Adore

12

When Anais reached her locker she was greeted by a familiar ginger.
"How was your weekend, Annie?" The girl questioned, leaning casually on the locker next to Anais's. Her long ginger hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she was wearing tall black platform shoes. Her two style statements. Ella Knox.
"It was alright" She said lightly giving the girl a weak smile. Anais and Ella weren't the closest, it wasn't like she could tell her about how her weekend really went. Ella only talked to her because of she was friends with Oliver. And Anais only talked to her because she was the only person Oliver approved of her talking too.
The girls didn't exchange any other words and just stood in silence before Ella's boyfriend came to bring her home. They offered each other a small wave before going on their ways.
Anais stood at her locker, waiting for Oliver to show up. She hadn't seen him all day. Surprisingly. Her eyes went down to the paper she folded. Her chemistry test. Anais glanced down at all the red X's. She had scored a solid 43% and it felt like a punch in the gut. She bit down on her bottom lip before crumpling up the paper.
"What's got you all upset?" Anais jumped slightly at Oliver's clear voice, startled by him popping up. She didn't like when he did that, she found it rather unsettling. And Knowing him, he most likely watched her for a few minutes before coming over.
"I failed chem" She said weakly before showing him the slightly crumpled up paper. Oliver's showed no reaction to the news and seemly shrugged his shoulders. Anais wiped her eyes with her other hand before lightly shaking her head.
"This is serious, I have to hope I pass the retake or else I'll fail out of the class" She huffed turning away from him to pull his forgotten shoes out of her locker.
"You aren't going to need chem in the real world." Anais didn't reply back and just half-heartily gave him back his shoes. She stared down at the ground, wishing Oliver would just leave. She didn't need to hear about how she would never go to college right now.
"Do you have plans tonight?" Oliver asked leaning on his side, not yet taking the shoes. Anais shook her head. But she didn't want to spend time with him right now. She wanted him to leave her alone.
"If you let me start driving you around I'll help you study tonight for your retake." She never let him drive her to school. It was her time. And Anais enjoyed her walks to school, the feeling of dew in the air. Getting to be truly alone, but wasn't unbearable like her house was. She got to space out and not have to deal with any kinds of consequences. But help would be nice.
"Really?" Anais said joyfully, a small smile appearing on her face. Oliver never helped her with school. She use to beg him to help her. It would always result in an upset Oliver telling her studying would be pointless. That she didn't need an education and that she was smart. And he was right. Anais knew he was, but it still hurt to hear.
Oliver nodded in response before finally taking the shoes from her. Anais smile grew as she wrapped her arms around him. Oliver gave her a sweet smile back when they pulled apart and bent down to grab her bag. He swung it over his shoulder and the two began to walk out to the parking lot and over to Oliver's infamous truck. She watched as he opened the door and throw their bags down onto the floor.
They both turned when they heard Oliver's name being called from somewhere in the parking lot.
"I'll be right back" Oliver said before closing the door on Anais. She peered out the window to see Oliver talking with one of his friends. Anais's didn't know his name. But he hung around Oliver often. Curiously, she rolled down the window slightly. Paying close attention to the back of Oliver's head to make sure he wasn't going to snap at her for messing with his windows.
"I didn't think I was going to catch you in time" The unknown boy said with a cheeky smile of his face. Oliver didn't reply and only nodded back, waiting for his friend to explain. Anais listen to the two boys going back and forth about sports and parties. Uninterested she went to roll back up the windows when the boys started talking about a party happening the upcoming Friday. Anais smiled to herself when Oliver laughed, she liked it and never seemed to hear a real one.
"So I know you're close with Anais, right?" Anais sat up in here seat, why had the boy brought her up. Oliver didn't replay and just stood there waiting. From the truck she couldn't see his face, but she wished she could.
"I was just wondering if she mentioned having a boyfriend or anything" The kid continued, slipping his hands into his pockets. Why couldn't he read the room.
"Why do you like her or something?" Oliver asked his voice sounded strange. Now it was time for the boy to just nod as his face displayed a smile.
"Yeah, she's just so innocent. I'd say its hard not to like her." Anais sat still in the car, slight panic began to fill the space. She heard Oliver began to laugh from her seat. Fake laughter this time. Oliver began to shake his head before replying, "Nope, she doesn't have a boyfriend. You should go for it."
"Damn I'm surprised you two aren't together."
"Oh no, we're just friends" Friends. Anais had a sinking feeling in her gut. This wasn't going to go well.
"I know she's not a party girl, but you think she'll turn up to Fridays?"
"I'll make sure she's there" Oliver replied before waving bye to the boy. Anais rolled up the window quickly before sitting as straight up as possible in the car seat. Starring down at her shoes. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she flinched when Oliver slammed the door close. He didn't look over or say anything. Instead in just put on his seatbelt and sped out of the school parking lot. Anais glanced over at Oliver. He sat there, hands gripping the steering wheel looking at the road. His knuckles a pale shade. His face remained neutral. No emotion present. Anais knew what he was doing. Dwelling. Thinking everything over, everything he ever said to that so called "friend." He was deciding whos fault it was.