"I can't believe I'm so happy to be in school on a Monday," Ashton says from behind me.
I chuckle. "Me too."
"My parents would've been so proud of me if they were seeing me now," he continues.
"You bet," I say shutting the locker. "So our plan is finally working, huh?"
Ashton grins only.
We walk to our second class together, which happens to be English lit with Mrs. Roth. This is also the only class where we have all of our friends together.
This morning has been so far the best week of the year. You're wondering why?
Because there was no newspaper swapping today.
As unbelievable as it sounds like, it's the truth. Though it was obvious. Mrs. Roth handed the papers to Ms. Glenda herself. So there's no way they could've changed the paper between the handing.
Now we have to catch those delinquents only.
"Nice morning, huh?" Miles asks when we get in Mrs. Roth's class.
"The best," Ashton says. "This calls for a celebration!"
My eyes widen. Oh no.
"Is someone talking about throwing a party?" Owen's head pops out from behind us.
"Ashton's throwing a party?" Nyako asks, coming after him.
"Ashton's throwing a party? Why didn't I know about it until now?" Asher frowns.
Boys.
But then half of the class turns to us. "Party?"
I glare at Ashton. "Look what you've done."
He surrenders. "Hey! I'm innocent here." Then grins at others. "Honestly that's a great idea, but unfortunately I'm kind of grounded. Which means no tv, no mobile at home, no laptop, and do all the chores."
"You mean your staying-out-till before-dinner grounded?" I point.
His grin widens. "Actually that was pretty much the plan. My parents grounded me a thousand hours, knowing I won't be staying home anyway. So counting days would be ridiculous. They even bought some kind of machine to count my hours."
"And how many hours have you completed?" I ask.
"Not even a hundred," Ashton says and frowns.
"Dude that sucks," Asher says. "How come you're still alive?"
I want to hear the answer to that question too.
Ashton just winks. "That's a secret." As expected. Ashton avoided the talk about his life at home.
Lately, I've noticed something. Ashton knows everything about me. He even knows about the ongoing fight between my parents that no one else knows, not even Miles.
But the only two things I know about Ashton are that he has a little sister who's name is Riley and that he lives a few streets away from my house; not even the number of his house.
I also noticed that Owen and Nyako never show any interest when it comes to Ashton's life at home. It feels like they know something that no one else knows about Ashton's family.
But of course, they do, they're his best friends.
I've been so engulfed in my own thoughts that I don't notice someone approaching me until he calls my name.
"Kiara?" I blink my eyes and find Derek standing before me. "Can we talk?" He asks with a hopeful look in his eyes.
I open my mouth. "Uh-"
"It won't take long I promise."
"Kiara you don't have to," I look over his shoulder and find Miles scowling at him along with Ashton and his friends.
I give them a tight smile. "It's okay guys." Then I turn back to the boy in front of me. "You have five minutes."
Even though I'm supposed to be mad at him for ditching me and keeping all those things away from me, I would like to hear what he has to say.
Derek nods and gestures to me to follow him out. I feel the heat of someone's gaze on me but choose to ignore it.
"So," Derek says once we're out of everyone's earshot.
"You never told me you go to parties," I cut him. "Or the fact you threw a party at your place last summer."
Derek's eyes shot wide. "Kiara-"
"Why didn't you tell me? Did you really think just because I don't like to go to parties anymore I would've stopped you?"
Derek presses his lips tight. I look at him in disbelief. "Do you really think that low of me?"
This catches Derek's attention and he takes my hands in his. "No Kiara, I-I-"
"You what?"
Derek sighs and tightens his grip on my hands. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to lose you."
"Lose me?"
He nods and looks at me into the eyes. "I thought you would hate me and then break up with me. I didn't want that to happen," he says. "I genuinely like you."
I let out a humorless laugh. "So you choose to lie to me in fear of losing me?"
Derek hangs his head low. "I'm sorry," he says. "I didn't think-"
"That I would ever hear about it?"
"That and the fact that things would go this far," Derek sighs. "And about the party last summer, it was Emery's idea," he continues. "He thought it would be good for my reputation among our teammates. And it all paid off once Ashton was out of the team and the majority voted me to be the captain."
"Emery?"
He nods. "Yes."
Although I never hung out with Derek's friends much, I knew that Emery is always the quietest one of the group.
And the sharpest too, my subconscious mind says.
It's true, I don't know why, but it always felt like he never liked me much. All the times Derek invited me with his friends, he always used to glare in my direction when he thought I wasn't watching. He's the main reason why I stopped hanging out with his friends.
However, I never told Derek about it. Because Emery is his best friend ever since they were kids. I didn't want to be the reason for starting a fight between two best friends.
And did Derek just say Emery wanted him to throw the party for his reputation? Did he-
No, that can't be it. Emery is smart, clever, but not cunning.
"I'm really really sorry Kiara," Derek says, breaking me out of my thoughts. "I promise I'll keep anything away from you."
I look Derek in his eyes. I do that often because the words that come out of a human's mouth can lie, but eyes can't.
And right now, Derek does look sorry for what had happened. And I feel a bit bad about it too. Derek was always supportive of me. Okay, maybe he has been keeping away a lot lately, but it's not exactly his fault. I've been busy with college applications too.
I sigh and give out a small smile. "Promise you'll never keep a secret from me?"
My words make Derek smile. He nods his head and kisses the side of my forehead. "Promise."
I smile too, though it doesn't turn out as much genuine as I was hoping it to be.
"And about last weekend-"
"Shh," I press a hand over his lips. "You don't have to explain yourself."
"But-"
"But nothing," I cut him off. "What has happened, happened. Let's forget about all of it and not keep secrets anymore."
Derek stiffens for a moment, though it can be my imagination only.
He engulfs me in a hug and buries his face in my hair. "I'm sorry again babe."
The nickname reminds me of someone I don't want to think about right now.
"It's alright Derek."
"But there's one thing I don't get," Derek says. "Who told you about it?"
"About the fact you go to the parties?"
Derek nods. "Was it Ashton?"
"Why would it be Ashton?" I snort. I don't tell him that Ashton was the one who was keeping it away from me. "It was Cora."
Derek nods and kisses my forehead one last time before pulling back. "See you in chemistry?"
I nod.
ð¸
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