Chapter 4.

The chair on the other side of the table is pulled back.

" So is this where you usually hide, when you're not in the company of your friend?" He's here again.

What does he want?

I lean back and sigh, just staring at him.

" You probably want to punch me, don't you?"

" What gave you that idea?"

" Well, you have that look, it says a lot."

" Well I must be really ugly then." I mumble, getting back to my schoolwork.

" That's not ---------"

The bell rings, cutting him off.

I rise to my feet and pack everything into my bag.  I make the mistake of glancing at him, where his eyes are focused on the table. He's in his hoodie today, but has revealed more of his face to the world.

" If you don't want anyone on your back, being late for detention isn't the way. " I say, before walking away.

Feeling him close behind me, I frown at my own mental sigh of relief.

What is wrong with me?

We make it to detention, and like always, there's no other students apart from us.  Mr Lankosky doesn't even say a word nor glance our way, as we enter and walk on to our seats.

Like always, I keep my head down, taking out out a book to keep me busy while being here.

The sound of a phone ringing, replaces the silence.

" Shit." I hear behind me.

" Whose phone is ringing?" Mr Lankosky asks, his attention now on us.

Glancing over my shoulder, I watch Wesley search for his phone.

" Mr Adams, this is detention, you should know better than to --------"

" It's mine!" I blurt out.

That's when the phone decides to stop ringing, silence takes over, but all attention remains on me.

" Miss James?" I look at him.

" You know the rules."

" Yes sir and I'm sorry, it won't happen again." I say, rising to my feet and rushing over to Wesley, who has a confused expression on his face.

" Phone." I mouth to him, blocking Mr Lankosky's view.

" What?" Wesley whispers.

" Phone. " I repeat urgently, irritation deep within, for his slow movements.

Mr Lankosky typing behind me, gives me time to snatch his phone from him. Before switching it off, I notice a missed call from the hospital.

Hospital, why would - no it doesn't matter.

I switch it off and place it in my jacket, turning around and walking back to my place.

" Miss James?" I stop in my tracks and Mr Lankosky glances up at me.

" You know the rules," he repeats, holding out his hand to me.

I sigh, digging into my jacket pocket and handing him my phone.

" You will get this back tomorrow." He tells me, placing it in one of his drawers.

I nod, returning back to my place.

I feel Wesley's eyes behind me but I dare not glance back.

I can't believe I did that. He just had to not put his phone on silent. As much as I'm a little annoyed, I can't really blame him if the hospital was calling.

I wonder why the hospital was calling him?

Did he need to be reminded about a certain appointment or something?

No, I've never once bothered  myself with other peoples business, so why should I start now?

" It seems that we will have to cut detention short today, because I have somewhere to be." Mr Lankosky announces, glancing down at his watch.

This makes me to sigh out in relief.

Thank the heavens above.

" Miss James, remain behind please. Mr Adams, you may be excused."

What did I do now?

Wesley's eyes pass to me before he walks out.

" Miss James, you're one of the good students here, please refrain from such mistakes."

" Yes sir."

" And one more thing, return it to Mr Adams so he'll attend to whatever needs his attention." He gestures to my jacket, with a small smirk on his face.

I try to suppress a grin as I nod and walk out of class.

The small smirk I had on my face slips, when I see Wesley, leaned against the wall with his hands deep in his pockets. I would have walked passed him, if I didn't remember that I have his phone.

Without another word, I walk over to him and take out his phone. " Here."

" You did it again," he mumbles, taking the phone.

His fingers graze my own and I jerk my hand back, at the feeling of small tingles.

" You should probably return the call. " I tell him, walking past him.

" Thank you." He says, falling into step with me.

" I didn't do it for you." I say, quickening my steps and walking ahead, leaving him at the entrance.

" You say that yet you keep helping me." I roll my eyes and keep on walking.

" Hey, wait up!" I don't stop, walking out of the school gates.

" Wait, I want to say something!" He says, chasing after me, and I almost crash into him when he jumps right in front of me.

" What?" I hold onto my bag strap.

" You don't like me, do you?" His eyes search mine, for what?  I don't know.

" If I didn't, I wouldn't even give you the time of day."

" You like me?"

I scoff at that. " Cocky, are we?" I start walking past him but again, he spins me around by arm, to face him.

" No, no, I didn't mean it like that." I move out of his hold.

He notices and steps back, burying his hands in his pockets again.

" I can't believe I'm about to do this." He mumbles, his eyes on the ground.

I frown in confusion.

"Do what?" His eyes snap to mine.

" You might think I'm crazy and probably I am, but I need someone to listen to me and be able to tell me straight, when I talk bullshit."

I stare at him, searching for any signs of humour or lies.

" You're serious?" He nods.

" No, no, I am no shrink or therapist." I tell him, taking a step back with eyes wide.

Who does he think I am? Oprah.

" I haven't gone back." I stop walking.

" What?"

" I haven't gone back there ever since that night, I haven't had a reason to, and I don't want there to be one. That's why I'd rather spill all my guts out to someone whose honest."

" What makes you think I'd want to listen to you talk, huh?" I arch my brow at him.

" Call me out on my bullshit, but I bet you want an escape too, you've been looking for an excuse to not focus on your own stuff for a change, so here I am, giving you something. "

"You think you've got me all figured out don't you? Well you don't know me."

" That maybe so, but you seem to forget that when one spends their time alone, they are able to see and hear things."

" So what are you? A spy now, creeping  up on other peoples business?"

"You know, a lot happens in highschool, most that you wish you didn't know." He shrugs.

" Tell me about it." I shake my head, thinking about all the stuff Callie has never failed to share.

I don't even really care about these people.

" So you've been watching me?"

" I've noticed a few things."

" Like what?"

" Well you like to be on your own most of the time, you half listen to your friend, when she talks about anything Cheer or highschool drama related, you zone out in homeroom and I know that your eyes are your honesty. Your eyes don't lie."

" When did you figure that out?" I ask in a small voice, not knowing what more to say.

He shrugs in response.

" Why don't you look for someone else? I don't know, a shrink or something." I suggest.

" No offence, but I don't want an hour wasted, laying on the couch and listening to some old person, tell me how I should feel, only for me to return home the same I was before."

" You've thought this through, haven't you?"

" Yeah, I guess."

" Alright then, what's in it for me?" I'm testing him.

"Whatever it is, just tell me."

" Okay then, what if I want you to go back to how you were, what if I told you to return to basketball, flash your expensive cars, host wild parties, to no longer wear this hoodie and let loose." I take each step when I mention something, him taking one back.

I close the distance and lean close to his ear. " What then?" I whisper.

I pull back, my brows raised in a challenging manner. He's just staring at me.

Just when he opens his mouth to say something, I turn around and walk away.

" Is that what you want?" He calls from behind.

" Heck no! You were a freaking walking cliche dude!" I call back, sneaking a glance before continuing walking, a smirk playing at my lips.

   

                         ********

Today just had to be the day where I forgot my house key, not only that, but have my phone taken from me.

Having arrived home, the door being locked, reminded me of being late in the morning and rushing out of the house, without so much as checking if I had everything with me. Now I'm seated on the porch steps, waiting for Aiden to show up, since he has gym today and will be returning later.

The sun is setting, it's getting quite late and I'm exhausted and hungry. I would have gone over to Callie's, but she's busy with Amber. No surprise there.

Sighing once again, I take my bag along with me and start on for a walk, just to find the nearest diner I can find. I don't even get far when cars blaring music and obnoxious people being loud, for the world to hear, park at Callie's home.

Turning around and leaning against a pole, I silently watch some guy get out of an expensive red car, followed by Callie, whose soon pulled close to him. Just when he leans close to her, Amber and a few of her friends get out of the first parked one, and join the couple, if I can call them that.

Laughter, cheers, and conversations roll into play, before Callie says aloud that she'll be right back. She leaves everyone else to continue on with their conversation except one, he looks familiar but I can't remember his name.  His eyes are very much trained on Callie's back even when Amber's friend, Alexa, if I'm not mistaken, tries to earn his attention with a hug.

Teens and their drama.

A car pulling over beside the pole earns my attention, as well as one of the guys from the group. Sneaking a glance, I notice that the car looks kinda familiar. The window rolls down to reveal none other than Wesley.

What is he doing here?

" Stalking me now?" I ask.

" Why are you out here, instead of at home?"

" What are you doing here?" I notice him look ahead for a moment, before he leans over the seat and pushes the door open.

" Callie, get your ass down here!" Amber calls out.

" A small ass!" Alexa comments, earning a few snickers.

I shake my head a bit when Callie comes rushing out of the house, though uncomfortable with her ' guy friend' smacking her ass, she pretends to like it, with a fake giggle.

Having had enough of this, I turn away from them and go on to enter Wesley's car, hearing someone ask if before them is Wesley.

I throw my bag at the back.

" Glad you finally joined me." He says, while I pull up the window.

I notice his line of view is on one specific guy, the same one who kept glancing at him. Wesley breaks the contact before starting the car and driving off.

" Do you know him?"

" It doesn't matter anymore," he mumbles, staring ahead.

O..Kay.

" So where are we going?"

" We're going to get your phone back," he says, sounding casual.

" Wait what?" My eyes widen.

" We're getting your phone back" he repeats.

Oh so I heard right.

" We're going to break in at school, aren't we?"

I watch him smirk, stealing a glance at me.

Oh shit.