Overtime

ten ✧ || bandaged

"So, spider girl."

That nickname was getting old fast.

In spite of the name, Aubrey slammed her locker shut and adjusted her bandages under her sweatshirt — red with the school's logo on the front. "What is it?" She could only hope her dread was apparent as she flipped to face Angela. Given the way a glare thickened against Angela's brow, Aubrey could assume it was.

"Tell me more about Colten."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "What do you want to know?" Her gaze harrowed, dripping with sudden disgust. "Why do you want to know?"

The girl scoffed, flipping her raven-hair behind a shoulder. "Because he's cute?"

Aubrey fell to a state of emotionless. She would never deny that Colten wasn't such, but she sure as hell needed to deny it when they were faking being siblings. Frankly, she would deny anything that came from Angela purely out of spite.

She scoffed, seeing that Aubrey wasn't budging. "Come on, I want some details."

"Why should I help you?" Aubrey retorted, raising an eyebrow. She attempted to show how little she cared for the situation through every expression she could muster. Her hope was that eventually Angela would get bored with her and vanish. This time, she didn't seem to be giving up easily.

"I just want to know if he's single. That's it."

Aubrey's eyes fell once more to skeptical slits. She had heard the term used before, and from the uses she gathered overhearing interactions at school, she assumed it was asking if he was romantically involved.

"Yeah. He's single."

Angela smirked. "Goodie." With another small flip of her hair, her expression beaming, she started away with bag slung over her back.

Angela felt shady. Suspicious, even. Aubrey couldn't tell if she was being genuine in her plea for Colten's attention, but if she wasn't, all it meant was that she was using Colten to crawl under her skin.

Aubrey slammed another locker closed as she started for the door.

The worst part was that it was working.

Her hands gripped on the single strap of her bag slung over her shoulder. Whatever Angela was planning, whatever her motives were, she didn't like it. Aubrey knew she was only looking to stir up trouble, but trouble was the last thing their group needed. Trouble would only expose them.

Her next class passed with ease and finally, slipping into the hallway she was looking for, and headed toward their homeroom so she could eat.

Jay popped his head out of the door just as she was approaching, causing her to jump back. Jay, equally startled by the movement, lit up his eyes upon recognizing that it was her. "Aubrey! We've been waiting for you!"

Aubrey raised an eyebrow, glancing around the diminishing teen-life in the hallway. "Why?"

"Miss. Bird trusted us with the keys to the classroom until she gets back from grabbing her lunch. We're only supposed to let you in."

Aubrey could feel a smile push onto her lips at the little things Jay got excited about. How anyone in this group could find joy in anything was admirable, but — without fail — Jay could do it.

"Come on!" Without thinking, the male leaned forwards and captured her wrists. He tugged her forward, hoping to drag her into the room in the one, single motion.

The instant she felt his fingers coil around her wrist, clasping onto the bandages underneath the fabric, she knew she was in trouble. Despite bracing herself for it, his tug sent her over the edge.