Crystalbringer

Just like every other morning since the first day of high school, this morning I didn't wake up on time to my alarm clock. Again. If getting up at a decent hour was an almost impossible task in and of itself, the added nocturnal shift has made it literally impossible.

Well, in a flurry of chaotic efficiency, honed through years of perfecting the art of being late, I managed to wash up, scarf down breakfast, and get dressed in record time. It's a skill born of necessity-a true survival instinct.

Racing down the stairs from my third-floor apartment, I almost ran into the one person capable of stopping time: Miss Isabelle Lazar, the second-floor goddess. With her long hair of wavy burgundy and a figure sculpted to perfection by years of gymnastics, she was, hands down, the unattainable beauty personified.

For a guy like me, she's the archetype of forbidden fantasy—my first-ever erotic dream, to be exact. And why wouldn't she be? Those curves, that confidence, those lips. A whole semester's worth of sleepless nights was practically dedicated to imagining her. Her short skirts, which leave almost nothing to the imagination, don't help my poor teenage heart either.

But let's be real here. She's thirty-four. Twice my age. Where in the world could she even look my way? Probably in another dimension, where pigs could fly, and I did not sleep through my alarm.

And yet. Did she just smile at me? My heart skipped a beat. No, no, impossible. Must be my hormone-fueled imagination playing tricks on me again. She is not exactly the friendly neighbor type; I have never seen her speak to anyone in the building before.

With my heart still racing and my bag slung over my shoulder, I shook the thought away and bolted out the gate. Another day, another sprint to avoid being late.

Outside the apartment building, I'm immediately met by Brianne and Clare standing in front of me, looking. well, extremely impatient.

Do you always leave for high school this late? Brianne's right-punctuality and you are like two different universes!» Clare exclaims, in a mix of mockery and genuine concern.

I blink, momentarily dumbfounded. «What are you doing here?» I ask them, surprised but really pleased to see them.

We had to come a long way to get here. Just don't even think about making us late,» Clare says, flashing a cheeky grin at Brianne.

Brianne blushes, appearing flustered. «Of course! He's a member of the student council, after all. We can't let him be late for school again. Our reputation is on the line!» she says, in a voice tinged by an edge of seriousness that I find myself wondering just how serious this is to her.

We pile into Clare's car without wasting a second—a bright red sports car, as flashy as her fiery hair. It's probably some ridiculously expensive car, knowing Clare comes from some high-class family. Lucky her.

Brianne slips into the seat beside Clare while I take the backseat, trying not to feel like I'm in some kind of dream—except, you know, this dream could kill me.

Brace yourself!» Clare warns me, turning the key in the ignition with a flourish, as if we were about to set off on some high-speed chase.

And then it happens.

Clare puts her foot down like a maniac, hurtling through the narrow city streets, dodging traffic, and weaving around corners at a speed that would make even a professional driver faint. I can only hold on for dear life, squeezing the seat in front of me, my eyes shut tight.

I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die!

I swear, Ren, what's your problem? You've got the Blood Crystal, remember? It'll take more than a car crash to take you out" Clare says overly casual. «I'm even going slowly!»

Slowly?! Is she for real? My dad doesn't even drive that fast on the highway!

My stomach churning, fighting not to lose it, Clare throws me a casual question. «So, how was your first night? Did you and Brianne kick some ass?» she asks, her tone oddly carefree.

'Kick some ass'. Really? That's her idea of a girl-talk question?

«No...» I manage to mutter, still trying not to throw up from her reckless driving.

«Well, tonight I'll show you some real action!» Clare grins wickedly, turning to Brianne. «I've got to follow up on Gin's tip—there's something shady going on at this abandoned mattress factory in the industrial zone. Can I bring the rookie with me?»

Brianne looks. annoyed? «We'll talk about this later» she says shortly, shooting Clare a glare that makes me think her request didn't sit too well with Brianne.

Before I know it, it screeches to a stop in the school parking lot. I practically fall out of the car, my legs shaking from the wild ride. Had I not known better, I might have sworn that I'd just had a close call with the grim reaper himself.

Clare drags me along toward the main school gate with a press of her chest into my cheek. Distracting at most, the sensation was. «Bry wants the other students to start treating you like a proper member of the student council,» Clare says with that devious little glint in her eyes. «I think this should do the trick.»

Brianne's face flushes bright red and she reaches out, snatching my other arm and tugging hard on me toward her. Her chest closes in against the opposite side of my face. This is...heaven, isn't it?.

With both girls on either side, I make my grand entrance to the schoolyard. All eyes fall upon me, and I can literally feel their stares weighing down. Envy. That's what it is: the bitter, palpable feeling hanging in the air, almost too much to bear.

Eirik, who is leaning against the school gate as he does every morning, looks like he is about to burst into flames. He mutters something under his breath, and I can almost hear the curses through his clenched teeth.

«See you after class in the student council room, little Ren. Don't be late» Clare says, pulling me into a brief kiss on the lips.

And. cue the roar.

A loud murmur rises from the boys surrounding the school. «We're going to kill you, Ren! You'll pay for this! How dare you let Clare kiss you?!» they shout in unison. I'm so embarrassed, my face turns the same color as Clare's car. I can hardly believe what just happened.

Clare and Brianne head off toward their classrooms, leaving me standing in the middle of an angry mob of jealous boys.

«Was it really necessary to kiss him?» Brianne asks Clare, her voice almost. concerned?

Clare's grin widens, clearly teasing. «What's the matter, Brianne? Jealous?»

«Stop being ridiculous!» Brianne snaps, her cheeks burning with more than just embarrassment.

Clare suddenly grows serious, her voice softer. «He reminds you of Chris, doesn't he?»

Brianne's face falls, the fire in her eyes now something darker. «Yeah.» she responds with a quiet melancholy in her tone.

Clare gets this contemplative look on her face-like gentle. «Have you told him about it yet?»

A single tear rolls down Brianne's cheek. «I'll tell him when I trust him.»

I get to class, and there he is, looking like he's gonna kill me. Not the "morning grump" kind, no-this guy's on a completely different level. He grabs me by the neck, pulls me toward him, and screams, «You bastard! How the hell do you show up to school with two fourth-year girls' boobs in your face? You're selfish! A real friend would've shared the loot!»

He's crying, for real. I've never seen Eirik so devastated.

Just as I'm trying to catch my breath, Elaine steps into view. She looks, well, embarrassed. «Ren, can we talk for a second?» she asks, but then shoots Eirik the deadliest look. «Alone» she adds. Oh, that's a clear message.

Eirik grumbles and lets me go, but not before he mutters in a tone full of bitterness and jealousy. «First Brianne and Clare, now Elaine. what the hell is going on? Why does every girl in this school go after you? And no one even looks at me!»

We go out into the hall; classes are just about to start, and I swear every guy in the corridor is staring at me like I've just landed from another planet. Elaine, the queen of the first years, the girl every guy has a crush on, is walking with me. They're all staring. The whole school has been afflicted by this wave of unbelievable-ness. Elaine doesn't even look at them.

«So. about that thing you said some weeks ago.» she starts, her voice getting awkward. Oh, no. Here it comes. The moment I've been waiting for, right? She's going to confess her undying love for me. She has been involved in this crystal-bringer mess longer than I have. She rejected me back then, sure, but now that we're both in it, what's stopping her from opening her heart?

My heart races within my chest, and my body vibrates with excitement. It can't get any better than this, really. This is a dream.

Elaine goes on: «I remember how you told me that day. that I was the most beautiful girl in the world and that your feelings for me are incomparable with anything in your life».

«Yes, I remember» I respond, trying to sound cold, while inside, screaming.

Her voice decreases in volume even more. «Since we're on the student council together.»

Here it comes! The confession! Gotta play it cool, though. She might get turned off or something if I show my enthusiasm. I'll be really indifferent. Maybe say like, «yeah, you're cute too, whatever.» Yeah, that sounds okay.

But no. Elaine doesn't play along. Her face goes serious. «I don't want your feelings to interfere with my work» she says, deadpan. «One day, you and I will be on patrol together. But you need to get rid of these fantasies. I didn't like you a month ago, and I still don't like you now»

Well, that's a punch in the gut. The worst day of my life, probably. I feel like the floor's just dropped out beneath me.

«Am I really that ugly?» I ask, trying to hold it together. If I'm as ugly as she says, then I guess Clare wouldn't have kissed me on the lips this morning, right?

Elaine, no mercy in her eyes, looks at me. «Physical appearance? That's the least of your problems. Us girls want a guy who makes us feel safe and strong, someone who doesn't just take everything we throw at him. Someone like Gin LeBlanche»

Wait. Gin? That's the guy Elaine's friends are always talking about? That thug?

Basically, you want a thug?» I say, stunned. How the hell does that guy have what it takes to be the guy Elaine's into? I'm honestly baffled.

Elaine just shrugs. «Let's go back to class» she says. «If we're out here too long, people will start to think there's something going on between us»

"Sure.» I mumble, still reeling.

I go to the student council room after class, my head still repeating in my mind the "Elaine just crushed me" tape. Ah well, she does have a point, though-I really can't afford to let my feelings get in the way of my job.

«Late as usual!» Brianne greets me, the smile on her face almost reproachful. «Should we just pick you up outside class next time so you can make it on time?»

If Brianne and Clare did that, Eirik would have made sure I left that classroom dead.

I see Gin in the room and my mind flashes to what Brianne said last night. Does this guy really have the most dangerous Crystal of all? Why the hell is Elaine so in love with him? I just can't get it through my head. My eyes are practically glued on him due to my curiosity.

Gin catches me staring. «Kid, what the hell are you looking at?» he snaps, his tone oozing with arrogance. I immediately look away.

Brianne, as always taking charge, scolds Gin. «You need to stop acting like that. We're on the same team, remember? It's time you start acting like one»

«TSK.» Gin mutters, clearly uninterested.

«Anyway,» Brianne continues, rolling with the plan.«Gin, you'll scout the old station district. Elaine and I will head to the northern district, and Clare and Ren, you're on the industrial area. Got it?»

Yeah, just one: Why does my life have to be this chaotic?