High school Fever:Wallflower

Chapter 8

    Hmm..
What should I say ' bout today?
It wasn't much hell of a shit even though Louis tried to ruin it for me. Not just him but that stupid berk Bobby. They could be buddies but I actually hadn't seen them together or talked to each other.
  During recess, I hanged out with Drina and Justin. Oliver and some other guys were at the auditorium playing basketball. I guess Bobby was there cuz he was on the team too.
  Talking 'bout Miss Mercy.. good thing I hadn't seen her all day. I even skipped my math class.
What did she really want to tell me?

I turned and saw one of the daredevils. Louis.

" Hey there squeak"

" Hi jerk" I said simply.

"You should call me master" He said.
" Yea you should call him master cuz he'll be teaching you how to ride a power bike" Jett who was behind him blurted.

What? He'd already told his friends ?

What a loud mouth.
  "Where's Oliver?" I decided to push the talk to something else.

  " Sweet heart, Olive is not here as you can see" Jett said then rounded his slanted eyes at me.
" You have a crush on him" He blurted and that didn't sound like a question.

"Is he your boyfriend?" He added making me go from pale to red. I blushed.
" He's just my friend!" I said hoping my voice didn't had that odd tremor in it. I shot my gaze at Louis who was staring at me. He didn't look angry, he wasn't frowning but he wasn't smiling either. Blank. His face was blank. Or was it? Somehow he looked like he was trying to figure me out. 
He exchanged glances with Jett for a few moments and then they burst out laughing, loudly.

  I grimaced staring at them like weirdos.
Or was I the weird one?
I briefly cast my eyes down on what I was wearing.
But I look good!
What in Pete's sake are they laughing about? I glared hard at Louis who seemed to be the loudest. I muttered a curse under my breath and turned walking to the other side of the road.
     Yeah road. It was close hours and I had been trying to hail a taxi when Louis and Jett showed up. 
I made sure I walked far away from them. I kept mumbling some curse words under my breath as I bounced off with my head down.
Just because he's attractive doesn't give him the right to make others feel less. I told myself and mumbled out a curse word aftermath.
" Calm down Miss Sheeran. You might miss a step" my head snapped up at that voice and I looked up to see who it was. 
" Oh.." I mused
" Irritated huh?" Miss Mercy said flashing me a smile which I returned awkwardly.
" Didn't come to see me at my office anymore" she said and I bit my lower lip sheepishly.
" I forgot" I lied and she chuckled.
" You're a bad liar. Come on in. I'll give you a ride home" She said walking over to her car. I followed her behind.
The drive to my house was silent and awkward. I expected her to bring up the whole ' see me in my office ' talk but then she didn't. She brought up something else entirely.
" Always keep it calm with Louis. Hm?" She said and at the mention of his name, I froze. Did she see me bantering with him? I wondered. Sure she did.
Keep it calm with him? I scoffed.
He's obviously the one who should keep it calm with me! He's the trouble maker for Pete's sake.

" He's annoying" I stated. Miss Mercy glanced at me before fixing her eyes back on the road.

" You see Amber, Louis hadn't always been like this. In fact, he was calmer, friendlier and shyer than Oliver " She said and chuckled softly.

Really? I couldn't imagine that one being calm or shy. He's far from shy.

" What happened then?" I asked nonchalantly.
Miss Mercy sighed, hands gripping the steering wheel.

" He's parents died and he changed" she said shrugging.
 
My eyes widened softly.
He's an orphan?  🥺
I suddenly became uncomfortable. I didn't know he was an orphan.
" He's an orphan " I said to Miss Mercy and she nodded sadly. My heart tore. 

" He used to be a very good kid" Miss Mercy said wryly.
" You've always known him?" I asked curiously.
" Yea. I mean I was his mother's PA until she died" She shrugged and I shuddered at the thought. I hated it when someone I was close to die. I still remembered the night my grandma died. It was a sad night. I sobbed, socking my pillows with tears to sleep.

I wonder how Louis felt that day.

" His parents were nice people. I never liked Oliver's Mom though. She was all about Mr. Gargano's money and  barely spend time with the family. Lydia was... different. She didn't believe people were bad. She always tried hard to find a little good in the meanest person. She was positive, She was kind, loving, considerate, beautiful, funny.." Miss Mercy said trailing off quietly as her voice began to break  "..the list just goes on Amberlie. She was an angel in a human form.  It doesn't surprise me that her death affected her son gravely. To lose a mother like her is painful "

I didn't realize my eyes were wet until I blinked.
" I- I'm sorry.." I wasn't sure if she was the one I was supposed to say sorry to but I found myself just saying it.

I was really sorry.

Miss Mercy pulled into my compound which I'd pointed to her. It wasn't a long ride.
She sniffled and chuckled.

" Try to find a little bit of good in him. Hm?" Miss Mercy said and I nodded slowly. She smiled. I smiled too and told her goodbye before stepping out of the car.

That night, all I could think about was  Louis.
Had he  really been like what Miss Mercy described?
It was strange how someone that meek could turn into something else. Well there was only one way to find out.
I'm going to make him my friend. I concluded staring up at my ceiling.

Yea. I would.