Chapter 3 Part 2

Matt pulled into the school parking lot, Mark sitting beside him in the passanger seat and Niki in the back. They were a bit early this morning as he parked right in front of the school. He switched the car off and they all hopped out and headed for the doors. Niki disappeared down one of the halls while they went to Matt's locker.

“So what are you going to say to her? I mean I know your dad wants us to fish for information,” Mark asked as they stopped by Matts locker.

“I dont know yet,” he said, opening his locker and grabbing his books. “i dont even know where to start, i'm really nervouse,” he said rubbing the back of his head.

“aww, dont be dude, ill be right beside you,” Mark said, Patting Matts back.Once Matt had grabbed all the books he needed, they rounded couple of corners, just walking around when Matt picked up Chloes scent.

“Shes here,” he said, his pace picking up spead.

“Who, Chloe?” Mark asked, trying to keep up as they rounded another corner.

“Who else dumb ass,” Matt said shacking his head at his friends stupidity.

After that, they walked through the school in silence. The hallways were eerily quiet this early in the morning, Matt was used to the bustling of students and loud chatter that filled the halls yesterday that it felt odd.

They came to a stop at the cafeteria doors, Chloes scent stopping there. Matt pushed them open, revealing many small round tables with the chairs sat upside down on them. The food station still locked up.

Matt walked in first, Mark close behind when Matt eventually saw a small figure out the corner of his eye. There sat Chloe, in one of the only seats that wasnt on the tables, her head faced away from them, propped on her arms that were folded on the table.

Matt approached her quiet, walking around the table to see her eyes closed in sleep, her face relaxed and her mouth hung slightly open.

Matt looked up to see Mark standing across from him. 'Is she sleeping?' he mouthed, Matt nodded.

Matt gently put his hands on Chloes shoulers, and whispered in her ear, “hey sleeping beauty,”

This made Chloe jump, hitting Matt in the nose with the back of her head, her eyes wide in fear.

“Fuck, are you ok?” Matt asked, standing up and holding his nose.

“Jeez Chloe, no need to be a jumping jack this early in the morning,” Mark joked.

Chloe turned in her seat to look at Matt, still holding his nose, her fearful expression flashing with worry for Matt, making him give her a soft smile before the worry was replaced with anger.

“You scared me,” she shreaked, hitting Matts arm lightly.

Matts eyes widened with disbelief, “Ow, you hit me,” He shreaked back jokingly.

Chloe turned around, facing her back towards them as she folded her arms across her chest like a child throwing a tantrum, her lips pouted.

“Damn, how old are you, six?” Mark teased, poking Chloe in the arm.

“Stop,” she said, smacking his hand away, “and im seventeen you douchbag,” she said angrily, still not looking at them.

"What's with everyone calling me names today," Mark whined with his head tilted toward the ceiling as he pretended to sob. Chloe just rolled her eyes and kept facing forward, propping her chin in her hand.

Matt took his hand away from his face, relieved there was no blood, “Does my nose look ok?” he asked as it throbbed.

“Shit dude,” Mark exclaimed dramaticly, bringing his hands to his cheeks in faux shock.

Chloe turned around at a speed, causing her to almost fall out her seat before Matt steadied her, worry evident in her eyes as she looked at Matt, searching his face for any injuries. She took his face in her hands, examining his nose, but saw nothing.

“ugh, you both are ass holes,” she said in a deadpan tone when she saw his nose was in fact fine. Rolling her eyes, she turned again.

Matt chuckled lightly, looking over her shoulder to see the book that lay open infront of her. “Wow, that looks amazing,” he said, as he stared at the detailed drawing of an abandoned house.

“Would you two stop making fun of me?” she yelled at them, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. She turned around, looking Matt dead in the eye before she realized what he was talking about. She shuffled rapidly, closing her book and putting her head in her hands, letting out a frustrated sigh.

“We didnt mean to make you feel like we were making fun of you,” Matt said furrowing his brows in concern, internally cursing himself for making her upset. He put his hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles there, making her shoulders relax and making Zane go mad in excitement.

'She can feel the bond, I know it,' he said all giddy. Matt rolled his eyes at Zanes reaction.

“Hey im sorry,” He said, taking one of the chairs off the table and taking a seat next to Chloe, “Look at me please,” He asked gently.

She did as he asked, her face masked with an expressionless look. Matt saw how tired she looked, her eyes bloodshot with dark circles under and her skin more pale than the day before.

“Are you ok?” he asked, his concern growing.

“What? No im fine,” She said looking to the ground.

“Why dont you look me in the eye and say that?” He asked, raising his eyebrows, not believing her one bit.

“I'm just tired ok, I didnt sleep well last night,” she said, slouching her shoulders.

“I'll be right back,” Mark said, turning and exiting the cafeteria.

“Why didnt you sleep well?” Matt asked.

“I dont know, I just kept waking up,” she said nonchalantly. “Why do you care though?” She asked, a confused look in her eyes.

“Why shouldnt I? I mean, you seem like a genuinely nice girl and I want to get to know you.”

“Well thats a first,” she muttered to herself, rolling her eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Look, I dont want to wast your time by leading you to think were friends or something because I dont have any and I dont need any,” She said, taking her book and trying to stand up but her legs wouldnt let her as they wobbled under her weight.

“Shit,” Matt muttered as he steadied her. “Why are you so thin?” he asked in shock, her legs looked like sticks in the tights she was wearing, that could barely hold her up. He hadnt noticed it the day before because of the baggy clothes she had on.

“Its nothing,” She said, pushing him away. He could tell it was a touchy subject when her whole demeanour changed by the mention of her weight. Matt was worried but didnt mention it further.

“I know you think me paying any attention to you is pointless, but why dont you just give it a try? I know you dont want or need friends but dont let that make you lonely.”

“I'm not lonely, I just prefer to have my own space,” she said, but Matt could tell by the way her voice shacked that she didnt believe it.

“Come on, just give me a chance,” He asked, hopeful, grabbing her arm gently to get her to look in his eyes.

“I dont think that would be a good idea,” she said, not meting his gaze as she pulled her arm away and walked out the doors.

Matt was left alone in the cafeteria, feeling lonely and rejected, Zane on the other hand kept saying she didnt mean that and that she was hiding something, which Matt agreed with. He could tell how guarded she was when she spoke, how tense she got around people.

'Niki, meet me in the parking lot,' Matt said through the mind link as he walked out the cafeteria.