Chapter 4

Dan sitting on the floor hasn't gotten any sleep since what happened yesterday. He's staring blankly at his phone still waiting for his mother to call or message him. It's already 5 am in the morning. The phone got a notification but it's not from his mother, it's a reminder that his school starts today. He got up on the floor, his legs felt so numb after sitting for so long. His body gave up and he fell on the floor. He pushed himself up but he fell again. He's tired. He didn't know where his mother was… He doesn't know what to do?... He's now completely alone…

The phone got notification again. It's a reminder. He turned off his phone and pushed himself again, his vision blurry a drop of water falling on the floor. "Ah.." He's now crying.

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When he arrived at the school, he didn't sleep or eat. His eyes are tired and his body hurts.

The rain is still pouring but not as strong as yesterday. There's a lot of students finding their room.

He's now walking in the hallway finding his classroom.

He entered his classroom and took a seat and put his head on the table.

Someone sat beside him but he didn't look. The person's shoulder bumps on him but he didn't care about it. He was so tired.

The class started and the teacher introduced himself after that he says. "Now students turn to introduce themselves." Sir Parker says. One student introduced himself after he introduced himself to the others. Another student stood up and said his name. It continued until it got to him. He stood up. "I'm Dan Smith." He then sat down.

"He looks boring." One student whispered. "Yeah." someone chuckled.

The student beside him stands up.

"I'm Warren Anderson." He then sat down. The students were stunned. The girls start giggling and chuckling as they look at Warren. Dan didn't know why the students were shocked but he ignored it.

The class ended the bell ringing signaling for lunch break but Dan felt like didn't want to eat so he left the classroom and went to the library.

As he's walking in the hallway he bumped into Warren.

He looked at him, Warren was very tall compared to him. "Sorry…" He apologized and continued walking.

Warren stared at him as Dan walked away. Warren ran his hand through his hair, turned and walked.

The rain was pouring heavily outside, the sound of it tapping on the window was almost deafening. Dan was sitting alone in the library, his shoulders hunched over, his eyes were heavy and red. He rubbed his eyes and continued reading.

The room was silent, the only sound coming from the rain outside and the occasional page flip from the book he was reading. He felt a sense of solitude in the room, no one else was there except for him.

He suddenly felt a pair of eyes looking at him, he looked up to see a tall figure standing there. It was Warren.

"Hey, is it alright if I sit here?" Warren asked, gesturing to the seat across from him.

He gazed at Warren and turned to his book and nodded.

Warren sat down across from him and opened the book he brought and read.

The silence continued as Warren read his book, occasionally glancing at Dan. After a few minutes of reading, Warren broke the silence.

"So what book are you reading?" Warren asked, his voice low and soft.

Dan looked up at him, he didn't answer and turned back to his book.

Warren noticed his lack of response and chuckled. "Not a talkative guy, huh?" He said, closing his book.

He leaned back in his chair and continued to watch Dan, who was still reading his book.

As Dan continued reading, he could feel Warren's gaze on him, but he tried to ignore it and focus on his book. However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, knowing that someone was watching him.

He glanced up at Warren, who was still staring at him, with a half-smile on his face.

"You know, it's rude not to answer when someone's talking to you." Warren said, his voice laced with a hint of mischief.

Dan turned his attention back to his book.

Warren leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. "You're a quiet one, aren't you?" He said, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Dan didn't respond, still keeping his focus on his book.

Warren chuckled, amused by Dan's lack of response. "You know, you could at least pretend to be interested in our conversation."

Dan let out a small sigh. "What do you want?" he asked quietly, looking at him with a dark round under his eyes.

Warren's smile widened as Dan finally spoke. "There you go, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "I just wanted to get to know you better, see what kind of person you are."

Dan just stared blankly. "What's your deal?"He spoke dead. "I know I'm new in this school but I'm not dumb to tell you everything about me just for your interest." Dan stands up and gazes at Warren. "Leave me alone." He spoke flatly and walked away.

Warren smiled as he watched Dan disappear at the library. He covered his mouth and chuckled. "He's more interesting than I thought…" He muttered under his breath.

As Dan walked away, Warren chuckled to himself. He couldn't help but find Dan interesting, the way he responded to him and the way he spoke was so blunt and dry. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of person he was behind that cold exterior. Warren turned his attention back to his book, but his mind was still plagued by thoughts of Dan.

For the rest of the day, Warren couldn't get Dan out of his mind. He observed him during class, watching the way he sat. He noted the way Dan's shoulders slumped forward and the dark rings under his eyes.

After the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Warren walked towards the car, the driver opened the door, and he got inside the car. As the driver closes the door, He spotted Dan walking by, alone. He smirked as he watched him walk.

Dan walking out of the school. The rain stopped, the road was dry and the sun was shining. He walked until he got in the store. He entered the store. "You're early." Mr. Brice said.

Mr. Brice got out the counter and gave him the apron. "I'll be out again so take care of my store."

Mr. Brice walked away and left the store.

Dan goes to the counter, puts his bag on the counter and wears the apron. He sat in the chair.

The store was quiet, only the faint hum of the lights and the soft ticking of the clock broke the silence. Dan sat at the counter, his mind still thinking about his mother the whole day. Where did she go?... What happened to her?... His foot starts tapping on the floor.

"Hey…"

"Hey…"

"HEY!"

Dan flinched and looked up. His eyes are blank. It's the drunkard man again. He's completely drunk than yesterday.

Dan got up from the chair and put the ten beers in a plastic bag.

"This will be 200 dollars, sir."

The man picked his wallet in his pocket and got the money and placed the money at the counter.

Dan looked at the man. "Sir, it's not the same amount."

The man ruffled his hair and grumbled. "Just give me the beer and I'll pay for it later."

"I'm sorry, sir but I can't."

The man unexpectedly grabbed Dan's collar from his shirt.

Dan didn't react. He's completely tired and enough with this."I'm sorry, sir. I cannot give it to you, if you didn't pay for it." Dan spoke flatly.

The man's grip tightened. "Don't repeat what I said." He gritted his teeth.

Dan just stared blankly for a second and pointed at the side. The man looked where he pointed and saw a CCTV camera.

"You know everything you do is recorded in that camera. So if you do anything this will be my evidence."

The man grabbed tightened and let go of his collar. The man's hand clenched, took his money at the counter and left the store.

Warren has been watching the whole scene. He's smirked and winded. He suddenly let out a laugh. "How amusing…" He spoke as he tapped his finger in his leg as he watched Dan.

"Sir, should we go home now." The driver asked with a trembling tone.

Warren looked at the driver through the mirror but the driver avoided his eyes, his body was trembling.

Warren leaned his seat and looked back at the window, staring at Dan that had been putting the beers back in the fridge. The smirk came back on his face again. "Start the car now." He ordered.

Dan is now done putting back the beers, he went back to the counter. A customer comes in at the store and another one.

5 hours passed and he is now much more exhausted. Mr. Brice arrived at the store and walked towards him. Mr. Brice handed him an envelope. Dan grabbed it and opened it. It's money.

"That is your salary." Mr. Brice spoke.

Dan bowed down. "Thank you, sir." Mr. Brice patted his shoulder.

"Go home now, kid."

Dan took off the apron and gave it to Mr. Brice, he grabbed his bag and thanked the owner again then left the store.

Dan looked at his phone. It's already 8:30 pm and he still doesn't know if his mother is ok. He put his phone back in his pocket and went to the restaurant.

He entered the restaurant.

"You're here." Ms. Kate spoke.

"Sorry I'm late." He walked towards the counter and placed his bag and got the tray.

"Table 3, kid." The chief says.

He nodded and walked towards the table and placed the order.

"Excuse me!" A person spoke at the other table.

He walked towards the person.

"Yes?" He asked.

The person says his order and thanks Dan.

Dan nodded and headed back to the counter and placed the customer orders.

He then walked away and started cleaning the other tables.

Ting! It's a signal that the food is cooked. Dan walked towards and got the tray and went to the table. "Here's your order." He placed it down the table.

. . .

He used the key at the door and opened it. "Mom, I'm home-." He suddenly realized that his mother was not home. The floor is still dirty, the house is dark and silent.

A tear rolled down his cheek. He fell down and covered his face as A large volume of tears flowed steadily.