Chapter 4

Not a word

ASTRID

Second day of school; I only ask that it not be like the first and that I never run into Mika McFly again. I caught myself thinking about that kiss on the cheek he gave me after I slapped him and, in a way, I took it as a warning. How else can I see that? I get chills just remembering his look.

“Has something happened to your cheek?” My blurred vision clears as I push aside my incongruous thoughts. April and Lizzy look at me in confusion in the huge mirror in the girls’ bathroom. I shake my head in response. Well, you’ve been hiding your hand all day as if you had a deformity, pimple… or something.

-It’s no big deal. I shrug, embarrassed by his concern. I’m not a popular girl Jackson, I’m not someone with a close bond of friends, I’m not a know-it-all or a show-off, but I do have people who care about me. Well, some.

There are also those who like to bother on a whim and those who abuse power, like Los Tres. Regarding them -or rather one of them in particular-, I have not had the privilege of taking it during the day. Of course, that wouldn’t last long until I got back to work.

I walk out of the bathroom down Jackson’s nearly deserted hallway into the dining room, where everyone is waiting for their lunch. Opening the dining room door, my eyes unconsciously glance at Mika, sitting at his reserved table with his two friends and other guys from his circle and social status. As for me, after I get my tray I look for an open position with guys who don’t stand out and don’t mind sitting next to the

Guy-Who-Tackled-Mika’s sister.

I recognize Megan at one of the tables and I don’t think twice about sit next to her. The year before, we used to talk about common interests, like photography. As soon as he sees me, his greenish eyes widen and he settles down for me to sit down.

“I wanted to talk to you, Ace!” He exclaimed with a strange expression on his face. I put the tray on the table and sit down. As you may know, our homecoming dance is coming up and I really hope to write about it on my blog, but I need an expert photographer to help me-“

“Oh no,” I interrupt. I shake my head, sticking the plastic fork into the burger. Don’t even think I’m coming to the dance, those things are not my kind of things, you understand?

“Please, Ace. Don’t be old-fashioned and help out a friend,” she pleads, pressing her palms together as if praying. His eyebrows tilt up a bit and his lower lip is like that of a small child about to cry. Let’s say yes. I take a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds.

Going to the dance is not my style, except when they have had the brilliant idea of going with a partner. And it goes without saying that I don’t have a partner for a dance like this. I’m a lone wolf and with huge glasses… I throw all the air out of my lungs and slouch more than usual.

-OK, I will go. I’ll take a few pictures and go home.

-OKAY! Megan spreads a beaming smile on her lips at my response. Sometimes I wonder why someone like her is still single. She has a row of fans on her blog and another row of students, but she has rejected them all. And of course, she has plenty of friends. I realize again that I cover the cheek that Mika kissed, but before lowering it I feel a hand grab my wrist and do it for me.

I turn scared, with the image of Mika in my head, believing that it is one more of his outbursts. Thinking he wants to make my life miserable at school. But to my surprise, I find James looking carefully at my cheek.

“What do you have, Four Eyes?” He asks, squinting his eyes and returning to his normal height, since he had crouched down a few centimeters to see me closely-

Has a mosquito bit you?

-N-no. -I blushed. I really have and I don’t understand why

- Could you…? I lower my head to signal his hand to encircle my wrist. He gives a strange laugh.

“Are you embarrassed by this?” He asks raising my hand to eye level. I turn my head in another direction so he doesn’t notice my intense tomato-colored face, but to no avail. You’re really adorable, Astrid,” he adds with a mischievous smile on his face. He lets go of my hand, however he counterattacks, squeezing my cheek with his two hands, making my mouth tiny.

“Wh-what are you doing?!” I blurt out while he laughs out loud that draw the attention of some of those present. My voice has come out like that of a plump boy because of my tight cheeks. James’s slanted eyes endear me to me and I start to laugh with difficulty. It’s normal for James to tease some of his friends like that, but he’s never done it to me. I take his hands to remove them, stopping the laughter.

As do, James lowers them and freezes as he looks over my shoulder. I turn around to look in his direction to find Mika standing behind me with his crooked smile. “Little bird,” she calls me, “thank you for giving me this yesterday.

” She takes my bow from her wrist and shows it to me. His fake casual tone is like a hint of trouble and by showing up I’m not the only one involved, as Mika has set her sights on James. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend? I bite my lower lip. James Cooper is not someone popular, but he has enough friends to have some privileges and break some other rules. However, as far as Mika is concerned, if he wanted he could do the same thing to her that Patrick did.

“He’s not my friend,” I clarify in a low tone, dragging a sense of guilt into my words. As soon as I do, I just want to disappear. Mika’s gaze falls back to mine and I can only lower my head to not look at her.

“Fine,” he murmurs. Let’s get him out of here, Birdie. He puts my lasso back on his wrist and turns toward the exit. I follow behind him silently, my conscience pricking me. At one point I feel the urge to turn to see James, but I hold back. MIKA Little Bird.

Things haven’t gotten out of control yet. I don’t like to worry about that asshole flirting with my toy. Because the brat can be very innocent and for her it could be a game between friends, but not for me… So Birdie has an admirer, who would say? It sounds like a crappy teen movie. Just seeing them made my stomach churn from so much junk together.

“What’s the name?” I ask him when I stop the car at the red light. We’re on our way to the minimarket. She cringes in her seat, bites her lip and refuses to answer.

“Tell me, Birdie.” I won’t do anything to him, he doesn’t interest me at all.

“I-I don’t know.”

“You suck at lying, little one.” I shake my head, clenching my hands on the handlebars. You’re not even good as an actress, are you good at something or are you just as useless as your silly brother?

-He raises his head wrinkling his forehead; It is evident that I have touched on a subject that you do not want. Simply put, his weak point is his brother. What a coincidence… Back at the minimarket I manage to see Michelle Wallas walk through the door. The other bump in the road and, perhaps, Chase’s newfound interest.

My best friend has forgotten about dealings with the family and has noticed who does not belong to him. Our families have entered into negotiations that would confirm a family bond by marrying Chase to Ashley, my sister. After making empty promises to my sister, he has ended up targeting a fourth-rate know-it-all. I notice him grab a magazine from the shelf by the window. I walk up to her with my best smile.

-You like cars? I ask trying to sound casual. She seems to snap out of her world, looks at the cover and then back at me, horrified. I’m sorry, I scared you… Can I help you with something? He shakes his head almost on the verge of despair, but I try to sound normal.

– Good. If you need help, just tell me. I’ll be in the box. Shit. She is just like Sister Fisher. The two equally shy and fickle.

ASTRID

I’ve been watching how Mika attends to the clients… I’m certainly speechless. His ability to talk to them and fake a smile is impressive and quite believable. The He has never done it to me. I have never cracked a smile that wasn’t mischievous and uneasy. His eyes have never fixed on me with a good intention; not even when we met for the first time. Mika is the most disturbing person I have ever seen and seems full of facets. Will I ever get to see his true personality? What kind of deed has caused him to become so undesirable to watch? The longer I examine it, the more questions pop into my head, and my fear of believing them to be true makes me shudder.

“Tell me you haven’t fallen in love with me, Little Bird,” she alludes in front of me inside the locker room. I realize you’ve been watching me. I hope that’s not what I’m thinking, because the answer will always be no. What an insinuation. How could I like such a pedantic subject? How could I like the guy who took my brother away?

“The only thing I feel towards you is revulsion,” I confess in a low but audible tone. How could fall in love with someone like you?

“You want a beating, right?” I gulp when I hear it. Before I say anything, I feel a lump in my throat that stops me. Do you think I wouldn’t dare? He asks, and in response I shake my head.

“Then close your eyes and check it out.” Mika raises her arm with her fist ready to hit me. I close my eyes tightly waiting for the impact of the blow, but I don’t feel it. Instead, I listen to his breath close to my ear.

“I wouldn’t dirty my hands with someone of your ilk, Little Bird.” I open my eyes slowly, to watch him walk away as if nothing had happened.

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