I wanted to be anywhere but here. I had already managed to bag myself detention because I wasn’t paying attention. Mr. Laird was one of my favourite teachers too, but I guess his day was going as good as mine.
I took the detention on the chin and tried my best to concentrate on the work in front of me. It was a good job my parents worked late. My mom would freak if she knew I had gotten in trouble.
My head wasn’t in it today. I was too busy worrying about Alice and if she was okay. She was head over heels for Tommy and he didn’t feel the same. If he did, he would give her what she wanted. I felt sad for her, but she knew what she was getting herself into.
I just had to be there. I would be the friend she needed to get through this.
As the bell sounded, I packed away my stuff and headed for the cafeteria, first stopping by my locker to put my things away. I’m quite sure my jaw was ajar, my eyes staring wide.
Alice was here. Wrapped up in Tommy once again blocking my locker.
I swear this girl was going to give me whiplash. One minute she hated him and the next she was all over him. I couldn’t keep up. But that was the last straw for me. She was on her own when it came to Tommy from now on. I was no longer taking anything to do with it.
She obviously knew what she was doing.
I didn’t bother stopping I would switch out my books after lunch. Entering the cafeteria, I was already looking for him. I tried not to, but I couldn’t help myself. Like always he was sat in his usual spot surrounded by his friends and more than a few girls.
Rolling my eyes I joined the lunch queue hoping they had pizza on the menu. I skipped breakfast so I was more than ready for lunch. I stuffed my hands into my pockets searching for my money when I remembered about the note.
With my money in one hand, I unfolded the note frowning at what was written.
‘Meet me by the bleachers after school’
“What’s that face for?”.
I shook my head, quick to discard of the note shoving it back into my pocket. “I see Alice is here”.
“Aye darling”. He took hold of my elbow and pushed me to the front of the queue. “Said she was running late”.
I wished he wouldn’t keep doing that. I took a piece of pizza and grabbed a can of coke. “I see her and Tommy made up”. I found an empty table and sat down.
“Only one way that’ll end. Hope she knows that”. He spoke sitting across from me.
I shrugged. “It’s none of my business. She can do what she wants”.
“You’re learning”. He smirked. “Best you take fuck all to do with it”.
A sigh fell from my lips as I started eating my lunch. I wanted to disagree with him, but I couldn’t because he was right. How many times was she going to go through this?
Her and Tommy weren’t right for each other. I would always be there for her, but it was constant, and I refused to get involved anymore.
“You wanna skip after lunch?”. He asked.
“No”. I frowned.
We may be seeing each other but I wouldn’t be falling into his bad habits of skipping school. I wanted to graduate at the end of it and falling behind was only going to keep me back.
I could already feel myself slipping and that had never happened before. I had always been focused and in front of my work. But recently I had been occupying my time with other things.
“Not even last period?”. He grinned.
“Can’t I have detention”. I made a face. “And I have a book report due soon so skipping wouldn’t be the best idea right now”.
A laugh fell from his lips. “Detention again princess. What’d you do this time?”.
“Wasn’t listening”. I chewed the inside of my cheek. “Too busy worrying about Alice”.
“She ain’t a good friend darling. Only wants you when she needs something”.
“So, you’ve said”. I sighed. “I’m going to head to the library before next class starts. I need to pick up a few books”.
“Do you wanna come to the clubhouse tonight?”. He asked.
“I don’t know Franko. I have to make a start on this book report, and I’ve been out the last few nights. I don’t want to fall behind”.
“Okay princess”. He gave me a nod. “But if you change your mind, drop by and we’ll hang out”.
Why did I want to sack the book report and go hang out with him? Why suddenly was he the only person I wanted to spend time with? I couldn’t get enough of him and honestly, I didn’t see it as a bad thing.
“Okay”. I smiled. “Maybe I’ll see you later”.
I still had 20 minutes left of lunch. That gave me enough time to stop by my locker and have a quick look around the library. I had yet to see Alice again but knowing her she’d have probably skipped out with Tommy.
I hoped for her sake that Franko wasn’t right, and Tommy wouldn’t break her heart for good. I reached my locker and swapped out my books before making my way to the library.
It was basically empty only a few people hanging around studying. I had to find a book I wanted to study and be able to draft an essay on. But there was so many to choose from and not having a topic only made it harder.
It could literally be anything.
I rummaged through the romance section stopping when I came across Pride and Prejudice. A classic love story and a book I have read several times. It could be a possibility.
I moved along my eyes darting about looking for other options. I grabbed To Kill a Mockingbird and just as I was about to grab another, I felt a presence behind me.
“Knew you were smart”.
I turned taking a step back.
“Marko?”. I frowned.
“How you doing darling?”. He asked.
“You don’t go here”. I made a face.
A laugh fell from his lips. “I don’t but I like dropping by when I’m in town. You dropping by the clubhouse tonight?”.
I shook my head no. Jen told me that Marko was only ever in town when something was going on. Was there something happening? Is that why Franko asked me to come tonight?
“Boo”. He frowned.
“Is something going on?”. I asked.
“Why cause I’m here?”. He smirked.
I nodded.
“Nah darling this is a family visit”.
I felt myself relax a little bit. The last thing I needed was to be held up in a clubhouse for god knows how long.
“Does Franko know you’re here?”. I found it strange that he was here talking to me. He didn’t look like the library type and for him to know I was in here was weird.
“Not yet darling I was on my way to find him when I spotted you. You and him together now?”. He asked.
Were we? I mean we weren’t official or anything, but I didn’t plan on seeing anyone else. I couldn’t speak for him, but I think he felt the same.
“Yeah, I think we are”. I held the books to my chest my eyes darting to the clock on the wall. Class was due to start in 5 minutes.
“Don’t let me keep you princess”. He spoke.
“Why did you ask that?”.
“Seeing if I had a shot darling but Franko’s bet me to it. You have a good day”. He winked before turning around and walking away.
That full interaction was weird. Marko being in this school was weird. I shook it off and left the library. I had to concentrate for the rest of the day. I couldn’t be thinking about Franko or Marko, or anything related to them, or I was going to end up with more than one detention.
…
I wasn’t expecting Franko to be waiting for me at the end of the day. He was leaning against my locker staring at the floor. He seemed deep in thought.
“Hey”. I approach him placing my bag on the floor.
“You got something to tell me?”. He asked.
I had no idea what he was talking about. I hadn’t seen him since lunch. Unless he was expecting me to tell him about Marko? If not, I didn’t have a clue.
“Is this about Marko?”. I frowned.
His eyebrows furrowed. “The fuck has Marko got to do with this?”.
In his hand was the note that someone left for me on my desk. Wait, how did he have that? I could have sworn it was in my jacket pocket.
“I don’t know who it’s from”. I spoke.
“You didn’t think to tell me?”. He glared.
“I didn’t think I needed to”. Why was he making such a big deal out of this? It was a stupid note, it didn’t mean anything.
“So, someone leaving you a note asking you to meet them outside isn’t a big deal?”.
I didn’t like the way he was speaking to me. I didn’t like his tone; in fact, he was starting to piss me off. I wasn’t stupid enough to take the note seriously. I would never have done what it asked.
“I’m not stupid Franko and I don’t appreciate you speaking to me like that”. I wasn’t like the other girls he hung around with. I wouldn’t let him speak to me like crap.
I wouldn’t stand for it.
“Shit like this happens you gotta tell me”. He took a step closer, and I let him. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you”. He placed a kiss on my forehead as he wrapped an arm around my waist. “You’re too important to me Aubrey”.
He was blowing this way out of proportion. Nothing was going to happen to me. There was no reason for someone to hurt me. I get that he wanted to protect me, but I didn’t need it. I was in no danger.
I bet the note wasn’t even for me. I wasn’t the only one that occupied that chair.
“I have detention”. I spoke. “I can’t be late, or I’ll get another one”.
“Just one more thing”. His arm slipped from my waist as he put some distance between us. “The fuck did you mention Marko for?”.
Ah, and there I thought he had forgotten about that.