The Guy Everyone Knows

Three

     After the incident with Dylan, word got back to my brother before we even got back to the school. Dylan had ignored me the rest of the way to the school and didn't even say bye when we went our separate ways. I don't blame him. I wouldn't wanna be seen with me if I were him either. As I head to my locker to grab my stuff and head to third period, I see Andrew and one of his football buddies walking the halls and I try to hurry to class before he notices me. My luck was short when I heard him call my name.

     "Parker Marie! We need to talk!" He calls after me and catches up to me, leaving his friend by himself. I scrunch my face up and throw my head back as I hear him approach me.

     "Why were you with Dylan this morning?" He pauses and looks at my arm. "And why do you have a cast on your arm??"

     "Well first, I ran into Dylan and fell down the stairs when I was trying to get to my locker and trying to tell Stacey to meet me at the grand staircase after she found her locker. And second, he felt bad and wanted to come with me to get my arm checked out at the hospital. I tried to tell him not to worry about it but he wouldn't leave me alone about it." I say taking a deep breath and running my hand through my hair.

     Andrew looks at me trying to process everything I just told him and crosses his arms. "Well don't talk to him or anything anymore. He's not interested in dating because of his scholarship and you certainly don't need to be dating a senior."

    I shake my head and give him attitude back. "Do you really think I'd even have a chance with him? Cause you're pretty stupid if you think I do even if I was interested in him." I adjust my bag and walk past him. "Now I need to get to class before I have to miss another class because of a stupid boy!"

~*~

     After third period I have lunch so I decided to go to my 1st and 2nd period classes to get the work that I missed and headed to lunch. Stacey spotted me as soon as I entered the lunch room and sprinted towards me and then stopped in front of me.

    "Why didn't you text me so I could get out of class for a good reason??" She yelled at me and took my arm to inspect it. "And if you think I wasn't going to ask you about why DYLAN was in your truck with you, then you are soooo wrong!" I huff and we go sit down at our table with the rest of our clique.

     I looked around the room and froze when I saw Dylan staring at me with cold eyes and a stoic expression. He was across the room from where our table was but not so far that he was just a face in a crowd. I could feel my heart beating not knowing what he was wanting to do or say but I prayed he wouldn't come over. Even though, he wouldn't want to do that or else he'd cause a scene and have everyone watching us.

   "Parker! Are you even hearing me?" Stacey shakes my shoulder and pulls me down to sit on the bench. Our eye contact breaks and I'm thankful for Stacey because if we would've stared for much longer, I would have turned to stone. I took my papers out from the classes I missed and I started to work on them while she told the rest of our group who I encountered this morning.

     "I had literally just left her and she was going upstairs to her locker!! But Parker, how do you not see a person as tall and as built as him? That's the real question here!" Stacey asks and I look up at her and give her a look.

     "Oh I don't know. Maybe because I was yelling back at you to tell you to meet me at the staircase after you found your locker and so I didn't see him in front of me, or rather behind me." I say with a hint of attitude. I'm tired of being questioned about it cause it's not like it's such a huge deal. It's old news now so why doesn't she just leave it alone? Grrr!

    "I heard you guys went to one of y'alls house and fucked!" One of the guys in our group says. Greyson is a lean guy with some muscle but not as built as Dylan or Andrew. I look at him and stick my tongue out at him.

     "No we definitely did not do that. The only place we went was the hospital to get this thing." I lift my arm up to show him the cast and roll my eyes at him. Guys are pigs... well some of them. I'm just glad Jacob isn't like that towards me.

     I go back to doing my work and they carry on with their conversation but I still listen in at some parts. Jesse and Kate join us and Kate sits next to me as Jesse sat down next to Greyson. I feel a pair of eyes burning holes in the back of my head and turn around and scan the room but couldn't find the source. I got up and went to the restroom so that I didn't have to feel like I was being hunted or something.

     I decided to put mascara on since I forgot to put some on this morning and then I felt like I was one of the stuck up popular girls and somehow my mind went back to Dylan. I just wish I knew what I had done that he ignored me when we were on our way back to the school. Maybe he just realized that we we got back to the school he couldn't be seen with someone like me or it could hurt his reputation or something.

    When I get done with my mascara I go back out to the lunch room and see people leaving for their 4th period class but I luckily have choir this period so it's and easy period for me. I go back to the table and see that everyone has left and my stuff was all put away in my bag. I bet Stacey was the one to do that. I chuckle as I get my bag and I feel a presence behind me and I stepped aside so the person can go past me but as I turned around I was met with a built chest.

I slowly look up to see Dylan and I step back a little so we aren't so close and I look down at my feet and fidget with my fingers.

"Do you need help Parker?" His deep voice sends echos throughout the cafeteria and sends shivers down my spine when he says my name.

I look up and try to meet his eyes. "Oh um, no thanks." I blush and turn around to go to the choir room and I feel him watching my every move as I walk away and I put my earbuds in and listen to music just in case he calls after me so I don't have to deal with him again. I cursed myself for acting so shy in front of him despite being so confident this morning with him.

The rest of the day was Dylan free and most of the talking about me and Dylan had died down so I was very thankful for that. Andrew was waiting for me and leaning on my truck and when he saw me he got off of it and went to the passenger side.

"So I see you listened to me and didn't talk to Dylan anymore today." He said as I unlocked the doors and got in to start her up. I look at him with a confused look. Dylan didn't say anything to anyone about our little chat after lunch? Wow that's shocking.

"Yeah it's not like I would anyways. I already told you, I'd never have a chance with him so I'm not gonna even try to shoot my shot." Even though I would like to.

He shrugs and takes out his phone and starts doing whatever on it. I love the exhaust on my baby especially when we stop at a light and then when it turns green, she goes crazy with the exhaust. I'd never trade her for anything.

I just wish I could trade my brother for anyone else. Maybe I could trade him for a certain someone in the future...