Kisses after midnight (WICKED #0) | ✓

28

MATEO WAS CROUCHED DOWN behind Chase's tent, adrenaline tickling his heart as he peered around it. He had pulled a reluctant Jay along to scout and they had practically ran from the coverage of the trees to this point, a sling of quiet curses leaving Jay's lips. Gabriela was still standing there with Sahar, gesturing at him to be quieter.

"What do you see?" Jay whispered.

"Chase with some guy," Mateo whispered back, a frown knitting his eyebrows together," strange though, I've never seen him."

"Who, Chase?"

"No, you fool, the other guy."

"Did you just call me a fool?"

"Both of you, shut up," Gabriela hissed at them.

Jay parted his lips to protest, but Gabriela just rolled her eyes and came their way, her footsteps muffled by the grass. Sahar had smeared war paint on all their cheeks and it looked beautiful on her olive skin. A part of him wanted to brush his thumb across it, but instead he tore his gaze away and looked back at Chase.

His friend was sprawled out on the grass, staring mindlessly at the sky. Their principal had given them another hour before they needed to gather back and it looked like Chase was planning to spend that time sleeping. The other guy was seated beside him, one knee pulled up and a bored look on his face. Now he had taken one more look at him, he knew for certain he was a new transfer.

His features were sharp, his dark hair and brown skin a soft contrast against the hues of green around him. Chase was muttering something to him and in response the guy smiled, his laugh a quiet sound. Jay muttered something about how this was all a waste of time and Sahar placed her hand on his mouth, shushing him. With the way Jay's face flamed up, Mateo knew that was the last complaint he would utter about this.

"Why are you lazing around here?"

They all practically jumped at the proximity of the voice, but Imani walked out of the trees then, her back turned towards them. She hadn't noticed the four of them huddling behind the cloth of the tent and Mateo was glad for it. Over the course of the last five minutes he had gotten invested in this mission of theirs.

"I'm not lazing around," Chase yawned," I'm thinking."

Imani rolled her eyes, before sitting down beside them. With her cold eyes and sheet of raven hair she always had been pretty, though Mateo had the feeling she liked few people beside Penelope. She had once told him he was okay and he still cherished that.

"Uh-huh," she said, before adding," what are you staring at, Amir?"

Mateo had been so focused on Imani that he hadn't realized Amir's gaze was focused on the tent, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

"At the people crouched down behind our tent," he said, his accent elegant," are you planning to haze me?"

"Trust me," Chase said," attending this school is hazing enough." He sat up then, frowning. "And are you sure you're seeing it right? Who would be crazy enough to hide behind our te -"

He stopped talking then as he made eye contact with Mateo, who had just been peeking around it.

"Hello," Mateo grinned sheepishly.

Jay pushed him then and he fell from the coverage of the tent. When he looked back in betrayal, all his friend did was shrug.

"What are you doing here, Mateo?" Imani said.

"Uhm," Mateo began, getting quickly to his feet," well - you know, what else than going to see my best friend. Chase, man, I missed you so much."