Silent Love

4. Smirks

Since Monday, Claire had been annoying me with notes, pokes, talking and don't forget the smirking. Top of the list, was smirking.

If she saw me in class, she smirked, if she saw me in the cafeteria, she smirked. She even smirked at me when I was in the girls' bathroom.

She and her friend also kept asking me to sit with them at lunch and I kept declining as in walking away from them. But I had to admit, Claire was really persistent.

She didn't know when to give up.

It's Thursday today and Jordon hadn't bullied me yet. It's quite shocking. I skipped school for two days because aunt Carrie wasn't allowing me to go to school with huge bruises on my body that hurt like hell.

I sighed knowing that I would get a good beating after school again.

"Why are you sighing so much?" A voice woke me out of my thoughts.

I turned to look behind me and there sat the one and only Claire Brown. She had a smirk on her face as usual.

I turned back forward. It was fourth period with Ms. Evans who taught English.

'More like gibberish.'

Ms. Evans was a great teacher but she's old and she couldn't talk right. I always got good grades in her class so I just slept through her class.

I was about to put my head on my arms when I was poked from behind. I looked back and saw Claire giving me an innocent look and then pointing to her friend who sat beside her.

Her friend opened her eyes wide and hit Claire's shoulders to which Claire just pouted. Her friend again turned to me and said sorry with blushing red cheeks.

I felt like I knew this girl from somewhere. I just couldn't remember from when.

I kept staring at the girl who began fidgeting in her seat. She had her eyes on her desk with a blush still lingering on her face.

"I think you have found a liking for Allison." Claire said out of nowhere again breaking my train of thoughts.

I turned my gaze towards Claire and took notice to the name she had just said.

'Allison.'

I've heard that name before. But where? Or the better question being when?

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

I made my way towards the outdoor lunch table. It was better than the cafeteria. Peace and quiet. Only a few students ate outside the cafeteria and one of them was me.

I had bought a simple chicken sandwich and a juice box. Still deep in thought I took a seat and started eating my sandwich slowly.

I was trying to remember Allison but I came up short. I didn't know why I was focusing so much on this Allison.

"Thanks for saving us some seats."

I looked up and to my surprise saw Claire with the rest of her friends. Allison was with her and the other two guys too.

Claire sat down beside me followed by Allison on my other side. The two guys sat across from us. I didn't have any idea as to what was happening. But I guess I wasn't the only one. Claire's other friends were also clueless as to why they were here.

"So how was P.E, Josh?" Claire broke the silence. Awkwardness was dripping from the atmosphere around us. Josh laughed awkwardly and glanced at me. I think that was the signal for me to get up and leave.

Just as I was about to get up, a hand shoved me back down on the seat. I looked beside me to see Claire smirking at me.

'What the hell is wrong with her?'

"Uh, uh, uh. You're not going anywhere now." She stated with an evil smirk. Why can't she just stop smirking?

'What does she mean that I can't go anywhere? Its a free country.'

"We are gonna bond today, right, Ally?" Claire said and then looked towards Allison who faintly nodded.

'Yeah right. Bonding.'

I tried to get up once again but Claire shoved me back down. I glared at her the last time and began eating my sandwich again.

"So, what's the big deal with you and Jordon?" Claire asked me while eating her salad.

I was shocked by the question but I didn't answer. She had her eyebrow raised and I knew she was signaling me to speak.

A cough interrupted her questioning stare. I looked across the table and it was the guy beside josh.

He had spiky hair and looked like a typical bad boy type, with a piercing on his lip and a tattoo on his shoulder that could be seen clearly because of his tank top. He wasn't buff but he wasn't skinny either.

He coughed again and smirked at me.

'Why the hell does everyone smirk at me?'

Maybe it's because of you checking him out and he caught you.

'Oh please. I don't even like guys.'

"What, Clayton?" Claire asked the bad boy with attitude.

"She's not gonna answer you. She stopped talking during middle school. Now she's just simply on mute, like a television, get it. Cause, it's a feature on televisions." Clayton laughed at his own joke while everyone on the table was glaring at him. I was cursing at myself on the inside for not having an answer for his stupid joke.

"That was not funny, Clay." Josh lightly mumbled next to him.

"You guys just have a bad sense of humor." Clayton huffed and left the table. No one seemed to be going after him, so I guess he did that a lot.

"Don't mind what he said, he's just being mean but he's actually a marshmallow from the inside." Claire clarified.

I felt unfazed from her clarification. I didn't care if he's rude or nice. It's not like I wanted him as a friend. I already knew what friends did. Kyle was the best example for that.

"Well, there's this party tonight and we think that you should come." Allison spoke up for the first time since she sat beside me.

"Yeah, you should totally come." Claire backed up Allison's invitation.

"It's at my house if you're wondering where it is. We won't have a lot of people there and there will be light drinks, not much alcohol." Josh piped in as well.

'Yeah, thanks but no thanks.'

"So, are you gonna come?" Claire asked me excited.

'No.'

"At least shake your head for a yes or a no." Claire whined.

'Nope.'

She crossed her hands and puffed her cheeks. She looked like a six-year-old girl who didn't get a Barbie for Christmas.

But I have to admit, she does look cute.

What are you thinking? She is not cute. She is evil. Pure evil. Stay away from her.

I picked up the empty juice box and plastic wrapper, and stood up. This time Claire didn't push me back on the seat. I looked at the three, all three of them where making a pouty face with big eyes. I was trying hard to look away but couldn't. Allison and Claire were looking just so cute.

Resist it, Hayden. Resist it.

I sighed and nodded. The moment I turned around to go back inside the building, I heard Claire say a quiet 'thanks.'

What have you gotten into?

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

"I heard you got invited to a party." Aunt Carrie said from across the table. I looked up at her with wide eyes.

'How did she know I got invited to a party?'

I squinted my eyes at her as to ask how did she know that. She grinned.

She kept eating silently and here I was still looking at her with squinted eyes. She was getting uncomfortable and I knew she would spill any moment now.

"Okay, okay. A friend of yours came to the house when you were in your room. She said to remind you of the party tonight. And I did." Aunt Claire cracked. Staring always makes people uncomfortable.

'A friend.'

She said 'she' that means it can only be one person. And I know who that might be.

Claire.

But how did she know where my house is. Is she stalking me now?

I got up from the dining table. I need to go to that stupid party or else that girl would come and get me since she knows where my house is now.

I sighed and rubbed my face. I'm getting frustrated because of her.

"Are you going to the party?" Aunt Carrie asked with excitement.

I nodded discretely which ended up with me being on the floor. Aunt Carrie was on top of me hugging me to death.

"Oh, I'm so, so, excited." She said like she was the one going to the stupid party.

"You can stay late if you want too. You don't have classes on Fridays so you can drink as well. And I'm serious, don't come home early." She said after getting off of me.

I got up and went to my room, to get ready.

I got a simple black T-shirt with a pair of black jeans and my black Vans. I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth.

I changed into the clothes I picked out and then got my wallet and aunt Carrie's car keys.

Getting in the car I sighed knowing I had to face the smirking queen and her friends.

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

I thought parties had loud music that could be heard from the corner of the street, but here I was trying hard to find the stupid house.

Claire had texted me earlier, the house address. And I kept wondering about how she got my cellphone number as well.

I parked my car in front of a house and sighed. I've been sighing a lot lately.

I tapped the steering wheel wondering what to do. I can't find Josh's house and if I go back home aunt Carrie would be mad. I should just spend the whole night in this car.

I rested my head on the steering wheel. Might as well just go to sleep.

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

"Hayden. Hayden, where are you?" A little Kyle was finding his friend but came up short.

Kyle's father had thrown a birthday party for Kyle and Hayden and her parents were also invited. While the grown ups were busy with their conversations, Kyle and Hayden were playing hide and seek with their little friends.

All the kids had been found but Hayden was the only one that couldn't be found.

"Hayden. Come out come out where ever you are." Kyle called out for her friend again.

Hayden was giggling like crazy behind her father's chair. Her dad had known she was behind his chair but decided not to spoil the fun.

After a whole five minutes of everyone searching for Hayden, all the kids ran up to the grown-ups.

"Dad, we can't find Hayden." Kyle complained while stomping his feet on the ground.

Mr. O'Connor smiled at his son and looked at Mr. White. Mrs. White and Mrs. O'Connor both knew that their husbands were talking through their eyes and it wasn't good.

After a while of aimless staring, Mr. White stretched his hand towards the back of his chair, trying to grab his daughter but he only got air.

He turned around and found that Hayden was no longer behind his chair. He looked towards Mr. O'Connor and then at his wife.

"Hayden was here just a minute ago." Mr. White said with worry.

Mr. O'Connor was the first to get up on his feet and start looking for the little girl. Mr. White and all the other grown ups stood up to look for Hayden as well.

The birthday party was at a park near Mr. O'Connor's house, and it was quite big. Everyone was looking for Hayden by now even the little kids.

Kyle was the only one who was looking for Hayden whilst crying. He kept calling Hayden's name but got no answer.

Tired, all the grown ups got back to the picnic tables to see if Hayden would be there.

Hayden was there, sitting cross legged on the grass eating a sandwich. Mr. And Mrs. White were the first ones to go to Hayden.

"Where were you Hayden? We were looking everywhere for you." Mrs. White said while hugging the little girl.

"I got tired from hiding so I went to drink some water from the water fountain. And when I came back you weren't here." Hayden innocently replied.

Mrs. White let go of the girl and everyone sighed with relief and went back to their conversations.

Mr. And Mrs. White held Hayden's hands and knelt to her height.

"Don't ever scare us like that, okay?" Mr. White said.

"But you were the ones that weren't here when I got back." Hayden said.

"I should say that to you. I was scared when I saw that you weren't here but then I felt hungry." Hayden continued.

Her parents laughed at their daughter then said.

"We will never leave you, okay? So, don't get scared again."Mr. White said and then kissed his daughter on the forehead.

Hayden nodded and then looked behind her parents to see kyle fidgeting.

Mrs. White called kyle towards her. Kyle came and stood silently next to her while looking at the grass.

"Kyle was so worried for you Hayden." Mrs. White said to her daughter.

Hayden looked at Kyle and saw that he had tear stains on his cheeks and still some unshed tears in his eyes.

She wiped away the tears that fell from his eyes and kissed his cheek.

"Kyle shouldn't be worried, I'll always be by your side." Hayden held Kyle's hand and Kyle looked up at her.

Hayden was showing her toothy grin which she had shown the first day they met. Kyle smiled back at her.

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

Knock. Knock. Knock.

'What?'

My eyes were stinging and someone was knocking on my car window. I wiped my eyes and rolled the window down.

"Are you gonna come in or not?" The all too familiar voice said with a smirk on her face.

I looked at her beautiful face and sighed.

She stepped back from the car door as if knowing that I was about to open it.

I opened the car door and got out. She was still smirking at me. I looked at her clothes and saw that she was wearing a red dress that reached mid-thigh. She had her hair straightened and I don't think that she was wearing any make up.

A cough interrupted me from my thoughts. I looked up at her to see that she held a gentle smile now.

'Okay? She never smiles like that.'

She grabbed my hand and lead me to Josh's house, which was the one at which I parked my car.

Great. Party time.

The marks humans leave, are too often scars.

- the fault in our stars.