The Love Forest novel Chapter 4

"Honey, I'm really,really sorry but I'm stuck in a traffic right now and it's really bad.It's getting dark and I don't want you waiting for me all alone there. Can you just walk home?"

Oh oh. You should've called sooner Dad! I would've just accepted the ride from Beth! Talk about good timing. "Of course it's alright, Dad. I'll just see you at home then. Please drive carefully." I simply just said.

"I'm so sorry, honey. If I could only do something about it-"

"Really, Daddy, it's okay. It's not your fault and it's not a big deal. The school is only a couple blocks away from home. I'll be fine. Take care." I assured.

"Alright, princess." then he hang up.

Shoving my phone on my pocket, I clutched the pepper spray I brought just in case something happens along the way.

It would probably take me an hour to get to home because of my sored legs which makes me even more worried.

"Oh come on! I'm not scared of the dark. I'm 17 years old for God's sake." I told myself as I was a few steps away from school.

After a few minutes, I relaxed a little. The surroundings calmed me a bit. Despite the cool breeze, I found myself enjoying the walk. I watched in amusement how the leaves fell off from its branch and how about midway in the air, it swirls before it lands the ground or the wind takes it. Not that I've never seen falling leaves before but I never noticed how pretty it is.

"Hey Smith." a familliar voice called my name.

I spun around and found the annoying jerk's car a few feet away from me. "What do you want, Anderson?" Let me get some things straight. The thing that I did in the locker room, that didn't mean anything. That doesn't make us friends or anything. We're back to square one. I still don't forgive him about that prank he pulled this morning.

"Why are you walking home?" he peered from the window.

"None of your concern, Anderson. Bye." I paced faster, trying not to wince in pain. I'm not even exagerrating but my legs ached really bad.

"You look like a penguin." he hollered from behind with laughter.

"Shut up, okay. Don't you have better things to do other than to annoy me? Like, I don't know, going home maybe?" I suggested with sarcasm without stopping.

"That's why I'm still here. Because since we unfortunately live right nextdoor,why not just give you a ride, I thought to myself?" he retorted.

I stopped walking and laughed bitterly. "After what happened this morning? I should've known better than to believe you. I'm not gonna fall this time, Anderson."

"You're still not over that? Come on! That happened hours ago! I've been pranking you since we were 2! You should've gotten used to it!"

"Not when the chances of having the perfect attendance record is involved." I snapped angrily. "Since we were in pre-school and elementary, I've never been late, never missed a day of school ever. Even if I was sick and is close to fainting, I never skipped school! I'm not gonna let you ruin that out of all people."

"Will a ride, a real, genuine offer this time I promise, make you forget that?"

"No." I said without hesitation. "Like what you've said, you've been pranking me since we were kids, how were I to know if you're just kidding again? So stop wasting yout time and leave."

The intruder was hissing in pain and rubbing the spot that I've stepped on. I took advantage of his distraction and dialed 911.

"It's me, idiot! Fuck, that fucking hurt." I was about to press Call when he spoke again. Upon hearing the voice more vividly, I instantly know who the intruder was. I dropped my phone and rushed over to him.

"Anderson! What the hell are you doing in my room?!" I half-yelled, half-whispered. My parents' room are only a couple rooms away and they won't be very happy to see a guy in my room, especially at two in the morning.

I flicked the lamp on, next to my bed and finally got a look of Cole.

His brown hair looks like a bird's nest, no offense to him, when his hair is always neatly messy; his eyes are tired and sleepy and the hollow of his cheekbones seemed to stood up more.

"Are you drunk?" He had sprawled himseld across my bed and I went by to sit next to him. "And get out of my bed." I pushed his whole body with all of my strength, but he didn't move at all.

"What are you doing in my room?! It's 2 in the morning! Shouldn't you be like asleep or something?" I eventually gave up and laid next to him instead.

This is weird. Never had it crossed my mind that I would be laying in a bed with my star crossed enemy; with Cole Anderson.

"You're different." he said.

I looked at him from across. One of his arms is tucked under his head, using it as a pillow and staring at the ceiling.