The Anchor

Chapter 4

I wake up to the sound of the radio.

"On our forecast for today we have a chance of rai-" I cut the lady off by slamming my radio. I groan and force myself to get up. As I open my closet, boxes fall over and startle me.

"Dammit."  I laugh at myself and take out some dark jeans and a dark red shirt.

"Morning!" My dad says as I walk out of my room and head towards the bathroom.

With nothing to say I just smile at him and start to comb my hair, it never goes completely straight either wavy or frizzy. Today's my lucky day because it's more on the wavy side. I brush my teeth quickly and head downstairs to pack my lunch.

"You want a ride to school?" My dad asks with half of a PBJ sandwich in his mouth.

"Sure thanks dad," We both exchange smiles and than head out to the car.

"Breakfast is overrated?" My dad says jokingly.

I take out an apple from my bag and shove it in his face. We get to school 10 minutes before the bell is supposed to go.

"Thanks dad." I say while shutting the door.

"Have a great day!" I hear right before walking away.

I rush into the school and see that most people are already here and than head to my locker to put my stuff in. I get to my locker and open my bag, take out my first class textbook and than shut my locker. When I turn around, Hayden is just standing there leaning on her hips.

"Can I help you?" I say with a tone.

"Did you finish the homework?" She answers with a grin.

"Yeah did you?" I ask confused as to why she's asking me.

"Nope, I thought I could copy yours?" She says while popping her gum.

"I..don't know you that well." I say while readjusting my books in my arms.

She flips her hair over her shoulder and glares at me. Liam walks around the corner to his locker and I get distracted. Hayden notices I'm looking at him and she laughs.

"Really? Him?" She says still laughing.

I shake my head than focus on her.

"What?.." She rolls her eyes as I say.

Liam looks over and a frown builds upon his face. He obviously doesn't like her that much.

"My final answer is no, sorry." Adjusting my books once more than walking past her and walking towards the classroom.

"Pft, whatever." I hear her say. Than a little giggle to follow it, I look back to see it's Liam and that lights up.

The bell rings and I sit down in the same spot as the day before. Except this time Liam and Mason each sit on either side of me. I don't look at them, just look at my books.

"Now let's see who actually did their homework?" The teacher says.

She comes around to check all of our notebooks. She starts with Mason than me than Liam than eventually Hayden.

"I didn't finish." She says while giving me the death glare.

The teacher nods.

"I expect more from you Hayden," She marks an x on Hayden's name in her workbook.

"But.." Hayden starts.

The teacher raises her eyebrow.

"I heard Marie copied Liam's, they were talking in the hall." She grins at me.

"Is this true?" The teacher says as she faces Liam and I. We exchange looks.

"Definitely not." I say.

"Why would Hayden lie?" The teacher states.

"Why would she copy my work?" Liam says jokingly.

"My answers are different than Liam's." I say while staring at Liam who is looking at Hayden and gripping his chair overly hard.

"All three of you will see me after class." The teacher says.

Liam stands up and leaves the classroom, his hands in fists. I look at the teacher asking in eye contact to go see if he's alright. She nods than begins to speak again as I leave the classroom. I shut the door and walk down the hallway.

"Liam?" No one is in the halls and I don't know where Liam could have went. I walk down each hall to see the boys locker room door wide open.

"Liam?" I say again as it echoes through the empty room.

"Hello??" I walk into the locker room and walk around.

A lacrosse stick drops and scares me.

"Oh gosh." Saying as I have my hand on my chest.

I go around in a circle, when I get back to the lacrosse stick that dropped it is now broken into two. I pick up the net of it and shiver.

"Liam are you in here? We should go back to class." I say worried.

"Go without me.." A voice replies, but I don't know where from.

"Where are you?" I ask looking towards the showers.

Liam stands there with his head in his arms up against the wall and his hands stretched out.

"Come on," I say walking towards him.

His breathing get more and more heavier each time I walk closer. I get close enough to him.

As I put my hand on his back he flinches and faces me.

He doesn't look at me at first but his eyes shift towards mine.

"Are you okay?" I say taking my hand back to my side.

He nods and stands up straight.

"We should go back.." He grabs my arms as I turn, about to leave.

"Can you just..not talk to her." He says as he gently let's go of me.

I lightly smile and nod.

We walk out together and go back to class.