This love (Teacher/Student)

Chapter 48

EDITED 

"So, on a scale of 1 to 10 how awkward has it been at school?" Jamie asked as I took a gulp from my beer. The fire was doing nothing to warm me up, but then again it could have been nerves keeping the chill in my blood.

I opened my mouth, but it was Megan's voice that came out. "10"

I glared at her. "It's not awkward." I stated, defending myself more than anyone else.

"Yeah, how can there be awkwardness if they don't talk?" Scarlett said sarcastically while Dwane lazily wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Does he even know you're here tonight?"

I shrugged. "Like you said, we don't talk." I sighed as I looked round the bonfire party.

"What about Travis? Have you spoken to him since Anna's party?" I shook my head again at Jamie's question.

"Nope. No surprise appearances. Should we be worried?" I questioned remembering how he had told me about the note attached to his bike. The note that Calvin insisted he didn't leave but hasn't contacted me in over a month after his 'investigation'.

Jamie scoffed. "I've known Travis almost his whole life. I've always been worried about what he's doing not what someone's trying to do to him." I glared in response. "What? He's a liar Haylie. He was probably just looking for your attention with that shit anyway. And it's worked considering you've decided to become friends again." I shook my head, but Megan spoke before me.

"Or trying to piss Danny off." At the mention of Daniel, I looked around again. The light of the fire made it easy to recognise people but I didn't see him anywhere.

"No, Travis was freaked out, trust me." I told them but they still shrugged. Everyone took a gulp from their beers before I spoke again. "Has anyone seen Zach?" I asked and Megan's head snapped to me.

"Why? I thought you two were besties?" she scoffed. "Shouldn't you know where he is?"

I was taken back the sudden bite but tried to play it off with a shrug. "Just haven't heard from him since Daniel came back. I just want to make sure he's okay."

I didn't miss the looks everyone shared before Ben motioned his head behind me. "Seems okay to me."

I turned round and frowned. Zach laughed loudly as Daniel wrapped one arm round his shoulder, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Or at least it looked like a cigarette from this distance. They stood on the other side of the bonfire. As if Zach felt our eyes, he looked up and his smile started to drop.

I watched as he said something to Daniel and turned in the opposite direction. Daniels eyes also suddenly found us, and he grinned before lifting his beer in a hello. I didn't see everyone else's response, but I still forced a slight wave with my beer.

"Excuse me." I mumbled and thankfully nobody stopped me, probably assuming I was affected by seeing Daniel. And they were right to an extent. It was ripping me apart to see this man I didn't know wear Daniels face. But he wasn't the one I was following.

I found Zach near the edge of the woods. As soon, as I was close enough, I realised it definitely wasn't a cigarette between his fingers. "Hey." I smiled, wrapping my arms tighter round myself as he turned to face me. He took one look and groaned. I tried to ignore that stab to the chest. "Why have you been ignoring me?" I decided to bite the bullet.

He let his back slump against the tree behind his back as he took a swig from his beer. "I haven't been ignoring. I haven't seen any messages."

Lie. Obviously, a lie. "What about calls? I've tried to call a few times."