-Chapter 13: Geeks, Freaks and Outcasts-

-Jessie-

"Where's Zeke?" Cas asked wearily as we walked to our desks. "I s-saw him running down the hall."

"He's skipping today," I say in a monotone voice. "I don't know where he is."

"Oh," Cas says disappointingly.

"He'll be back," I say with a hollow smile. "Zeke just...just needs to calm down."

"D-did something happen?" Cas asked. She seemed worried.

"S-something like that," I say, ashamed. "He'll tell you if he wants to."

Cas simply nodded before taking her usual seat. She seemed sadder than average. I wonder why.

————————

"Hey, Cas!" I called as soon as we were out the door.

She turned and gave me the same sad look she had given me in class. "Y-yes?"

I catch up to her and match her pace. "You ok?" I ask. "You seemed out of it in class."

"Yea." She said in her soft voice. "I'm fine. I'm just tired, that's all."

She didn't seem tired. She just seemed out of it.

"Well, if he'll talk to me, I'll let him know you were asking about him," I say with another smile. "If you need anything, all you gotta do is ask."

I hear her mumble a small thanks before walking away.

——————-

-Kris-

Red(Zeke)

K: you comin back?

Z: idk

K: you should.

Z: why? Are you lonely?

K: pfft! No.. a bit.. ok, yes!

Z: what about jess?

K: she hasnt spoken to me since this morning...

Z: rip

Z: all jokes aside tho, you ok?

K: yeah, im good.

K: you good?

Z: im living

K: that's a start

Z: ig

Z: arent you suppose to be in class?

K: yeah, but my thoughts are being dumb again.

Z: sorry to hear

Z: I can come back if you want

K: that works be nice :,)

Z: cya in a few

———————

I wiped my eyes one last time before exiting the stall. I reach for my makeup in my bag and start to reapply it. When I'm done, I look at myself in the mirror, straighten my skirt and flash a smile in an attempt to make this day a bit better.

"I can do this," I say to myself.

I say it twice more, each time louder than the last, for no particular reason. Probably for a boost of confidence.

"What can you do?" A voice asks the moment I exit.

I jump and see Zeke leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"How'd you get here so fast?!" I whisper yelled.

"I was coming back to get my stuff when I got your texts." He said.

We start walking towards his locker.

"You going back to class today?" I ask him, trying to break the awkward silence.

"No." He said while looking at me like I was crazy. "I'm gonna grab my shit and go back to the park."

He opened his locker and grabbed his bag before shutting the locker.

"Care to join me?" He asked.

I silently nod, and we walk right out the front doors of the school. Zeke flipped off the cameras as we passed by. Sometimes I don't get him. He's so nice when you get to know the real him. He doesn't let many people do that. But hey, I guess we all have our own secrets to hide.