The Dark Path (Part 1/2)

Lunch Break

[Archer's POV]

I sat in my seat listening to Mr. Wayne talk about calculus. All this new stuff was just so hard, but at least I was able to take it in slowly. Man, I am such a nerd. I chuckled to myself. At least, I wasn't having a hard time compared to Tyson. The poor boy was scratching his head. I knew him for a very long time. He was a smart boy but he needed time to understand it.

However, Tyson seemed somewhat different today for two reasons. One, his mood this morning was somewhat off. It was as if something happened over the weekend. That's weird. Wasn't Miles at his house last weekend? Yet, Miles never said anything. Another reason, for reasons I just couldn't comprehend, there was this strange, new feeling I seem to be getting from Tyson. It was as if there was something violent about to happen.

I didn't want to say anything to Tyson for now. He easily got angry but cools off quickly when he was given sometime alone. However, Tyson seemed more troubled than angry. I ignored him for now and turned my attention back to the lesson.

During lunch, Tyson, Miles, Alexis and I sat together at our usual table. Tyson hardly spoke when we were eating. Miles kept talking on and on about Alexis about random topics. I don't think Miles is into Alexis but I couldn't help but feel I little jealous when he had Alexis' full attention and made her laugh so hard.

I watched Alexis for most of the time during lunch. The way she ate her spaghetti was kind of cute. Every time a stray spaghetti string was dangling from her mouth, she slurped it up. And every time even one speck of pasta sauce was on her mouth, she wiped it off her. I smiled at that. So ladylike. She was nothing like the other girls at this school. Sure, they were pretty, but all they did was end up getting wasted almost every weekend.

I was thinking about Alexis the whole time during the weekend whether I should ask her out, just the two of us. I know, I know. We hardly knew each other, but...ugh. I just don't know what to do. Is it a wrong move to ask a girl you just knew out, just the two of us? 'I'm so confused about these feelings,' I said to myself. Unfortunately, I think I may have said that sentence a little TOO loud. Alexis was looking at me like I just the most out-of-this-world statement.

"Feelings? What are you so confused about your feelings?" Alexis looking at me with a concerned look on her face.

I took a glance at Miles. He could obviously guess what I meant by 'feelings' and was holding back his laughter.

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Eh-heh." I said stupidly.

Alexis raised one brow at me and began to get up from her seat. "Right...okay, then. I...got to go now. Bye." I watched as Alexis walked off. As soon as she disappeared from sight, Miles began laughing his butt off. LMAO, as they say on the internet.

"You, Archer, my friend, are REAL good at picking up ladies. Could I learn more from the Grand Master?" he said as he placed both palms together vertically and bowed his head at me.

"Not cool, Miles. Man, I am such a loser." I said as I placed my head on the table and placed on the back of my head.

"Can't argue with that!" Miles shouted with an ear-to-ear grin.

I groaned. I don't know what's harder. Asking Alexis out or getting Miles to shut his trap for once. I brought my head up and looked at Tyson, who has not said a single word, as of today. I think he might have cooled down from whatever was bothering him. I was not sure whether he was in the mood for talking. Oh well, here goes.

"Hey, beast. Enjoying your food there?" I asked him.

"Yes. It's good." he said without looking up from his plate.

I was just not sure what to say. Tyson just kept on eating. This is not going anywhere. Only one way to find out.

"So, what did you do over the weekend?" I questioned him.

"Oh, nothing much."

I decided not to press on. However, Mr. Bigmouth aka Miles continued the conversation for me.

"I heard you have one less spare room in your house." Miles said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Tyson didn't act surprised or shocked. Instead, he calmly placed his cutlery on his plate.

"I don't know where she came from, but somehow she's my sister. It's confusing, guys. I spent seventeen years of my life thinking I was the only child, now some girl pops out of nowhere, my dad claiming she's my sister of another mother. I hope my dad is telling the truth about not 'touching' his past girlfriend, who is Sylvia's mother."

I opened my mouth to say something but Miles beat me to it, as always.

"Well, she seems swell." Miles said with a smile.

"God, Miles. Please tell me you didn't try to flirt with her. You're hard to handle enough as a friend, but a brother-in-law? I would have to move to the opposite side of the country."

"Ouch. You words are like a sword in my heart!" Miles said sarcastically.

"For once in your life, can you let a girl live without your pathetic flirting?"

"You're just jealous. No girl has ever turned me down before."

It was true. Girls in the school thought Miles was the most good-looking guy in school. He has had more girlfriends in the past than I have lines on my palms. Any girl he flirted with fell for him almost instantly.

"Have you tried talking to her? You know, get to know her more." I asked Tyson quickly before Miles stole the chance.

"Why yes I did. She's fifteen years old, which is two years younger than us. She told me she had been living with her mom up north in Canada since she had been born. She walked for miles..."

"Heh-heh. She walked for miles which means she walked for me!" Miles interrupted.

Tyson gave Miles a sinister glare which wiped Miles' trademark smile off his face.

I urged Tyson to continue. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, she walked for miles, living in the most terrible places. She got involved in a few gangs along the way but she's left that all behind, or so she says. Eventually, some rich guy found her along the street, tested her DNA, contacted my dad and well, here we are."

As soon as Tyson finished, the bell rang signaling that it was time to go for classes. Tyson left without a word besides his goodbye. Suddenly, the bell started increasing and decreasing in volume randomly. The other students began feeling confused at the weirdness of the bell. I turned my head to Miles who was smiling as he finished his juice box.

"Did...did you just do that?!" I said to Miles in shock.

Miles didn't say a word. All he did was just nod his head.

"Dude...you're like some superhero."

"Oh no! Don't you start that with me too! I'm being normal."

"Well, a pity. You could get a better job than that DJ job you wanted."

"You know I've been mixing songs for some time now."

"I'm sure you could find something better. I mean, those powers of yours...you could do something worthwhile with your life instead of changing girlfriends every few months."

Miles gasped at me. "Archer, are you calling me a player? I am deeply hurt." he said sarcastically as he held his hands at his heart.

I sighed. "What other words can describe you?"

"Well, you can call me Mister I-need-to-head-to-class! See you, man." he said as he walked backwards down the corridor and saluted me.