Walking a thin line

Chapter 5

Do you think Todd Rivers has a girlfriend"? Karen asked me as we walked down the hallway, to lunch.

I shrugged my shoulders shaking my head. "I don't really know. He seems kind of shy", I spoke, trying my best to relate to this conversation.

"Yeah, but it's a cute Shy. I think i'm gonna go for him", she smirked devilishly at me, causing me to laugh. "Oh, Annie. I know you're the wait for marriage type, but once you get a taste of...."

I covered my ears, making a gross hacking sound. "I'd prefer to not know this knowledge Kara! Especially not in the middle of school", I told her, as we turned to hallway and went into the cafeteria.

She rolled her eyes taking a seat at our usually lunch table. "Oh okay... I'll be good. That is until I get my hands on Todd", she smirked making us both laughed.

"I didn't kow you two were friends"? I heard behind me. I turned to see Colton who had now went to take a seat next to me. And the stares then began from around the lunch room.

"Yeah. Well we grew close over the past year soooo", Kara responded with a tight smile ad I could tell she was trying to be nice.

He leaned back looking at her quite intensily. "Oh really. And what made you guys become so close huh?" He asked. For once Kara looked a bit pale in the face. She wasn't the type to let herslef get rattled, but I guess Colton was a really intimidating person. And he always had this thing when we were younger, always interrogating my friends, when he should be the one being interrogated.

"Well...", she began and then I decided to jump in .

"When my mom past, she was really there for me". I smiled at her. She was a  great friend at that time. We were friends before it happened, but after my mother past, she was there even more as a friend, and it helped considering Colton had completely seperated himself.

Colton then straightened his position, knowing he wasn't there when he should have been. I didn't been to make a jab at him, but this was the truth. "Oh, well i'm glad you guys are close. Anyway, Annie, I have this stupid government paper to write about and it's an open topic, but I have no idea what to write it on. Can you help", he looked at me with pleading eyes.

I tried to hide my smile from him, as I was trying to keep it professional, when Kara interjected. "Why don't you write it on the juvunielle detention system. Something you now alot about", she spoke, making my eyes widen, and I notice his jaw lock. I directed my attention to Kara, looking at her with clear dissapointment to stooping to that level.

"Yeah, well I know something you know alot about Kara. If were talking about our skills", he smirked bac at her. This was very odd now, and frankly I didn't know what to say to them. But there was this weird anamousity between them and I wondered if there was something I didn't know.

Kara stood up grabbing her stuff. "I forgot I have a test in Calculas I need to be studying for. I'll see you around Annie", she spokem but I grabbed her hd stoppig her hand.

"Please don't go", I told her giving her the puppy eyes.

She sighed giving me a curt smile. I really gotta go Annie. I'll stop by tonight and we can talk. Without your lost puppy there", she spoke directing that last part to COlton who just sat there eating out of my bag of chips.

I nodded my head letting her go, and then turning to Colton. "Why do always have to run people off!" I whisper yelled at him. He looked at me holding up his hands.

"Hey, she started it", he responded, as I grabbed the bag of chips from his hands.

"No, you did. Kara is my friend and if your going to be around, then you have to be nice to her".

"Does that mean you want me around, he spoke his eyes lighting up, that part being the only thing he seemed to register.

I rolled my eyes, pulling out my sandwich, trying to actually utilize my lunch time.

"Okay, I see it is still too soon. Can we just go back to the government paper. I was thinking about something about the presidential election... or maybe serial killers. Those are always really interesting topics right"? He suggested.

I sighed putting down my sandwich. "I think you should take Kara's idea".

He scoffed narrowing his eyes at me. "Oh very funny. You know, coming from Kara is one thing, but you?" He spoke clearly a bit aggitated with me.

"No, i'm serious. I feel like the best pieces of works come from experience. You could write about what the system is like being incarcerated, and how the system can improve", I told him genuinly. He sighed seeming to be in thought for a minute.

"Well, I really wouldn't know how to word it. I mean where do I begin. It's not necessarily something I enjoy reliving", he finally responded crossing his arms. I saw a paled look come across his face, as he seemed to be thinking about it. Being locked up and isolated for nearly a year, didn't at all seem like fun,but I couldn't imagine what he went through. But he was clean because of it. Or so I hoped..

"You should start with your experience. Establish you know what you're talking about and why you are talking about the topic. Then discuss the problems and the issues the facility. Then you have to establish a conflicting argument followed by a con..."

"Slow it down Eistein, I lost you after establish", he responded making me laugh. "Look can you break it down for me at our actual session this evening", he asked.

"Oh, I can't tonight", I responded suddenly remembering my obligations.

"Why not", he asked a bit defensively.

"Well.. I have to work at the clinic tonight. Our Vetenary tech is out with the flu, and Granps has a date", I spoke, as Colton's eyes widened.

"Pops got a hot date tonight! That's what i'm talking about. I bet he's gettig more action than me", he spoke shaking his head.

"Well ,that wouldn't be too difficult", I joked back, surpriging myself and Colton as he gasped exasperatingly.

"I'll have you know the only action I need is with my computer, writing this paper. Can't I just come to the clinic tonight and work on it, while you save animals and all that humanitary shit", he suggested.

"Ummmm... I don't know, im not trying to get distracting when i'm doing my humanitary "Stuff", I told him.

He leaned in giving me his dazzingly smile, showing his white teeth to me, and allowing his dimples to poke out. "Look I know it's hard to not look at all this, but I promise i'll try to not be too much of a 'distraction'", he answered sounding very full of himself.

I made a bit of a gagging sound before shaking my head. "I didn't mean that id of distraction".

"Oh yeah, then what kind of distraction", he questioned raising an eyebrow at me. It was hard to deny he was handsome. And every girl in the school wanted him considering his new status as reformed bad boy, but it was in this moment I felt a hint of fluttering in my stomach. I always knew he was attractive but I guess I always had that image in my head of a the little boy who played in the mud with me, and was always a secret comic book nerd. Ad then he was the jerk who repulsed me by his addiction But now... I was seeing him as something new. Almost like he had shedded his old skin like a snake would and formed into a whole new person. But a snake is still a snake, and I still had that part of my brain reminding me of the boy who couldn't shae the old sin he was in a year ago.

"Okay.... You can come by but only for a little bit", I told him as the bell rang. "I gathered my belongs standing as did he. "Just don't scare off the animals", I smiled a bit, as he chuckled staring me in my eyes.

"I promise, i'll be as little as a nuissance as possible to you and the precious animals", he responded. I nodded my head, waving as I turned ad walked away. Once again I found myself helping Colton and putting myself in a position alone with him. Except this time, I was kind of anticipating it. This wasn't happening. Forgiving and forgetting is one thing, but I had to rid that flutter in my stomach, and shoo those butterflies away. And I would start by figuring out what was the deal with him and Kara.