Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 58: Jealousy

Orion's life seemed to calm down in the weeks following his make-up with Tiffany, and slowly, he found himself finally settling into "human" life. It wasn't any different, really, unlike what he'd been lead to believe while living on Sixam. The only thing he wished they didn't have in common was school. Of course, everyone probably wished they didn't have to go to school, but he knew he couldn't get that lucky. As he walked out of the algebra classroom, a subject he didn't despise, unlike most of the other students, he overheard the sound of a familiar voice. Stopping in his tracks halfway to his locker, he realized how harsh it sounded and quickly he located the source. As he watched Tiffany and her friends engage in conversation with a girl, who he had seen around but never spoken to, it didn't take him long to realize it wasn't a very friendly one. 

"I think you need some new glasses, four-eyes," Tiffany said with a cruel smirk. "You clearly can't see very well if you think that outfit looks good. You clearly can't see those zits, either. Ugh, you should really wash your face or something. Ew."

"Stop calling me that," the girl said to the others surrounding her, who were clearly entertained by tormenting her. "Don't you have something better to do than pick on me?"

"Of course, but you brought this on yourself," one of Tiffany's friends chimed in.

"W-What? How?" The girl stammered, averting her gaze from them. "I didn't do anything to you."

Tiffany's smirk widened. "Oh, don't play dumb, Emiko. Of course you did, and you know it."

"What did I do? I barely even know you!" Emiko exclaimed, her voice filled with distress. Tiffany came closer, her stance tall and threatening.

"You might act all shy and awkward to seem like you're not a threat," Tiffany began, "but I know what your intentions are. I saw you staring at him, you know."

Emiko's eyebrows furrowed. "Staring at who?"

"You're making me spell it out for you? My boyfriend, you idiot!" Tiffany spat. "But you're dreaming if you think that's going to get you anywhere. I'm one of the most popular girls in school, not to mention the hottest. I could have any guy I want, but I picked him. Don't you understand? He's incredibly privileged to have me. Without me, he'd be nothing. He wouldn't become nothing just to be with an ugly little nerd like you."

The words stung, piercing into Orion's heart like daggers. 'Am I really that worthless to her?'

He could barely concentrate on hearing the end of their argument, watching as Tiffany turned away from the girl. He could tell she tensed up when she noticed he was watching and began to slowly approach. Frozen, he searched for words to say as she drew closer. His eyebrows furrowed and his arms crossed as she met his gaze.

His first instinct was to ask if that was really what she thought of him, but there was something more important to address. "Um... Tiffany, why were you bullying that girl?"

Tiffany's hands went to her hips. "Because... I... was just establishing some boundaries for her. Besides, she's a total loser."

"But you can't just be mean to people!" He frowned. "Even if you don't like what they're doing, it doesn't give you the right to do something bad too... and it isn't nice to call her a loser. Do you even really know her?" Orion sighed. "I-I thought you wouldn't do something like that..."

"You thought wrong," Tiffany flatly responded, "and anyone can see that she's a loser. Ugly face, ugly hair, ugly clothes... what does she think you'd see in her?"

He sighed and looked down. "Just because she looked at me doesn't mean she wants me, Tiffany... and I don't think she's ugly."

The look Tiffany gave him made him start to regret questioning her. She towered over him, her face contorting in a sneer. "You don't think she's ugly? Fine. Be that way." As she turned away, he felt himself panic. "I'm done with this conversation. Go ahead and hang out with her instead! See if I care."

"Tiffany, wait!" Orion called after her, but she only rolled her eyes in response as she walked away. Blinking back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes, he tried to drown out the thoughts racing through his mind. Did she hate him now? Had he lost the one person he cared about because he couldn't keep his dumb mouth shut? 

But when he turned to walk away and saw the girl Tiffany had been bullying leaning against her locker and crying, he felt a tugging at his heart, and he couldn't just leave her alone...

Orion knew he'd regret it as he approached her, but he didn't care. Maybe it was an act of defiance, or maybe it was just that he couldn't force himself not to care. Either way, Tiffany would be furious if she found out. He could only hope she didn't.

---

At lunchtime, Orion didn't see Tiffany enter the cafeteria and took the opportunity to slide into the seat across from Emiko with his tray of food. She lit up when she saw him and forgot all about the paper lunch bag sitting in front of her. "Hey... um, thanks for coming to talk to me earlier," she said shyly. "I feel a lot better now."

Orion nodded. "You were crying... it was the least I could do to try to cheer you up." 

"No one else even cared," she sighed. "No one here likes me..."

"Well, that makes two of us," he said with a smile. "But... it isn't true that no one else likes you. I was thinking maybe we could..." 

"...be friends?" Emiko smiles hopefully. "I'd love to have a friend. But... you're with a popular girl. Everyone must like you..."

"I'm not even sure if she likes me anymore," Orion muttered. 

Silence fell between them, and then she finally spoke up. "Um, so... what... what's your favorite subject?" 

There was a twinkle in Orion's eyes as he answered. "Science. I... I really love astronomy. What about you?"

"Science is my favorite too!" She smiled. "I want to do something in science when I'm older. I bet you will, too."

He paused. What did he even want to do with his life, living so far away from everything that was familiar to him? Even if his mind didn't know the answer, his heart did. "...Yeah. I think maybe I want to be an... astronaut," he said, struggling for a moment to recall what space-exploring humans called themselves. 

"Wow, that's really cool!"

As their conversation continued, they found themselves laughing and feeling like friends surprisingly easily.

Too easily.

'I can't believe him!' Tiffany, having just entered the cafeteria, narrowed her eyes as she watched them from a distance. She couldn't allow this to happen. It was clear that her relationship with Orion was in far too much jeopardy. She had to do something, and whatever it took to get through his head that he belonged to her is what she would do. "Orion!"

It was as if time came to a halt as her voice thundered through the cafeteria. Orion felt his entire body tense, already anticipating her anger. He glanced at Emiko, terror sparking in her eyes as she realized he'd been caught, and managed a nervous smile. "Um... I'll... be right back." Before she could respond, he arose from his seat and slinked guiltily over to Tiffany.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Tiffany snapped, though she lowered her voice. "I can't believe you'd do this."

He took a deep, shaky breath. "Tiffany--"

"I don't want to hear it!" Her hand harshly gripped his wrist and she tugged him toward the cafeteria door. "You're coming with me."

He was given no choice but to stumble after her, feeling his anxiety rising as he tried to figure out where she was taking him. She finally stopped at the janitor's closet and opened the door, hastily shoving him forward and slamming it once they were both inside.

In an instant. she locked it and slammed him against the door, pinning him so he had no choice but to stay there. "I don't think you understand. You belong to me, Orion. No one else. Especially not her!"

Orion flinched as his back hit the hard wood of the door. "I-I was just talking to her..."

"Liar!" She snapped. "That was more than talking! You were all giggly and smiley! You're into her!"

"I just want to be her friend," he said quietly. "Nothing more than that..."

"You don't need to be her friend! You don't need any friends, or any other girls! All you need is me!" Tiffany yelled. "Why am I not good enough for you!?"

Orion's eyes began to water. "You are good enough for me!"

Tiffany's eyes narrowed, and her lips curled to bare her fangs in a snarl. "Stop lying to me!"

His eyes widened in terror. "Y-You... you have fangs?"

She smirked. "I'm a vampire. I guess I should have told you sooner, but you're finding out now, right? Unless you want to be my next meal you'll apologize and stop flirting with other girls!" 

His mind was racing. She was a vampire? How long had she been hiding that kind of secret? Not that he cared. Especially not right now. "I-I wasn't flirting!"

"I said stop lying!"

Orion yelped as her hand connected with his cheek in a harsh slap. After that, there was silence. Shaking, he slowly brought his hand to the sensitive, stinging skin on his face and tears began to spill from his eyes. Tiffany's hand fell limply at her side as she struggled to process what she just did, and once she realized it, she turned away from him.

'He deserved it,' she thought, drowning out the sniffling behind her to avoid any guilt. 

"T-Tiffany," Orion whimpered, "I'm not lying... I promise! Y-You're so important to me. You're more than good enough! You're all I have, and I-I..."

"You what?" Tiffany's voice was cold.

"...I-I love you." 

It was true, he did. Though they'd only known each other for about a month, she was the only person who had ever seemed to care about him. It was impossible not to love the only person who had ever shown love to you... but he was starting to wonder if love was really what she was showing him. He forced the doubt to the back of his mind and blamed it on the fighting. Everyone had fights. This was normal, right? 

Slowly, Tiffany turned to face him. Her expression softened slightly. "Look, I...I didn't mean to act that way. I just got so jealous seeing you with someone else, and..." 

"No, it's okay," Orion said. His voice was quivering, and he struggled to stifle his sobs. "I-I'm sorry I upset you. Please don't hate me..."

With a sigh, she came closer to him, and her a anger seemed to fade. "I don't hate you, so stop crying, alright? This wouldn't have happened if you'd have just--"

"I-I know," he said, sounding guilty as he wiped his eyes. "It's my fault. I'm so sorry..."

Tiffany leaned in, until their foreheads were brushing together. "You're right, it is your fault," she said softly, "but I forgive you, because I care way more than anyone else ever would. I'm the one that's always been here for you. Remember that, Orion."

Orion couldn't bring himself to smile, although she drew her lips into something akin to one. The guilt was overwhelming. He had caused all of this trouble. It was his fault...

"And one more thing," Tiffany continued, her lips suddenly contorting into a smirk. "Never break my heart like that again. All the other boys that did... well, let's just say they ended up far more broken over it than I was."

His eyes widened as his gentle gaze met her fierce one. He felt his heart accelerate as the words echoed in his head. She innocently kissed his cheek and smiled before walking out of the janitor's closet, leaving him to ponder the meaning of what she said.

But he really didn't want to know.