Distorted Reflections

Chapter 7

I slammed the locker door shut as I walked to my last class of the day - Chemistry.
I haven't seen Ross in algebra today.
On Saturday, after the race, things got awkward, but he didn't turn stone cold before leaving me at my house.
As I walked by the corridor, I saw people talking.
Almost whispering.
I felt the eyes on me but it was in a different way.
I waved to some of them, and smiled.
One girl, - I think her name was Tilly? - and her friend who I didn't recognize stopped me
"Hey Laura! How was your weekend?"
I smiled at her "It was good."
"Of course it was."
My smile faded as she walked by laughing with her friends.
What was going on?
I walked in class right before Mrs. Stuart did, and took a seat next to Raini.
"There you are. You had one hell of a weekend, didn't you?"
I whipped my head towards her smirking face.
Did anyone see me and Maia?
"why is everyone asking me about my weekend?"
"Oh come on Laura. I know. I've seen the picture."
Shit.
Oh my god, I thought Chuck had erased that thing, I'm screwed, my life is over, holy shit.
"I don't know what you're talking about" I said as firmly as I could manage
"Your little getaway with Ross Lynch. Does it ring a bell?"
Wait.
What?
"Getaway?" She nodded "Can... Can I see the picture you're talking about?"
She took out her phone and gave it to me.
There was a picture of Saturday. I was posing on Juliet, while Ross stood in front of it laughing. It was right before Maxon came to us.
I didn't even see anyone taking this.
"Who sent you this?"
"Cassidy did. Some random freshman took it I think? Anyways, that's not the problem here. My point is, you know he's bad news. For God's sake, he beat Cody up with no apparent reason! I'm pretty sure he feels kinda betrayed because of this." She gestured to her phone "Laura, you should stay away from Lynch."
"Ms. Rodriguez, do you have anything you'd like to share with the class?"
Everyone's eyes was on us. I wondered how many of them saw this picture.
Raini was about to answer a witty comeback - and get her ass on detention again - so I hurriedly said "I'm sorry Mrs. Stuart. I called her."
The middle-aged woman took a deep breath before saying "just don't let it happen again."
I breathed out as she turned back to the white board.
Thank God she likes me.
Even doubting that Ross didn't have a reason to beat Cody up, she was right.
He was bad news.
For fuck's sake, he almost got me killed on a stupid motorcycle race.
I should keep my distance from this kind of trouble.
The thing was, did I really want to?
The class went by slowly. Raini didn't touch that subject again.
After the bell rang, I started to gather my things.
"Ms. Marano, can you stay here for a bit?"
I glanced at Mrs. Stuart, confused "Yeah, sure."
I waited for everyone to leave before approaching her table.
"You know I really think you're a great student Laura." She took off her glasses, pinching the bridge of her nose "and I couldn't help but notice how your grades have been falling this semester. Is there any problem going on?"
My mind went back to last semester, when my friends had B's and C's and called me nerd for a week for getting an A+ - and asking for my Chemistry notes. I've lowered it just enough, a B+. I didn't need them bothering me for my grades.
"No, there isn't. I've just been... Distracted, I think?" I lied
"I just really hope it hasn't anything to do with other people's opinion. You have a great potential Ms. Marano. Don't waste it."
I nodded and headed out.
The hallway was almost empty, besides from some freshman and juniors putting their stuff in their lockers.
"How about that Laura girl?" I heard as I passed through one of the doors.
Okay, I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop.
But I mean, they were talking about me.
"What do you mean?" Was that...?
I pressed my back against the wall next to the open door, giving a quick glance inside. Ross was there with the computer guy... Calum I think?
"Come on, Ross. Are you seriously gonna pretend you didn't see the picture? What's up with you two? Didn't she have a girlfriend or whatever?"
I heard a sound that sounded like a book being slammed against a table and gulped.
"Why do you suddenly care?" His tone was more violent. He clearly didn't want to talk about it.
"I don't. I just don't want you messing with the most popular girl in school because apparently she thinks we're friends. It will come to me eventually."
My mouth fell open at the redhead's words. What kind of person does he think I am?!
"Then don't worry. She's a spoiled brat that needs everyone's approval. That's not for me."
My eyes narrowed and I left my blood boiling.
I hugged my books tightly and picked up my pace towards the doors.
That was fucking it.
I was done with that douchebag.

••••••

I parked the silver Mercedes on my driveway, and headed to the back of the car, taking off the groceries from the trunk.
My mom texted me on the way home, asking me to bring some stuff.
I closed the compartment, finding myself face to face with the one person I didn't want to see.
He had a smirk plastered on his face and he nodded to the bags "Do you need some help with that? A princess shouldn't be carrying groceries. That's very inappropriate Royal behavior."
From you?
I think I'd rather see them rot in the sidewalk.
I brushed past him, my eyes fix on the horizon level.
I put the bags down on the doorway and looked for the keys on my bag, when the blond dipshit appeared next to me again. "Are you seriously giving me the silent treatment?"
Silent treatment is still better than being a fake asshole.
I grabbed the keys and opened up the door, grabbing the bags once again and kicking the door close.
But he was faster and put his feet on the crack before it closed.
Ugh.
"Really? So you come at me complaining that you didn't want the cold shoulder but now you treat me the same way?"
I put the groceries down on the kitchen counter and let myself glare at him, before ignoring him once again.
As I grabbed the milk boxes to put in the refrigerator, he walked up to me and took them away, his arms pinning me on the kitchen counter.
"Get off me!" I tried to push his chest, but he didn't bulge.
"Not before you answer me. What the fuck is going on?"
I looked deep in his eyes before saying "I don't know. Why are you so worried in what a spoiled brat that needs everyone's approval thinks?" I growled back
His eyes widened with surprise and guilt as he gulped. Douchebag didn't see that coming.
"Laura, did you get the stuff I-" we both turned our heads to find my mother in the bottom of the stairway "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know we had guests."
I pushed Ross off me "Don't worry mom. He was leaving." I glared at him
He quietly backed off  "Mrs Marano. Laura." and walked out the door.
I felt my mom's glare on me as I put the boxes inside the fridge. "Can you not look at me like that?"
"I'm just..." She gestured in the air "Shocked? I wasn't expecting you and Ross-"
"We're not together mom." I cut her off
She tilted her head "Didn't look exactly like it."
"Well, we aren't. It's not my fault it he has personal space issues." I silenced her.
I didn't mean to snap at her. But that boy was getting on my nerves.
"I'm sorry mom." I sighed
"It's okay." She said calmly "I just want you to know that if anything's going on, you can tell me. He's not exactly who I pictured you with, but it's not like if you were dating a girl." She laughed
Ouch.
That stung.
"Don't worry. I'll let you know when I find someone." I lied, giving up on putting the groceries on the kitchen and going upstairs.
When I got to my room, I looked out the window, departing myself with a messy handwritten sign on the window of the house next to mine.

7PM - The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.

What did he even mean?
Well, if he thought that I was gonna forgive him because of a sign, boy, he was wrong. It wasn't gonna be that easy.
I took out my phone, and there was a text message. From Maia.
Oh shit.

Thought you said he was a jerk.

I stared at the text before replying

He still is. Don't worry, we were just hanging out.
Love you.

It took less than two minutes for her to reply

I love you too. Just be careful. He's a lazy ass and I heard, a player.

I smiled at her preoccupied self. She was amazing.

Don't worry, there's nothing to play with here lol

I opened Safari and typed down the phrase in the Sharpie made sign.
It was a quote from the one and only William Shakespeare.
Did he just apologize by quoting Shakespeare?
I threw my head back and sighed
Lynch, what the hell are you up to?