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.CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.
[26]. This Year Will Be Different.
【 PART TWO 】
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❝ ᴡʜᴏ ɪꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴇʟɪᴢᴀʙᴇᴛʜ ɢɪʀʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ
ʏᴏᴜ ᴜᴘ? ❞
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IT'S BEEN ABOUT AN hour since Malik and Jed started their studying. They've gone over flashcards, caught up on homework and projects, they were pretty much done. Lizzie wasn't done with whatever she had been doing, so Jed and Malik sat in the grand hall just catching up.
"You know... this Saltzman twin really has you hooked," Jed says while taking a bite out of his apple.
Malik looks up from his phone, shrugging. "Yeah... I guess she does." he sits up. "This is really the most at peace I've felt in some long."
Jed smiles. "I can tell... but uh, i've gotta know. How is the sobriety going?"
"Good... i've been uh taking my meds. Football has been keeping me occupied." Malik nods. "It's uh, it's going good. I've gotta admit, it feels great not waking up to a hangover."
Jed chuckles. "I'm sure it is. You know, I'm happy for you, man. After seeing you fall downhill after your break up with Alyssa Chang... I didn't think you'd get this happy again."
"Yeah well, I can thank—" Malik pauses, he thinks for a moment. "Uh... holy shit I forgot." he awkwardly laughs.
Jed thinks for a moment as well. "Damn... what the hell...?"
That's when it hit Malik, he remembers the night at Malivore. Well, at least he tries. "You know... I can't help but think that maybe Ric was right."
"About?"
"What if someone we knew jumped into that pit. I mean they found DNA, but we just can't trace it to anyone."
Jed hums, he nods. "That makes sense... you think this person was important?"
Malik makes a face. "Maybe... yes, I do. But let's not think about it too much. For all we know, we might not have been known this person."
"I guess you're right..." Malik's phone rings, he looks down and sees it's Lizzie. Malik picks up the phone, brows furrowed. "Uh... hey Elizabeth. What's up? Are you ready?"
Lizzie awkwardly clears her throat. "I know... I know we had plans for tonight but I can't make it."
"Are you serious—"
"I know!" Lizzie sighs. "I really wanted to hang out with you but Josie is feeling some kind of way. And I have to be here for her."
Knowing he couldn't get in the way of their sister bonding he sighs in defeat. "It's fine I guess. I'll just set it for another day."
"I'm really sorry."
"It's okay..."
Lizzie sighs. "Okay... well I'll see you later. I lo—uh bye." she hangs up the phone.
Jed's eyes widened. "Was she about to say—"
"I think so," Malik says, he was just as shocked. He places his phone done. "Woah..."
Before he had a chance to speak, Jed then gets a notification on his phone. He looks down and sees it was a text from a classmate. He tells Malik he needed to leave and so he did. Malik sat there in silence, he rests his head down.
"Wow. Who is this Elizabeth girl that stood you up?"
Malik's head shoots up, his eyes land on Sebastian who was sitting across from him. "Jesus Christ. You need to stop doing that."
Sebastian laughs. "My apologies..."
Answering his question, Malik sits up. "Elizabeth is my girlfriend."
"And she stood you up?"
"For her sister."
"That's still terrible."
Malik rolls his eyes. "I'm well aware, Sebastian. No need to rub it in my face."
Sebastian smirks, he looks down at Malik's hand. "I see... you're a vampire?"
Malik follows Sebastian's gaze which was on Malik's daylight ring. "I'm a hybrid. Both werewolf and vampire..." he then looks at Sebastian's hand. "And I see you're a vampire too."
"Indeed I am."
"How come I don't know about you? I've never seen you around."
"I'm closer to you than you think..."
Malik's brows furrow. "What the hell is that suppose to m—" before he had a chance to respond the vamp used his vampire speed to leave the room. Malik scoffs. "What an asshole."
The hybrid sits there for a moment. He tries his best to enjoy the silence but he fails miserably. So he decided to head into town.
Now walking around, his eyes land on the same familiar face as before. Malik shrugs to himself before walking over towards the girl, he takes a seat beside her.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Malik questions, seeing that she seemed zoned off.
Hope finally realizing his presence stares at him for a moment. "Oh hey... uh sorry. I was just thinking."
Malik hums. "Rough night?"
Hope nods, forced smile. "Yeah... relationship trouble..."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Oh, uh..." She forced a laugh. "Old story I guess. I fell for a guy who doesn't even know I exist."
"Classic."
"Yeah..." Hope looks up at him. "So I... I remembered you said you had a date today... how was it?"
Malik scoffs, smiling a little. "Never happened. She had to be there for her sister..."
"You mad about it?"
"No of course not." Malik pauses. "It's just... you know being around her keeps me sane and... well not wanting to do anything I'd regret. And I know it's bad to rely on someone for your sanity and happiness but... it's hard not to when you love this person badly."
Hope slightly smiles. "You love her?"
Realizing what he said, Malik smirks. "Huh. Yeah. I guess I do love her."
"Well, you should tell her that. And be truthfully honest to her..." Hope tells him. "Maybe then things could be smoother."
"Yeah... maybe you're right." Malik then remembers she had a problem as well. "Oh... and uh, since you're giving advice. I probably should return the favor." he pauses. "You should take your own advice though... you know? Tell that boy of yours that you exist. Maybe he'll realize what he's missing."
Hope forces a smile, she looks up at the sky trying to stop herself from crying. "I don't know about that..."
Malik frowns. "We just met today but... I can't help but feel at peace, talking to you. It's like... it feels normal. Like something I needed and always have done."
"Yeah... it does, doesn't it."
The hybrid stands to his feet. "I hope your night gets better, townie." he smiles.
"You too." Hope replies. "I hope uh... things go good between you and Lizzie."
Malik slightly smiles, he puts his hands in his pockets and begins to walk away from the girl. Hope watches as the hybrid walked away.
Once he was out of sight, she couldn't help but drown in her tears.