Player 3?

Chapter 5 : Squip

Chapter 5

The next day...   

Kaye POV

When Michael drove me to school today, we rode in silence again, but it was a more comfortable silence this time. I put my note in Rich's locker, and then went to my own locker. Jeremy was at his locker, beside mine.

"How was last night?" Jeremy asked.

"Nerve wracking. Michael was so anxious. I've never been around anxious people before. At my school back home, none of my friends had anxiety. One of them had depression, but that was it. I guess I'm just not used to it and I don't really know what to do."

"Michael will tell you what he needs. And if he doesn't, it's usually pretty easy to get it out of him if you ask him enough."

"Ok. I just want him to be ungrounded and get his phone back so you can help more. You know what you're doing better than I do."

"You can always text me and ask if you need help."

"I will."

"Did you put the note in Rich's locker?"

"Yeah. But I'm not happy about it."

"I know. I'm sorry. But it's for mine and Michael's protection."

"I know."

"So things are good between you and Michael then?"

"Yeah."

"Kaye! Come here. I got your note," Rich said.

I rolled my eyes and gave Jeremy a look.

"I'm sorry," Jeremy said, quietly.

I turned around and walked over to Rich.

"You got my note?" I asked.

"Yeah. I just have a couple questions. Why are you hanging out with Michael and Jeremy? They're losers."

"I'm staying with Michael while my mom is traveling for work. And Jeremy is helping me catch up on schoolwork since we have every class together."

"You don't have to hang out with them, you know. Even if you live with Michael. At school you can hang out with anyone you want."

"Yeah, I know," I said, smiling at him before walking back over to mine and Jeremy's lockers.

"How'd it go?" Jeremy asked.

"Pretty sure he wants me to be his girlfriend."

"What are you going to do?"

"Play the ultimate game of hard to get. Where he never gets me."

Jeremy laughed and Michael joined us.

"What's so funny?" Michael asked.

"Kaye's playing hard to get with Rich, and I think it's just making Rich want her even more," Jeremy said.

"Oh..."

I rolled my eyes again.

"This is both of your faults," I said, giving them looks.

"Let's get to class. We'll see you later, Michael," Jeremy said.

Later...

Kaye POV

I was at my locker after class. Luckily, I'd seen Michael at his locker, so hopefully nothing bad happened to him today.

"See you tomorrow," Jeremy said, shutting his locker.

"Wait. Aren't you going to wait for Michael?" I asked.

"Nope. I have play rehearsal."

"Play rehearsal?"

"Yeah. There's this girl I like, Christine, and she signed up for the after school play."

"Ok, well after play rehearsal, are you coming over to help Michael with his homework?"

"I thought he was grounded."

"He is, but if you come over and say you're helping me catch up on my schoolwork, his mom would probably let you, and you could help Michael."

"Oh... I can't today. After play rehearsal, I'm going to Payless."

"Payless?"

"Yeah. It's a long story. I'll see you guys tomorrow, ok?"

"Ok."

Jeremy left, so I shut my locker and walked over to Michael at his locker.

"Where's Jeremy?" Michael asked.

"Play rehearsal, apparently."

"Oh. Because of Christine?"

"Yup."

"Ahhh... Ok, you ready to go?"

"Yeah."

He shut his locker and we walked out to the parking lot together.

Later...

Michael POV

Jeremy is buying a squip today, and the whole thing just seems kind of sketchy to me. I mean, just the fact that Rich told him about it and wants to "help" him is weird. I think he might be wasting his money.

Kaye had helped me with my homework. We kind of just went to our separate rooms after dinner.

I really wish Kaye and I were closer. I know she hasn't even been here for a week, but while I'm grounded and Jeremy can't come over, sometimes I wish I just had someone that knew me as well as Jeremy. Math and just school in general has been rough lately.

I don't have many classes with Jeremy and Kaye and sometimes it just feels lonely.

All of a sudden, Kaye was in my doorway.

"Hey," I said, looking up from the notes I was studying for math.

"Hey. Can we talk for a second?"

"Yeah, of course."

Kaye came over and sat down on the end of my bed.

"Have you ever gotten homesick?" Kaye asked.

"Yeah. Why? Are you homesick?"

"A little."

"I know this sounds weird, but being grounded makes me feel homesick, just because Jeremy can't be here."

"So what do you do to help?"

"Well... I don't know. I can't see him besides at school. I guess I just try to distract myself. Or hang out with you. Have you talked to your mom since you got here?"

"Yeah, but she's in a different timezone, so it's hard to have conversations. I can message her, but she won't reply for a few hours, and by then, I'll be asleep."

"Oh... That's tough. I'm sorry. But if you get lonely or want to talk, you can always come hang out or talk to me."

"Thanks, Michael," she said, hugging me.