Chapter 13

How am I supposed to get home now? Where could Claude be? I need to hitch a ride with him again.

She was still outside the school gate, waiting for the young man to pass by so she could catch a ride.

"Deanna, I thought you already went home. You're still here?" Suzy blurted out.

She even put an arm around her. "I'm heading off now, okay?" she said goodbye.

Suzy didn't even give her a chance to speak, so she just shook her head.

Maybe he already went home. Should I just walk?

She had no other choice but to start walking rather than waste time waiting. A few moments later, a motorcycle stopped in front of her. She was shocked to see that it was Amaury—she had thought it would be his brother.

What is this guy doing here? Did he feel sorry for me? But that's impossible.

"Oh, what? What do you need from me?" she asked, folding her arms.

"Here..." He tossed a bag at her, and luckily, she managed to catch it.

"What's this? What am I supposed to do with it?" she asked, confused.

"Take it back to the mansion," he said.

"What?! Don't you feel sorry for me? I'm already exhausted from walking, and now you're making me carry your bag too? Do you even have a heart? I thought you were going to give me a ride, but you're just making things harder for me," she protested.

"That's your punishment for going to the second floor of the music room. Do you know that no one is allowed to enter there? It's only for me and my friends," he told her.

"Punishment?"

She smirked. "Are you kidding me? How was I supposed to know that I wasn't allowed in there? Or are you just afraid people will find out about you and Claire kissing?"

"Even if you tell everyone, I don't care," he replied.

"Why don't you just let me ride on your motorcycle? That way, you'd at least do one good deed in your life," she suggested.

"And why would I do that? Are you special?"

"I never said I was special, but at least—" She stopped mid-sentence when another motorcycle honked and pulled up in front of them.

Good thing Claude's here—I can hitch a ride with him!

"Deanna, do you need a ride?" Claude asked.

"Yes, just a moment," she replied. She tossed the bag back at Amaury.

"You carry that yourself! I don't need to since I'm not walking anymore!"

She immediately hopped onto Claude's motorcycle.

"Why were you talking to him earlier? What did he do to you?"

"Your brother? Don't bother worrying about that monkey. By the way, are you two really not on good terms? Sorry for asking, but I've never seen you together," she said.

"It's a long story, so don't ask. But if he ever bullies you or says something bad to you, just tell me, okay?"

"It's nothing," she answered.

It wasn't that she was covering for Amaury, but she didn't want to be the cause of another fight between the two brothers.

"By the way, is there something between Claire and your brother?" she asked.

"I don't know. Why?"

"Nothing. I just noticed how clingy Claire is with him," she said.

"Ah, just don't mind them."

"So, Claude, is that girl really your childhood friend?" she asked again.

"Yeah. Wait, why do you have so many questions? Do you think we've made up already?"

"Come on, how would I know if I didn't ask? And for the record, I don't want to make up with you either. If it weren't so far, I wouldn't even be riding with you!"

"You get mad so easily. Next time, just have the driver take you to school instead of hitching a ride with me. Why don't you just admit that you want to hold on to me?" He burst out laughing.

"You're so full of yourself! I really thought you were offering me a ride out of kindness, but you're just like your brother!"

"Don't compare me to that bastard," he said seriously.

"Don't compare? You're exactly the same—"

"I said don't compare me to him because he's a murderer! Can you just keep quiet?"

She swallowed hard and fell silent at his words. She had no idea why Claude harbored such intense hatred for his brother. She felt like she was going to fall off the motorcycle from sheer nervousness.

What's going on with him? What I said was so minor, but he got so furious. And why did he call his own brother a murderer?

Out of frustration, Claude sped up the motorcycle.

"What the heck?! I don't want to die yet, Claude! Slow down! If you're mad because I compared you to your brother, I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd react like that. I thought it was just a small thing. I didn't mean to offend you."

He took a deep breath. She waited for a response, but he said nothing. Eventually, he slowed down until they reached the mansion. She had no idea how to talk to him now.

Fine, if he doesn't want to talk to me, then whatever. I already apologized.

He walked inside the mansion ahead of her, still ignoring her.

"Claude? Are you still mad? Hey!" she called out, following him. "Hey, I said I'm sorry," she added.

She didn't know why, but it was surprisingly easy for her to say sorry. He stopped walking, so she also halted. "So, do you forgive me?"

He turned to her, and she flashed him a smile. Suddenly, he covered her face with his palm. "Stop following me—I'm going to my room."

"Ew! Your hand stinks! Get it off!" she shrieked.

He quickly pulled his hand away. "Stinks? My hands smell great, okay?!"

"I was just joking. Anyway, we're good now, right? Don't be mad anymore, okay?"

She stopped talking when Amaury suddenly stepped out of his room. She rolled her eyes at him and entered her own room.