, I’m not,” she stated as she hurriedly folded it and kept it in her purse.

“Are you satisfied now?” he asked then smirked, as Raven couldn’t help but blush.

There was silence between them as Shawn drove the car to Ray’s house.