Chapter Sixty : Snake In My Boot

A/N Hi lovelies. I didn't know what to put as the title so i chose that one haha! also sorry for the late update, i said friday but it's saturday 12:34am here, so technically still friday? Also I made an Instagram! b_nryans

A chill ran down my spine at the thought of Eva checking up on us. But I was more annoyed than anything else this time around. I was in my last year of high school and I wasn't about to let anyone ruin it.

"Hey, where are you guys?" I asked Jane over the phone as I sat at the mall's cafeteria.

"Look over your left shoulder." She replied. I turned around to find her, Gemma and Michael walking towards me from the entrance. The only reason I spotted them right away was because Gemma was jumping up and down, waving frantically with a smile.

"Let's head to the costume store before all the good ones are gone." Michael said as he ushered us down the elevator. Mr.Zoomies Halloween store was well known and it was the number one stop whilst looking for Halloween costumes, I just wasn't sure which to choose.

"How about, Romeo and Juliet?" Gemma asked with a grin.

"I am not about the dress life." I replied with a chuckle as I shuffled through a rack of costumes.

"I got it!" Michael exclaimed from behind me.

"The three musketeers!" He said, beaming as he held the matching costumes in front of himself. I chuckled and couldn't find the heart to say no to his smiling face.

"Perfect." I chuckled, taking one of them from him.

"Dakota can't say no to this idea, it's genius."

"I think you're mixing up the three musketeers with the three blind mice." Jane said, unable to hide her grin.

"Ha. Ha." Michael glowered.

"I've found my costume." Gemma said, holding a frilly pink dress.

"I'm Shego." Jane turned around with a black and neon green body suit.

"Who's that?" Gemma asked with an arched brow.

"A Kim Possible chara- you know what, never mind." Jane chuckled and walked to the check out. We followed behind like ducklings and paid for our costumes.

We sat in the mall cafeteria, stuffing our faces with as much food as we could, or maybe that was only Michael and I. I chased down a bite of a taco with some soda, letting out a burp afterwards.

"Sorry." I patted my stomach with content. I cleared my throat, debating if it was worth telling them about the email Eva sent. There wasn't anything they could do, so what was the point? I didn't want to share my troubles with them, I felt like it caused them stress, like I caused them stress. I decided to keep it to myself, wolfing down another taco.

"Spit it out." Jane said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Spit my taco out? Why?" I chuckled.

"No, the thing you're not telling us."

"Jane." I said, and for a moment I couldn't say anything, flabbergasted. No matter how long Jane and I had known each other, her intuition would always amaze me. I'd never met anyone like her. She was a one of a kind person, and someone I was forever grateful to.

"You're the only person that ever gives me straight up chills Jane." Michael said with a shudder.

"It's Eva. I think she's spying on me and Dakota or something." I said with a sigh. Jane glared off into the distance, as if planning something diabolical.

"It's fine, Jane, really. It doesn't bother me." It was partially true.

"I won't do anything, I promise. I won't." She said with a sly grin. I shook my head, letting out a soft chuckle.

"That's way creepy." Michael said as wrapped his arm Gemma

"Yeah, I mean that means she goes to the school and spies or it's another student." Gemma said and I had to be honest I was slightly shocked at her response.

"I just don't want to think too much about it." I said with a shrug.

🏈

The next day at school, I didn't mention anything about Eva's email to Dakota. Eva was only bringing up the past and I didn't want to remind Dakota of it. He was moving on, he was getting better and I wanted it to stay that way. We met at the auditorium after classes, ready for another day of volunteer work. It was an excuse to see him more often.

"Hey, guys." Riley said as we walked up to the paint cart.

"Hey, Riley." We greeted him in unison.

"Almost done, we just need these trees and wave props painted." He said as he motioned up to the stage. I nodded and got to work, Dakota followed closely behind.

"Hey, can you pass me the brown paint." I said to Dakota. He nodded, turning away to grab the paint bucket and when he turned back I planted a rough peck on his unsuspecting lips.

"Oh." He flushed red and let out a soft chuckle. I smiled with a wink in response before grabbing the paint from him. I dunked my brush into it and smeared it across the trunk of the wooden tree prop, getting back to work.

If Eva was going to stalk us, I was going to give her something to look at.

🏈

"Today was supposed to be the last day but unfortunately some props were damaged last night so we'll need a few volunteers for tomorrow." Riley said with his clipboard in hand. No one spoke up to offer their help and I couldn't help but feel bad for him. I raised my hand, along with Jane, Gemma and Michael.

"Great! See you guys tomorrow." He said and the group of teenagers disbanded, scurrying out of the auditorium.

"You can't help out tomorrow?" I asked Dakota as we exited the school.

"No, I have this thing with my mom after school. Sorry." He replied with a apologetic look in his eyes.

"No biggie." I shrugged.

We walked hand and hand on the walk home, something I would never get tired of. I was never the type of person to care about soulmates or destiny or fate but I was beginning to think maybe, just maybe, Dakota and I were meant to be together. No matter how childish it sounded, I was starting to believe it. Was it chance or destiny that his mother and mine stayed friends for so long that we were raised together.

I think we were soulmates.

🏈

"Should we sign up for something?" I asked Dakota as we stared at the board of after school club flyers.

"I seriously don't think any of this stuff is for me." He replied with a chuckle.

"Yeah, me either." I sighed as I walked away.

"What's wrong?" He ran up behind me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"I don't know. I mean, I feel like all I know is football and now that it's off season, I feel like an idiot for not getting into other stuff."

"Hey, that's okay. I'm in the same boat remember?" He chuckled.

"We'll find something. I promise." He said as he dragged a finger along my jawline.

🏈

Volunteer work felt bittersweet as I worked alone. I had Gemma and Michael and Jane but it wasn't the same. Not without Dakota.

"Hey." Riley stood beside me as I painted an apple on a tree, which looked more like a red ball instead.

"Hi, Riley." I greeted him with a tight lipped smile.

"Dakota couldn't make it today?" He asked as he dunked his brush into a can of paint.

"No, he was busy." I said, talking and painting at the same time.

"You two are dating, correct?" He asked without looking at me.

"Yeah." I replied with an arched brow.

"That's a shame because.." He paused, leaning closer to me.

"You're actually pretty cute, Luka." He said in a soft whisper.

I stammered, not sure what to say as the hairs on my arms raised up.

"I need bathroom." I spit out incoherently before running out the auditorium. I turned on washroom faucet and stuck my hands underneath. It wasn't that I found Riley disgusting, he was pretty decent in the looks department but if he knew Dakota and I were together, why bother?

Maybe I was overreacting, something I knew I was good at.

I took my time in the bathroom, hoping that by the time I got back that most of the props were finished. I took in a deep breath as I opened the door to the auditorium. Riley was no where in sight and I felt relieved. He ruined a completely idle acquaintanceship between the two of us.

"Hey, where'd you go?" Michael asked as I started painting again, standing beside him instead of on my own.

"Bathroom, upset stomach if you know what I mean." I said as I patted my stomach. He nodded with an understanding look in his eyes. We finished the rest of the props at just the right time. I was grateful I no longer had to see Riley other than in class and the hall. I glared at him from a distance as he stood with his clipboard in hand.

"Thanks you guys really. For your great work, the school has offered to give away ticket to the play, free of charge." He said with a beaming smile as he handed us each two tickets.

"Great!" Gemma squealed with giddiness.

"Thanks." I muttered as Riley handed me the tickets.

"No, thank you." He said with a wink. What the hell was this guy's problem?

A/N I feel like I'm losing touch with my characters, you know what I mean? As if, they're completely different characters now after returning to writing and I hate it. Anyone have any tips? Or am I being to critical? Any way, sorry for the rant, don't forget to vote, comment and tell me what you think! :)