CHAPTER FOURTEEN

RAIN

Xavier doesn't come over the next four nights. It's sad that I missed him. I see him every day in school and he walks right past me without a word or look in my direction. He finds time to glare at Greg whenever he's near me but he doesn't say anything to Derrick or Camden which is what we agreed on.

On the plus side of hanging out with Greg, Derrick a leaves me alone now. When he sees me, his first thought isn't to insult or push me. He just glares at me. Some of my things still turn up in places they shouldn't be but I found a solution for that too. Greg offered his locker for me to use. Derrick can't go near it because if he does, that'll lead to another fight with the basketball team and according to Greg, he'll get benched for the season if he gets into another fight.

The lunch bell goes off and I wait for students to leave as usual. Today I don't have this class with Greg so we don't walk to his locker together. I went back to my table with the stoner kids after that day. The message has been sent and Derrick got it loud and clear.

I open Greg's locker and rose petals fall out. I'm surprised and I looked at the locker number to be sure I don't have the wrong locker. When I confirm that I'm in the right locker I look around in the locker and find a note.

'Follow the prints', it says.

I look down and see little paw prints on the floor. The janitor is going to be so angry about this and the rose petals. I follow the print to a classroom that has been empty for years now. Greg is inside and he set up lunch on a blanket in the middle of the classroom.

"What is this?" I ask cautiously.

He laughs at my expression.

"Don't be so scared. Come in and lock the door behind you."

"Won't we get in trouble for this?" I ask, locking the door.

He shrugs and waves me over. I walk slowly to where he's sitting and join him on the blanket.

"What is this Greg?" I ask again.

"It's a picnic of course. An indoor picnic."

I raise my brows at him. He picks a cubed pineapple and feeds it to me. When I hesitate he sighs.

"Rain, my hand hurts."

I open my mouth and take the pine apple.

"That didn't kill you, did it? Let's eat and we can talk about what this is after we eat."

I am hungry and the spread looks nice. I sure hope this isn't a date. If I ignore the fact that I'm in a secret sex thing with Xavier - which I will - I don't like Greg like that. He's just my friend and rejecting him might hurt our friendship and my protection from Derrick. I don't want to choose between pretending to like Greg and losing my protection.

"It's delicious isn't it?" He asks with a smile.

I force a smile on my face and nod. "Yeah, it's nice."

We eat slowly and talk about our favorite movies and songs.

"You work at a radio station?"

"Yeah I do. It's not an everyday thing but on the days I do go, I go right after school. I work on the weekends too."

"That's so cool, do you want to be a presenter?"

I shake my head vigorously. "God, no."

I change the subject before he asks me what I want to do. I don't know what I want to do with my life. I just keep my grades up and hope it will be clear by the time I need to make my decision.

"So, what is this about?"

"You can't relax, can you?" He says and laughs a little.

"Sorry, no. I can't."

"Okay, let me get right to it. Rain, I want to take you to the founder’s ball."

I heave a sigh of relief. That's it?

"Wow, okay. That's cool. Isn't that like a month away?"

"Two weeks."

I make a mental picture of my closet and suitable gowns for the occasion. I don't think I have anything worthy. I'll have to touch my savings again but I want to go.

"Okay, I'll go with you. Thanks for asking."

He wants to say more but his phone rings. He looks at the caller ID and frowns.

"Sorry, I have to take this call. I'll see you after school, don't worry about cleaning up, just finish eating and get to class."

I nod and he smiles at me before leaving. I adjust myself after he leaves and eat more. I can't believe I was worried for nothing.

The door opens and I turn my head. Xavier walks in and locks the door again. He pulls down the blind that covers the little glass pane on the door.

"Convinced that he likes you yet?" He asks.

"I don't see you for four days and this is what you want to talk about when you get me alone?"

He shrugs.

"If you must know, I'm definitely sure he doesn't like me. He asked me to the founders’ ball."

Xavier laughs in my face, hard.

"You think a high school boy will set all this up just to ask you to a stupid dance?"

I start to feel self-conscious but Xavier doesn't back down.

"He probably chickened out last minute. I bet your panic was all over your face and he saw that."

"Please stop talking to me, Xavier. We don't talk at school remember?"

"Did you miss me? Are you mad that I didn't come the last four days?"

I don't talk. I shake my head and cover the containers of the food before standing up.

"Do you want to stop, Rain?" He asks.

Damn him. He knows I don't want to. I angrily walk past him, bumping his shoulder on my way out. His laughter follows me all the way to the library.

Why can't I say no to this boy?