Ruining Us

Chapter 22: Plotting

Chapter 22: Plotting

It was a few days later that I had my first encounter with Darius Ward.

I was walking back from triple art, alone because none of my friends did art. My hands were in my pockets, my satchel bag slung over my shoulder, walking along, my mind on nothing in particular, when I accidentally walked into him.

“Oh – I’m sorry,” I said, and he looked up. He was strikingly like his sister; blonde-brown hair, brown eyes, same nose, same facial shape. I almost facepalmed. They’re twins, idiot.

“It’s alright,” he smiled, pushing his bag strap back over his shoulder where it had fallen off when we collided. “Hey – you’re Ri- Spencer’s girlfriend, aren’t you?”

Suddenly, I became wary. I don’t know what went down between them, but I didn’t want to be caught up in it and Spencer had warned me away from him anyway.

“Yeah. Hey I have to go to biology, see ya, sorry again,” I muttered hastily, walking quickly away from him. I lied; I actually had a free period but he didn’t need to know that. Once I was safely in the girls dorms, I hurried upstairs, preparing to tell Steph before remembering she was still in lesson. Sighing, I lumped my bag on my bed and got out the stuff I needed to do the English homework that was in for next week.

But I couldn’t finish it, my mind was too busy worrying about what the hell Darius had done. I had a feeling he and Spencer had some big argument over something and didn’t want to get involved, but I felt kind of bad because Maya was our friend and they were siblings. Did Darius even have friends?

Sighing, I stared out of the window, realising I should probably keep to my own business. Interfering just messes everything up and causes drama, I told myself. Just stay away from Darius and let he and Spencer settle whatever it is themselves.

Then I rolled my eyes – speak of the devil and he shall appear, talking to Jamie, walking along the school grounds near the girls dorms. I wondered what they were talking about. Jamie looked strained, worried – even more so than she did when she was talking to me the other day. I wondered why she was so tense. Darius didn’t seem to be doing anything wrong...

As if sensing my stare, Darius glanced up for a moment and met my eyes, looking surprised for a moment. I winced – I’d told him I had biology. Now he would know I was trying to get away from him, which would probably cause another confrontation...

He nodded, seemingly working something out in his head then turned back to Jamie who had also turned to look at me. She said something to him and he raised his eyebrow, looking amused, and then she said something else and a dark look crossed his features and he replied to her.

God, I really wanted to know what they were talking about, what was going on. This was so frustrating, being in the dark! But I wouldn’t push Spencer. He didn’t want to talk about Darius so I didn’t ask.

But the next look Darius gave me did it; he stared back up into our window, met my eyes, and with a cool stare, not a glare, but something just as threatening, nodded before walking away. Jamie stopped walking and I saw her sigh, running a hand through her loose hair, and looked up at me for a moment, shaking her head as she bit her lip, and followed him.

What.

The.

Actual.

Fuck.

Was that about...

**

My last lesson ended and I threw my hands up in the air, sighing gratefully. It had been a long day, even longer since Darius kept giving me these sideways looks in the few lessons we’d shared. Those looks which suggested he knew something dark that I didn’t.