12 New girl

Aliyah

I’m off to school, walking when a car stops and the girl at the back smiles at me.

“Is this way heading to Valerian College?” she asked, her voice friendly. “You’re wearing their uniform so I guess you’re a student there?”

I look down at my white long-sleeve upper and brown full-circle mini skirt above my knee. My tie is brown. Then I look at the girl and nod my head. “Yes, you can drive straight.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice warm. “You wanna hop in?”

Here’s what I changed:

- Added more detail about Aliyah’s feelings: I described Aliyah’s feelings as “a sense of relief washed over me” and “his voice laced with amusement” to make her character more complex.
- Added more details about the setting: I included details like “his voice laced with annoyance” and “his gaze fixed on me” to make him more imposing and dangerous.
- Added more internal monologue: I included Aliyah’s thoughts, like “Am I now a prisoner?” to show her anxiety and her growing fear.
- Used more descriptive language: I used phrases like “a chilling realization” and “his movements swift and silent” to create a more intense and suspenseful scene.

These changes make the scene more engaging and captivating, building tension and creating a sense of mystery around Raige’s true intentions.

I shook my head. I didn’t know her, and there’s an aura around her that I couldn’t explain, though she’s indeed pretty. A part of me wanted to step back. I didn’t know this was the first time some random feeling was mixing over inside of me, but a big part of it is fear.

I’m asking myself why, but I know there’s no answer because this is the first time.

“I should walk, miss, thanks,” I said, my voice laced with a polite but firm tone.

Good thing that a lot of people is walking beside me so the fear I felt is in control.

The woman smiled and said thank you, then her car went.

I sighed…

BEEEEEEPPPPP

A loud beep almost burst my eardrum. My head was occupied by the pretty woman earlier, so I didn’t notice the car. I passed through the gate of the school. Another day, another drama. I have to forget the woman...

Yesterday, I was thankful because Hilda doesn’t bother me anymore. After Raige left without a word, to think that his favorite pastime is to annoy me. I should be thankful that he left me alone, right? Maybe he was not into me now and he already has someone bothering him now.

“Hey, Aliyah! I’m back! Wanna ride!”

I turned to the car at my side. Then I saw Aria, my friend. I’m so happy to see her.

Her driver stopped the car.

And I slipped through the car.

As I sat, Aria hugged me tightly, but she stopped suddenly.

“I saw some man… and a girl?” she said, her voice laced with a touch of uncertainty. “Don’t think about it; I’m just stressed maybe.”

I smiled a bit… is she seeing Raige? Eh? Who’s the girl? I didn’t know, but my friend is claiming her family as witches, and she has a lot of visions that she always shares with me, though sometimes I didn’t believe them. But she looks serious. Maybe this is the reason that she’s weird.

“Hey, come back to earth, Aliyah.”

I fakely laughed. “Did you say your stress? I thought you were on vacation? How come that being on vacation is stressful?”

“Because we have to walk to visit different places,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. “But forget about it; I have a lot of presents.”

Aria happily said. Her friend’s been like that every time she travels. She makes sure that I have something when she got home.

“We’re about to go off to school,” she said, her voice laced with excitement. “Maybe I will bring that presence later. So, are we classmates again?”

“Of course,” I said, my voice laced with a hint of amusement. “I made sure that Dad would pull some strings, though I enrolled late.”

I was relieved; at least I have someone to talk to again. And I can ignore Raige if ever he annoys me again.

“So, how’s the day without me?” Aria asked. And I sighed.

“Crazy,” I said, my voice laced with a hint of exasperation. “You won’t believe if I tell you.”

“Really? How crazy is it?” Aria said, her voice laced with curiosity. “I know you, Aliyah. You won’t say that if it’s not that crazy.”

The car stopped in the parking lot, so I decided to tell her later.

“We have to go,” I said. “I’ll tell you later.” Or maybe she would find out in a few seconds once we enter our classroom.

But before we could slip into our room, there’s Hilda and her minions again. I stepped backward instantly, afraid that she would hurt me again.

“I’m not hurting you, Aliyah,” Hilda said, her voice laced with a surprising sincerity. “I’m here to invite you for a welcome party for Raige in our school, and that was my way of saying sorry for what I did. I just get angry because even if me and Raige were just an arranged marriage, I still bother gossip that might spread. But since Raige really likes you, maybe I’ll give him freedom while we still not married, right? Beside, I know that he would end up with me whoever he chooses for now. So, are you coming? You can bring your friend as well.”

I was beyond shocked; so it was Raige… Well, I won’t blame her. I understand her point now why she’s angry. But as I can see, she’s now inviting me, although there’s a few doubts in me.

Aria pinched me side waist, and her lips moved like she’s saying something. And I think I already know what it is. I’m a loner like her, so it’s a huge thing now that Hilda is talking to me.

“Hilda, what are you doing again?”

A thunderous voice, Raige’s voice, echoed in the hallway. Maybe he thought that Hilda is attacking me again. Goodness, I thought he was overplaying games on me. After he left yesterday without saying anything.

“Hey, good morning handsome,” Hilda said, her voice bright and cheerful. “Don’t worry, I’m just here to invite Aliyah and apologize as well for what I’ve done. Right, Aliyah?”

Hilda’s bright smile to me made me nod.

“I want to throw a welcome party for you in school this coming Saturday,” Hilda said, her voice laced with excitement. “And Aliyah already said yes.”

Raige looked at me questioningly. I was stunned. I haven’t still said yes, but I’m worried that Hilda might be angry again, so I slowly nodded my head again.

“Whatever, let’s get inside, Aliyah, our class was about to start,” Raige said, his voice laced with a hint of impatience.

I was dumfounded as Aria grabbed my hand to get inside of the room. While Hilda is still smiling, waving at us.

“What the hell is happening, Aliyah?” Aria said in a hurry while sitting on Raige’s chair. She can’t wait for me to spill the beans.

“Ehem, are you lost or something? That’s my sit,” Raige said, his voice serious, his gaze fixed on Aria.

Aria looked at me, and maybe because of fear over Raige’s serious voice while looking at her, not to add towering over her because she’s just 5ft tall while Raige was maybe almost 7ft.

I sighed… I’m a little taller than Aria, yet Raige still towers over me if we were talking while standing. And I admit it’s kind of intimidating because he looks so perfect, and not to add again the invisible powerful aura that I can sense all over him. I don’t if it was me, but as I can see, whoever looks at him might feel it too.

Aria signaled me that we will talk later while sitting in the chair in front of me. Since I’m a loner, the sits around me were always empty except beside mine because Aria always sits beside me. This is the first time that the sit in front and back were occupied. Since Rojan is sitting there, though how many times Raige treated him not to stay too close to mine.

I guess he’s still wants to play with me.

“Sorry for leaving you yesterday,” Raige said, his voice laced with a hint of remorse. “I have to do something important. I mean, you’re the most important yet… Damn, I can’t explain it for now. But I promise it’s for your own good.”

I raised my eyebrow. What the hell is he saying? How come that he did yesterday was for my own good? What is it anyway? I sighed… maybe he talked to Hilda, as he noticed I was hurt too much. That explains why Hilda is friendly now.

“Class, we have a transfer student. Her name is Tanya. Come on, child, introduce yourself.”

My eyes turned to the front as the professor was introducing the new student.

“Hi, my name is Tanya White.”

I swallowed hard. She’s the woman earlier…

She looked at me. Her beautiful set of teeth makes someone smile back once you look at her. Her tan skin shines, and she’s so stunning, but the feeling that I felt earlier is back. I felt uncomfortable. What is happening to me?