She finally remembered and her face twisted in a frown."The crazy driver... Does he attend Nova core?"
She pushed it past her mind as she remembered why she's here.
She got into the cafeteria,her eyes scanning everywhere for Maxwell which she finally found.
"You're late Ariana." Maxwell scanned her with his eyes.
"I'm so sorry I..."
"No it's okay." He smiled,but it was laced with quiet danger which was too gentle and deliberate.
Colin pulled a chair for her to sit.
Maxwell brought out a black scarf out from his bag and pointed it to her."This belongs to you right?"
Ariana collected it quickly,her hand shaking slightly." Yes tha...thank you." She stammered.
"I saw it along Ridge view street,but I didn't see you."
That's the street she went to, looking for her scarf before she encountered the crazy driver.
"What were you doing at Ridge view street?" His lips curled into a warning smile.
She could feel it wasn't welcoming.
"Do I now have to tell you every places I go and my reasons?"Her words tumbled out unevenly,as she feared she might say the wrong thing.
"Well as my girlfriend... I don't see any reasons why I shouldn't,but don't tell me anyway. We're here on a date right? So what would you love to eat."
"Anything." She managed a smile,but it quivered.
"Just anything? You don't look all right Ariana . C'mon... tell me what's on your mind."
"Em..." She fumbled for words,her brows furrowed and then suddenly her eyes lit up caused she had found the right lie to say.
"I had gone to see my friend along Ridge view street...she is very sick..."
Maxwell smiled darkly as he watched her expression. She couldn't look at him in the eyes so he knew she was scared and lying.
" I'm so scared to lose her. Maybe that's how the scarf fell off my neck."
"Did you take her to an hospital?"He put on a pitiful look.
"Yes I did." Ariana finally raised her head to look at him.
"Then she'll be fine,but didn't I see Charlotte today? Or I may be hallucinating."
Fear charged through her like an electric shock."Not Charlotte...it's my old friend Bianca. You don't know her."
"Of course I don't...end of discussion. I'm starving. Aren't you?"
Ariana nodded.
"Relax. Everything will be fine."
She managed a smile,but it quivered.
....
Lecture Hall.
Dark pov'
Dark headed straight here after the incident few minutes ago.
He sat on a bench in the farthest corner of the hall.
Silence hung heavy, just his thoughts.
He sat confused,empty and devastated.
He still has the note in his possession,the discovery of the baby skeleton and the unreadable behavior and expression of his father.
His aim was to find out his father darkest secrets,but he won't be able to do that if he remains here clueless without a plan sketched.
His father's plan on sending him here must mean one thing---he was being pushed away from disrupting whatever twisted plans he had,but what were his plans?
Then he remembered his encounter with Ariana.*"The same girl I saw today was the same girl I almost hit with my car. Why do I feel peace whenever she's around me?"* This was so strange and awkward to him cause he has never felt different with a girl.
He dugged his hands through his hair." Maybe he was right about me... I'm just a scared hopeless trash never meant to be born."
He sighed, covering his face with his palms,but his thoughts won't stop tormenting him.
A voice called his name, snapping him out of it . He stood,his brows furrowed.
The voice called again and he followed it till he found the source.
"I searched for you everywhere. Then I finally realized you'd be wherever silence is your company." A warm friendly smile spread across Derrick face.
Dark rolled his eyes."Why are you here?"
"Mr Dean wants to see you."
Dark scoffed,brushing past him."Of course he does.Maybe he wants to pin the blame properly."
Derrick followed,unsure whether to laugh or stay silent, but he didn't remain silent."You got gut yunno?"
Dark ignored him,stroding ahead,calm and detached.
Derrick continued."Mr Dean might have you expelled because it was his son you beat up." Dark stopped, appearing to be listening which made Derrick to speak further,glad he was so focused on what he was saying.
"And it's really surprising and makes me curious as to why you beat up your own cousin."
Dark clapped his hands slowly,a smile curled his lips and then he began to laugh. It was cold and mocking."Wow. What a brilliant speech...never knew the jerk was my cousin. Mmm."
Derrick brows furrowed in confusion.
Dark tapped his shoulder lightly."Thanks for the information lad...Now I better hurry up and see what the father of a disappointment has to say." With that said,he walked off, ignoring Derrick,heading straight to the office.
Derrick followed behind.
"You arrived quick enough Dark." Dean smiled warmly." C'mon...have a seat."
"I only came to hear whatever you have to say and not commit to any family reunions or twisted bond."
"I better wait outside Mr Dean."Derrick quickly said.
"No. You should wait..." He narrowed his gaze back to Dark."I didn't call you here to form a bond or whatever... I'm sincerely apologizing for my son behavior. I know you wouldn't have done what you did if he hadn't behaved so despicable...so I apologize once again on behalf of my son, your cousin."
"You mean the... disappointment."
Dean said nothing,but the slight furrow of his brow and the tension in his face made it clear he didn't appreciate the term--- disappointment.
Dark continued."Well...as long as your apology on behalf of your son truly carries the weight of it's meaning I'll accept."
Dean smiled warmly." I know you still have a good heart in you. It's probably blinded by whatever happened to you in the past." His tone was relaxed and persuasive." It's okay if you choose not to tell me. Anyway..."
"If the roles were turned, what would you do?" Dark cut in,his gaze void."Hunt down the truth no matter the pain,the hurts,the agony it brings or bury it deeper, giving up completely... after all life was no bed of roses from the start."
"I...I don't understand."His brows furrowed in confusion.
"I don't expect you to understand ." His voice softened,but his eyes remained cold." Cause you've never had to carry this kind of pain. But one day, maybe you'll know what I'm facing."
Dark turned and walked away, leaving Dean speechless.
Derrick also hurried after him, confused as well.
.....
Black Stone Mansion.
Xavier pov'
Xavier sat back on the cushion chair on the patio,the green carpet underfoot soft like grass .
Just a few steps away was a swimming pool. He folded his legs, relaxed as he sipped slowly from his glass of wine.
But that moment ended when ghost arrived with Nyla who was wheeled down here by a maid .
Xavier sat up,his gaze sharp,he narrowed his gaze to Ghost." Was my rules not clear enough to understand how much I value my privacy at this moment?" He snapped.
"I'm sorry boss, but she insisted on seeing you ."
"Who's the boss?"
"You."He bowed his head.
"If you want to punish anyone,that should be me...after all I've committed a deadly sin which is wanting to talk to you." She stared at him with confidence,her tone assertive.
"I'll take her away Boss."
"No." Xavier raised his hand, halting him."You can leave..." Narrowing his gaze back to Nyla he spoke."So what do you want to talk about?"
"I believe every human had a past... "She gazed at him."It's either bad or good,but it's left for such person to make choices... either bad or good..."Her tone was filled with pain and worry.
Xavier rolled his eyes."Did you come here to talk or lecture me?"
"Can you please let me finish?" She spoke between clenched teeths.
Xavier rolled his eyes,sat back ,relaxed paying less attention to what she was saying.
Nyla didn't care less whether he listened or not. She came to know the truth and speak her mind.
She continued."From your present life and actions I don't need to guess you had a rough life in the past."
Xavier raised his head,his gaze suddenly sharp and piercing."You have no right to talk about my past!"
"You can't hide your true self President Xavier... it's visible. I can see them through your eyes and I know you are who you are today because of what you went through in the past,but you can't continue to let your past define what you truly are deep down... All I want to know is why? Why are you doing all this?"