He was my closest friend on the site, but sometimes disappeared for days or even a week or more. I needed to get in touch with him and make sure the r...om was all set. ‘Derek. He’s the one you were talking to at the bar at the Halloween party, right? The one who kept telling you to go after that young guy?’ ‘The one who introduced us, yeah.’ ‘Okay. So we’ll be staying at that hotel? Where’s everyone else staying?’ ‘Where they always stay. But the hotel Derek stays at is nicer, and the rooms cost. I looked up at him. His right eyebrow was raised and his mouth was set in his ever-famous crooked smile. I smiled back. As quick as it appeared, my smile vanished. ‘What do you mean you gave Sam a lecture?’ I asked. He sighed, ‘I got tired of the way she was treating everyone – especially you. I told her that she was a cold-hearted bitch. I finished with her.’ I was stunned. ‘But she’s Sam! Beautiful, blonde, skinny Sam. She’s perfect,’ I shrieked at him, failing miserably at hiding my obvious. "And, where is it that you would go in the middle of the night, Mademoiselle?"The older woman softly inquired.The young woman drew her body up to stand straight, tall and proud. Erik shuddered slightly in recognition of the wall he saw lowering before her bright, warm eyes. A wall, which when in place, left them cold and dull, as it imprisoned the spirit of his angel."While your implied concern for my welfare is appreciated, I fail to see how it is any concern of yours. My business is mine and. Far from it. I was just trying to get awayfrom Marcus Carol, our school's resident stereotype bully. A guy wholiked to throw his weight around, and there was a lot of weight to throw.I sat on the ground, rubbing my head and looking up at Thomas, wonderingif he was gonna pound me or just let Marcus do it. They were teammates,after all, with Marcus being the team's center.He ignored me for a moment and called out, "Marcus, you trying to wail onthis kid?" Yeah, sissy freak needs a pounding,".