Little Miss Nosy

Chapter Twenty-Six: Where Do We Go From Here?

- Edited -

"Read some of the short stories your teacher provided and try to identify their themes. Be more careful with your punctuation and citations but other than that, your essay writing is strong."

Her eyes widen with my praise. She claps, doing a small happy dance in her seat knowing her time here has paid off. "Thanks, Paige!" Before I can blink she snatches the papers from my hands and speed walks out of the tutoring center. Unfazed by her behavior, I let out a sigh of relief before gathering my things and heading out myself.

About halfway through our session I recognized her as the girl who snatched the soda out of my hand at Trevor's party. She was overly sweet. Fake sweet. But knowing who she was made things tense and our thirty minute session seemed to drag on for hours after that.

I zip through the halls on autopilot to fifth period, head down and binder glued to my chest. "Hey." A boy I recognize as a regular at the tutoring center grabs my upper arm. "We still on for tomorrow, right? My teacher's been on my ass about this test." I nod my head, wiggle free from his grip and start moving again, swallowing a groan at the prospect of having to look over yet another essay.

With the semester coming to an end, everyone is scrambling to the tutoring center for last minute help to refine their reading and writing skills before sitting for their history and literature tests. We're in such high demand I've had to skip zoology a few times so as to not stay so long after school, but thankfully Mrs. Frost sees how well I'm doing in it to let my absence slide.

"You!"

I snap my head up at the thunderous voice. Nick stands at the end of the hallway, an accusatory finger aimed at me and, even through the tight crowd of students, his eyes don't waver as he stares me down with a murderous glare.

Oh. He must've heard the news.

I laugh nervously. "I feel like I should explain-" But he's already barreling towards me, my attempt cut short as I squeak and make a beeline for the stairs.

"Get back here, Adams!"

His voice echoes in the stairwell, drawing the attention of dozens of onlookers. I'd usually shy away from the stares but they're barely noticeable as I leap up the steps and worm my way through the student body. "It's for your own good!" I shout back over my shoulder.

"You little...!" His voice fades out as I reach the second floor. I'm breathless, heartbeat pounding in my ears as I round a corner, peer back to check if he's still following, then smack!

I'm on my butt in a crazy flurry of movement. A few textbooks land in a heap next to my ankles as a body thuds on the floor across from me.

"No running in the halls, Miss." I look up into an amused pair of blue eyes and instinctively take Ashton's outstretched hand. "Do I need to assess for damages?" He bends to pick up my binder, handing it to me as he gives my body a once over.

"No. The only thing I think I damaged is my butt."

He raises a brow. Shrugs. "Well, I can-"

I stop whatever suggestive phrase is about to tumble from his lips with a pluck to his forehead. My heartbeat picks up again...for entirely different reasons. He pulls his brows together. "Hey. That actually kinda hurt."

He plucks my nose in response. "Hey! That actually kinda did hurt!" I giggle.

"Oh, no worries. Thanks guys. I'm okay!" Carmen says with a frown, re-stacking the pile of books I knocked from her hands. Her gaze softens when she takes in my flushed appearance. The second thing that hits me is how much I've missed her. We've been giving each other the silent treatment. Going so far as pretending the other isn't even there in our shared classes.