The Secrets We Keep (Formally WAIT)

Chapter 10

Luckily when I got discharged from the hospital on Friday night Darren had still been "delayed" and I actually spent the weekend in bed. Surprisingly, Avery nor my mother made too much of a fuss about me not helping around the house like I'm supposed.

I spent both days catching up on my 3 days of missed school work whenever I wasn't passed out from the drowsy side effect of my pain killers.

Monday morning rolled along and of course my mother refused to let me stay home in case he showed up and I wasn't as gracious as she would like. I locked the door to my bedroom before I left the house and made the long trek to school. Well it wasn't that long but it felt like 3000 miles when every step I took my ribs sound like they were impaling my body.

All weekend I wondered if everybody at school would know about the crash, and of course I'm not popular enough to even have access to anyone's social media account. I pray they didn't because it would give them yet another reason to make fun of me or tease me or put me on social media.

As I walked up the street where the parking lot was I noticed a bunch of rowdy teenage boys sitting in the back of a black pick up truck surrounded by practically the whole cheerleading squad. They have the music on and are clearly enjoying themselves with all the routing and laughter.

I tried my best to look away so that Ryder wouldn't notice me but of course he did. He didn't say hi or anything because, like, why would he do that in front of his friends? I mean, cuz then, you know, the whole lacrosse team would know that he payed attention to little ol' nobody me.

But, he did give me this weird eye contact that lasted way too long and made my cheeks flush which to be honest could've been for any other reason.

Let's just say that it was for any other reason.

As I entered into the school building I was expecting everyone to be staring at me, but to my surprise, no one did. I mean I didn't really expect anyone to be looking at me on any given day, but I currently do have a giant gash on my temple and little cuts all over my face. So, it seems like even if they didn't know about the accident someone would have noticed by now and started whispering rumors.

To my dismay, the karma god must have overheard because just as I was leaving my locker and entering my first period, Spanish, a group of cheerleaders were huddled by the door staring at me. Ugh. I spoke too soon.

I tried to keep my head down for most of the day, but of course by lunch hour the whole school was talking about how I had gotten beaten up by some homeless person that I was trying to steal cigarettes from. Okay first of all, come on, you could be a little more realistic with the rumor. And second of all, really?!

Without any pain killers left other than ibuprofen, I was so ready for the day to be over. Just as I was finally about to walk out of the school building and catch a ride from Ash, I get yanked into an empty classroom.

"What the f*ck is your problem, Ryder?" I shout, clutching my now searingly in pain rib.

"Oh, sorry, I guess I'm just really strong," he says flexing his biceps.

"Seriously, for someone so intent on not being seen with me, you seem to have a really hard time not leaving me alone."

This is probably this most amount of times that I have ever spent talking with Ryder in my entire lifetime of attending school with him, which just goes to show how much of a loner I am.

I realize that I'm staring at his green eyes and quickly look away to see him smirking back at me.

"Take a picture it'll last longer."

"Seriously, I don't have time for this. You're going to make me miss my ride. Again."

I move to walk around him to exit the room, but he reaches out to stop me. Before he can touch me, I flinch away and he drops his arm.

"Sorry, look I just wanted to say that the police contacted me about that night because they said the found some materials that didn't match your car. Just giving you a heads up that they're probably gonna call you about Darren."

At the mention of Darren, my breath hitches in my chest and memories of the accident come flooding back. I shake my head to rid them from my mind giving him a harsh glare.

"What do you mean about Darren?"

Did I really not imagine it all?

"Oh, that was what you were calling me when I pulled you out of the car, I just assumed that he was someone involved in the crash."

I try to see if he knows more than what he's telling me, but I can't tell.

"Look, just stay out of it. Okay?"

He puts his hands out in surrender and steps out of my way so that I can leave.

I'm so confused! Was Darren there or not? If he was, thenwhere has he been hiding? Mom says that he's been delayed with leaving the state prison or something. I brain is in a fog as I crawl my way through the parking lot and climb into Ash's car.

***************************************

Stay tuned! More tomorrow!
Sorry this was kinda just a filler chapter. But more to come! What do you guys think of the characters so far?
Please comment and VOTE!
Xxxx
Elodie