Falling For The Suspect ✔️

Chapter 3 ~ Sage

SAGE'S POV

*one week later*

I sigh. Today is the day. The day I've been dreading for the past few days. My first day at my new school.

I look at my new school uniform and slightly adjust my skirt. It's not terrible but it's not fabulous either. I gather my chestnut coloured hair in my hands and braid it. I grab an elastic, fixing my hair in place.

I make my way to the kitchen where my father is sitting eating a slice of toast. He doesn't even notice my presence, too busy fixated with some papers in his hand.

"Morning Dad," I say, giving him a fright.

"Oh, good morning sweetie. Are you excited for your first day?" He asks, turning his attention back to the papers.

"Thrilled!" I exclaim sarcastically.

"That's the spirit," he chuckles.

I grab an apple and sit down across from him. "Is that to do with the missing boy?" I ask taking a bite.

"Yes, just going over the case before I go into the office today. It's very strange," he says, muttering the last part.

Strange sounds right. From what I know (which are just basic details) the disappearance seems very odd. Brett Reed a 17-year-old wealthy boy went missing a week ago. He never returned home after school that day and no one has heard anything since.

"Well, I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it. Now I must get going. I don't want to be late on my first day," I say, picking my school bag up.

"Have fun and make some friends!" My Dad shouts out as I make my way to the front door.

"Hmmm, I'll think about it," I shout back, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

Being the new student arriving half way through the school year is not my idea of a great start. I look at the time on my phone. 7:50 am. School doesn't start until 8:40. That means I have plenty of time to get to school, figure out where I'm going and maybe make some friends. Maybe.

My main priority is to blend in. Maple High is the only high school in Mapleville which means that everyone my age living in this town is in attendance.  

When I arrive at school there are only a few students roaming around. None of them even give me a glance as I walk past them and into the school building. I'm beyond fine with that. I walk through the open door and am met with a long hallway with long lockers lined along the walls. There are a group of girls huddled in the corner and two guys over near a drinking tap. Apart from that, the hallway is deserted. Well, I guess that makes sense considering school doesn't start for another 40 minutes.

"Don't worry, it's not always this quiet," a bubbly voice says from behind me, giving me a fright. I turn around. A small girl with blonde hair and brown eyes is beaming at me. "You're Sage right? The new student? I'm Alice," she says extending her hand for me to shake.

I grab it giving a smile back. "Hey, how'd you know I was new?" I ask curiously.

"It's not a large town. It's easy to pick a newbie from a local," she smiles. "Anyways the principal asked me to show you around because we both have the same first class, literature. So why did you move here?" She asks.

"My dad is a detective and is working on a new case here to do with a disappearance," I say not letting on about how much I know in case it's being kept a secret.

"Oh, the disappearance of Brett Reed? Terrible isn't it! So bizarre as well!" She sighs, "He's Mr Popular around here. Everyone always wanted to be his friend. Well, I'm sure they still will when he returns."

"What's so good about him?" I ask.

"There are multiple things. He's head of the football team, holds the best parties, has the features of a God etc. Every girl wants to date him and every boy wants to be him. Well except for this one guy," she chuckles. "Your father will surely be a hero when he discovers what has happened to Mapleville's golden boy."

By now the hallway is bubbling with people. Alice shows me the toilets, classrooms and takes me to the office where I receive my locker number and timetable. Before I know it, it's first period and Alice and I are walking into class. I get a few odd looks but choose to ignore them as Alice begins telling me about our strict literature teacher who is known for his harsh marking and lack of humour before someone stops her and strikes up a conversation about a volleyball game.

After a minute of awkwardly standing there, I decided I may as well choose a seat. I scan the classroom looking for a place to sit. I definitely don't want to sit at the front, especially if Mr Red, our teacher, is strict. Ideally, I would prefer a middle seat but they were already taken. I look towards the back. There in the middle was a free seat. I look around to make sure no one was making their way towards it. I decide it is vacant and quickly walk to it.

I put my bag on the ground and sit in the chair. As the bell rings signalling the start of the lesson I take out my books and place them on the desk. It is only seconds later in which I notice an odd and uncomfortable silence. I look up and meet the eyes of many questioning faces.

"You probably shouldn't sit there. It's Chase River's seat," a guy with blonde hair sitting next to me whispers.

"Who's Chase Rivers?" I ask, uncertain as to why this Chase guy has his own reserved seat.

Before the blonde guy answers, I notice a looming figure approach my desk. I look up and have to prevent myself from choking on my own saliva. Making his way to my desk was a tall, dark-haired boy with piercing green eyes. He was attractive, to say the least. He wore the school uniform in a way which made it look cool. When his gaze finally meets mine a wave of shock and utter surprise flashes across his face. But he quickly covers it up, replacing it with a glare. His pace slows as he reaches my desk, or should I say his desk? Assuming he is Chase Rivers.

I'm unsure of what to do as he stands there and narrows his eyes at me. Should I move? Should I see what happens? Maybe he'll let me have his seat? Judging by the look on his perfectly sculpted face I am guessing that that is not the case. I don't need to look around the classroom to notice that everyone is watching. Great, I won't even survive first period.

After what feels like forever he finally clears his throat, "You're in my seat." I gulp.

Suddenly, as if the heavens have opened up, a commanding voice sounds from the front of the classroom, "Mr Rivers is there a reason as to why you're holding up my class? If not then please take a seat."

Chase is still looking at me. I feel like I'm a specimen being examined by a scientist. He then turns around and scans the room for a seat. The only spare seat is one in the second row. He shifts his gaze back to me and then slowly saunters over and sits down.

I notice everyone's eye on me. "Ah yes, we have a new student. Welcome to my literature class Sage Hill," Mr Red says before turning his back towards the board and writing today's lesson plan. I don't need a mirror to know my face is now a shade of crimson red.

I try to pay attention but my gaze keeps drifting over to the back of Chase River's head. Have I just made myself an enemy? A very attractive enemy. I can't stop replaying what had just happened over and over again in my mind. So much for blending in.

What a fabulous start! Not.