Looking at the Truth

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Hey, Ari, what's the answer to question five?" Kori asked, tapping the edge of her pencil on her cheek.

"Kori, please. Didn't you go to tutoring with Ms. Eden on Saturday?" I whispered, looking at my answer. It was a hard algebra question, so I can't blame her. I'm pretty sure mine is wrong.

"Well," she said, thinking hard. "I think I have to-" she got cut off by the sound of the bell; it was time to go home.

"Okay, class," Ms. Eden announced. "Keep this, we'll work on it in class tomorrow."

I stood up, picked up my things, and waited by the door for Kori, still gathering up her books. She hates going to her locker since it's near the boys' restrooms where she hears the toilets flushing. That's why she carries all of her books and notes in her bag, which is a lot, not to mention her makeup products and lunch. Her backpack weighs so much that she leans too far to either side when she puts it on her shoulder.

"Come on, Kori," I complained. "This might be the longest time I've waited for you. There's something I got to do." Kori feels embarrassed about being left while

everyone else leaves, and she doesn't ever want to be left out of anything: fashion, gossip, trends, and parties.

"Okay, okay." she said, making her way towards me. "Want me to go to your lo-" Before she finished, I ran the opposite direction, leaving Kori amazed and chasing after me, calling out my name. By the time I passed the sea of people and made it to the parking lot, Kori was finally by my side breathing in-and-out. "The hell was that? The rest of your things are still in your locker."

I only half heard what she said. I was searching for Mason's car. Since I've been waiting five minutes for Kori to get ready I'm nervous that Mason would've already left. Last night I've made the decision to ask him for a ride to his place, so I can help with the presentation. It's just the right excuse for me to talk to him and make things more clear. My three wishes are that he'd still be around, he'd agree to drive me, and Rachelle wouldn't be there. Maybe being at his house would help me know him a little more like becoming friends with his folks or seeing what kind of guy he really is.

"Hello? Is Aristosa still in contact with the earth?" Kori asked, waving a hand over my face.

"Yeah, aristosa is still in contact." That's when I spotted Mason, talking to Rachelle. Actually, Rachelle talking to Mason, and him just keeping a straight face a nodding. He brought his gaze to me and made a small smile. Rachelle stopped moving her mouth and turned to the direction he was looking. She glared at me and I did the same. "I can never imagine us actually getting along, right?"

Kori wasn't beside me anymore. I looked behind me, and she was talking with some people by the flag pole I vaguely know but know me. She was laughing at something some girl in a crop top said. The girl, I think her name is Jude or Julia, saw me and waved. I gave a glowing smile and waved back, and that was our way of being friends.

I turned back around, noticing that Rachelle was gone and Mason starting his car. I sprinted across the lot, running through cars coming by, to his window. He looked up, startled, and rolled down his window, lowering the volume of a guitar solo on the radio. An acoustic guitar one, no surprise.

"Hey," I said, looking back for any sign of Rachelle. "Do you think I could get a ride to your place?" It came out faster than I thought and more nervous.

He looked at me, the wind blowing on his hair. I've studied how he looks at me whenever I say something unusual or bad: serious stare with a sly smile. "Sure. Hop in."

Honestly, I didn't think he'd say it that easily. I thought he'd ask questions and answer uneasily. But I just went with it. I got in the passenger seat and put my things underneath my feet. He turned the volume back up, the man still singing.