Troubled

TWENTY THREE

CORA PHILIPS

Nothing could change Xander's mind. I tried to give him any possible excuse as to why we couldn't sit together alone in his house to watch a piano recital. I have all the possible excuse in the book, except from the truth. I couldn't be with him in an enclosed space alone when there was a possibility one of the disasters was going to show up. I couldn't afford to do that to the only person that I can call a friend in school.

"Don't worry, nothing is going to happen if that's what you're worried about." He fiddled with his fingers.

I tilt my head , the boy was cute. He was thinking with his man brain while I worried for his life.

"I promise to be on my best behavior. I'm a good boy, I will keep my hands and eyes to myself." He promised again.

I chuckle inwardly, if that didn't convince me, I doubt anything else could.

"Okay fine, make sure to buy popcorn and drinks."

He lit up like a Christmas tree. Even more than he did when he took me to the piano room, to show me something he just learned. Honestly it was really good, better than what I was expecting. So good that I didn't mind skipping lunch to listen to it.

"We have to go get the snacks and popcorn before we go home." He informs me.

I nod as we walked towards where he parked his car. It was a pretty red car, if I knew so much about cars I would have described it, but the only thing I knew about this one was, it was sleek. And red.

I think of sending my mom a text, to tell her that I would be home late. But I figured she wouldn't even care so I drop it.

"Where are you guys going?" I heard a familiar voice say.

I spin on my heels to face him, oh the nerve of the boy to show his face around me.

"Get lost." I hoped he would get the message, but it was too much of a hope for the boy. He only beamed at me.

"Is it home? To get food? Somewhere important?"

Then he gasps dramatically with his palm on his mouth.

"To make out?" His voice dropped to a staged whisper.

I saw red.

"To plot your murder." Not the best choice of words for someone that could actually kill him, but God, the boy got on all of my nerves.

Xander was frozen beside me. He was a typical high school student that worshipped another set of high students because they were popular, I guess he froze because he didn't ever expect his great Kyle dickface to stand in front of him.

I roll my eyes.

"Xander let us go." I say hoping to shake him out of his reverie. But the guy only seemed more rooted to his spot. I want to rip his hair out. My violent thoughts needs to be curbed.

"So you're the Xander. Cool name."

I snort before I could stop myself. He used the predictable jerk move, pretend to hear of him. I was the only one who called him Xander.

But Xander didn't even think of it, he only beamed like he worn the lottery.

"Yes that's me, we were heading home actually. Not to make out or anything of that sort." He blushed.

Kyle smiled brightly at him, like they have been friends all these while.

"Can I come with?"

Xander looked like he saw God.

"No."

"Yes."

Kyle clapped his hands.

"Good, let's go."

"Then I'm not going, you can take Kyle to the actual recital." I say gritting my teeth.

The boy could just stay out of my way, life, existence and just be on his own. But he chose to butt into my life. He irritated me like crazy.

"Huh? What? No!" Xander protests.

I shove my hands into the hoodie pocket. Before I used them to strangle Kyle.

"You can't have the both of us, it's either me, or him." I say. Very childish I know, but do I even care? Nop. I couldn't stay in the same building as Kyle and guarantee his safety. Without the help of the disasters.

"You would do that to a friend? Cora that is just vile. Why would you ask your friend to pick between you and someone else?" Kyle fixed a false appalled look on his face.

I eyed him from under my hoodie.

"Yeah Cora, let him come too. The more the merrier right?"

I blink at Xander. I knew he loved being controlled by his hormones and wants to become a high school popular kid but what the hell?

"I don't do well with crowds remember? And three is a crowd."

Xander pouted at me. I nearly squeezed his mouth.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to steal your only friend."

He hit a nerve. Xander wasn't my only friend. Even if he was, what made him think he could say that?

"Fine, you can come with." I say while getting into the front passenger seat.

Xander came into the drivers side while beaming like it was his birthday.

"Is this a Hyundai sonata?" Kyle asked as he poked his head between Xander and I.

Xander bobbed his head up and down like he was expecting a praise.

"Sick. I been wanting one of these, but I haven't gotten the time to go the showcase recently."

I snort. What a show off, I saw his car, it was better than this one. He just wanted to show off. f*****g egoistical dickhead.

"So, what are we doing today?"

"Well, we are seeing a recital, and we will be getting snacks along the way."

"Can I pay for the snacks? The least I can do after intruding on your thing."

Xander looked like he would explode from his excitement. He didn't look that excited when I said I was going to come. Who was his friend, Kyle or me?

"Are we going to Cora's house?"

"Why? You want to peep through my underwear?" I asked snarkily.

He only chuckled.

"You know me so well."

"You guys seem close." Xander commented as he looked between us.

"Eyes on the road, and no we aren't close. I don't even like him."

Kyle laughed out loud.

"You wound me Cora, I was thinking we were best friends."

"How do you two know each other?"

"Art class." I say quickly.

He couldn't know I go to therapy.

"Back of the school." Kyle said the same time I said Art class.

Our eyes meet in the review mirror. I guess he too didn't want people to know about attending therapy.

"What am I taking?"

"Mine. I saw her there, guess she didn't see me. But she started to pique my interest from then on."

"Pique is huge word, how do you know it?" I ask sarcastically.

He only responded with one of his boisterous laughter.

But what he said was stuck with me.

I had piqued his interest.