Thirty Five

***Ruby***

I don’t know if it is weird, but I really don’t want to attend class at all. But I have Mrs. Cook’s class in the next five minutes and trust me, she will haunt me for the rest of my life if I fail to attend any of her class without a solid reason.

An instance flew into my mind and I instantly rushed to my locker to get my notes. As I cautiously moved, the earlier moment with Mr. Klaus crept into my mind and I couldn’t help a smile.
So, that’s what it felt like. Intense kissing.

The steamy kissing scenes Abby and I used to sneakingly watch intrigued as well as disgusted us.
*What?* The mere thought of saliva being occasionally involved made us cringe as heck.

But, now that I recall, the kiss with Adonis wasn’t sloppy. Using Abby’s phrase, he seems to be a man who knows his game.

Somewhat thrilled in my head, I wore a bigger smile which received a weird look from a passing student. Instantly, I realized that the bell had been rung for the next period.

For some reason, before advancing to my locker, I looked back and my eyes caught the familiar frame of Abby rushing out of a room at the end of the corridor to another. I contemplated checking on her but my ears picked someone’s voice saying something about Mrs. Cook being on edge.

With the intent of checking on Abby after my class being tossed to an important corner of my head, I rushed to my locker, got my stuff and made it to class just in time.

As I had my seat at my regular spot which was right in the middle of the class, our teacher walked in, face looking quite puffy.
The student’s statement about her being edgy made sense and I wondered if she had a fight with her husband or something. There used to be a rumour about him maltreating her which I always doubted was true.

“Settle down all of you!”
Okay, the woman is like a ticking bomb. It would be wise to take precautionary measures like putting my phone in airplane mode.
I was a bit delayed by the power button of my phone and by the time I unlocked it, Mrs. Cook was already standing in front of me, her cast shadow threatening my existence, her arms crossed tightly, eyes glaring hard.
“What are you doing Ruby Powers? What did I tell you about pressing phones in my class?”

“I was just trying to-”

“Get out,” she said firmly and she foiled my attempt to answer her question by slamming my desk hard. “Get out of my class. You rich kids think you can do anything, yeah? You had better see me after class, I need to knock some sense into you.”

“I was just trying to put my phone on airplane mode, I didn’t do anything wrong!” It sucks that she is in a bad mood but taking it out on me is just wrong. And it is not something I will let her do. I have enough issues to deal with.

“Did you just raise your voice at me?”

“No. I was just trying to make sure I don’t get punished for something I didn’t do,” I retorted with caution in my voice.

Mrs. Cook scoffed. “You will definitely get punished for using that tone with me. Get out of my class now.” My brows knitted hard as I returned her glare. Hand stretched, a finger pointed towards the open door, she repeated, with a higher pitch, “Get out, now!”

“Okay ma’am.” Soothing myself the way I could so as to ensure I don’t do something to worsen the situation, I gathered my materials and walked out of the room, my mind taking my sudden exit from Chemistry class as a sign that I wasn’t destined to attend class that day.

I took rapid steps towards the room I saw Abby walk into earlier and I was quick to leave when I didn’t see any sign of her. I tried her number to no avail and after about six attempts, I gave up and decided to go up to the rooftop which the cops investigating Maddison’s death haven’t checked in a while.

Luckily, I didn’t meet any hurdles on my way and even more fortunately, I had some snacks in my bag-pack which I dragged out of my locker after my earlier eviction. I was already pushing open the door that led directly to the rooftop when I heard male voices.

I was about to turn back when it hit me that one of the voices was familiar.

*‘You need to stop giving her false hope*.’ The voice was undoubtedly Jake’s and I instantly hoped he wasn’t with Mr. Klaus. That would be disappointing of Jake.

*‘Why would I want to give her false hope?*’ I almost swore. It was Mr. Klaus.
What on earth is Jake’s problem? What was he trying to do? Sabotage what I have with Mr. Klaus?

*‘I have no idea…*’ Jake replied nonchalantly. ‘*… you are a gangster, definitely you are doing this for some ulterior motive*.’

*‘If protecting her is an ulterior motive, you are right then. That’s what you want, right? To be right? You want to look like a hero in her eyes and what better way to do that if not by making me look really bad.*’ Mr. Klaus had this menacing tone to his voice and I became curious about the look he would have on his face.

*‘I can tell that you are danger. Ruby can’t see it because she is blinded by your aura, but I will make her see it. You should be ready, I will make her hate you so much, you’ll hate yourself for eternity*.’

I frowned as it occurred to me that Jake was once again sounding unlike himself. I could totally picture his face wearing that unrecognizable look.
A loud scoff replied Jake’s threat. *‘What if I told her the truth about you? Do you think I don’t know what you do whenever you are not in school? I know being in school is just a cover up. You are not all that you seem. You are not an ordinary guy Jake, I know that much*.’

*‘You know nothing*,’ Jake sounded uncomfortable, I had to believe Mr. Klaus words. And it would actually make sense that Jake was hiding something.
*‘I have no secrets*.’

*‘Really?*’ Mr. Klaus sounded amused. ‘*Should I tell her about the club then?*’

Awkward silence ruled for a bit before Jake said, ‘*You are lucky she knows you are a gang member*.'

*‘What? Would you have screamed the information into her face?*’ Mr. Klaus’s voice teased.

*‘No, I would have exposed you to the entire school*.’

Mr. Klaus chuckled. ‘*You clearly don’t know who I am. And what I am capable of doing*.’

‘*I don’t care. All I know is that you are someone I wouldn’t hesitate to punch if I were given the chance*.’ I almost face-palmmed myself. Why would he say something like that?

*‘Okay Jake, I am giving you the chance*.’ The boldness in Mr. Klaus’s voice made me instantly worried for Jake, I knew I had to appear before something crazier happens. *‘Punch me. Just once, maybe twice. If it will make you less angry, do it*.’

My eyes closed instantly as I made a quick prayer.
But, by the time my eyes opened, my ears picked a loud cracking sound that had me jumping out of my position and into the midst of the men.

“Jake!” My friend actually had his fist kissing Mr. Klaus’s chin and he looked like he was about to land another punch. “Stop it.”

They both looked surprised and they separated before I could say anything more.

“Ruby. he-”

“Jake, really? Why are you trying to provoke him?”

Jake looked surprised. “Are you supporting him right now?”

“What if I am? What is it to you?”

“I can’t believe this. I am trying to look out for you here. This man is dangerous.”

“Didn’t I tell you to mind your business? Why are you even so concerned with who I choose to like? What is your issue what the decisions I make when it comes to Mr. Klaus?”

“You want to know?” He began to walk towards me, his eyes looking really narrowed with a certain intent. When he got to where I was standing, he grabbed my right hand and made sure our eyes were connected.

“Do tell Jake.”

“I-” A throat- clearing sound came from Mr. Klaus who Jake turned to glare at. When he was facing me again, he gave a short smile as I expressed my growing impatience. All I wanted to really do was enjoy eating a bar of chocolate not settle a childish fight between two men.

“You what Jake? Why are you so concerned?”

“Ruby… the reason…” My brows lifted slightly as his fingers began to graze over the skin of my hand in a rather bothering way. As I attempted to drag my hand out of his hold as I beginning to feel slightly like the way I did when Mr. Klaus kissed me, Jake suddenly dropped, “ I love you Ruby. That’s why. I love you.”