The Bad Boy Returns

Chapter 31: Just An Act

KAT'S POV

I'm woken up the next morning by yelling from downstairs. I roll on to my back and face the ceiling. I start shaking my head, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I roll my eyes as I hear one distinct voice, it was my mother's. She was either yelling at dad or Austin. If not them then she was annoying some poor soul who didn't ask to be yelled at this early in the morning. I knew this 'perfect family' they so desperately wanted wasn't going to last very long. I mean anyone with eyes can see how messed up the whole situation really is. Mom and dad had decided to sleep in separate rooms. Actually my Dad said that because he wasn't fully ready to just go back to normal with her. It was going to take sometime. I wish I could tell him that it was never going to happen, I hate to see him have hope just to have it crushed sooner or later again. I know I should try to be optimistic about the whole thing but I've been at the blunt end of her stunts and I know even more than my dad the kind of person she is. It's not that easy for me to be optimistic when you know the entire situation.
I throw my blankets back and sit at the edge of my bed. As the yelling continues I push myself off the bed and tie my hair into a loose bun, and attempt to get ready for school. I enter my bathroom and take a quick shower, rinsing off.
As I step out of the shower I quickly wrap my towel around my body, securing it above my chest. I take my hair out of the bun and go back into my room, going through my drawers. I decide on black skinny jeans, a grey crop top, and combat boots. As I set my outfit on top of my bed, someone swings my door open without so much as a warning. I jump turning to see who it is. "Hey honey." My mom walks in. "Hi...I was about to get dressed." I state the obvious. "Oh...well I just wanted to tell you I'll be driving you and Austin to school today." She explains. I inwardly groan. "But I always walk to school, and Austin likes to walk with his friends." I try to tell her. "Yeah well I just want to spend time with you guys, don't argue okay, be ready at 7:15 okay?" She says before walking out, closing the door behind her. I sigh before throwing my clothes and and finishing up my routine. I get downstairs by 7:10 and we head out. I don't get a chance to grab a quick breakfast before we go. I get into the passenger seat as my mom starts the car and we head to the high school. The ride to the school is silent and I get the feeling that they were the ones who were fighting this morning. She pulls up to the front of the school and stops by the entrance. Austin jumps out leaving me with her. "Do your work." She scolds me, pointing to the school. I look at her and then over at the gate by the entrance. I see Shane leaning against the wall, turning our way. His eyes open in shock when he looks at me. He looks between my mother and I and I can tell he's trying to put together how I'm even in the same car as her after I told him how mad I am with my whole family. You know, the day he stopped talking to me.
I look away first, opening the door and then slamming it as I walk into the school. I walk past him, slowing as we make eye contact. He turns to the other side. I continue walking past him and straight to my class. I take my seat and see Alex was already there. Then I start thinking about having to go over to his house. Today was Friday which means I'm going to his house today.
Not only is it awkward because of our history but also because of his brother and our history. I should just stay away from both of the Winters boys at this point, it seems.
I spend the rest of the school day a nervous wreck because of it. Even Nikki was worried for me.
"You're all shaky what's wrong?" She says pulling me to the side. "Nothing I just haven't eaten anything today." I tell her. Technically it's the truth. "Well then let's go find you something to eat, we can't have you falling over from a lack of nutrients." She says, and I swear for a second she was acting like a mom. "Okay, mom."  I tease.
"No I'm not your mom because she didn't even let you eat before you left, I'm better." She smiles at me.
"True."I nod in agreement.

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I reluctantly head over to Alex's house walking as slow as I can. I watch as cars pass me by as I move at a slow pace. I try taking deep breaths, in and out. Act professional. Just do the project.
I try telling myself over and over again as I reach their front door. I knock on it a couple of times before I take a step back. It swings open with Alex standing in its place. "Hey." He says simply. "Hi." I say back as he lets me in the house. "Who's here?" I hear a voice ask from the kitchen. Jennifer comes into view smiling as she sees me. "Kat, it's great to see you again. Shane isn't here though." She explains. "I know, I'm here to see Alex, we have a project together." She nods, her face dropping. "Oh ok well I'll leave you to it then." She says. "I'm going to the store do you guys need anything?" She stands by the door. "No." Alex says and Jennifer nods, leaving me alone with Alex.

"Ok so I had a few ideas..." He says as we both take a seat on the couch. He leans over putting some papers on the coffee table in front of us. I watch as he takes his letterman jacket off, getting comfortable. Although I don't know how any of this is comfortable. "How about we do the plant one, we can find a variable to change and see how that affects its growth." I pick one of his ideas. "Ok sounds good." He nods. We spend the next hour or so filling in the packet for the lab with the details of our project.
We start talking about how we are going to put it together and what kind of plant to do, when the front door opens. Shane saunters in, with someone giggling behind him. When they come into view I see who's with him. A girl with dark brown hair and dark eyes. She was beautiful. But the thing about her that really caught my attention was the joint in between her fingers. That's when I snap my head up at Shane. I watch the way he moves and chuckles. I look at his expression. He's getting high.
I watch as the girl lightly pushed him against the door frame by the bottom of the stairs. She pushes herself against him, placing the joint up to his lips. He takes a drag before, placing his lips against hers. They both giggle as they practically make out in front of us.
I watch with worry more than anything at the way he's acting. Something serious is bothering him and I can't help him because whatever it is has to do with me.
I feel a tinge in my heart as he puts his hands on her waist and leads her up the stairs. He looks down meeting my eyes before disappearing up the stairs. I pull my gaze away as Alex tries to put the focus back on the project. We get a good thirty minutes in before I feel like I need some air. "I'm gonna call it a day. We can try again next time." I say quickly before grabbing my things. "Okay." He says. Then he sighs loudly cursing under this breath. "...you know it's just an act." He points upstairs, referring to Shane. I nod curtly before leaving, slamming the door behind me. I do know it's an act. I've known Shane too long for me to believe that he'd actually do any of this. It's a thing he does to push people away make them mad at him. He uses other distractions to help him not care.
The problem I have is why he is trying to push me away?