CRIMSON TAINTED [BOOK 1]

5. Missing

"Can I sit?" Trevor asked, holding a tray of snacks he had ordered. He stood over the table where Cortni and Mae sat for lunch break. Cortni thought it was unusual for Trevor to ask permission. Was it because of her?

"Sure, why not?" Mae blurted out. Cortni shot her a what did you say look but she just mouthed 'W H A T ?' While smiling back.

Trevor sat across, facing them both while he munched his burger. He looked Cortni in the eyes, smirking unpleasantly. Cortni diverted her eyes somewhere else whilst sipping her yoghurt. He was giving her the butterflies and his gaze made her blush with nervousness.

"Trevor, where's Warren?" Mae broke the silence. "He's supposed to be here."

"He was with me in the hallway right before drifting off with some girl."

"Aauuggh!" Mae winced. "He's such a walking hormone!"

"Can't blame him. He's got the roguish charm and way cute. I'd say let him enjoy." Trevor grinned, never taking his eyes off Cortni. The brunette on her part hadn't said anything the whole time.

"What are you looking so smug about?" Cortni finally spoke, regaining eye contact with Trevor.

"Oh. Nothing, pretty nerd." She cringed. Trevor had started calling her that since freshman year before the others followed suit. All thanks to her eyes that constantly needed to wear glasses, lest her vision became slightly blurred. She seemed to actually like the fact he acknowledged her as a pretty one though. She could never bring herself to hate him, the first guy she'd ever crushed on. She just simply adapted to the identity.

"You're not lost in thoughts, are you, Cortni?" Mae teased. Trevor relaxed into his seat, a broad grin spread across his handsome face.

"Is that so, tell me about it?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Cortni replied in a mimetic tone. Trevor shook his head, smiling mildly as he realized what had happened.

"Okay. I guess I'll leave you two together. Gotta go find Warren." Mae made to leave before the bell rang. The lunch break was over. As if on cue, Cortni stood up.

"I'll come with you," she trudged behind Mae. Turning her head toward Trevor, she whispered "see you around," smiling rather vaguely.

He watched as the two girls walked through the cafeteria door into the hallway and shook his head.

"It's official. I can never understand girls."
**********

"You're late." Mr. Scarry's voice sounded across the quiet room. Cortni knew she was tardy when she walked into Biology II. She had bumped into an open locker in the hallway that made her books fall alongside her glasses. If not Mae's timely appearance, she probably wouldn't have found her way there by now.

"Sorry ma'm. I ran into some trouble on the way here. Sorry." Cortni responded with a pleading smile. To her left, two girls she didn't know started murmuring. Warren who sat in the front row laughed and shook his head.

"Nerd." Mae nudged him to shut up.

"Jerk," Cortni muttered under her breath.

"You can go now and take your seat, Cortni." Mrs. Scarry spoke. Cortni could feel the sting of staring eyes as she walked toward the only empty table in the extreme corner of the room. Her head hung low, never meeting anyone's eyes till she got to the table. She sat in one of the two empty seats, setting her books on the table.

It wasn't until Cortni glanced again at the empty seat beside her that she realized someone was missing. Rachael. Cortni hadn't seen her since today and she wasn't sitting there too. Wasn't that her favorite spot during Biology?

Cortni's eyes swept across the room, no sign of Rachael sitting elsewhere. She finally concluded she couldn't make it to school today. Trying to pay attention, she looked towards Mrs. Scarry.
**********

Night had fallen and everyone was home. Janette was having dinner when Cortni joined her in the dining room

"It's oddly quiet, where is everyone?" Janette asked, sipping on a glass of water.

"Amber and Dylan went to bed, early." Cortni replied.

"And you're still awake?" Janette arched a brow.

"Not yet sleepy mom." Cortni sighed.

"Something the matter, honey?"

Cortni shrugged. "No, 'course not. Why would there be?" Janette reached with her hand till it rested on Cortni's, gently squeezing it.

"If you ever need me to help you with something, you know I'll be right here. Okay?" Cortni could see her mother's face wrinkled with concern.

"I know that mom, and I'll never fail to let you know." Cortni smiled. Soon Janette was done with dinner and they both went to bed.
**********

A/N
Sorry for the late updates. Been kinda busy lately. Sorry!
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