The thin line between love and hate

Chapter 4.

It had been nearly a week and Lorenzo hadn't shown up at school.There were rumors spreading around that he had gotten suspended.For the first time in a long time, Paige felt peaceful while walking around in the school hallways.There was no Lorenzo to haunt her with his presence, she even got the bounce back in her footsteps.

Paige met Paula waiting for her at her locker.She gave her a hug before unlocking her locker.On one corner was a picture of her and Chase, he had an arm around her shoulder and a goofy smile on his face.She could remember the day they had taken the picture, it was on Chase's fifteenth birthday.They had grown distant since then, Paige didn't know if it was him or her who had changed completely.

"Earth to Paige!" Paula exclaimed as she tried to get her bestfriend's attention.She noticed how she zoned out lately.Paige turned and gave her a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.Paula sighed and plucked the picture from her bestfriend's locker and hid it behind her back as Paige tried to reach for it."Give it back!"Paige growled as Paula raised it higher out of her reach.Paige gave up and locked her locker."You know what? Just keep it!"She said angrily before walking away.

Paula stood perplexed as she watched her bestfriend's back as she walked away.That didn't go as planned.She tore up the picture before running after Paige.

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Lorenzo took a seat at the furthest corner of the cafeteria as he watched the other students slowly walk in.His eyes slowly swept over the mass of heads looking for a specific dark head of tangled hair.He pulled his hoodie down hiding his face, the last thing he needed was Heather's annoying presence and everybody else recognizing.

He spotted the person he was looking for as she bought her lunch and turned to walk out of the cafeteria alone.It was a miracle, she was alone.She always had the presence of her boyfriend and some girl who always trailed behind her.

Lorenzo hid behind a tree and watched as she chose a tree, before dropping her backpack and seating under it.Lorenzo chose that particular moment to walk out from his hiding place.He walked stealthily towards her.

Paige nearly screamed as she looked up at him.She jumped to her feet dropping her lunch to the ground.She glared up at the hulking man who had his arms wrapped on his chest.The dark shadows under his green eyes and his tall frame wrapped in the black hoodie and dark jeans made him look like the grim reaper.

"What....What do you want?!" She stuttered as she took small steps away from him.Lorenzo glared down at her and took big steps towards her."You...to tutor me!"He growled his answer as he took a single step making them get closer.Paige's eyes grew wide before she narrowed them."I'm not going to tutor you!"She replied raising her chin stubbornly.

Lorenzo was taken by surprise as she defied him.His gaze traced down her face and landed on her full lips, that were in a firm line.He could help but get into a trance as he stared at them.He grabbed onto every fiber of his sanity to prevent himself from kissing them.He could smell her sweet perfume, it was not like Heather's that usually chocked the very sanity out of him.No, hers was calling onto him.

Paige watched his eyes get darker before he took a big step away from her.A dark laugh escaped from his lips that sent a shiver through her body."Oh!You surely will, maybe I should go and give that ginger a talk."He replied in a deep condescending voice.

Paige's heart beat heavily, he couldn't mean it.He wouldn't dare but, as she stared at him she knew that he would follow through with his threat.He wasn't the scariest boy in school for nothing.

"Fine! But if any hair on Chase's head is out of place, our deal is over!" Paige said after much thought.

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Paige stared at the note for the umpteenth time.How was she going to tell her bestfriend that she just talked to Lorenzo and they made a deal.If chase found out, then she'll be royally fucked!How will she explain that she did it for him?He should know that she loved him that much.

She thought for a few minutes before choosing a perfect reply that left no room for discussion. Nothing.She scribbled before passing the note back to Paula.

Paula stared at her in confusion before shrugging and before pulling her concentration into class.Paige sighed in relief as her bestfriend's stopped nudging her to pass her notes.

Her mind drifted back to Lorenzo, she wasn't blind to see that he had something bothering him.Why her of all people?There are more than a handful of nerds in their school, he could have chosen anyone else.Maybe that was a way of making her life a living hell.Paige could feel a migraine growing as she thought about the crazy situation she had landed herself in.

Paula observed her bestfriend as she shifted in her seat.Something was bothering her, she could notice by the way she frowned every five minutes.She made a bet that it had nothing to do with Chase.Whatever was bothering her, was way bigger than her boy problem.

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"Chase, wait up!" Paige shouted as she pushed past the crowd.Chase glimpsed back at her before making his way out of the school's front door.Paige caught up with him and grabbed onto his arm."Babe, stop let's talk!"She begged as she pulled closer to him.Chase pulled his arm from her grasp and glared down at her angrily before limping away from her.

Paige could feel her throat getting tighter, as tears filled her eyes.Her lips wobbled as she tried not to cry.She ran after him as he stopped by his car."Chase please!"She begged as she pulled him to face her.Chase glared at her before pushing her away "I don't want to talk to you!Can't you get it into your thick head?!" He shouted at her, causing her to sob painfully.

Paige could feel her heart shattering as she watched him get into his car before starting it and driving away.She hiccupped as she wiped the tears away.She felt a hand wrap around her shoulders before pulling her away."Come on, let's go."Paula said softly as she led her to her car.