Figuring You Out

Chapter Thirty

R: Three thirty. Roasted Bean.

My breath catches in my throat as my eyes decipher the text over and over under the table. I compose myself after a few seconds ad begin fumbling a response.

O: I'll be there. Thank you

"Oliver, phone away, please," Mr Hawes reprimands lightly, I slide my phone into my back jean pocket and continue clicking away on photoshop, "How is it going anyway?"

"Good for once," I reply, he chuckles lightly and squeezes my shoulder as he drifts to Leah, who sits beside me. I'm about to settle the itching feeling by sliding out our phone but I am disturbed.

"Oliver, do you know how to sort this bit out?" Leah, an attractive but quiet girl, asks, waggling her mouse at an unremoved chunk of background on an image of a dog.

"Click alt and just use the wand tool," I say, she nods a thank you and follows my instructions with a smile. It's enough opportunity to grab my phone again but to only deflate my hopeful heart with a lack of response.

"I heard you were giving Fryday a hard time the other day," Leah comments again.

"Who isn't?" I reply, smiling when her cheekbones raise in a grin as her naturally tight curls dangle from her hooped earrings, "I'm Oliver, by the way, I don't think we have spoken before,"

"Leah," she smiles, "I don't suppose you know where Mr Fredricks office is do you?"

"I can show you if you like," I suggest, as I save my file and slip my folder into my bag.

"Sure," she says, copying my actions, "Thanks, by the way,"

"No worries," I shrug, we make our way out and I direct her to the canteen, where Fredricks office is just off when I spot Liam, Ethan and Danvesh over the other side of the room. I catch Liams eye and he moves past the silver chairs and tables towards us. I see his eyes widen at the sight of Leah standing beside me.

"Oliver, how are we doing?" he says, his tone unnaturally stiff and posh, I raise my eyebrows with a smirk wanting him to continue in this charade, "Ahhh," he acts extremely weirdly, "And who is this? I believe we haven't met. I am Liam Saunders and you are..."

"Leah Ali," she says awkwardly, I can see her side eyeing me as a plea for an escape. I laugh out loud at the scene and flash Liam a smug smile before moving Leah down the corridor towards Fredricks private office, "Is he always like that?" she asks, as soon as Liam is out of earshot.

"No," I chuckle, "You've made quite the impression,"

"Charming," she comments, just as we reach the door, "Thank you for taking me,"

"All good, I'll see you in media tomorrow," she smiles, I nod and move back to the canteen where I see Liam red faced as Ethan and Danvesh are both quite literally clutching at her sides laughing. I stifle a laugh and move towards them.

"Don't you start," Liam groans as I take a seat across from him a open a bottle of water on the table.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Liam," I smirk, taking a long swig which he nearly hits out of my hands.

"Right, are we going to mine before the game or what?" Ethan asks.

"I've got science revision, sorry lads," I say, internally smiling at the thought of seeing Red again but my stomach drops at the thought of the awkward conversation that was yet to come.

"Well, no excuses for Saturday, birthday celebrations at mine, parentless, booze, Xbox and drug addicts for neighbours,"

"Why do we care that your neighbours are drug addicts?"

"Music, duh," Ethan states, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, Liam visibly relaxes.

"Are we buying the pizza?" I ask, this was the usual routine whenever it was anyone's birthday- the birthday person gets to order whatever the hell they want from our local pizzeria at any cost and the boys split the cost as a birthday present.

"Abso-fucking-lutly,"