Undercover: Book 3 — Chapter 28

“We will send you a letter in a few days that will say whether you have been accepted or not. We will take in consideration that you did not have an essay prepared for us to look at, but that will be all so please remove yourself from my office.” I put my bag on my shoulder and tried to fake a smile but I was sure it came out as a grimace.

“Thank you for your time." As soon as my back was to the woman I rolled my eyes.

“How'd it go?" Lelia asked me and I shrugged.

“Besides the part where she was bitch I think it went well."

“Well then since there is now a possibility that you may be going to this stuck up bitchy school I think I should introduce myself since you're going to need a friend, I'm Lelia." The brunette said and I looked at her for moment like she was crazy but something about her snarky personality reminded me of Mia.

“I'm Claire,” I said walking out in the hallway and she followed after me.

“Aren't you a little young to work in the office?"

“This school hires students for small jobs like mine. In my case everything I earn goes toward the money I’ll owe after college."

“How come these schools are separate?"

“Girls will distract guys if their shoulder are showing or their legs so they want to keep girls and boys separate so no one is distracting each other.” She rolled her eyes at that and looked around before dropping her voice to a hushed whisper.

“At least that's what they say. Everyone knows the real reason is because the headmistress and the dean use to be married and had both schools combined so it was girls and boys together but when they got a divorce they had this school made next to it and you obviously can figure out the rest.” I nodded my head at this new information.

“That's dramatic,” I retorted.

“No kidding."

***

“Hello,” I said and the guy jumped up surprised. When he looked up I let my eyes scan the familiar face.

“Oh um hi." He gave me a small smile. “Claire, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” he said and I took a seat across from him.

"I was in the neighborhood as myself,” I said smiling and he nodded. I noticed as he started to nervously pull at the collar of his shirt before folding up a piece of paper that he was writing on before.

"What's wrong?" I asked suddenly, noticing he wasn’t acting like his usual self. He seemed fine when we went bowling a couple of days ago.

"I got in another fight with my parents,” he said and I took in his appearance of his red plaid shirt that had a sweater vest over it. He slid off his dark grey jacket and gave me his usual small polite smile.

"Well, in that case, I’m glad I found you to sit with,” I said and he stared at me. “How did I get such a great best friend?” he asked, shaking his head. “Usually when anyone finds out I’m gay they run for the hills. That’s why I like to get it out of the way at the whole introduction stage,” he said and my heart did the usual clenching for him.

"Well, don't worry you won't be finding me running. Never have, never will,” I said smiling.

"You're stuck with being my friend at this point,” I said smiling leaning closer. “Ever since the first time we went bowling, you signed yourself up for this.” He grinned. “Careful, you may cause some people to go running in the opposite direction if they hear you. You’re a little closer to society today,” he said referencing the fact that the bowling alley wasn’t as close to the school or people we knew.

I gave him a warm smile. “Good. They can know we were closer first,” I said winking before my eyes glanced at the paper and pen by his bag." What were you writing?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing,” he said, stuffing it in his bag and I quirked an eyebrow.

"It's clearly something. A love letter maybe?" I said wiggling my eyebrows.

"It's nothing important now,” he argued defensively, and his look caught me slightly off guard.

"Well, I won't force you to tell me then,” I said slowly, feeling curious by how he was suddenly acting. Usually times with him were nothing but laughter and fun. I wasn’t use to see this more serious, more sad side.

"Claire?" I looked up seeing Nick and another guy and I smiled waving him over.

“I should get going," Eddie said avoiding eye contact and I noticed how nervous he was getting now that Nick was here.

"Hello my lovely fiancé.” He kissed my cheek before sitting down next to me while his friend took the seat next to Eddie. "Hey it's you," Nick said and I noticed Eddie was almost shaking in his seat causing my eyebrows to rise slightly.

"Why are you hanging out with this loser?" I narrowed my eyes at my boyfriend.

"His name is Eddie and he isn't a loser,” I easily defended.

"Yes, he is babe, I mean even all of his friends left him!" Nick said, slinging his arm around my shoulder and his friend laughed.

“Since when is it okay to call me babe?" I questioned fuming. He knew how much I hated that word, it felt like such a degrading term to women, yet here he was calling me it.

"I should really get going," Eddie mumbled grabbing his black satchel bag.

"Yeah, you're not good for my rep,” Nick’s friend said leaning back in his seat.

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded glaring at him and glancing at Eddie with a look that made him stay.

"The name's Jax," he said, mocking Eddie while pretending to tip a hat. “But you can call me your date tonight."

"What the hell man?" Nick said and Jax rolled his eyes.

"Claire, can I um speak to you for a moment . . . alone?" Eddie asked me quietly and I nodded. We stepped outside of the noisy Starbucks and Eddie sighed in relief breathing in the fresh air.

"Jax is someone you don't want to mess with,” he told me looking me right in the eyes.

"Why?"

"If you're dating Nick then I'm sure you know Caiden. Jax is almost like Caiden he's not as brutal with people but he thinks of girls as nothing but a toy. He’s darker too. There’s something about his mysterious past that gives me a bad vibe."

"Caiden treats girls like toys too?" I mentioned.

"Yeah, but there is a reason Jax just showed up suddenly. He had to of just got out of DH for sexual harassment or something,” my eyes widened at this new information and I glanced inside at the two.

“Just be careful, Claire,” Eddie said and I nodded.

“Don't worry I will be."

“Look what I found,” Jax interrupted from behind us. I saw him holding the same paper Eddie had earlier.

"Don't touch that!" Eddie tried reaching it but Jax held it up higher. He cleared his throat after opening the note. He began reading it out loud, once again mocking him.

“I can't handle the pain and sadness anymore. My friends have left me and my parents find me a disgrace. I get bullied and I'm just alone. I do not expect any one to understand but please I do ask whoever finds this or well if anyone finds this do not blame this on yourself. I'll be in a better place. Tell the girl with the pretty blonde smile, thanks for everything. There was nothing you can do. Sincerely, Eddie"

Jax burst out laughing after. He has his hands on his knees and everything. I'm sure my heart was broken into two right now on the floor but I didn't bother to check as I took in Eddie’s ashamed face. I didn't give him pity and I didn't tell him everything was going to be all right I simply gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, wiping his tears with my thumbs. "No one ever deserves to be treated that way. I've felt alone before but I eventually got through it and I believe you will too. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow but eventually you will. It's only a bump in the road that you're facing right now,” I tell him and Jax snorted loudly.

"Nick, how are you dating this chick? She's more sensitive than my cat.” I let go of Eddie and didn't even hesitate to let my fist make contact with Jax's eye.

“You are such a fucking prick and a douchebag. My god, and I thought Caiden was bad. If you don't get out of my sight in the next five seconds I will snap your neck myself,” I hissed menacingly before turning to Nick.

“How are you friends with this dick?"

“Just go,” Nick walked off after his friend and I shook my head in disgust.

“I'm going to grab our stuff then you and I are going to hangout. We can have an extra bowling adventure this week. It looks like you’re in need of some fun,” I told him offering a smile and he nodded.

"Thank you, Claire. I have seriously appreciated everything you've said and done.” I gave him one more hug before going in and grabbing our stuff.