CHAPTER 4:
The next day at school, Aiden wasn't there. My mind was racing. He couldn't be doing it again. I ran my fingers through my thick brown hair and screwed up whatever styling I had done, but I didn't care. I just wanted him to be here, to know where he was, to know he wasn't doing what I knew in my mind he was doing. I walked through the halls depressed, and worried. A girl my age came up to me with a worried look in her green eyes. "Are you okay?" Her unruly brown curls were tied back, and her mocha was skin perfect. I wished I had her perfect blemish free skin.
"I'm okay." I lied completely, but I didn't care if she knew or not. She shook her head.
"Why don't you sit with me at lunch today? You can tell me what's going on then. I'm Ariel by the way." She smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back just a little.
"I'm Dani, thanks." She nodded.
"I'll see you later then." She then walked away. I wasn't sure what to make of the situation, but I hoped she could help. I mean she seemed nice enough.
I got through the first four classes all right, hoping he'd show up late. Longing for him to walk me to every class. Wow, I'm selfish! I thought to myself. He's probably doing some harm to his body and all I can think about is him walking me to class. I walked to lunch with my eyes on the sidewalk. When I got inside the cafeteria, I was waved over to a table with three girls, including Ariel, and two guys. I went and sat with them. "Dani, this is Nicole, Noel, Oliver, just call him Olli, and Kit. Everyone, this is Dani." Noel, the guy I was sitting across from, gave me a brilliant smile. He was hot, and he knew it. His eyes were emerald green, and his hair was dyed jet black with blue frosted tips. However, he looked like he was naturally dirty blonde from his eyebrows. He was tall and muscular. He was obviously an athlete. Nicole looked a lot like Noel. She had the same eyes and facial structure. She was undeniably gorgeous, but her hair was the dirty blonde Noel's eyebrows were. Kit was the shortest of the bunch. She had brown hair that looked like it could be from a magazine ad, and her eyes were brown. Last, but definitely not least, was Oliver. He had gorgeous eyes, they were hazel, and shaped beautifully. His curly hair was either a really light brown or a really dark blonde, but I couldn't tell which. He was a little shorter than Noel, but just as athletic looking,
"You hang around Aiden a lot don't you?" Noel was openly staring at me. I nodded. "Be careful. He isn't in the best state." He seemed sincere enough, but I scowled anyways.
"I know." I said hollowly, they all looked at me as if I really didn't know anything. I was thinking the same of them.
We got to talking about other stuff like family and things of that nature and we all got along really well. Noel was funny, if not a little perverted. However, aren't most guys? Oliver was sweet and funny. Kit was quiet, but when she spoke, you knew it was something worth hearing. Nicole was outgoing and outspoken; if she disagreed with you, you knew it. Ariel was outgoing, but in her own world. We could get to be good friends.
Lunch was over and I had to go to Biology. Noel and Kit both had Biology with me and we decided to go together. "Don't let Aiden make you feel bad." Noel said after seeing the forlorn and longing look I gave out the window.
"I'm not." I said unconvincingly, he just dropped it and we went to class. After Biology, I went to English Composition, as if I needed that class. It was so easy. I should have been put in British, or American Literature.
I sat down in my usual seat and did my Journal, and then the writing assignment on the board. Noel's right, I shouldn't let anyone have this effect on me. I thought to myself as I wrote. I
do that too much. I worry way too much. I thought. Before I knew what was going on the bell rang. Already? I wasn't paying attention to the time. I took my paper to the teacher's desk and made to leave to go to Algebra when he stopped me.
"Danielle, is something bothering you today?" Yes. I thought, but I shook my head. "Okay, you just seemed… not here, today." I gave him an empty smile and left to go to my next class.
Algebra was uneventful and boring. I sat there, did my class work, and helped the other people with the stuff they didn't understand for some odd reason. After class, I went to my locker and saw Noel waiting there for me. Why is he here? I asked myself. "Can I walk you wherever you're going?" I inwardly rolled my eyes.
"Um, sure why not? It's just to Derek's car though, so I don't know if it's worth your time." I was avoiding actually looking at him as I spoke, hoping he would get the hint that I wasn't interested.
"It's fine." I got my stuff and we walked towards my brother's car. There was no one there yet. "I'll wait with you if you want." He was too clingy, I had to get rid of him, but I didn't want to wait alone.
"Okay." I stood there with my backpack on the ground by my feet leaning up against the car, waiting for my brother in awkward silence with a person I just met this afternoon.
"You're Derek's sister?" I nodded. "Well he really must hate the fact that you hang around with Aiden." I gave him a warning look. "Sorry, I didn't mean to push any buttons. I'll drop it." I nodded curtly.
"Please do." We stood there in silence until he saw Derek come out of the school.
"See ya 'round." I waved as he left. Derek was still a ways off.
On the way home, Derek commented he noticed that I was hanging out with actual people. I gave him a dirty look and I didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. Nora and my dad noticed. "Why aren't you two talking?" My dad was trying to be tactful, Nora had been on his case lately about him just confronting without regarding how the other person might think of it.
"I said something that made her mad." Derek said. I finished eating and took my plate, then grabbed Derek's and took it to the kitchen and dumped it. "Hey! I wasn't done!" Casey was laughing, Edwin was aghast, and Marti was yelling at me to bring his food back. Nora and my dad were in shock and didn't know what to do. I stomped up to my room and locked myself in.