Page 10 of Withered

“Hey. What’s going on?” Kristy asks them. They walk up to us and stand right in front of us.

“Don’t you know the new guy, Tyler, and his friend are kicking some asses in soccer? The boys on the team are jealous; they play so well.” Ava says, then adds, “Aren’t you paying attention on the field? You know you can see them.”

“Where? Move.” Kristy makes Emily move. I look at the field where they’re playing, and, fair enough, Tyler is the fastest. Jake is right beside him, matching his pace.

“Tyler was the best on his team at his previous school,” Emily says.

“How could you be so sure?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Emily cuts in, “I overheard them talking with the coach. They wanted to try for the team here, so the coach let them play today.”

“I’m sure they will make it to the team.” They are fast.

We talk for the rest of the time before heading toward the girls changing room.

“Finally, the first day is done,” Kristy says, excited to leave.

I nod, “Yep. I’m going home to sleep now.”

Kristy changed first and told me she’d be waiting outside, but I told her to go.

I head out of the school with a bottle in my hand and start drinking from it. I realize halfway to my car that I need to get my trigonometry copy from my locker.

As I turned around, I accidentally knocked into someone, causing them to get wet.

“I am so sorry.” I start apologizing without noticing the person.

“What the fuck!” The person yells, and I jolt in surprise.

I glance up to find Jake, who looks like he just came out of a shower.

“What is your fucking problem? Why the fuck do you keep bumping into me?” He is angry.

“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were behind me,” I tell him.

“As I said earlier, watch where you’re going.” With that said, he walks right past me.

“What the hell is your problem?” Seriously, there’s something about him that irritates me.

He halts in his steps and turns around to face me. “My problem?” He points a finger at himself.

“Yes, you. Is there a third person I am speaking to?”

He chuckles. “You keep bumping into me and then ask me my problem?”

“Do you even know me?” I ask him.

“Of course I do. Rose.” He smirks at my wide-eyed reaction and walks away.

I stand there frozen, thinking about how he knows me. I shrug it off for now and head for my locker to grab my copy. The hallway is now mostly empty, with only a few students lurking around.

Making my way out to the school parking lot, I find Tyler and Jake talking to each other. Ignoring them, I unlock my car and was about to get inside when I hear someone call my name. I look around to see Tyler waving at me.

“Yeah?” I am unsure as to why he is calling me.

“You know you’re in my English class.”

I furrow my brows.Is he?“You are in my class? But I did not see you today?” I don’t remember seeing him in the class.

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