Our Own Protection

»Chapter Ten«

»Paris's POV«

Where is Eudora? I ask myself. We usually meet by this huge tree in the parking lot so we can walk to the junkyard together, but she isn't here. Maybe she went back into the school to look for me because I had to run by the library.

I walk back inside and she's not by the lockers or near the stairs. Where could she be? I walked to the library window and looked inside. Nope, not in there. But, I do see Zane. Maybe he knows where she is.

I walk inside and up to him. "Hey, Zane." I say. It obviously caught him off gaurd because he jumps a little and turns around to look at me then sighs a little of relief.

"Oh, it's just you." He says quietly.

"Yeah, just me." I say blankly and squint my eyes at him.

"Not what I meant." He states then continues. "I didn't want it to be someone who would make fun of me for reading." He says then motions to the books in his hands.

"People make fun of you for reading?" I ask.

"It's just complicated." He says then starts putting the books in his backpack.

"Um, I'm looking for Eudora. Have you seen her?"

"Not since this morning. Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, I don't think so. She wasn't in our usual spot so we can walk to the junkyard together. I was just wondering."

"I can help you look for her." He says then puts his backpack on his shoulders.

"You want to help?" I question, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Yeah, why not?" He asks.

"Because aren't you suppose to be 'mean' and stuff?"

He rolls his eyes and says. "Jesus, Paris, let's just go. Someone might spot me in here." Then he quickly walks into the hallway with me following him.

"You like my sister, don't you?" I ask him.

"Well, that was random." He states.

"Why else would you want to help?"

He completely ignores my question as he leads me to 'their side' of the school. The side where all the people that think they're better than everyone else is. Even though the bell has rang, they're all congregating by their lockers.

"Hey, Ashton." Zane says. I haven't really spoke to Ashton since the wet shirt incident.

"Hey." Ashton says as he turns around to look at Zane and me. His attention was on Zane but now he's just staring at me and I can't tell what's going on behind those eyes.

"What's she doing here?" I hear a snobby girl ask. She has a very nasally voice and it makes me cringe on the inside.

"This is mine and Zane's friend, Paris." Ashton states then looks back over at me. "Where's Eudora?"

"That's why we came over here." Zane says. "We was hoping you would know."

"Oh, I have no idea. Is something wrong?" Ashton says.

"I don't think so but we can't find her." I state, ignoring all the shocked and judging eyes because Ashton and Zane are talking to someone like me.

Ashton suddenly feels all the eyes on us and looks over at them. "Have y'all not ever seen people talk before?" He asks with sarcasm lacing his voice. Is he sticking up for me?

I look over at Zane and he's giving them a cold look. I can't describe it. It's not really a glare but it's like his face has turned to stone and his eyes are freezing them.