Lost Cause (Tyler Carter)

Chapter 25

I walked back to Baker's class from the office. I got assigned a detention for tomorrow after school. As I passed the restrooms, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me into the restroom.

"What the hell?" I blurted out.

It was my stupid brother.

"Josh, what the fuck are you doing in the building? Are you insane?" I whispered.

"I know today is Rachel's birthday and all but I need you to go to Curtis' after you get out of school." He said.

"No way, not today." I said. "What would I tell Rachel?"

"Why can't you just tell her?"

I covered my face with my hands. "Oh my god. You are insane."

"What's the problem?" He asked.

"Just shut up. I'll go tomorrow after I get out of detention. I'll tell her I got the longer detention and I'll go, okay?" I said.

"Okay, thanks."

He got the stack of money that I went with him to get.

"Are you serious? This is barely half of what you owe him." I said.

"Yeah, I know. I can't get the rest for another two days." He said.

I groaned and shook my head. "Okay." I said. "Get the hell out of here before you get caught."

"Bye." He said before leaving.

I shoved the money in my book bag and continued on to class.

"What was that about?" The funny but annoying guy asked me.

"I got in trouble for some dumb shit." I said. "Anyways, what's your name?"

"Wes." He said.

"Okay, Wes, tell Jeremiah that I'll be at the party tomorrow."

"Sweet! Are you bringing Rachel?" He asked.

"Why are you so stuck on me bringing Rachel?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Because you're actually pleasant when Rachel is around."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"See what I mean?" He asked. "When Rachel isn't around, you're all grumpy. When Rachel is around, you're nice and talkative."

"How do you even know that?"

"Lots of people notice. Especially the ones on the track team because they're around you two more."

"Since when is the track team always around Rachel and I?" I asked.

"You know, at track meets." He said.

"We've had one track meet this season." I said.

He dropped his head in his hands out of irritation. "Well, all it took was one track meet for them to notice." He said. "It's obvious."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I love her, man."

"That's what I'm saying. She has an impact on you." He said.

"Tyler!" Ms. Baker called from her desk, cutting off our conversation.

"Yes?"

"Come get your assignment you missed the other day." She said.

I got up from my desk and walked over to her desk in the back of the classroom.

She handed me a sheet of paper.

"Thanks." I said before turning and attempting to walk away.

"Hey, come back."

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "What?"

"What happened to your face?" She asked.

"I've told like twenty people, I thought news would travel." I said. "I was wrestling with my older brother."

She again, stared at me with the same expression. "I know where they're from."

Michael and Sara flashed in my mind. One of them fucking told her. Either that or they told someone else and it somehow made its way to her.

And Rachel would not tell anyone.

"No you don't." Was all I could say.

"Yes I do, Tyler." She said. "You don't have to hide it, okay?"

"I don't have anything to hide." I said. "I got them from wrestling with my brother, like I said."

She looked at me as if I'm stupid. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"

"Well, it's the truth." I said. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know more than you think."

My anger built up inside of me. "Who told you?"

"Nobody told me, I just know."

"Bullshit."

The bell sounded before we could have any longer of a conversation. I ran out of the school and towards the gym.

I waited for Michael between the school and the gym. Finally, he walked by. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him behind the gym building.

I grabbed onto the collar of his shirt and held him against the wall.

"Who the fuck did you tell?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Baker knows. You and Sara are the only ones who know besides Rachel." I said. "And she wouldn't tell anyone."

"I haven't told anyone!"

"Don't give me that shit." I said. "Tell me the Goddamn truth, Michael!"

"I am telling you the truth. I wouldn't do that." He said. "It's fucked up that you think I would."

"Then, how would she know?"

"I don't know."

I let go of his shirt collar and walked away.

"Goddamnet." I muttered.

I calmed my nerves by taking deep breath before changing for practice and walking to the track with A.J.

"What happened between you and Sky?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Yesterday. It sounded like you two kind of got into it for a second."

"Oh, no. It wasn't me and Sky. He was just talking about some stuff about my brother." I said. "It was Matty and I that got into it."

"I see." He said. "He thinks you're pissed at him."

"No, I'm not. Yesterday was a bad day." I said. "And today really isn't any better."

He nodded. "So, I don't really know anything that goes on in your life, obviously, but I've noticed kind of a change in you recently. I just hope it all looks up."

"Thanks, man." I said.