The Bad Boy's Babysitter

• Chapter 6

Chapter 6 // Bruised and a little broken

Fixing the lights was tedious. I almost fell asleep halfway through the process if it weren't for Candace's screaming and yelling at everyone else to keep it together. I worked silently at the corner, making sure to stay clear of the she-devil. From time to time, I often gave Michaela pathetic glances to let her know this was worse than getting an F grade for my papers.

About an hour later, I was done with the set of lights. Finally. I placed them back neatly into the box, and walked over to Candace who was busy working with some designs. I cleared my throat to mark my presence, but she didn't flinch.

"Hey Candace, where are the snowflakes I'm supposed to cut?" I asked.

"It's in the club room." She answered without looking up, and I frowned at her unusual lack of interest in me. Not that she had any in the first place, but not receiving a rude comment in return was odd enough.

"I don't have the keys." I said.

She sighed, digging into her pockets. Then she tossed me the keys and went back to designing whatever that was more important than my request. I shrugged and walked out anyway, deciding not to dwell too much on it.

I jangled the keys in my hands. Victoria High was a pretty school on the outside. We had courtyards decorated with fancy flower pots, and some parts of our building were painted with graffiti by our art students (approved by the principal, of course). Our hallways and classrooms were in pristine condition because we spent a lot of money on maintenance just to look good.

But on the inside, it was rather ugly. Discipline here was strict and grades mattered. Misbehaving and fighting was definitely not allowed. You could only graduate if you joined at least one club, which why I was stuck with Candace in the Student Union where all we did was plan for major events like the upcoming senior prom.

It's ironic, really. Seniors themselves planning for senior prom. But that was how Victoria High worked. And although it didn't seem like an ideal way for the school to run things, I realized I was going to miss it anyway when I leave.

I walked aimlessly down the hallways until I remembered there was a football game going on. I wasn't exactly a fan of it, but I've always wanted to see a one. So I speculated for a minute or two but then realized I would have to see Carson playing.

That was a good reason for me to walk away, and I did. I headed straight to the club room's storage on the first floor, and noticed how untidy it was when I entered. I could barely walk across without tripping over something and falling flat on my face. Nonetheless, I managed to grab a box of un-cut snowflakes. I assumed it was the one Candace was referring to.

After I was done, I locked the door and turned on my heels, but stopped in my tracks when I noticed someone else coming out of the boys' locker room. His eyes fell on me, and the surprise on his face was shown just a bit.

"Greyson." He said.

"Ford." I responded.

He didn't look so good. In fact, he looked physically awful. His hair was tousled and there were bruises and fresh wounds on his face. I was trying hard not to stare at his bleeding nose but my eyes kept diverting to it. One moment he was looking perfectly fine and the next his features were rested on the bloody mess that hadn't been there only hours before.

I found myself asking, "What the hell happened to you?"

He shrugged, though I knew it pained him. "I got beaten up. Not obvious enough for you?" He said.

"Not funny, Ford." I said.

"Whatever, partner. I better get going. I need to see the nurse." Carson said.