Chapter 9: Tell tale signs

"Good work, Stevens," Louis' teacher said with a pat on his shoulder. "If you keep this up, I'm sure you'll have a chance of being offered a scholarship when you get to college, just like your sister." The teacher continued on giving out the papers.

He smiled widely as he took his paper. A huge A+ was encircled at the upper right corner.

The bell rang, signaling lunch. "Okay class, don't forget," the teacher announced as students started streaming out of the class. "Deadline for the report is on Monday. I suggest you do it well. I don't give special projects to failing students."

Tawny and Twitty waited outside the classroom. Finally, Louis emerged from the room, still wearing his smile as he held his paper.

He looked up at his friends. "Let's go, guys," he said. "I'm starving."

Twitty grabbed his paper from his hands. "I still don't believe," he said as they walked towards the cafeteria. "You aced another test, man. That's like, for the hundredth time now." He lowered his voice. "Dude, you're not cheating or something, are you? 'Coz you'll get into big trouble if somebody finds out."

"Twitty, how many times do I have to answer that? NO!" he answered as they line up to get lunch. Twitty's questions were starting to annoy him.

"Give it a rest," Tawny warned him. "I stopped wondering ages ago. You'd better do the same."   

Louis turned and smiled sweetly at her. "Thanks, Tawny."

"But, if you were indeed doing something fishy, you'd better share with us, or Principal Cutnell will hear about it."

"Ha ha, very funny," he said sarcastically. "Come on," he said as they got their lunch. "Let's grab a seat outside."

Hey Lou, isn't that Ren?" Twitty said as he pointed to the table across.

Louis followed Twitty's gaze and found Ren, surrounded by guys. Great, they were practically drooling over her. Louis furiously shoved some food into his mouth.

"I don't think I've ever seen her with that many guys around." Twitty remarked.

"Well, I don't think I've ever seen her entertain that many guys," Tawny seconded. She glanced at Louis, who was angrily chewing down his food. "Louis, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Tawny," he curtly answered. He was trying really hard to concentrate on the burger he was eating.

"Slow down, Lou, or you'll choke on your food." Twitty said, but Louis didn't seem to hear him. He looked at Tawny, who gave a shrug in response.

****************

"So, what do you think about my article?" Ruby asked as they scanned the area for a place to settle down. "Over there, Ren," she pointed to an empty bench. They placed their things and sat down.

"So?" Ruby asked, looking expectantly at her.

Ren's face went blank. "What?" she replied, distracted.

"My article, what do you think about it?" Ruby raised her eyebrows. "You have read it, haven't you?"

Ren bit her lower lip. "Actually no, I haven't got the chance to read it." She caught her friend's disappointed look. "But I'm sure it was great!" she said with a huge smile. "Uh huh, I'm sure it was." She repeated, nodding.

"Hello, earth to Ren!" Ruby exclaimed. "What's wrong with you? You seem to be pretty out of it, lately."

Ren scoffed at her. "No, I'm not."

"Uh huh, right," Ruby replied sarcastically. "Just this morning you zoned out during Math and forgot your assignment in World History. That is so very unlike you, Ren."

She dismissed her with a small laugh. "Relax, Ruby. I guess I just need to catch up, that's all." She suddenly waved at someone behind her friend.

"Not to mention that," Ruby hissed. "What ever happened to your 'guys are nothing but distraction' speech. The way you're acting now, seems as if you like the distraction." She turned her head and found a couple of guys making their way towards them. "Oh my god, Will and his teammates are headed this way!" she squealed excitedly.

Ren smirked at her. "What changed your mind?"

"Well, members of the soccer are always welcome," she conceded. "So, what do you think the captain of the soccer team wants with you?"

"Beats me," she said with a shrug. "Here they come." She whispered.

"Hey Ren," Will greeted her as soon as they reached their table. He was tall and well built, his tan perfectly complementing his sharp features. "I'm Will, by the way."

Before Ren could respond, Ruby interrupted them. "We know!" she quickly said.

Ren gave her a slight kick on the feet.

"I mean, she knows," she said, more calmly this time.

Ren smiled at him. "Yeah, I know who you are. We, the paper I mean, cover your every game." She noticed Ruby giving her a meaningful look. "By the way, this is my friend-"

"Ruby, right?" he said, turning to her.

She flashed him a huge smile. "Yes, nice to meet you."

He introduced his companions. "By the way, these are my teammates: Brad, Colby, Ryan, and Wes." He smiled at her. "Well, we just thought we'd drop by and say hi. So, hi, I guess."

"Well then, hi," Ren responded. She raised her eyebrows. "You are here just to say hi, right?"

He smiled sheepishly at her. "Well, actually no. I also wanted to say that I'm having a party Friday night, and I was wondering if you two would like to come." He looked expectantly at her.

Ren pondered for a moment. "Let me think about it," she said and smiled coyly at him

"Alright, that's cool," he said. "Let me know, okay?" he gave her a wink before leaving with his friends. "Alright, see you later then."

As soon as they left, Ruby turned and looked incredulously at Ren. "Let me think about it?" she said, echoing her. "What kind of answer was that?!"

"What?"

"Ren, one of the hottest guys in school personally asked you to come to his party. Are you or are you not going?!"

"Are you kidding? I am so going to be at that party!" she exclaimed. Ren caught herself and cleared her throat. "But I wasn't about to let him hear that answer."

Ruby was practically jumping up and down in her seat in sheer excitement as Ren smiled to herself. Yep, she could get used to this.

******************

Louis checked his watch for the third time as he stood by the entrance door. It was already ten minutes passed three and Ren was still nowhere in sight.

He scanned the area for his sister. He spotted her just as she was getting out of the building.

"Hey Ren," he called out. He jogged towards her. "Come on' let's get going. I need to get home 'coz I still have to finish my report." He started to grab Ren's things when somebody called her.

They both turned around to see a guy walking towards them. It was Will, and he gave them a little wave.

Now would have been the chance to drag Ren and ran the hell outta there. Too late, he was already in front of them.

"Hey Will," Ren greeted. "Oh, have you met my brother, Louis?" she said. "He's Will, the captain of the soccer team," she introduced to her brother.

"Nice to meet you, Louis," he said, extending his hand.

Too bad he didn't feel the same way towards him. "Hi," he said tightly.

Will turned to her sister. "So, have you thought about it?"

Louis narrowed his eyes. Thought about what? What does this guy want with her sister?

"Maybe," she answered tentatively. She smiled at him.

And why is Ren answering 'maybe'?!

"That's great!" he exclaimed. "Oh by the way, are you doing anything this afternoon? 'Coz I thought you might want to hang out with me."

Ren paused for a moment. "I don't know…"

"How 'bout we hang out just for a while and then I give you a ride home," he offered.

"Uh, okay… sure, I guess," she finally accepted.

Louis stared at her in disbelief. Since when did Ren started accepting rides from guys she hardly knows at school?

"Alright, let's go," he grinned as he showed her the way.

"I guess I'll see you at home, Lou," Ren called out.

"Yeah, see you later, Louis," Will waved at him.

"But, I thought…"he trailed off. His sister had already run off with a guy, something he definitely did not saw coming.

*****************

 Christmas break is over, so I guess I wouldn't be able to update quickly as I used to. Well, thanks for reading, and I hope you write a review!!! Cheers!