Chapter 10: Chapter 10

She had a video of me and Tucker's conversation in the car. I don't understand how did she manage to catch it, it was embarrassing, especially when Tucker brushed my hair and I flushed. Since having no audio turned everything out of context, I looked guilty. I felt like I've deceived my friend, and I felt bad for Dina.

Dina watched the whole thing silently, I was at the edge of crying but we remained silent.

"Is that it or there is something else?" Dina, who looked hurt, pretended to be okay. "I told him to speak to her." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh!" Monica after a failure sighed, but she wasn't done yet, "Thank goodness, I was so frightened when I saw her crying." well, my jaw dropped, I have no idea if she has been watching me at my home or what but I knew she possessed something more to add.

"When and why?" Dina asked her and quickly looked at me, I was watching them blankly. It was the proper moment for me to speak up for myself, but the inner me, who was desperate for everyone's approval stayed quiet.

"Oh, the day she saw you guys making out by the locker, damn she was heartbroken, crying and running like a crazy woman." Monica dramatically batted her eyelashes and faked a sad look.

"This is what happens when you have high dreams." she proceeded, her minions, Lilith and Jessica, giggled behind her. "Bye, see you later," now that her task here was done, she left waving her hand at us. This awkward silence and Dina brainstorming wasn't gonna do any right.

"I can explain." Before Dina could say anything, I mumbled as guilt filled my entire body.

"Do you like him?" She questioned, staring me in the eye. It was so mortifying, and now that I knew I have lost Tucker, my love for him has harvested the attention.

"Always," I whispered in guilt, not daring to gaze in her eyes. Look, Tucker, what my love for you is doing to me, slowly making me lose my friend and everything I have attained so far. I didn't want to lie to her anymore as well, I knew it was no use but she must know.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" She didn't seem mad, more like she was concerned, which came as a jolt by the way.

"Like we tell each other everything." I scoffed sarcastically, not because I was attempting to be rude, but I was just trying to prove a point, "And you don't have to worry D, It was in the past and every girl got a crush on someone." I added, guessing it might distract her, but she was too focused on the topic to let it go.

"This feels so wrong. I honestly believed you merely wanted to remain in his good books as you want with everyone. If I had the slightest of the idea, I swear I would have stayed miles away from him." She bowed her head down and articulated it all in one breath. I can tell her energy was down, but on the positive side, there were no more secrets left between us. It was also heart-warming to know she didn't hold grudges against me due to this situation.

"Dina, he likes you, and crushes never matters. How about we move on from this?" I passed her a smile, glad to have my friend back. What made me guilty was that I was all the same thinking about Tucker when he was seeing my friend.

"I'll make sure you get someone equally good as him." She took my hand and shared a smile. Now that the truth was out, it was going to be a little difficult for me to drool and not get caught.

"I'll," I replied, honestly, lying on her face because I don't reckon I can ever love someone as much as I have loved Tucker.

After hanging out for a few more minutes, we head back to school to help Dina get her notes from the locker. The school was empty, it was just us walking in the direction of the lockers.

"What were you thinking when you left those notes in your locker girl?" I questioned her once the sky was shrouded with black clouds and everything turned dark around her. We had a test from those notes, so I don't know what was going on in Dina's mind.

"It was just a hard day," Dina didn't explain as we both walked into the locker area. My heart was pumping loudly, for some reason, the place was giving me creeps already.

"Just do it quickly," I whispered, tiptoeing to her locker.

"Yeah, yeah don't worry," she whispered back, none of us knew why we were whispering, but damn we were panic-stricken of the silence, the only sound was from the cloud's thundering.

She opened her locker and before we were done with it, we heard a loud thump coming from the nearby classroom.

"Hide, hide hide." Dina uttered incoherently, holding my hand in fright.

"What, why?" I was too scared to serve properly, we ran towards the wall behind the class and hid there. Our hearts were literally banging our brains, I could pick up my heartbeat in my head and even hers too. We rested our heads on the wall and waited for a few moments and when we discovered the door to the classroom hung open, our hearts sank. We waited and then Dina popped her head out of curiosity, I followed her obviously.

We saw Monica coming out of the class, adjusting her skirt. Dammit, so after trying to split us friends, she was celebrating here with the free s** scheme? Dina and I shared a brief glance in shock, of course, Dina was happy to see her boyfriend's ex has moved on.

But that wasn't it, we were even appalled when we saw bruises on Monica's arms. She sniffed, cleaning her tears and hugging herself as her body was shivering miserably.

She was all shaken up, her sobs coming out in whimpers. My head had started to hurt and my knees feeling weak. I held Dina's hand and grasped it tightly. Somebody forced her and it all took place in our school, I was so terrorized.

Monica walked out while we hid there and felt bad for her. Everyone was spooked at the arrival of the orphans because they were known for causing difficulties, but they hadn't even arrived and all that has started to occur.

We were still hiding there, stunned at what we have just witnessed. It was all very shocking for us, nobody has ever tried to push her around let alone forcing her. If Ken ever comes to find out about this incident, he will tear everyone apart.

We weren't done yet when the guy, who allegedly did all that, marched out.

We both gasped at the same time, it can't be. Steven Lock stood in the door, watching Monica disappeared. He stretched his neck and twisted about to lock the door. His phone rang and he grabbed it out of his pocket.

"Yeah, yeah, I will be there, was just caught up in some business." he sounded worn out, annoyed as he ran a hand through his sleek hair. I kept looking at his face blank, the night he helped me I really thought he wasn't that bad, but he was worse. He hung up and walked away, leaving us totally shocked behind.

"I don't believe what I saw." Dina, who was as blown away like me, murmured.

"How can he do this to someone." I croaked, making tight fists of my palms recalling how sweet and decent he was acting that night.

"Let's go." Dina grabbed my hand and started forcing me along.

"Wait! Aren't we going to do something?" I interrogated, bringing my hand off her clutch.

"Elle, we can't do anything." She shook her head; this was so unlike of her. Her father was a Sheriff and look at her, scared and helpless.

"Your father is a Sheriff," I stated the obvious, she rolled her eyes at me.

"So? What if he is blackmailing her and she denied our accusations on him, then? If somebody can help her, that is she, herself." Dina declared, "We will stand by her side if she takes the first step, Elle." She carried on.

"She is obviously scared, Dina," I argued more.

"There is something you should know Elle," showered in guilt, she stole her eyes from me as she spoke. She sorts of scared me, "Steven is a part of The Orphans." her mention shook me on the spot.

"What?" my mouth left hanging open, unable to process I kept staring her in the eye, "he is not an orphan." I attempted to make sense of everything.

"His mother owns the orphanage, and he is friends with them, that's why he never mixes with us because he harmonizes with everything they indicate about us. And not just that, the oldest Orphan is their leader, Mister Waltz." she took the world from under my feet. I have messed with those people I can't believe it. Mr. Waltz is the biggest troublemaker ever, ever since he was a kid, he would cause trouble and now he was always behind shi**.

"That's why I was mad at Tucker, he shouldn't have drawn you into this. Now they will be joining our school soon and Elle, Sid is Waltz right hand." she looked away when she murmured that part. My life ended the minute she announced that. Maybe he was the same guy Sid calls father?

"Let's go, I will drop you home." Dina held my hand and called her driver. I was silent all this time, she dropped me first, making sure I safely reached my home.

Life has been already hard and knowing I have accidentally messed with those people was terrifying. Posing on my bed, I kept thinking about ways they can f*** me over. Oh, shoot! Steven had my phone, he must have gone through it. How was I so chill about it earlier? Maybe the night he brought me through the mess had me in some kind of spell, the spell of trust, but there was way too much on my phone except for my nudes to be afraid of.

I was lying like a prisoner, ready for her death, when my phone beeped and I almost jumped higher than a kangaroo.

Damn, relax, it's just a phone, I said to myself.

Unknown: I heard you stayed late today at school?

Unknown: Everything okay?

How did Tucker know? Oh, maybe Dina told him. I wonder if Dina told him about that incident as well, because if so, there will a huge mess tomorrow. Tucker hated the orphans, which was obvious now and he had a feud with Steven Lock. I was still not 100% certain he was Tucker but who else would text me and why?

Me: Dina needed her notes.

If Dina has told him about staying late, she must have told him about everything or maybe not.

Unknown: You were at the lockers?

Unknown: Did something happen there?

The curiosity from his texts showed me that Dina hasn't told me anything yet and before I tell him anything, it is Dina's right to do so.

Me: Dina did you tell Tucker about the incident?

I have to ask her first.

Dina: No.

Me: Did he know we stayed late?

Dina: Of course.

Dina: Why, did he say something?

Me: No, was just asking.

That's why Tucker kept asking me, he must have felt something from Dina's behavior.

Me: Nothing, nothing happened.

I replied to Tucker and waited for his response.

Unknown: are you sure?

Me: Yup.

Well, he didn't reply after that and the night went by peacefully.

...............................

"How did by babe did on the test?" We were sitting in the Cafe when Tucker joined us. He was all lovey-dovey to Dina, who was a little distant from him.

"Okay, Elle did awesomely." She smiled at me.

"She always does, what's new." Tucker too smiled, but I snubbed him. Watching him smiling and seeing in my eyes has always made me feel for him more and more but now it was simply inappropriate.

"Any plans for tonight?" Tucker whispered in her ear and wrapped his arm around her. I was sitting across the table, watching them from the corner of my eyes very uncomfortably.

"No," Dina replied with hesitation and removed his hand off her shoulder. She was doing it for me and it was getting to me intensely, making me guilty. She has all the right to enjoy her relationship with Tucker, she shouldn't be concerned about how I will be feeling.

"Then we meet tonight?" he proceeded to whisper in her ear, holding her hand in his, he made her giggle.

"I will text you," she replied and eyed him to behave, which he resolved by rolling his eyes. He was looking extremely cute, but all his cuteness was for Dina and Dina only.

"I should go home now." I smiled at them to make them not conscious about me leaving abruptly. I was not envious at all. Dina quickly stared at my face and slightly pushed Tucker away. I was the guilty one here, I was smashing things for her.

"I will come with you." Dina tried to get up, but Tucker pulled her back with him.

"Oh no, I will just walk home, I need to do some work out anyway." I faked a laugh, nobody laughed. I have never traveled home alone and Dina knew that.

"No, I will drop you, Elle." She set her hand free and begin to get up again.

"Ivory is outside with Mr. Ben, they are dropping her don't worry. Tucker lied, winking at me to concur with him. He truly needed that time with Dina, I judge he wasn't into third-wheeling.

"Oh yeah, look she has to text me. I will go now, they are waiting." I alleged to look at my phone and waved my hand at Dina, who had no clue what just took place. Fleeing the cafe, I initiate walking on the road all alone by myself. When I was with them, I just had no fear of going home alone, but at present that I hit the road, I was scared as hell. The weather has been acting weird too, every day after 2 pm the storm will set in.

Crossing my hands on my chest, I kept pacing slowly with my head down. Am I useless or it's only the way I have made others believe? Maybe it is my fault and maybe not and maybe there are three guys in black leather jackets, changing the tire of their Black jeep wrangler. As they occurred a little close, I stopped and gasped. No way I just walked into my dead-end, I recognized them as Steven Lock, Sid, and one other guy from the orphanage gang.

It was a narrow road with a bus stop on both sides, this town has its own rules and due to two ruling parties as we, the locals and the orphans, everything was kind of designed in two, to separate us.

Sid, who was standing by Steven's side, who was changing the tire, murmured something as soon as his eyes fall on me. The unrecognized one, peeped out from behind Sid to look at me. He must have said something in a phrase like this girl set me up. Sid made tight fists of his hands, his wrath could be felt from afar, Steven stopped working and tilted his head, his gorgeous blue eyes stared dead at me for a moment. The recollection of him walking out of the classroom after Monica ran in front of my eyes.

It was at this moment that I determined to make a run for home. I can't stand there and let them torture me, which was pretty much evident from Sid's face. Remember when I said the weather was acting weird? Well, it started hailing. Not just any hailing I am talking about the oversized ones. I ran inside the bench stop to prevent my head from getting hurt and the three of them took shelter in the one across the road, wow. Just when I thought, I could live on, there you go.