Afterlife (A7X)

Chapter 10: Not Liked

~~~~CHAPTER 10~~~~

Not Liked~~~~

"So you cope with everything today?" Brian asked as we made our way down the basically deserted corridor.

I nodded. "Guess so. Gonna have to though, hey? Not like I've got a choice."

"Y'know you probably shouldn't have been at school today," he said as we went down the stairs and I started getting annoyed at how difficult it was right now.

Brian kept at my pace, making sure I was doing ok. Once we managed to make it to the end of the stairs, I answered him.

"I know," I said as we continued on our way. "But I didn't think I really wanted to be by myself; not for a while."

"Matt would've stayed," Brian said, glancing at me as he readjusted his bag over his shoulder. "He's a good person Zacky."

"I know. Just not fair if he has to stay with me and miss out on all this learning."

Brian laughed, not able to stop himself. I smiled and glanced at him.

"What's so funny Brian?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

Brian shook his head as we turned a corner and headed down one of the other corridors.

"Nothing," he said, a smile still on his face. "Just...nothing."

I smiled again and he smiled back. I frowned as we passed one of the rooms. It was the music room, and I heard a couple of people talking. I halted and looked through the door, Brian coming to a halt a bit down the corridor, as he hadn't been paying attention.

Jessie and some other guy were talking over something. Brian walked over, coming to a halt next to me.

"Who're we looking at?" he asked, looking through the door as well and following my gaze.

"No-one," I said, not looking at him.

Jessie looked over, clearly hearing us. She just looked at us, the other guy doing the same thing.

"Uh, hey," she said, a bit of confusion on her face as she crossed her arms. "You two right there?"

Brian and I exchanged looks and he shrugged at me, making me look back to Jessie.

"Sorry," I said, feeling a bit awkward about them catching us watching. "Just heard you guys talking and thought we'd come see if everything was...ok."

Jessie shot me a look, making me feel a bit more awkward. She stayed silent for a bit before she nodded.

"Yeah, we're just talking over a couple things," she said. She looked to the guy she was with then looked back to us. "This's my brother Nero."

I nodded, Brian giving him a wave. Nero smiled back and Jessie frowned as she looked between me and Brian.

"Sorry, I didn't get your names before," she said, her expression softening a bit. "I told you who I was, but I didn't catch who you guys are."

"Oh," I said. "Sorry about that."

Brian rolled his eyes upon my bad answer. He sighed and looked to Jessie and Nero.

"I'm Brian," he introduced himself. He indicated to me. "This's Zacky."

I gave her a smile and she actually smiled back.

"Well then Brian and Zacky, nice to meetcha both," she said. She looked to me, curiosity laced within her expression. "Sorry, but can I just ask what happened to you? You weren't like that yesterday."