He's Back

Chapter 2

It was finally lunch break after three torturous periods.

"So. . . You couldn't sleep last night because there was a party going on at his house, then he agreed to keep it low if you helped him cheat, right?" Chaol, our friend from grade 1 asks me with a hint of amusement in his voice. I nod, so he continues, "But sweetheart, you didn't help him! So he took revenge!"

At this, the whole table shook from laughter.

I shoot them all a glare before going back to eating my sandwich.

I have 3 girl best friends, and 3 boy, so our group consists of 7 people, all who sometimes go crazy and laugh for no solid reason. I don't mind, as long as they don't do the regular teenage stuff.

"No, but seriously. You should've helped him, Myra," Selena suggests, playing with the ends of her chocolate brown hair. Selena's step sister Hope, agreed with her. And then everyone was humming in response.

I raise my hands in a surrendering gesture, and say, "Okay okay relax, guys. Besides he didn't even ask during the exam-"

"Is that him?" Grace squeals in excitement, pointing her plastic fork over my shoulder. Her dark blue eyes go wide open.

Chaol slaps her hand while Sam chuckles. "Don't point out, Gracey!" Sam chuckles again, and she rolls her eyes.

I look over my shoulder, and watch as he sits down with the baseball team, shaking hands and doing that bro hug thing.

"Yeah, Mr. Smirky," I reply with a tired groan.

"Doesn't he remind you of Xavier?" Hope asks, staring at his table with confused eyes.

"Xavier Parker?" A best friend I used to have nine years ago. Who left me without even saying goodbye and never called, not that I had a phone when I was 8, but his parents could have called. I don't even remember him that well.

I scoff. "Obviously that's not him, why would he be back anyway?"

She shrugs, and then smirks. "Maybe he's back for revenge."

"You saw him when he was a kid, Hope. Either you knew him too well to figure out what he'd turned into, or you're just being crazy."

Chaol leans forward. "His name is Danial Paul, ladies. Stop changing him into that ugly boy Xavier who used to smell like mangoes."

Everyone cracked up once again.

I roll my eyes. Chaol is just joking, because he might have smelled like a lot of things, and mango wasn't one of them. He used to secretly put on his Dad's perfume.

The thought makes me smile.

The rest of the periods passed in a blur.

~

"Sorry, I'm late!"

I work at a pizza parlour on three days a week. Although Mom and Dad said they'd buy me a car, but I wanted to save my own money as they have done so much for me.

"Never mind, sweetheart," Grace winks while putting on her apron.

Once I get dressed in my uniform, Grace and I walk out with the menu's in our hands. I am so glad I have a friend with me because she makes everything so much fun.

"I'll take that table," she informs me, marching over to a group of girls from our school.

Just when I am about to turn around, I hear a familiar voice shout, "Excuseeee meeeeee? Helllooooo!"

No! Why him!!!

I am met by a pair of sparkling blue eyes when I look up at him. He walks in with a few boys behind him, 3 from my school, and 1 from our neighbourhood.

My eyes travel from his face, down to the rest of him. The denim jacket he's wearing suits him perfectly, underneath that there's a black shirt, and downstairs are black jeans. And of course Nike.

When they're finally seated, I suck in a deep breath and walk over to them, plastering my work smile on.

The boy next to Danial offers me a chewing gum with a huge grin, I frown and mumble, "No thank you."

"What do you want?" I ask Danial who seems like is having trouble in keeping those teeth in his mouth.

He 'tsks' and mocks, "Is this how the staff here treats their customers?"

I blow out a breath. "Daniel, what do you want to order?" He's testing my patience now.

His brows raise. "Daniel?" he asks, almost confused. I mimic his expression and then suddenly he says, "Oh, yeah! I am Daniel Paul."

Strange. He forgot his own name? Why does it look like there's something fishy going on here? Why can't I stop comparing him to Xavier? WHY IS HE REMINDING ME OF MY OLD BEST FRIEND!

Clearing his throat, he tell me, "3 large pineapple pizzas, and 1 pepperoni. Drinks?" He asks his friends while I scribble on my notepad.

"Seven up with lime." I look up with a sigh because he didn't tell how many glasses. With a knowing smirk, he adds, "For 5."

By the time I give the order inside, my phone chimes in my trousers pocket. I take it out and connect the call. It reads unknown.

"Hello?"

I wait, but no answer.

"Hey? Hello? Hi?"

Still no answer.

I sigh. "Whoever this is it's not funny." When there's still no answer, I end the call.

I carry the dirty pizza boxes outside the kitchen from the back door to dump them in the huge bins.

Bang!

I let out a scream and spin around, my heart going overdrive. I scan my surroundings but there's nobody, moreover the night is making it difficult to look around, save for just the light coming from the moon.

It sounded like someone kicked one of the bins, but maybe my ears are just ringing.

I go back inside with a weird feeling in my stomach.