The Darkest Of Light (The Kings of Retribution MC)

I look over at Leah who looks to me. I shrug my shoulders. I do need to see more of what this town has to offer beside the confines of the campus.

"I’m still game. How about you, Leah? You still want to come out with us tonight?"

Tugging at her oversized shirt she replies, "I guess so. I mean, I don’t have anything to wear, but..."

"How about we stop by your room after lunch. You can grab some clothes and come back to my place to get ready with me?" I ask her.

Her face brightens with my invitation and she quickly answers, "That would be great. Thanks."

"Sam, meet us outside our building about 6 o’clock?"

Agreeing, he takes off in the opposite direction, and I turn toward Leah.

"Let’s go."

After grabbing some chicken club sandwiches and a couple bags of chips, I walk with Leah to her room. I stand in the doorway and wait as she gathers some of her things into a bag when her roommate comes bouncing in with her friend in tow.

"Oh, you’re here." The girl says in a snotty tone, before turning towards me.

"Oh my gosh, you are so pretty. Hi, my name is Stacy. You ever thought of trying out for the cheer team? You would fit right in." She says with too much enthusiasm.

"No, it’s not my thing." I tell her, scrunching up my nose.

"Oh. I’m the cheer captain. I thought maybe you were here to see me." She sure is self-absorbed.

"No, I’m here with my friend Leah."

"You’re here with her? As in you two are friends?" She gawks with serious disbelief on her face. With her manicured finger pointed at my friend she adds. "Why would you be friends with her, she’s such a dork." The bitch and her friend giggle at the insult directed at Leah and it’s pissing me off. Especially when I see my friend shrink away. This is another reason I don’t fit in here. I will never understand such immature and petty behavior.

"Yes, we’re friends. We’re going out with Sam McGregor tonight," I smile, giving a little attitude along with my tone. Did I have a reason to tell her our plans? No. But every girl at this school vies for Sam’s attention. And I might have wanted to make her jealous. My sister did tell me, sometimes people needed to be brought down a peg or two. To be put in their place. And by the stunned look on these two girls’ faces, it worked.

"Sam McGregor? The quarterback of the football team?" The other cheerleader chimes.

Completely ignoring them I ask Leah, "You ready?"

"Yes," she says.

"Great."

Without another word, we leave. I hate superficial, stuck up people like that. I don’t like when others purposefully try to make another feel they aren’t good enough. With the brief encounter I had with her roommate, I can see why Leah doesn’t like her.

As we walk back to my room I nudge her shoulder, "Hey, don’t let girls like her or anyone else get to you. Her opinions don’t make you who you are."

She nods her head at my statement. Leah is beautiful. Even though she does try to hide herself behind baggy clothes and large glasses, she’s gorgeous. She doesn’t see it though. I hope I can lift her spirits with a little girl time.

Back in my room we sit on my bed and I pull out our sandwiches and we eat in silence until Leah speaks up.

"Thank you for what you did back there. It’s hard for me to stick up for myself. When I try no one ever takes me seriously, so I usually don’t say anything."

"I’ve only known you for a week and I know you’re a good person, Leah. Forget them if they don’t see that. And you’re beautiful. They’re just jealous, that’s all." Chewing her food, she shakes her head before taking a swallow of her water.

"I’m no

t beautiful."

"Are you kidding? I would die to have the curves you have. You are gorgeous. You remind me of those fifties pin-up models. Let me do your hair and makeup for tonight. What did you bring to wear?"

Setting her food down on my nightstand, she gets up and grabs her bag from the bed and pulls out two separate outfits. Both are oversized shirts and leggings, like she has on now. Frowning, I look at her.