Vision Of Broken Things

Chapter 3

The next morning Angelo gave me a lift to school, it only made sense considering he stayed over.

After stopping at his house for a change of clothes, we made our way to school.

We didn't talk about Jason after last night and I was starting to feel like I was beginning to get some closure.

We got to school ten minutes late, not that I cared anyway.

I was tired of sticking to the rules, I wanted to take risks and rebel. I never got to do that because I always felt like I already put my parents through enough.

When I got to my first class, I noticed Chrissy sitting behind my seat, it was unusual to find her in my History class and even more unusual to find her behind my seat in the class.

I sat down and took my notes out.

They were talking about an upcoming History project and that a few students had transferred to history for the rest of the year.

It was weird, who would transfer the same year that they are graduating... except for me.

Mr. Anderson started to partner us into a group of two, I started to drift away into my thoughts.

I started thinking about Jason, I wondered if he was hating death more than he ever hated life. Was he better off? Just like the people at school said?

''Christine Owens. You will be partnering up with Johnathon Martins.''

I looked around the class to see who he is but he never put his hand up.
That's when I heard Chrissy's voice from behind me.

''Sir, Johnathon moved the end of last year.'' She said smartly for observing something that the teacher didn't.

Mr. Anderson checked his register again and nodded.

''Very well, Melanie Adams?'' He said while adjusting his spectacles.

I put my hand up slowly, scared of what I know will happen next.

''You will be partnered up with Christine.''

I haven't spoken to Chrissy is weeks, now I'm supposed to do an entire project with her.

I hoped it wouldn't be awkward.

''Please, sit with your partner and start the project.'' Said Mr. Anderson.

I turned in my seat and looked at Chrissy, she was going through her catch-up notes from a classmate.

I cleared my throat and when she looked up, I gave her a friendly smile.

''Hi, partner.'' She said smiling.

She handed me a paper from her pile of side-notes.

''Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Be at my house after school, we're starting today.'' She demanded, taking control of the situation that we are in.

She looked back down at her notes and started writing a few things down.

''So, how are you? We haven't spoken since- ''

She cut me off in the middle of my sentence.

''-Since the party.''

She said that in a very weird tone, was she still acting weird because of the kiss? It's been weeks.

''Yeah, since the party,'' I said, clearing my throat.

She looked up at me and leaned in close, pretending to explain something on a piece of paper she had in her hand.

She then started whispering to me.

''Look, Mel, I'm straight. I don't know why you kissed me but Noah and I are going to work this out and it's just best we stay distant from each other.''

Her words made me angry, I couldn't help myself so I leaned into her and let my anger do the talking.

''I never kissed you, I would never want to kiss you.
You kissed me and Noah has absolutely no interest in 'working it out' with you, if he did, he wouldn't have asked me out yesterday.
I think it's about time that you stop being so uptight, we could just leave the kiss behind us and move on.'' I impatiently stated.

She shifted away from me and sat up straight in her seat.

It looked like she was processing what I said, after a moment of silence, she finally spoke.

''He asked you out?'' She asked confusingly.

Like clockwork, my drama senses started tingling.

I am going to ruin this year for me when all I wanted was to have one good year of high school.

''He asked me to a family barbeque as his date, I said no. obviously.'' I said, trying to soften the blow.

She quickly changed the topic but I already knew this wasn't the end of it.

''I was thinking we could make a 3D art piece representing The Cold War, considering you were quite an artist back in Dallas.''

It hit me like a brick wall in the face, I haven't told anyone anything about my life back in Dallas, and when I did it was never something as personal as this.

''I don't know what you're talking about.''

She smirked as she leaned in and whispered;

''Turns out, I am very good at doing research.''

My brain failed to process what she just said, was she researching me?
Stalking me?
What else did she know?

The bell rang faster than the speed of light and before I knew it, I was the only one left in class.

I slowly made my way to my next class when Angelo stormed towards me.

''We need to talk, right now.'' He said as he grabbed my hand and ran outside.

My head was still spinning over the conversation I just had with Chrissy.

We came to a stop when we reached Angelo's black Mazda, we sat in his car and he started to freak out the second I closed the car door.

''What is going on? Chrissy came to me and said, if I don't get you to back off, she will be forced to do it herself.
After that lovely chat, I found this in my locker.''

He took a piece of rolled-up paper out of his pocket and handed it to me.

I neatly opened it up to read and my eyes opened wide when I started to read it aloud.

''Don't get too close. Past experiences suggest it might end up fatal.''

I looked up at Angelo, his hair stuck to the sweat on his forehead.

I knew moving here and having no drama would be too good to be true.

I spilled my guts straight away, I told Angelo about what Chrissy said in History and how she just happened to transfer classes.

''Has she lost her mind? Wait... are we saying that Chrissy, the innocent smartie pants that couldn't even kill a mosquito, is threatening us? For what!?'' He said surprised.

My mind was racing, is that what we were insinuating?

''I don't know. If she is, then why? Why would she go off the rails like that?''  I asked curiously.

Angelo brushed his face with his hands and sighed.

''Should we talk to her? Confront her?'' He asked, unsure of what to do.

I traced the piece of paper in my hand with my fingers.

''How much could she know? How does she know things that no one else possibly could?'' I said out loud.

We sat for an hour, throwing questions into the wind like we could guess the answers.

Eventually, we decided to wait it out; we don't know what her motive is and if we jump the gun, we might never know.

We ended up talking for so long that we missed each class, leading up to lunch, we walked over to our lunch table when we spotted Chrissy with the rest of the gang laughing away.

Cautiously taking our seat, we noticed Noah's arm over Chrissy's shoulder as if nothing ever happened.

''Hey, guys. Where have you been all day? I finally get a gap from my schedule and you are nowhere to be found.'' Said Chrissy innocently.

Both Angelo and I looked at Chrissy with confused expressions.

I clenched my fist, to my rescue Angelo responded.

''Mel needed some help with research for a project, we were excused from class.''

Chrissy seemed like a different person, different from the threatening demeanor. Was this just a persona until she feels threatened?

''I hope it's not our History project, that's our baby. Are we still on for after school?'' Asked Chrissy with, what I now think is her fake friendly smile.

After school? I don't remember any plans that we made after school. She saw the confusion on my face because she quickly added.

''We're starting our project after school, my place, remember?''

There is absolutely no way, before I could blow her off, Angelo cleared his throat and I can only assume he wants me to go to this psychopath's house.

I sighed. I am putting faith and not to mention my life into his hands.

''Yeah, of course. Text me the address.'' I said, faking a smile.

After lunch, the entire day went by way too fast.

Angelo explained that it would be easier to keep an eye on her and get an idea of what she might be up to if I go into the base of the enemy.

He has a point, but that doesn't make it any better for me.

The school day ended and Angelo drove me to Chrissy's house.

''If you find the bodies of previous enemies, text me and I will save you,'' Angelo said with his signature jokingly smile.

I sarcastically laughed at him and looked out of the window.

''It won't be that bad. Spend an hour and I will fetch you, try to dig deeper. She might be hiding something that might help us figure out what she is up to.'' Angelo stated seriously.
I didn't want to get out of the car, I was never good at confrontation and this sure feels like one.

Angelo reassured me that he would be parked down the road and that I only have to stay an hour.

When I finally got out of the car, I walked towards the front door when it swung open.

''You're late.'' Chrissy said annoyed.

I checked my watch on my wrist and couldn't help myself, I let out a tiny laugh.

''I'm a minute late. That's nothing.''

She pulled me into the house by my arm.

''A minute we could've used to work on our project. Seriously? Am I going to have to do this project on my own.''

I followed her upstairs to her room, the pink bedding and educational posters in her room camouflages the craziness that is Christine Owens.

After a while, it was like none of the craziness happened today.

Within that hour, she was the nicest person that I've ever met. Eventually, I just couldn't take it anymore.

''How did you know about the art thing?''

She ignored my question.

''Chrissy. How did you know?''

She handed a note to me and stood up from where she was sitting.

''These are some supplies we need to start making the art piece. I will show you my design ideas for it when I'm finished.''

I stood up fast and stood right in front of her.

''Answer my question,'' I demanded to know.

Why is she ignoring me?

Why is she playing games?

I had so many questions but I knew if I gave in and asked them, I would never really get the answers I needed.

''You should leave.'' She said, standing her ground firmly.

Are you kidding me?

I stormed out of her room and out of the house.

It took everything inside me not to turn around and squeeze the answers out of her.