Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

Riley's POV

Safe for the little confrontation in the hallway, the day was quite uneventful. I tried to avoid Selena and her goons, we had a few pop quizzes today thankfully, I was always prepared for surprise quizzes.

It was lunch, I was on my way to the cafeteria when I heard someone call out my name. I looked around through the massive crowd of students moving gingerly to the cafeteria trying to put a face to the owner of the voice. When I couldn't I shrugged it off, maybe I wasn't the Riley they were calling.

"Riley Parker, wait!" I heard again. I guess it was me, Riley. I turned around and in no time, I saw Liam shoving his way through the dispersing crowd before he came to a halt in front of me.

"Damn, for a petite girl, you walk too fast."

I gaped at him surprised why is Liam talking to me? I kept staring without saying anything. Noticing the way I kept staring at him, he scratched his head looking uncomfortable.

"Sorry to bother you but can I talk to you?" He asked shoving his hands inside his varsity jacket.

"Sure. What did you want to talk about?" I fixed him a puzzled look. Why was he here, what did he want to talk about?

For a second, I was nervous but I schooled my expression turning it passive.

"Well I uh- I wanted to apologize for Selena's behavior this morning, I hope you don't take her too seriously." I had a feeling he didn't go through all the stress of sorting me out just to apologize to his girlfriend.

"Selena will always be Selena. Vile and bitter. It's just who she is." I shrugged. "You don't have to apologize for her. I can handle myself." I pushed the sling of my bag over my shoulder silently telling him I wanted to leave.

"I know but I was looking for an opening to talk to you." He scratched the nape of his head again.

I didn't know what to say to that. I was taken aback by that. He was looking for an opening to talk to me. Hmm! That was a first. I noticed that his eyes were not as green as Creed's emerald orbs his eyes were a clear brown like melted chocolate. His voice was deep but not as deep and baritone as Creed's.

Was I seriously doing a compare and contrast session of Liam and Creed? I'm losing it now.

"Jason Clayton is hosting a party Friday night to honor our win against the Talon High losers." He smirked.

"Talon High? They may have been losers last season but not this season. So I think his party won't hold, but thanks for the invite."

"What would you know about basketball?" He seemed interested now.

"Nothing much, just enough to know that four of their transfer sophomores are like the Fab Four. With them, Talon High has been winning their every game with awesome points." I smiled at him.

"I didn't know you were into basketball. That's cool." He returned my smile with his cute one.

Shrugging at him I added "But either way good luck on your game." I was about to walk off when he held my hands stopping me in place.

"How about I take you out Saturday night."

Liam just asked me out. I waited for the excitement to overwhelm me but it never came. What was happening, this was the perfect moment I had wished for since the first day I saw him walk into Home Economics class.

But now, my focus has shifted from him to Creed. I didn't want to go out with him anymore. The only attention I wanted now was Creed's.

If this happened last week, I would have been freaking out by now, but his touch didn't feel like Mr. Creed's. I didn't feel any spark or the tingling sensation that accompanied his touch.

Placing my other hand on his palm that held mine, I softly turned down his offer. "I'm sorry, but I'll be busy on Saturday," I said taking my hand from his hold.

Looking up, I saw Creed walk by with two other teachers discussing god knows what his eyes were locked on my hands in Liam's, my body real close to his.

Shit, I thought.

"I'm sorry Liam."

* * *

After that Liam incident at lunch, I tried talking to Creed but he was always busy in class I had taken the risk to approach him in his office during his free period which happened to be the last period for the day but he was meeting with some people that I was sure were not teachers.

A young man who looked overly serious with life dressed in a blue shirt with his sleeves rolled to his elbow and a pretty lady who was dressed in a sophisticated pink dress.

The lady had black wavy hair and her blue eyes which sort of looked familiar were fixated on me as well as her companion whose hand was draped over the back of her seat in what seemed more like a show of protection than relaxation.

The atmosphere in Creed's office was awkward and you could touch it with your hand.

"Can I help you, Ms. Parker?" Creed's voice was laced with a tinge of anger and with how tense his shoulders were, I couldn't tell if it was because of me or his guest.

Who were they?

"Um. Hello sir, ma'am!" I gave them a shy smile before answering Mr Creed "I'm sorry to bug you sir, but-" I made a cute face "I may or may not have dosed off while you were reading out the individual semi-project topics and Kacey didn't take down mine." Putting my hands together in a pleading form "Please sir, if it's not a bother could you check mine for me?"

Lies. Individual semi-project? How did I come up with that? I laughed in my head before giving myself an invisible pat on my back.

Creed knew why I was there and right now I was thankful for the passive look he always has on.

"Is this your way of reporting yourself for sleeping in my class?" Creed chuckled at me though it came out stiff.

"Nothing like that sir."

"I'm busy right now but in our next class I'll be reading it out again but have it in mind that everyone will be submitting on the due date." He said putting a file in his drawer.

"Thank you, sir, that will be all." Turning to his guest I smiled again before making my way out.

After the last bell went off I stepped out with Kacey talking about the game on Friday that will be hosted by our school we both planned on coming for different reasons mine being to see the four sophomore transfer students of Talon High that has taken the basketball game to a whole new level.

We both stood under a tree when I noticed the man and pretty lady from before walking out of the main door bringing everyone's attention to them.

Cat calls could be heard from all directions as they made their way to their car the man intertwining their palms. The lady looked around before her eyes found me under the tree she waved at me with a smile, and I smiled back at her sending her my wave before she took the turn that led to the visitor's parking lot.

"What was that no who is she?" Kacey queried shaking me on the shoulder. What do I tell her now?

"I don't know, I saw her in Mr. Creed's office earlier." Looking around I met the hot glare that Selena was sending my way I snapped my eyes away.

"Ohh! Do you know who they are?"

"Nope!" Not ready for her pointless drills I cut in. "Come on I gotta run. My mum is coming back real early today." I said before we said our byes.