CHAPTER 3
927 Words
“Took you long enough," Jake joked, but his smirk faded when he saw her. "You look like you have seen a ghost."
Leon stepped forward, his eyes locked on hers as he handed her the backpack. "Hey, you really look pale," he said, his voice filled with concern. "Is everything okay?" He tried to catch her gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he waited for her response.
"Guy's I'm fine, y'all should relax" Lisa said, trying to sound calm while fake laughing. She grabbed the bag and started fiddling with the straps, so she can keep her hands busy because they were shaking.
As they made their way to the concrete benches, Lisa's unusual silence stretched the whole break time. Normally, she'd be giggling at Jake's silly jokes or debating about music, but today she just sat there, staring blankly at the courtyard floor, her mind stuck on the scene from the bathroom.Leon kept his eyes on her the whole time while Jake was busy trying to recreate some moves he saw in a movie.
Her phone vibrated in her hand , she looked down and her heart started racing.
Cole: Meet me behind the gym in five minutes.
"I'm not feeling well" Lisa said, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder.
Martha narrowed her eyes "where are you going?"
"To the school clinic"
"Do you want me to come with you?" Leon asked immediately, standing up.
"No!" Lisa said, a little too quickly forcing a reassuring smile. "I’ll meet you guys at the lockers before the next period."
She didn't give them a chance to say anything, just turned around and walked away, and as soon as she was out of the courtyard, she started walking faster.
Behind the gym, Cole stood casually with hands in his pockets leaning against the brick wall.
He lifted his head slightly when he noticed her coming.
"There you are"
"Stay away from me, Cole," Lisa said, her voice trembling. She stopped a few meters away, refusing to let him get closer. "I mean it. Your little fan club cornered me and locked me in the bathroom. They threatened me, Cole!"
Cole looked at her for a second and almost laughed.
" Hey slow down i think they're just mad because they noticed how I look at you, they're jealous."
Lisa wrapped her arms "I think maybe you should stop texting me."
Cole straightened slightly.
Stepping closer.
"Look Lisa, I like you, and I texted you because I wanna know you." Before she could say anything
Cole reached out, his fingers gently brushing her arm.His eyes held hers.lntense. Lisa froze.
"I'm sorry they scared you, and I promise it will never happen again, okay." Something about his expression changed. Soft. Quiet .“Don’t let other people tell you who I am.” Lisa hesitated "But..." and ran out of words to say then the bell rang.
"I don't wanna be late for class" Lisa found herself dumbfounded and before she turned ,his voice stopped her.
“Lisa.”
She looked back.
“I’m still texting you tonight.”
-----
By the lockers Jake was helping Aliyah with her hair when he noticed Lisa coming. "Ooh she returns."
"Where were you.?" Martha asked, handing Lisa her mathematics textbook.
"I told you I was going to the school clinic, what do you mean where was I"
"I went to the clinic to look for you Lisa, and you were not there"
Lisa almost jumped out of her skin "why would you look for me?
"Because you were taking so long"
"So you followed me?”
“Unfortunately I didn't because it seems like I was the one who went to the school clinic, not you.”
“You're being dramatic over nothing”
"Guy's we're late for class " Aliyah said walking away. Leon didn't say anything, and when Lisa finally looked at him he was already looking at her . Quiet and unreadable.
The rest of the school day was suffocating. Lisa sat through her remaining afternoon classes, staring blankly at the chalkboard , her mind elsewhere. Finally the bell rang, Students rushed out in waves like freedom had just been unlocked.
“Let’s go,” Jake said, swinging his bag over his shoulder. The walk out to the parking lot was heavy with Lisa walking behind slower than everyone and distracted , her eyes fixed on her phone.
"Can you walk a little faster, I need to be out of here as soon as yesterday, I'm starving." Said Jake making a face expression while Leon started the engine.Lisa sat in the back seat, her hands quietly resting in her lap while she stared at her screen. Her phone buzzed.Jake who usually finds it hard to remain silent even for a minute attempted to break the ice "How about we get something to eat first before heading home?" Lisa almost dropped her phone
"NO!. I mean.... no, I'm not feeling well and I really need some rest"
"There was really no need to shout you know, you almost burst my ear drum."
Immediately the car pulled up in her driveway Lisa did not wait for the usual banter. She grabbed her bag and closed the door behind her."See you tomorrow," and disappeared inside the house, leaving the brothers sitting in a car that suddenly felt way too quiet.
Inside the house Lisa reread the message she got from Cole on her way home again.
>>Can I take you out to the movies tonight as my apology, please>>.
- Writer
