Thankyou guys. More is coming your way

Chapter Eleven

It's not like I've never skipped school before. Hell, I'm sure it's no surprise to my teachers when they discover they're a pupil missing and it happens to be me. Nor does it shock me that my classmates don't realise I'm not attending classes anyway. However, I've never skipped school with someone before. It implies familiarity with said person. It implies a friendship of some sort. It implies a thrill of some kind. It is neither.

"So what do you do?" She says, her hand clamping around my wrist before she pulls it in the direction she's leading me in. I comply, if only to avoid confrontation, yet I can't help but feel uncomfortable with the contact being made. She looks back at me, slowing her pace as we turn the corner away from school. We're walking side by side now. "What do you do normally? If I weren't here, what would you be doing?"

I know the answer to this question. I know that as soon as I speak it, I'm about to be discarded. Her stare pierces and burns mine. I'm too familiar with that gaze. I know that look without ever even laying eyes on her. Her eyes sparkle and she grins when I don't answer. I don't see what's so amusing but I still don't say or react in any way, shape or form.

"You're selectively mute, aren't you?" That is her conclusion. I roll my eyes and sigh heavily, showing my irritation, hoping from this she'd understand I don't need her words. "Or you're just ignorant, and I don't usually waste my time on arseholes."
"I'm not ignorant! I just think you're annoying. Everyone else leaves me alone, why can't you?!" I pull a face, screwing my features up with a frown. Her smile just grows. What is it with her? Are all girls like this? Sylvie certainly isn't. Sylvie knows me. Sylvie knows how to talk to me. Sylvie understands me.
"I can go if you like..." She releases my wrist, yet stays walking beside me. I don't answer.

I'm defeated.

"Where are we going?" I sigh, kicking at the floor carelessly, tripping over my untied shoelaces in the process. My gaze slides discretely to Bec's wrist, trying to decipher the upside down time on her watch. I don't know what time Sylvie meant for me to go to the churchyard, and I don't know if I want to go. Surely if I'm checking the time, the idea of visiting it must appeal to me. The watch disappears from sight and Bec's looks at the watch herself, suddenly looking a little panicked. This time, I'm baffled by her lack of reply. No response, except a pick up in pace, and I'm nearly jogging after her to keep up.

"Hurry up!" She puffs, not looking back to me.

I stop as she disappears behind a gate. I don't want to follow anymore. I know I probably should. For some reason I know exactly why she's made haste towards the church grounds. I still don't want to follow. I know exactly which memorial she's visiting. Sylvie would want me to follow.

"Are you coming, or not?" Bec's head pops around the wooden gate and she holds her hand out for mine. I close my eyes and look to the floor. "Good." She takes my outstretched hand and pulls me inside.

I feel I'm about to meet someone else.