Unravelled

[CHAPTER 30]

CHAPTER 30

Lara's POV

Christmas vacation was just around the corner and everyone was already in the holiday mood. Two more weeks, I thought. Some students even had their Santa hats on. While we weren't exactly allowed to wear any headwear to school, the teachers didn't say anything about it.

Most parts of the school were already decorated with Christmas ornaments. Wreaths were hung on the main doors, giving them a classic Christmas look, and a medium-sized Christmas tree was placed in the foyer. Snowflakes and cotton balls dangled from the ceiling that it almost felt like we were having White Christmas this year.

Students have been doing this over the years. Wilson High has this special Christmas event where we go to school on the night before the eve to celebrate. Booths and stalls will be held at school and loud Christmas symphony music will be played, like a carnival. Except, the celebration will take place inside school as it'll be cold outside.

I put on my beanie as soon as I stepped out of school. It was freezing outside even though I already had my winter coat on. As I crossed the parking lot, I rubbed my palms together to warm them since I did not have my mittens with me.

My phone chirped so I fished it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. A text from mom.

Will be home by seven tonight. Dinner together? Love, Mom.

At this, I smiled. I replied her with a quick text saying Okay, see you later. Love you too.

Just as soon as I hit the send button, I knocked into someone coming from the left. I managed to catch my phone before it fell on the ground. I looked up, wanting to apologize when I stopped short.

Standing right in front of me was Jayden. Just for a moment, his jaw was clenched and his fists were curled as if he looked pissed.

But his face softened immediately when he saw me. "Lara," he acknowledged me.

"Hi Jayden," I hesitated before asking, "Is everything alright?"

He took a deep breath, as though trying to release his consuming anger. He uncurled his fists and said, "Yeah, I'm fine."

I could see he wasn't in his best mood and figured he might need sometime of his own to resolve his issues so I decided to end the conversation. "Okay then, I'm going home now. Bye," I said.

He arched his neck back slightly and looked around. Probably to see if he should let me walk home in the cold because the next thing he said was, "I'll give you a ride home."

I strapped myself in beside him when my phone rang. I checked the caller ID before answering the call. "Hey Daniel, what's up?"

"I was just wondering if you're free tonight."

"Tonight? Sorry Dan, my mom will be home early today." I checked my schedule for tomorrow night mentally. "But I can make time for tomorrow night."

"Sounds great. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Wait, you're not taking me to Vagabond for the second time right?" I asked, giving him a shaky laugh.

I didn't want to go there another time. At least, not anytime soon. The next morning after that night, I nearly couldn't make it in time for my test but I was lucky the teacher so happened to enter the class later due to disciplinary issues. I had P.E first thing tomorrow and the last thing I wanted was to have sores even before I had a good game of baseball.

Daniel let out a short laugh. "Of course not, I haven't brought you there since, right? Anyway, I was just thinking about dinner and maybe a movie after that, like last time. So what time should I pick you up tomorrow?"