Unravelled

[CHAPTER 16]

CHAPTER 16

Lara's POV

Mr. Arthur was standing at the chalkboard, mumbling something about differential equations when I stumbled at the door. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's alright. Textbook page 32," he told me before turning back to the board again.

One thing I like about Mr Arthur is that he doesn't give detentions to his students. Just one excuse and you're through.

I set my calculus textbook I was holding, down on my table and slid into my chair. "Hey," I almost whispered.

"Hey Lara, you're late today," Charlotte replied, her green eyes were still pinned forward.

I flipped my book to page 32. "Sí, I was busy with bio till three and I didn't hear the alarm this morning."

"Oh you must be tired then," she said, while scrawling down something on her notes.

"Kinda. Oh yeah, you didn't come back yesterday. Is everything alright? Where did you go?"

The soft glide of her pen stopped. She opened her mouth to say something but words did not come out. She looked like she was having a hard time answering me so I said, "You don't have to tell me, I get it." I guess it's not something I should ask.

"Sorry, it's not really personal but I just prefer not to talk about it."

I was poised to jot the notes down. "It's okay, I understand."

Mr. Arthur cleared his throat. "Yes Miss Fernandez, do you want to take over my place?"

The class snickered.

"No sir I'm sorry," I replied him, slightly embarrassed.

Charlotte's POV

I sat at my usual spot in the cafeteria, sipping coffee. That was a very close call at class earlier. I was glad that she was not pushy enough for me to hurl out everything.

"They didn't have tuna, so I got you jam instead," Daniel said as he placed his tray on the table and sat opposite me.

"Thanks," I said and took my sandwich.

I was nibbling on it when Lara popped out by our table. "Hey Charlotte!" she said.

I gulped down the piece of bread, almost choking and gave a small smile, "Hi."

"Are you still up for some tutoring? You can come by my place tomorrow. Since it's a Friday, I have plenty of time," she said enthusiastically.

Tutoring, right. "Uh yeah, sure but I don't know where you live."

"No worries, you can follow me back tomorrow. I only live a mile away," she assured me.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," I said.

"Bye Charlotte!" she waved at me, then at Daniel. "Bye!"

Before she could leave, Daniel said, "You must be Lara."

She turned to him and smiled, "Yeah, I am." Daniel, glanced at me indicating that I should introduce him to her.

"This is Daniel, he's a senior here," I said.

"Yeah, I know. Let me guess, your brother?"

I snickered inside, "No, he isn't. He's an old friend who happened to be here when I was transferred."

"Oh, that explains why he's with you from the very beginning," she said.

"Lara!" a girl shouted.