Number 3

Weeks later

Keira’s P.O.V

Something was definitely wrong somewhere, and how did I know?

I hadn’t had a single food stain on me. Today, just like the rest of the days, I had stuck with wearing clothes with darker shades of colors and avoided Sasha and her gang at all costs.

I still got several side glares and I missed my lunch because it was either thrown in the trash or I was forced to flush it down the toilet. But, today was different. No one glared at me, no one messed me during lunch and everyone suddenly remembered that there was a trash bag for the rest of their lunches.

I was relieved, but I couldn’t say I wasn’t surprised either, but I just decided to play along with it and hope this can like this till I leave the school.

For some reason, it was freaking me out at the same time too.

When school was over, I rushed towards my locker and start piling my books in when I heard some girls squealing in the hallway. Curious, I shut my locker and stood at the far end to observe them.

I see Raiden and his friends making their way into into school looking like prince and models. Sasha was securely besides Raiden as usual, but I noticed her friends were scattered around the school distributing shiny gold envelopes.

I wonder what got them so excited, and my first guess was that it was a party invitation so I head back to my locker and shut it close.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened, and as usual, I never got an invitation, so what was the use seeing others squealed in excitement from receiving theirs?

I was just about heading out after swinging my back over my shoulders when I buml Into a solid wall and drop to the ground.

“Ahh.. not again.” I groan with a sigh on seeing I had bumped into Raiden. I was expecting a reprimand or a tongue lashing, but he stretches his hand towards me.

I stare at his hand for some seconds and I just assume that this was a dream and my worst bully didn’t just try to help me up. I take his hand and he pulls me up with ease before smiling at me.

“Hey Keira…”

I try to smile, but I can’t. Honestly, what’s the catch? Why was he being nice to me all of a sudden? Was he trying to use me as bait for Sasha? He knows how obsessed Sasha was with him. She was a yandere.

Horror filled my eyes and I start walking away after thaking him for helping me up from the ground, but to my shock, he follows me still and I stop to stare at him.

“Do you need anything?” I politely asked in a shaky voice and before my very eyes, he pulls out a platinum colored envelope and waves it before my face.

“They were handing out gold envelopes In the hallway. Did you see?”

I nod, wondering where he was going with this.

“Well, this is platinum and it means V.I.Ps only. So when you arrive at my party tomorrow night, you’ll have to head straight upstairs. That’s where the V.I.Ps will be residing.”

I blink, glancing from him to the envelope and back again.

“Look, Raiden. You’ve made your point. I’ll never be invited to a party as long as I live because I’m an outcast. You don’t need to rub it in by doing all of this.” I turn away from him and with a tight grip on my school backpack, I began walking away, but he follows me again.

“I’m being serious right now, Keira. It’s the last party before your graduation, and I just decided to go all out and invite everyone. Just because we’ve been enemies doesn’t mean we can’t get along now, do we?”

I turn to him, trying to find any hint of mockery. But there’s a genuine calm smile on his face other than the indifferent look I was used to.

“This … Isn’t a prank? You’re not going to make fun of me the minute I decide to collect the envelope? There’s no rubber snake hidden inside?”

“Nope.” His reply was curt and short.

I lock my lower lip in my mouth as I slowly stretched my hand before grabbing the envelope in his hands. Once I’m holding it, I apprehensively glance from side to side, waiting. Waiting for anything which could happen.

I’ve been bullied for ten years… You didn’t expect me to trust him did you?

“8:00pm tomorrow night… Wear something nice, okay?”

I’m too speechless to say anything before he leaves after flashing me another heart melting dazzling smile that made my knees grow weak.

It was when I had climbed into my dad’s car, still holding the envelope, did I suddenly ask outloud.

“What just happened?”

“What do you mean sweetie” he glances down to my hand. “is that a platinum envelope”. The car suddenly screeches to a stop and there is delight in his eyes as he scrutinized me.

“Sweetheart, were you invited to a party?”

I purse my lips before nodding.

“I guess…”

“What do you mean ‘You guess’? Is it another prank again?”

“That’s the thing dad. I’m not so sure, but I still can’t prove it’s not real.”

“Well whose party? Who gave you the invite? Tell your old pops everything.”

“It’s Raiden’s party and he personally gave me the platinum envelope. The gold envelope is for every other party attentandant while this” I wave the envelope In his face. “This is for V.I.Ps only.”

“Huh…” My dad thoughtfully said as he started the ignition and began driving, this time, the excited, amused glint wasn’t in his eyes anymore but a confused one.

“You’re thinking the same thing right?”

“Yeah.. I think it’s even more SUS that he personally handed you the invitation card and a platinum colored one at that. No offense sweetie.”

“None taken dad.”

“But, isn’t it that guy who used to bully you back in middle school and high school?”

“Yeah… Raiden. Alpha Carl’s son.”

“Ah. Yes. Well, I’d tell you to be careful, and yes… You are going to the party. This is a one time opportunity to live a little.”

“But dad …”

“This is your first time going to a party Keira and you’ll be eighteen soon.”

“They probably want to prank me.”

“Then stand up for yourself young lady and learn to get used to not bowing your head to the ground when you’re being bullied.”

I sigh, It was no use protesting, but a tiny, little part of me really wished in some way that Raiden really meant what he said about just wanting me at the party.