A Lover's Responsibility

Chapter 2

Ty walked in right as Xena finished speaking. “ Who’s got a crush on McCullough?” Ty exclaimed, with a very angry face. Suddenly, a voice exclaimed, “Honestly, I think Hunt is pretty cute herself. Oops, don’t let Cantu know I said that!” Everyone looked around the room and saw Delon appear from the shadows. “ By the way, we won’t have to worry about McCullough for a while,” Delon said with a cruel smile. “That’s right,” Ty said. “Lets just say... she won’t be able to escape where we’re gonna put her.” Noah’s face turned red. “You better not hurt her, or Hunt! Cantu will go crazy if you do,” Noah exclaimed. Brandon and Xena shared a startled look. Two possible kidnapped in one day! Cantu was up to something, and whatever it was, well, it wasn’t good. The next day, Xena and Brandon avoided the gang and looked around for Rylie. Xena heard the sound of crying coming from the bathroom so she walked in and she saw Nicki crying her eyes out. “Hey, what’s wrong Nicki?” Xena said gently.

“Just go away!!!” Nicki yelled. Xena stepped back a bit and pulled out her phone. She sent a quick message to Brandon saying, ‘Come quick, girls bathroom. No questions!’ Brandon responded with a quick ‘Okay, on my way!” She heard the sound of footsteps and peeked outside the bathroom. Brandon approached her and said, “What’s wrong?!?!? Is it Rylie!?!” “No, it’s Nicki. I don’t know what’s wrong!” “ Is it Cantu maybe? Did he do something to her?!?!” “I think it was..., but I don’t know...” Xena replied confused. “ Hey, what’s on her neck…” On Nicki’s neck was a big ‘N’ going from the top of her neck to the bottom of it. “ Oh my gosh, Nicki, what happened?!?!” Xena yelled. “It was… Cantu.” Nicki replied. “What did he do?” Brandon questioned. The ‘N’ was bright red. “Well, Cantu b-branded me because I-I’m in his group. He plans to do it to everyone in h-his group.” Nicki said “Then how is it a bright red, and why is it an ‘N’?” “ Cantu j-just grabbed me and pushed steel in the shape of an ‘N’ into my skin..” Nicki broke down and cried harder than she had been before. “It.. it h-hurts.” “ Do you want us to take you to the nurse?” Xena said. “N-no. I’m in his group.

Whatever he decides to do is law and he c-can’t do anything w-wrong according to his law.” “Well, then why are you still in his group? Can’t you get out of it?” Xena said. Nicki shook her head. “ Once you’ve been branded, you can’t get out.” “Wait, if he plans to have it done to all of us then…” Brandon looked at Xena. “Oh no…” Xena said with fear. She turned pale and fainted. “Where am I?” Xena said out loud as she woke up. She looked up and saw Vienna staring down at her, holding out her hand. “Thanks, but where’s Brandon?” “He is talking with someone in a dark alleyway, near the school…” “ I need to talk to you V, could we go to my room?” “Sure,” Vienna said. *Xena and Vienna both go to Xena’s room and they sit on her bed* “What did you want to talk about Xena?” Vienna questioned.

“Well, I just wanted to know… do you like anyone?” *Xena lied by using the question instead of telling her what was going on* “Uh, well, you see…” Vienna stammered. “Come on V, tell me! Please?” Xena persuaded.  “Fine!*SIGH* I like…”  “TELL ME!!!” Xena said with a fun, but harsh tone. “I LIKE TREVOR!” Vienna blurted out. “OH! THE TEA HAS SPILLED!” Xena yelled. “SHHHHHH!!! I don’t want anyone else to know!!!” Vienna exclaimed. “Well, could I at least tell Brandon, or Rylie, or Rei?”  “Rei already knows!” Vienna said with a calm voice. All of the sudden Xena’s phone buzzed. She looked at it and saw a single message from Nicki saying, ‘Cantu wants you and Brandon back at base NOW.’ “I’m so sorry V, but I have to go… I need to go see one of my other friends to talk with them…” Xena ran out of her room and texted Brandon what Nicki had said to her.