Broken

chapter 8

Ciara

"Are we gonna talk or something?" He asked while I was silently praying for Shanya to return soon so that I'll avoid a conversation with him.

"There's really nothing to talk about," I replied and started counting my fingers.

"It would melt," he said and my mind made it's way back to reality. How on earth would I ignore Ice cream? Silently, I started digging in.

"How was detention?" He asked

"Fine"

"Fine? You didn't go through some crazy s**t, come on, I know how those teachers are"

What part of fine is it that he does not understand?

"Not really"

It's been closely ten minutes since Shanya left for the bathroom.

"You sure?" He pesters

"Okay, I give up, let me be very truthful, it was hell, I hate maths as hell and the teacher made me solve so many questions, it took a miracle not to sing figures to Alex"

He laughed out loud, but this time it was more composed unlike his crazy laughter at school.

"Who's Alex?" He asks taking a spoonful of ice cream.

"My brother," I answered timidly, "and how's suspension going for you?" I asked avoiding personal questions from him.

"Normal, just like every other day, today is still the first," he replied like it was really normal, I wonder why he isn't bothered.

"Your mom's cool with it?" I found myself asking.

Shut up you dumb tongue!

"I don't think she's pleased, but who cares?"

'Who cares?' I wanted to ask but I decided against it.

"Why were you suspended?" I asked instead, resting my elbows on the table.

"It's crazy," he replied and shrugged.

"You don't wanna talk about it?" I asked again.

What wrong with me? I'm asking too many questions. If he answers I'll be forced to explain why I was in detention too and it would be a disaster.

"You don't need to answer that," I said again before he could say anything but he seems like he would like to talk about it, maybe because he would get to hear mine.

"No, it's no big deal, just some random s**t"

"Okay, I get it, no need for details"

"You sure?" He asked raising a brow.

"I think so," I replied before swallowing the content in my mouth.

"So, would you tell me why you were in detention, you were about to answer that before we got to the principal's office, remember?"

"Yeah, I can remember. It's just some random s**t too"

"Mr Seth can be annoying," he replied and laughed again and I joined him, I began to feel relaxed.

"I know I deserve suspension," he started. "I broke into the school on Saturday night to get my journal, I forgot it in my locker, but after retrieving it, I decided to take a look at Mr Seth's office, thinking he won't be there. When I got there, I found out that it wasn't locked as usual and w_"

"As usual?" I asked utterly surprised, "so, it's not your first time?" I asked again and continued with my ice cream.

He chuckled and replied "No, it's not my first time, but that's all I'll like to disclose concerning that part"

I nodded "what happened after you opened the door?"

"As I said earlier it wasn't locked, I decide to see what was going on, so, I peeped and I saw a mug on the table with Mr Seth's laptop beside it, I was excited to see it, do you know what it means to have the principal's laptop with you?" He asked and I nodded yes.

"You're good at narrating," I complimented and he smiled

"I'm flattered," he replied and we both laughed.

I can't believe that I was laughing, it feels like this is a different me seated here, having a conversation with the same guy who got me fired from my former place of work.

But he's not that bad.

Who says he's not that bad, he got me fired.

Argh.

Ignoring what was going on in my head, I said "seeing a mug and his laptop, you should have known that he was around"

"Exactly, but I thought that he was up to some shady stuff, I mean, why would someone like him be in the school around 11:00pm, you know how he's like, don't you?" He asked and I nodded again enjoying his narration.

"His grumpy nature, the way he always says that he wants to get out of there and go home to his family, so, I thought that he would definiely be up to some shady stuff, and on the other hand, I wanted to take a look at the school data and stuffs like that on his laptop, it felt good"

"I can imagine, but where was he? Didn't you see him around?" I asked and laughed.

"Calm down, I'm going there," he replied and I nodded. Now, we had both finished our ice creams and he had my full attention.

"He wasn't there, and I said to myself, this is my chance, I sneaked in successfully but just as I made my way to the laptop, my phone started ringing"

I didn't know when I started laughing again, this is so hilarious.

"Sounds like something that would happen in a movie," I said still laughing

"I know, it's crazy right?" He asked and I nodded. "Well, I tried to hang up and put my phone on silent and that's when I heard his voice"

"Did he see you?"

"No, he didn't, I felt relieved at the moment and I successfully sneaked out of the school and made it back home before anyone noticed that I was missing, it was when I got to my room that I realised it"

"Realised what?" I asked and raised a brow.

"That I left my journal in his office," he replied and I didn't realise when my eyes widened.

"Busted," I said and we both laughed.

"Somehow he found out and he told me to go back home this morning but I decided to stay a bit"

"Wow! It's crazy"

"I know it is. What about you? Why were you in detention?"

"It's embarrassing," I replied and bit my lower lip.

"C'mon, I just told you mine"

"I'm allergic to mango but I love it"

"Okay, is that it?" he said encouraging me to continue.

"I took my brother's mango flavoured chocolate and ate it at school"

"Oh!" He replied

"The female restroom was locked, so, I made use of the gents," I said and bit down on my lips again.

He twisted his lips "You have to stop doing that"

"Taking mango?"

"Yes and biting your lips"

"Oh!" I replied and bit it again unconsciously "sorry, habit"

He smiled.

"Mr Seth caught me leaving the restroom," I finished timidly. I'm sure that I look like tomatoes right now. Damn where's Shanya? I raised my head a little bit higher to try to scan the room for her.

No sign of Shanya.

I diverted my attention back to him and I noticed that he has been trying to hold his laughter.

"Sounds like we both had a hell of a day," he commented and I nodded in agreement.

"I think I'll go search for Shanya," I said.

"You can just text her," he said.

I sighed and brought my phone out, I texted and her and waited for ten minutes.

No response.

"I think I should go now, it's been about forty minutes since she left," I said and stood up.

"Okay, I'll be here," he replied and I turned back to go look for her.

"I think she's back," he called after me and I looked back.

Oh there she is.

I made my way back to sit while Shanya approached.

"Hey guys!" She beamed as soon as she got to us, she pulled a seat and sat.

"Where have you been?" I snapped as soon as she sat.

"Sorry I left you here, I ran into an old friend," she lied. I know for sure that she's lying, but I let it go for now, at least not when he's here.

"Your ice cream," I said pointing at her melted ice cream

"No worries, I'll take it home," She replied and waved it off. "Let's go," she said.

I looked at Salvatore who has become mute since she came. He caught me staring and winked while I rolled my eyes.

In two minutes, we were back in his truck, it's actually a very nice truck but I'll keep the compliment to myself.

We made it back to Shanya's in five minutes, I guess one of the advantages of living in places like this is no traffic.

"Thanks for the ride," Shanya said as soon as she alighted, I wanted to follow her but she pushed me back and mouthed stay.

"I'll drop you off," he offered, I wanted to protest but he had started moving and I had no option but to let him drive me home.

My house is not far from here, infact it's a 10 minutes walk from Shanya's but due to my bad directions we ended up getting there after twenty minutes.

"Thanks," I said as soon as he pulled over.

"It was cool having you around"

"Yeah," I replied and bit down on my lips while he sighed.

"You don't know my name do you?" He asked

I know your name of course. Your mom told me about you.

"Yeah! Maddie said it when you came"

"Oh! Okay, goodnight"

"Bye," I said as I alighted.

"Wait"

I looked back at him "uh?"

He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Err.. can I get your phone number?"

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