Christopher | ✔

Chapter Eleven

Discover - Chris Brown

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~1 day later~

After the stressful and time-consuming wait, the doctors had finally emerged from the back rooms, announcing that Nina's baby, as well as herself, was fine, and healthy. Oh, the relief everyone felt, as we had gotten ready to leave. Nina looked brand new, except for the few stitches here and there, the swelling and redness was gone.

Caleb and Emmett had come from purchasing their drinks, sipping on coke as they approached us. Emmett had already run to Nina's side, examining her wounds, softly speaking words of reassurance. By the next day, we were all at school and Candace and I hadn't spoken a word to our mother. I guess we were still reliving the moment, as Candace avoided Chris like the plague and our mom as well. We'd also thought it best if Nina stayed at Darlene's for the time being.

I currently walked down the school halls, lost in thought as I pulled out the necessary books I needed. Apparently, I was the only one out of all my friends that'd arrived, so I decided to walk towards the large park our school owned. It contained several lunch-tables in the vast field, with a shady tree drooping over one, providing comfortable shade. The weather today was overcast, however, so that didn't come handy at the moment.

I placed my things on the table, and took a seat, enjoying the silence and the calm, cool breeze that left my dark strands flowing in the wind. Even my pages flipped without my permission as the breeze got somewhat stronger. It seemed tonight would be filled with rain and wind, something I was certainly looking forward to.

I heard the disturbance in the Earth, as the faint footsteps drew nearer, and I didn't even have to look up to see Darlene leaning across me. She sat there quietly for a moment, clearing her throat once she realized I was focused on my books. So I looked up, with a forced smile that she saw right through.

"Sorry, for disturbing your little 'me time session'," she began. "But... things around here are getting weird." I rolled my eyes, with a groan.

"Darlene, it's quite obvious," I replied, and was about to resume reading my books, but she stopped me. Her look, serious.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." I frowned. What was she accusing me of? I closed my books and peered at her with narrowed eyes.

"What is it then?"

"Emmett always picks up Caleb and I, on the way to school. It's a routine that we've all gotten used to over the years, no?" I nodded in agreement, listening intently. "This morning, when we stopped at his house, he informed us that he decided to take the bus from now on!" Darlene was outrageous. "Why the hell would he do that?"

"Maybe that's how he felt for the morning. He'd come around by tomorrow," I suggested, knowing it was quite unlikely.

"No, he won't! He won't even sit next to Emmett during Chemistry!" I blinked. Caleb was making this more obvious than he should. "And I'm guessing, you know a little more than the rest of us." I shook my head, about to answer her, but quickly closed my mouth as Caleb came rushing from the school doors. As soon as he took his seat next to me, Emmett came rushing out, his face grim. He too, reached our table, staring at the lights curls on the back of Caleb's head as he buried his head on my lap.

I gave them both questioning glares, as Caleb continued to hide, not showing his face nor giving an explanation. Emmett simply folded his arms, continuing to stare, but it wasn't a glare, more like worry.

"What's wrong?" I finally asked. Emmett's eyes snapped to me.

"You're asking the wrong person," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. Darlene rolled her eyes, finally be the brave one and removed Caleb's showing his frightened expression. "He just keeps running off every time he sees me." He jabbed a finger in Caleb's direction.

"I told you he was behaving weird," Darlene told me. Caleb wasn't someone who liked being the centre of attention, so I could imagine the way he was feeling right now. Right now, with him being the subject, and soon, the others were bound to arrive, he was probably feeling to cower away in a corner. "Is there something you'd like to tell us?" Darlene continued to pester him. It was so cute the way he seemed like a deer caught in the headlights of a vehicle.

"U-uh no," he stammered. I almost burst in laughter. He always managed to make me laugh without trying. Darlene placed her hands on her hips.

"Oh really?" she sassed. "You're not leaving here until you explain yourself." Caleb blinked, his mouth open, but no words coming out. I wouldn't have known what to say if I was in his position. So I did what any good friend would.

"Um, so how did your night go Emmett?" Try miserably to divert the conversation.

"I was constantly thinking about Nina," he stressed on her name, as all of us saw Caleb tense visibly. I quickly got up off the bench and pulled Caleb along with me. The other two complained but I wasn't about to let him make a fool of himself or cause them to permanently stop talking to him. Once I was sure that we were the only ones in the hall, I turned to glare at him.

"What were you thinking!" I screeched at him. He flinched on his spot, turning his head away from me to hide his emotions.

"I'm sorry," he cried, passing his hands through his hair frantically. "If I stay anywhere near him, I'll reveal myself. And that's the last thing I want to do... You know that." He whispered the last part quite softly. I shook my head, seeing Candace walking up to us in the distance. She seemed wary.

"What now?" I groaned.

"Chris wants to pick me up from the school today... and I accepted." My eyes bulged out of their sockets, my fists balled up ready give Candace a real knockout.

"You know," I began, running my fingers throw my hair. "All the times I called you stupid, I used to hope I was wrong." Candace narrowed her sky-blue eyes at me, her lips pressed into a thin tight line.

"Look, I'm the only one here trying to not be suspicious, because as far as I'm concerned, he knows nothing about me witnessing him," she scoffed in return. Caleb raised his hand timidly, to make a point.

"Don't underestimate him," he cautioned. Candace rolled her eyes, pulling her bag-pack higher up her back.

"I'm not stupid. I'll see you guys later today," she replied and walked off. By then, the halls were beginning to flood with children.

"As for you," I turned to face Caleb. "You've dug a weird hole for yourself."

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Yaye! Another update! Hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to share your views and vote!

Taja D'amore.