Chapter 28 28: Grey Eyes, Red Flags
Baby blinked and shook his head, "No, Cam. Your cousin is not coming. I just happened to remember something. I'm... I'm gonna skip class today. See you later –"
"Hold on, soldier," Cam grabbed Baby's hand and pulled him back, "Where do you think you're running off to? Something's been off with you since morning. Is it really something you can't tell me? Your best friend?" Cam asked, his face a little disappointed.
He hated it whenever Baby held something from him. That was why they became best of friends in the first place. Baby needed someone to confide in about his lonely life and Can was just right there when he needed a companion.
Cam had grown accustomed to knowing everything Baby did, including Baby's future moves, but recently, Cam felt like he was being kept in the dark. As a best friend, it hurt him greatly.
Baby sighed, "Relax man, you know everything I know. You remember Elena? The therapist. I forgot I hadn't booked a place for our date this evening, you know me... I only gave the best experiences, so, I just need to skip class and plan our perfect first date," He patted Cam's cheek, "Stop thinking too much, I'm just a man trying to fall in love –"
"Oh, please." Cam scoffed, chuckling lightly, "You? Love? I bet you'll be done with this therapist of yours the moment you get between her legs," he stated with certainty.
Baby smiled, "Trust me, she's different." He said and turned away from Cam.
"Tell Shannon I'll see her in our next class. Gotta run," he waved without looking back.
The moment he turned a corner, he leaned against the wall and covered his face.
"Fuck," he muttered, clenching his jaw.
'If Saint wasn't drunk, then...' Baby groaned, shaking his head.
"It can't be. He would never allow that to happen, he had to be drunk, if not..." he paused as he saw students suddenly hurrying past him, looking like they were about to meet some celebrity.
He couldn't tell what was happening, but he was sure curious.
He was just about to grab a nerdy over and ask him where everyone was running but withdrew his hand when he saw Saint walking right behind the boy.
'Damn it. I don't want to face him, yet," he thought and quickly turned to leave as he initially planned.
However, two steps into his escape, "Baby!" Celine suddenly jumped on him, smashing her lips against his in a messy kiss, hooking one of her legs around his waist.
Baby felt disgust immediately, he almost pushed her away as he didn't feel the usual pull, but somehow he didn't. Instead, he pulled her closer and turned them over, pressing her against the wall to deepen their kiss.
Anything just to avoid speaking to Saint.
He didn't understand why he could no longer hold a common eye contact with his co-captain without thinking of his lips on his.
Even thinking about it as he kissed Celine suddenly made him pull his lips away in disgust for the woman's lips.
He wiped his lips with the back of his hand, the urgent need to gargle water in his mouth intensifying by the second.
"You fucking, sexy badboy," Celine gripped his shirt, pulling his face closer, "You know, about the other day, I'm sorry, I think I overslept over overreacted. Maybe.. " she caressed the side of his face, "I think I'm in love with you –"
"Huh?" Baby's face was twisted in utter disgust and disapproval.
Celine giggled, "Yes, Baby. I've never felt this way for any man before." She confessed, kissing his cheek.
Baby blinked, clearing his throat. He wanted to step away from Celine but needed to be sure Saint was gone with the crowd.
Slowly, he turned his head to the side, expecting to see no one, but his eyes locked with Saint's, who was quietly standing in the centre of the hallway as students kept trooping by, his steel-grey eyes unreadable.
Baby froze, feeling like he'd been caught cheating. But cheating on who?
He quickly turned away and pulled Celine away.
"Hey, do you know where everyone is heading?" He asked quietly.
Celine smiled seductively, "Don't tell me you don't know..." she chuckled, "You're mama's here, Baby. Saint's mama, too. Every student has been summoned to the campus gymnasium. You didn't get the email?" She asked, looking up at him as they walked.
Baby's step froze, his hand weakening around Celine's waist. Slowly, he took a step back, his eyes blank and far.
His mother had his school? For what? It was unusual. Very unusual.
"Baby? Are you not going to see your mother? I thought maybe you could introduce me to my mother-in-law," she winked, biting her lip.
Baby paid zero attention to Celine at that moment, he couldn't go to the gymnasium, it would only turn out worse for him.
"The gymnasium's that way," Saint's hand suddenly rested on Baby's back, his voice close to his ear.
"Get your fucking hand off me!" Baby violently pushed Saint away.
He was in no mood to entertain whatever madness was happening between them. He needed to leave, now.
Saint was staggered back, surprised by the sudden violence. Baby was usually untamed, but this, this seemed like a survival instinct, as if he was trying to get away from something.
He'd never seen Baby like that, he usually never feared anything, not until his mother was mentioned.
"Baby, we can't not be present," Saint lunged forward and grabbed Baby's wrist, holding his hands so he doesn't push him away again.
"I swear if you don't let me go, I'll bash your fucking head to the wall," Baby threatened.
Saint was about to speak when someone placed a hand on Baby's shoulder.
"For once, Baby, be cooperative, the Apex had sent your parents here. Not going is disobeying THC," Nickel spoke calmly, patting Baby's shoulder.
Baby snatched his hands away from Saint, glared at him, and then walked away.
He ignored Celine's offer to hold his used again and walked to the gymnasium himself.
He could get through this, he had to.