Way to straight (Editing), Red Doll [philippa perry book txt] 📗

“Please tell me you are kidding” Elvis asked in a pleading tone. “No, I am not” I said with a straight face. “But this is against rules, If caught we can even get a suspension”

 “Oh come on Mr. President bring some fun in your life else I am going alone” I answered sitting on the boundary of Xavier high. Well it will be no fun alone but I can’t tell him that so I jumped on the other side and started walking towards my car, crossing my fingers that he will come behind. “Hey! Wait up for me” Elvis called from behind. He ran up to catch me “And……….why is your car…………parked here?” he asked panting. “We always parked one’s car outside so we can do this” I said pointing to us “often and luckily it’s my turn this time” I said winking. He flushed but composed himself. I turn the ignition on and the engine roar to life. “So you mean you bunked often. How many times you guys actually bunked and how come no one ever catches” he started to shower me with questions. “Hey dude chill down. You know, now you sound like my dad” I said giggling. He glared at me. HARD. “Ok…………..Ok” I said surrendering “we bunk like 10 to 15 times and I do caught one time”

 “When and how come I don’t know” he asked curiously. “It’s me you are talking about. You know Ari and the guys, they covered up for me as I got suspension for the whole week” I shuddered at the memory of the whole hell week at home as mom’s lecture filled the house. “Ok, so now will you tell me where are we going” Elvis asked eagerly. “Have patience” I said while focusing on road.

 “Park! You bought me to a park” he said loud enough for my ears to almost bleed as soon as I parked the car. “Can you please not scream like a little girl? And no, we are not visiting park”. He give me are you kidding look when I push him towards the park and I give him no you will see look. We took some snacks in the way and I gesture him to lead me. There is an alley covered by bushes at the corner of the park no one knows about, or so do I think. I helped rather pushed him through bushes into alley when no one is nearby. We walked the lane for about 5 minutes and here we are. It’s my favorite place which only Ari shares with me. I turn around to look the expression of his face and it’s priceless. He was gawking and his jaw is already hitting the floor. Oh! I should have brought the camera with me.

“Hey! When did you find that place, I didn’t know something like that even existed in our town” He asked still taking in the beauty of the place. It’s a really breathtaking spot, there’s a small pond with crystal clear water you can even see the fishes in its bottom and is surrounded by beautiful flowers with a large tree and squirrels. It’s really hard to find that much relaxing place in our city. Rabbits are like cherry on the top. “Well me and Ari find this like 5 years ago and we come over here to chill sometimes and now that you know about the place, Don’t you dare to tell anybody” I said faking a scary face. He lifted his hands up in surrender by making a ‘I am scared’ face. We laughed. I walked to the pond and rolled up my jeans. Then slowly let water cover my legs by sitting on the edge. He read my gestures and also sits beside me getting his legs in water. The fishes in it give your foot a kind of fish pedicure. Hours rolled by as we talked, having fun. “What makes you pale in the class? It’s seems like you just saw a ghost.” He said in a joking tone. Oh he just touched a wrong nerve. What I am going to answer him that I ran away because of a boy. He will think of me childish then. I am still figuring out what to answer him when his next sentence broke my trauma. “It’s almost time, we should go now.” He said checking his watch. He stood up and I silently followed him to his car, grateful that he didn’t revive the question. We are halfway to school, the only sound that can be heard is the radio but then his question broke the silence “You said no one knows about the place except Ari, so how come you told me?” Why did I tell him? I didn’t know the answer myself. “I don’t know, it’s just, I feel like I can trust you with things.” I answered honestly. He nodded in acknowledgement with a small smile. I returned it genuinely. Silence trailed behind but this time it’s comforting. As soon as we reach the school, the bell rang. “You are fun to hang out with, we will hangout sometimes later” I said waving as he is going towards the parking lot. “Sure” He said waving from far now.

The week just rolled by and now Elvis also starts to hang out with us. He and his two friends Mike and Kelly also become a part of our group. It turns out that the shy girl sitting with me in English assignment is Kelly and she is kind of sweet. Never judge a book by its cover. I and Elvis become better friends.

This Saturday Elvis invited us to his place for slumber party. Shawn and Benny can’t come as they are pre-occupied. So it’s just me, Ari, Mike, Kelly and obviously Elvis. Since Mike and Kelly had already visited his home, I and Ari decided to take a tour around. “Isn’t his parents supposed to be home” Ari whispered as it will seem rude if he heard it. Yeah it’s getting late, it’s already 7 pm. Well he never talked about his parents, but yeah he kept mentioning his mother and from the tone he used it seems like he loved her very much. “Maybe they worked late night” I said shrugging. “Well we should go down, everyone is waiting for us” Ari said. I nodded. We headed downstairs and watch movies. It’s 11pm and all of them already passed out on couch. Ah………………….they will be sorry tomorrow. I am still not sleepy so I decided to go outside for fresh air. There I sat on the grass on his little garden. It’s been half an hour and I already can feel the chilled October’s air. I started rubbing my arms. “Want some company?” Elvis came from behind with two cup of hot chocolate. He handed me one wrap a blanket around me which he had on his shoulder. “Sure and thanks” I said smiling. “No problem” he made his seat beside me. “I thought you are asleep” I said sipping the delicacy. “Yeah I was, just waked up” I nodded. “Your parents aren’t home yet?” “My mom is on business trip and dad died in a plane crash a few years ago” He said in a low voice staring at stars above us “You know my dad is one of them” he said pointing to a star “You believe in it?” I asked him. He nodded. “Me too” I murmur inaudibly. We continue to stare at stars. From the corner of my eyes I can see that he is really sad. I should do something to change his mood. “Considering your house………………….” I paused to see him paying me attention “you should be a bratty kid” I completed. “You mean all kids are bratty” he asked. “Most of them are” I said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Well am I bratty too?” he asked. I tapped at my chin repeatedly; pretend to think for a few minutes. “No, you are not” I said and he smiled, I returned the same. Then again we find ourselves staring at stars; silence hung in the air was a soothing one.

Minutes rolled by as we laid on grass side by side, our now empty cups are at our sides. “I want to tell you something” I said breaking the relaxing moment. “Yes” he said turning his head towards me. “It’s about the day we ditch the class when I got pale and all” he nodded and I continued “It’s because Myler is paired up with Brandon. It’s like I had this huge crush on him and…and” I started to sob “how I am supposed to see him with another………………..” I sighed “now you will think that I am some silly/sick girl acting all childish” I said dropping my head in shame. “No I will not” he said smiling “I raise my head to see him smiling. “But you are smiling” I complained “I am smiling because you assume pretty fast. Isn’t it?” he said smirking which made me blush. There we lay on the smooth grass and when sleep consumes me, I had no idea.

Next day, my eyes fluttered by the chattering from outside. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and leave the room to the kitchen where everybody is sitting on the island. The scene in front of me was worth watching. Ari is holding her neck with her left hand while her right hand is holding her dear coffee. Mike and Kelly on other hand are arguing with El for not waking them for bed which results in cramps at their back and arms while El is trying to stifle his laughter. “Ty, I didn’t expect this from you” Ari whined. At this point, me and Elvis look at each other, them, then again at each other and burst out laughing. This annoyed them as hell as they groaned and went in their ‘rooms’ for shower. I am still laughing when it hit me. We are at garden last night, I passed out there which means El carried me to his room but where does