Hidden

4

I sleepily run home when the sun rises because somehow i managed to fall asleep in a bush. I turn the golden doorknob of our dark oak front door, finding it locked. Its 6 a.m. and im full of grass and leaves and i am stuck outside my house. How will i explain this to my parents? I let out a long sigh in frustration. I go around the house to check if Ashers window is still open, but no luck. I spot the doggy door we had before we gave Snug -our golden retriever- away. Nope, i wont fit through that.

'Good morning' i hear a voice in my head say. I must be real tired. I take a chance and try opening each window and door from the outside. Not one is open. My dad is too thorough when it comes to locking up the house, not that i blame him.

'Asher?' i whisper-shout from below his window, not expecting him to hear me. A car pulls up in the driveway and Trae climbs out in a different pair of clothes from earlier. I feel like i am supposed to know the car but i dont take too much time thinking about it.

'Thanks, bye' he says while smiling and closing the car door gently. He jogs up to the step and unlocks the front door. To my luck he stands inside with the door open, on his phone. He kicks me in the leg, intending to close the door with his foot. Im quick enough to lean on the door, for it to close before he notices. He slowly moves forward and eventually enters the tv room. I silently dart up the stairs and get ready for school. I wash and cream my face and then cover the scratch on my left cheek with a bit of makeup.

Im off to school for yet another lonely day. Trae looks as if hes slept for more hours than i have and drives me to school enthusiastically.

'Bye Trae' i call out as slam the car door simultaneously. He is so eager to leave that he almost reverses the car into me. And i trip on the bricks to jump away, scraping my hands on the concrete bricks. Scrambling to my feet, i rush off to my desolated locker. As i turn the corner after selecting my books, i see Caden talking to a beautiful lady, who looks like she is new to the school. They laugh, they hug and she disappears into the crowd and he opens his locker. I feel a pang of jealousy even though i dont know him, yet i wish that girl was me.

I walk past him to my first class and i consider my routes to get around him without him seeing me. I take the easiest path which is against the set of lockers across him.

'Hey Atarah, wait up' someone calls. It never works when you want to avoid someone because Caden jogs up from behind.

'Hey' he breathes.

'Hi' i say looking straight forward.

'Hey hey, slow down there speedy' He says while jogging up behind me again. I slow down and turn to look at him.

'I didnt say thank you for yesterday'

'Thats okay' i shrug and turn to walk.

'Wait! I want to thank you properly. Would a bite for lunch on Saturday sound good to you?' He asks, beginning to blush and hangs his head down shyly. I cant believe that he asks me to lunch in order to thank me. He could have done something smaller. Especially since he has a special girl in his life.

'Maybe. We will see' I say, not to get his hopes up or to completely crush his vibe.

School was another long and boring day, as always. The girl who clings to Caden is tall. Yet still he is taller. They laugh together and walk together. They stand in line at the tuckshop and then take a seat while patiently waiting for their order number to be called out.

'53!' the tuckshop lady calls out. Caden nudges the girl and they collect their order. They walk in my direction while hooking arms.

'Hey, Atarah. Come.' he says while curving out his other arm for me to hook in. I look at his arm for a little too long and i dont miss the hurt look that crosses his face for a split second