Unravelled

[CHAPTER 39]

CHAPTER 39

Lara's POV

It was the first day of school again.

Well, not exactly. We had our Christmas break and now we were back to start the new semester. A new semester meant more assignments, school projects and tests. And I was not too thrilled about it.

Things seemed to be different lately. Not exactly different different. It's just, the way I see things now were different than when I just entered high school, or sophomore year even. Something was happening around me but I just couldn't put a finger on it. It almost felt like I was playing a significant role in some kind of thriller movie or something. Like Mission Impossible or The Bourne Identity.

I asked Lia if she felt the same way too and she said that I was just being paranoid. I wished I was, but something was happening. Or at least, it's going to. I had a gut feeling about this and it's not going to be good. And I felt pretty stressed out about it.

Which was why I was not too excited to start a new semester.

There were two loud tap! on the speakers before all of us heard a familiar voice. "Students of Wilson High, please proceed to the assembly hall now. Assembly will start in less than five minutes. Thank you," Miss Pearson, our assistant principle announced through the speakers.

"A great way to start a new semester," Kelsey said sarcastically.

Everyone moved to the assembly hall and fell into their lines according to their grades. Freshmen near the entrance, while seniors on the other side. I walked in with Lia and Kelsey and they had been talking about the interview on Mason Coleman since they read the column.

I wandered over to where the eleventh grade was standing. I didn't need to turn back to Lia and Kelsey to know that they were too busy to notice.

As I moved past the students, I was trying to think of how I was going to ask him about it. Not that I could ask him now. I could only ask if we could talk, maybe during lunch or after school. For the past few days I refrained from banging on his door because I told myself I'd wait until today. I had a lot of questions reeling in my mind and I needed answers.

I was halfway through the lines of tenth graders when someone linked his arm with one of mine, half dragging me back to where I was supposed to stand. "You're still a sophomore. Our lines are over there," Bryce said when I turned around to face him.

"Of course I know that," I unlinked my arm from his and stood on my tiptoes to get a better view of the hall.

Cameron appeared in front of me, blocking my view. "If you're looking for Lia and Kelsey, there are already in line."

"Yeah I know, I came in with them. I'm looking for someone else."

"Well," Cameron shrugged. "I think I saw Charlotte walking in too. She's probably over there."

"No I wasn't looking for her. I was-" I stopped when I saw the principal went on the stage. "Never mind, forget it. Let's get into our lines."

~~~~~~~~~~

I felt myself grinning when I saw them during lunch break. "Hey, how's life?" I asked them even though I knew what their answers would be like.

The five of them slumped on their chairs at our usual table in the cafeteria. "Don't say a word," Kelsey warned.

"Our new history teacher is crazy!" Lia cried out.

Scott leaned back on his chair. "Can't believe I'm saying this guys, but I think I would take Miss Simone anytime."

I uttered a silent prayer that I did not take History. "Cheer up guys! I'll get you guys some food. What do you guys want?"

All of them agreed on just sandwiches and orange juice. Normally they would get something heavier like pasta or burgers but I guessed they didn't have a large appetite today.

I was about to queue up to buy the drinks when I spotted Daniel from his back. He was sitting alone, which made me wonder where Charlotte could be. I nudged him on his back when I got to him.

"Holy crap! What happened to your eyes?" I asked when he turned around to face me. "And your face! It's all swollen, what happened?"

He shielded his face with his palm. "Damn, I knew I shouldn't have come to school today." I could hear his words clearly, even though he was just muttering.

"Daniel, did you get into a fight?" I asked him after a moment of hesitation.

"No," he replied quietly, avoiding my eyes.

Clearly he didn't want to talk, or at least about this. I excused myself, got the food and drinks and returned to my table.

~~~~~~~~~~

After school, the rest of them decided to stay in the school library to finish their project that was due two days later. I think my overall assignments couldn't even beat their single project. Today was pretty alright for me. My teachers weren't those get-right-into-work on the first day itself, and I was so grateful for that. Maybe like Lia said, I was just being paranoid.

Right after the school bell rang, everyone rushed out of school like they couldn't stand being at school one second longer. Within seconds, the number of students at school was reduced to half. I walked to my locker to retrieve my cell when I heard shouting echoing through the empty hallway.

I walked down the hall, trying to locate where the shouting came from. I stopped short when I passed by one of the classrooms, and hid behind the door.

"...you do that, I'd rather kill you myself. I'll make sure you won't even get to him." The voice sounded like it belonged to Jayden.

I peeked through the door, which was left ajar by a little. True to my guess, it was him. What shocked me more was that the person standing right in front of him, was Daniel.

"Why do you even care? You don't work for him anymore," Daniel hissed.

In a warning tone, Jayden said, "Listen, if you won't stop, you will definitely regret this." He sounded like he was threatening Daniel not to do something, but I didn't know what.

"Jayden please," Daniel pleaded. "Come on, we were once friends. You should understand me by now. Do me a favor and leave. me. alone."

Ryan was right.

Jayden grabbed the collar of Daniel's shirt. "Can't you just give it up?" He looked into Jayden's eyes and said, "No."

"If you're not going to stop this, then I will." He held up his fist, and looked like he was ready to drive it into Daniel's face.

"Stop!" someone yelled. It took me a moment to realize that it came from me. I strode to where both of them were standing. "Let go of him, Jayden."