Chasing the Unknown

Chasing the Unknown ~ Chapter 12

Jess's eyes grew as wide as her smile. She squealed, loudly, and grabbed my hands excitedly. She was jumping on her toes. It looked like she'd met a celebrity or something.

Poor thing didn't even know she'd met the bottom of the barrel when it came to Bluemoon members.

"You grew up in the Village?" Jess said loudly. She gasped and quickly looked left and right, but there was barely anyone left in the locker room, and no one was paying us any attention. "Why didn't you say so?" She whispered.

She acted like me being born in the Village was some big secret. Was she scared that I'd become instantly popular or something. I mentally scoffed, If only. 

"I haven't been there for about four years, so sure I was raised there, but I haven't been back until recently." I muttered, averting my gaze as I desperately wished Jess would just let go of my hands.

"Why?" Jess asked. "I'd never leave if I were you!" She continued. "It's, like, so awesome that you know all those guys from the Village. Hey, could you introduce me?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to resist the temptation to glare at Jess. She's a nice person, don't make her hate you. 

Breathe.

"I don't really get along with those guys." I said after a moment of silence. I detached myself from Jess and quickly walked towards the exit. I wanted out of here. The room was suffocating.

"Awe, that's too bad." Jess pouted and followed behind. 

Just as we walked into the gym, the teacher blew his whistle for everyone to gather. I noticed Theo sitting on the ground, crossed-legged, in front of where the teacher was standing. He was glaring at Tyler, who was talking to Ash, as they threw the basketball they were using away before joining the rest of the class. 

Excitement swelled in me and, completely ditching Jess, I ran towards Theo and jumped on his shoulders before sitting beside him. 

"Gah!" Theo almost fell over from the unexpected weight. "What the hell, Strawberry?"

I smiled innocently and smacked him on the back. "I'm just excited to see a familiar face! I mean, it sucks that it had to be you, but I guess I'll settle."

Theo frowned and pinched my nose. "That hurts you know."

"Ouch!" I smacked Theo's hand. "Okay, okay, sorry! Let go of my nose."

"Say 'Theo's the coolest guy, and he's way better than me.'" Theo said, pinching my nose tighter.

"Theo's totally not the coolest guy in the world because he can't take a joke."

Theo smirked, and pinched my nose harder. "Ow! Ow! Okay! I'm sorry! Theo's the coolest guy, and he's way better than me!"

Laughing, Theo let go of my nose and patted my head. "Good Strawberry."

I glared. "You're an asshole."

Theo nodded, a half-smile dancing on his lips. "So, how are you?"

It felt like the temperature room dropped by twenty degrees. My smile melted and I leaned against Theo, sighing heavily. "I hate life right now."

Theo half laughed, the breath of air sounding more like a reluctant cough. "That's kind of harsh."

"I don't understand anything!" I sat up straight and looked down at my palms. "I feel like a complete moron every class I sit in."

Theo bumped his knee with mine. "I know how you feel. At least you don't have to deal with that asshole all the time." He said. I looked up and he was glaring at Tyler, who sat on the other side of the semi-circle with Ash by his side. Tyler wasn't even looking at us.