Winchester High| 16+

Chapter 5: Capture

Carlos held a confused expression.

"Are we dating?" He said, still confused. He was completely dazed, but still held that playful expression.

I can't believe I said that. I wanted to shiver. New scenario: I wanted the book shelves to crush us, right then and there.

"Because I'm okay with that." He got closer to me and grabbed another book that was right next to my head, getting even closer. He knew exactly how to make me uncomfortable, but he wanted bully I dont think.

"I didn't mean to say that. I blurt out words all the time in stressful situations. I can get really annoying--"

He put his finger to my lips.

"Shhh. This is a Library," he said in a comedic whisper, then chuckled again before saying, "Let's hang out, if that's what you want."

"I mean--"

"See you after school." He walked off. I so wish I could capture this moment. As he walked away he waved his book in the air.

"You cook?" I exclaimed as he was at the end of the row. I mean, why else would he be about to check out a cookbook? What a wacky character.

I didn't know what to do from here on out. I just really wanted school to be over so I could meet him. I had to get my mind on something else. For now, I think I should just go to class so I don't make myself a further suspect. I had an urge to tell Val what had just happened, but I figured I'd actually let her have this time to work.

I didn't exactly want to go to my film class. I'd rather skip Mr. Hopkins getting all in my face about discipline and doing the right thing, but I had nothing else to do.

I went back to my locker and got out my camera. It was a fancy son-of-a-bitch. It had a mega-resolution, insane lens quality, and perfect color accuracy. I was kind of in love with it. It was another aspect of film class that I secretly loved. I use it often, ironically not for the classwork it's meant for but for my personal aspirations. I like to capture the city. I actually think it's pretty, despite it all.

My locker slammed itself, and behind it was the brooding face of my brother, Malik. This felt bizarre since we never interacted at school (completely different social brackets). But by the looks of his face, he's not here for a friendly greeting.

"You thought that shit was cool?" He started pushing my chest hard with only his finger. "Well, it wasn't. This is not you're in to the cool kids club. You're not cool." I was hoping he doesn't actually consider himself a part of a 'cool kids club' because that would be pretty corny. Now, he was getting loud, and everybody was looking more than usual. Word about who's involved with the graffiti is spreading fast. The frustrating part is that it has nothing to do with me. What's crazy is we never even speak to each other in school, it's like an unspoken rule.

"Nobody I know is involved with any of that. Really?" I pleaded. He kept pushing me. That started to annoy me. He always liked to push me everywhere, as if I'm a dummy who's just gonna take it. Which is partly true.

"Everybody knows it was your slick little foreign friend, which means you're involved." Does nobody have anything else to talk about? It seems that way.

"Even if I was involved why would u care--"

"You think Mom busts her ass so you can get expelled from school?!" This comment embarrassed me more than anything, airing out our personal home buisness. Also, it was ironic coming from him. He's always sneaking out doing the wrong thing. He's the poster child of the rebellious teenager, only more cookie cutter, and cool. Basically, if there was an opportunity to stress our Mom out, he wouldn't miss it for the world.

"Stupid fucking camera. You think that shit's cool." He said. Why does everything I do have to be cool? It's a camera. I didn't say that though, I was already in pretty deep.

"Take my picture, loser." What is this athlete gargan? His girlfriend and her clan, not to mention his football friends, started laughing. It wasn't that funny either.

I was starting to get annoyed and at this point and I was on the spot. So I did just that and took his picture. Click!

He didn't like that. He pushed me so hard that I fell and slid nearly across the hallway. Finally, security came along and snatched us up. Even Mr. Hopskin tried to get in it, security blew him off.

"Finish your assignment!" Hopkins yelled out to me, which ignited further laughter and applause. My shoulder did nothing but sting from the landing.

We got plopped down right in front of the principal, which led to Malik's unending complaints about me. He even brought up Jerry's basketball, which was pretty irrelevant. I thought it was his!

Nico texted me:

'hey whats going on?'

'are you good?'

'i saw what happened'

I didn't answer. I never cared about having my phone out, but I just didn't want to answer.

Principal Cullens shushed Malik's badgering about me and said, "I'm aware of Ismael's... recent blow to his reputation. We're investigating the incident right now. Pushing each other will not solve any of our issues." Malik scoffed. Boy, was he the bane of my existence. I especially didn't like how he said 'pushing each other' like it was some girly play fight rather than a heinous attack. Boy, Cullens was so backwards.

"Look what's happening in your own school." I sort of wanted to cry at this point. My shoulder was damn near pulsy from the fall, and I was just publicly humiliated. "Everybody seems to get away with everything, and the people who deserve it, walk away untouched--"

"I assure you I know how to do my job."

He answered to quickly it sucked the air out if my lungs. He sounded flippant and ignorant, blankly ignoring what I said. I really started to hate this room and it began to feel like there were even more statues than last time. It was silence again, until Malik groaned, asking to leave. I never agreed more. I just sat there more teary than I cared to me. I asked ti leave to, to which Cullens unsurprisingly said no. Eventually, I began to want to confront why I was the only one who couldn't leave.

"I don't see wh—" Before I could speak, the door opened, and in came one of the security guards. The one with the big nose and the mole, not the one who snatched us up.He had a comedic stature and was hilariously short. Something I would've had a kick at if I was in the right mood.

"We found the footage." He said. I had no doubts that Nico wasn't the one involved, but my heart was still at my feet. I mean, what if it was? If Nico knew I doubted him, would he trust me? I sat there squeezing nearly the blood out of my thumbs. I knew that if it was Nico, surely some of that would fall on me, and I definitely wouldn't have a nice time with Malik at home.