The Element of Surprise

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Claude's P.O.V.

I ride to school the next day on my motorbike. I ride up to the parking lot, confident that I will once again get to converse with Olivia, but abruptly come to a halt when a guy maybe a year above me, steps in my path. "Stay. Away. From. Olivia." he says to me through his teeth with a cold-hearted glare edged on his face, then swiftly walks away.

I just stand cemented to the asphalt for a few seconds.

Who was that? Why did he demand that I keep away from Olivia? Was he her boyfriend? No, he couldn't be or he would have sat with her at lunch yesterday. Was he her brother or another family member?

I break away from my puzzled thoughts and continue walking to the steps to the double doors of the school entrance. I get to my seat in math just in time for the final bell to blare through the speaker, although it does not stop the students from socializing. Suddenly, a loud thunder clap like bang penetrates the air as the teacher slammed a textbook on his desk. The room instantly goes silent.

"Alright! Time for some Algebra 2!" he says excitedly. He starts lecturing about transformations, but I barley hear a word he says as my gaze travels across the room and lands on their desired destination, Olivia. I study her intently, concentration consumes her features as her pen writes her notes furiously.

Her wavy, brunette hair cascades down, gently flowing like a river. She is wearing a pair of light wash jeans and a loose, orange tie-dye tank top. Even with her simple appearance she looks as gorgeous as ever. She suddenly peeks up and meets my eyes, smiles softly, and gives me a shy wave.

My insides start to tingle and heat up, but my appearance is calm and cool as I smile brightly back at her. She giggles delicately, and continues taking notes.

After Algebra 2, I have to go to the three classes I have without Olivia.

RING! The lunch bell rings.

FINALLY! It's lunch time. Now I can finally see Olivia.

I put my books in my locker, and get my lunch. I turn around and instantly bump into something...well more like someone. The same guy from this morning once again glares at me, hate filling his eyes.

"I mean it. Stay away from her." he says in a deadly tone, then once again walks away. I glare at his back, as he walks into the cafeteria, greeting people along the way.

After a few seconds of collecting my nerves, I walk into the cafeteria, and scan the massive room for Olivia.

She is sitting, slouched against the wall, the same place we sat yesterday.

I grin, stride over to her, and immediately sit down. She looks up, with the same surprised look as she did yesterday, planted on her face. The look of shock melts away as soon as she realizes it's me, and a gentle smile replaces it.

"Hey" she greets softly. My heart skips a beat hearing her angelic voice.

"Hey," I reply, "how was your morning?"

She continues to keep eye contact with me as she answers, "It was the same as every other morning." she says, in a flat tone. I frown down at her.

"You need some excitement! Hey! Why don't you come over to my place after school and we go out and do something?" I ask her, in a tone that I hoped didn't sound too eager. She breaks eye contact and looks down nervously.

"I don't know Claude... I don't think my brother would allow that." she replies.

"Brother? I didn't know you had a brother." I comment. She nods her head, then continues to eat her lunch.

Then realization dawns on me. "Oh! Do you mean that kid?" I ask, while pointing to the guy who threatened me twice. She nods her head, solving my earlier mystery.

"How did you know?" she inquires, most likely puzzled by the fact I knew exactly who her sibling was with no clues.

"Oh, um... he just sort of...well he kind of..." I stumbled to find the words to say 'You brother demanded I keep away from you' in a nice way.

"He what?" she asks in a forceful tone.

"He... well, he said that I should stay away from you. So I assumed he was your brother because he was trying to protect you." I explain. Her features change from shy and sweet to fuming and dangerous.

Well, I'm definitely not on good terms with her brother.

Olivia's P.O.V.

"He... well, he said that I should stay away from you. So I assumed he was your brother because he was trying to protect you." Claude finally answers.

He...did...WHAT! I turn and glare hatefully at my so-called brother. I finally have a potential friend and Jake tries to chase him away! How could he do this to me!

Anger blazing, I storm up to Jake. He is smiling and laughing, like he hasn't got a care in the world. Well, he has another thing coming because there is hell for him to pay.

One of his dopey friends looks over at me as I approach. "Hey Jake, seems like you have a fan girl." he says.

Jake looks over to me, sees my expression and instantly frowns. He gives me a look as if to say 'What the hell are you doing?' but I'm not going to let my brother's pride and reputation stop me now.

I finally have a chance to have a friend and he goes and ruins it. Now, Claude probably thinks I am a freak with an over-protective brother.

I stalk up to the table until I am right in front of Jake and glare down at him. "We need to talk." I say through my clenched teeth. Jake opens his mouth to speak, but some whore from the opposite side of the table jumps in before he has the chance.

"Sorry, tiny but he is definitely not interested. I mean, who would be?" She laughs as well as the rest of the table. I just look at Jake, waiting for him to do something, to say something! But nothing came from him, just a pity-filled guilty look.

Enraged, I slam my hand down onto the table in front of Jake. "Now!" I yelled. The table's laughter stops instantly, and they all look at Jake.

"Okay! Okay! Jeez!" he says as he removes himself from his clique. I turn around and begin to walk out of the cafeteria, knowing that he will follow me. I hear him mumble apologies to everyone at the table and begin to follow.

"What a total freak." the whore commented, and it took everything I had, every ounce of my will-power not to go scream in her face.

Once outside, I swivel around and face him with an expression that could scare the pants of anyone, and it definitely terrified Jake.

"What's going on Olivia? Why are you so mad?" he asks.

I ignore his questions and ask one of my own. "How could you?!" I demand, pointing my finger at his chest. He steps back with his hands raised in surrender.

"How could I what? Olivia, what are you talking about?!" he inquires.

"Claude!" I yell, "Claude! That's what I'm talking about! What did you do to him? What did you say to him?" I scream. A dark expression passes Jake's features.

"I told him to stay away from her." he mutters to himself, under him breathe.

"Why?! Why would you do that?! I finally have a chance to have a friend and you have to go and-" I stop mid-rant and analyze my dear brother's face. He is looking down at his shuffling feet and has the look of guilt on his face.

Realizing that I had stopped yelling at him, he looks up. I glare up at him. "This is not the first time you have done this, is it?" It wasn't really a question, but a conformation. His expression was all the conformation I need. "I cannot believe you!" I sheik. He opens his mouth to speak, as if anything he could say would change the way I feel about him right now. I lift my hand, stopping any lies that could escape him. "Save it for the populars. I am going with Claude after school today. Don't wait up." I declare in a stone cold voice and swiftly walk back into the cafeteria.