Chapter thirty three

Naomi walked to school feeling a little happier than usual. Thinking about her new found friendship with Asher uplifted her mood in so many ways she never thought possible and the fact that she would be seeing him soon made her want to fly to school. She had dreamt about him all through the night. Even she was surprised at why she was feeling so giddy about him but she just knows that she was. She could still remember how he would often stare at her lips last night and bite his. She knew he wanted to kiss her but what she didn’t know was why he didn’t. She had looked forward to it at some point last night but he didn’t oblige.

Not letting it dampen her mood, she had prepared for school happily. Since her father’s slaps last night didn’t leave any bruises coupled with Asher’s words, she decided not to wear a hoodie to the school today and had spent nearly twenty minutes thinking of what to do with her hair and had ended up settling on a messy bun. It didn’t make her look beautiful but it gave her a lazy but cute expression and she would settle for cute any day since she won’t be having beautiful ever.

Her mood soared higher the closer she got to school knowing he would already be there since he had the habit of always arriving before her. She just couldn’t wait to see him and her eyes spoke of her excitement, well, until she noticed the big shadow hanging over the school. Everyone wore sad faces and they all gave her the look that made her wished she had come with her hoodie so that she can hide her face with the hood. She shook it off and continued, trying not to focus on the students or the fact that they were all whispering to each other and staring at her.

What was going on? Why is she the center of attention once more? Could it be her new outfit and the fact it was the first time she was coming to school in something else that wasn’t a hoodie? She glanced at Asher’s spot in the parking lot but she couldn’t see the red sports car and before she could feel her mood dampen some more, she remembered that he had damaged the car yesterday and might have already be inside the school since he didn’t drive.

She forced herself to walk by the whispering students and more than ever, she missed her hoodie. Just why didn’t she wear it today of all day? She was almost at the hallway entrance when a girl ran out of the door and threw her arms around her, sobbing. “I don’t care what they say or think, all I know is that you saved my life. You saved my life, Naomi, thank you. Thank you so much,” the girl cried and while her words shocked Naomi, the fact that she called her by her name shocked her the more. The girl finally released her and her red-hair was a mess and her eyes were puffy and red, her nose a little swollen and red as well.

“Tiana, what is it?” she forced herself to ask.

Tiana sniffled and looked in her eyes, “Trisha and Rebecca went for that joy ride,” she revealed and that was all the explanation she needed. “Trisha died on spot, just like you said. Rebecca was rushed to the hospital, she was said to be in the clear yesterday but she had a seizure this morning and died before the doctors could do anything. I would have died too Naomi, if you hadn’t forced to stop us yesterday, I would have died. You saved my life, Naomi, you saved my life,” she hugged her again, sobbing now.

Naomi let her hold her and sob as she was lost in thought. Rebecca and Tiana had survived in her vision. Although fatally wounded but they had survived, so why would she suddenly die? Could it be because Tiana didn’t go with them and because she didn’t go, change the order of the vision?

“Naomi Clayman,” she heard and blinked her eyes to see the principal in front of her just as Tiana released her to stand beside her, sniffling and wiping away her tears. “Can I see you in my office before the class begins.” He said, his eyes going to Tiana and back to Naomi before he walked into the hall.

“Hey,” Tiana said, linking her hand with hers and when Naomi glanced at her, she smiled, “I will go with you, for emotional support.”

Naomi frowned, “since when are you nice to me?”

“Since you saved my life,” she said matter of fact.

Naomi gulped and glanced behind her at the accusing eyes of some students and the pitying eyes of some, she heaved a sigh and turned to face her front but at the moment, she saw him, those eyes and face were so easy to remember and in as much as she wanted to ask what he was doing there, she had bigger problem to fix and so ignored him and went into the hall, Tiana right beside her.

Gideon stared at the leaving back of the girl and sighed.

“Is she the one?” he heard Jasper asked in a tone only them could hear and he nodded, however, he felt a chilly feeling right at that moment and turned back to see a pair of midnight blue eyes staring back at him. He frowned, he may not have exchange a word with the boy but he could feel it deep in his bones that the boy had heard Jasper’s question. But how possible, he is just a human.

***

“Have a seat Miss Clayman,” the principal said, pointing at the chair opposite him while he took his own seat. He glanced at Tiana and he didn’t have to say a word for she understood he wanted her to leave and so, glancing at Naomi and asking if she would be okay with her eyes, she walked out of the office.

Naomi sucked a deep breath to calm herself before approaching the desk and taking the seat.

“I believe you know why I wanted to see you, Miss Clayman,” the principal said.

Naomi bit her lip, of course she knows but she won’t be admitting it.

The principal sighed and nodded once, “I heard you told Trisha and Rebecca not to go for their joyride yesterday and that you saw them dead.”

Naomi nodded.

“Do you know that they are dead?”

“I am just hearing from Tiana before you called me.”

The principal stared at her, “what did you mean by you saw them dead? How can they be dead just as you said they would be.”

“I didn’t know Rebecca would die. I only saw her and Tiana fatally wounded. Trisha was the one I saw dead, she died on the spot of the accident. I didn’t know about Rebecca.”

“Yes, I heard she had a seizure this morning and died before the doctors could do anything.”

Naomi didn’t say anything.

“Do you know what this means, Naomi? Do you know that you are a suspect?”

Naomi glanced at him then, but still said nothing.

“Everyone heard you say it yesterday in the parking lot and you just admitted it now. Naomi, their parents are saying you have something to do with it, that your conscience started eating you up and that was why you told them to avoid it. Did you do anything to their car?”

“No,” Naomi shook her head.

“Did you plan it with someone?”

“No.”

“You have to be truthful with me, Naomi.”

“I am truthful. None of this would have happened if they had listened to me, if they had stayed back.”

“How did you know it would happen?”

“I saw it.”

“Saw it where?”

“In my head. When Trisha touched me. Right after lunch period. I saw it and I tried to warn her but she wouldn’t listen to me, I told her not to go, to postpone it but she didn’t listen.”

“Can you hear yourself, Naomi, how can you just see it in your head?”

“I don’t know, it just happened.”

The principal sighed after staring at her for some time. “The cops would be here soon to have a word with you, maybe you would be more cooperative with them. I will also be calling your father, he needs to be here as well.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“It doesn’t look like it.” The man said, staring at her. “Go to class Naomi, I will call you when they arrive.”

Naomi stared at him, her tears were threatening to fall but she held it in and stood up. As she walked out of the office, she found herself regretting why she said anything. If she had kept shut like she did with Jeremy, wouldn’t she have been free from all these troubles? As she stepped into the hallway, the first thing she noticed was his presence before she saw him. He walked up to her in quick strides and stopped in front of her, their eyes locked.

“Are you okay?” Naomi heard and looked behind him to see the red-haired girl that looked genuinely worried about her and she thought, maybe it wasn’t all that bad that she spoke up. At least she saved her life and might be getting a friend finally.

“Don’t worry,” Asher said, “I will be here with you,” and she knew instantly that while Tiana wouldn’t have heard anything she discussed with the principal despite standing outside the door, Asher didn’t have any problem and she was instantly reminded of who he was, or rather, what he was.