Promises We Keep

6

KEN POV

I didn't think he would actually ignore me.

I make my way to the cafeteria for lunch and spot Marcus and Grace laughing at their lockers. Watching that smile spread across Marcus's face makes me stop in my tracks. 

School started a few days ago and Marcus hasn't even looked at me or acknowledged me in any way. I kind of expected it, seeing as he just disappeared that day, but still. We have almost all of our classes together and he still just ignores me and sits as far away from me as possible. I was surprised when I saw him in all of my classes. I am taking all advanced placement and honors classes this year. He is even in advanced chemistry with me and that class is not easy. I probably looked like a complete idiot just gawking at him for the first couple of days when he just kept showing up. My eyes grew even wider when he actually paid attention in class and took notes! At first, I thought he was just doodling, but nope. I walked by his desk to throw something away once and low and behold, his notebook was filled with detailed notes.

He never ceases to amaze me. I guess it's my fault for assuming that because of his troubled life he wouldn't be smart. But that just means that my initial hypothesis was wrong and I just have to form a new one.

Current hypothesis: Marcus Deeks is an intriguing boy who wants absolutely nothing to do with me. Which is probably for the best. My observations of him are starting to get obsessive. Yeah, let's just count this save the kid experiment a fail. I had no idea what I was going to try to do to help him anyways.

I continue my walk to the cafeteria when I notice Jim Andrews, captain of the basketball team, go up to talk to Grace. It's only the beginning of the year but seeing as they are the only new seniors in the school they have attracted a lot of attention. The inevitable shiny toy syndrome of high school students with nothing better to do. Grace is always smiling and being nice to everyone that comes up to them asking questions but I have noticed that Marcus just looks skeptical. He keeps his signature grin on his face but it never reaches his eyes. No, instead those stormy eyes of his are scanning over everyone that comes up to him as if he is analyzing them. It almost looks like how he looked at me when we were in my room. But, with everyone else it's different. More calculating, like he is running through a checklist in his head. It didn't feel calculated when he was staring at me.

Right now he is doing the same thing to Jim and I guess he didn't like his initial overview because he does not look happy watching Jim talk to Grace. Maybe Grace and Marcus are dating. He did tell me that he was starting here with a friend and not a girlfriend, but they are always together. He is always laughing and smiling with her and I saw him hold her hand once. Wait, why do you even care?  Right. I don't.

I keep walking towards the cafeteria when I notice Marcus glaring at Jim. Keep walking. Stay out of it. Surprisingly, I do just that and I walk right past them.

"Keep walking dude. She's not interested in you," I hear Marcus say.

I turn and see Jim looking down at Marcus seething. Jim may be taller than Marcus seeing as he's like 6"3, but I have no doubt that Marcus would lay him out with one punch. He should really just walk away.

"I don't think I was talking to you ass. I was obviously talking to Grace," Jim says, doing the total opposite of walking away.

Shit. Don't get involved. Keep walking.

Of course, I'm still standing there, along with a few other students just watching to see what is going to happen. They're just nosy. I'm writing my behavior off as scientific research.