Look At Me Now

Chapter 13

"I heard about what happened to you at the grocery store yesterday," Heather said when I arrived at school the next day. "If I'm honest it doesn't surprise me. As much as I love Ms. Jensen, and believe me she's still like a second mother, that woman lost her mind after Avia's body was found." She put her hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay? My mom said you looked like you were crying after Ms. Jensen and her son left."

"I'm fine it was just..." I struggled to find the right word. "...crazy," was all I could come up with. "I was so sad for her."

Heather nodded as we took our seats in English. "I know what you mean. I saw her a few weeks ago—on the anniversary of Avia's death—and the poor woman was a wreck. She swore up and down that there was no way her daughter was truly dead. She refused to bury the body after it was found—yelling at everyone who told her it was Avia. Avia's dad was the one who had her buried and everything. Ms. Jensen won't even go to see her." Heather blinked shaking her head. "Sorry. You didn't need to hear all of that."

I really didn't need to, and it probably would have been better if I didn't, but I wanted to know. I felt like it was my responsibility to live with that guilt. I sent Heather a small smile. "It's alright. I don't mind."

*

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*

"Alright guys," said Mr. Walker as he strolled away from the door. "Project time." That statement was followed by a collection of groans. "You will be assigned a partner—one's I've already planned—and you will write a five page essay about that person."

"Isn't that like...stalking?" asked a girl from the back.

Mr. Walker tilted his head. "No."

"I thought this was History," said the guy behind me.

"It is," Mr. Walker said with a nod. "So what?"

"Why are we doing a paper about another person in our class for History?"

"Because I said so," he shrugged. "Alright here are your partners..." Long story short I was partnered with Kale Write. Of course. I didn't know whether that was helpful for the case or dangerous for my life. Either way I was stuck working with him for the next two months.

Kale walked to me and slid into the seat to my left with ease. "So, Partner, do you want to come over later tonight and get started planning this thing or what?"

I let out a laugh, hiding the nerves eating at my stomach "We've got two months to do this."

He shrugged a grin sliding across his lips. "Why procrastinate? It's not like this is a lame project. I, for one, am very interested in my topic."

I gave him a fake smile and pushed back a shiver. "You have a fair point."

"So my place after school? I can drive you."

I made a face of uncertainty. "I wish I could say yes but...I...I would have to ask my brother."

He nodded ruefully as though he expected this. "Yeah, yeah. He'll probably say no though, huh?"

I shrugged. "If I had to place a bet it would be on that. But, hey, you all were right. He's too controlling. If he says no...I'll go anyway."

Kale grinned and rubbed my shoulder. "That's the spirit." I smiled widely, hiding the hate I had towards his hand on my shoulder.

*

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*

"No, Eve," Gabriel said through the phone. I'd walked outside during lunch to talk to him. I was now at the edge of the lunch courtyard, pacing as I talked to him.

"Come on, Gabe," I groaned. "I'll be fine. It won't be like the party—even if it is I'll still be fine."

"No." His tone was final. "You can't go to his house. You'll be alone with him and his brother. That is an awful idea and you know it."

"Gabriel," I whined. "He won't hurt me—not yet anyway."

"And why? What's to stop him?"

"Besides the fact that you taught me how to kick his ass in five seconds?" I asked. "The fact that he knows you're looking out for me. He won't touch me because he'll know his door will be the first one you bust open."

"Angel," he groaned. "It's too dangerous. Why not bring him here?"

I bit my lip. "I don't think he'll come."

"Ask him to come here. You are not allowed over to his place. Do you understand me, Avia?"

I faltered. He hadn't called me Avia in a long time. He was more than serious about this. "I understand."

I returned to the lunch table, sitting in the empty seat between Kale and Heather. "My brother said no," I told Kale. "But he did offer to let you come to our apartment."

He rolled his eyes. "I can't. My younger cousin is coming to my house tonight so my brother can baby sit her. He wants me to be there in case he needs help."

I sighed heavily. I didn't want to go over there behind Gabe's back but it seemed I didn't have a choice, I'd already told Kale I would sneak out. "Okay, I'll go to yours."

"You're going to sneak out?" Kale asked me, his eyebrows raising.

I nodded. "Yeah. We've got to get this project done right?"

"How are you going to get out?"

"I'll tell him I'm going to the movies," I lied. In reality I was going to leave a note on my bed for Gabriel and go out my window—onto the fire escape.

"He'll believe you?"

Not really. "Yeah," I shrugged. "I'm not a liar, he knows that."

Kale nodded and slid his arm over my shoulders. "I'm a bad influence on you, Eve."

I gave him a sweet smile. "I suppose you are."