The Nice Kind of Bad

3

Levi had searched every social website with the name 'Withers' and common friends. He came up with no results. At least, not the ones he wanted. All he had was more frustration directed at himself. Why was he wasting time on this?

He closed his laptop and plugged in his earphones. Tomorrow. Tomorrow he was going to find out who she is for the peace of his own mind. He'd rather have a face to stay away from than an image. He even searched for that hoodie the rest of the day but it was to no avail.

So far, Dansville was not his kind of place. Withers.

Jordan loved the rain more than people. Stupid and dull, but she did. It was in complete contradiction to what her mother thought. While Jordan would make hot coffee and enjoy and the dampness she could practically taste in the air, her mother would spend the time cleaning the atmosphere out of the house complaining about it.

She rubbed some oil over the bruises that were becoming light on her arms and legs and thought about how she would pad across puddles with Dean in light drizzles like the one outside. She sighed. That memory seemed like a lifetime ago.

Sucking in a deep breath, Jordan focused on the now. She thought there was no point in bawling over the past for long because how much of the future could it really change? She put on her grey hoodie, snuggled into her jeans and shoes and walked downstairs. The house screamed silence except for the pitter patter outside with a cozy warmth about it.

"Jordan,"she heard a faint murmur which made her hand freeze on the front door. She considered walking out and pretending she didn't hear her, but she knew all too well how that would end. Instead, with a single, loud throb in her chest, she back peddled in the foyer and stood at the living room doorway.

"Are you off to school?" the frail voice asked her from the sofa facing away. Jordan thanked God because she didn't want her to see the terseness about her. "Yes,"Jordan answered, shifting on her feet. There was thick silence. "Already?"

"Mom, it's eight." There was no response. Jordan knew that she was remembering job which started at ten, but this was one of those days.

"Why don't you go late today, sweetie?" she asked, weakly, still lying on the sofa. Jordan wanted to disagree and argue or just walk out. She was almost ready to face the consequences, but she couldn't find the strength to fill that almost space. Instead, she swallowed thickly. "Sure,"she answered, strained and walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She hated the days where she would be late for school.

By the time she made it to school, it was showering and History class had already gone by. Well, at least some good has come out of it, Jordan mused as she swept her hoodie down and sent a quick text to Heather and Carter. Jordan had honestly no idea how much she pissed off Levi without knowing.

He left History class with a foul mood and an even more foul scowl on his face. Was he so unpleasant that she took off from school? Or did she drop the class? Part of him knew that he was exaggerating, but today he had planned to ask her the problem if she had continued to act that way.

Except, she never showed. Or she ditched.

Levi Wolfe was not happy. However, the person responsible for his jagged behavior was standing a few feet away from him in front of a locker. He stopped on his heels and narrowed his glare. It was her. It had to be. Levi recognized the way the hoodie was pulled down over her face and the bag she held. What he didn't know was what he was going to do about it.

He wouldn't be so bothered if she actually told him what was wrong. He took a step towards her oblivious figure. "Dude, coach wants to see you." Levi stopped at Dan Simmons patting his back and blocking his view. "Now?" he asked, trying not to sound annoyed.