Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 13 - File #3.5: The Pros and Cons

Rhett

Bridgewald High reminded me of the school that I went to. It had a huge entrance that made the school looked like a student-eating monster. I was always hesitated to enter my own school because of some obvious reasons. I would trip myself climbing the stairs, or even getting hit by the locker door next to mine, and the person who did it just simply said, "Oh, sorry, Rhett. I didn't see you there. Are you okay?"

You think?! I was just hit by your locker door when you opened it, damn it! But since she was a girl from the exclusive pep squad, I just grinned, looking like a foolish person. It was a high school cliché, you know, that pep squad usually hung out with the jocks—which I obviously didn't belong to. So, pardon my stupid grin when she actually talked to me, knew my name, and asked me if I was okay. Three combos!

Okay, now that I stood here... What could I remember about Avery Kane? She was blonde, average height for a high school girl, and had the strongest memory anyone could possibly have. She also complained a lot—much like Noel; never smiled—much like Noel; and used a callous tone every time she talked to me—it was also like Noel. I wouldn't be surprised if they turned out to be long lost siblings.

The school was already started, so the only way I could get to her was...

"You're from Bensworth's Student Council?" asked Mrs. Dench, the principal, after I introduced myself. "And you want to meet Avery Kane?"

"Yes. Just want to have a talk about the admission."

"Is she accepted?"

Honestly, I was stunned. She didn't know that Avery didn't even apply. So, it was that girl's very own decision after all. "Well, no. I mean, we don't know yet. I'm just here to discuss her admission papers."

"She wasn't the only student I sent for the early admission, Mr. Carver. Why do you only want to talk to her?"

God, can she ever stop asking these questions? "Actually, the other students have completed their applications. Miss Kane is the only one having a problem with it. Because she has really good grades, we can't eliminate her just yet. We're asking her to complete her papers."

"I always thought she was very thorough. She could be clumsy sometimes," she chuckled. "Alright, I will call her here."

And that's how I was finally be able to meet her again, even though she wasn't very pleased about it. I was sure it was because the plagiarism case she was involved, but I got a feeling that it was mostly because of me.

I was sitting comfortably in my car, eating burrito and drinking soda that I bought at the food truck not far from the school. I got to admit, I was wrong to skip Professor Pine's class just to come here. Not because the class was worth about 40% of my final grade—I stopped caring about that after the poop incident—but because it was still 4 hours to go until the school ended. I almost forgot how long the school time was.

Kyle had texted me repeatedly, asking where I was, but I ignored it. Maybe I was just looking for a reason to skip this class, so I decided to come here in the morning. Because I was bored, I finally replied his messages.

KYLE JACKSON: Where r u?
KYLE JACKSON: Dude where the hell r u?! Pine's coming
KYLE JACKSON: Rhett?
KYLE JACKSON: R u still sleeping?
KYLE JACKSON: Rhett I swear to God Pine is looking for u!

You: Just tell him I'm sick or something

KYLE JACKSON: Yeah like it ever worked before
KYLE JACKSON: He just showed ur drawing to the whole class and said nice things

You: REALLY?

KYLE JACKSON: Of course not. Get ur butt over here now!

I frowned. I was actually hurt—not that I would magically forget Pine's terrible treatment over the incident if he ever praised my work... But it sure would be great if he did that just once.