Chapter six.

Why the three of them?

"Where have you been?" 

'you still have the guts to ask?' 

"Skylar?" Grayson voice had her throwing a glance back. Her drumming heart slowly calming down. 

The short blond smiled fully, as she further said. "I haven't seen you ever since. I was thinking of paying you a visit."

'as if you even care if I am alive or dead.' Skylar scowled in her head, still she made no attempt to reply.

"You got Irene so worried. It was literally torture." Miranda added after Bianca.

Skylar glanced at the said Irene who was staring blankly. With no look of remorse on her face.

Do these two clowns think I am blind?

Do they think she can't see those mocking smile in-between each of their words.

"I have been busy." She forced between gritted teeth. "Class has been really hectic."

"Really?" Bianca snorted, still managing to keep up her smile. "Then how about we find some time to hang out together?"

Skylar wanted to scream out a 'no', but at the end she still gave a pathetic nod which made her heart bitter.

"I hope you are not angry about what happened with Nathan?" Miranda said with an evil hint in her eyes. "You know how men are. You can't be mad with Irene because of that. Your friendship matters more."

Skylar felt a fluffy blockage in her throat at the last words. She felt nauseous.

Choking out. "I understand."

"Grayson." Miranda turned to Grayson who was behind Skylar. "Our Skylar is a little introverted and likes to be alone most of the time. She doesn't likes to party and other cool things so don't think she is like normal girls. Okay? She also easily mistakes favors for feelings, so please don't play with her emotion."

Grayson tilted a brow at the undertone. Then proceeded to ignore her. "Skylar let's go. You have less than ten minutes before your next class."

"Oh.....okay." Skylar nodded slowly. Before saying. To Irene in particular. "I am going."

Without a word. Grayson pulled her away. And only when they had walked far did he ask. "Bullies?"

Skylar paused before replying. "Friends."

"That's....."

"Messed up?" Skylar chuckled to herself.

Grayson stopped walking. Hesitating for a millisecond. "Why did you agree to go? You didn't look like you want to?"

"I......." She sighed sullenly. "I couldn't say no."

Why was it always so hard for her to say no?

Grayson wanted to say something, but then hesitated. Instead he pulled Skylar to the opposite direction.

"Where are we going? She asked in surprise. 

"To eat."

Grayson drove them to a high class restaurants close to school. Booking a private booth for themselves.

Skylar sat on pins and needles as she went through the menu. A mental calculation raging in her head.

At this rate she'd spend a three days allowance in buying one meal here.

Worst. It was just the lowest in the rank. (The cheapest)

Isn't this too much?

As if he could read her thoughts, Grayson said abruptly. "The bill is on me."

"It's not that." Skylar wasn't that poor that she couldn't afford it, but.... "It's just too extravagant."

"As I said before. I brought you here so the meal is on me." 

"No need." Skylar shook her head. She wasn't comfortable freeloading on people.

Grayson glared at her with insisting eyes. "It's settled. I am paying."

Their orders arrived in the next minute and Skykar felt pained as she took a spoonful.

It was so expensive that she thought she would see rainbows after a spoonful. Funny she didn't even get to see clouds.

The restaurant was just ripping people off.

Talking about that. "Why did you bring me here?" Skylar sat up.

"To eat." Grayson pointed out obviously.

"We could have just eaten at the canteen." Skylar mumbled. It definitely would have been ten times cheaper.

"You always eat there. Don't you get tired?"

Skylar purses her lips. "I don't always eat there."

Grayson popped a brow. 

"Sometimes I just skip lunch."

"You skip meals alot."

"Not that much." Skylar shook her head. "Sometimes."

"Those girls....." Grasyon sipped on his drink. "If they stop you on your way next time. Just ignore them."

Skylar felt surprised. "Why would you say that?"

"They are bad influence." Grasyon scowled. "If they invite you out next time just tell them you already have plans with me."

Skylar thought about it then said. "If I say that everytime.....they might become suspicious."

"You don't have to care about that." Grayson stated. "They will be more of a fool than they already are if they don't take the hint."

"What hint?" 

"Eat." 

"I have class." Skylar sighed. "I am going to be late." No am already late. She thought.

"Class by when?"

"Now." Skykar said. 

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you knew."

"How would I know...."

"But earlier you said......"

"I just said that." Who would really think she really had a class in ten minutes like he had simply made up?

"No need." Skylar waved it off. "Mrs Macdonald doesn't let late comers into her class."

Still it was the first time she was skipping class in a long time.

"Mrs Macdonald?" Grayson asked.

"Yup. The literary department gave her the nickname since she always eats the macdonald medium size hamburger during every class."

"And you call her that too?"

Skylar felt confused. "what else am I supposed to call her?"

"Forget it." Grayson had thought Skylar was a very law abiding, quiet introvert. But the more time they spent together he realize she was pretty interesting.

"I won't be coming to school tomorrow."

"So—" Skylar hanged her spoon on her mouth.

"Don't sit alone for lunch."

"Who said I will be eating alone?" Skylar fumed.

Grayson merely gave her a smile and said nothing else. 

"Whatever." Skylar gritted. Who said I needed someone to sit with anyway? I never asked for your company.

"But...... Where are you going?" Skylar couldn't help but asked. "it must be important if you are will to skip school."

Grayson chewed on the prawn in his plate, feeling the taste had grown bitter as he replied. "to see my parents."

He doesn't seems happy about it. She noted.