Troubled Waters

My jaw dropped, and for a moment, my heart sank at his words, but then that didn't make any sense. How can one transfer to another school during an exam week?

"Stop joking and tell me the truth?" I sensed a hint of a lie, and I looked into his eyes, but all I got was a blank expression. Was he really telling the truth?

He sighed, placing his hand in his pocket. "I told you what I know—."

"Then what about the deal? Is it off? The concert is in a few days; all we did this past week can't just be for nothing." I cut him off, my hands clenched to my side. Feeling a mix of frustration, he was getting my hopes up for nothing and now what?

"If you want to know so bad, just go over to his house." Owen responded.

"I can do that?"

Owen looked a little frustrated by my question. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and said, "I will text you his phone number, and I can take you there if you want?" He asked, but less of a question and more of a command.

"Sure.." I replied suspiciously. My phone binged in my pocket, and I saw it to be a message from Owen which stated: "Save my contact." How did he even get my number? Probably Jake.

I slowly lifted my head back at Owen, only to see him walking back to his classroom. "How rude," I muttered.

My gaze then shifted back to Samantha. She had her eyes fixed on me, her chin resting on her palm. She then stood up from where she had been seated and casually walked up to Owen. She tapped him gently on his shoulder, causing him to look up, but he didn't look surprised. Why would he? They were classmates after all. She then leaned in, her lips close to his ear, and whispered something to him. It must have been about me or probably I was just thinking it was about me, but immediately she drew back, he shifted his gaze back in my direction for a brief moment before returning his attention to his book.

At this point, I knew something was going on and going over to Jake's was the only way to clear my suspicion. I hoped.

Later that day, before the bell dismissed us for the day, I told Matilda all about it, and even she thought something was off about the interaction.

"You definitely have to go over to his place." She suggested as we walked down the stairs with our backpacks tucked at our back.

"You think?" I responded in a sarcastic tone as that was an obvious thing to do, and she reacted with a light chuckle. "Can you come with me?" I asked, pouting.

"Me?" She pointed at herself. "Hell no," her hands raised in the air like she was avoiding a ghost haunt.

"Why not?" I asked as her response was not what I expected. The Matilda I know would never want to miss an opportunity like this.

"Uhm..you know his parents?" She raised her brow. "No way." She responded.

Now that I thought of it, Jake had terrifying people to be called parents. They owned multiple companies, including one my dad worked at, and even he confirmed how cruel the Andersons can be. There have been reports from employees being treated poorly and even sacked for the slightest mishap. Although Jake was proud and extremely obnoxious, he was nothing close to his parents.

"So you have forgiven him?" Matilda's question came as a shock.

"No, of course not. I have just realized I have come too far just to back off, especially when the concert is around the corner. It would be a waste not to go."

"Oh really," Matilda said and I could tell she was being sarcastic.

"Of course." I defended, raising my voice louder than I had intended. "I hate him for what he did." Well, hate was a strong word, but she got my point. "But that's not the point. I still want you to come with me. Please."

"Sorry, but I can't. Besides, who's going to cover up for you? You know your parent won't let you go to his place."

"Like they care." I muttered, thinking about their constant fighting. They have been really distant from each other, and I was feeling left out.

"What?" Matilda asked, as she didn't get what I said.

"Nothing."

"When did Owen say you guys should meet?" She asked as we got to the final stairs.

"We haven't—" I felt a vibration in the pocket of my hoodie, which was wrapped around my waist. I tucked my right hand in and pulled out my cell phone.

"What is it?" Matilda asked, her head tilting to get a view of my screen.

"It's a message from Owen. He wants us to meet at the gate?"

"Today?" Matilda wondered, and so did I.

"I think so. I guess I have to go ahead." I sighed, feeling frustrated and a little disappointed by the fact that I won't be going home with Matilda.

"Don't worry about it, just make sure you tell me everything when you get back." She winked at me and I could easily tell what she meant.

"Matilda..." A voice called behind us, causing Matilda and me to turn our heads in that direction, only to find Mark; a senior and classmate with Jake. His curled blonde hair fell freely to the side, and his blue gaze met Matilda's, who had a wild smile plastered on her face. I knew that smile.

"Hey Mark," she waved at him.

"Hey, are you going home now or…"

"Yes." She replied hurriedly, causing me to furrow my brows as I stared at this awkward scene.

"That's great, we could head out together." He replied and I watched as his hand brushed her shoulder.

"Hey, there is a visible being right here," I whispered to myself, only loud enough for Matilda to hear.

"Oh, this is my best friend, Piper, the one I told you about." She spoke, pointing in my direction.

"Who isn't aware, the girl dating Jake, the god of the school. Everyone knows that." He responded.

Yeah right, lucky me.

"And Piper, this is Mark." She added, and I responded with a smile. "Can we go now? Piper has somewhere else to be."

"Yeah, I have to run somewhere." I said.

"That's great, but uhm…if you can give me a second. I need to grab something." Matilda responded with a quick nod, and he ran off to the other side.

Now that we were all alone, I asked, "I didn't know you and Mark were friends." I spoke, getting her attention as her gaze was fully fixed on Mark.

"Yeah, ever since you became preoccupied with your fake relationship,

I started making new friends. Cool, right?"

"Right," I muttered. I felt a little disappointed, but then again, Matilda wasn't a kid. I can't expect her to always be by my side. It has always been the two of us, but then again, there's nothing wrong if she has Mark as a friend. More than a friend. "I have to go then." I said to her before waving her off.

Standing at the school gate, I met Owen, who stood by the side of a car. He had his headphones on, his head lowered as his hands scrolled through his cellphone.

"I am here." I called out to get his attention before walking over.

He looked up and turned to open the door to the backseat before sitting comfortably and also creating a space distance. I saw this as a gesture and took my seat, closing the door shut.

"Where to, young master?" a man sitting in front, who I presumed to be the driver. With his black tux and shades.

"Young master?" I repeated, my lips were held tight, and my hands clutched to the car seat. Trying so hard to stop myself from laughing. How do rich people really think?

I heard a sigh, not the relaxing kind but the annoyed one, which caused me to laugh harder. "Jake's," Owen replied. I could feel his hard gaze staring right at me. My head tilted to the other side, facing the window to avoid his intense stare. "Young master," I muttered, as the car engine started and we were off.