CHAPTER TWENTY

XAVIER

The next day I'm not in a better mood but I try to hide it at school. To make things worse, I saw Rain and new guy talking in the parking lot and they looked like they were going to be friends again which pisses me off because he still likes her, I saw it in the way he leaned into her and she has no clue. He's going to be more subtle about charming her now and I can't do shit to stop it from happening.

I forgot my homework at home, I could have asked one of the house assistants to bring it to school for me but the fact that I was so angry at my father that I forgot it made me angrier and I didn't call anyone. The teacher, Mr. Hedwig, didn't mind that I forgot it.

I skipped lunch. I don't want to watch Rain and new guy. I don't understand what's happening to me. This was supposed to be a onetime thing and now I don't see myself letting her go anytime soon. I need to put distance between us, get my head back in the game.

School ends and I try to get away before my friends see me. There's no practice today, coach’s wife is in labor and we don't respect the other coaches enough to stay for practice.

Camden and Derrick are by my car, laughing over something. Derrick is the first to see me and calls me over.

"Hey, come hear what we did."

"What you did, don't involve me in this." Camden says

"What's going on?"

"Your boy Derrick stole Rain's clothes?" Camden answers. Derrick just smiles, proud of himself.

"You were in the girl’s locker room?" I ask so I don’t say what I’m really thinking

"It was empty man. But that's not all, that's basic. I took out every clothing item in the lost and found bin and paid someone to take and destroy her gym clothes too when she goes to have a shower after gym class."

My stomach rumbles at the feeling of doom. This is not good at all. I steel my features and try to calmly reason with Derrick without sounding too concerned about Rain.

"I don’t know man, this could go bad."

"What? I thought you'd be proud of me. That's straight from your handbook of great pranks to pull."

Damn it, it is. They were bored one evening and I wanted to give them ideas on what to do people 'we' didn't like. I didn't expect for it to bite me in the ass years later.

"What about the basketball players. One more fight with them and you're off the team. I think they're friends again, I saw them together this morning."

"Nah, that's over. You missed lunch so you didn't see the evil eye new guy gave her."

I look to Camden who has been quiet. He's watching me with interest and when our eyes meet, he raises his eyebrows. Fuck him, I need to get out of here soon. If I'm here when Rain comes, that's trouble for me.

"I gotta get going. Dad needs me for something." Lies but they don't know that.

I wave bye at them and open my car.

"You bastard!"

So close. I turn and see Rain walking towards us in only a big towel. She didn't even grab shoes on her way out. She looks at me briefly and glares at me before looking back at Derrick.

"Derrick, I know it was you. Where are my clothes?"

I walk back to stand close to my friends. Derrick has an evil smirk on his face when he looks at Rain.

"What clothes?"

"Don't fuck with me, Derrick, I know you have my clothes. Give them to me."

"Hmmm, I might have seen your clothes."

Derrick stands and open the trunk of his car which is next to mine. He produces her clothes, or at least what's left of them. Her clothes are charred and burnt. Rain gasps when she sees the state of her clothes and again her eyes meet mine. I see the question and the betrayal in them as she looks me in the eye. I fold my arms and say nothing.

She suddenly laughs, picks up the charred remains of her clothes and walks away. It shocks all three of us. We were expecting a little more fight in her. I make up a shit excuse about needing to meet a teacher and go back for her.

I grab my extra gym wear before I go to the girl’s locker room. It's empty when I walk in and finding Rain isn't hard to do. I follow the sound of her cries to her.

She hears footsteps and turns. When she sees me, she wipes her tears and pushes me.

"You bastard, how could you let this happen?"

"Rain I swear, I didn't know what they were doing."

"I don't give a shit, Bishops. You found out and you stood there and said nothing."

"What the fuck did you want me to say? I told you I wouldn't get involved."

"Right, you did. And I stupidly didn't believe you. Leave me alone Xavier. Get the hell out of my life and take your friends with you."

"I know you're angry so I'll give you your space."

She laughs again. It's not real, it's an empty laugh.

"I'm not angry. I'm simply too tired for this bullshit. I don't need space, Xavier. I need you to leave me alone. I thought I could do this but I can't. You can't sneak into my house at night and rock my shit just to ignore me at school and not defend me when your friends hurt me. I am not a whore Xavier. I will not be treated like one."

"Rain, calm..."

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down. The last time you came over is the last time you should ever come over. If I see you in my house, I will scream bloody murder and those thugs outside, will get you."

"You don't mean that."

"Try me, Xavier. Please."

She takes the clothes from me and moves to another stall to change. I'm still there when she comes out after changing. She walks past me and slams the door on her way out.

I meet with the principal’s secretary to find out how to get new uniforms for her by end of day. She gives me all the details on how to get a new one. It's pretty simple except that I'll have to pay with a credit card. I have one, it's just that my father knows about every expense on the card. I want to leave it and instead go home for the stack of cash I keep in case I want to buy things I don't want my father to know about but I change my mind when I remember that this secretary is also on my father's payroll and this will definitely get back to him.

I pay for the new set of uniforms then take them home to Rain. She's not at home when I arrive so I drop it on her doorstep and give money to a crook I recognize to make sure no one steals the clothes.

I'll give her time to cool off before I come see her again. I can't not see her again.