The Town

Chapter 25: Something Strange is Afoot

"Thank you so much again, and please tell your mom 'thank you' as well."

"Yeah, no problem, Percy. No need to keep thanking us."

Ever since the interview the past weekend, the redhead had been popping up everywhere and giving me stuff. First snacks, then fancy sweets, and now, at the end of our shared class, a whole gift basket filled with artisanal items, or so the label says.

"You two were such a big help though. The editor said it is one of the best pieces she's seen from a student in a while. Front page worthy if she can get the chief editor on board!"

"That's awesome. Well, I have to go fit this in my locker somehow and get to my next class, so bye."

I tried to flee, but he still followed.

"Allow me to escort you, my next class is in the same hall."

He continued to follow me. It took a while to shove the basket into the locker, leaving little to no people in the hall and me considering running to my next class. Percy examined the halls, then leaned in as I turned back to him.

He barely reached my chin, but on the tips of his toes, his lips reached mine. I felt a pit in my stomach, and I almost gagged. Shoving him away, I wiped off my mouth.

"Woah, what the hell, Percy?!" I shouted.

He seemed confused, and angry if his scrunched brows and clenched fists meant anything. "What is wrong? I know you are gay. I have been watching you for a while now, and while you and that weird ass might have gone under the radar to a normal person, I notice everything. So drop the freak and go out with me! Have I not been kind enough?"

I stood straight, towering over him, and glared. "I don't know you, Percy, and I don't think I want to. I will never like you like that. Leave me, and Leo, alone. Or else." I deeply spoke through a clenched jaw, slowly stepping forward. "I'm not dealing with another blackmailer, and while I might prefer peace, I will hurt you if I see fit. Do you understand?" I was chest to nose with him.

He clicked his tongue but nodded and left. As he left my view, I swallowed my frustration and left for class.

History went fine, no one bothered me. Except another damn text: Percival will be taken care of. I didn't ponder though, the less I thought of that man, the better. Music was great, Blanc Dandelion had a great practice. We were getting closer and closer to performance day, and there had hardly been any mistakes. Though I might have been too aggressive in my playing, as Jasper approached me after class.

"Damn, who got you upset?" he asked as we walked to my locker.

I wrestled the basket out. "Don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, okay. Just trying to help."

I sighed, trying to calm myself down. "Just someone... trying to get something extremely personal from me, by doing nothing but "nice" things for me, but not even seeing I'm more irritated by it than anything."

"One of the nice things, I'm assuming," he asked while pointing at the ruined basket.

"Yeah." I held it up. "Want it?"

"Nah, I'm good. Stuff is expensive though. You and your mom should still enjoy it, take advantage while you can."

I groaned. Mom would enjoy the fancy bath stuff, and I was intrigued by the meats and cheeses. He laughed as I gave in, and we left the school together.

"Whatever," I grumbled. "You on patrol tomorrow?"

"Yep." He popped the 'p' and said nothing more. He would be in Addersfield after all, and I would be stuck with the boss.