H U N T E D ~ T H

3

The next day was like opening a can of fizzy juice that you just dropped. Will it explode when you open it and cover you in sticky liquid and ruin your whole day. Or will it be fine and you can enjoy your can without worry.

But in my occasion the can was Tom. And I didn't know if he was going to explode, open his big mouth of his and expose me to everyone. Or, would do as he was told and keep to himself. I was begging it would be the second option.

I hadn't seen him all morning. But I was on edge, looking behind me every two seconds and flinching at the slightest sound, the sound of lockers slamming reminded me of a gun. I jumped, clutching the edge of the locked door as I squeezed my eyes shut, breathing in and out to calm myself down.

"What is with you today?" Annie questioned, a cigarette between her lips as she rested her shoulder in the locker, watching me with her normal judge eyes. "Your acting weird."

"Just feeling a bit sick, probably something I ate" I lied, clearing my throat as I slipped my books into the locker. "You know you shouldn't be smoking here, we are standing next to a smoke detector."

She took a puff before dropping it to the ground, crushing it with her heels. We made our way to the cafeteria, our friends already seated with food.

Nick and Isaac were there, shoving each other's shoulders. When Nick saw me a smug smile ripped on his lips, he pulled at the colour of his football jersey as if to make myself more presentable.

"Sup, Summers," He greeted Annie, his eyes on my the whole time "Greeves."

I didn't say anything as I sat down, he's uncomfortable to be around. If you were to ask me who that kid in high-school is, you know the one you'd imagine rapes girls and harasses them, I'd pick him.

"Isaac, you still coming over tonight?" Annie's asked her boyfriend, sipping her pink smoothie drink.

"Can't tonight, football practice, remember" Isaac is nicer than Nick, but when Nick is shoving some kids head down the toilet, he stands back and doesn't interfere.

There's something about him though, like he's always hiding something. I was taught body language so I knew what to look out for, and he literally screamed 'I'm hiding something'. What though? I'm not sure.

"You always have football practice" She let out a sigh, stealing Kits orange from his tray.

"Hey! Get your own!"

"Heads up, new kid keeps starting at us" Nick kicked my leg from under the table, nodding behind me.

Everyone turned around, also me. There was Tom, sitting at a circular table with his two brothers with him, the twins, fighting as always. They got a lot older, they'd be 14 now.

"Who's the kids with him?" Isaac asked, biting into his Apple.

"His brothers" I answered before I even processed that I was opening my mouth "—I'm guessing, anyways."

Tom looked up, his eyes instantly meeting with mine. I spun back around to my friends. We don't know each other, remember, we don't know each other.

"I actually think he's looking at, Kayla" Kit spoke, his brows furrowed.

"Hear that, Greeves" Nick snickered "New Kids got a crush on you."

I hummed a laugh, opening my water bottle and taking a large gulp of it. "Go talk to him" Annie said, making me practically chock on my water.

"What?"

"Talk to him, we could use a hot young biker in our group" She bit her bottom lip, looking back at Tom.

I have to, if I say no it could look suspicious. So I hesitantly stand, waking over to them. With every step I can feel my heart beating faster. He's watching me, eyeing me up and down as he slouches on his chair.

"Hi" I clear my throat "I'm Mackayla."

I'm Mackayla! What the hell was that?! He already knows your name, god this is so stupid.

"Is this a joke?" He snorted, looking back at his brothers who were frozen, looking up at me.

"Please, Tom" I sat down next to him, keeping my voice low "Just go along with it."

"Why should I, Sunshine?" He leaned forward, whispering to me. Sunshine, still calling me that dumb nickname. "You disappear for four years and suddenly your living this different life and we can't know anything about it?"

"It good to see you again, Kayla" Sam smiles, his brother Harry nodding along.

"Look, the less you know the better, I'll do anything you want as long as you keep this a secret" I look into his brown eyes, biting my bottom lip with nerves.

"Anything?" He repeats, a smirk growing on his lips.

"Sure" I nod.

"Okay, we'll keep your secret" He looks back at his brothers "But I want a Kawasaki."

"Hah!" I laughed out "You got 3,000 quid?"

"Well— no" He tilted his head to the side, his brows knitted together.

"No money, no bike" I shook my head, chuckling "Just because I'm asking you to keep a secret doesn't mean you get to do be out of good cash."

"Your dads got plenty of bikes, he doesn't have an old one lying about?" He grinned.

I let out a huff, standing up from the seat and walking back to my friends. I sat down beside them, glancing back at Tom who was now arguing with his brothers.

"What'd he say?" Nick asked, shovelling a forkful of his salad into his mouth.

"Just asked about stuff to do in this town" I shrugged, Nick nodded not saying anything else, I'm an amazing lair.

"I can get 1,000 by the end of the month" Tom slammed his hand down on the table beside me, making everyone jump, including me.

"What the hells going on?" Annie looked between me and Tom.

"Her dad sells bikes" Tom answered with an innocent smile, pointing to me.

"Yeah, we know" Nicks tone is threatening "But how the hell do you know?"

"He lives around the corner from me!" I interrupted, looking up to him and raising my brows "Saw my dads bikes out front. Didn't you." He grins down at me, licking his lips. Is he seriously playing this game right now?

"New kid" Isaac speaks "Wanna sit with us? Saves you hanging out with your brothers?"

I scowled Isaac down, shaking my head at him. Tom gladly sat down, and he just had to sit next to me. "I'm Isaac" He shook hands with Tom "That's Nick, Annie, Kit and I guess you've met Kayla."

"What part of England you from?" Annie asks, resting her head on her hand. She's so flirting with him.

"South-West London" He answers.

"Oh dang, so is Kayla!" Isaac laughs.

"Really!" Tom gasps, totally fake. "I lived in Kingston, what bout you?"

"What time is it?" I dodged his question, not even looking in his direction. I hate him, I hate him so much that it's taking everything in me not to punch his smug face in.

Nick looks down to his watch. "Oh we should get to class."

I practically sprinted out of the café, grabbing my bag and dragging Kit and Annie with me. "Dude, what is with you?" Annie ripped away from my grip as we made it to the crowded hallway.

"Is it cuz he's English? Is there some rival English thing going on here?" Kit laughed, nudging my shoulder.

"I have a bad feeling about him!" I argued "There's something odd about him."

"The only thing odd about him is that he's totally attracted to you" Annie scoffed. that was a lot of damage. I pursed my lips, looking down to my feet.

I can see what's he's doing, he's gonna keep pushing me till I break and tell him the truth. If he knows anything about me, it's how stubborn I am.

I'm never going to tell him. But two can play ball. He's starting a game he was born to loose.