Chapter 3

I quickly look away from their table and stare at Mia. She’s looking at me with the same level of confusion that I’m sure she’s seeing in my eyes. I refuse to talk about it here, to many ears, and now that Dallas put an x on my back, everybody is going to be trying to hear what I have to say about this. She must read my mind, because she clears her face and just starts eating her snacks. I look down, he got me some crackers filled with cheese, chocolate donuts, turkey sandwich, and a power drink. Though it was a kind gesture, I can’t trust any of these things. I push them to the side and look up at Mia, she offers me some of her chocolate donuts, but I refuse. This event has my stomach in knots, waiting to see what is about to happen.

When the lunch bell finally rings, interrupting my very quiet lunch period, I jump up and try and file out of there as quickly as possible after saying goodbye to Mia. I throw away all the snacks he gave me, normally I would try and give them back so it’s not a money waste if there really isn’t anything wrong with them, but I have no intentions of talking to Dallas ever again. Not that I said anything to him this time.

I finally make it out of the lunchroom and start heading to fourth period, AP Geography. I feel someone running up behind me, I tense my whole body getting ready for whatever was coming, but to my surprise nothing happens. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything. Just thought I could walk you to class.” Dallas says kindly, and I just keep walking trying to pretend he isn’t there. “I see you didn’t like the snacks I bought for you.” He says, I just turn my head towards him and give him a small smile then look forward. Why is he talking to me? He lets out a small laugh, “Oh come on Aims, I know you can talk. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have heard your joke. You not like your snacks?” He pleads with me. Aims? Did he just give me a nickname, or does he think my names Aims?

Whatever, I decide to talk so maybe then he’ll leave me alone. “I liked the snacks you picked out fine, Dals. I just wasn’t hungry. You don’t need to walk me to class, I know where my class is, but thank you. I’d rather walk alone.” I retort starting to get angry, I’d rather they just did whatever they were planning. I don’t like this make friends with the enemy bullshit. He lets out a small laugh, “Dals?” Is all he says. He seems to be thinking about something, “I like it. I can assume that wasn’t the reaction you were going for though. Do you not like your new nickname? I could always pick something else.” He says jokingly, but I’ve had enough. “I don’t care what you call me. I don’t care what you do. Can you stop pretending to be nice to me, and get on with whatever you were sent to do to me?” I stop in the hallway, he stops to causing a slight traffic jam, and I stare him in the eyes. A flash of guilt washes over him, but then he seems sad. “I’m not pretending Aims. Look I get it, but honestly, I’m not planning anything.” He responds with so much kindness that I almost believe him, until I look over and see Cole and Walker trying to be nonchalant not twenty feet away from us. Walker has golden blonde hair, with blue eyes, with pale olive skin, and just a little taller than Cole and Dallas. Cole has dark brown curly hair, dark eyes, and milk chocolate colored skin. They all have muscles for days and look like they get their hair cut by the same barber. I point over to his friends, “Good try.” I say, and when he looks to see where I’m pointing, I take off.

I’m completely distracted the rest of the day, even in art with Mia. The teacher is talking about an abstract painting that she did. She’s always talking about the paintings she’s made. I’ve seen a few, it’s honestly a shame she wound up being a high school art teacher. She could sell her paintings, but she says when she tried she couldn’t part with them. They all hold a spot in her heart and just wasn’t willing to give them up. “Do you think this is all apart of some lame joke?” I whisper to Mia, she looks over at me sadly. “I mean, maybe, but maybe, he just wants to be your friend. You know, you’re not impossible to like, Amy. Plus, Dallas is the nicest of the goons.” She says giving me a wink and grabs my arm. “In this pack, there’s a low chance of that.” I say rolling my eyes. “I don’t know... I really love you, I don’t see it being that big of a stretch.” I purse my lips and turn back toward the teacher. I don’t hear anything she says, Dallas has already taken over my mind. Granted maybe that’s what they want, to make me constantly think about what they plan to do. Unfortunately, it’s working.