Chapter 3
The cafeteria was silent, but Raymond wasn't as he jumped to his feet and his hands instantly flew to Double D's shirt. He tugged him, hard, off the ground. Double D cringed and my jaw clenched even tighter. Why was I protecting the Dweeb?
"Why are you protecting this Dweeb," Raymond shouted, turning his face from Double D to me.
My question exactly. Why?
"Aww, don't tell me you have feelings for the little nerd," Brian taunted behind me.
I laughed. "That's a good once, considering you are the one hooking up with Mike in the locker room after practices."
Brian's jaw dropped and Mike squeaked.
"H-how do you know that," Mike asked.
"You guys should make sure that everyone is out of the locker rooms before you play."
I could hear whispers and giggles all throughout the cafeteria. It was obvious that the crowd was still listening to everything that was going on in our corner. One thing I found interesting was Eddy hadn't been screaming at the top of his lungs about the commotion. That meant he wasn't even in the lunch room.
I turned my attention to Raymond. "Eddy isn't even in the cafeteria is he? Let me guess, you left him somewhere?"
Double D squealed as Raymond chuckled. "It was really fun this time, too. You know he doesn't just stand still anymore." He set Double D on the floor. "I had pretty fun messing with him this time. When I was done, I threw him into the janitor's closet."
I rolled my eyes and grabbed for Double D's arm. Without fighting, Raymond release Double D and allowed me to tug the smaller boy to my side. I still couldn't answer why I was helping him.
Raymond chuckled, "maybe you really do have a thing for weaklings."
I laughed, "I have no clue why I'm helping him." I rubbed the back of my head. "Maybe the thought of finally getting to go to college is ringing in my head. I'd rather go to college without a "beat up kids" on my senior record."
"Good excuse," Brian chuckled.
I ignored him and tugged Double D after me through the cafeteria to the doors that led back into the hall of the school. He walked quickly beside me and tugged at his hand I held in mine from time to time. Why was I even holding his hand? And why was my gut telling me not to let go? Was I really falling for a guy?
I shook my head and let go of his hand as we approached the janitor's closet. He stood beside me, his hands against his chest in fists. He was shaking a bit, probably nervous about the scene that would be in front of us when we opened the door. To be honest, I was quite nervous myself. The look in Raymond's eyes told me it went above and beyond all previous pranks.
Maybe, this wasn't even considered a prank?
I pulled the door to the janitor's closet opened and looked at the small, kind of chubby, boy that laid on the floor inside the closet. I couldn't help the chuckle in the back of my throat as I looked down at him. His hands were tied behind his back, a cloth gag was in his mouth, and I couldn't help the thought of "cow" as I looked at his position.
"You look a little tied up there, Eddy," I couldn't stop the chuckling sounds as I spoke. "Hog tied that is."
That was it. I was laughing—hard. I had to wrap my arms around my stomach to gain control of myself. Double D on the other hand looked more worried than anything. I stopped laughing and put a hand on his shoulder, telling him this is nothing to look so worried about. His eyes met mine and something smacked me in the chest right above my heart. His eyes were like the sea. Now I wanted to go the beach.
"Will you please untie him, Kev," Double D's voice was soft.
"Kev," I quickly questioned.
"Uh," a soft red shade broke out across his cheeks and I felt the temperature in mine rise. He turned his face away from me, "K-Kevin. I said Kevin."
And with that he pushed past me and ran—well, his running that is—down the hall towards the classrooms. I watched him disappear around the corner at the end of the hall but for some reason I couldn't pull my attention away from the direction he ran. It wasn't until Eddy grunted that I manage to snap out of it and turn my attention to the kid still tied up. I couldn't help it—it was laughing again.
After I untied Eddy I stood in the hall once again and felt the urge to look in the direction Double D had gone. Maybe he would be standing at the end of the hall watching us? I shook my head. What did I care about that? He was a Dweeb, like this dork beside me. I turned my attention to Eddy to see him glaring at me. It was habit—I glared right back.
"You're friends suck," Eddy grumbled.
"Ha," I rolled my eyes, "just be glad their attention was on Double D. If they hadn't tried to pick on him we wouldn't have come to find you."
"What were they going to do to Sock Head? An even better question is why were you even with him?"
"I don't hate him. I hate you."
We glared at each other for a moment before he said, "stay away from him."
"What," my brows furrowed.
"Double D doesn't need you and your jock friends around him."
"Are you threatening me," I glared at him and he glared right back.
"Stay. Away. From. Him."
And with that he was walking down the hall towards the classrooms. I was left standing alone in the hall and for some reason, I was angry. I was angry at Eddy telling me to stay away from Double D. How dare he tell me to stay away from someone. Who did he think he was?
My hands slid into my pockets as I stood in the hall. The bell rang and my quiet hall was soon filled with loud and nosy people as they made their way to class.