I'll Take A Bullet For You

Chapter 5

       It is the Friday of the week, and the latest gossip is about Leif's party. I get nervous hearing about it, because I have told Lena and Hailee that I'm coming with them. I want to go because...Alistair is going. I feel as if I'll be safe if he's going. It's a weird feeling and even weirder why I would think that. 

        It's English now, one of the subjects I love but hate because of the people in it. Greg is beside me, and he always will be until Mr. Wright says so. He's a p*****t and is always trying to talk to me. The only romance I'm okay with witnessing is the romance in Romeo and Juliet, and that's mandatory. 

        "Hey Amy, mind giving me your number?" Greg wiggles his eyebrows and I scrunch my nose. "You're so sexy. Man, what I would do to that--" Someone throws an eraser at Greg's head. He whips around with a scowl and Leif glares at him.

        "Stop talking with the chick and come here," he tells Greg with a serious tone. Greg rolls his eyes and winks at me before picking up his seat and going to his group. I sigh in relief and focus on my questions. I don't realize someone is watching.

        Nikita smiles, her elbow slung over the chair. "I want to feel bad for you, but somehow I don't." I try to smile back but it comes out forced. "Don't worry, Amy. I don't know you much, but we should all be careful around you, huh?" I'm confused.

        "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't bite," I say, almost sorrily. Someone crashes their chair to the desk next to mine and sits back. It's the fourth Black Cat, and I honestly don't know how to react. 

        "You don't bite, right?" he says, dimples forming on his cheeks when he smiles. I try not to blush as I duck my head, letting my brown waves curtain my face. He has olive skin and dark curly hair, eyes a very sharp grey. "I'm Curtis. You?" He looks at Nikita and she narrows her eyes.

        "Nikita," she replies. She nods at Angelia, the girl sitting beside her. "This is Angelia, one of my close friends." Angelia smiles politely. "Do you know Amy from before?" I still and Curtis examines me. 

        "I wouldn't say personally. But don't we all know some of those familiar faces?" he answers. 

        "Aren't you one of those guys that hang out with...what's his name...Ally Star or something like that?" Nikita says. Curtis laughs at the terrible mispronunciation. I stiffen.

        "You probably mean Alistair. And yes," Curtis looks directly at me, but speaks to Nikita. "Is something wrong with that?" Nikita shakes her head and turns around. 

        "Nope. Everyone makes a big deal out of you guys," she says shrugging. "You're regular people." 

        "Tell them that, I'll buy you diamond earrings if you do," he jokes. Nikita says she doesn't want them. Although Curtis is joking, a slight theory tells me he probably can buy her those diamond earrings. "So, I came here to ask for help. Ladies are the smartest, aren't they?"

        "We're not the smartest," Angelia says. Curtis rolls his eyes.

        "Or are you just trying to get into our pants?" Nikita asks. He grins slyly. "What question do you need help on?" Asking for help didn't seem reason enough for one of the Black Cats to come sit beside me. And is he always this friendly? Are all of them this friendly? 

        I take the risk to sneak behind me, and through the empty spot beside Joanna. I see Jarvis and Alistair looking right at us. I mean, right at us. Alistair has a frown on his face. When he catches my eyes, I abruptly look away. 

        A short while later, Greg comes back. "Dude, this is my seat," he tells Curtis. There is a quietness to his voice, a little fearful tone. Curtis doesn't look as friendly as he did a while ago. He crosses his arms and sits back on the chair, piercing his eyes at Greg. "What? You're not going to move? You want me to make you?"

        "Try." Curtis's voice is suddenly cold, and I am astonished by his change of attitude. Greg scowls and stomps towards Mr. Wright. "That fucker's gonna snitch on me." When Curtis looks at my expression, he smirks and stands up. "See ya later guys. And nice meeting you." He holds out his hand and I stare at it dumbly. 

        "Sorry, I'm being rude," I apologize, shaking his hand a bit nervously. Curtis walks back to the Black Cats and I clutch my hands in my lap. I have never really talked to the Black Cats before. Never in a million years did I think one would approach me and shake hands with me.

        "What an odd episode," Nikita murmurs, her eyes still on the Black Cats. "I think Curtis was sweet-talking to us. Did you see the way he looked at Greg, like he might murder him someday?" Curtis and Greg probably have a bad past-relationship. If not, the only thing I can think of is that Curtis is two-faced. Nikita's probably right. 

        It's time for lunch and I head towards the cafeteria. Whenever I don't find Hailee and Lena, I sit alone near the windows that look outside the school. 

        Sometimes, I see Alistair sitting alone, too, and wonder where his friends are. When people come to sit at the table he's sitting at, he gives them a look that makes them run away in a jolt. No one goes near him at lunch. It's like he gives off a dark energy that makes everyone recoil. Some people, mostly girls, are brave enough to go close to him and attempt a smile. He ignored them. In my entire life I have noticed him, I have never seen Alistair smile. 

        I don't see him in the cafeteria yet, though my eyes dart around the tables. Suddenly, I feel as if I'm pounced on when two people cut in the lunch line and swarm me.

        "There you are, Amy!" It's Hailee. She has a frown on her face, a real bad one. "We seriously need to talk to you. Like, now." Lena has somewhat of the same expression. Confused, I follow them as they drag me out of the cafeteria on the other side of the wall. We wait until there are few to no students in the hallways.

        "What happened?" I ask anxiously.

        "What happened? Are you kidding, Amy?" Hailee hisses. I furrow my brows and she swings her backpack to the ground. She pulls out a bunch of papers from her binder. "This. This stupid homework you agreed to do for us. We got every single f*****g question wrong!" I forget to think at that moment, speechless. Is it the homework...that Alistair had done instead of me...? 

        "Our teachers said we need to come in for extra help," Lena adds, irritation growing in her voice. "And guess what? We have no choice. There goes our planned evening." 

        "Guys, I'm so sorry for your homework! I swear I--" I don't know if I should tell them about Alistair. That he came to my house yesterday. Hailee starts to leave and I get tense. "Wait! I'm so sorry for the homework. I...I didn't mean to do that. I guess I was just super tired and had a lot to do."

        "Don't we all?" Lena sighs. I frown at the remark but Lena waves a hand. "Whatever. Just don't do it again. Tell us if you can't do our homework and we'll do it instead. But don't mess up the answers." I nod, my hands clutched in front of me. "If you're coming, see you in the caf." They leave me standing there and I don't decide to follow yet. 

        It has to be Alistair. I can't bear losing my friends and having to find new ones again. Why? Why would he do that? He got all the answers purposely wrong. He did it on purpose, I just know it. Still, still it doesn't make me angry at him. It's such an annoying feeling.

        I sigh and start walking towards the cafeteria. Someone startles me as I pass by, leaning against the wall around the corner with his hands in his pockets, listening. I don't have to look at his face to know who it is. Alistair looks up, catches my eye, and I feel giddy. I want to break the gaze and go away, but I can't. My feet won't move. And I also want to shout at him. Without a word, he straightens and walks away, hands still in pockets. 

        Bio is my next best subject. We are doing biochemistry, but have started with metabolic processes. It's a fun class, but I'm not very good at it. At least the teacher is cool. He's a young one, not more than twenty-five, skinny and tall, has short black hair, and loves showing us magic tricks. 

        "It's project time!" Mr. Wu announces, and the entire class groans. "Oh don't worry. You'll be working with a partner! And in this hat, I have the names each of you shall pull out." The entire class groans louder and Mr. Wu laughs.

        "Why you gotta kill us, bro?" Cameron says from the back of the class. 

        "Where's my fun in that?" Mr. Wu answers. He jiggles the hat to shuffle the pieces of paper. "First up, my exclusive student..." He points at me. "Amy Curley! Come on up. Pick one." I push from my desk and stand up. Looking towards the class, I pick out a name.

        It reads Alistair. Something in me deflates as much as something in me inflates. It's an annoying relief and joy that makes me want to tear the paper into a million pieces. Mr. Wu reads my paper.

        "Alistair Carlson!" he says aloud. Most, if not everyone, look back at Alistair. Alistair is looking at me in way I don't quite comprehend. I go back to my seat, clutching the paper tight.

        Once everyone has got their partner, Mr. Wu gives us all a project sheet and explains the project. I don't move, sitting in my seat and looking straight ahead. It's that time Alistair grabs a chair and sits beside me. He comes to sit here with his partner, but never says any damn thing after that. Why? What's the point in doing that?

        "I know you messed up my friends' homework on purpose," I blurted. I'm such an i***t, but my voice is determined and clear. Alistair, taps his pen on the table. 

        "And?" he says. I glare at him and he leans to his desk, folding his arms on it. "Are they still your friends?" It takes me a while to nod, but its uncertain. Alistair stares at me for an eternity, like he's trying to figure out something out. "I don't like your friends." 

        "You don't like anyone," I quip. Annoyance flashes on his face and he darts his eyes elsewhere. "Besides, you can't decide who should or shouldn't hang out with me." Then I realize what I just said might be little rude. Guilt fills me and I drum my fingers on the table. "I'm...I'm sorry," I sigh. "We should work on the project."

        "I have a question," he says abruptly. I can't read his expression, so I don't know what to expect. "Your so-called protective brother, Kallen, he doesn't like me, does he?" My nerves tense as I try to think of what to say. On different views, Alistair doesn't like Kallen either. And my brother is not so-called. He may be protective, but it's because he cares about me. 

        "He...he didn't like your manners," I slowly say. "I mean, that day when he offered his hand and you totally ignored him. And also for giving half-hearted answers.'

        "And him?" Alistair almost scowls. "He didn't treat me any more respectfully." I shake my head. I wonder why Alistair is talking about this. 

        "He's still older than you." My weak smile is almost apologetic. "You still have to respect him. He will like you better if you do." Alistair tells me he doesn't care what Kallen thinks of him. "My brother is none of your concern," I say. "I love him, and trust him and will listen to him. He knows what's right for me."

        "Is he letting you go to Leif's party?" Alistair asks, in a way that is meant to defy me. I nod triumphantly and Alistair sits back, arms crossed and eyes closed briefly. "Does he know what kind of environment the party is based in?"

        "I'm sure he's been to parties like that before," I say, and take out my bio textbook. "I am ready to go tomorrow. I still need to ask Lena or Hailee for a ride."

        "Don't," Alistair says. Surprised, I turn my head to him. I ask him who else will give me a ride. His hand goes through his hair. He's quiet, and I find myself saying something too out of the ordinary.

        "Will you give me a ride then?" I ask, and add quickly, "I mean...it's just, I'm just kidding." Alistair glances at me and turns his face so I can't see it. It isn't shyness, but something else. Like he's hiding something from me.         

        The moment I talked to him after many years, and the moment he talked back, I have never wanted to stop talking. And even when the things he says don't reflect his facial expressions, and the actions he takes don't connect with anything, I find myself wanting to still learn about him. Deep inside, I do understand him. In a way I don't know, of course.

        He takes a deep, steady breath and looks down at the worksheet. "Tell me what to do in this project and I'll get it done." He mutters something but I don't hear it. 

        I'm on edge when I read the instructions with Alistair. I can't understand what happened.. I want to ask him, but I'm afraid. He seems a bit mad, or distraught. Just a bit. 

        "We can do the first page and split it in half using our textbooks," I tell him, pretending as if I forgot the last few minutes. I'm satisfied with my voice when I continue. "We need extra sources, maybe books from the library..." While talking, I peek at him and notice he's not even looking at the textbook. His stare is fixed on me. "Uh...you know what I'm talk--"

        "We should get the books next week," he says and turns his head again. "Whenever you want." I suggest some time after school so we can work on the project. He replies 'sure' in such a way, it seems like he doesn't actually care what time I will choose. He's at least willing to cooperate in the project. 

        "Are you okay?" The words leave my mouth before I can stop them and I cup my cheeks nonchalantly so he doesn't see me blush. I do care about him in a very twisted sort of way, but I don't want him to know. Either way, Alistair takes his bio book out and opens to the page written on the project package. He doesn't care. But I am intrigued when he answers.

        "I can live."