Red Jacket And A Can Of Soda

Chapter 3

"Are you guys dating?" Zach asked, surprised at his question I slightly choked on my bread roll before Sebastian hands me my water bottle and pat me on the back, "that came out of nowhere," I mumbled as I regain my breath back.

"Well are you?" Zach asked again, "no were not dating," I said putting my water bottle down on the table, "why would you think that?" I asked.

"Huh," Zach said looking at Sebastian, I raise an eyebrow at him for ignoring my question, "he's weird," I whispered to Sebastian and Zach quickly looks at me letting me know he heard, "he is, remember he's still in second year math," Sebastian said with a smirk looking at Zach.

Before Zach can say anything Alyssa, a sophomore who I tutor often in her freshman year, came on to our table, "hey Alyssa how have you been?" I asked, she looks at Zach before looking at me, a slight blush on her cheek, "can I continue on having tutoring lessons with you this school year?" She asked, "well," I said thinking about it, "of course I'll still pay you like before. Mom also wants me to continue having you as my tutor because she saw a great improvement in my grades last school year," she said.

I give her a smile, "I'm happy to hear that and of course I'd be happy to tutor you. And since both of you are here is it fine if I tutor you guys at the same time? You on second year math right Alyssa?" I said turning to her, she looks at Zach before nodding her head at me, covering half of her face with her book, "yes," she said I turn to Zach, "sure," he said giving Alyssa a smile before looking at me.

Alyssa then excuse herself leaving the three of us alone, "where do you usually have your tutor sessions?" Zach asked as I dig in to my chocolate cake, "if it's fine with you I usually tutor at my house," I said, "we can also move it to the library if your uncomfortable."

"Your house is fine," he said with a grin as he looks at Sebastian and wiggled his eyebrows, Sebastian then stands up and storms off. I frown slightly as I look at Sebastians retreating figure leave the cafeteria, "seriously he's acting so weird today," I mumbled as I grab my things and my cake, "tutor is on Thursday after class, I'll text you my address," I told Zach before going after Sebastian.

It took me a while, by a while I mean I finished my entire cake before I saw him on the parking lot, smoking a cigarette. Once he saw me coming he quickly throw the cigarette away, I throw my books at him one by one, "smoking? Seriously? I thought your way past that, what's the purpose of earning money at your part time job if your just gonna waste your money on cigarettes, huh?" I yelled at him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said as he stops me from throwing my bag at him, "it was just one stick," he said, I glare at him, "okay, okay, I promise to stop smoking," he said pulling a box out of his back pocket and throwing it on a nearby trash can, "see, gone."

I pick up my books and he helps me as well, "what's your problem? why are you smoking all of a sudden?" I asked as we head back in.

"It's nothing important," he said, "seriously, what's-"

"Why did Zach owe you lunch?"

"Nothing important," I said looking away from him, "then were even," he said, "I guess we are," I said as I opened my locker, "do you need a ride home later?" he asked.

"No need, dad will come pick me up later," I said, "oh where are you guys heading later?" he asked, "I'm not sure he didn't tell me," I said as I close my locker, "seriously though dad has been distant lately, I'm not ready for whatever may happen," I said rubbing my face. Sebastian grab hold of my hand, "hey I'm pretty sure it's nothing serious, if it were, uncle would have told you sooner than later," he said as he cup my face.

"I guess," I said, my voice muffled, "good, stop overthinking things, now, let's head to class."

The rest of the day was uneventful and passed by quickly, before I know it I'm sitting on the school steps, patiently waiting for dad.

"Hey," I turn to see Sebastian coming out of the school building, "waiting for uncle?" he asked, "yeah, you leaving for your part time job now?" I asked, he nods his head, "a coworker can't come today so I need to head in early."

"Okay, drive safely," I said waving at him, "make sure to text me when uncle arrives," he said waving back, I nod my head before I look down at my phone to see a message from dad saying he can't come since he has something urgent to do.

"Need a ride home?" I look up to see Zach, on a motorcycle, a very nice motorcycle, "whoa what a beauty," I said walking closer, "I know I'm beautiful, no need to say it out loud."

"I meant the motorcycle," I said, "how long since you've got her?" I asked, "a few months back, there's someone selling used motorcycle in the town, bought it from him a few months back," he said handing me a helmet.

I gladly put it on and got on his motorcycle, "hold on tight," he said grabbing my hand and wrapping it around his waist, I slap his hand away before putting my hand on top of his shoulder.

The drive home was short since he didn't hold back in speed, as I got off and hand him his helmet, he looks at my house with an odd look, "I swear I've been here before," he said. I look at my house and then back at him before chuckling.

"Maybe because my father sold you that bike."

Bonus *earlier in the parking lot*

Just as Sebastian got in his car he looked at Eloise to see Zach there with his motorcycle, they exchanged a few words and just as Zach offers Eloise his spare helmet, Sebastian got out of the car and walked closer to them but before he can reach them, he stopped in his track when Eloise accepted the helmet and got on the bike and soon left.

"I thought uncle was supposed to pick you up?" He mumbled as he watch them leave. Letting out a sigh, Sebastian got back in his car and drove off to work, not knowing what to feel, whether it was betrayal, anger or jealousy.

Meanwhile, right by the entrance of the school was Alyssa who saw the entire thing, "oh my gosh," she mumbled to herself as she just witnessed a love triangle right in front of her eyes.

"Hey can you believe that Zach is actually spending time with that lame chick?" Alyssa hid as a group of people came out of the school building, "even sat with her during lunch," another guy said, "but isn't the girl taken? The guy who always follow her around, what was his name again?"

"Sebastian?"

"Yeah Sebastian, wasn't he the boyfriend?"

"I guess not if Zach is making a move on her."