Figment of Dreams
Charity Case

The lesson with Oak the next morning had taken up all of my energy.

At noon I was ready to call it a day but it still had told Bron I would volunteer this afternoon at his charity event.

I was scooping up some fruit in my bowl at the cafeteria. Eyeing the hamburger and fries with big eyes, but I just couldn’t eat unhealthy today because I would most definitely pass out from all the grease and lack of sleep. I just couldn’t catch any sleep last night. Even though I had that long run and a bath. I grabbed the biggest mug and poured black coffee to the brink.

Skylark was on a field trip today with her science group. I would not be seeing her until tomorrow. Kai was around somewhere but we were still not on the greatest of terms after our fight at his mansion the other weekend.

So I grabbed my bowl and headed for the outside terrace. There were a few benches one could sit in silence. So I grabbed the furthest from the center and sat my ass down with a sigh. I had thirty minutes left to caffeinate and get ready for the rest of my day. It still mind boggled me how much more vibrant nature was on this planet. The grass and threes buzzed in such bright hues of green that I could barely stare at it straight on.

I picked a strange looking pink fruit from the bowl and popped it in my mouth. It exploded with flavor but was way to sour for my taste buds.

‘Isn’t it the little bird.’ Sebastian planted his lean ass on the bench next to me like it was no big deal. His legs so long he had was nearly folded in half because this bench was awkwardly low. He had his rock band shirt on. His longer brown hair flopped over his forehead like he had just woken up a few minutes ago. Which could actually be the case. His tatted arms, which now had a slight tan from the suns, rippled as he reached up to take a big puff from his blunt. He nicked it away in the grass and it kept on smoldering. I was just about done with his bullying. I thought things would have been different after the woods but I was wrong again. Since last weekend at the mansion he had gone right back to bullying me again. Even though a part of me knew it was mostly Melixes’ doing anyway. I rose from the bench, not even bothering to acknowledge him. ‘Wait…’ he said, concern lacing his deep voice. The English accent prominent again. ‘Just wait.’

I slowly turned around, raised my left eyebrow and scowled. ‘Why should I? So you could bagger me some more?’

‘I know you probably want to punch me… no pun intended.’ He smirked at his own joke and I growled at him. ‘Leave me alone Sebastian.’

‘No, wait. That was a stupid joke little bird. Just wait a second.’ He strutted after me like his pants was on fire.

‘I have a headache, please just leave me be.’

He grabbed my arm and I flinched at him. He immediately pulled back and raised his hands in the air, like he knew he had overstepped. ‘I’m… sorry… okay. I’m sorry about last weekend.’ He had to force the words out like they were poisonous on his lips.

I just stared at him. Completely flabbergasted at his apology. He never apologized. For anything.

‘Yeah well, I’m not sure I believe any of it. You can shove your apology somewhere the sun doesn’t shine! Or the suns… whatever!’ Damn Rainers and their two suns.

His eyes widened. He had clearly not expected that. I turned my back on him and walked out of the terrace with a fierce strut. I rounded the corner and walked smack into the hard chest of Dexar. His biggest fanboy, Otto just peeking around his shoulder. Just great. Another one of those bastards I couldn’t stand. Dexar’s red hair really vibrant against all the grey he wore. ‘Where’s the fire?’ he smirked as he grabbed my arms and planted me to the side. I shook him off and stared him down. He hooted. ‘Someone’s feisty today aren’t we. It kind of turns me on actually.’ His Australian accent really slurring his words now. But it was Otto that really creeped me out again. Besides al the bullying and the torture he usually puts me true, he was full on creepy. Sebastian and Dexar bothered me too, but I never really felt unsafe in their presence. With Otto I just felt icky and weirded out. Otto eyed me up and down, while licking his lips. ‘Leave me alone Dexar.’ I pushed him aside, which worked because he wasn’t anticipating that and I stalked onwards. Back to my dorm. I was about done with this day and was missing Skylark like crazy. Who was next? Melixes? That would be about the four biggest bullies I could have seen in the last ten minutes.

I was helping Bron loading out some cardboard boxes filled with t-shirts for the less fortunate children, when I spotted Jax at the other table. He nodded at me. Which I guess was a good progress. He was busy filling bags with toys. Nexxar, Miro and Lenn were hanging the flyers and Olive was busy with the donors who had just arrived. All the big shots were apparently showing up at campus to contribute to the charity.

I was at my second batch of shirts when I heard a familiar voice. Maddox, fully dressed to the tee in a very expensive charcoal suit, smiled at me. ‘How are you Lux? Great to see you helping out.’ I beamed at him. ‘Great, I’m happy to help.’

Bron shook his hand and Maddox handed him an envelope. By the look on Bron’s face it was a huge amount because he turned red in the cheeks. Maddox said goodbye to me and went to his twin sons and Jax. Bron turned towards me. ‘The bonfire party tonight is going to really be spectacular. It will be a cherry on the cake for this charity.’ All drinks sold would go to the charity as well. Bron handed me a water bottle. ‘You are going right?’

I sipped from it and shook my head. ‘I’m not sure. Skylark won’t be back yet so…I thought I would just donate my share and call it an early night. Yesterday was already a long night…’ Bron handed a shirt to a paying customer and turned back to me. ‘Come on now, you got more friends than just Skylark. You got me and Olive! Ash will be there. You’re cool with Nexxar….and Kai.’

‘You know me and Kai are not close anymore. We haven’t spoken all week. And Ash is not going to be there tonight. He is at the Dunnager with Oak, preparing for next weeks pub brawl thing he always organizes every year. ’

’Yeah, can’t believe he would let Melixes ruin that. But anyway. You are going.’

‘Going to where?’ Olive hooked her arm through Bron’s and kissed him tenderly. Her long green hair shining with such beauty I always stared at her in awe. She was really nice company though. Always very relaxed and she brought good karma with her. ‘I was just telling Lux she will be going to the bonfire tonight. We will not let her be lonely.’ Olive winked at me. ‘I got you girl. We will have so much fun later.’

They were kind of getting me in the mood for it. So I hesitantly agreed. I would meet them at the lake and we would go together.

It felt strange getting ready without Skylark but we had texted earlier and she was at a party of her own at her science thingy. So she would be having fun as well. Ash tried to get me to the Dunnager to help him with the list for next week, but I could not let Bron down. He had been there for me. I would show up to his event. Besides, I just think Ash was looking for an excuse to see me. If he wasn’t so adamant about us being just friends I would definitely believe he was into me. Yet he was still my teacher at the end of the day. I still hadn’t received a single text from Kai. That actually really hurt. He was taking this on a break thing really seriously…. Yet I heard through the grapevine, being friends with the gossiper of campus named Nexxar, that he had spent the entire night at the Morninggrove with his usual crew: Mason, Aria and Lark. Which pissed me off since it looked like he and Aria were getting rather close. Or so Nexxar had heard. Aria had walked out of his dorm that morning. He had seen it with his own eyes and she was wearing the dress she had on the night before. I wasn’t happy with him having sex with other women. But I could not judge. The Dosch thing had been a lap of judgment, a few times now and the Ash thing also nearly happened.