Escape my ruthless past.

Chapter Five

"We need to celebrate," she squealed. "You have to come to the party on Friday."

"Umm yeah, maybe , parties aren't really my thing," I say

She looked at me like I had just committed a crime. "What do you mean parties aren't your thing? This is a huge deal! You're going to be a part of the school's track team! You have to celebrate with us!" She was bouncing up and down in her seat, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I shrugged, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. "I don't know, I'm just not really into loud music and crowds, I guess."

She pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a mock sulk. "Fine, be that way. But you're missing out on an epic night. We're going to have a DJ, and there will be tons of food and drinks... and did I mention that Jax and the others are going to be there?" She raised an eyebrow, a sly grin spreading across her face.

I felt my cheeks heat up at the mention of Jax's name. Okay, so maybe I wasn't as immune to the party scene as I thought. "Umm, yeah, I guess I could come," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

She squealed again, this time jumping up and throwing her arms around me. "Yes! I'll pick you up at 7 on Friday! We're going to have the best night ever!"

"I'll meet you at yours, and we'll go from there if that's okay?" I asked, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of spending more time with Rose.

"Ahhh, whatever you want," Rose replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm just so excited!"

We made our way to the hallway, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of students rushing to their lockers. As we walked, I noticed Rose's gaze drift towards a group of three boys standing near their lockers.

"Jax, Brett, Miles," Rose said, almost to herself. I realized then that these must be the names of the triplets.

"Hey, Rose!" one of them called out, waving at her. The other two turned to look at us, their eyes scanning me up and down. I felt a pang of nerves in my stomach, unsure of how to act around them.

But before I could worry too much, Rose took my hand and led me away from the triplets, her grip firm and reassuring. "Let's go," she said, her eyes focused on the exit. "I can't wait to show you around."

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Rose's presence. She had a way of making me feel comfortable and confident, even in the most nerve-wracking situations.

Classes always seemed to fly by faster than I would have liked, and before I knew it, it was already lunchtime. I had been looking forward to this part of the day all morning, as it was a chance to relax and recharge before diving back into my studies. I grabbed my lunch and made my way to our usual spot in the cafeteria, where I found Rose already seated and waiting for me.

As I sat down across from her, I could see the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eye. It was always nice to have a friend like Rose, who could make even the most ordinary day feel special. We started chatting about our classes and the latest gossip around school, when suddenly a few more people joined our table.

First, there was Jules, a girl with long, curly hair and a bright, bubbly personality. She greeted us warmly and took a seat next to Rose, immediately engaging in the conversation. Then, there were Mike and Jasper, two boys from my math class who I had always thought were pretty cool. They were both tall and athletic, with friendly smiles and easygoing attitudes.

Rose must have mentioned something to them about my face because I caught them stealing glances my way but not asking any questions. I was grateful for their discretion, as I didn't always feel like explaining my situation to new people. Instead, we all chatted and laughed together, enjoying the break in our day and the company of good friends.

Eventually, I excused myself to use the bathroom, but not before thanking Rose and the others for making me feel so welcome.

As I made my way down the corridor, I decided to head to the ladies' room. I washed my hands and then splashed some water on my face, trying to freshen up. I had been feeling a little off all day, and the cool water provided some much-needed relief.

Feeling refreshed, I walked out of the bathroom and was taken aback when I was suddenly slammed against a locker. I looked up to see one of the triplet boys, his deep-set eyes staring down at me with an angry expression. My heart began to race as I tried to process what was happening.

"What happened to your face?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing. I could have sworn I heard a growl in his voice, but that must have been my imagination. I tried to push past him, but he held me back.

"Who hurt you?" he asked, his grip tightening around my arm.

"I hit my face on my bedside cabinet, if you must know," I said sharply, trying to pull myself out of his grasp. I didn't understand why this stranger was so interested in my well-being.

"Don't lie to me," he said, his voice filled with anger.

"Why would I lie, I don't even know you," I said, finally managing to slip out of his grip. I started to run back towards the cafeteria, my heart pounding in my chest.

What had just happened? I couldn't believe the audacity of this stranger, and I couldn't understand why he seemed so angry and suspicious. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to get back to the safety of the cafeteria and put this strange encounter behind me.

As I burst back into the cafeteria, I was relieved to see Rose and the others chatting and laughing, oblivious to the bizarre encounter I'd just had. I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling myself it was just a weird misunderstanding.

But as I approached the table, I noticed the triplet boy sitting with them, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he raised his cup in a silent toast, a smirk playing on his lips.

Rose, sensing my tension, turned to me with a concerned expression. "Hey, is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I forced a smile, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little... clumsy, I guess."