Frozen Memories

The Greys...And One Dharke

Monday had so suddenly come around. Oddly and still satisfyingly enough, the passing weekend was one of the better spent couple of days I’d had. Max, though still distant to an extent, assisted me in various ways of fitting into the new world that I was attempting to awkwardly adjust to. She started with the ‘slang’ that was popularly being used at this day and age; some terms I was absolutely sure I would never use.

    Max had also taught me the art of fabricating stories to better help me fit into the judgmental world of high school. While Max had informed me that I did not have to answer people when they asked me questions about myself, I decided that I’d at least like to be prepared if I chose to answer.

When the bell rang for first phase, I entered the Computer Applications door, remembering what Ms. Fink described as an elective class that assisted in helping to learn how to use computers. I was actually sort of excited about this, as I had been interested to know about the workings of a computing machine since I’d come into consciousness.

    “Alright, class!” the teacher, I learned to be Mrs. Fuller calls. “We have a new student!” she pulled me in next to her so that I would be facing the front of the class. “I trust you will make her feel welcome.” She looked at me, momentarily startled for but a moment before she recovered with a small smile. “Now, would you like to introduce yourself to the class?”

    Of course not, but I already knew that in my saying no, she would only urge me not to be shy as did the other teachers, that Friday of my first day. So I turned to the hushed class.

    “Wilhelmina-My name is Wilhelmina-Frost.”

    “Well on behalf of the entire class, I say-it is a pleasure to meet you Wilhelmina Frost.” She smiled curtly.

    I gave my polite smile and said my hello to the eye lingering students. I then turned and headed straight to the empty seat I spotted in the back of the classroom, not wanting to cause too much attention.

    “Uh-Wilhelmina! Are you sure you’re going to be alright bac-” she started to say when the classroom door swung open, startling the class. Mrs. Fuller, was suddenly discontent. “Nice of you to join us!” she said in her shrill and raspy voice. I did not bother to look up and see to whom she was referring. As far as my concern allowed, what she was saying and who she was talking too had nothing to do with me.

    As I heard her requesting a tardy slip in the more selective background of my attention, I began attempting to assist myself with the large computer contraption sitting in front of me. Looking at the large computer, reminded me of the mornings I would wake to find Lisa Jones clicking away at the one in my room, during my stay at the hospital. The thought prompted me to remember how long it had been since I’d spoken to either of the two. Especially, Lisa Jones; I really was worried about her.

“Since you’re late, perhaps you wouldn’t mind helping Miss Frost set up with her computer.”

    Miss Frost? Me? I immediately looked up into the direction Mrs. Fuller was standing. That was where I saw the young man whose expression seemed displeasing and curious.

    His astonishingly blue marble gaze was striking. He abruptly shuts his eyes tightly for a moment before shaking himself from what I could only presume to be a stench plaguing his nostrils. Surely while I knew that I was not of a horrible stench, the expression on his face as he looked at me seemed to suggest otherwise .

    “I-um that is-I’m fine, Mrs. Fuller.” I assured. “I can-take care of it myself-” I started when in a rush he was suddenly standing in front of me. I looked around, wondering if anyone else witnessed the swiftness of him and it seemed no one did. The room was practically frozen for a moment as he stood there, larger than any previous person that I could recall running into.

    Struggling against something within himself, he practically growl, the sound catching me off guard, caused me to flinch. “Who-” his breath suddenly shortens. “are you?”

As simple as the question was, I still didn’t seem to know how to reply. Nor did I know why he inquired of such a thing in the first place when the professor just said my name.

“Are you alright?” I, instead asked, realizing his discomfort.

    As if realizing his awkward randomness, the young man backed away. “Did-you need help-” his gaze shifted around the room, away from me. “setting up?” he asked.

    When I finally looked at him again, I noticed he was watching me closely. I had no idea whether he even wanted me to say yes or no. Judging by the bothered look upon his flawless dark features, I assumed it to be the latter.

    “I can manage.” I finally decided to say. His overshadowing stature caused unease but I would not allow him to see it.

    Whether my reply offended him or not, I wasn’t completely sure because he chose not to respond. He only watched me a moment more before backing away. Two seats away, he dropped his bag and sat down, his gaze still back and forth between his screen monitor and me.

    “Are you sure, Miss Frost?” the voice of Mrs. Fuller suddenly broke into existence again, along with the chattering of the class.

    I nodded quickly and probably more vigorous than warranted. My unresisting gaze could not help stealing another glimpse of the tall and very arrogantly refined youth still hatefully staring at me.

    For some reason, his unwavering electric blue gaze made me feel shameful to an extent of foolishness. His expression was so uncomfortable, it looked as if he was attempting a less aggravated smile when looking my way. However, even then he seemed to be too shell shocked to even feign one. I quickly looked away and started my gaze to the blank screen of my computer. Admittedly, I secretly hoped that Mrs. Fuller would not come to the back of the class to see that I really had no idea of how to work this contraption.

    Just as Mrs. Fuller started on her lesson, a small finger pressed a button at the bottom right screen of my monitor and then pressed another that lay on a large machine behind it.

The screen suddenly turned to life; the beauty and brightness of the picture that enveloped the screen easily shocked a person of my understanding concerning the modern world.

I turned to acknowledge the girl that assisted me. She smiled in silent amusement, before grabbing what I learned from Dr. Byrne and Lisa to be the mouse and slowly used it, silently guiding me on how to operate it before she landed on the same screen picture as her own.

    “Let me know, if you need any more help.” She offered with a grin before she turned back to her monitor screen.

    “Thank you.” I say gratified. It looked almost as if I had accrued another friend. Her response to my gratification was a small smile before she returned her eyes to her own computer.

    I was admittedly happy when the bell rings for the end of Computer applications, it being not at all what I expected it to be. Oddly enough, I had the distinct feeling that the guy whose name I had not learned, snuck silent glances at me when he had his concealed chances. Either way, while I was happy to be free of the wandering gazes of not only him but the other classmates, I was sure that the curious stares would just continue to the next class.

    As expected, I held no interest in the subject of Science nor that of the Music Appreciation that Ms. Fink seemed to think it appropriate to place me in. Unfortunately, the students in both classes felt more inclined to stare than actually make friends. However, at this point I was not so much bothered about the fact.

    Satisfyingly enough, the Music teaching class was easy and the students were amusing in ways enough for the time to seem to go by quickly. At the second ring of the day, I was only too glad to head to the lunchroom and fish out which table to make myself comfortable at.

    Again, I settled at the table that Max led me too on the Friday before and watched to see if anyone that was not present on Friday would show up claiming I was in their seat. Though, part of me wanted to finish what I started with that Trisha Morrison girl.

    Fortunately, for me no one decided to show up causing problems. I opened my bag and grabbed the two small cups of yogurt that I swiped from the refrigerator on my way out of the house that morning.

    “Hey-”

    The word itself was beginning to place me in a default emotion of aggravation as I prepared to get up from the seat to avoid problems. “This is your seat, I take it.” I said, not even bothering to look up.

    “Oh no!” the girl quickly clarified. Recognizing the voice, I looked up curiously noticing who it is that was actually talking to me. “Wilhelmina, right?”

    “Oh!” I correct my tone. “Yes, I apologize.”

“Can I sit with you?” She suddenly asked.

    Stunned at the request at first, I quickly snapped out of it and nodded yes. “I-sure! Of course!” I obliged, moving my bag from the center of the table.

    Taking  a seat, she placed her plate on the table. “My name is Laura by the way.” She introduced.

    “Nice to meet you.” I replied. “You can call me Mina.” I smiled.

    “Cool. Nice to meet you too, Mina.”

    For some reason, I immediately felt as though I had to explain myself with the computer thing. “I am sorry-if I slowed you down in class today with that computing thing-I-I don’t do so well with thos-”

“You don’t have to explain yourself.” She quickly stated. “Just because you’re a kid doesn’t mean your parents raised you to have your face in a computer screen all your life. I know plenty of kids who’ve never even owned a computer.” She smiled. “We’re good.” She reassured.

“Thank you for understanding.” I said.

“No problem-”

“Hey, Lo!” I barely looked up before three others came over to the table.

 One I remembered in particular to be Clyde,the one that sat next to me on the bus my first day at school. I noticed his nice smile as he winked at me, he dropping his bag on the floor next to the attached chair. However, instead of him taking a seat on the chair, he decided, oddly enough, to sit on the table. I chose not to show my surprise considering this was not an era in which I was particularly accustomed in the first place.

    “So you’re the pretty new girl everyone’s been talking about.” Another guy said as he sat next to Laura, looking straight into my eyes. He blinked after a moment and seemed to catch shivers before he continued to talk to me in a renewed curiosity. “Your eyes-”

    “I’ve been meaning to ask-if you don’t mind.” Laura started to say.

    “Yes?” I say hesitantly.

    “Are-those contacts?”

    “Of course they are.” Clyde intervened. “No one’s eyes are naturally like tha-wait-” He paused, looking at me closer. “I thought-wasn’t your eye blue before?”

    “Actually-” I said after I paused a moment, thinking about the excuse that Max told me to explain so as to get the whole inquiry out of the way without compromising my ‘natural beauty’ as she so candidly put it. “They are real.”

    “Oh, wow.” Clyde countered in what I assumed surprise. “Who’da thunk?”

“I do not talk about it much.” I replied. “People have a tendency to judge at times. It’s a birth defect.”

“Well, I think you look beautiful.” Clyde smiled.

“Thank you.” I timidly replied.

“And I second that.” The other guy, whose name, I’ve not yet learned said. He winked before asking. “So what about that sexy accent of yours?”

“Oh wow.” Laura continued to observe me. “Do they know what the birth defect is called? I mean I’ve heard of Heterochromia, Coloboma, or maybe Ocular Melanosis?”

    “They have not found a name for it yet.” I quickly retorted.

She nodded, seeming to believe what I was saying. “Well it looks good on you.” She complimented.

    “I’ll say.” Clyde added, grinning at me. I chuckled nervously as my passing glance noticed Laura’s suddenly annoyed look.

    “And the hair-nice color. Is that part of the defect or is that hair color?” Laura asked, the expression on her face, easing gradually.

    “Uh, no.” I relayed before I could clearly think. “Uh-birthmark.”

    “Wow! Birthmarks in the hair. That’s rare.” Laura said. “Cool.”

    “Means you’re precious.”  The guy sitting across from me smiled. “Dustin.” He added in introduction of himself.

“Well, that was lame.” Max suddenly intervened, sitting next to me at the table.

    Dustin grimaced and cut his eyes in irritation before cursing under his breath. Immediately after, he decided to change the subject. “So what part of Europe did you say you were from?”

    “I didn’t.” I answered, shifting my gaze to Max, who did not blink.

    “Is this what you guys have been doing since you’ve sat here? What are you; pigs? She’s not at a police station under interrogation. So stop bugging her about her life.”

    “Max is right.” Laura agreed. “I’m sorry if you felt like you were being interrogated.”

    “Um-I-it’s alright. Curiosity.” I responded. “I understand.”

    Laura’s expression changed, as if she was trying to hold something back. “I-I’m sorry. One more question though! Just one more!”

    “Really, Lo?” Max said in a tone resembling that of annoyance. 

“N-no.” I reluctantly said. I certainly did not want to answer anymore questions but I also didn’t want to seem too closed off to my newfound acquaintances. After all, Max seemed to like them well enough to conversate with them. “It’s alright.” I finally assured.

“I’m sorry but-well it’s not about her-per say.” She added. “More so-what was that between you and one of the Greys?”

    Max, along with the others averted their gaze to me. “What’s she talking about?” Max asked. She looked back at me. “What happened?”

    “I me-I don’t know.” Laura replied. “Mrs. Fuller told him to help Mina set up and like, I don’t know what happened, but he was like suddenly in front of her, asking her who she is and-” she stopped talking momentarily, and even I appeared engrossed in her point of view of what happened earlier. “the look he had. Like he knew her or-she-I don’t know. I just know it was weird.”

    “Which Grey brother was it?” Max suddenly asked.

    “I should clarify-it wasn’t one of the Greys or well it was but.” Laura answers.

    “Who was it?” Max snapped.

    “Roman.” Laura finally answered. “Roman Dharke.”

    Max looked at me, pausing everyone else from speaking. “You know him?” she asked.

    “No! Of course not. You know I don’t!” I answered incredulously.

    “So you don’t know him?” Laura asked once more.

    “No. I do not.” I reiterated. “I am not from here. I do not know anyone.”

“Oh. Right. I guess I didn’t think about that.” Laura said. She sighed as if disappointed that there was not more that I could add to the story before she continued. “Well since you are not from around here then that means you do not know about the Greys. So allow me to shed some light on the perfect creation that is-they.” She smirked, her eyes pointing over to the far side of the cafeteria where they sat.

“Here she goes.” Clyde grumbled, rolling his eyes, to which Laura only ruffles through his hair, playfully nudging him.

Clyde attempted at a joke but I could see in his demeanor that this talk about the boys known as the Greys were something of a popular subject; and one that he would preferably like to avoid.

“If you do not wish us to talk about this subject, I-”

“Oh please, Clyde’ll be fine.” Laura said. She nudged him. “Won’t you Clyde?” 

He scoffed. “Talking about those bozos have no affect on me.” He said, though I knew otherwise. Nevertheless, I just gave him an understanding smile and nodded. “Thanks for asking though.” He winked.

Looking back to Laura, I noticed that she didn’t like this too much before she began again with her information concerning the Greys. 

“Well, since Clyde is now pacified, I will start with Thorne Grey.” She grinned brightly, subtly gesturing to the one who sat  in the middle. “He’s the eldest and known to be the strong silent type; he keeps them all in line. Everyone thinks he’s the stuck up one but if you’re brave enough to talk to him, he’s actually probably more approachable than any one of them.” She watched him, clearly admiring his youth; and for good reason as he so closely resembled his father, though slightly cleaner in his facial appearance. And his eyes were dark but still held a color hard to determine. 

“Probably the only one that carries the charm of his father, Killian.” Max grumbled. “Sometimes I’d swear the others were adopted.” 

“Then there’s Nixon.” 

“We’ve met.” I countered, chancing a glance Max’s way to see her reaction to him; as expected, she rolled her eyes and looked away. What was her deal?

I looked at Nixon Grey again, just in time for him to suddenly glance my way, a grin that I would think smug at first; but then upon thinking better of it, I felt it was more landing on that of amusement before he looked away from me. It was then that I noticed his gaze linger on Max for a long moment before he averted away.

“Second oldest and very outgoing. He’s kind of known as the womanizer/troublemaker of them all. As sexy as they all are, the women all flock to him. I think it’s because of his almost golden glowy skin and exotic look.”

“Or maybe because unlike the others, he’s a dog who’s willing to give any desperate girl a chance.” Max Powers mumbled.

“I-wouldn’t say that.” Laura said. “He just seems to approach girls more than his brothers.”

“All of them are exotic to me.” I said, shifting the subject. “Attractive in their own right; none better looking better than the other.” I said. “As for the troublemaker thing-well I can see that.” I said. He was quite an exotic one in skin tone, sitting next to the others however.

“Yeah, but everyone has a type of guy.” She said.

“This makes sense.” I agreed.

“Anyways-last but certainly not least is Roman Dharke. He’s not a Grey but he kinda is.” Laura said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Here she goes with the theatrics.” Max exhaled in annoyance. “Roman is the adopted nephew of Dr. Killian Grey and the youngest of the three-.”

“The youngest?” I said. “He is easily the largest of them all.” I pointed out. “Are you certain?” I asked.

“Not by much.” She said. “But as far as I know, he’s the youngest of the three.” 

    I glanced at that table to see that he was staring at me, his gaze harsh and penetrating; not to mention unnerving. Quickly, I looked away again, though not before even further confirming the feeling that Roman Dharke’s gaze seemed more mature than what it was.

“There is definitely something going on there.” Laura said. “That guy’s been staring at you since you’ve been sitting here.” 

Odd that I had not noticed this until she mentioned it. Nevertheless, I dared not look that way again.

“Roman Dharke-name says it all doesn’t it?” Laura said. “He’s like the pit bull of the three. “I’d say he’s both Thorne and Nixon rolled into one but I’m afraid it’s just not that typical with that one.” She giggled. 

“How do you mean?” I asked, so intrigued I found myself fighting not to look in his direction.

“Well-” She boldly looked over at him, even knowing that he was looking this way before turning to look at us again, scooting again. “Thorne’s strong and silent, yeah but, Roman-” she shook her head. “He’s like more-I don’t know-the beast.” She said. “Impatient, and unpredictable. You never know what he’s thinking-rarely even hear him speak. They are contrasting silent types; Thorne, sweet and casual with his silence-more the modest quarterback. While Roman-the brooding aggressive liner back person that tackles people and knock their heads off without question, ya know?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t” I simply answered. “However, I get the gist of what you are saying, I think.” I added.

“He’s so hot thought.” She said. “So sexy-and so hard to impress. Seldom, he finds someone that’s worth his time.” She said in what sounded like a longing type of way. “So hot.” She suddenly added.

“Okay, Lo-” Max interceded, annoyance in her tone. “We get it.”

“Oh, right-sorry.” She said, shaking herself from her thoughts. “Anyways, typically enough, they are the star players of the football team.”

“Football?” Though, I was still ill-learned on the sport, thanks to Max I at least knew its name now.

    “Yea. As cliché has it, Thorne is the star quarterback, Nixon is the star runner back and Roman is the star linebacker-or tackler or whatever.” She said. And judging by the look on Dustin and Clyde’s faces, Laura had apparently worded it wrong, somewhere along the line. “I mean really, how cliché is it that the hottest guys in school are also the stars of the football team? Every sports team, really.” Remembering who was at the table, Laura turned a sheepish look over to Clyde, Dustin and another guy that suddenly turned up at the table. “No offense guys.”

    “Why should they be offended when they are very attractive themselves?” I asked. 

“Thanks, Mina.” The guys at the table grinned at me. Apparently I said something very meaningful to them when I was only stating facts.

“That’s cool, though, because the same could be said about their girlfriends being the sexiest girls in the school.” Dustin said.

“Though, it’s been said that Max is pretty close in the running when it comes to being hottest of the hot.” Clyde laughed.

“Shut it Clyde.” Max hissed.

It was obvious that Max was not fond of showcasing attention on her looks but when allowed the perspective, Max Powers was very much a beautiful girl. I would like to have seen one in the school that was, in fact close to such a beauty like hers.

“And now we have Mina.” Clyde smirked.

I looked at him curiously, caught off guard by his comment. “Oh-I-”

“Oh, yeah.” 

“Okay, enough guys.” ,Max said, apparently sensing like I, that Laura was probably feeling left out of the sudden equation. “Go away.”