Emergence ~ Split

Chapter Eleven

The following day Casey was falling asleep behind the school gym, leaning against the block with a gentle breeze and bathing in the cool sun. But of course the rough jagged chime of the school bell rang out before she could be carried away in the nice break of peacefulness. She pushed off from the wall, and tugged her jacket back on, moving through the trees as an icy chill ran up her spine.

She continued to drift in and out of tiredness throughout her next classes. It was by the time that the teacher's voice started drowning out behind the large chatter of students that Casey finally lifted her head and met the eyes of a boy watching her with a smirk. She blinked at him, and rubbed her hand over her eyes.

She found a pen and started to copy the words and sketches on the board, just as she finished and started to shade in the cylindrical shape the same boy slipped into the seat next to her.

He looked straight ahead as he moved in the tiniest bit closer, before lowering his head towards hers , brushing her shoulder. "You look like need something to wake you up?" He questioned, drawing back in towards himself as he then turned to her with a smile on his goofy face. "What do you say Casey? How about I buy you a coffee or something? I'll take you out for ice cream, or a soup if you're cold."

Casey felt herself laugh before she could consider if he was honestly offering this to her . She stopped as she met the earnest hold of his green eyes behind a mop of dark blonde hair . She awkwardly ran a hand through her hair as she looked away. "Oh, it's okay. I'll be fine, there's only another hour at school anyway."

"Good, no one will be expecting us to leave then." He stood, tucking in the seat under the table and placing a hand to her shoulder. "Joining me? You're choice."

Casey felt an unexpected excitement in her chest as she stood following him out of class. She was following the boy along the hallway just as she ducked her head to walk pass Marcia. But the boy was quick to stop and wrap an arm around Marcia's waist leaning in to give her a kiss. Marcia was quick to slap him playfully on the chest. "Back off Jude, Jesus always so cheeky." She giggled as she stepped out of his hold, it was then that she caught the fearful eyes of Casey as she tried to hide behind the boy.

"Hey." She spat, her voice carrying a biter resentment along with it. Casey gave her a slight nod as Jude turned back to stare at Casey with a comforting smile.

"I'm taking her out for a coffee, you can have a go at her tomorrow." he mumbled, wrapping an arm around Casey's shoulder and moving them away from Marcia.

"No, I need to talk to her." Casey hesitantly met Marcia's brown questioning eyes as she scanned her face. "Give us a minute Jude, you can watch us from over there." She pointed to the other end of the hall as she took a step towards the girl.

"Alright five minutes, I don't want to be hanging out here when there's a class change." Jude muttered lounging his way towards the wall and leaning back staring at the girls.

Marcia took in a deep breath before clearing her throat. "I need you to be honest with me, okay?" She swallowed nervously as she stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Do you know what happened to Claire, I mean she's been missing for about three weeks now. I know it's rumours that she runaway... But I also know you two fought the day before she left ?"

Casey quickly shook her head avoiding Marcia's pleading eyes as she dropped her head to her chest and took a set back. "Marcia, look I'm sorry. I wouldn't have any idea." Marcia kept quick on her heel taking a counteracting step forward.

"Casey. Please, you were the last to see her."

"No not really. I want to go." Casey turned and took a hesitant step towards Jude, expecting to feel sharp claws digging into her back but instead Marcia weakly called her name before Jude met Casey halfway and waved goodbye to the groaning frustrated girl as he walked them out past the front gate towards the bus stop.