Chapter 7

I knew he was doing it on purpose again but I didn't say anything, even when I watched him smiling to himself. I resulted to waiting till he grabbed his share before I did the same. 

Then some minutes into the show we watched in fascination as a cheetah ran after a zebra and caught it. 

" Poor zebra!" I said, but Austin was smiling broadly. 

" That was so cool!" he said excitedly.

" Cheetahs ARE cool, they're definitely the strongest in the animal kingdom, " I commented and he looked at me like I was out of my mind.

" No they're not, lions are! Stevens, aren't you supposed to be the smarter of us two?"

" Come on, just think about it, what's better than speed? Lions might be strong but without speed, they're susceptible-"

" Big word alert!" he cut me off playfully, I shook my head and reached into the packet of Cheetos.

 So did he. 

I immediately tensed, I don't know why I did that, I glanced at his hand that was roughly the same size as mine, he had literally placed it right on top of my own! I raised my eyes to his and found him watching me so I quickly withdrew my hand. Knowing he had done it on purpose. 

" Relax, will you? I'm just messing around. " he stated while laughing. 

We went back to our argument,but I let him win that round because otherwise we wouldn't have watched the show in peace. 

" Finally, you've realized that I'm right! Lions are definitely stronger than cheetahs!"

" Yeah yeah, whatever. Let it go already. "

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

" Cheetahs are stronger. " 

I looked at the text once more before I placed my phone screen down on the counter. Then I wondered where exactly he had gotten my number from. I didn't like the fact that he has succeeded in messing with my head, he was unlocking memories I had long since shut away. And he was digging up those that I had buried. Everything he did was calculated, had always been. Even when we were kids he never did anything without a purpose. Another text came through and I chose to ignore it even though my mind was begging me to just look. I went back to my book even though my focus was no longer there, I had forgotten almost everything I had just read and I had to go back. 

Another text. 

I glanced at my phone, then I considered just switching it off since I wasn't even using it, but the second I held it in my hand, I knew what I really wanted to do was check what he had sent. 

And I did.

" Five years and not even a 'hi'? I'm hurt Stevens" The first one read. I wasn't going to reply to him at all. I read the second one and my eyes widened, I glanced away for a second before I stared at the screen once more. 

" I always knew you'd grow up to be sexy, but you've exceeded my expectations. "

I let go of the phone as if it had burnt my skin and I looked around. My entire face was aflame. I unconsciously reached up and held my ear, rubbing my finger over the cartilage as I tried to not think about the text. I took off my jacket because it was suddenly too hot in there. 

He didn't send me anything else until my shift ended, I was partly grateful. Partly disappointed?

I closed up and made my way to the grocery store where I bought all the things we would need at home. And when I got back to the apartment my mom was no longer there, she had taken the painkillers as I assumed she would and I wondered whether she had disappeared once more. She was getting worse each day and I didn't know what to do anymore. But I was tired and sleepy and I didn't have the strength to deal with her anymore. The things I had done for her were countless. 

After I restocked the fridge and placed the other things away safely, I went to my room and freshened up for bed. I had used all of the cash I had kept aside for that week which meant I couldn't buy anything else. But at least with the groceries I'd be able to make my own food for a while, it would be better than having to buy it. 

I had been busy drying my hair when I grabbed my phone and realized he had texted me again. He was really determined to get me to talk to him. I sat on my bed and looked at the text.

" New plan, say a proper good morning to me tomorrow and I won't disturb you again, you have my word. " 

That was unexpected. I didn't know whether or not to believe him.

I ignored the text, just like the rest. If he thought I was ever going to text him back then he had another thing coming. I didn't believe that he'd stop bothering me simply because I accepted to tell him morning, it made no sense and I was sure he was just trying to mess with my senses, and he was succeeding. I decided to just sleep, I'd deal with him the following day when I wasn't as exhausted. 

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" But you could have at least told me you knew him!" Kira complained on and on as we entered the school gate. She had been on the same topic since we met up that morning. I didn't get why she was so mad. Max had separated himself from the conversation by putting on his headphones. Sometimes I suspected he wasn't even listening to any music, he was just using those things to keep other people away and prevent them from disturbing his peace. I frequently did the exact same thing. 

" Don't tell me you're still hang up on him,"

" He's my soulmate! Of course I'm still hang up!" 

" Well like I told Max, we weren't close. I hardly even remember him. "

" Doesn't seem that way to me, "

" For the love of God! Enough about the new guy already. Jesus!" Max suddenly said, a hard edge to his tone which implied he was being very serious. Kira shot him a confused look and asked him why he was so grumpy. But I was glad when she let the matter be, but she did give me a look which made it clear that was not the end of our conversation. 

It honestly upset me that she was so interested. Her and all the other girls, the number bad decreased since they found out he wasn't as charming as they had imagined, but some like Kira had only grown more interested. Said that they found him even more attractive that way.

Girls were so freaking weird!

We were early, there was still some minutes left before the first bell rang. 

" Oh shit! I didn't finish the history assignment and that's the first lesson I have. " Kira said as she bit on her fingernail, then she wrung her hand and said we'd catch up later before she dashed to go find someplace to do the work. 

Max yawned and stretched. It was morning still yet he looked completely exhausted.

" Let me guess, you stayed up all night playing video games again. "

His commitment amazed me, we played together a few times during the weekend when I was free, but I always got bored and eventually left him to continue playing alone. 

" I'm on the hardest level, I swear I can't get past it. "

" Well don't forget about the quiz next week,"

" I haven't!You don't have to keep reminding me Kyle, "

" I'm just making sure you don't forget.." 

As I was finishing up the sentence, a new sound caught both our attention and we turned in sync. Then we watched as a really cool bike made its way into the school gates, then its owner drove straight to where they were supposed to be parked. 

I knew that bike, I wasn't completely sure but my suspicions drove me to believe it was the same one that had nearly ran over me. The rider stopped, turned it off, then he took off his helmet and ruffled up his brown strands. 

Of course it was him, who else would it be?

He stayed there for a while, scrolling through his phone. Then I watched as Miles, one of the football players, approached him. 

They seemed to know each other from what I gathered, Miles offered him his hand and Austin actually took it. Then they started talking like they had known each other for ages. 

What the hell!

Maybe that was why he wanted me to tell him morning? He was using it as an excuse because he really did want to stop bothering me. He had only been doing that because he had no other friends. but that was clearly still not the case. Now he had them and there was no reason to keep bothering me. Fine then,I was okay with that. 

" Just a couple of days and he's already in with Miles, impressive. " Max casually stated. Then he asked me whether we should head in and I shook my head. I don't know what was going through my mind, all I knew was that I was pissed for some reason. And I decided to just get things over and done with, if I wanted him to stop bugging me then I would do as he asked. 

" Hey, where are you going?" Max asked but I didn't reply. My eyes were focused on Austin. What were they even talking about? My legs seemed to be on a mission of their own, even when I began reconsidering my idea I couldn't stop moving. He noticed me approach and kept his eyes fixed on me, his hands on the helmet that he had placed on his bike. 

The corner of his pink lips curved up in the faintest of smiles, but I saw it and looked away. When I got to where they were, I stood next to him and some sort of panic suddenly washed through me. I caught hints of his cologne, then I looked at his eyes and the hidden intensity had my heart pounding and my hands sweating for no reason. 

" What's up Kyle?" Miles greeted me. His smooth chocolate skin tone agreed with the morning sun. 

 I gave him a curt nod. Noting the stud in his ear that looked genuinely expensive. Just like everything else he had on, but Miles was one of those 'cool kids' that were also nice. We were in the same Biology class and had once had to work on a presentation together. We weren't close friends but we did talk once in a very long while. I turned to Austin again, he seemed to be having a good time watching me trying to come up with words. But I inwardly scolded myself for how I was acting and decided to just get it over and done with.

" Morning, " I told him in the most calm and collected tone I could master, but my eyes were shooting daggers at him. I didn't understand where the anger had come from all of a sudden. He didn't respond, instead he swiftly got off his bike and stood in front of me. I had always been the taller of us when we were young. But I now realized that he had grown and beaten me by a few inches. 

" I'm sorry,could you repeat that please?" he stated and I wanted to punch him right in his freakishly handsome face! But if I wanted to be done with him then I'd just do what he asked.

" Morning, "

He still didn't reply. Instead, he hissed and shook his head. 

" Yeah, I don't think you genuinely mean that. Where's the energy?"

" I'm not doing this, " I muttered under my breath and gave up. Miles seemed puzzled as he stared at us. 

" As you wish, see you on Thursday then Stevens. "

There was challenge in his tone. I had already done what he asked, what more did the guy want from me. Sighing, I reminded myself why I couldn't stand him in the first place, then I faked a smile and pegged him with a level stare. 

" Good morning, I hope you slept well. Have a wonderful day....there! Happy now?"