Chapter 15
Selena washed her hands in the girls lavatory at school, deep in thought about the dismal turn her life had taken. Moonflower was ignoring her and when she had told Xavier about Clara’s nocturnal visit, his reaction was predictable. Selena had immediately regretted having had to tell him, wishing fervently that if he wasn’t with her in her dreams, then she would stop dreaming about his mother.
“It seems that my mom doesn’t want to see me,” he had muttered, his eyes completely lacking any spark.
“She said she’d be back when you’re ready,” Selena offered.
“Ready?” he retorted. “I’ve been ready since she died.”
“She’ll be back,” Selena said, trying to sound reassuring.
“I’m beginning to doubt that.”
The bathroom door swung open as Selena was trying to compose herself. Asher Montgomery strode in. With her losing weight to model, she had shrunk since the last time Selena had taken note of her. A sickly yellow pallor had replaced her rosy cheeks, but it didn’t hide the frustrated look on her face.
"You," Asher growled at her. "I've been meaning to talk to you."
"What about?" Selena asked defensively.
"My cousin."
"You want to talk to me about Xavier?"
"Why are you with him?"
“What?”
“Why are you with my cousin?” she questioned, enunciating each word as if she was speaking to a child.
"Why do you think I'm with him?" Selena asked sarcastically.
"You want his money?"
"Don't be stupid," Selena retorted, fuming.
“It has to be a thrill for someone like you to be with someone like him.”
“Someone like me?”
“You’re not exactly a supermodel.”
“And so what if I’m not?” Selena stated, her voice strong and head held up high.”
"It doesn't make any sense why he would be with you."
"Why is that?" Selena snapped.
"He should be with Cherise."
"He doesn't want to be with Cherise. He wants to be with me."
The door swung open and Cora Rivera stepped in wearing her cheerleading outfit since she’d be leaving shortly with the rest of the cheerleaders for a football game. She took in the scene in front of her and her eyes turned to angry slats as she eyed Asher.
"There's got to be something wrong with Xavier if he wants you instead of Cherise," continued Asher with venom.
"I'm not going to take this from you, Asher," snapped Selena. "If you want to know why your cousin prefers me then ask him.”
“I have.”
“What did he say?” Selena asked, her eyes shooting arrows into Asher.
“Nothing that makes sense.”
“To you it doesn’t,” Selena stated.
“Your cousin is lucky to be with Selena,” snarled Cora. “And he knows it!”
Asher glared at her and started storming out. Cora eyed her back as Asher strode out the door.
"The nerve of her," Selena said, still fuming.
“I’ve never liked her.”
"She's hard to like."
Cora nodded. "You can say that again."
“Thanks for defending me.”
“I just said the truth.”
Selena smiled warmly. The students she helped by tutoring them always surrounded her with such inspiring loyalty. "It’s good to have friends like you when I have enemies like Asher.”
“I don’t know what her problem is. I saw her just before coming in here, and she was talking all heated with Steve.”
“She was fighting with her boyfriend?”
“No, Selena. It wasn’t him she was angry at. I could hear some of what she was saying after she saw you come in. Your name kept coming up. She doesn’t want you with her cousin.”
“That’s nothing new,” Selena stated. “She wants Cherise for her cousin.”
Cora smiled. “But he wants you.”
“Yes, he wants me,” Selena murmured with a content voice.
That night, Selena went to bed thinking about deviations. During lunch, Moonflower had stepped into the cafeteria with a different attitude, differing from the one she had in Calculus class which was one of sadness and silence. Selena had tried to figure what had changed in Moonflower when the door swung open, and Saul strode up to her. They had picked up their food and had headed to the ugly table.
“What’s that about?” asked Xavier who even though was inside his own problems, couldn’t help noticing what had occurred.
“Looks like they’re back together,” mumbled Selena, concerned.
Julia Gutierrez walked in with Ronny, and it became clear to Selena that Saul was using Moonflower to show Julia he didn’t need her.
“What a mess,” Xavier uttered, eyeing Selena and she knew they were thinking along the same lines.
For the rest of the day, Selena was extremely bothered with what had happened in the cafeteria. Just a few short weeks ago, Moonflower, Saul, Xavier, and she were a team. What happened?
Why is Moonflower acting that way? Selena mumbled to herself as she snuggled in her blankets just before she fell into a deep sleep.
“You’re here!” Selena shrieked into Xavier’s ears.
He smiled his movie star sparkler. “Yes, I’m here,” he said excitedly.
“We did it! We did it!” And the cherry on the cake was that there was no static in the scenery. It was as smooth as butter. She could see Xavier clearly.
Xavier looked at her sadly.
“What is it?” Selena asked, worried.
“Where’s my mother?” he questioned, an exhausted tone to his voice.
“Maybe . . .”
“What? Maybe what?” he asked.
“Maybe you’ve deviated from where you should be.”
“What?”
“Maybe you should concentrate on your love for your mother.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked angrily. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
“That’s not true,” Selena said softly.
“What do you mean it isn’t true?” he asked sharply.
“Xavier, what keeps going over and over in your mind is the last day she was alive and your frustration over her not having stayed with you. You’re even upset now that she hasn’t come to you yet.”
“Selena, I’ve got a right to be upset.”
“I know. I really do but unless you clear the airwaves, I don’t think she’ll be able to make it here.”
The Key of Hearts Page 15
