Aelinae's POV

"Yes Mrs. Ophelia" I say as I make my way to the stack of books she wanted me to arrange. Things haven't been the same lately. It's the same people, the same place but different.

"sometimes it's better not knowing"

It didn't sit well with me when he said it. What's so bad that you wouldn't want to know? I mean, I've read horror stories- even those exoticism books.

Sure, it was scary

but still...

.

at least I know

I carry the books to the first shelf. My mind going back earlier today,

I had three classes with Luka today and in all those classes he always left in-between class; in two classes he came back and the last one he didn't. I don't think Kc has ever listened to a class since she started school. Daevon is always on his phone. And Juanita,

.

I don't know if it's just me...

.

but... it looks like she's getting smaller

I think I'm just tired.

breathe

breathe Aelinae

B-R-E-A-T-H-

"Hey!"

-E

ugh.

I turned around to meet Pierce, smiling widely at me. He had a beanie on with cargo pants and a sweatshirt on.

"Hi." I sighed turning back to the books I was arranging. He comes up next to me and picks a book, placing it on the shelf.

"You looked like you were about to pass out, are you okay?" he asked, looking worried as he grabbed more books leaving me with only two books.

Hmm.

"Yeah, I'm just tired," I say, going to the other shelves for the remaining books. I stopped hearing footsteps so I turned to see he was gone.

okay?

but the books go her-

.

"BOO!"

I look at the shelf to see him opposite me, not amused by his attempt to scare me. I never understood why people still say 'boo' to scare someone. Clearly everyone knows 'boo' is used to scare someone so don't you think saying it is a bit cliché.

"What the fuck is wrong with you" he says really quickly and blank in a French accent obviously not impressed with my reaction, making me laugh.

This boy really sucks at things

"I'm sorry I wasn't scared" I say sarcastically putting the book in the open space on the shelf, covering his face. I watch his figure walk around to meet me with an irritated look making me laugh again.

I had one more book and the lunch bell was about to ring. I smile when I see the book in my hands: The Da Vinci Code. I remember reading this book- it gave me chills.

"Da Vinci Code" I heard Pierce murmur in a deep French accent. Like the accent slapped me in my face.

woah.

That's a nice accent.

I looked at him impressed but he was still looking at the book, lost.

"I hated this book... it messed with my head" he says looking at the book for a moment before looking back at me frowning as he scratches his head.

he looked like a child

at least he reads,

and has a pretty accent to go with it

I looked at him before shaking my head and going to the shelf where the book belonged. Peirce was pretty boy. He had a goofy attitude making him look younger. He was a very likeable person; I'm sure the girls already love him. he would be the perfect boy-

.

.

.

pet for Koko and Madison

I put the last book in place looking at Peirce to see him looking at the door. I moved to see what he was looking at, he looking at Kc. She had a hoodie on with basketball shorts. I watch as the girl in front her quickly moves away making her roll her eyes as she meets the librarian.

"she really is scary" I hear Peirce mumble shuddering a little.

I'm not scared of kc obviously but Kc just emits intimidating vibes without even trying. The first time I met KC wasn't really pleasant.

I look back at Kc, the librarian handed her a textbook and she turns, stopping as she makes eyes with us. When she sees Pierce her face drops- it looks as if she's thinking of something before she walks away.

Hmm

"Where do you know her from?" I ask quickly at the moment she leaves my site looking at petrified Peirce (see what i did there)

"ahhhh nowhere in particular " he stutters looking away to shift the topic.

em no sir.

"Pierce" I stop him looking him in the eyes.

"I don't really know her, same hometown I guess" he says shrugging before looking at me quizzically.

"what?" I asked my mind bringing up reasons why my friend didn't like him. Well he does sound honest but he wasn't saying the full story.

Hmm sherlock... Ellie

has a nice ring to it...

"Are you guys close, you and Kc?"

"em yh?"

"you sure?" he presses on

What is he pressing on about? were always together,

right?

"What are you getting at" it wasn't meant to sound harsh but that's how it came out. I move away from him, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"shit! Aelinae no. no, that's not what I meant" he says quickly, grabbing my hands.

"See, I don't think Kc hates me, she just hates the em circumstance," he says looking down sadly. Kc doesn't talk about her life in Canada. She said it was boring.

RINGGGGGGGGG!!!!

The bell rang startling me as I removed my hand from his. Peirce still had his head low, I hear him mutter, "fuck!" before he gets up,

"I'll see you later Ellie?" he says, looking up at me to get my approval for the nickname. Well, I did consider him as a friend. I nod at him, giving him a tight smile. This really wasn't how I expected the conversation to go.

he smiles back and walks away leaving me with a thousand and one question.

.

Sherlock Ellie though.

That's a good one.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"I think someone is hiding someone," Juani hints as we all sit on our table.

I still wasn't okay with that conversation with Peirce and Kc was acting completing normal making it even harder to question her.

Not to mention, she successfully managed to stop Liam from coming to school. Making different stupid excuses like 'he has to go to the vet'. yesterday she said hIs turtle died.

I can imagine the stupid things she told Liam

Maybe the school lost the principal in the toilet

Or,

school is on lockdown from boys

"I'm not hiding... he's coming tomorrow" kc says rolling her eyes going back to drinking whatever the hell she drinks.

It clearly wasn't water

"That's what you said on Tuesday?" Tobias says looking bored while poking his pizza slices.

Why is he sad?

ohh Nicole probably isn't in school,

that's the only being that can get a reaction at of him.

"You're too fucking whipped man" Daevon says pushing him making Tobias fall, resting his head on the table- not even fighting back.

"Shut the fuck up. You're one to talk" he says turning his head to the side while munching on his pizza, the angle making it weird to eat.

"pheesh whatever, at least I'm not hiding my lover" he retorts, throwing thick shade at kc making us laugh.

"First off, never say lover again, second, you never announced your secret girlfriend. Just because we noticed how glued to your phone you were doesn't mean you told us anything" I say finishing him off and rendering him silent.

"and that's on what? Period." Kc finishes raising her hand out for me. I wasn't done with her but I'll leave it for now. Better to come unannounced.

"Her name's Alheri, she doesn't go here that's why I'm always on my phone". he paused glaring at all of us, mostly me before he continues,

"she's pretty and cool and... I think she's the one" he finishes smiling widely at us. He was so close to squealing.

"I think it was better for him not to have told us. Now he's gonna feel like he can shit on about her," Tobias says, still trying to eat his pizza from his position.

After lunch we head to our lockers. The guys went to get ready for basketball. I look down at a bubbly Juanita. She was happier than usual, jumping around and all.

she still looked smaller than usual

"Why are you so happy?" I asked as I got to my locker , opening it to get my bag.

"oh! Am I?"she asks practically squealing.

"What did Jordan do?" it could only be Jordan or she had a new Korean series to watch.

She doesn't say anything, she just twirls around- her large black hoodie slowing her down.

wait a minute

ohhhhh

aww

"How'd you get it? You stole it right?" I say making her stop, flipping me off.

"He gave it to me" she says proudly

No wonder she was looking smaller. Her hoodie was just bigger. Well, Jordan's hoodie

"Joshua lost his shirt so I had to give him the hoodie and well he was there and he gave me his hoodie" she finishes squealing at the end.

"gave or probably threw it" I muttered knowing Jordan. He would never give you anything easily. He could've climbed a mountain and dropped it on top, telling her to get it herself.

"ok soooo he might have kept it on top of a locker and left but he still gave me" she retorts still sounding proud. Well at least she's happy.

We continued talking until the guys and Kc came out changed to their sport wear. I shut my locker and turned to them. Kc was putting her hair in bun,

BOOM!

I saw a ball pass by me and hit the locker which happened to be right next to Kc. Still in shock, I try to see where the ball came from. Everyone quiet, still shocked as we look at a frozen Kc.

I watched all the blood quickly leave her,

.

And then I watched all the blood rapidly go back

.

oh boy

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"WILLIAM!"