Chapter 92 Conflicted
1503words
Considering we were in geography class, instructed by a strict teacher to study in silence, it was a ballsy move.
Mr. Wright glared briefly at whoever was responsible, his lips drawn in a stiff line before he glanced back down to resume whatever he'd been working on.
It wasn't until most of the students had returned to their work, did I peer over my shoulder to find Poppy staring at me.
I'd been trying to reach out to her since the incident at the dance, but it was as if the revelation had turned her against me.
I offered her a smile, only to receive a scowl in return. My shoulders sagged, and I turned to face the front.
I had lost two of my friends.
I ran into Ella before class, and she was chattier than ever. Nothing had changed with her.
Wish I could say the same of Ember and Poppy. I sighed, clicking my ballpoint pen in frustration.
Mr. Wright cleared his throat, dragging the sound as he pushed it out. I found him glaring at me.
I gave him an apologetic look and resumed my work in silence.
My day had been uneventful, until lunch. I barely rounded the corner into the cafeteria when a foot sprouted out of nowhere and I flew face forward. A shriek escaped me, before arms hugged in front of my chest and tugged me up onto my feet.
My heart was loud inside my ears, I twisted around to find Kayn cursing out Belinda.
I rolled my eyes, not bothering to pick a fight with her or Kayn, and headed for my table. However, it wasn't until I drew closer, seeing the tight expression of Poppy that I made a beeline for another empty table across the room.
Ember wasn't in the cafeteria yet, and Ella was sitting with Poppy. Ella offered me an apologetic smile and I returned one of my own, before sitting down.
I barely had time to get comfortable when Kayn dumped his tray on the table and sat down across from me.
"Really?" I scowled at him. "Don't you think you've done enough damage? Or are you here to cause even more?"
A frown marred his forehead. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sitting alone. What do you think?"
"No you're not," he quipped. "I'm sitting with you."
I snorted, speaking in a flat tone, "You hardly count as someone."
"Ouch."
"What do you want?" I asked as I picked up my fork, stabbing my mac and cheese with it.
"Just to check on you," he supplied. "Belinda giving you trouble again?"
"I can deal with her."
"Oh?" His brows rose. "Does planting flat on your face count as dealing with her?"
"I didn't ask you for your help."
"No, but you clearly needed it," he deadpanned.
I sighed, stuffing a forkful of mac into my mouth. The cold pasta was better than arguing with him anyway.
Kayn also dug into his meal. He didn't utter another word, passing me enquiring glances in between, until he finished and placed down his fork. He sat back in his seat, crossing his arms and staring at me.
"What?" I asked after forcing down a lump of mac. "Why do you keep looking at me like you're about to dump a bomb on me?"
He sighed, leaning closer across the table and speaking in a low voice, "So, any new developments on your mom and the AOUB?"
"Oh." I placed down my fork and took a sip from my vanilla milk. "Yeah. They want her to come into their office on Wednesday."
"Are they considering hiring her?"
"I don't know," I shrugged. "But she's making it sound like they might. She can't stop talking about that Janice woman."
"Good."
"Doesn't mean she's getting hired," I said. "Janice seemed very interested in my mom's findings. Including my mom's encounter with the ever-timid Kraken. Janice actually questioned me before they left."
Kayn's eyes bulged. "And you're only telling me this now? What did you tell her?"
"That I don't remember a thing, of course," I huffed. "She wants me to come in on Wednesday with Mom because apparently, they have a lab and some machine that can encourage memory."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"What did you say?" he asked.
"I told her I had to study for exams and don't care about remembering such a thing if it ever happened."
"Good." His posture relaxed.
"However, my mom keeps nagging me to go," I heaved out a sigh. "But I made it clear to her that I don't want to go."
"What if she makes you go?" he stiffened. "I can ask my grandpa to step in if it resorts to that."
"Thanks." I meant it. I knew Hector had the ability of persuasion and calmness. Though, I think his talents were a bit rusty. "I don't think she'd force me. My mom's not like that."
"But she put you in danger when she went out with her crew looking for trouble."
"She didn't expect a Kraken, Kayn. She still can't stop apologizing for what happened," I insisted. "Yes, she's bat crazy over her cryptids, but she would never deliberately put me in harm's way, or force me into situations that are too uncomfortable."
"I hope not." He frowned. "Wait…"
"What?"
"Maybe you should go," his face brightened.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"No, think about it," he continued. "If you can get in there with your mom, you can get an inside look and maybe even find some information that could help us."
"I don't know—"
"You can lie after and just say you still don't remember a thing," he said.
"Or, I could tell her I managed to swim back to shore myself and remember SpongeBob chasing me?" I supplied.
He laughed. It was amazingly genuine and I couldn't help but smile. "You could do that." He straightened. "Actually, I dare you to. Just take a picture of that woman's face when you do. I'd love to see it."
I bit down the smile. "Maybe I will."
"You still didn't tell me what Rake wanted the other day." Kayn's jaw ticked at the mention of the fairy's name.
"Nothing. He was just being annoying," I said.
"Just annoying?" It only seemed to irk Kayn even more. "Don't you always claim me to be annoying?"
"Oh my word," I sputtered a laugh. "As in you think he's trying to make a move on me and I keep turning him down, kind of annoying."
"Yes," he said flatly.
"No, Kayn, he didn't."
Kayn's body tensed. "Then what did he want?"
"Nothing."
"I have no problem snapping him into two." Then I felt it. The ugly green monster making its rear like a jab in the gut.
"Wow, you're having trouble keeping your emotions in check," I snorted a laugh. "Jealous of a fairy?"
"I don't like him going near you."
"Afraid of him being more annoying than you?" I teased.
"I'm serious. You can't trust him."
"I'm not stupid if that's what you think. Hence also why I told you to go to hell."
"You're moody today," he huffed.
"No, I'm just moody with you around." I offered him a deliberate smile. "What can I say? You just know how to bring out the worst in me."
"Well, if it helps—" Splat.
Cheesy pasta covered Kayn's head, with Belinda standing beside him, sneering. "That's what you get for being an unreliable jackass."
I covered my mouth, fighting the laughter bubbling from my chest. "Oh. My. Word."
"This is for me and for Ember," she bit out, and her eyes flicked to me. "This would have been you. But, you can thank your lucky stars. I hate him more than I hate you right now. Keep pushing your luck though, and I promise I'll make your life a living hell."
Just like that Belinda spun on her heels and stalked away, her hips swaying excessively.
I dropped my hand, unrestrained laughter peeling from me. "This is freaking hilarious."
I fished for my cell phone in my pocket, switching on the screen to take a picture. I barely managed to lift my phone when a ball of mac and cheese struck my cheek.
"Ew." I flinched, wiping the goo from my skin. I glared at a smirking Kayn. "Seriously?"
Another handful of food flew my way, which I thankfully managed to dodge. "Oh, is this how it's going to be?"
I dropped my phone onto the table and gathered enough mac to form a decent-sized ball and launched it at him.
I'd regret the food war later when I'd try to get the mac and cheese out of my hair. Which I could tell you, was no joke.
