In Colour (Slow Updates)

+ thea paisley +

Eight

Before school the next day, I filled my friends in on everything that had happened. News had gotten out I'd been arrested with Aaron Archibald's cousin and I think it had made me popular for the morning. Well, until the very public and very intense break up of Heather Hale and Gary Jerrison after first period happened.

But while that was going on, Aaron had taken the opportunity to find me. He tried to talk but I ignored him. He tried to apologise but I didn't respond. He kept going until I finally spoke. But it was only to cut him off.

I slammed my locker shut and glared at him. "Just drop it, Aaron, and just go away. What's done is done."

"But Penny—“

"Leave me alone," I deadpanned before spinning on my heel and walking away.

"I was just trying to look out for you," he tried again.

I cussed and spun around. "You don't need too, Aaron. So you were there for me when my parent's died, great. But that doesn't mean I need you to look out for me with everything I do. I'm not a baby."

"I know," he said quietly, his gaze dropping. "I just can't help it."

I sighed. "Well you’re going to have too. We don’t run in the same circles, Aaron. It’s not going to work. Just stay away from me."

I walked away before he could say anything else. I was beyond angry but his good looks and the history we shared was not going to change that anytime soon. And even though I sometimes craved the attention from Aaron, it was just better if we went back to not knowing each other. For my sanity and maybe his too.  

When lunch came around, the boys set up plans for a skate. I laughed and threw my fork down. "I can't come. I'm on lockdown, remember? And my tutoring sessions start this afternoon, courtesy of Mr Parker."

Geordie shuddered. "Sounds lame. Well we'll be thinking of you when we're skating."

I rolled my eyes and flipped him off. "How nice of you."

He blew me a kiss and we threw some more banter to each other before finally settling back into eating. I couldn't be angry at them. That's how our friendship worked, that's why there was no drama. That's why it was easier being friends with guys who had the feelings spectrum of a plank of wood. You learned not to be emotional with friends like that. 

It seemed, however, the only time emotion was evoked from me, was when Aaron was around. I didn't know what to think about that. He just seemed to make unwanted feelings bubble up inside of me.

When the bell rang, we cleared our trays and I started to make my way to history. As always, Ms Dunlop was a complete nag but I knew better than to open my mouth so I stayed silent.

The rest of the day was practically the same and I was tired, so I found it easy to stay quiet. When the last bell went, I was really happy until I realised I couldn't actually go home because I had tutoring.

So after talking with the boys and copping a bit of flak from them, I finally ventured to the library. On the way, I sent a text to Justin. I'd been texting him quite a bit and he was still looking to set up a time to hang out. It annoyed me to know it wouldn't be for a while.

When I got to the library, my tutor, Thea Paisley, was sitting at a table in the corner reading a book. I dropped my skateboard and bag onto the ground and plonked into the seat across from her as she looked at me.

"You're late," she deadpanned.

"Yeah. Sorry," I said unconvincingly.

She glared at me. "Look, I'm doing you the favour so don't bring your slacker attitude here because it's really not appreciated."