The New Girl

The new girl chapter 14

[11:08am] Dylan: Wanna have lunch tgt today?
[11:15am] Dylan: Selineeeeee you thereeeee 🙌

I looked down at the message again for the third time, not knowing how to reply. I blacked out the screen, flipped my Nokia over on the table and lay back on the concrete. I just didn't know how to feel. Dylan was definitely hiding something from me. But why? I felt so... conflicted.

"Ugh, I think I need to get out of here before I start to drill a hole into my head." I mumbled to myself as I quickly dusted myself off and stood up.

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The breeze was cool as it hit me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Hmm, this feels good. I exhaled loudly.

"The world hasn't fallen, you know."

I opened my eyes abruptly at the voice. The man had one eyebrow raised, with his arms crossed in boredom as he stood in front of me.

"Skye. Witty as usual, I see."

"Haven't I always been." Skye unfolded his arms and started walking off. I rolled my eyes and followed after him.

"Why are you here?"

"Not to look for you, obviously." Gah, I swear, this guy.

"You live around here?"

"Why, you gonna stalk me now?" Oh my god.

"Who in the right mind wants to stalk you? Geez!" I huffed out in exasperation. "I wouldn't even want to get into your proximity."

"Then why are you following me?" Skye looked at me, raising one eyebrow again as we walked.

I threw my arms up in defeat. "Can't you just be nice, for once?" I returned him a deadpan look.

Skye didn't say anything in response, though I did spy a smug look on his face before he turned away. Well, at least the silence was welcomed this time. We walked in silence for a few minutes.

"This was where my mum met me for the last time."

I turned to him, surprised. Is he actually... confiding in me? Skye kicked a stone off the pavement and looked off into the distance. I followed after him quietly.

"I am the illegitimate child. My dad is Leonard Steele." My eyes widened after hearing what he just said.

"Leonard... Steele? Like the US president?!" He is... who? My mouth was agape in disbelief.

Skye gave a self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, that guy."

I was lost for words. He's the US president's... illegitimate son? Is he playing with me? I looked at Skye. His brows were furrowed deeply in thought. He didn't seem like he was lying.

"I can't tell anyone about it though. Since I'm not even supposed to exist." Skye continued bitterly. I listened to him quietly. I'd never have thought he had this side to him.

"I've never known what a family was. A family who loves you, a family you go to an amusement park with and have ice cream together, even a family you just have a simple meal with. My mum tried to take care of me, but was forced to leave the country... because of me." Skye said in a low voice. "To my dad, I'm just someone who'll ruin his reputation." He spat out the words like they were poison.

"Hey." I quickened my pace and stopped in front of Skye.

"What?" Skye stopped and shot me a look of annoyance. There was something... different about his eyes though. He looked... sad.

I didn't bother to think at that point of time and just did whatever I felt was right. I took a deep breath, stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a hug. I felt Skye stiffen in the embrace, but he didn't pull away.

"I don't know you very well, so I don't know what happened in the past." I started. "But from the period I know you, I think you are a great guy. We may have had misunderstandings at the beginning, and things I still can't figure out, but I feel like there's something more behind that tough image you like to portray. Not every one would smash the window with his bare hands to get a stranger he barely knew out of the storeroom, or get her back to her family even though he's badly hurt himself, or help the little boy who lost his mum like you did." I told him softly, still hugging him. I felt Skye try to get out of my grip as he heard what I said, but I just hugged him tighter, till he eventually gave in and let me.

"You... saw that?" His voice was sapped of energy.

"Yeah. I did. I had my doubts initially, but now I know it's definitely you."

Skye didn't say anything. His body felt weak against mine. And that was something considering how physically toned he was.

I thought of something. "Why do you act like you do in school? The mean guy thing? You're obviously better than that."

Skye kept silent for awhile, before finally speaking.

"Because that was the only way I could protect myself."

"Protect yourself from...?"

"From feeling weak and helpless. Like now."

I opened my mouth to reply but was interrupted as Skye pulled away abruptly.

"Uh I need to go now." He blurted out, keeping his eyes on the ground the whole time. That was sudden. Was he embarrassed? He quickly turned and started walking away.

"Okay... I guess I'll see you around or something." I called after him.

He suddenly stopped midtrack, still turned away from me. Is something wrong? I stared at his back view.

"Thanks." He mumbled softly - but loud enough for me to hear - before quickly walking away.

I smiled softly as I watched his silhouette eventually disappear.

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