Mind Power II

They walked down the parking lot together.

"Why does it sound like you're forcing yourself?"

"I'm forcing myself to be better".

After a brief farewell, Amelie drove her Mercedes, and Veronica boarded her Porsche. She smiled just lightly and looked forward to seeing what reaction he would give her next. 

'He smiled yesterday when I gave him the coffee... that's the first time I have ever seen Ray smile. Should I text him and ask him what flavour he wants?'

She decided to do just that, and just when she wanted to check her phone, she received a call from an unknown number that looked a bit familiar. 

"Yes? Who is this?"

"Who is this? You know, it hurts that you erased my number, Veronica".

!!!

Her countenance paled, her legs started shivering, and overall happiness transformed all too suddenly into a nightmare just hearing his voice. 

"Sebastian, w-why are you calling me?"

"Can't I call you? I don't think I ever told you that you could go forever, little deer. Don't you still love me?"

"We haven't seen each other in years; what nonsense are you talking about!? Don't ever call me again!"

She hung up the call, the phone rang again... but she didn't answer it. Moreover, she didn't know if she was more afraid of answering or not answering it.

She decided to answer it not to liven up the fires more than they already were.

"Listen, Sebastian. We're through... it's been years. I'm not the same woman, you're not the same man. I don't even live in the same place I used to. I don't want anything else from you; please don't call me again. Please let me be" She felt the urge to cry.

"This is not the sort of business you leave when you want to, Veronica. You'd best not make me angry. Come meet me at the club, let's catch up, okay?" His voice mellowed down, but she wasn't having any of that bullshit.

"I'm not going to meet you anywhere. I don't care if you get angry... if you want to do something, do it, but know that I'll defend myself–"

"You think you can defend yourself from me? that's funny~"

She hung up the call there, and then, her legs wouldn't stop shivering no matter what. He never called again, and that was even scarier.

'I-If he really tries something... what can I do? But if I go to him... that will be the same as going into a deathtrap; he won't let me go'.

*BANG!*

She punched the steering wheel of the car, angry that her perfect evening had just been ruined by a simple call.

'Pizza... I h-have go and get it'.

**

**

Veronica stood before her door, holding three boxes of pizzas and some extras. Somebody opened the door for her before she could even slide in the key. 

"Oh, ma'am! Good evening!".

It was a gorgeous redhead beauty wearing an apron.

"... excuse me, who are you? why are you in my apartment?" She frowned, but her gaze softened when she saw the school uniform underneath the girl's apron. 

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Jean Grey, Ray's friend. Please come in, I'm sorry to intrude".

"It's okay..."

Jean helped Veronica in; she smelled something exquisite upon entering. I noticed the house was clean and spotless, and Ray whistled and cooked something in the kitchen that smelled like bolognese. 

"Oh my god, you brought so much pizza, and we're actually cooking..."

Veronica just stood there, looking at him. Ray noticed her gaze and turned around. 

"Welcome back–"

He witnessed how her purse slid down, falling on the floor coldly as silent tears broke down her eyes like a desolate waterfall. 

...

It took a while to calm her down, but Veronica sat at the table and ate some bolognese that Jean had fed her. 

"What happened?" Ray asked her solemnly, "Did someone do anything to you?".

Veronica looked up at him briefly and shook her head, clenching her hands under the table. 

"You can just tell us what happened, mother-in-law. We will do something about it," Jean insisted. 

'Mother-in-law...? this girl is going overboard' Ray's eyebrows twitched, yet he didn't deny her claim.

"It is nothing. I was just too happy to eat something homemade after a long time. That's all, don't mind me" Veronica cleaned her tears and picked up the fork from Jean's hands, "Thank you, darling... I can eat by myself".

'I can get my son involved in this... s-should I move out? Or move him out somewhere else? Sebastian should not know that I have a kid, but he must have done his research; he has that sort of power,' She thought inwardly, concealing everything in a bright smile amidst tears. 

Sadly for her, she couldn't conceal her thoughts from Jean, who frowned and took a peek at Ray, who was glaring dead at her. A sort of silent communication took place in which Jean nodded at him.

The rest of the night went without a hitch. Veronica calmed down, and they all had pizza and bolognese since they were both Italian.

"How long have you both been going out? You both make such a cute couple~" Veronica complimented. Jean was a really nice girl, so gorgeous and tall that she had the potential to be a model in the future. She also knew how to cook some good bolognese, a plus. 

"We're not going out yet. Right, Ray?" Jean tapped her finger on the table. 

"What are you waiting to ask her out then? Are you going to make a pretty girl like her wait?"

"I'm waiting for the perfect moment to confess my feelings", He admitted.

'That perfect moment better be soon–'

Jean received a kiss on the cheek that flared her up. Veronica covered her mouth in shock, not at the action but at Ray's gaze.

"She's a bit pushy, but I like her quite a bit; that's the truth".

**

**

I walked Jean back home. It was quite late in the evening, and she wasn't even supposed to stay that long, but she and Veronica hit it up well. Veronica said she could drive her home, but Jean didn't want to impose. 

That or she wanted me to walk her back, probably the latter. 

"Thanks for walking me back~ you don't need to carry my backpack."

"Isn't this what you wanted?" I rolled my eyes.

"Of course!" She hooked her arms around mine; I felt her breasts pushing against my arm and ignored it. 

"So? What's worrying her?".

"Someone named Sebastian Shaw. I don't know much as she didn't think much about it, but... that's his name, and he's someone very powerful that she's worried about. He may be threatening her to the point she's been thinking of throwing you out of the house to protect you," Jean summarised with concern.

"I see" Ray grit his teeth, 'Another reason to kill the bastard'. 

"What are you going to do?" She didn't want him to put himself in imminent danger.

"I'll deal with it somehow. Don't worry too much, Jean".

"You know you can ask my help any time you want".

Ray patted her head, "You're already helping me plenty enough. Don't get involved in bad stuff, Jean. You're a good girl".

"I can be a bad girl, you know?" She mumbled so low that he almost didn't hear it.

"I don't want you to be a bad girl".

...

Ray held her cheeks outside of her house; her eyes were longing and infatuated. 

"Why do you like me so much, Jean?"

"I don't know... I've never liked anyone before, so I don't know, Ray. You're my type? Is that the right answer?~ I only know that I'm so into you" She smiled giddily. 

"I just have some feelings to sort out... will you wait for me?"

It was undisputable for him that Jean was a good girl—the perfect girl even. She was so close to Lana in so many regards that it was baffling. Moving on from Lana was becoming more than a faint possibility. 

But then another woman appeared to confuse his feelings even further. A woman that represented the ideal crush of any man.

"As long as there is not someone else you're interested in..." Jean laughed.

"... but there is".

"Huh?".

**

**

"Is this the ginger little pussy you want me to teach, darling? She doesn't look like much" (Emma)

"Ray, who is this dirty blonde? Why are you calling him darling?!" (Jean)

"..." (Annie)

"..." (Ray)

"Watch it, girl. What's going to get dirty is your mouth after I fill it with mud" (Emma)

"Bring it!" (Jean)

"... can you both stop, please? We're at the school gate" (Annie)