Chapter 14

Gar and I stood outside the office. I still felt jealous from his earlier comment towards Kori, but it was easily hidden. I'll have to ask him about it later.

"You are sure you want to stay?" He looked distraught. He sighed.

"No, I'm not. But… I have to. I can't let you stay here with that… that… jerk. I can't let you live in a house you don't want to live in. Besides, no matter how much I'll miss dad, there is a chance I could find my real one here. And I can always stay in contact with him, too. I have my mind made up. Are you coming in with me?"

"Of course I am." I nodded and he held the door open for me, and I walked in, him following close behind. We walked up the long, brown desk, stationing many people. We went to the very back, and the last person at the desk was a plump woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She smiled brightly at us when we approached, although it seemed strained when she looked at me.

"Could we speak to Mr. Smith?" Garfield asked before she could say anything. "It's important."

"I am sorry, but Mr. Smith is not taking any private visitors right now." Garfield looked down, sad, and started walking towards the door. I walked up to the desk, and stared her in the eye. I heard Gar's walking stop. When I spoke, my voice was low and menacing.

"What my friend Garfield means about important is that this particular thing is life-changing important. Now, are you going to let us see Mr. Smith, or am I going to have to go into his office, and drag him out myself so he can speak to him?" My voice and face held steady. I saw all of the colour drain from her face. She turned on the intercom, and spoke in a squeaky voice.

"Mr. Smith… miss Roth and a Garfield are here to see you, I'm sending them on." Before he could reply, she turned it off and pointed towards a closed door. Gar smiled at me, but only slightly, and I turned and led the way, opening the door and entering. I sat on one chair lazily, and Garfield hesitantly sat on the other. Mr. Smith looked displeased. He frowned.

"I suppose you threatened Ms. Mikin to enter…"

"Not necessarily, sir. Although I may have given off the vibe I was angry. I can't let something this important go on without notice for any longer. Garfield has some life-changing matters to discuss with you. Right, Gar?" He cleared his throat, but his voice was still hoarse when he spoke.

"Y-yes. Yes, very important."

"Could this not have waited until later?" I glared at him.

"For what reason, sir?" I was already losing my patience with him. I've heard rumours that he was a dick, but seriously… this is something else.

"I was in the middle of a very important financial statement for the school to the government, not that it's any of your business. Of course, knowing you, miss Roth, and your reputation, you'd probably acquire that information if I didn't tell you it, hm?" I smirked. Looks like he knows things most other people don't.

"Someone did his research. But, this visit isn't about this. It's about Garfield." He sighed.

"What is it, mister Logan?" He had a slight edge to his voice. Is he incapable of being informal?

"Well, Mr. Smith, sir… I was thinking… uhm, if I could…"

"Yes?"

"Uh, what would you say if I said… "it" was completed?" He gave me a subtle wink.

"Ah, yes. If you said so, then I would… miss Roth, would you please step out of the office a moment?"

"My friend Rachel can stay, Mr. Smith." He raised his eyebrow.

"I would have you home immediately. Why?"

"Then, what would you say if I wanted to stay?" He laughed after that, but composed himself quickly.

"That is your own decision. But, if you really wanted to, the school could no longer fund you. The financial statement was to provide for you for another week. However, if you are implying that it's done, then I will terminate it. You can stay, if you'd like. We just will no longer supply for you." I waited, Mr. Smith waited, and Garfield looked as if he were having world war three in his head. He sighed.

"It's not done yet sir." I raised my eyebrow, confused. Smith grew frustrated at this, and I heard an unpleasant word under his breath.

"How much longer could it possibly take?"

"Not too much longer, sir. Within two weeks max, I'd say." He stood up, exasperated.

"TWO weeks?! Oh my goodness! This is not good!" He started pacing and muttering to himself. I did, however, hear two interesting words. Miss Anders. Kori. But what about her? Garfield was looking all around the room, so I don't suspect he'd heard. I looked on the desk and saw a few printouts of the financial statement. Perhaps they were for other things? I quickly snatched one, folded, and hid it in my pocket within moments. I may not be as good or as fast as Tara, but I always was quieter than her. Something odd is up with Mr. Smith, and I am going to find out what. He finally stopped pacing and turned towards us.

"Alright, Mr. Logan. Although we will not be able to hold the Christmas dance this year, I believe this is more important. Is this all you had on your mind?"

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!" Gar stood up and shook his hand. He looked at me, his hand in the air, waiting to be shaken. I smirked, stood up, and walked out the door. Gar followed a few seconds after. Outside of the office, there were three familiar backs of heads. Kori, Victor, and Richard. Exiting, Kori's bright smile waiting, we greeted them.

"How did it go, friends?" she asked impatiently.

"It was so cool! You should've seen Rae! She made Mr. Smith look like an idiot, and Ms. Mikin looked like a scared child in a horror movie theatre!" Everyone laughed at it. Why is that so amusing? I shook my head.

"You give me too much credit."

"Only where it's deserved, babe." Garfield winked at me as he said babe. I hid my blush, my face betrayed no emotion… but how dare he call me something like that! Where did he get the nerve to think… I swear, when we get back… he called me babe? Maybe he doesn't like Kori and is just a flirter? I hope so.

"Hey guys," Richard broke in from the uncomfortable silence. "How about we head back to my house?"

"But Richard, did you not say you had the mansion?" He blushed.

"I don't like to brag about my wealth… but if you want to call it that, then yeah. My parents are out of town for the next few weeks, so whoever wants to can crash there any day they want."

"SWEET! Party at Rich's!" Garfield bellowed, running out the door. Everyone ran out, following and giggling, and I sat back for a moment, getting an eerie feeling. I looked to the right, and saw at the end of the hall, Rory. He shouldn't be awake already. I watched as he disappeared behind a large group of passing people. I shuddered and followed them out, all of them waiting for me, each smiling.

"Which way Richard?" Victor asked.

"Oh, we wait here for a bus, which will take us down to Marin Street, where we get off, then head half a mile south from there, and then down a large set of stairs which takes us in a forested area. It kind of gets hard to explain from there…"

"No worries, man. I'm sure you know your way."

"I'd hope so. I've only been doing it the past four and a half years." It's amazing at how fast they've all become friends.

"Rachel, you seem quiet. Something up?" Victor asked me, concerned. I shook my head. Gar laughed.

"Rae's just shy." I scoffed.

"Shy? You are talking about the girl who has caused more pain and misery this year than all of you have combined your entire lives. I am not shy."

"That just means you're brave." He smiled. I shook my head.

"You realize that brave is the exact opposite of shy?"

"You're brave and shy."

"What?"

"What friend Garfield means is that you are brave in the meaning that you are not afraid to do actions to people you do not know because you had no feeling of regret if your hurt them. You are shy when you are with new people you are friends with because you have always thought through actions, and not words." He nodded and pointed at her.

"That's exactly what I mean." Curse you, Kori.

"That… is the… most inaccurate information ever." My words didn't give it away, but the heat in my cheeks probably did. They all started laughing. Yes, it did. "Stop laughing." Although I wanted to be forceful, I couldn't help but chuckle a bit myself. Just then, the bus arrived. Richard pulled out his wallet, and my eyes almost bulged out of my sockets, but my immense amount of self-control kept me in check. He has a load of money in there.

"Hey Stacy. I got four friends today. I'll be paying for them." She nodded, and he handed over twenty bucks, and then motioned for us to come in. He led the way to the back, and we took the seats there. Kori and Richard ended up sitting in the same seat, Victor took his own, and Garfield trapped me in my seat when he sat down beside me. Stupid window-seat…

"This is going to be a long bus ride guys, so get comfortable." Six other people came on the bus, each staying as far at the front as possible, them all talking. Chatting commenced animatedly for a while. Kori pulled out a bottle of water. She spilled some on a particular spot on Richard's pants, and offered to clean it up. His face was beat red. Everyone got a kick out of that, and Kori remained oblivious. It was entertaining. Garfield tried asking me if he can use my shoulder as a pillow, a few times, all to which I've said no. Victor put earphones in and blasted his music. Kori and Richard were having a silent conversation to themselves. I sighed, staring out the window. Gar didn't miss a beat.

"Something wrong?" Damn couple passing by…

"No, nothing at all."

"Then what's with the sigh?"

"It's nothing."

"It has to be something."

"Unimportant to you, Garfield." I still didn't look at him. He was quiet for a while. I looked at him, finally, and he was staring straight-ahead, gaze fixed out the front windows. "So, when are you going to ask her out?" He snapped out of his daze and looked at me funny.

"Huh? Ask who out?"

"Kori." His face was of pure shock.

"What? No, dude. I don't like her like that." I raised my eyebrow.

"You don't?" He shook his head. "You called her cute."

"Well, no duh. She's very cute! But, I just don't like her like that. She's a great friend, and stuff. Besides, between you and I, I think he and Kori might need a room soon." He gestured behind himself with his head, and I saw Kori, smiling contentedly, head lying on Richard's shoulder, who was also smiling, arm around her waist. I couldn't help but laugh at that sight.

"I guess they do look good together." I felt relief wash all over my body, my mind now relaxing, the jealousy finally fading. And, without warning, I felt something warm come over my hand. I looked down and saw Gar's own hand atop mine, his head facing the complete opposite direction. I turned away, looking out the window, and smiled slightly. Maybe there is a chance with him after all.