The Girl in the Hoodie

25

[Chapter twenty-five]

I shut my locker and lean my hood-clad forehead on it.

I didn't get much sleep last night.

"Carter!" I turn around just in time to catch a flying Kamri. "There's your robot baby."

"Thanks, Pebble." I mumble with a yawn, not looking at him.

"You didn't get much sleep either, did you?" Noah questions.

I shake my head, looking at him.

Dark circles are around his eyes, making him look as tired as I feel.

"Hey, Nevaeh." Megan smile coming up to me. "Hey, Noah."

"Kia Ora." I yawn yet again.

"Hi." Noah nods.

I really need to tell Megan.

About what happened with Noah...and about the cancer.

"Hey, Meg?" I say suddenly, making her look at me questioningly. "Pizza Palace after school?"

Her eyebrows furrow but she nods anyway. "Yeah, of course."

She stares at me for a few seconds. She always knows when something's wrong.

"Did I hear someone say 'Pizza Palace'?" Max bounds up to us with Dylan in tow. "We'll be there."

Before I can answer, Megan does.

"No."

We all stare at her, shocked. She's too nice to flat out say 'no' to anyone.

She frowns slightly, no doubt feeling bad for snapping. "Sorry. Girls night."

"Yeah, no problem." Max frowns in confusion before turning to Noah. "Why do you look more pissed than usual?"

"Shut up." Noah says simply before walking away.

"What's up with him?" Max asks in confusion.

I look at Dylan, who hasn't said anything all morning.

He's staring longingly at something across the hall.

I switch my gaze to where he's looking and see Joey Sanders, star forward and captain of the soccer team.

What the...

The bell rings, signalling we should get to class.

Dylan sighs, walking a few feet away to his locker and opening it.

"Let's go, Nev. We've got Early Childhood." Max perks up, tugging on my arm.

"I'll meet you there." I say slowly, slipping my arm out of his grasp. "I just need to grab a few things out of my locker first."

He gives me a confused look. "Uh, okay."

Poor Max. Everyone's confusing him today.

I wait until Max is completely out of sight before making my way to Dylan.

"Hey, Dildo, you alright?"

He jumps slightly, turning to me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

I raise an eyebrow. "You don't seem fine."

He bites his lip before giving me a small smile. "I'm fine, Nevaeh. Don't worry about me."

He gives me another smile before walking off.

He is not fine. When is anyone actually fine when they say 'I'm fine'?

I purse my lips before making my way to class.