Chapter nine: Silver

M A X

I shake my head, annoyed so much by Anas' reckless behaviour. Does he want coach to kick him off the team? The stunt he pulled off today at practice could've cost the whole team, not one, but two skilled players. This fissure between the two sides will destroy the team. And all because Anas decided not to take my advice and let his temper get the better.

Honestly, seeing him angry made me angry.

"Well, that just happened," Zahra says first, her eyes wide as two dark moons.

I slowly nod, as the scene wraps up below us, out on the sunny pitch. We'd been sitting on the bleachers, waiting for the boys, and watching the game just as the drama unfolded. It happened so fast. One minute Argent was ready to score, the ball in front of him, the nets wide open, ready to receive his perfect shot.

The next second he was on the ground.

I couldn't hear what was going on, on the field, but coach announced the foul would be a penalty shoot. I saw the boys from either side – supposedly from the same school team – argue with each other. The disunity between the team members, palpable. Jared, one of the most popular guys in school and Rouge's recent ex-boyfriend was in the middle of the fray, facing off against Mason.

I saw Anas leave the gathering as he purposefully stalked Argent and hit him first. Then, there was a blur of fists being thrown.

"What do you think happened down there?" Zahra asks as we pack our books.

No use hanging around now.

I shrug. "Who knows? This rivalry between Anas and Argent is going to cost the whole team."

"Yeah," Zahra agrees, putting her bag over her shoulder. "I bet Argent or one of his friends started it. You saw how rough they were playing."

I don't mention that Anas' team was pushing and shoving for no good reason. But Zahra is his twin sister, her loyalties lie with him rather than with some stranger we only know by name.

No, she knows by name. I actually know.

"We'll wait in the car for them," Zahra announces, stepping down from the bleachers.

I join her, avoiding the holes and cracks in certain steps as well as the disfigured colour of rotten bubble gum. Down below, coach has left with the two boys heading in opposite directions whilst the rest of the boys relax and recharge, an open cooler box with them.

"Hey, Zahra," One of the soccer players calls out as we pass by and then reluctantly adds, "Hi, Max."

I only nod my head gingerly in response. I know what the popular guys are like at this school. And I'm not interested in their moves or their one-night stands.

On the other hand, Zahra gives him a flirtatious smile, her wicked charm coming into play. I study the boy's cropped brown hair and vivid blue eyes. He's cute but wouldn't stand a chance with my best friend. Too desperate. Too eager to make a move. Too confident that she would go out with him. He doesn't know Zahra likes a challenge. Someone she can't have.

Maybe I do too.

"Look, I'll meet you in the car," I pat her shoulder, my eyes trailing to the nurse's office at the corner of the school building. "Okay?"

Zahra groans. "Why, what's up? Coach is talking to Anas. You can't go there anyway."

"No," I shake my head quickly, making up an excuse. "I just ... I need to go to the bathroom."

"You want me to come with?"

"Nah, I'm good. You go," I assure her, already heading in the opposite direction.

The lie makes my stomach feel queasy.

My feet squeak against the shiny floors of the polished floors, the only sound in this desolate place other than my rapid breathing. My heart pounds like the drum of a marching band in an uneven rhythm, resonating in my ears till my head hurts. I look around warily, sure that one of my friends – or worse Argent's – will spot me.

I stare at the door to the nurse's office, and my hand uncurls, reaching for the knob. I stare at the dull, brass object with a frown.

I shouldn't be here.

The lock clicks as I step into a room that's infested with the smell of sanitisers and plastic. A stretcher lies on one end, Argent sitting against the edge of it, ready to bolt at any second. Ms Parvati is handing him an ice pack wrapped in a thin blue towel, her other hand on her hip expectantly.

I doubt it's the first time Argent's been here.

I doubt even more that it's the last.

"Can I come in?" I lightly knock on the doorframe.

Mrs Parvati turns to me and raises her horn-rimmed glasses judgementally. She makes a humph noise as she recedes to the other room further inside.

"Do as you please, Miss Ryder," the nurse says with much contempt, and I purse my lips.

Okay, so it's not the first time I've been here either. I've been in my fair share of fisticuffs over the years, but none too serious (one did land me a suspension, but I won't go into details). Most of the time, however, I came to Ms Paravati's on behalf of my friends as moral support.

"You shouldn't be here," Argent mentions, looking at me intensely.

"I know."

Silently, I shut the door behind me, and the two of us stare across the small room at each other. No words pass between us – enough is said without talking. I take in Argent's bruises, the bluish tinge beneath his right eye, trailing down to the top of his sharp cheekbones. The redness of his ears. The clenched fists, one hand protectively wrapped around his midriff.

"How are you feeling?" I take several short steps towards him, and he takes a breath with each footfall.

The room suddenly feels too small.

"What do you think?" He asks, pressing the ice against his face. "Your friend got a good hit on me for sure."

"Yeah," I come to stand in front of him. "I'm sorry about that."

Argent studies my expression, his gaze resolute. I watch those uniquely coloured eyes skim over my face, trying to figure out why I came to see him. Why I'm being nice to him.

I wonder the same thing.

"You shouldn't need to apologise," Argent says at last.

"Well, I want to," I shrug. "Can I ... sit next to you?"

He shifts, making space for me on the narrow stretcher. "It's not your fault Max, don't worry about it."

I sit down, pressing my back against the wall, keeping as much distance as I can. "I have to worry. Anas did the wrong thing, and he's not going to say sorry a –"

"So why should you?" Argent interrupts me.

"Because that's what you do for your friends."

I turn my head to the side. His is also turned so that we're facing each other, the walls closing in on me. We're too close. I can make out the green specks in his eyes. See his bruising so much clearer. He puts down the ice pack, the only barrier we had. One move and our noses will brush. Our lips will touch.

I jerk away at the same time Argent does.

"I don't think we should do this tutoring thing anymore," he lets out a sharp breath. "It's not going to work."

"What?" I get to my feet. "But we were doing so well."

"Max, look," Argent says. "We come from two different circles, which plays a big part in who we are. Your friends and I are enemies. Heck, we're supposed to be enemies. Forget it, we can't do this."

I struggle to talk. Why suggest this all of a sudden? He knew about Anas, about Luke. Yeah, we're from opposing social circles but that doesn't mean we have to be enemies. And anyway, why does it matter? So what if they fight? All we do is learn math together.

"Whose going to tutor me then?" I ask.

"I'll ask Mr Mathews to organise someone else," Argent rakes a hand through his hair. "There are other tutors available that can help you."

"But you're the best," I argue. "This is so stupid, all we do is maths, why is it a big deal?"

"Only math?" He raises an eyebrow.

No.

"Yeah, only math," I say matter-of-factly.

"Fine," Argent slides down from the stretcher to retrieve his ice pack. "We'll have our tutorial lessons."

"Okay. Cool," I say, shoving my hands to the back of my jean's pockets. I glance at him one more time before leaving.

"Hey, Max?" Argent calls out after me.

I peer over my shoulder. "Yeah?"

"See you around," He gives me a half smile.

I nod and the door shuts behind me. Outside, in the hallway, I'm surprised to see Rouge Rays leaning against the row of metal lockers, arms crossed delicately, a menacing look on her face. As if she knows something I don't. The hairs on the back of my neck stands and I tread slowly, carefully. If there's one thing, I know about the resident Queen Bee of the school of that she's a conniving bitch and a snake in the grass.

"Hello Max," Rouge smirks, pushing herself off the locker. "Sunny today, isn't it?"

"Can I help you?" My reply is short, cold as winter.

"To the point," her smile grows. "I like it and I can see why brother dearest likes you."

I roll my eyes and start walking but there's a click of heels, like a gunshot and Rouge is next to me.

"Oh I wouldn't leave so fast," she says innocently. "We have so much to talk about."

"No, we don't," I start walking faster. If I lose my temper it ain't gonna be pretty.

Rouge puts her arm around my shoulder, and I shrug it off sharply.

"But we're friends now," she coos but it's lined with a threat. "Aren't we Ryder?"

"Leave me alone."

Rouge stops walking and for some reason, so do I. She tilts her head, looking me up and down and I move away.

"I'll leave you alone," she says, sugary sweet. Death by chocolate as the saying goes. "If you leave my brother alone."

"What has Argent tutoring me got to do with anything?" I frown.

"Oh please. That's just a ploy," Rouge twirls her brown hair airily. "We all know you and your little band of merry men are trying to sabotage his game. Well, it isn't gonna work."

"That's... that's ridiculous," I remark. "I need help with math and Argent was willing to help. If you have a problem with that, go talk to him."

"Oh, believe me, darling, I did," she says. "But for some reason, he won't believe me. A real pity since you're bound to break his heart and ruin his game. That's the idea, right?"

"What is wrong with you?" I backtrack. "You're a psychotic bitch Rouge, you know that? I have no ulterior motives, okay? So you can stop with your delusions and conspiracy theories."

She doesn't seem to be affected by my words which just creeps me out more. Why does Argent have such a weird twin sister? And why she has such a big problem with me getting tutored by him. Let's just say whoever said cheerleaders were bubbly airheads was a liar and a fraud.

Rouge is malicious, I see it in the gleam of her eyes. I don't trust her at all.

Way to make things dramatic for no reason.

"Consider yourself warmed bitch," Rouge flicks her fingers. "The next time we meet I won't be so kind."

"Is that a threat?" I scoff. "Because there's no fucking way, I'm afraid of you or your pretty nails that'll never get dirty. So please take your delusions and leave me alone. This conversation has been unpleasant and totally unnecessary."

"Careful there," Rouge flourishes her dark red cuticles, the colour of bloodshed on a battlefield.

"These pretty nails have claws."

Damn, I am so close to rolling my eyes. This girl is seriously fucking crazy. And not in a good way.

"Okay," my smile is sickly sweet, lies dropping from my lips like poison. "I'll leave Argent alone. I promise."

Rouge nods. "I'll leave you to it then. Great chat."

When she leaves, only then do I let out a breath and think. That's a lot of trouble for no fucking reason.

What am I going to do?