Rose Tinted Lenses

Chapter 3

Ap anatomy had gone smoothly in Kendall's opinion. She'd got her head down for the final 30 minutes of the lesson whilst Daniel stared out of the window.

She would've preferred had he paid attention and taken some notes, but she was glad he hadn't bugged her.

Second period was English and she all but dragged him into the classroom and pushed him into his seat. It was no secret that Daniel and Mr Belling, who taught English, were not overly fond of one another. Daniel tested his patience and Mr Belling never hid his distaste for Daniel.

"Mr Stryker." Mr Belling's tone was overly patronising, "I haven't seen you in an English class since September of last year."

Daniel looked blankly back and said nothing.

"Do you recall lighting a cigarette in my class and walking out with the words, 'F you and F English. I already speak the language.'"

Daniel's jaw clenched and his fists balled up so tight you could see the white of his knuckles.

He leapt up ready to walk out, but Kendall grabbed his arm and whispered firmly, "Don't."

Daniel paused.

"Don't let him win."

That was all that was needed and he let her pull him back into his seat.

Kendall spotted Megan with a couple of the sheep a few rows in front. Megan was staring, looking from one to the other, clearly confused by them sitting together. Kendall shrugged, not having the energy to get into it.

The lesson still had 20 minutes to run and Daniel spent them texting on his phone under the table.

Kendall's patience was growing thin.

"Will you pay attention!" she whisper-shouted.

He lifted his head lazily. "I am, Princess. Don't worry." He returned his attention to his phone.

She huffed loudly and smacked his arm. "Pay attention!"

He chuckled at her angry expression and said, patronisingly. "Yes, your highness."

"Mr Stryker." The teacher shouted.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Mhm?"

"You seem to be distracting my star student."

Daniel chuckled disbelievingly.

"You think this is funny, young man?" Mr Belling said, even louder.

Daniel leaned over to whisper in Kendall's ear. "Bathroom break." And he walked out of the classroom, leaving Mr Belling spluttering angrily.

The rest of the class were chuckling but Kendall was far from amused.

She excused herself and went to find Daniel.

She knew exactly where he would be. It was where everyone went for a smoke. And there he was, as she knew he would be, under the bleachers.

But as she turned the corner, she saw that he was not alone. To her horror she recognised Blake Davis and Kai Matthews, Daniel's trouble making best friends.

Kai was tall and lean with a buzzcut that he surprisingly suited. He was lightly tanned and had piercing green eyes. Blake was intimidatingly even taller, at around six foot six inches. He had light brown skin and did his hair in short braids. His eyes were dark and mysterious. Kai was the more talkative of the pair. Kendall wasn't even sure she'd ever heard Blake speak.

The two others there, she had never seen in her life. But they looked like bad news.

"What the hell, Daniel?!" she said as she approached the group.