Ayanna Quintan

Chapter seventeen

When I spotted Tobias in the corridor the next morning, I didn't know whether to run away from him or towards him and demand some answers. 

I had been given very few clues as to what was happening around me but it was obvious who the players of the game were. 

The curious and stubborn side of me wanted to know all the answers. I wanted to know why each groups hated each other, I wanted to know what criminal things they did and how their world was so different to the one I was living in. 

However, the reasonable side of me wanted to forget everything and stay away just like Ambrose and Azande told me. Although that was difficult when Tobias seemed so enticing. 

I didn't know whether Azande was being over dramatic yesterday when he told me I could end up dead but either way, his words did scare me. 

They must've been in some real deep s**t. 

"Don't think too much, that's dangerous for you're pea sized brain" 

Tobias brought me out of my thoughts. Good start to the whole staying away thing. 

"Go shower in another milkshake" I retorted 

"Oh don't remind me. I think you need better friends" 

oh the irony 

"Actually about that, can we talk later?" 

"Is talking all you want to do?" 

I ignored his attempt at making the conversation s****l and rolled my eyes. 

"Can't you be serious for a moment?" 

"I can be anything you want me to be" he winked 

"That's a no then" 

I attempted to step past him when he stopped me in my tracks. 

"Fine, okay. We'll talk at lunch... Sound good to you?" 

"Yeah" I nodded 

He allowed me to walk past him this time so I made my way to class. 

I just hope my babysitter won't ruin my chances at possibly getting some answers.

***

The bell echoed through the school which concluded my math's lesson and indicated the start of lunch. Guess it's time to talk to Tobias. 

"Boo!" 

I jumped backwards and into the student that was behind me. I quickly muttered a sorry in embarrassment and then turned back to my soon to be murder victim. 

"You i***t!" 

Tobias was laughing at the fright he had just given me. I didn't find it all that funny. 

"I didn't expect you to be so over dramatic" 

"well you clearly don't know me very well" 

"and I hope to change that" 

I pretended that his words didn't effect me and I turned my head away in hopes he wouldn't see me blush. His ego was already big enough. 

I began walking to the schools running track since I knew that we could talk privately there. I kept checking over my shoulder looking for Azande. 

I really didn't want him to catch me because who knows what would happen.

I was satisfied with my level of stealth once we reached the track and I hadn't spotted Azande once. Tobias followed me over to the stands where we could sit down, I didn't exactly want to do more walking then I had to. 

"you know people come out here to make out right?" 

"Believe me that will never be the case"

"hmm we'll see" 

"In you're dreams Reid" 

"Every night sweetheart" 

I shuck my head since I didn't have a come back and looked towards the lone runner on the track.

How can someone actually choose to run? 

"What's going on Tobias?"

"What do you mean?" 

I looked back at him and his face was blank.

"What's going on between my brother and you? I want to know what everyone is keeping from me"

"What do you already know?" 

"Absolutely nothing except that its clear you and Ambrose hate each other"

He looked down towards his hands before casting his eyes towards the running track.

"and Ambrose doesn't want you to know anything I'm guessing?"

I shuck my head no in response 

"No surprise there" he scoffed 

"Why's that?" 

"You know when you're a kid and you do something that's not seen as acceptable so you try you're best to keep what you did hidden from you're parents or friends? You don't want anybody to know because you fear they'll judge you or see you differently or perhaps even leave you" 

I nodded along waiting for him to finish. I wasn't completely sure where he was going with the story. 

"Well that's exactly why Ambrose won't tell you anything, he knows you'll never see him the same when you find out exactly what he does" 

"What does he do?" 

I found myself praying that what ever business my brother was involved in wasn't truly as bad as everyone was making out. Although the more I listened to everyone, the more I realized I really didn't know the people around me at all. 

"For you're sake and you're sake only, I'm not going to be the one to tell you" 

"Then can you at least tell me how you're involved?"

He shuck his head before looking back at me. Why won't anyone just fill me in? 

"Are you as bad as they all tell me you are?" 

His hand slowly rose to my face and tucked a small piece of hair back behind my ear. Then he rested his hand on my cheek and slowly tickled my skin with his thumb. 

"I think the question you should be asking is whether Ambrose is any better than me"