Thε Spαrklε Tooƒus (ACT I: Fall Term) ✓

seventeen

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Investigating

The next day, Damien didn't come to school.

First period, we had History. And I was the first one there. Seated next to the window, just like yesterday with textbook open in front of me, I waited impatiently for him to show up. I demanded to have an explanation from him, or at least an apology as to why he'd behaved so rudely to me the day before.

But as time passed me by in those five minutes, Damien didn't show up. Leo and Nick watched me curiously, probably wondering what had gone down and soon enough, one of them sent me a note.

Elegantly written in a small piece of paper were the words:

  What's wrong?

Clicking my pen to life, I scribbled back:

  It's just Damien. He sort of...blew up on me yesterday.

I wasn't quite sure on whether or not to explain. Maybe they already knew, after all Damien told them everything right? Yet, the response I got surprised me.

  Care to elaborate?

Making sure Mr. Waters wasn't watching me, I ducked behind my standing textbook and wrote at a furious speed:

Yesterday, when we got to talking about the project and I admitted that I didn't know a thing on the subject matter, he started to get upset. Then, someone named 'Jessie' called and said that some guy was on their way over to his house and he just FORCED me out of the house. He was so rude! And I just...I don't know what to think! It just wasn't like him. Not Damien at all...

I tossed the paper ball at Leo when Mr. Waters had his back to us. He caught it and quickly read through it, smiling at something with no trace of humor. He passed the note through Nick this time, who read the contents of the paper before giving it to me with somewhat of a grim look on his face.

Opening up the crumpled surface of the paper, I read the six words that Leo had written to end the conversation. The words that had my heart pounding unevenly within my chest.

You don't even know him, Makayla. You don't know Damien at all.

  ~~ — ~~

The hallways were packed as I made my way out of Chemistry. Neither Nick or Leo took AP Chem as a subject and so I was made to sit alone with bright-and-bubbly Maddie whose continuous chatter only frustrated me further past my current level. 

Since first period, both Nick and Leo seemed to be dodging me, knowing I'd have questions toward what Leo had meant when he'd said that I didn't know Damien at all. I wanted to know what was going on and the only two people I could get the truth out of was them.

I knew it was insensitive of me to be this nosy but I was burning with curiosity to know what was going on. All I'd seen of Damien on the first day was a flirt who just liked to make fun of me and have good times. But then yesterday, he'd transformed into serious and...scared, had it been?

I still remembered the expression on his face right before he'd pushed me out of his house. A dark shadow had fallen across his face and in that moment I knew that there was a part of his life he kept secret. 

And I wanted to be the one to unravel the truth.

But how?

That's where Nick and Leo come in handy. Those two are the best friends of Damien and surely, they knew what was going on. Leo's comment had made that clear. But now I had my chance of convincing them into telling me what was really the matter.

Squishing and pushing my way through the swarm of students, I steered myself towards the cafeteria to check if the two were there buying food. Being a large one at that, it took me a while to search through the area but the two were no where to be found.

I didn't have much of an appetite and so continued my search. The second place was my bingo. 

Sitting under the shade of the same tree they'd been at the last time, they were picking at the food on their trays, not even putting a piece of the pasta into their mouths. 

"It's over you two. Spill the beans," I said, plopping down opposite them. They looked at me and smiled wryly. "We're sorry May but we can't," Nick said hesitantly. 

"We'd be disrespecting Damien's privacy," Leo clarified on his friend's behalf.

"But-"

"No," they both said firmly and at the same time. 

"Fine," I muttered, knowing there was no way of getting through to these two. I'd just have to figure out what the deal was with Damien on my own.

~~ — ~~

My phone buzzed to life on the surface of my desk. Taking a momentary pause from my deep-thought analysis on The Catcher In The Rye for AP Lit., I picked up the phone and read the message.

Don't forget - party tomorrow night at my house! Leo says he'll pick you up. Oh, and this is my number. :) - Nick

The party! How could I have forgotten? 

Oh, let me see. Maybe the ongoing drama with Damien is a factor of your memory loss. 

Snorting, I set the phone down and turned off my desk lamp. It was late at night and I was desperate to finish my assignments. Senior year sure kept me busy but I couldn't help but wonder back to the day's events - academia aside.

Nick and Leo had refused to tell me what was going on no matter how many times I asked them; directly or indirectly. The whole day was spent bugging those two to at least give me a clue. But no, that would mean betraying their friend's trust. Those two must be in love with Damien. 

But I seriously was worried about him.

Picking up my phone, I moved back to my bed and fell down on it, snuggling under the covers as I typed a text to Damien.

Hey Stable Boy. :) I'm sorry about yesterday and hope you're okay. Please, please reply if you see this.

 I waited.

No vibration.

I started to close my eyes after a few minutes, and fell asleep hugging my phone to my chest.

--------------------CHAPTER END---------------------

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