Chapter 20

"Hey guys thanks for meeting me," I told them as I walked into the coffee shop.

Matthew, Annabelle, Samantha, Derek, Caleb and Wesely were seated at the table. I messaged the group stating that I wanted to meet them, it was time to say goodbye.

"Sure no prob," Matthew replied with a smile, I returned his smile and sat down.

"Okay, I called y'all here to tell you that I'm leaving today," I paused, observing their reactions, the wins already knew so it was funny to see them act surprised but the others were shocked by my news.

"I'm sorry, I wished I could have stayed longer but I realized that the reason why I came here was to run away from my problems and it's time for me to face them head-on," I told them honestly.

"Oh, well when you put it like that," Annabelle smiled at me, "good luck, I hope you get your desired results," she finished.

"Yeah, and if you need any muscles, I'm just a call away and I'm sure Matt will tag along," Derek said causing Matt to punch him.

"We'll miss you, even though we barely hung out, I know that we'll miss you a lot, don't forget to text and visit us soon and as Derek said, don't hesitate to ask for help," Matthew told me his smile sad but genuine, everyone nodded to what he said.

"Guys, don't make me cry," I told them, feeling tear building up in my eyes.

I know that I just met them but they're the second set of people that accepted me without asking about my past, they took me in based on the person I am and I'll be grateful for their friendship.

We continued to talk, sharing past memories of times together, I told them stories of the twins, letting them that I knew them from before.

I had a great time with them, I'll truly miss them. It was one when I left the cafe, driving to the saloon, I'm taking a stand and I need to do it as my true self.

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It was three when I arrived at the base, ready for the trip back home. I walked up the stairs towards Rae's room, I went in without knocking.

"Hey, you ready to leave?" I asked her seeing that she was on her laptop.

"Yeah, just finishing off this email for one of my classes and let's go," she said turning around to stop.

Her eyes widen, her mouth opening a bit as she took in my appearance.

"What did you do to your hair?" She asked me, shock etched onto her face, she came closer moving her hand towards it but pulling back.

"I didn't get snake attachments for sure, you can touch my hair girl," I told her laughing a bit, she still circled me with awe.

My hair that was naturally brown, then red during my rebellion phase, then blonde in my regret phase is back to red but a different shade.

It starts off black by the roots then goes into a wine/burgundy colour. I love it so much and it screams me, I may be an introvert to certain people but those who know me, know that I'm a spitfire a force to be reckoned with and I'm going to show Luke that he messed with the wrong girl.

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We stopped at a motel since we all were tired from driving, it was minutes to midnight when we checked in, we were about two hours from my town.

We got to the rooms, Rae and I went into one room and Oryn and Wesely went into the other. We decided to sleep till five then head out so we can make it when school starts.

I informed my parents that I was coming home tomorrow, they were happy and hoped that I got the answers I was looking for.

I did, it wasn't what I wanted but I got them.

Morning came fast, I groaned as I climbed out of bed, stretching my muscles and getting myself ready for more driving.

We got dress quickly and went across the road to a 24/7 diner to get some breakfast.

"You ready Wick?" Ryn asked me as he sipped his coffee.

"Right now, not so much but I need to get this over with," I told him, he flashed me an encouraging smile.

When it was time to go, we paid the bill and got back on the road.

"Alright guys, we're pulling up to the school, you go ahead and park the car Ryn and I'll come in when you exit," I told them.

It was Wesely's idea, he wanted to me to make a dramatic entrance, like "I'm back, witches!" those weren't his exact words if you know what I mean.

We laughed at it but after a few minutes it grew on me and I liked it. So that's what we're doing, Ryn will park the car, he will exit with Rae and Wesely and when they have all the attention I'll ride in, stealing it, making them wonder who it is.

"We're ready for you Wick!" Wesely said I bet he was full on smiling at the girls.

Time to make my entrance.

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Raiden's POV:

Dana just dropped us off so we were standing on the steps waiting for the bell to ring, I was about to head inside when I heard the revving of a car.

I turned around to see a silver Lamborghini Estoque. Most of the students started to gather near the parking lot as it parked trying to see who the driver is.

A girl came out from the driver's side, shades on her face blocking her eyes but her posture was a bit rigid as she surveyed the crowd, she looked like she didn't want to be here.

Moving my gaze from the girl, I saw two guys, one of them mimicked the girl's posture while the other revelled from the attention.

I shook my head at them turning to go inside, I didn't need to get caught up into the new student's arrival, I had to get to the teacher's lounge to start my job as TA.

I made my way to the door when another revving engine sounded, I was about to open it when a student commented.

"Dude, look at that sweet bike!"

I turned around to see a royal blue Yamaha YZF R6, the rider dismounted the bike. I stared at the rider trying to understand why it felt like I knew him/her.

I stared harder until I saw that it was a female and based on the students' gasps, I believe that they saw it too. I waited for the biker to take off her helmet, she did.

"S**t! That's Raelan!" Blaze exclaimed as he recognized her.

"Yeah, she looks really hot, especially with the new dye job," Mateo concurred.

"Eh, I've seen better," Nuca said before walking through the doors, the guys following him.

I stood there, unable to move as I stared at her, I couldn't see much but I saw that she did change her hair from being blonde.

She didn't look different physically beside her hair but the way she held herself showed that she has changed. I wonder if I'm a part of this change.

I rolled my eyes at this thought, yeah right dude from the way you treated her.

I was caught up in my thoughts that I didn't see when she walked up to me.

"Raiden," She said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I asked stupidly.

She giggled at my confusion, gosh I missed her giggling so much. She smiled at me.

"Still spacing out I see," She commented, I stared at her, confused by the ease at which she was talking to me.

"Umm? I thought that you were never gonna dye your hair again?" I questioned.

"Oh, I know but I learnt a lot about myself while visiting Rae, so I decided to embrace that my past is my past and that it doesn't define me but it helps in shaping who I want to be, so the hair is just me accepting my past and I really loved the colour," she told me smiling.

Her eyes glistened with sadness as she remembered her parents but it was replaced by relief.

"Also, I wanted to apologize for what I said back at the house, it was out of line and I'm sorry," she told me brushing aside a piece of hair that was in her face.

"I was terrified that I was going to lose you again since the first time you got a girlfriend she didn't like me very much and kept you away, and then you chose Dana who hated my guts back in high school so I was a bit angry," she said.

"A bit?" I questioned.

"Fine, I was a lot angry but if she makes you happy and you believe that's she has changed then I'll give it a shot at being friendly with her. I just want you to be happy," she told me before leaving to go to class.

I stared at her as she walked through the doors, I stared at her confused, she's sorry?

She wants me to be happy?

Who the hell was that and where is the real Kristina?

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Kristina's POV

I left a confused Raiden behind, chuckling to myself a bit, he really looked puzzled when I told him that I wanted him to be happy.

I felt the smile slip off my face when I looked over my shoulder towards the door. I wanted to tell him the truth but it's best that he doesn't know I know the truth, why he chose Dana over me.

I was sad at first but I understood why he did it, I would protect my family first but he still chose to risk it and help me. Gosh, this boy will surely be the death of my heart.

Why can't I just stop loving him? Why must he do something that caused my heart to beat faster or jump at the mention of his name?

He doesn't love me like I love him but this doesn't stop me from falling deeper and deeper. My love life is pathetic!

Why can't I find a guy that isn't Raiden, a guy who has the same interests as me but there's still some differences, loves animals, has both book and street sense, can cook, is funny.

Why can't I just bump into this guy one day and we get...

OHMMP!

"What the hell?" I questioned, I rubbed my forehead as I glanced in front of me.

I was lost in my thoughts that I bumped into someone, I saw a hand appear in front my face, I grabbed it and the person hoisted me up.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going, I'm new and a bit lost, so I was trying to get to class, I'm sorry," The voice said hurriedly.

I rubbed my head as I glanced up at the guy, I stopped when I saw his face, my stare froze as I looked into his eyes.

Well, fate, you do love irony don't you, I asked to bump into a guy but I didn't mean my own brother!

Hope you're happy, universe, cause I know I'm not!

"Hello?" He asked again, I shook my head, clearly, he doesn't recognize me, I don't blame him, he only looked at me for a few minutes before leaving the room.

I can't believe he's standing in front of me, what is Luke up to?

"Krissy? You okay?" He questioned again placing his hands on my shoulders.

I smiled at the nickname, he used to call me that when we were kids.

"Kayden," I whispered, he smiled at the mention of his name but it didn't stay long as I turned around and ran away.

"Kristina!" He shouted at me but I didn't stop.

I couldn't stop, I thought that I was ready for this but seeing him brought back all the memories of our family together as one.

I kept running until I was out the doors, off the school compound, I kept running until my chest burned, until my muscles begged me to stop but I couldn't stop, I didn't want to stop. Even if I wanted to, I don't know how.

I passed the park I often took Teague to when something caught my eye, I slowed my pace, stopping to get a better view of what I saw.

It was my Teague with my uncle Donavon, Raelan's father. I walked up to them, my uncle's back was facing me but Teague saw me first, he ran then jumped into my arms.

"Wick, you're back!" He screamed into my ears, I laughed at his happiness and hugged him tightly.

"Yeah, I am Teague," I told him, walking back to our uncle.

"I heard that you went home by me last week, gave my sister a scare," He told me when he looked at me.

Uncle Donny always knew about my running away act, he was there when it first happened, it was after Kayden "died" I got bullied by some students and I ran out of the school and took a bus to Rae.

My parents' were frightened and called the police, my uncle when he came home from work found me on his porch in tears, he took me inside, called my parents, gave me some soup and told me to go and sleep.

I did and when I woke up my parents were there. They were furious with me for scaring them and I got grounded for a month, but they were glad that I was safe.

Of course, the punishment they gave me didn't stop this behaviour I developed but I wrote or sent a text every time I felt the need to run.

This is the first time I left since I moved here, sure I left them a note but they weren't used to this behaviour of mines.

Gosh, I'm a terrible daughter.

I thought I had the handle on this impulse of mines but I don't. I needed the fact that my actions big or small affects everyone around me.

I needed to stop running away from situations that I didn't like or want to deal with. I need to stop.

"Are you going to keep running Kris?" He asked me, knowing that I just thought about it based on my silence.

I glanced at Teague then at him. I needed to stop but I couldn't do it by myself, I had my family with me to help me get by.

I wasn't alone, I was never alone and I would never be. I could right my wrongs with their help, take it one day at a time.

With their help, I could stop the impulse to run and learn how to stand up tall and fight.

I glanced at my uncle looking him in eyes, looking at the face that resembled my late father so much and replied.

"No sir, not anymore."

Author's Note

What do you think of the plot, writing style, characters? Point out grammatical errors or places where I need to show instead of telling, please and thanks. Anything that seems that needs to fix please let me know, I'm open to feedback and criticism.