Chains

Chapter Four - Misguided

-4-

Misguided - Ethan

There was no doubt in my mind that this was the girl in the photo. She had the same slim figure that seemed to flaunt the curves at her waist, the same remarkably bleach blonde hair that was as straight as the heels on those skyscrapers she called shoes, and a certain impoliteness that made me wonder how another even put up with her.

Jesus. I never quite understood how girls managed to walk in those things and why they even bothered with them in the first place, I thought, eyeing the pink towers. Within thirty minutes of a walk, it was almost guaranteed they’d be slipped off and carried the rest of the way, and a poor lad would have to carry her on his back. As petite as the female species sometimes looked, they’re never quite the same in weight. It’s a whole new meaning to the word deceiving.  

Shaking the thought aside, I focused my attention back on the school girl. Of course, it did occur to me she was most probably only a year younger than I was and the fact that I was a new face would be enough to make her head turn. Something told me she liked mystery, so perhaps an enigmatic stranger could have her reveal a little well known secret about her friend.

I casually sauntered over to where she was stood, leaning against the same brick wall I’d been waiting by earlier.

“Hey” I said. “Northlake?”

“What’s it look like to you?” she replied, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

Catch her attention? Check.

I quickly flashed her a smile, burying my hands into my pockets as I closed the distance between us and came to stand beside her.

“Looks to me as though you may be a damsel in distress. Need a ride anywhere?” I offered, knowing full well she’d reject the clichéd line.

The corners of the girl’s lips twitched slightly, as I analysed her every movement like a predator watching its prey, carefully and calmly. If she was my one shot at getting some much needed information, I was going to take it at all costs.

“No…” she said finally, a little hesitant in her tone. “Who are you?”

I had to play this carefully.

“Shane” I replied, adding a faint smile a few seconds after.

“You don’t go to Northlake” she said matter of factly, shuffling away ever so slightly against the brick wall.

“Correct” I said.

There was a moment of silence.

“So, Shane-not-from-Northlake,” she began, now facing me “What brings you here?”

Another pause as she smugly crossed her arms over. I scoffed in response, force of habit. Noticing my behaviour made her eyes narrow with caution, so I quickly took a step closer to the girl.

“I need something from you,” I said quietly.

I figured a little intimidation was the best strategy to play here. Immediately I could tell she knew the little game she was playing was far from over, I could almost see the regret on her face, yet she surprisingly kept her cool.

“What?” she almost whispered.

“Information” I said, taking another step closer. She didn’t budge.

The crowd of students around us had lessened considerably now so that there were only a few ambling near the streets. We were stood an arms length away as I continued to watch her carefully.