Senior Year with My Protector | Protector 1.2

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

       It had been a few weeks since Graeme told Grayson social services was going to get involved and so far, they hadn't. I didn't know if Grayson's family even called or if social services immediately dismissed it because Grayson was eighteen. I was hoping the latter was the case.

       Lately, Belle had been a bit distracted. She spaced out a lot and rarely talked and I had a feeling it had to do with Devon. Thalia and Devon were always together, acting like those annoyingly romantic couples. Even Grayson and I didn't act like that.

       "Belle," I said, trying to get her attention. She hadn't even touched her lunch. "Belle?" No reaction. I waved my hand in her face. Nothing. "I'm dropping out of school." Nothing. "I was abducted by aliens last night." Nothing. "It turns out I'm not actually Poppy McCormick. I was switched at birth and my real name is Kathy Einstein." Nothing. "I'm pregnant with Grayson's child and we're going to run away to Iceland together." Nothing.

        I did get a reaction from Grayson, though. He choked on his water, and coughed before talking. "What? We haven't even...."

       "I'm trying to get her attention, obviously," I said. "Nothing I said was true, doorknob."

       "Here, let me try," Grayson said, picking up a fry off his plate and throwing it at Belle. It hit her square in the face, yet he got no reaction. "Wow, she must be really spaced out. Devon?"

       "Probably," I said. I stood up. "I'm going to talk to that idiot. Nobody hurts my best friend."

       "If he tries anything...."

       "This is Devon we're talking about, not Ben," I said. "I'll be fine, don't worry. When she gets out of her spaced out faze, tell her I went to the washroom." I looked at Belle. "I'm surprised she can't hear us." I sighed and walked to the table Devon was sitting at. Thalia, of course, was sitting too close to him. They seemed to be having a private discussion, but I didn't care. I really had to talk to Devon, and I could care less if Thalia got mad at me. "Devon, can we talk?"

       Devon looked at me with a surprised look while Thalia, like usual, glared at me. "What about?" Devon asked.

       "Privately," I said.

       "Whatever you want to say to him, you could say to me," Thalia said, hooking her arm in Devon's. "Right, babe?"

       Devon looked back and forth between me and Thalia. His gaze settled on Thalia. "I'll only be a minute," Devon promised.

       "Whatever," Thalia said, scooting away from Devon as he stood up.

       I led him to a quiet corner in the cafeteria, crossing my arms over my chest. "How could you be so heartless?" I asked.

       "Look, if this is about what happened a few months ago with Grayson...."

       "It's not," I said. "It's about Belle."

       "Oh," Devon said. "What....What about her?"

       "Don't give me that," I said. "You told Belle you wanted to get back together with her, then you get together with Thalia, who, by the way, probably doesn't even like you."

       Devon scoffed. "Yeah, right."

       "So why?" I asked. "Why tell Belle you still like her, only to get together with another girl?"

       "Belle obviously doesn't like me," Devon said.

       "Seriously?" I asked. "Where did you get that from? She told you that you have to prove you've change. And what do you do? Ignore that and go for another girl. How stupid are you?"