The Duet

Chapter Twenty Two

“Have you seen Austin?” I asked Brad. “He hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts and he wasn’t in second period.”

Brad had a mischievous grin on his face. Automatically, I knew something was up. What was Austin up to? Suddenly Chad came strolling in and handed me a note.

“What is this?” I questioned, eyeing the two of them.

They looked at each other not in a staring kind of way but a communicating kind of way. They were best friends. They had that special connection allowing them to let them communicate just by looking at each other. Brad’s mischievous grin became broad and a smirk cracked onto Chad’s face.

“Just read it.” Chad said. He grabbed Brad’s wrist and walked the opposite direction, leaving me all curious and lost. I obeyed what Chad instructed and opened the folded piece of paper and read the cursive writing.

Hi loser

I know you’re looking for me. So come find me. After reading this note go look for Evan and he will give you the first clue and a rose. All the clues you will collect throughout the afternoon will lead you to me. By the end of all this you should have 12 roses. Why 12 roses? Because it took me 12 days to realize how much I love you. I’ll see you soon ♡

With a huge smile on my face, I shoved the note into my pocket and went looking for Evan. As I speed walked down the hallway, my eyes found him leaning against a locker coolly, having a conversation with Aliah. I rushed over to him and asked for the clue and the rose.

“What clue?” Aliah asked curiously.

Evan had an amused look as he dug through his pockets. “I’ll tell you later.” He took out a blue piece of paper and handed it over to me.

“Where’s the rose?” I asked.

The amusement on his face was immediately replaced with embarrassment. “I, uhm, I accidentally sat on it so it’s kind of messed up.”

Before I could yell at him for being so stupid and then laugh at him for being so stupid, he placed a hand over my mouth before I could do any.

“But I do have a paper rose for you.” He placed a delicately folded beautiful paper rose in my hands. It surprised me that he was able to make this. It was so not like him.

“When did you make this?”

“Second period. We had a supply and I didn’t want to do the worksheets so I looked up a tutorial.” He shrugged no big deal.

“Okay then. I’ll see you later.” I waved goodbye. When I was far enough I opened the paper and read the first clue.

Here’s your first clue *clears throat* Go to the place where I took things too far. You’ll find your next clue there.

The place where he took things too far? What did he mean by far? We just started dating; we haven’t really gone that far. Maybe it was before we got together. A time where we still wanted to slice each other’s heads off. Then it hit me.

Chemistry room. The day he talked rudely of my father and the day I punched his nose. I ran towards the stair case and almost flew down the stairs. The science wing was empty of students. No teachers seemed to be down here either. I quickly went into the chemistry room. The first thing that caught my eye was the rose and another piece of paper on the lab bench we usually worked on.

If you’re reading this that probably means you found your second rose. Congrats loser. Now go to the music room. You’ll find the next note and your rose. I can’t wait to see you all cute and awkward when you find me. See you soon ♡