The Album of Perfect Moments

Suspicious

"Are you going to tell me why everyone is talking about you?"

I stopped drinking my shake and saw my best friend sitting across from me with a worried frown. One corner of my mouth turned up in a resigned half-smile. I was wondering how much more time it would take him to ask. It surprised me he had restrained himself this long, considering lunch hour was about to finish, and it was one of the few moments we had free time to talk.

"Which of the rumors is the most credible?" I asked instead. Truth was, I didn't care what others said about me as long as they didn't bully me or affect my grades.

He closed his eyes. A gesture that's usual in him when he wanted to add drama to the situation. He then opened them and tilted his head slightly.

"Somehow you ended up in Alieth's party," he said as if telling a thrilling story. "You disappeared into his room like most girls he's interested in. Like any other. No one ever saw you again, at least not at the party." He wiggled his eyebrows, almost smiling, though I knew he wasn't happy with what he'd heard. "Would you care now to tell me the complete story?"

"Quite a big thing you're asking for, you know?" I warned, trying to escape this situation I knew would make him uncomfortable if not make him act like an ass.

"Sure you can do it in five minutes." He checked the watch on his wrist, then raised his eyebrows for me to spill the tea. "Unless it's something you don't want me to know."

"Fine, gossip girl." I rolled my eyes. "Alieth's been a pain in the ass last week, which is totally unexpected."

"Since he hasn't talked to you for the last four years, " he added, leaning on his forearms. "Is he trying to get you on his bed?"

"Will!" I chastised, looking around to see if someone listened. No one was in the cafeteria. The bell would soon ring to announce the beginning of the next class. Fuck what other people think, I still didn't want them to know everything I discussed with Will.

"What? Isn't that a good guess?" He asked, all innocence, but I knew better.

"It is. For Christopher." I also leaned into the table so we could have more privacy. "I don't know what he's up to, but I'm sure it does not include me and his bed in the same equation." He side-eyed me, disbelieving my words. "He made me fail a test and then got me to detention, for heaven's sake," I half sighed, half cried in frustration. "If he's up to something, it's to make me miss my only shot to Harvard."

At least, I tried to convince myself that's what he planned to do. As hurtful that those were his intentions with me, the thought that he was trying to get close to me again was even more unbearable.

"I suppose that him disappearing was for the best then." He finally retreated to the back of his chair.

"No, of course not," I said almost instantly because it was the fourth day that Alieth hadn't been there, and didn't remember I had ever been so long without his annoying presence. Will shoot me a you-are-so-not-you glance. "I still have to present the project. If he's not there, it won't do any good."

"Siena..."

Oh no. I knew that tone. I knew Will would know it the moment I started speaking.

"How about you? We haven't talked much these days." I abruptly changed the subject, giving me away completely. He gave me another one of those looks that screamed I wouldn't escape forever, but I was better off letting him go the subject for the day.

"We're still looking for people to organize prom," he told me, playing with his empty milkshake glass. "And no, Siena, I don't want you to offer yourself."

"You don't have to worry, Will. I already told you," I protested because it seemed irrational how much he insisted on the subject. It wasn't a problem for me to organize that kind of thing. "I can help. Tell me, what ideas do you have?"

"Nothing that everyone likes," he gave up and detailed the null progress that the organizing committee of the institute had done. "Some want to have a costume party and others a masquerade... And if you ask me, as the person in charge of the whole thing, I don't like any of the ideas."

"Oh, so the problem is that you don't like it," I teased him, and he smiled at me, saying tacitly that I wasn't going to get him riled up with that. I was sure that when they had divided up the patience, they had given my share to him.

"I've raised it with Jones, but he said we'll have to try harder." He sighed ruefully. "So it's practically not my fault."

The bell finally rang. I didn't have time to give him a few words of encouragement because my class was in another building. If I didn't leave now, I'd be late.

"I'll think of something, okay?" I covered his mouth with a hand when he opened it to forbid it. "It's our graduation, Will. It can't be less than splendid. And you need me, accept it."

I didn't wait to see his face or hear his reply. I almost ran out of the cafeteria and collided head-on with Declan.

"Jeez, Declan. "You need to stop doing that," I scolded him after I regained my composure from the accident that nearly knocked me to the ground. "One of these days you'll make me fall."

"Well, we wouldn't have any problem if you were more observant."

"I'm a perfect observer, thank you." I protested.

"Whatever you say." He dismissed my anger with a wave of his hand and began to walk with me.

"What are you doing?" I asked with a frown.

"Walking."

"I know that, idiot. Why haven't you left me alone yet?"

"Can't I enjoy your lovely company?" He questioned back calmly.

"I know that was sarcasm." I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.

"It would be worrisome if you couldn't tell it apart by now."

Brilliant. The insufferable number one would disappear to be replaced by number four. My life couldn't be better. I could still take it to my advantage, though.

"Looks like the group has lost its beloved leader," I commented, nonchalantly. Declan smiled, and I knew he hadn't believed my question was out of personal interest.

"If you want to know, ask him." He shrugged. "It won't hurt you."

"I've already tried," I snorted, ruffling a strand of hair from my face. "Looks like he lost his phone."

"Then wait till he comes back," he said in a matter-of-fact annoying tone.

It was logical. It was what I should be doing, but...I couldn't lie. I was curious by nature. And the truth was a week without being rid of him had seriously affected my neurons. Before, I would never have worried so much about his whereabouts or the reasons why he didn't attend classes.

"We have to do a history project, and this is not the best time for him to disappear." It was impossible that Declan, being one of his best friends, didn't know what was happening. He did, for sure. He just didn't want to tell me or wasn't allowed to.

"This isn't your class?" He asked, completely ignoring my excuse.

"For some reason I don't understand, you know it is." I cocked my head suspiciously.

"Then I guess it's time for me to go." He gestured at the professor, who was coming to the door. "If you don't go in now, you'll be left out."

The idiot was right.

"I'll find out what you're up to, McCarthy," I threatened.

"Good luck with that," he smirked. "You're not going to find a single clue unless I want you to do it."

I rolled my eyes and walked into class. Declan had no idea of everything I'd found out about him, Elena, Brianna, and Christopher. I thought he was the best at what he did and talented at confusing others and hiding things. But he would be a fool to underestimate my ability to discover the reason why his whole gang was sticking to me like glue recently.