Nathan was pacing back and forth in a panic, biting his thumb, waiting for Warren to show up in his room. He was hoping no one would stop Warren while returning, but he had a sharp feeling in his gut that Warren was stopped by someone. The adolescent was in a slight panic by the thought of who it would be. If anything, the teen hoped it was Victoria... or even Samantha.
Meanwhile...
"Okay... and finally... done!" Warren sighed with a grin of accomplishment, "Well, I guess I can pack and head back to the dorms now and-?!" As the teen turned to grab his materials he saw someone leaning on the door in the entrance, "H-Hey, M-Mr. Jefferson...?" He stiffened once noticing the presence of Nathan's teacher.
"Hello, Nathan." Mr. Jefferson grinned, looking as though he was hiding something behind that smile, "How has life been the past few months? Haven't heard from you in awhile, Nate."
"O-Oh, you know... j-just helping Graham with this stupid project." Warren tried to act the part, but had a feeling he was failing, "H-How has life been with you?"
"Oh, you know, just speaking with your dad about our next business." Mr. Jefferson folded his arms, calmly speaking in a tone which made Warren feel slight discomfort.
"R-Really now? How fascinating." Warren grinned by accident, forgetting Nathan isn't much of a giddy person.
"Well, this happens to be the first I've seen you grin since freshman year. Anything good happen to you while your dad and I have been working?" The man chuckled faintly, cocking his head to the side.
"Oh, n-no, n-not really. J-Just been... just been keeping myself on top of school for once." He chuckled faintly, trying to keep himself together while putting as much effort as he could to act like Nathan.
"Hm... Well, I hope to see you smile more in the future as well." Mr. Jefferson grinned, "I hope we get to meet later tonight and continue our last conversation."
"W-Will do." His smile never left as he gave Mr. Jefferson a thumbs up, feeling as though he was making Nathan look like an idiot.
"See you then." Mr. Jefferson smirked, waving good-bye while walking out.
"Y-Yeah..." Warren mumbled, discomfort still surrounding him even though Mr. Jefferson left, "I hope this didn't lead to any suspicion..." The adolescent groaned with prayers.
Warren packed in a hurry, wanting to leave school grounds to talk to Nathan about what happened and to hear what Nathan has to say. As he tried to sneak his way through school grounds, he got grabbed by the arm. He jolted by the feel, frozen solid by the intensity he felt by the sudden scare. He didn't want to turn. The teen just wanted to yank his arm away and bolt, but he didn't want to raise any problems, so he turned slowly.
"Ch-Chase..." Warren said by habit.
"Nate? Why did you just call me by my last name?" Victoria questioned, releasing the teen.
"Huh? Oh! S-Sorry! Hey, V-Vic...?" He said, shuddering by the feel of awkwardness.
"Whatever... anyway, can we talk?" Victoria looked up at him, gripping onto her bag as though pleading nervously to hear a yes.
"S-Sure... what's up?" He smiled by impulse again, leading Victoria's eyes to widen by surprise.
"S-Sorry, the thing I've been wanting to talk about is the issue with Sam." Victoria began, "I just wanted to apologize for doing such things behind your back, when I should have spoken to you directly beforehand about it." The teen looked up at him, biting her bottom lip, "I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize, Vic." He chuckled, smiling gently at her, not even noticing what he was doing, "Water under the bridge. You are my best friend after all, aren't you?" He grinned genuinely.
"S-Seriously?" Her eyebrows knitted as she cocked her head with the look of shock.
"Seriously." The teen laughed, suddenly going in for a hug.
"Is everything okay, Nate?" Victoria questioned.
"Yeah, why?" Warren released her, confused on why she asked such a question.
"You're not really much of a hugger and it takes you awhile to forgive like this." She laughed faintly, looking baffled, "I-I have nothing against this at all, it's just I'm wondering what's been happening?"
"Huh? O-Oh! I'm just feeling great as ever! You know? The sun shining down on me for once. Life taking a turn for the better!" He laughed, sweat dripping down his forehead as he gulped down hard.
Shit! He said to himself in his head, noticing too late.
"Okay... well, um... seeing as to how we seem to be on better terms now, want to go to the lighthouse and smoke a peace pipe? Maybe take pictures to relax like old times?" Victoria asked, feeling a little awkward by the change of characteristic Nathan's been giving.
"M-Maybe later! I got to go meet up with someone." Warren shimmied his way passed her, "Well, see ya tomorrow!" He waved as he ran off.
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! SHIT! Warren shouted in his head, I'm so dead!
Once he reached the dorms, he slowed down, catching his breath. He sighed deeply, composing himself before walking into the building. As Warren was getting closer and closer, he was beginning to feel sick to his stomach. He felt claustrophobic as he walked down the halls, gripping his chest tightly as he felt it tighten, suddenly feeling a sharp piercing pain in his temple.
"Wh-What the hell...?" Warren gripped his chest with one hand while the other gripped his head.
You're worthless! Nobody loves you!
"Wh-What the fuck?!" The adolescent tensed up, his heart pounding out of his chest, "What is going on?!" He leaned forward, his head pounding as his chest tightened, "Okay, Warren... breathe... just... breathe..." The teen breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm himself down, "What the fuck was that...?" He sighed deeply, resting his hands on his knees, trying to ease himself.
"Graham! Get your ass in here!" Nathan grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him in fast, slamming the door behind them, "What the hell took you so long?! And why the hell were you standing out there?!"
"H-Huh...? Oh... y-yeah... sorry about that..." He shook his head to clear it, questioning himself on what that was that happened a few minutes ago, "W-Well, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
"Please tell me you didn't run into anybody on your way back!" Nathan looked at him, clenching his hands tightly, begging to hear a no.
"N-No! Of course not! E-Everything is just fine! I didn't bump into anyone at all!" He lied, leaving Nathan to narrow his eyes with suspicion.
"Who the fuck did you run into, Gayram?!" The angered teen asked, gritting his teeth.
"N-No one! I swear!" He held up his hand as though surrendering to his predator.
"Stop fucking lying to me and tell me who the fuck you ran into on the way back!" Nathan growled, "Don't think I can't tell when someone is lying!"
Warren groaned, "F-Fine... Jefferson walked into the classroom when I was finished cleaning and... Victoria grabbed me while I was sneaking my way back here." He hunched his head down, praying he won't get killed by the confession.
"What the fuck happened during...?" Nathan asked, trembling by the countless thoughts in his head.
"N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" He took a few steps back.
Nathan glared deeply at Warren, feeling it was just another lie. The teen wanted to hit him so badly, but he knew it wouldn't make any changes, let alone make anything better. He sighed deeply with a groan, scratching the back of his head, turning around as he resigned to do anything regrettful. Nathan turned back around and tried to calmly ask what happened on his way back, until he heard a couple dings on his phone, informing him he was receiving messages.
"Hand me the phone, Graham." He held out his hand, his eyes boring into his.
"Huh? What? Why?!" Warren tensed up, having a feeling the notifications are going to lead him to death.
"Hand me the goddamn phone!" Nathan shouted, gripping the collar of his shirt, digging into his pocket, pulling out his phone, "What the fuck is the meaning of this, Gayram?! What the fuck did you say and do?!"
"What?! Nothing! I didn't do anything!" He shouted, praying it wasn't from the people he bumped into, but his prayers weren't answered.
"Then explain these messages!" Nathan screeched with anger.
Vic: Hey, I'm happy things are better and I have to admit that hug threw me off guard, but I have no complaints. Lol I'll see you tomorrow and hope we can hang out either tonight or after school tomorrow. 3
Unknown: I hope we meet tonight as we planned before you left class. I expect everything to go on without a hitch or else you know the consequences.
"What does that unknown person, who I assume is Jefferson, mean by consequences? What's going on, Prescott?" Warren questioned.
"Stop changing the subject and answer what the hell happened when you were on your way back." Nathan growled.
"Not until you tell me what business you have with Jefferson!" Warren fought back.
Nathan was infuriated by how things were turning out, "Christ... okay... the thing is-?!" The teens tensed up after hearing a ring come from Nathan's phone, "Shit..." Once they looked at his phone, it was the man he hates with a burning passion. The teen didn't want to answer, but he knew if he didn't, he'd be screwed.
"Sh-Should we answer...?" Warren asked.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Nathan clenched his hand tightly, looking terrified, "O-Okay... here's how it's going to go." The adolescent began, grabbing a notebook that was on the bedside of Warren's bed, "You answer normally and as calmly as possible, put it on speaker, I'll write down what you should say, and... and after... I'll explain everything. Just please... for the love of God, I beg of you... do not ruin this or else my ass will be dead the next day. So please..." He looked at Warren, his look of terror never left.
Warren was in shock by the look and just nodded his head, pressing the answer button with shakened hands, "Hello?" He spoke as he tried to not answer with nervousness.