C h a p t e r 1 4

"My car isn't here yet?" I asked my grandpa who just descended from the stairs with his car key to give me a lift to school.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Mr. Simons found out that the engine broke down after it refuelled and failed to start." My grandpa announced fixing his jacket he just grabbed on the rack near him.

"What?" I pouted.

"Don't worry sweetheart, it'll be repaired in a jiff. Have I told you that man made a car run without wheels?"

I lightly chuckled, "That got me worried a bit, though."

"Sweetheart, your lunch!" My grandma called, carrying my lunch box, while she ran in small steps with her slippers thumping on the floor tiles.

"Oh, yeah I forgot." I giggled, taking it from my grandma.

Last night at dinner, my grandma suggested that she would prepare a lunch for me on this day, because she said she found a new recipe that looks appetizing and wanted to try it out. I just hope it won't ruin my appetite.

I put my lunch box on my school bag before smiling, "Thanks grandma."

Bending forward, I gave her a kiss her on the cheek and bid goodbye.

"Take care!" Grandma waved as she waited for the car to move out of the garage before she gets inside the house, closing the door.

Grandpa drove smoothly but not slow, "Do you think we're gonna make it?" He asked, peeking on his side mirror and glancing over to the rearview mirror before hitting the signal button to the right.

"Yeah, I guess.." I surmised, brushing my hair.

Grandpa overtook a few cars on the slow lane but quickly slammed the brakes, skidding to a halt, as he fails to notice the traffic light on red. I bobbed on my chair making my hair laid back on a mess.

"Sorry dear, haven't seen the red light." He apologized while I nodded in response and brushed my hair, again.

A few more minutes we made it to school. The school yard was empty, well quite. A janitor was picking up litters and dumping them on the bin he strolls with him, the bus driver was wiping the bus' windshield with a damped cloth, and the chef at the cafeteria just walked inside the building with a plastic bag clasped on both of her hands, but no students were on the picture.

Oh, dear. I bit my lower lip.

"Bye grandpa. See you later and please be careful." I said, pecking him a kiss on the cheek and swiftly hopping out of the car.

I dashed through the entrance nearly tripping on my steps. Meeting my locker, I punched on the codes, unlocking it before reaching for my math textbook, then shut the door afterwards. Muffled voices were heard all throughout the empty hallway as I passed by multiple classrooms before reaching my class.

"Phew. I thought I'm gonna be dead." I muttered as soon as I entered the room without Mr. Stone in sight.

"Psst! Nikki! Over here!" Hailey waved who was sitted at the back of the class.

"Why are we changing seats?" I asked walking towards Hailey as I took a glance on who was now sitting on my chair.

"Two nearly blind dudes traded our seats for the day." Hailey mumbled monotonously while doodling on her scketch pad.

"Well, what did they trade our seats with?" I said, dropping my bag on the desk Hailey reserved for me to sit in.

"Huh?" Hailey questioned, as she took her eyes away from her sketch pad.

I just raised my eyebrows and waited for her to speak.

"Oh, chocolates... They gave us five bars!" She chimed, waving them on my face.

I didn't believe her, seeing his brother's name written on one side of each bars, "Are those Stephan's chocolates?"

"What? No!" Hailey hid them behind her back.

I indecisively let out a nod, "Uh-huh... So, where's mine?"

She groaned, handing me the other two with hesitation. "They're Stephan's."

"You stole five chocolate bars from your brother?" I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.

"Well, these are nearly due so I swapped them with my expired chocolates. He don't come home often, anyways." She chuckled, while I scanned the chocolates for the expiration date.

"If you wanted to poison your brother, at least give him a notice."

"Nikki, I love my brother. Of course I gave him a notice... I just hope he sees it." Hailey tried to make out a sinister laugh.

Suddenly, someone from the class yelled, capturing our attention while other students chuckled and gibed.

"He's here!"

"Thomas Bragg, nervous as ever." I muttered shaking my head while placing my bag on my side.

Mr. Stone entered and cleared his throat. "Mr. Bragg, thank you for that remarkable entrance!"

Students inside the class chortles but didn't take Thomas' smile off.

"Good morning, class! Kindly, get your math textbooks, and open it on page ninety eight. " Mr. Stone announced walking in front of the class.

I sighed, and mumbled. "I really hate starting the day with math."

The class went on and the time gets slower. The atmosphere at the back was really boring. I couldn't hear much on what Mr. Stone was discussing, moreover, his writings on the board which I had been seeing were numerous dots.

A silent snore unexpectedly whooshed passed me. I looked over to Hailey who has her head covered with her textbook.

Wait, did she just take the back seat so she could sleep?

"Oh, you're bringing lunch now?" Torry asked placing her lunch box on the table and noticing I did the same.

"Grandma found a new dish." I said, opening my lunch box and grabbing my spoon and fork.

As what my grandma said, it does looks appetizing. I just hope it tastes good.

"Hmm.. Italian?" Torry asked, examining my lunch.

"Uh.. I'm not so sure... But it should be safe, right?" I asked Torry while raising my eyebrows.

She smiled as she opened her lunch box. "Always."

"Why are you so quiet, Sandra?" Torry asked, glancing at her as she grabs her spoon and fork.

"Nothing." Sandra shook her head and grabbed her phone.

Torry looked up to me mouthing, "What's up with her?" and I just shrugged, not really knowing what was up since she hadn't spoken a word when she came.

"Hey!" Hailey greeted while approaching us with her brown locks waving with her.

"So what's on the menu? Safe lunch made at home?" She sat down beside me, grabbing her wallet on her bag.

"As long as the word safe is there, nothing else matters." I remarked, staring at my lunch.

"Sandra, you don't look good. Have you had your lunch already?" Hailey asked but Sandra remained silent. Then again, we just shrugged when Hailey turned her head to ask us about her.

"Well, let me grab my lunch." Hailey stated, standing up after glimpsing at the menu on the big board.

Sandra grunted while massaging her temples in circular motion. "My head hurts."

"Do you want me to help you to the clinic?" Torry asked, concerned.

"Sure. Thanks Torry..." Sandra picked her stuffs up and she shutted her eyes for a second, before standing up.

"Don't you wanna have a bite before you leave?" I asked.

"No, I might puke.. Let's go Torry. See you guys later." Sandra waved off with Torry on her side, assisting her to the clinic.

"Take your meds." I reminded before releasing a heavy sigh, staring at the empty table in front of me still holding my spoon.

Paul unexpectedly approached me in a rush, while I furrowed my eyebrows in a questioning way, "Nikki.. there you are.."

"Linda called, she wanted us to meet her at the bleachers." He added, catching his breath.

"Can I take my lunch first?"

"Fine, just be there pronto." Paul said then hurriedly left.

"Why didn't he just text me?" I muttered, taking my phone on my pocket flashing twenty eight missed calls and six messages. I was on silent mode. Jeez.

"Where is everybody?" Hailey questioned, sitting down with her lunch on a tray.

"I don't know." I unconsciously answered while chowing down my lunch, nearly choking. "I'm sorry, I gotta go Hailey. Small talk with my group mates." I rushed, closing the lid of my lunch box and putting it back on my bag.

"Catch you later!" I waved, slinging my bag on my back, running my way to the bleachers.

A/N: Hey! Is there some of you here brings a pack lunch to school? Cause most of the time I do. X)

Anyway guys, it's almost December! When are you most excited of.. Christmas or New Year??

-For me it's the two, and it's all because of the food and drinks!!

*****VOTE & COMMENT*****