Two

                "Stay still" 

"So that you can poke my eyes out? No thank you" 

"If you keep moving I promise I will gouge your eyeballs out and feed them to lucky the stray dog" 

Clarisse refrained from pointing out that Lucky wasn't a stray dog but had an owner. They were just babysitting him because Hans was throwing a party and didn't want his dog to get in the way. According to him, Lucky could be a little unfriendly to strangers and he didn't like crowds. But Twila was convinced both the dog and master were fishy. She asked why Hans didn't tie him up or ask his neighbor to look after him instead of bringing him all the way to their house. She'd tried telling her that it was because he trusted them but when Twila was being difficult, nothing anyone said could get through her. So Clarisse stopped wasting her time. 

"If he bites or even looks at me the wrong way, that Hans will get it from me" 

"Why do I have a feeling that you don't dislike Lucky but Hans?" 

"Oh my God, you just figured that out?" Twila asked dramatically rubbing off excess make-up with a finger then taking a step back to appreciate her handiwork "Perfect. Now let's go" 

"Let me change..." 

"I won't let you dress yourself up just to impress that asshole. You look fine the way you are" 

Clarisse looked down at her jeans and t-shirt "Then what was the make-up for?" 

"Consider it your armor. I made it look natural so no one will know you have any make-up on. Let people think you're a natural beauty" 

"Think? Twila, I am a natural beauty" 

"Don't start with your narcissistic comments. Let's go" 

She hesitated. Her friend was dressed in a black and gold figure hugging dress. Paired with heels and a glittering purse, she looked like she was heading to a red carpet event. While she on the other hand was in jeans, t-shirt and sneakers. Polar opposites. That's what they were. Not that it bothered her. Clarisse knew she was beautiful and wasn't about to start comparing herself to anyone. The problem was that they were going to her boyfriend's party. She wanted him to be proud of her. All his friends would be there. What if he wanted to show her off? She couldn't show up looking shaggy

"No. Let me change real quick. I'll be right..." Twila grabbed her arm and dragged her outside.

"By the time we get there, the party will be over. Let's go" 

"But... But..." 

"Let's go. Even in rags you will still be the most beautiful woman there" 

She nodded in agreement "You're right. I don't need clothes or make-up to make me stand out" 

"Whatever you say, your highness" Twila retorted handing her the car keys. 

"You can't call me your highness then make me drive you to the party. It's unacceptable" 

"I swear your ego is on another level. Remember, keep a low profile. Do not order people around. They're not your servants" 

"My boyfriend is hosting the party. Why should I keep a low profile?" 

"All the girls in campus hate us because you walk around thinking you're above them and treat them like your servants. If the boys start hating us too I won't spare you" 

"What will you do? Report me to the Dean?" 

Twila huffed in annoyance. Sometimes she wondered why she was friends with her. Then she'd remember that fateful day and think that it was okay for Clarisse to order her around. On the outside she looked vain, bossy. Everyone thought she was obsessed with her looks and cared about nothing else. But Twila knew that deep down, her friend was a nice person. The kind that would give up her life to protect the people she loved. She'd seen first hand how selfless Clarisse could be so she had decided to overlook her flaws. But boy, could she be unbearable sometimes.

"Hey, so about Oscar..." 

"Don't even think about it. I don't need you to find me a boyfriend" 

"Why not? I think you'll look good together. Since he's Hans friend we can also go on double dates and do stuff together" 

"Thank you for the offer but I'm not interested" 

"What if I order you to do it?" 

Twila rolled her eyes in exasperation "Who are you to order me around?" 

Clarisse sighed. Twila was right. Who was she to order anyone around? Aside from her name, she didn't know anything about herself. The orphanage where she grew up had no record of her. They didn't know when she arrived or how long she'd been there. Which was just weird and puzzling. They had a record of everyone, including Twila's but only hers were missing. Something else she couldn't understand? The way they kept forgetting of her existence. Unless she was standing in front of them, they didn't remember who she was. Their behavior made it hard for her to find out who her parents were and where she'd come from. If the people who raised her often forgot about her, where was she supposed to find clues of her origins? 

"You're thinking about it again. Aren't you?" 

"Can you read minds?" 

"Forget about them Clarisse. If they abandoned you then it means they didn't want you. Stop trying to look for them" 

"Easier said than done" 

"Have you forgotten what happened to me? After years of searching what did I get?" 

"Maybe..." 

"Maybe they're different from my mother? What if they're worse? I don't want you to get hurt the way I did" 

"Please, the person who's capable of hurting my feelings hasn't been born yet" 

"What about Hans? Don't you love him? Sometimes love hurts" 

"Love? I like the way he runs around all day trying to please me. But to say I love him would be an exaggeration" 

"I am so glad I'm immune to your charms" 

"What do you mean you're immune?" She turned to face her "No one can resist this..." 

"Watch out!" Twila screamed seconds before their car bumped into something. Clarisse stepped on the brakes, praying whoever or whatever they hit was fine "Oh my God Clarisse, we killed someone" she said when the car came to a stop

"Don't jump into conclusions. Let me see if they're..." 

"No!" Twila grabbed her hand "Let's go. It's just us. There... there's no one else on this road. If the person doesn't know who we are, they won't find us" 

"What if they're not dead?" 

"Are you kidding me? They literally flew into the air. Even if our car didn't hurt them, the fall definitely will. I could have sworn I heard bones breaking. Please let's just go. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison" 

"I'm the driver. If you report it, they'll let you go" 

"Stop trying to act like a..." A knock on their window had them letting out a blood curdling scream. Well, if anyone asked, only Twila screamed. Because she was the only one who was scared. Nothing could scare Clarisse. The woman asked them to pull down the window. She noticed that there was no blood on her and took it as a good sign. 

"Yes, how can we help you?" 

"You get points for not having a shaky voice human" 

"Excuse me?" 

"After hitting me with your car, were you ladies going to leave my body lying on the street like that?" The woman asked stretching. For some reason, Clarisse found that she loved the sound of her bones cracking. 

"You... We... Shouldn't you be dead?" Twila stammered "You air into flew..." 

"Sorry. She mixes words when she's angry or scared. What she means is how are you alive?" 

"I practice Kung Fu so my reflexes are extraordinary. Listen, is there a bar anywhere near here? I badly need a drink" 

"There is. But you know what's better? Free booze. We're going to a party and there will be plenty of it. Wanna come along?" Twila grabbed a handful of her t-shirt and pulled her to her side

"What are you doing? How could you invite a stranger we just hit with our car to Hans party?" she whispered

"What's wrong with that? At least she's not dead or injured" turning to the woman Clarisse asked "You don't happen to have any injuries. Do you?" 

"As a matter of fact I do" 

They both froze "You do?" 

"Yes. My feelings are hurt. Open the door or I'll rip it off" 

Clarisse obliged her but couldn't help adding "Around here, I give the orders. Not the other way around" 

"You don't say" 

"She's not joking" Twila interjected 

"I hate being ordered around. Do it and I'll fucking rip your heads off. Now step on it human" 

"It's Clarisse and my friend is Twila. What is your name?" 

"Adrian" 

"Nice to meet you Adriana" 

"It's Adrian. The a at the end is silent" 

Clarisse nodded, intrigued by the woman. She was beautiful and strong. Judging from her muscles, it seemed like she spent a lot of time at the gym lifting weights.Maybe she wasn't lying about practicing Kung Fu. All of a sudden, Clarisse wanted to befriend her. They were strangers but she felt some kind of connection between them. She couldn't explain where it had come from but it was there. 

"So where do you live Adrian? What do you do? Are you married? What about your family?" 

"Why do you care?" Twila snapped. She didn't like this Adrian woman and wanted them to go their separate ways as soon as possible. 

"No reason. I'm just curious" 

"Don't be. You should continue living your life peacefully human. Once we get at the party, you'll forget you ever met me. Both of you. Am I clear?" 

"Why should we forget you? I like you and want to be friends with you" 

"Not me. I don't need any more friends" Twila said just as they pulled up outside Hans house. The party was in full swing with students scattered all over the front yard. The loud music finally registered and she wondered why the neighbors hadn't called the police yet. Or maybe they had but they just hadn't arrived "Maybe we should go back home. I don't feel like partying anymore" 

"That's fine. Let's swap our outfits. You can go back home and rest. I'll tell you everything tomorrow" 

She stared at Clarisse in shock "You heartless bitch! We're supposed to be friends. If I don't feel like partying then you shouldn't either" 

"I'm not the kind of person that's easily influenced by peer pressure. Come on. I hope the material of the dress is stretchy seeing as my chest is bigger than yours" 

"I don't need you to remind me that!" She opened the door and stormed off. Clarisse looked back at Adrian and shrugged her shoulders. 

"She's also moody" 

Adrian smirked "Interesting. I've never met anyone like you" 

"I will take that as a compliment. Does this mean we're friends?" 

"In your dreams human" she also got out of the car. Left alone, Clarisse made sure her make-up was still okay then followed them. Most of the boys who were already tipsy told her how beautiful she was and how jealous they were of Hans. Some even suggested being her second boyfriend, claiming they didn't mind her dating other men. She was at the front door when Lars, one of Hans friends blocked her way. 

"Hey beautiful, care for a drink?" 

"Sure. With your bestie. Where's he?" 

"Ah come on babe. You're breaking my heart" wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he asked "Am I not handsome?" before she could answer, a voice barked 

"Hands off her!" It wasn't what he said but how he said it. Everyone around her froze. She spun around to see who had given the order and her eyes almost bulged out. Clarisse believed she'd never seen anyone so perfect, so- may the sisters at the orphanage forgive her for cursing- fucking hot. He pointed at Lars saying "You have three seconds to get your hands off her or you will lose them" immediately Lars took a step away from her, dropping his hand. Puzzled, she asked 

"Who are you?" 

"We'll talk later. For now, you're coming with me" 

She was ready to jump into his arms but she had some dignity. There was no way she was going to let a man order her around. Even if he was drop dead gorgeous "No I'm not" 

"I won't repeat myself" looking past her, he barked "Adrian, get your ass out here" 

Hans chose that moment to show up "Oh hey babe. When did you arrive?" He bent down to kiss her but his lips never touched hers. Everyone watched in shock and horror as the intruder wrapped a hand around his neck and practically lifted him off the ground. Clarisse noticed two things. His speed and strength. He'd covered the space between them too fast and the way he was dangling Hans wasn't normal. 

"Put the human down" Adrian said coming out of the house. 

"He tried to kiss her" 

"So what? It's their..." she trailed off looking at Clarisse, the man then back at her "No fucking way. Her?" 

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