PREYS AT PLAY

5 │DUE DILLIGENCE

VERENA

I wake up with a pounding headache when my alarm goes off, just two hours after I fell asleep. I drag my feet to get ready then head downstairs. Nick is already home, and from the stairs I can tell that he isn't alone.

"Goodmorning," I tell my brother, avoiding Jensen. Both say good morning back in between their talk. 

Jensen's looking fresh in a clean set of clothes and Nick doesn't fire any questions at us. He must've left my house somewhere in the morning and returned after Nick got home. I place my bookbag on the counter and turn to get something to drink. When I'm on my tippytoes to reach for the cupboard, flashes from last night flood my mind and I lower myself to stand flat on the ground. 

I decide to wash the dirty cup in the sink and use that, instead. When I pour myself the dark liquid and bring it to my lips whilst I turn around, my eyes meet with Jensen's. I break our eye contact and grab a piece of toast, that I lightly spread butter and then peanut butter on. Nick runs up the stairs after mentioning that he needs to get something from his room, leaving us two alone.

"Do you need a ride?" Jensen nears me.

I bite into my food and take my time chewing it thoroughly. "I'll take the bus." I tell him without looking at him.

"The weather's changing.  You'll be soaking wet by the time you get to school." His voice rumbles.

"So, we doing anything tonight?" Nick's voice travels down the stairs, causing Jensen to distance himself again. I fill up my water bottle and swallow the remaining food I was chewing on.

"Not sure, maybe I'll do a night in." Jensen replies. Nick says something back along the lines of, "Dude, it's Friday," and continues to explain what he thinks they should do, but I stop paying attention to them. As they continue their conversation, I get my sneakers from behind the couch and rush to the door.

"You taking the bus? It's raining!" My brother shouts when I've barely touched the doorknob.

"I can give you a ride." Jensen answers, like I haven't already declined this offer. Now, they're both looking my way. "I have to head in that direction, so it's no problem." He turns to brother, who simply nods in understanding. "I'll text you about tonight." I hear him say last as I walk through the doorway.

"Wait up, Brains." Jensen does a little jog down the three steps, "Your spot at the front of the class is secured, no need to hurry." A smug smile is plastered onto his face. 

I return the smile to him, making sure to fake mine. "I never sit at the front of the class."

"Sure, you don't." He attempts to pat my head whilst he passes me, but I swat his hand away before it lands on my head. "After you," He opens the car door to the passenger seat of the dark blue-black tinted, Chevrolet Camaro 1969. 

I know nothing about cars, besides how to drive them and when to fill up gas, but I could never forget the model of the vehicle Jensen drives as it was a topic of discussion for about a whole two weeks between him and my brother, after he first purchased it.

"How does this work," I mumble to myself, trying to get the seatbelt over my body. Suddenly, Jensen's right hand covers mine and he pulls the belt down, locking it on my side. "Thank you." I say with my eyes on the road.

"Are you saying thank you to the road or to me?" 

"The road didn't do my seatbelt, did it?"

He chuckles, "Okay, firecracker." He stretches his right arm to the wheel and steps on the gas.