Against Them But You

Chapter 8 - Trouble in Paradise

RECAP:

"Wait," I interjected pulling away from him.

His grip tightened around my waist not wanting me to leave him. "Hmm?"

"Is your car even broken?"

Damon let out a laugh and winked playfully. "Not really. I just needed a reason to get you under the moon."

Flushing from what he said, I buried my face back into his chest. "And you're my kind of guy."

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Monday, the first day of school, a day many people hate and dislike, me being one of them. I sighed heavily as I pulled out my schedule from my locker.

"Chemistry, literature..." I mumbled out reading today's classes. After pulling out the books that I needed from my locker, I turned around to sit on the lawn of the school yard. I wanted to review whatever I possibly can before the first period started.

The first thing my eyes fell on was Bradley. He was sitting at the far end of the yard. His gaze was fixed in my direction, watching me, observing me. The eyes that he owned were lifeless and cold. They painfully stared at me with immense sorrow, a feeling so strong it hurt to look at him.

I slightly smiled in hope of changing his mood. Instead, he lowered his gaze away from me, not showing the slightest bit of interest.

My heart squeezed and constricted in me. In all my years with Bradley, I've never seen that look in my life. I flinched as his face reappeared in my head. It pained me to just think about it.

"I know, I know. Monday makes us all want to cry, but that's what I'm here for. Jessabel, I'm back!" Skye happily cried out as she skipped towards me.

I needed to be there with him. I am his best friend.

"Hey, hi, could you just hold on a second? I'm sorry." I quickly apologized before I made my way to Brad. My heart raced and pounded in my chest. What happened to him that made him look so hurt?

"What's up with her?" Skye asked Jared who was now standing next to her.

"Beats me, I just got here." He replied back gawking in my direction.

His friends, Natasha, Emilia, and Jonathan were all sitting there surrounding him like bodyguards. They were all glaring at me as I got closer. I hate it that they're always with him. It makes it impossible to be myself, but nonetheless, I had to.

"Brad" I breathed out the moment I got there. I tried to act as jolly as possible in hope that my happy mood would change his. I sat down on the table behind him resting my hands on his shoulders. "I have something for you." I gave him a light squeeze.

I pulled out a key chain that had a red and silver drum set charm hanging from it out of my pocket. Brad has this hobby of collecting all kinds of key chains. It was kind of cute actually. I'd get him one from time to time as a surprise or as a piece offering whenever we argue. As a result, he'd smile and gaze at it like a baby mesmerized with a new toy. It was the most innocent and child-like smile I've ever seen. Hopefully, this would do the trick.

"Here, I got this for you a couple of days ago." I told him handing him his present.

"Not interested." He flatly responded without even looking at me. He stood up lazily and began striding away. His friends immediately followed behind him. Natasha and Emilia flipped their hair at me as they walked by him.

I just sat there, hurt, alone, and a tad bit astonished. I mean seriously, what just happened? I shook off the feeling as the bell rang. My mind was racing with thoughts from all possibilities of why was he acting like that. I entered the chemistry lab still puzzled by Brad's face. I sat in my chair silently still thinking. Whatever the teacher said was zoned out until I woke up from my daze by a pat on my shoulder from behind me.