Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Me: Why do you care?

I was nettled, but for some reason, I found myself answering him back. I can't offend him; I can't be rude to him. The thought of his sweet little heart being ached because of my doings had crushed me multiple times before.

Unknown: You okay?

He repeated, why does he hurt me and then be sweet to me?

Me: I am not.

I answered and felt weak in my knees.

Unknown: Then be okay: p

That tongue emoji he sent me shocked me. He literally has talked sh** about me to Lauren and now he was jesting about it.

I didn't answer him back, there was nothing to answer about. I just posed in my bed and hollered for the rest of the night. There was only one person in my life, Lauren, who had loved and cared for me in this house and now I've lost her too. Losing her has also crushed my hopes of getting with Tucker.

No, I shouldn't be thinking about him now, he is dating my friend.

I woke up late and having a sick headache. I had very little time to get ready, not like I would take hours for it. All I had to do was to get a shower and slip into my regular jeans and a plain top. The lounge was silent and empty, they had their breakfast already. Lauren didn't wait for me that day either and had mucked out the breakfast. That really pained my heart. My eyes seemed to be coming out of their sockets In pain, they had bags under them.

I sat in the back with Ivory in the passenger seat as always and the car engine started.

It was the most awkward ride, I had a lot to ask and answer to Tucker, but I kept practicing the debate in my head and lacked the grit to talk to him. Ivory's presence was another reason that I couldn't do that.

The car halted in the school's parking and Ivory jumped off before us. I rushed to the out and waited for Tucker to leave the car. My blood pressure dropped as the anxiety kept rising. After he finished sending some texts on his phone, he jumped out of the car, determined to meet his friends and girlfriend, obviously, oblivious to my existence.

"Tuck, can I talk?" I voiced, getting his attention and making him finally turn around. He narrowed his eyes at me while he placed his one hand on the car to support his body. The disgusted look on his face was draining my confidence.

"What is it about?" He sounded pissed, I hated to encounter despise in his voice for me.

"About Aunt Lauren," I mumbled, and as rapidly as I stated her name, he shook his head and began walking away like he was done, he was not ready to discover anything from me.

"Tuck!" I shouted out his name again, I have to do it. He has mistaken everything Dina has said even after she confessed I had never bitched behind their backs. It hurt to see how little they knew of me, they were ready to assume worst for me, even when I endangered myself for him.

"What is it, Giselle?" He hastily turned around and raised his voice, the students passing by looked at us and ambled away. I awkwardly looked around and far away, it was Steven and his group standing with their bikes, "I don't wanna talk about it, do you ever get a hint or not?" he wailed with no mercy, I have never heard him this loud. I shakily stepped back and he hadn't even walked away when a tear rolled off my eyes. This was so embarrassing, he should have acknowledged we were standing among students and observed by The Orphans.

"Yeah, grab Dina's sympathy and make me look like a bad guy." His voice turned softer, he shook his hands in the air and slapped his forehead. It really was an awkward situation, I felt like I was being a clingy person and I was forcing a conversation.

"Go to your class." He sounded exhausted, didn't even spare me a glance, and zipped around the lockers, while I was left behind like trash, literally like trash.

"Having a bad morning already?" I heard Steven from afar as he approached me. I managed to hide my tears and pretended to look at my phone.

"I wonder who is texting you this time." he joked and waited for my response, but I knew he heard everything that happened here. I have managed to show him my strong side, acting like I was the queen bee and the girl with attitude, but he had just watched my weak side, my miserable self.

"It's okay, you know. My mom always shouts at me, and people do this for two reasons," he stated, I didn't lift my head at all. I can see his feet still at their spot in front of me, I wonder why he was being nice to me.

"A, because they are mad at you and B, because they are suckers." He giggled at his own joke, "come on, don't take things too seriously you fool." He mumbled and waited.

"Dude, you coming?" I finally lifted my head when I heard Sid calling after Steven, he was standing afar with his group, pissed and annoyed.

"You guys go I will join you later." he swirled his body slightly towards them and yelled. They glared at me and then strolled off.

"You don't have to piss your friends for me," I murmured, feeling comfortable. It was strange that Steven Lock, who would care less about others, was here for me. I can see the girls passing by literally glaring me to death, wondering why would he chose to talk to a girl like me. But I was not complaining, I would have not been able to lift my eyes had he not showed up to cheer me up.

"If they don't respect my choices, I don't think they are my friends." He declared and smiled sweetly. The ocean blue color of his eyes looked bright, he had the most beautiful features, he would always do a thing with his eyes that would draw anyone crazy.

"You wouldn't be hurt if a friend leaves you or starts hating you?" I asked, strange to find myself in a conversation other than Tucker, just a minute ago I thought I would die, but his presence changed it all on a positive note.

"If it's my mistake, yep, but if they are just being idiots then no, they are not even my friends." he shrugged his shoulders and smirked. I can't believe he was this nice to me, helping me out and even engaging in a conversation with me.

"Now if you don't mind shall we go inside? I'm used to being late, but I bet it's going to be your first time." He smiled and waited for me to walk ahead of him. I slowly began walking towards the school and felt him following me. He was maintaining his distance but making sure I calmly walk in my class.

"Why was Tucker yelling at you?" The two mean girls, who heard our conversation, commented as I walked past them. I hugged myself, my cheeks turning red of embarrassment, but kept my feet moving.

"If you pay more attention to yourself you would know overdrawing your lips ain't making you look cute." Steven, who knew I would never answer the girls because I care about my reputation, answered on my behalf. The girls gasped and a smile drew over my lips.

I entered my class and when turned around, I saw him finally walking away.

"Hey, is it true?" Dina bent ahead and whispered in my ear. I swirled around and saw Sid looking at us with his eyebrow raised.

"Is what true?" I asked,

"Lock was talking to you, everyone was talking about it." She said and then the teacher interrupted us. In the break time, when we were heading in the direction of our partners, Dina brought the topic back to life.

"Tell me what was it?" Dina kept asking me, I saw Tucker perched down with Sid and Steven waiting for me in the garden under the big tree.

"It was nothing; we were just talking about the event." I lied, why, I don't know, but I didn't want Tucker to think I was talking to other guys.

"Oh okay." She answered and left. I walked up to him and perched on the bench with him.

"Thanks for what you did in the morning for me." I complimented and drowned my head in the file where we were keeping the ideas. We have decided to take the responsibility of music arrangement which was Steven's idea as the music doesn't really interest me, the only thing that interests me was Tucker.

"I did nothing, I was bored and needed a company." He shrugged his shoulders and began searching for songs on his phone. At this point, I knew he lied, he just wanted me to feel confident like I was with him before.

We did do some work together and then went back to our classes.

"Where is Dina?" The teacher asked as he saw her place empty. She is usually the one who never misses school and the fact that she was present in the morning before the break, was confusing. I swirled my back and yep, she was gone. Now that she was gone, I can see Sid's eyes narrowed at me. I quickly looked straight and gulped.

"Sir, can I go and check on her?" I asked the teacher and he shook his head.

"No need, she is not a kid who doesn't know when the class starts and when it ends." The teacher replied with disappointment. What if something had happened? How can he not let anyone go after her?

"You are right. She was with her boyfriend, holding hands and stuff." Sid muttered and his words infuriated the teacher even more. I can't believe he was so insolent and rude. During this whole time, I can't stop thinking about Dina, I was worried.

Soon the school was over and I didn't wait to find her. I stormed off the classroom and ran towards the lockers, if she was with Tucker then they had to be in the lockers. I stopped running and walked instead, I didn't want to walk on them while they were on each other. From afar, I can see Dina perched on the floor, curled up and hugging herself.

"Dina?" I ran and my heart skipped a beat as she raised her face. "Dina, what happened?" I inquired, she had been crying for hours I can tell. Her body was shivering and her eyes swollen.

"Dina?" I sat with her and hugged her instantly. "You okay?" I asked I was hesitant that someone will see her like that. "the orphans did something?" I asked and she shook her head.

"I just wanna go home." She uttered, sniffling, and clearing the tears off her cheeks. She got up and was about to trip when I held her again.

"Giselle?" I heard a voice and we both jumped in terror, I hope it's not someone who would spread rumors later, and what I see was Steven. Why the hell was he here? If the Orphans see this, our reputation is dead.

"Why are you here?" I muttered and glared at his face angrily while he was scanning Dina behind me.

"What happened there?" he gestured at her with his eyes, Dina turned around and didn't look at us. She was hiding her eyes from us, and honestly speaking, even I have no idea what had happened.

"None of your business." I slammed him and turned my attention back to Dina. "let's go." I asked her, holding her hand, but had taken two steps when Steven came in the way.

"Do you think it's a good idea? Everyone is outside and literally bored of the boring day it was, they will be waiting for an entertainment.?" He mumbled, bending forward and using his gestures too.

"Oh, God!" Dina hugged herself and began sobbing loudly, her clothes were a little torn apart and that was concerning me to another level.

"Here," Steven took off his jacket and handed it to me, I wrapped it around Dina. "I can take you home on my bike if that's okay," he mumbled, raising his brow.

"Like she is safe with you?" I rolled my eyes and turned around, but Dina grabbed my hand.

"I trust him." She whispered, completely shocking me and walking towards Steven, who straightened his posture.

"Is there a back door, I don't want anyone to see me like this." She asked him and he nodded. She was much calmer than before.

"You go back home, I will make sure she safely reaches her place." He mumbled, not even looking at me, and walked ahead of Dina who followed him blindly. I was left behind in a state of shock and surprise. I remember her talking bad about the Orphans, it was confusing that she trusted and thought she would be safe with him.

She must be tripping; how can she forget what he has done to Monica? What if he tries something on her, I know he wouldn't try anything on me as I was the least attractive of them all, but Dina, Dina was sexy and beautiful. I was scared, we should have asked Tucker for help. Dammit, why didn't she call Tucker? And how come I did it never occur to me to inform Tuck?

There must be something terrible that she didn't want Tucker to know. I exit the lockers and marched towards the parking only to know Tucker's car wasn't there. I looked around and didn't find Ivory as well.

"He and his sister left," It was Sid, leaning against his car and smirking in pride. Why? Isn't it irresponsible of him to leave me behind? The amount of ignorance, he has always shown when it came to my safety was enough to open my eyes, but it didn't. I looked away and began walking home. Why did he leave me behind, I get it that he was mad at me, but how can he act so irresponsible?

I walked and walked but I felt as If I wasn't alone. Turning around, I realized I was right. Sid and the other friend of his named Kyle was following me. I looked straight and paced faster, but they did the same. They were silently coming after me and my feet has started to give up. I can hear my heartbeat in my head, I wished Steven was there.

I shook my head at my silly thoughts and kept walking briskly. Why would I want no one else, but Steven here? It was strange how my subconscious thought of him and no one else.