Dark & Light

~Chapter Six~

Chris's POV

***

Monday came quicker than expected. Before I knew it, the weekend was over and I was in a booth studying algebra with Paige after a crazy day of school. A tall girl with strawberry blond hair saw Paige and waved, coming over near our corner booth about a half an hour after we had began studying.

"Heyo girl! What up?"
"Mandi! Hey. Just studying," Paige replied.
"Awesome! You look soooo cute today! You're just so gorgeous though, all the time. That explains everything." She winked and sighed dramatically.
Kudos to this Mandi person for speaking up!
"Nah, you're the pretty one."
Mandi sighed, not jokingly this time. "I actually gotta go. Spanish homework and then that thing with my parents tonight I was telling you about. I'll see ya later, Paige!"
Only a second or two later, she came back. "Excuse me," she said looking at me. "I didn't even realize you were sitting there!" She then gave a knowing look at Paige. "May you introduce us?"
Paige coughed, then replied. "Of course, Mandi, this is Chris, Chris, Mandi."
Mandi extended a hand which I shook. "So nice to meet you, Chris."
"You too," I responded, perplexed at her obviously delighted tone.
She grinned, looking at Paige, then me. Apparently pleased we were like studying together, or just simply together.
"I'll definitely talk to ya later, Paige." There was an emphasis on definitely as if there was lots they needed to talk about. Did Mandi think...
Paige quietly watched Mandi leave, then commented, "I don't know why anyone would say that about my looks. Like I wish they'd just look at me." She seemed to be talking more to herself than me, but I responded anyway.
"Um, she was looking at you."
"No, I mean really looking."
"Not sure what you mean." Or did I and was I just saying that? How many times I had ignored the explicitly flirty comments from girls all around me, girls who had no idea about my past...
"Inside and out. People look at me and see neither of the real person I am," Paige continued.
"I look at both and see you're really kind, and nice. And whoever said you're not attractive?" Man I know how you feel. Nobody has to say you're not unattractive. If you just know yourself enough...
"It doesn't matter if anyone has said I am or not. Fact is, I'm not." But you're not like me, Paige. Youre full of light and happiness. Youre attractive and amazing.
"How can you say that about yourself?"
"Because it's the truth."
Not. So not! "I can't believe you."
She suddenly shot out of her seat and ran to the side door. At first I thought she did this because of what I had just said, but when I glanced up, I noticed her "friend" Jack was coming through the cafe doors.
Oh great.
But then a strange thought ran through my brain as I seen Jack notice me and approach.
Why would Paige literally run away from him on sight? Maybe she was embarrassed I was with her again. Dang. I embarrass her.
"Hey...Kyle?"
"Chris."
"Anyways."
I resisted the urge to do something unkind to this know-it-all.
"You seen Paige?"
"Uh, not really."
"Where is she?"
Like I'm gonna tell you. "Why do you want to know?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Why was cute-but-tough Paige even involved with this ego face?
"I think she's busy."
"Working? She hasn't worked Mondays in awhile."
I could feel my forehead form angry creases. How would he know?
"No, she's just busy," I replied.
"Well, thanks for your help, man." His tone was laced thick in sarcasm.
He moved over to the counter to talk to an over-obliging Christy.
Making sure Jack's back was fully facing me, I moved swiftly out of the booth, and sprinted to the door Paige had went out.
It opened out to a short, narrow, and fairly clean, alleyway.
Sitting, knees up to chin, head on knees, against the wall and on the ground, stood Paige. I could hear her softly murmuring to herself.
I moved carefully next to her, all the angry emotions of encountering Jack leaving me as I seen her apparently sad, stooped figure.
"Um, Paige?" I began in the softest tone possible.
Her face shot up, with an expastered, upset look, that softened immediately when she noticed it was me who had spoken.
"Oh, Chris. Sorry I left you."
"That's okay. You alright?"
She looked at me, her face full of surprise.
"Y-yes. I'm okay now."
I offered her my hand and arm to help lift her up, and she gladly took it as she stood up. A thrill of delight thrummed through my insides that she had actually accepted my physical support. She looked at me right in the eyes, and hadn't let go of my arm, though she was now totally standing and definitely didn't require physical help anymore.
A voice interrupted the moment, just like last time, a moment that had been almost blissful and hazy for me.
It was Jack's.
"Paige! P-paige! Where are you? I know you're around here somewhere."
"Let's move around here," Paige pointed.
"There's an entry back onto the cafe there."
We ran to it, opening the door and running inside.
She slipped back to our booth, ducking underneath the table. I ran right after her, bumping into her since I hadn't expected her to be hiding underneath the table.
"Why are we hiding under the table?" I whispered, as I ducked underneath as well.
"Shh!" She said in response.
"Paige. What in heck are you doing?"
Paige closed her eyes in annoyance at being discovered, before rising above the table to awkwardly greet Jack.
I stood up clumsily after her.
Jack cocked his head and slid into the booth with us as we sat down, scrunching Paige and I into each other. I awkwardly moved a couple inches away from her, only to see Jack sit right next to her and wrap his left arm around her shoulders.
"What are you even doing, you guys?" He flashed his now infamous confident grin.
Paige didn't answer. She was stiff and appeared entirely uncomfortable, and her eyes were downcast. Not a single word escaped her lips.
"This is an interesting situation," Jack commented after a long pause. He was obviously referring to flirty him next to stiff Paige, who sat next to stupidly-silent me.
"You like?" Jack asked, his arm still around her tiny frame.
Needless to say, Jack had ruined our studying session and afternoon.
Things were totally awkward. Paige was silent, and I wasn't sure if she was uncomfortable because Jack had seen me with her again, Jack was being too touchy-flirty, or because I was witnessing all of it.
Someone's playing third wheel right now.
Question is, who? Me, or...Jack?

But just then I noticed Jack take his hand and arm away from Paige entirely and began to ask something that would make me entirely speechless and make my heart start beating horribly fast.
"Hey," he said, his eyebrows knitted with his forehead into a tight frown, as if he had just discovered something unpleasant.
"You two... don't like, like each other, do you?"

***

Heyo everyone! I know, semi-cliffhanger!! ;D
So...for those of you may ship Chris and Paige...what do y'all think of their possible progress as a couple this far? What about anyone who may strongly like/dislike the notorious Jack; are you liking him more or less after this chapter?
If this story seems to be progressing slowly for any of you, just wait until the next update or two, things are really going to pick up plot and action wise, with perhaps some revelations about who Chris and Paige really are. ;)
Don't forget to comment, vote, and share your opinions and thoughts on this chapter and the story so far! :)

Xx,
Veronica