The Real Me

Chapter four: Engulfed in flames

Connor's POV

"Goodnight Audrey, may only the sweetest dreams in the world grace you tonight. xx :)" -C

I closed the messenger app and turn my phone off, smiling to myself. Even though she didn't exactly reply back to my question, I have a feeling I'll be seeing her anyway.

"You done being a little girl there, with all that sappy texting?" Blake joked, tilting his head and raising his left brow at me.

"Shut up Blake." I said, shaking my head. "I was only apologising to her about how much of a loser you really are."

Blake feigned hurt, clutching his chest where his heart is. "Ouch! My feelings. ARGHHH!" He dramatically falls to the ground.

"You know, we're not supposed to be seen with her and now you're talking to her." Ryder grumbles. "What would the others think of us if they find out that you started talking to people like her."

"Yes I know. I'm aware of it." I replied annoyed. Sometimes I wonder why he's always so against us talking to anyone else outside the group. I get that we shouldn't mix ourselves with the wrong people but from the looks of it, Audrey really does seem like a person with a heart as pure as gold despite what the others might say.

Yes she's an 'outcast'. Yes she doesn't have many friends and yes she's not part of the 'it' crowd but that doesn't mean she's any less of a being than we are. For all you know, she could be, maybe more.

"Are you sure you know? Because you sure as hell don't act like you do." He points an accusing finger at me. "People expect a lot of things from you and you know that, imagine what the people at school would say."

"Woah. Woah. Woah. Chill Ryder." Blake gets up from the floor and rests his right hand on Ryder's shoulder. "Remember who you're talking to." His voice taking a more serious tone.

"No." I shake my head, "he's right Blake. We shouldn't be talking to her."

"But Conn-"

I interrupt Blake, "Ryder's just doing what he's supposed to do and he's right about that. Out of the three of us, I should know that." I nod my head at Ryder, as an acknowledgement to his intention. He nods his head back. "We're the three most well-known people in this town, even at our age, certain people will expect us not to associate ourselves with her kind."

"Try to remember where we stand."

"But Ryry, our Conny poo knows what he's doing." Blake mockingly said. "He wasn't appointed as the leader for nothing." he said in duh-like tone.

"Don't call me that." Ryder hisses. I roll my eyes at them. Ryder obviously unhappy with the name, stood up from the couch and headed out the front door with a slam.

"What's his deal?" Blake jerks his head to where Ryder was.

"Dude, you know he doesn't like being called that, yet you do it anyway. You know it annoys him"

"It's just a nickname." He reasons quietly. "It's not like the name has any value to it."

"Yeah it's just a nickname but best to leave it. Okay?"

"Well you're no fun." Blake pouts while reaching for his drink on the table. For someone his built, it looks pretty unusual to be pouting like that.

"Stop pouting like that, you look like a girl. It's creepy." I shuddered at the thought of Blake with pigtails in a pink mini skirt.

"Anyway, ever since the afternoon he hasn't said anything else about the whole Audrey thing. Other than the fact that we shouldn't do that again." He points out, taking a sip of his drink.