All the Little Secrets

CHAPTER 5. STRANGE BIRDS

Chapter 5. Strange Birds

It's finally Friday, almost to the weekend. A four-mile run this morning helps clear my head from last night's chat with Liam, but my chest still tightens at his words... 'I'm not different... your fault to believe otherwise.'

My alarm blares on my phone as I finish drying my hair. Becca will not let me live it down if we're late again. I quickly dress in skinny jeans and a flowy tank with my white high-top sneakers, run my fingers through my tangled hair to make it wavy again, splash some water on my face, moisturize, skip the makeup, brush my teeth, fake a smile, then grab my stuff and rush downstairs.

As I enter the kitchen, my phone chimes. It's a text from Seth; he's picking me up for school today. I let a smile loose, and my mom catches it.

"What's making my girl so happy?" she asks, studying me with a smile herself. "Or should I say, who?" I laugh as I grab an apple from the fruit bowl. A horn honks outside the mansion as all heads turn to the noise.

"Who is that?" William asks.

"That's my ride, see you!" I kiss my mom on the cheek and blow one to Parker. I ignore the look Becca gives Liam as I run towards the front doors. My mom follows me to the foyer as I head outside.

"Is that him?"

"Yes, Mom, it's Seth. Bye!"

"Social suicide," Becca says loudly, as William questions, "Seth?"

His black Jeep idles in the driveway as I run down the path. The sight of Seth hanging over his windowless doors smiling goofily at me makes me feel not so alone anymore. I gravitate towards him quickly. I climb in the backseat as Farrah waves curtly from the front seat. Seth turns to look at me and we sit there for a moment, smiling at each other.

"We're gonna be late," Farrah says, a bit harsher than expected. She doesn't seem excited to see me. I thought we were becoming friends? Seth rolls his eyes at her but continues to smile at me through the rearview. I glance towards the mansion as Becca and Liam walk out, heading towards her car. Neither one look in our direction.

As we drive to school, we talk about how my mom ended up with William.

"I'm sorry you got stuck with them," Farrah expresses her condolences and I laugh.

"Me, too." She finally smiles at me.

We park and Seth offers to carry my bag. I let him as the three of us enter Building A. the hallway is slightly empty except for some students at their lockers. I glance Cage leaning against a locker with the two guys from yesterday, Tyson and Peter, laughing about something. Seth tenses at the sight of them. Both Seth and Farrah stare straight ahead, pretending not to notice. I follow their lead until one of the guys speaks.

"There she is, sexy as hell."

I look over in their direction. All three guys are staring. Peter nods in interest at me, a sickening smile on his face. Cage hits his chest as if to stop him.

Seth puts his hand on the small of my back and says, "Keep walking."

"Hey, new girl," Tyson shouts out. "You're walking with the enemy."

Seth's hand moves off my back to give them the finger, then he places it protectively around my waist. Farrah looks over at his hand, and her expression darkens.

Wait, my heart begins to race. Does she like Seth??

"It's really a shame," Cage says walking up behind us, the guys following him, egging him on. "Didn't peg you for someone who would sink so low, Avery."