Chapter 6: Strawberry Toast

    It was just me and Clyde at his office's small kitchen. Victoria tried joining us and I didn't mind because she said she doesn't want the spread; the toasted bread with butter will be enough for her. But the President checked her schedule and it's only three minutes before her Calculus. As for me, I have one and hour vacant.

    The President was toasting and all I can do is watch him do the work. For the first time, I can look at him closely. Clyde does not have any close friends, he only has his colleagues, I can tell it whenever I saw him doing rounds in the mornings and afternoons, buying lunch and walking home.

    I am surprised that I have extra time minding his business before. But it is not actually impossible. He's the President, he holds position. He has fame.

    "Stop staring, Shasta. Try helping instead," he said while playing with the toaster. 

     "You can it on your own," I replied but took a bread knife to slice some bread. I smirked with he thought that I'll help him. No, Pres., I'll eat your toasts. I am not going to help you.

    "Don't you have class?" I asked while spreading the sweet pinky spread. 

    "I am the President. I don't do classes," he said with cockiness.

    I almost dropped the bread knife because of what I've heard. I don't want to do classes too!

    "But I do lots of student tracking and papers which is more exhausting. Classes are better," he blurted. I couldn't prevent my small laughs. 

     Okay, Clyde I will just stay in my classes. 

     Then, he suddenly looked at me with amusement which made me feel a bit conscious, I can only look away before asking, "Why don't you step down if it's too much for you?"

    He laughed so hard as if he heard some horrible joke and I am very much offended. 

    "You know that the president position is not being voted right? The school administration does cherry-picking," then he smirked. 

    "Then, you're the best?"

    "I am. That's why I will not quit," he replied, full of confidence. 

     "Cocky," I remarked then I heard him hissed.

     I started eating the toast he made then I felt like I'm in cloud nine. The crunchiness of the bread is perfect, Gordon Ram. can't argue. And I also put multiple layers of the strawberry spread. Making the bread flawless.

     "How 'bout you?" he asked while washing his hand.

      "What do you mean?"

     "Don't you have any plans to step up from your class?" he asked. And it is 100% surely not offensive that I almost throw him the bread knife.

     "I don't have any plans to follow stupid school functions." He almost choked on his own saliva because of what I've said. 

     Yes, Pres., all of your approved school activities are stupid for me. 

    "You don't know what you're talking about," he tried to fight back.

     I know he's already annoyed so I laughed to savor my victory. 

    "Why don't you try having an assistant or personal secretary? To help you with rounds or papers? Is that allowed," I asked him.

     But before he can answer, we heard loud knocks and the door opened, it was Febby. 

     "Good afternoon, Pres…." she paused a little then looked at me, "and Shasta. Anyways, urgent meeting. Vice's office," she said then left already. 

       I guess he's right. Being the school's president is more exhausting than being a normal student.

       "Gawd. That admin. I already imagined being home early," he murmured and I couldn't stop myself from staring at him. 

       "What?" he asked when he noticed I was staring at him. 

        I shrugged my shoulder as my replied.

       "Then don't give me that judgey face," he said while walking towards his table.

       "I am just surprised. You look like a normal person for me now," I said. 

        He looked back at me with visible confusion.

        "What? Do you think I am an artificial intelligence or something?" he asked with his eyebrows almost connecting. He looks so adorable for me I couldn't hide my amusement. 

        "No, I mean.." I cut off as I got up from the stool, "I thought you are some workaholic school's puppet with a very bad temper," I said while walking towards the door. 

       "Well, somehow you are actually right. I have bad temper. But I am not a puppet Shasta." He chuckled. 

       "No, like, I thought that's your jam. Work for admins, study, work for admins, study and often get irritated by normal students. But you're actually more than that." 

       I saw how her ears turn bright read.

      "You like compliments huh?" 

       "No. I get them regularly it's just that it was from y-" he whispered.

        I didn't hear completely what he said so I asked, "Huh? It's just that?"

        But instead he went to the door and said, "Let's go. Attend your last class."

       Kill Joy. 

       My last class for today is P.E. that is I why I went straight to the girls' locker room to change into my P.E. uniform. After I changed I almost had a heart attack after seeing a white dress hanging near the room's window. 

      "Bastards. They surely want to kill me."

     But then I suddenly heard a kid's chuckle. I can feel my how my hair stood up and how my skin felt really cold. I am inside the girl's locker room. And I was alone when I entered. 

    I hurried locking my locker then ran faster than the speed of light. I am very frightened right now. I feel like there is someone chasing me than I ran closed my eyes. I can't see the way anymore but whatever I need to run faster. 

   I have the will to fight humans but not ghost. Ever. Don't even imagine me fighting a ghost or anything about ghosts (well, unless if the ghost is Casper) I'll be dead before I even notice. 

    "AW!" I shouted when I felt a hard object smacked my face. I fell on my butt for the second time today and all I can do is suffer in pain. 

     "What the hell are you doing?" I heard Nate's voice. He's holding a book before his chest and I can easily figure out that it's the object that my face met helplessly. 

     I stood up and immediately slapped his arm. 

     "You are so mean. I'll kill when I get the chance."

     "So why are you running so fast with eyes closed?" I heard another voice. It was manly yet very soft for my ears. It was Jack standing beside Nate.

      "What? You know each other???" I asked.

       My eyes almost fell and my jaw almost hit the floor when Nate nodded his head. 

      "What the?" I couldn't finish my sentence.

      "At the hostpital-"

       "Wiat. Are you dying or something?" I asked immediately. I care for him. I'll slap him if he will tell me now that he got confined and has cancer or any other deadly disease that soon he will die and he will just tell it to me right now. 

       "Can you let me do the talk first?" he asked impatiently. 

        I nodded even though I want to argue more. 

        "We met at social gatherings. He's the son of a hospital director," he whispered the last sentence to me. Rich kid alert.

        "Wow," I said. Well it's not really surprising. Most of the students here are absolutely rich and needs to be disciplined or very discipline. 

         "So why were you running like that?" he asked again. 

         I just shrugged and left them. I'll just go to the gymnasium alone. 

         I don't want to get closer with Jack or anything that may connect us. I am scared that one day I'll find him dead because of me like what I always dream every night.