At fourth period; the squad met at the U, snacking on sandwiches and chips. Inez, however, was carefully eating her salad.
"So, are we still goin' with the same plan?" Slyder asked, recalling a few days earlier as the gang decided how to go incognito in Cyberspace.
"Yeah, no delays. I was lucky to just be feeling a bit better...only a little." As he clutched his left arm. Jackie's, intuitions kicked in.
"Don't tell me those guys ganged up on you this morning?!" Matt said nothing as he averted his glance. Jackie got up. "THAT'S IT!"
"Calm down Jacks'" Inez told her as she took a breath and sat down beside Slyder. He gave her a reassuring pat.
"I already took care of them." Matt said darkly as he glared at the step with a gum stomped fat.
"What you mean...took care of them?" Inez frowned.
"'An eye for an eye,'" Matt quoted as Inez held her breath.
"Matt!" Jackie groaned.
"You're going to get suspended on the first week of school. Do you know how much trouble you can get in now?" Slyder shook his head. "Maybe expelled."
"It was self-defense. And it was three against one. If I do get suspended I can always pull up my grades. Don't miss me too much." He grinned mildly.
The gang sat in silence. Matt knew that even though he's barely made it to the end of the week; it will not be any easier trying to survive through the rest of senior year. He had a feeling someone was writing his life story; making decisions for him and making things harder and more impossible; to the extent that it finally kills him. He felt he's being solely punished for doing something, and that to set everything right; he'll have to be sacrificed someday.
He would be ready for that. As the hardest departure would be leaving Inez.
"What's the pre-plan?" Slyder asked. Matt flinched; he didn't think of a plan beforehand. It might sound odd, but it was better to have a Plan A, B and C.
"I'm not sure; we need to do a little...scavenger hunting before we decide to storage and pack things there. Just wear the watches." Matt told him. "I don't mind you guys sleeping over either."
"I'm down." Jackie grinned. "I feel a bit excited; all of us finally going back all these years."
"Yeah; it's been a while. Let's hope for the best." As Inez put out a hand. The others followed as they did their group huddle and dispersed. As part of their routine, Inez and Matt awkwardly walked side by side.
"Matt...don't get hurt anymore." Inez pleaded.
"I don't understand." He replied nonchalantly.
"Matthew." Inez got serious. They both stopped in the middle of the hallway; the crowds move their way around them.
"Sorry; you made it seem like I attend on hurting myself." Matt chided.
"That's not what I mean...I meant, staying out of trouble. You're in danger obviously. So it would be smarter if you walked with us for now." Inez told him. As she turned around, she felt a grip.
Matt grabbed her wrist.
"Is that what you think?" He asked her. "That it would just be smarter, or does that mean more in-depth?"
Inez pretended that she was dense.
"What is more to that?" Inez insisted.
Matt was getting frustrated, "I heard you yesterday Inez. I'm not dense or dumb." He ran a hand through his hair. "And you're not either."
"So I can't ask why?"
"Because you know the answer. Why can't you say it?" He raised his voice.
"Say...what?" Inez helplessly stared into Matt's eyes, silently challenging him realizing that her confidence and fearlessness was dwindling by his hot blue eyes. He stared right at her; trying to look deep down to the bottom of her heart and soul.
"You're my friend Inez. You can at least say you care. Is that so hard?" Matt barely whispered as he turned around, his shoulders sagged of hurt. Inez felt like an idiot. So stupid.
/
Matt had to stay for the test in his Stats and English class; both pretty much diagnostic tests he was sure he aced. Inez waited at his locker; though Matt was slightly teed off with her; he was not upset to the extent of pushing her away.
"I'm sorry for pretending to be dense earlier Matt. But,...there's a logical explanation for this..." Inez tried.
"There no logic to tell me the truth. All there is just telling me how you feel. After all; we're friends." He told her as he shoved his books in the locker. They were silent for a while. Matt remembered that he ran into Mr. Alvin briefly asking him to stop by his office.
"Look, I gotta go see Mr. Alvin." He told her as she leaned by his locker. Her pose was exactly perfect; capturing the strongest message from her and merely send his body in shivers. He inwardly slapped himself back to reality. "If you want; you can wait..."
"I don't mind." Inez told him, stepping to his side.
"Alright then." He said as they walked towards his office.
/
Matt opened the door to Mr. Alvin's office, Inez waiting outside in a chair.
"Ah, Matthew. Sit down." He told the boy, placing a folder down.
"I'm in a rush. My mom wants me home in a bit for a family dinner. It's really important." He emphasized.
"Sure Matthew. I just needed to see if you're doing alright." He smiled. Matt flinched at the familiar glint in his eye. Somewhere behind all that kindness and hospitality, this guy was no good. He felt a terrible vibe from him.
"I'm fine sure. Thanks." He grumbled.
"I'm aware that this morning there was...trouble getting to school?" He raised a brow. Matt flinched again; he knows about Max.
"Max didn't come to school. And that I was sitting in my office when I heard the commotion. Luckily my window was up, and Max didn't show up. You do realize how bad this looks? I could easily report this issue to the Dean and you will be punished severely." Mr. Alvin explained.
"Sir, all due respect I can care any less if I got suspended. I can bring up my grades pronto. As for Max; he's an outside issue. For all I know; I'm being hunted down but that, again, is none of your damn business." Matt toed up so he was nose-to-nose with Mr. Alvin, clearly seeing his skin was green. It made Matt anxiously queasy. The counselor swallowed; his eyes were hard.
"Don't worry Matthew, it will be soon when someone else finds out. And I will not try defending you." He warned.
"No. Thank you." Matt squinted as he rushed out and slammed the door. Mr. Alvin slumped into his chair; a shadow masking his eyes.
"So be it, Earthling. That was your last chance." His lips stretched as he revealed yellowing pointy teeth.
/
Matt took his bike along the walk to his house with Inez. He was going to meet Jackie and Slyder there later. Though something made him feel off. The gang wasn't trying to approach him. They probably learned their lesson and decided to draw back.
"Get on." He nodded to his bike. Inez blinked as Matt took a seat, scooting back.
"Where?" Inez asked quizzically.
"In my lap. So you won't fall back or anything. It would be faster and more convenient if you mind." Matt insisted.
"But-" Inez began to protest.
"Inez. It's a bike. Not a math problem." He laughed. That made her feel warm from her face to her chest. She breathed as she tucked her feet in and sat in between Matt's lap. She could only look at his arms and his hands tighten around the handlebars and take off. When she lifted her head; it bumped under Matt's chin as he lifted it higher.
"Sorry." She mumbled. He didn't respond as his eyes continued shifting on the road and at Inez; ensuring she was okay. It was only five minutes now that they would be there; just a bit longer.
/
Matt reached his house sooner than expected. He braked in the driveway as he accidentally leaned forward, trying to catch a breath. He merely forgot he was putting extra weight on Inez's back as he drew back and got off, mumbling sorry. Stupid.
"Come on." He nodded to the house as he unlocked the first door. He unlocked the second door; looking back to see if Inez was there, and no one was following them, and opened it.
"Good you're both here alright." Slyder checked the two. "Anyone followed?"
"Nope. The gang must've learned their lesson this morning. Though... I still got a bad feeling. I really think it would be best we all stay together tonight." Matt insisted.
"By that, you mean we should sleep in the living room?" Jackie asked slowly.
"Yeah. Just like when we were smaller." Matt grinned. "We'll do our homework; watch a movie, and then leave later on."
"Sounds like something for a Friday evening." Slyder said.
"We'll we can say we're celebrating our upcoming Friday today because of the future events. So, let's make the best of it." Matt glanced at Inez.
"Right." The other three agreed. They stood in a quad, waiting for the next thing.
"Let's eat first." Jackie insisted as her stomach agreed. Everyone else groaned as Slyder set up the television for an alien movie.
The others laughed as they sat all together filling their stomachs and watching movies; relaxing as they felt sleepy to a point they were leaning on the shoulders of one another. Matt held up his watch; it was 11:05 PM. He tilted his head looking down at Inez as she rested her head on his lap. Slyder was awake; an arm draped around a clearly knocked-out Jackie.
"So much in one night." Matt said.
"Hey, believe it or not they've worked hard since yesterday. Especially Inez...she was stressing over you...ya know." Slyder told Matt. Matt felt heavy; being that Inez was stressing over him for nothing and it made him feel guilty.
"Just ask her out Matt." Slyder sighed. Matt glanced down and at Jackie to see if they were awake.
"What?" He whispered.
"You two would be happier. I don't know what you're waiting for; but I can tell you one day you're going to regret it. Now is the time man." He insisted. He was right. Matt clearly didn't have a while to live; and for all they knew he could lose his memory all over again. Matt always thought he was putting Inez through more pain than good.
"I don't know." He shook his head. "I always caused worse more than good."
"Just try. Now's the time to change and do something different." Slyder nudge him. He checked the time; It was 11:07 PM. He knelt and scooped Jackie into his arms; snuggling into Slyder's chest softly smiling. Slyder headed to the door as Matt opened it.
"Night man." He said as he walked away. Matt watched them go; the streetlights lighting the pathway back to their neighborhood. Matt closed the door, staring at Inez as the dim lamp light illuminate the soft features of her face. His heart softens the longer he gazed upon her. He walked over and knelt beside her, watching her sleep.
"It's kinda too late to take you back home..." Matt gazed at the clock; slowly ticking past. He contemplated on what he should do; and he leaned down closer to pick Inez up in his arms.
She's so light.
He carried her upstairs, breathing lightly as he opened the door to his room. He leaned over and laid her down on the bed; drawing the covers over her knees. He tried standing up, but Inez clutched his neck tighter. She didn't want to let go.
"Stay..." Inez mumbled in her sleep. Matt froze.
Are you serious...?
Matt took a breath as he gave her an assuring pat on the head and took his place on the other side of the bed. He carefully laid on his side; aware of everything on the north side of the wall he was facing. He fell asleep; staring at the clock that read 11:43 PM.