I didn't sleep that night. I couldn't. It was like the darkness was watching me, and even when I flicked on my bedroom light and closed the shutters on the windows, I still felt eyes on me, burning into my skin and eating at my flesh. Eventually though, I must have drifted off, because when I awoke the next morning, my eyes were groggy with sleep.
When I reached the bathroom, I realized I hadn't turned the heat on last night, further proof that it was all real. I welcomed the cold air that chilled my bare legs, and the cold tiles that cradled my feet as I brushed my teeth. I couldn't bring myself to do anything adventurous with my hair, and settled for just throwing it up in a pony tail. It made me look younger, more innocent, like I was a child, and I hated the look, but I didn't exactly have time for any elaborate styling.
Spitting out the toothpaste, I wiped my mouth on a tissue and trudged back into the darkness of my room. I took a minute to open up the shutters and turn on the lights. When I couldn't take the cold anymore, I slipped a pair of jeans on, and settled into a pair of black boots. Tossing off my shirt, I pulled a random one out of the closet and yanked it on. It was plain and grey and it would just have to do.
I was anxious to get to school, to see Nathan, and Kim, at least I think. It may be because I'm nervous to see Nathan, and Kim, but what did it matter? Either way I had to go.
Rushing down the stairs, I reach into the closet and slip on a black jacket as an afterthought before bracing myself for the cold and jetting into my car. I had to wait a few minutes for the engine to start, and in that time I managed to find a few peanut butter crackers in the glove compartment, after rinsing them down with the bottle of water from yesterday, that was oddly warm despite the cold weather, I was ready to go.
As soon as I got to first period, I realized what Damien had meant about seeing me tomorrow. My History teacher was absent, and in his place was Tyler, the door guy from the night before. I stand in shock for a minute before finding my seat. He glowers at me from his desk, and turns to eye the other students coming in.
He was the substitute, I knew that just by looking at him. The button down shirt, the loose fitting dark jeans. Girls moved past him in groups and giggles, some even openly staring at him, others secretly talking with their friends. He was the best looking teacher we'd ever had, and the youngest, but I couldn't imagine him being able to teach a class. He was so mean the night before. So unwelcoming, so hostile, and it was the scowl on his face that made me realize right away that he was Tyler, and not Matt or Damien. Speaking of the two, they trotted into the classroom and towards their brother.
It was weird how easily I could tell them apart now, after just one meeting. Matt wore a janitor's suit, the blue full body suit looked nice on him, with the sleeves rolled up above his elbows, and his hands cast naturally in his pockets. He looked humble, ready for work. Damien on the other hand looked anything but. He wore the same suit, except it was unzipped, and the top half was pulled down so that he could tie the sleeves around his waist, and show off his plain white undershirt that hugged his muscles. A lollipop hung carelessly from his mouth, while one hand was jammed in his pocket, the other swirling a ring of keys. He looked to the back of the class at the large group of girls there and winked.
I snorted to myself, but he looked at me anyway, a smile playing at his lips. The three talk quietly for a minute before the bell rings, and Matt and Damien exit the class. Was this about Nathan, were they here to watch over him? Make sure Jared stays away from their little brother? Make sure he doesn't get picked on? But wasn't that taking it to the extreme?
"Hey Harley, nice face." Mark, a boy who sits next to me and makes it his goal to push my buttons, chuckles out, exchanging high fives with his friends like he'd made the best joke ever.
"Sorry, you're not my type." I roll my eyes at him, glad that Tyler was at the front of the room writing on the board, or else I was sure he'd yell at me for talking in class. It seemed like he was dying for the opportunity.
History class was a blur of raised hands and Tyler scolding different girls all period for asking him questions after question about his personal life. Did he have a girl friend? Was he married? Did he want kids? Were his brothers single? What triplet was he? Could they read each others minds? The scowl never left his face the whole class, and I let out a sigh of relief when the class ended. I'd get to go to Study hall next. It was a class I shared with Nathan and Kim, and even though Paul was in it, he never seemed to bother with me in there before, but maybe today I could get him to tell me what Jared was doing with Nathan.
"Hey," I say, quiet enough for just Paul to hear, and sit down across from him at the table he occupied.
He glanced up, seemingly caught off guard. "Want to tell me what the hell is going on?" He practically spits at me, his face becoming red fast. I was taken back a moment. What the hell was he talking about? "Don't sit there with your mouth hanging open, you look stupid." He says, and glances around the room again. I feel my lips snap together and narrow my eyes at him.
"What are you and Jared doing with Nathan?" I ask, the accusation clear in my voice.
"Me?" He stares at me for a minute, as if he's trying to figure something out. "I don't know what's going on either. One minute we're flinging peas into Jackie Clens hair and the next minute he's saying we're not friends anymore." Paul says, and I realize that neither of the boys we speak of are here. Neither of them came to school today. Both of them are missing. My brows furrow at Paul's words, an I take a minute to decide if I should trust him.
"Same thing happened with Nathan last night. It's just weird." I say as I watch Kim walk into the library and look around for me. She's got that perplexed look on her face like she always got when she had a fight with her parents the night before. And as much as I loved her, I really didn't feel like hearing about her family problems at the moment. Luckily, she was sidetracked watching Damien stroll through the library, swinging keys and whistling a catchy tune. Not even the librarian was hushing him, and I wondered where Matt was. Off doing the required work load I'm sure.
"So you don't know what's going on?" Paul asks again scrutinizing my face for answers.
"I was hoping you did." I admit, and cross my arms over my chest. I pull away from the table and relieve Kim from her misery. I call out to her, and we sit at our own table. As she starts to ramble about her mother being a crazy bitch, I let my mind wander. My eyes find Paul across the room, and for a moment I get that pity feeling for him again.
Without Jared, he sat all alone. And, because he never really studied, he was stuck sitting around watching everyone else laugh and work and chat. "We should go sit with him." I tell Kim, and she looks at me sourly. Whether because I interrupted her rant, or because she didn't like the suggestion I wasn't sure. But she packed up her things anyway and led the way to his table, plopping down and setting her things back up on the table.
"We were just talking about what movie to see tonight, know anything good?" Kim asks him, like he's one of our good friends and knows everything about movies. Like he's Nathan.
Paul just looks at us blankly so Kim shrugs and turns back to me. "I think that new space one looks good. Or maybe we should just grab something to eat, I've been craving Italian food for days. It's my p-e-r-I-o-d craving it if you know what I mean." She says as if Paul can't spell, and I feel my cheeks blush a dark pink.
"Sounds fun." Paul comments, and I look at him. Was he making conversation? Or asking for an invite? Grimacing a bit, I offer for him to come.
"I'd love to." He says, not breaking eye contact with me. Obviously he didn't get that I was just being nice.
"Ugh," Kim groans obnoxiously, completely oblivious to the awkward situation. She twirls a piece of hair around her finger and stares down at her text book.
When the bell rings after a couple minutes of awkward silence, I jet out of the room and finish my classes in a haze of homework and projects.
"Chase!" A voice calls and it takes me a minute to recognize it before I turn around.
"Matt?" I ask, but then a sly grin slips onto the guys face and I realize it's Damien. He's changed into a pair of jeans, but his white tee shirt still clings to him as he jogs to catch up with me.
"Hey, Matt actually wanted me to come tell you thanks or whatever for yesterday. And Sorry he threw you out like we did." The apology seems strange but I nod and smile anyway, because I can't seem to find words when I'm around these triplets. "Anyway, you should come by tonight or something. Matt's making you a big dinner." A grin crept up his face again and I had to stop myself from staring at him.
"Sure thanks." I blurt and watch his retreating form before I climb into my car and pull out of the parking lot.