Fly High | ✅

26 | Ink

◈A D R I A N◈

"Don't forget about the mock test tomorrow, class," Mrs. Madison reminded when the bell rang, signalling the end of the last period.

I jumped to my feet in an instant and swept all my stuff into the bag before zipping it up. Looking at the minute hand slowly creeping to the number twelve on the face of the clock, I panicked and pushed through a pair of sloths dawdling in my path.

Damon had pulled me aside yesterday to inform me that there will be a prep talk later this evening. His tone was serious and grave, a hundred and eighty degree turn from his usual carefree demeanour. Seeing this, I would hate to get on his bad side for being tardy on my first ever important meet-up.

As I was hurrying out of the class, Mrs. Madison caught my eyes and stopped me by placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Adrian, I really hope you can try your best tomorrow. Looking at your grades, you're barely hanging by the threads!" she admonished.

A blush sneakily stained my cheeks as half of the class stopped in motion to eavesdrop. Gossips passed behind covered mouths as girls and guys alike casted furtive glances at us.

Mrs. Madison must have noticed the sudden silence and harrumphed, "Well, go on then. Remember to study till Chapter Five."

I gave a jerky nod and slicked out of the class. Breaking into a sprint, I ignored Coach Mccallen yelling at me not to run in the hallway while occasionally dodging a few oblivious teens blocking my way.

The sky had darkened considerably before the clouds gave way to shower the town in misty drizzle when I stepped out of the compound. Pulling the thin hoodie over my head, I quickened my steps while playing hopscotch to avoid the plenty potholes dotting along the way.

The streets were fairly deserted since it was a weekday. That and nobody liked to walk on wet pavements with dirty water splashing up their legs.

Nobody but me.

Rain was the only way for me to escape solitude. Rain was my only friend when the silence became overwhelming. The way rain soaked up my clothes and weighed down on me felt like a lingering embrace.

Pathetic, aren't I?

Shaking my head to rid of depressing thoughts, I turned to the right to take the longer route to the park. The hotdog scenario still stuck to me like a stubborn chewing gum, constantly reminding me of bad decisions. I took the next left turn when the path came to a fork and was led to a clearing on the east side of the park.

The park was suspiciously empty without a single soul. Thinking that the pack must have taken shelter somewhere else, I hesitated and stood in the rain. I wasn't sure where to go since this place was the only one I knew.

"Hey! Over here!" someone called out.

I squinted my eyes to look through the veil of rain, searching for the voice. A blurry hand waved at me before crooking a finger to motion me to come over into a concrete tube. My feet carried me over before my instinct kicked in to warn me of dangerous strangers.