Chapter 7

"Claire!"

I froze. I recognised that distinctive high-pitched voice. It was Ruby's.

I laughed loudly and turned towards her. "Oh, hi, Ruby. How nice to see you here," I said with a big fake smile on my face.

It took her a second before she reacted. "It is you! What are you doing here?" she asked, with a confused look on her face. She glanced at her watch and added, "Especially at this hour."

I had to come up with something quick. I stuttered, "I--I live near here." I took in a deep breath and spoke in a neutral voice. "We just moved here not long ago."

"Oh, really?" she responded. "That's such a coincidence. Tyler lives around here too." She glanced at the apartment building as she told me that.

"What? No way.." I breathed, feigning shock. "The Tyler Evans?" I pretended to look around hastily. "He lives here? I didn't know that."

Ruby pouted and sighed in disappointment, "I guess you didn't see him then." She stomped her foot after a second. "Dang, I can't believe I missed him again."

"Aww. That's too bad, Ruby," I said as I patted her on her arm. I felt sort of relieved. I put on an indifferent voice and questioned, "Do.. you know exactly where he lives?", emphasising the word, 'exactly'.

"Hmm.. exactly?" she cocked her head. "Well, not really. The only thing I know is that he lives in that building over there." She pointed to the building behind me.

I bit my lower lips, trying to come up with something. "Ruby, are you sure he lives there?" I asked. She narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "I mean, have you ever really seen him around here before?"

Her face grew slightly alert. "No, actually. But.. Maggie and the others saw him coming out of that building before."

"Ruby, it could possibly be a relative or a friend's house," I lied as I tried to sound convincing. "Isn't it a waste of time if you come here every morning when, in fact, Tyler doesn't even live here?"

I felt bad that I had to lie but no one in school can find out that Tyler and I are living under the same roof. It wouldn't just be 'troublesome' to him, but to me too. Imagine all the threats and looks Tyler's fan girls would give me.

Ruby nodded slightly as she got what I meant. "Yeah, I guess you're right," she spoke slowly. "But.. what if he really stays there?" she questioned, still having doubts.

"Come on, Ruby," I sighed. "Don't waste your time waiting for Tyler Evans and finding out where he lives. He doesn't deserve it." I was actually telling the truth. He probably did not even know a single name of his 'admirers'.

She suddenly looked mad. "Claire, I know that you're not fond of Tyler but you can't talk about him like that!" she spat and added matter-of-factly, "He's really not that bad."

I looked at her incredulously. "He's really not that bad?" I repeated after her.

"Are you serious, Ruby? Do you not see how he treats you guys?" I rambled on in a state of shock and somewhat frustration. "He's really not that good at all. You should see how child--" I stopped myself from talking as I realised that I'd almost revealed something that could raise suspicions.

"See how what?" Ruby asked, as she eyes curiously.

"You know what? If you say that he's not that bad, then he's not that bad," I said, giving up on my argument. The bus came just in time. "Oh, look. The bus is here. Let's go!" I softly pushed Ruby towards the bus entrance.

***

As soon as I saw Dianna, I told her about my encounter with Ruby early this morning.

"Imagine what would happen if she wanders around the apartment building everyday," I complained. "Oh, gosh. I hope there isn't anyone else that lurks around there." I bit my lip and continuously tapped my foot as I thought of the worse things that could happen.

"Claire, calm down," Dianna said as she put on her eye-liner with the help of the mirror in the girls' restroom.

I retorted, "You don't understand, Dianna." I paced back and forth. "If any of them finds out, I won't able to stay there any longer."

"Well, you could always stay at my place."

"I stopped and glared at her through the mirror. "I told you. I didn't want to trouble your parents."

She scoffed and laughed. "Trouble? Please, Claire, you know they love you."

"No, you're never going to convince me on this," I answered. Just then, I heard a creak and then a click of the door and stopped talking.

Dianna and I stared at each other in the mirror. I waited for a second and when I realised that some person might have heard us and ran out, or she could have wanted to use the washroom and decided not to, I gasped and sprinted out. I looked around to see if there was any suspicious targets but the hallway was filled with people; some were in groups and some were hanging by their lockers.

I pressed my lips. This was not good. If that person had really heard our conversation, there are only two things that I could expect. First, she would either ignore because she just didn't care at all or second, she would tell everyone because coincidentally, she's one of Tyler's fans.

"What. Who was it?" Dianna asked as she ran to my side, her eyes searching around the hallway.

I managed to mutter, "I don't know, Dianna." I was beginning to panic a little, my heart was beating so fast and there were droplets of sweats forming on my temples. "I really hope she didn't hear anything," I continued, turning to look at her. I was horrified.

I was going to have Chemistry the next period. On my way to class, I contemplated on whether I should just tell Tyler about it when I get back to the apartment or I should just pretend like nothing had happened. I knew that I was a bad liar though. Mom and dad, as well as Dianna, had told me that it was obvious when I lie. If something was to happen, if the rumour that we're staying together was going to spread throughout the entire school and I were to tell Tyler that I didn't know anything about it, he would know that I was lying.

I sighed as I entered the classroom with Dianna beside me. I swiftly glanced the room and paused. I stared at the person who was sitting around the corner. What was Tyler Evans doing here? I turned towards Dianna and she had the same surprised look on her face.

My question was answered when Ms. Swift clapped her hands for everyone's attention and announced. "As you all know, Mr. Bartly had resigned and because of that, we'd be having our lessons with half of his class until the new teacher arrives."

I scowled at her in disbelief before continuing to walk towards my seat with Dianna following behind me. I glanced at Tyler and saw that he has his eyebrows raised at me. I let out an inaudible laugh and rolled my eyes. It wasn't like I wanted to be in the same room with him either. If I could just wipe that look off his face, I would. Dianna and I settled onto our seats.

"Seems like fate has planned everything out for you," Dianna teased.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "I can't believe this is happening. It's as if staying with him isn't enough," I grumbled.

I heard Dianna chuckled before Ms. Swift spoke.

"We'll be doing titration today-," she said, "-Since we have new classmates here, I'll be assigning new partners for each of you."

The class started to break into groans and complaints, and also some giggles.

"We don't want to change partners!"

"Ms. Swift-"

"Is she kidding?"

"I hope Tyler's my new partner!"

"Yes, finally! I was getting annoyed with you."

Ms. Swift raised her wooden ruler, one that she used to point on the white board and sometimes on people, and hit it on the teacher's table a few times. Everyone quieted down as she continued speaking, "I've noticed that the number of students in our previous class and the other class are even. So that everyone can get to know each other, students from the previous class and those from the other one will be given a set of numbers. When I call out each number, the two of you would need to settle down on your seats starting from here." She pointed to the bench on the left. "Now, you, Andy and Miss Brand, come up here and pick a paper." Ms. Swift had prepared to paper boxes filled with little pieces of numbered papers.

Andy from my class went over and picked a paper from one box and Sarah from the other class picked from the other. Slowly, everyone walked over to the teacher's table to take one of their own. I had picked one that was labelled '8'. Looking over at Dianna's, hers was number 5. After everyone had gotten each other their own piece of numbered paper, Ms. Swift started calling out the numbers.

"Number 1!" She called out the numbers in ascending order until she reached Dianna's. "Number 5!"

Dianna and I looked at each other with frowns on our faces before she headed towards her seat. I was sure my eyes were wide when I saw who her partner was. No, it wasn't Tyler, but Ethan. I stared at Dianna and she just shrugged at me. I began praying that my partner wasn't Tyler. There are 22 students in this class and there's only a slight chance that he might have picked the same number as me, but I still can't be too sure.

"Number 7!"

Felicia, who was one of my classmates, walked over to the seat but no one from the other class intended to move.

Ms. Swift twisted her head over to us. "Who picked number 7?" she asked.

No one answered. Everyone turned and looked at one another.

"Uh.. I did." A guy from the other class stepped out. He had a slight look of uncertainty on his face.

"Why didn't you go to your seat when your number was called?"

He just remained silent and sat down.

"Okay, next. Number 8!"

I took another look at the small piece of paper I was holding before getting ready to walk to my seat. I put my books that I was holding on my other hand on the bench and sat down. I heard the sound of the chair beside me being dragged and I snapped my head over to see who my partner was.

I gasped. "No way.." I breathed, trying not to laugh. This was ridiculous.

Tyler sat down on the chair next to me.

"What--what's your number?" I asked, staring at him.

He didn't respond.

Fine, if he wanted to ignore me, I was fine with it. It was no challenge for me since we were already like that back at the apartment.

I took a deep breath and turned my attention back to Ms. Swift until she finished calling out the remaining numbers. After everyone had settled on their places, Ms. Swift asked one of us from each pair to take the apparatus and chemicals. Knowing that Tyler would hand that task to me, I just went and took them.

***

"Go and get some more," Tyler ordered as he handed the empty beaker over to me.

I looked at him. "Don't you have legs?" I countered. "Go and take it yourself." I turned my attention back to the measuring cylinder I was holding in my hand.

I heard him sigh before he got up and went to took more of the solution himself.

"You changed your number, didn't you?" I asked when he came back. This can't be just some coincidence.

He shifted his eyes to me. "And if I did?"

I paused. "Why? I thought you didn't.." I lowered the sound of my voice just to make sure no one could overhear us. "I thought you didn't want to associate with me in school?"

He scowled and kept his voice out of the others' hearing as well. "I don't. Who knew that Phil would coincidentally had the same number as you," he hissed.

"So, you were the one that was supposed to sit with Felicia." I was surprised. No wonder it took that guy some time to step out. "From what I know, you could have been in a better position than you are currently in," I continued.

"I'm not so sure about that," he replied in confidence. "That friend of yours-," he gestured to Felicia with his head, "-has been bugging me."

I looked over to her. I didn't know she liked him too. What was up with the girls in this school?

"How are you guys doing over here?" Ms. Swift asked as she walked over.

"Oh, we're doing fine, Ms. Swift," I said, smiling.

"Are you getting along with Mr. Evans?" she questioned, eyeing over Tyler.

I glanced at Tyler. I hesitated but keeping my smile on, I answered, "I don't know, Ms. Swift, but he hasn't been very friendly."

Tyler glared at me as I turned to him, faking my frown.

"There, there, Mr. Evans. You should open up more since you'll be partners for the time being." Ms. Swift advised him as she patted his shoulders. "Raise up your hands if you two have any problems."

I nodded. "Okay."

When Ms. Swift went over to the other students, Tyler began speaking again. "What was that?" he snapped.

"What was what? Aren't we suppose to act like we don't know each other?" I asked, feigning innocence and turned back to continue with the experiment.

***

Before keying in the key code of the apartment, I was suddenly reminded of what happened at the washroom earlier. I bit my lip. Should I tell Tyler about it first or should I wait for the right time? I decided that I would tell him the next time since I wasn't even sure if anyone heard us.

I unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment. I spotted Tyler over at the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water.

"What took you so long? It's already two-thirty," he said when I passed by.

"Mr. Grant asked me to help him with some stuff," I replied. "I'll go change first before I make you your lunch." I walked towards my bedroom and changed into a grey sweatshirt and a black shorts. I tied my hair into a bun and got ready to prepare lunch.

I made mashed potato and spaghetti this time. He should be glad that he got to taste the spaghetti I made. I took pride in making it because everyone who had tried it had genuinely said it was tasty.

"Tyler," I began, as I poked the fork into the plate of spaghetti and twisted it. "Do you know that your fan girls wander around here?" I inquired, waiting for his respond.

"Yeah," he said matter-of-factly, grabbing the glass of water that was next to the bowl of mashed potato on his right.

I gaped at him. "You knew and you told me not to let anyone find out about us staying together?" I asked incredulously. "You're not even giving me a chance, are you?" I was starting to feel frustration creeping up inside me.

He shrugged. "It all depends on how you handle it. You can do whatever you want, just as long as no one finds out."

I stared at him in shock. Wow, okay. Feeling agitated, I took a deep breath and calmed myself down a little. I wasn't going to let him get to me. "Are you going anywhere later?" I asked.

"Why?" He eyed me curiously.

"I'll be visiting my parents today," I said. "They told me to bring you over whenever you're free."

"I'm going somewhere else." His eyes moved down to his plate as he said that.

I sighed in relief as I had secretly hoped that he wouldn't be going home with me today. I was sure he had noticed it because he raised his eyebrows in amusement after that.