Shadow Souls

Chapter Seven

I blink slowly, but continue to stand there completely frozen in place, unable to take my eyes off the closed door that Finn just went through.

"Alice? Did you hear the bell? You're going to be late." Tyler's voice snaps me out of my temporary paralysis. He is staring at me with a disapproving look that rivals my father's, but he holds his tongue. Smart boy.

Exiting the bathroom into the now crowded hallway, I try to determine if I should look for Paige before going to my locker, but in the end I decided I will have to find her later. I know that I will never make it to class on time if I don't go now. I'm sure I can find her before the end of school and then I can apologize for bailing at lunch. Hopefully, she is willing to forgive me.

As I round the corner to my locker I see that all my worries were unnecessary, because there she is waiting for me. She's biting her nails and pacing back and forth like a madman, and I feel like an even bigger jerk for making her worry. I head towards her and as soon as she sees me approaching, her face fills with relief and begins running directly at me, almost plowing me down.

"Oh my gosh, Alice! Are you okay? I am so sorry! Finn is such a jerk! If you want me to cause him some kind of intense pain in his manhood area, you just let me know, okay?"

"Paige, slow down!" I laugh and hold up both hands to stop her rant. "Everything is fine. I'm the jerk for running out on you at lunch," I tell her

"Girl please, I completely understand," she says linking her arm through mine as we move towards my locker. I let a huge internal sigh of relief that I didn't mess up the first friend I've managed to make.

"Hey! I have a great idea. What are you doing after school?" She continues.

"Homework probably," Tyler interjects. The jackass.

"Nothing why?" I answer while quickly shooting a glare at Ty.

"Well, you didn't get to eat lunch, so how about you let me take you out for a burger?"

"You don't need to do that," I assure her.

"I want to! Please! Pretty please!" And she actually sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

"Just say yes, Alice. It could be fun." Tyler says.

"I don't see how I could possibly say no with you making that face," I joke. "Okay, count me in."

"Awesome! I will meet you here after last period. I have to hurry before the bell." She starts running down the hall, shouting goodbye over her shoulder.

"Bye!" I manage to shout back before she finally turns the corner.

"Awww, I'm so proud of my little Ali-cat making a friend like a normal person," Tyler mocks.

"Oh, shut up." I whisper as I grab my books, and dart to class before becoming late myself.

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Fifth and sixth period go by ridiculously slow. I guess the universe knew that I had something to look forward to and wanted to mess with me. Punk-ass universe. Then when it's finally time to get to my last class, I started getting excited knowing that the day was thankfully almost over. I walk into English and head towards my desk only to find a surprise I had not been expecting. Finn was sitting at the desk right next to mine. Thinking that I must be seeing things, I blink and... nope he's still there. I want to ask Tyler if he sees him too, but Finn is watching me, and I don't want to look any crazier than I already do by making him think I talk to myself too. Thankfully my best friend saves me from that dilemma by speaking first.