Chapter 5 – Wish You Were Here

"I can be tough

I can be strong

But with you, it's not like that at all

There's a girl

That gives a shit

Behind this wall

You've just walked through it"

The infirmary lady gave me some ice and a medicine to ease the pain, but she also said it would be difficult fo me to walk. Aiden helped me getting to my next class, where Dylan was waiting for me with my bag on his hand.

"You can go now." I said to Aiden, maybe a little too harsh.

"Whatever you say." He answered with a smirk.

"Aiden..." I pursed my lips. What I was going to say next hurt my pride. He turned back to me. "Thank you."

This time he smiled. "Anytime."

When he walked away, Dylan looked at me enigmatically.

"You and him, huh?"

"No, Dylan, there is no 'me and him'. There's me, and then there's Aiden. We're two totally different people, with nothing in common. And that's how it's going to continue."

"So why did it look like you were enjoying his company?" He asked, suddenly very curious.

I rolled my eyes and was preparing myself to answer when the doorbell rang. Dylan looked at me again with that mysterious look on his face and then left for his class. I sighed and entered my classroom. What was wrong with Dylan?

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

Matthew's POV

Unfortunately for me, Aiden was probably ahead of me in our little game now that he had taken Kiara to the school infirmary. The good thing was that I knew she was going to have detention once classes finished, so I had to make myself grounded as well. And the best way to get detention was  to make some mess, that is, starting a fight.

So, when French class was over and at the exact moment my teacher was leaving the classroom, I grabbed a random boy and pushed him against the lockers. This guy was actually a mate of mine from the football team.

"Dude, what the hell?" He asked, confusion on his face.

"Sorry, but I have to get myself in to detention" I muttered.

He looked strangely at me, but agreed. He pushed me back and without delay, I punched him, not hard enough to really hurt him, but convincing enough to ...

"Matthew Clarke. Detention!" French teacher shouted. "Honestly, I never expected this from you, Mr Clarke, usually so well-behaved, but I guess that's what violent football does to healthy smart men like you."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I promise it won't happen again!" I said, barely able to hide my smile. I was so going to win that bet. Adíos, Aiden!

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

Kiara's POV

After a long day trying to walk as less as possible, I finally was going to have detention. Yay! My first detention EVER! I was so looking forward to do it! Please note the sarcasm. I didn't know who else would be at detention, but I just hoped that time went by quickly. I went to the detention room, where we waited for the geography teacher. There were one or two people in the room already, but none that I knew. And then Matthew Clarke entered the room. For the love of God.

He waved and smiled at the sight of me, and he sat at the table next to mine.

"So, what am I suppose to do in this detention thing?" He whispered to me.

"You're supposed to do your homework, but the teacher doesn't really care" I replied noticing the professor staring at the cigarette pack placed on his desk with desire in his eyes. "And seriously, you never got detention?"

Matthew passed his hand through his hair and then smiled proudly "Who do you think I am? I am a very well-behaved person."

"Of course you are. But I have to say I'm surprised that Aiden isn't here. Isn't he the one who always gets himself in trouble?"

Matthew rolled his eyes.

"Who cares? And he's 'Aiden' now? No 'Stuart?'"

"Whatever. Why did you get detention anyway?" I didn't really know why I was asking this, not that I cared a bit for him. 

"You know, for a person who literally can't stand me you seem rather interested." Matthew teased "Seriously, it's no big deal, just a stupid fight. It would have passed unnoticed if the French teacher wasn't entering the hall in that very same moment. But let's talk about more interesting things."

I sighed. For Matthew 'more interesting things' were certainly gross stuff.

"There's a party at Lia's on Saturday afternoon, as it is her birthday." He said, ignoring the fact that I had no idea who that Lia was. "And I was wondering if you wanted to go."

"Shouldn't Lia be the one asking me to? In case of, you know, I show up and she shut the door in my face."

"She doesn't mind. I can invite anyone." His grin got wilder and I rolled my eyes. He couldn't be more conceited.

"I don't know. I'll think about it." I replied in a dry tone.

To be honest, I didn't really feel like going to a party where I barely knew anyone. But then, on second thoughts, this might be a good opportunity to try and find out why Aiden and Matthew were suddenly so interested on me.

"Think well." He smiled.

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

After all, detention was no big deal. People made it seem like it was something really bad, but in the end it was just boring. When it finally ended, I went to the parking lot to find Dylan, but he seemed more entertained flirting with a brunette than in giving me a lift. Without knowing why, I felt quite uncomfortable.

There I was, standing in the middle of the parking lot, not knowing if I should interrupt them to ask Dylan if he'd take me home or if I just should take the bus. I didn't have to think anymore because the brunette, after kissing Dylan's cheek, pulled away with a smile on her lips. Dylan frowned once he saw me.

"How long have you been there?"

"Does it matter? Will you drive me or are you too busy?" I interrogated, trying not to bring out my sudden anger.

"Of course I'll give you a ride." Dylan answered as if nothing had happened. He sat in the driver's seat and I on the passenger side. An awkward silence that wasn't usual between us filled the car.

"So... what's her name?"

"Whose name?" Asked Dylan, distracted, as the car left the school's parking lot.

"You know, that girl you were talking to just seconds ago."

"Oh... Janice."

"She sounds... nice." I said, mentally laughing with the fact that her name actually contained the word 'nice'.

"Yeah, she's cool. She invited me to Lia's birthday party." Dylan informed me, looking at me from the corner of his eyes as if to see my reaction.

"Really? Matthew invited me too." I stated, faking enthusiasm. I didn't know why I was acting that way when I didn't even feel like going to the party.

"Matthew? Clarke?"

"The one and only." I sarcastically said.

"Well, are you going?"

"At first I didn't feel like going, but maybe I will."

"Me too."

We stayed a little longer in silence until I broke it again.

"Look, Dylan... I don't know why you were so upset with Aiden helping me, but..."

"Funny, I could say the same about Janice."

"I'm not mad at you because of her! It's just... do you like her or something?"

"I don't know, Kiara! She seems cool, but I've known her for a short time. But you know Aiden's fame. He's obviously trying to wrap you and apparently you're letting him. Of all girls, I thought you'd be immune to such 'charm', but apparently..."

"It's not like that! And what happened to 'maybe they're sick of popular girls' and all the other jokes?"

"I joked about it because at the time you were pissed that they were into you, but now it seems like you're ok with that." We were now in our street and Dylan parked the car.

"I'm not okay with that! I'm just trying to figure out why suddenly Matthew and Aiden are both so interested in me! And that's also the only reason why I'm going to that Lia's party. But maybe you can go with Janice and have some fun with her, because clearly that's what you both want!"

Furious, I got out of the car and walked towards my garden. Rusty came running to me and immediately noticed something was wrong with me. I didn't want to be so rough with Dylan, but I didn't know what was going on. Why did I feel this way? And why was Dylan so defensive and cold towards me?

We argued sometimes, but that was normal, of course. And now it just seemed... different. And I didn't like that. Dylan was my best friend after all. And as I looked through the window of my bedroom into his own empty bedroom, the only thought I had was that, damn, I wished he was here with me. 

"And I remember, all those crazy things you said

You left them riding through my head

You're always there, you're everywhere

But right now I wish you were here."

Music in this chapter is "Wish You Were Here" by Avril Lavigne! Love this song ♥