Esme the Quiet One

CH. 11

"...-ayden! Kayden! KAYDEN!" Esme was running at her top speed, frantically using her loudest voice calling Kayden. Caution and shyness out of the window, Esme ran straight into the middle of basketball practice. She was almost hit by a ball but Kayden managed to catch it with one hand, split seconds before it hit the side of her head.

Unaware that she was just saved from a ball, Esme crouched low at her waist trying to say something between her sobs and wheezing. One hand was grabbing the front of Kayden's jersey and the other hand was grabbing her knees supporting her crouching position.

Kayden was immediately alarmed. Did something happen? Did Vallerie Cho hurt her again? he wanted to ask. But he was more alarmed with the way Esme was breathing. He looked around for the medic. Damnit! This is not an official training. Medic is not here. 

Kayden looked down at Esme again. He was considering carrying her to the infirmary. Then he heard her take in a deep long breath before she straightened up and faces him.

If yesterday he was feeling protective, today he was ready to kill anyone who made her cry. 

Tossing the ball he was holding to a teammate, Kayden gently prodded the sobbing Esme to move out of the court. The only place he felt right to go was the science club. 

The door was wide open when they reached there but Kayden did not think much about the wide-open door, which was supposed to be closed at all times. Kayden stopped frozen on his tracks when they were finally inside the science club. Their precious science project model was destroyed. It was a total mess.

"What in the world happened?" Kayden said in a low angry tone, devastated beyond words. His grip on Esme's shoulder tightens. Both for support and control. His knees were weak and there was a burning rage that was going to erupt anytime.

Esme who has gained a little bit of composure tried her best to stop the flowing tears with the back of her hands.

"I-I'm not sure. When I came in to fetch our model, it was already in this state." Esme replied with painful sobs in-between sentences.

"By the time I realized, I was running looking for you. I panicked. I don't know what to do." she continued painfully.

Kayden took a deep calming breath and made himself move towards the remnants of their proud model. Esme has no choice but to move along with him. He had an iron grip on her shoulder.

Both of them looked down on the floor where their pride and joy lies.

"Do you have any idea who did this? I don't think it suddenly developed a mind on its own and decides to commit suicide by jumping out from your locker." Kayden spoke in a monotonous tone. Still not believing what he is seeing

"I have no idea. I wish it has developed a mind on its own. It's better that way than to think someone this evil exists." Esme said in a matching tone.

Esme crouched lower and hugged her knees. Kayden finally let go of her shoulders and squats beside her.  Both of them were not ready yet to touch what's left of their project.

"Does anyone else know your locker combination?" the wheels in Kayden's brain begin to spin. For someone slow with facts and numbers, he sure is fast to recover from the shock.

Esme who is supposed to have an excellent brain has difficulties reviving her senses. 

"The only person who knows my lock combination is you... " Esme trailed off, then her eyes suddenly widened in realization.  She looked over at Kayden. ".... and Peggy!"

Kayden was like, who in the rocking boat is Peggy?

Esme abruptly stood up and paced back and forth. A habit, Kayden noticed, when she is thinking hard. The pacing seems to be powering up her excellent brain.