Toxin

CHAPTER 2 - "I'll have a Coke."

The usually busy halls were emptied as the class bells rung throughout the school. The silence was almost peaceful, though it always had an eerie tone to it. I continued forward, ignoring the sounds of the full classrooms behind the passing doors. Effie wasn't here at school today, and my last two periods were Biology and PDHPE, so I wasn't bothered to join in on some more awkward conversations between the teachers, and classmates. As I passed my Biology door, I stole a quick glance through the door's window. And as if time slowed, I met Atlas's sky blue gaze. I was sure I was moving at the same pace as I was, or even faster. Yet, it seemed like we were staring at each other for a minute or two. I snapped back, turning my head forward and down and continuing towards the back gates to the oval and outdoor eating area.

As I sped through the doors, I felt as if someone happened to follow me. I turned to look behind me, yet no one was there. A strange sensation ran through me, reminding me of last night's encounter with that strange shadow. I sighed, looking up. And sure enough, Atlas was there looking down at me. "So, what's your reason for being out of class, eh?" he started, continuing on; "I'm sure sir would disapprove of your behaviour." He'd sneer, holding onto my hips. I sarcastically smiled at him, pushing him off. "Then I'll tell sir that you're out of class not doing whatever you told him." I hissed back through gritted teeth. "Then riddle me this, Aaly. Why do you hate me?" he'd ask, pulling me along as we walked together through the oval. "Because I'm sure you know hates a strong word. I've seen your English marks." I stopped, looking at him as he grinned, still walking forward. "Excuse me?" The fox-like grin was still there, plastered on his smug face. "You're talking about me, saying that I'm trouble, when the fact is you've literally gone through my English grades!" I retorted, striding towards him heavily. "Hey, hey! Don't worry, you've got a B+!" he'd chuckle, marching towards me with the same, heavy footsteps. I stopped, scowling at him as he continued to make his way towards me. "Just stop already." I declared, tossing my arms over each other. Atlas continued to stretch his legs before me until he was right against me. "You have no concept of personal space." I spat, pouting. "Mhm. And so you're just going to have to deal with it." He exclaimed, that smug smile returning again.

"Why are you picking on me like a kindergarten bully would." I'd say blandly, walking hesitantly beside Atlas, who was humming quietly to himself. "Do I now?" he'd recite, smirking fondly down at me. I'd grunt, looking away at him and instead to the side. As I passed familiar trees, I'd shoot my head forward, the back gates appearing before my eyes. "Where are you taking me?" I uttered softly under my breath. Yet, I suppose he managed to hear it since he responded with; "Out of school."

"This is ridiculous." I'd mutter, crossing my arms across my chest. "I'm not getting inside your car. For all I know, you could possibly try to rape me." I gritted my teeth. "Wow... Do I really look like someone who would try to rape a pretty, 16-year-old girl?" he'd sigh, grinning. I blinked. "Ok, creep, I'm not even going to ask how you know my age." I'd mutter, still with my arms locked around my chest. "Fine. We won't drive. How about a nice, calming walk instead?" said Atlas, closing the door of the car. "Sure. What ever..." I'd mumble. "You're right. We don't want to be seen driving Professor Finnain's car by him himself." Atlas shrugged, and so I glared at him. "Wait, that's Professor Finnain's car?!"

"I can't believe you! You imbecile!" I hissed as I hit Atlas continuously with a family pack of chips. "What were you thinking! Stealing a car's wrong, but stealing a Professor's car is even worse!" I roared, stopping, then continuing to whack Atlas. He'd smirk playfully; "Yeah, I've have my fair share of teachers catching me." I sighed, throwing the bag of chips at Atlas and storming off down the footpath. After a few moments, and Atlas catching up to me easily, I asked "So where are we going?". Atlas shrugged, replying saying; "Where ever you want to go.". We ended up walking to Chap's Pizza, which was a small, local pizzeria that's crowded almost every Saturday and Sunday. As we walked in, I was surprised to find that there were actually tables open. Even the booths! A tall girl around our age hurried over in her 'devilishly cheesy' uniform. "Hi! Welcome to Chap's Pizza! Do you want a table yet, or just take-away?" she'd squeak somewhat positively. I saw her kind of scowl at me for a second while Atlas was looking out the window thinking. I also noticed that when Atlas turned back, she wouldn't break eye contact with him and just continually giggle quietly while twirling her hair around her finger. "We'll take a booth please. Maybe the one in the corner." Atlas smiled, his charming voice making the worker slightly flushed and dazed. I gagged quietly, shaking my head. Her smile lowered a bit, mainly because I could already tell she won't want to keep her eyes off of him. "U-Uhh, sure!" she uttered, acting excited and happy. We were led to the back of the room towards a comfy little booth. "Here you are! Tell me when you're ready to order! Or, perhaps I'll come to you first!" she exclaimed, smiling a little too widely. Atlas chuckled, dipping his head and pulling me towards the booth. We sat down, one of us on either side. "You know she's still staring at you..." I muttered, rolling my eyes. He'd smirk and chucked his arm back, resting on the top of the booth and looking behind him. The worker's eyes fluttered and she giggled, waving back. Atlas smiled before facing me again. He looked at me and silently gagged. I smirked. "Too much make-up for me..." he bellowed, chuckling softly. I'd snort, staring back up to the worker who was now pouting with a frustrated look on her face. "So, would you like anything?" Atlas mumbled, staring me in the eyes. "Would you?" I replied, looking away from his almost perfectly symmetrical face so I could breathe a little. Atlas chuckled, leaning back. He waved his hand in the air, signalling for the waitress to take our orders. She hurriedly picked up her little work notebook and headed over to our booth. "What would you like today?" she gleamed, Atlas leaning back a little bit more. I'd snort, finding his disinterest amusing. The girl glared at me, before returning to smile at Atlas. "I'll have a medium margherita pizza with chicken on top, and a water thanks." he charmingly smiled back at her. She bit her lower lip. What an idiot she is. "Anything else for today?" she asked, her mood lowering. Atlas looked towards me, nodding at me to the worker. She turned grumpily. "And... You?" she spat, her hand on her hip. "I'll have a coke." I said casually, returning her glare. She stepped back, blinking in disgust at me. "And certainly not any attitude with that please. Other than that, what else can I ask? Nothing else, thank you." I exclaimed, sarcastically smiling brightly back at her. She scribbled down my order and stormed off.

All I could hear now was Atlas's cackling, still referring back to what happened only moments ago. "Now Aaly, where did that come from?" he asked, his face a faded red from laughing a little too hard. I shrugged, "I just don't appreciate a brat bitching me." I mumbled, leaning back and crossing my arms over my chest. "Right." he smirked, copying me. I rolled my eyes in return, straightening up as the worker came over with our orders. She smiled, handing Atlas his meal; "There you go! A medium margherita with chicken on top and your water!" it was as if she were purring as she said that. She then turned towards me and slammed my coke can on the table, "And your coke.". "Miss." Atlas started, looking at the worker who quickly came to him. "Yes mister?" she purred, sitting on the table and kicking her leg over the other. She was blocking my view, but I didn't really care. I just quietly sipped my coke. "I would appreciate if you treated my friend as kindly as you are, to me." Atlas sarcastically smiled in somewhat of a threatening way. I blinked, surprised. The girl mumbled, nodding her head hesitantly. "I have been treating her well." she said firmly before popping up and trotting off into the large kitchen. "Why?" Atlas looked at me puzzled, "Why what?" and I sighed. "Why did you-" Atlas was grinning at me. I guess he was finding my emotions today to be quite amusing. "Go on, sweetheart." he exclaimed, resting his head on the palm of his hand and gazing at me, the smirk still not ridden on his face. I leaned back, him following me forward. "Are you looking for a slap, or no." I hissed through gritted teeth, pouting. "That's not what you were about to say. Say what you wanted to say before." he pressed, his grin still not fading. I grunted, glaring at him in the eye. "Why did you stick up to me before? I was handling it just fine." I exclaimed. He shook his head chuckling and leaning back. "Aaly, I'm a gentleman. I don't want two girls to be fighting over me." he'd grin, kicking his legs up onto the table. I snorted again; "A gentleman? Really... And I'm not fighting over you. I just don't like that girl. That's all, dimwit." I retorted. Atlas sighed, grinning as he stared out the window. I followed his gaze, but there wasn't really anything to look at, since school was still going on and adults work day still hasn't finished. The streets looked almost completely empty. Atlas turned back to me, and so I looked back at him. "Why didn't you order any pizza?" he asked, placing his head on his palm again. "Because I didn't want to talk or see that annoying brat any longer. Besides, I know you're not going to finish that." I nodded to the pizza. Atlas grinned, kicking his legs off the table. "So you wanted to share?" he teased, me rolling my eyes. "I swear my eyes are going to roll out of their sockets soon because of you." I smirked, leaning my head on my hands. Atlas snorted, looking down at me. "And plus, why waste money on an extra pizza when there's one here that you won't finish."