Shadows and Popularity

Chapter 19: Answers

Chapter 19: Answers

Maya felt miserable.

The whole day just seemed like such a bore to her. Instead of listening to the teacher, she ended up putting her attention somewhere else and look out the windows where a few students ditching classes were doing parkour. She continued the action for the rest of her classes, not even getting in trouble for any of them. It was Thursday, and one more day to go before she could really get herself rested. The first three days of school had taken its toll on her, and now that it was officially over, she felt as though her entire energy had been sapped out of her.

When she had taken the bus and gotten off, she had thought the driver looked as though he had seen a ghost. When she entered the school gates, no one bothered messing with her, no one noticed her. By Literature was when she was greeted by three familiar figures. Three students named Oliver, Aaron, and Cardor met up with her by the hallways when she had finished taking out her books for biology.

“Yo.” Oliver said. If she hadn’t known better, she would’ve thought his smile was flirtatious.

“H-hi.” Maya greeted back rather bashfully. She could still remember how two of the sophomores had stopped her in class and kept asking her personal questions. Though she had to admit that they were both charming in their own ways, they were a bit too flamboyant for her tastes.

“Get lost you two.” Cardor said coldly. “I’ll tell her.”

“Well, your cold exterior still hasn’t changed, huh, Cardor?” Aaron stated.

The gamer guy glared at him, and Maya felt as though she was shrinking. The three clearly had a world of their own, and she was sure that if she were to back away very slowly and carefully right then and there, she would be able to sneak out right below their noses.

Oliver didn’t give her the chance. “Ignore them.” He said, well-kept long, blonde hair framing his face. “Anyway, we’d like to propose an activity with you.”

“W-what?” Maya asked, consciously taking a step back. By then Cardor and Aaron were already in a low-voiced debate.

“With everything’s that happened, we really don’t have much right to ask you of anything, but we’d like you to do something for us.”

“W-what?”

Oliver thought that if she were to take another step back, she’d be far enough to make a run for it. He had to wrap things up quick. “A small package we need you to deliver. We need a wallflower to pull this off. It has something to do with the Secret Service Department.” The last sentence was said in a whisper, as students continued to walk pass. Aaron and Cardor stopped bickering then, and looked at her.

Cardor was the first to speak. “It’ll be quick so long as you follow instructions. Just get in and get out as quick as you could. No need for socialization, all you have to do is get there, leave the package, and get out.”

“S-should I ask what this has to do with school?”

Their answer was unanimous. “No.”

“Am I really the only one who could pull this off?”

Their nod was undisputed.

“Can I back out anytime I want to?”

Even the shake of their heads were undivided, and Maya found herself in another ordeal.

Nathan made his way to the Social Studies Department, a cozy-looking grey building that reached four stories high, including its attic. Located there was DDA’s own Café, The Fluorescent, serving coffee and lattes of all sorts and shapes and flavors. This was a popular hangout for preps of all kinds, but he wasn’t really that fond of it, so he rarely ever goes there. This was his first visit in over two years.